I met the Sommers family pre-twins at a baby shower hosted by my lovely designer Rae. Kate and I bonded over wedding photographer stories (she's one too! yay, friendworking!) and she was at that time, pregnant with Charlie and Arthur - literally about to give birth any minute! YAY BABIES!

We've met up a couple times to take photos but this time? They let me in on their turf - the most dreamy home in NE Mpls and I honestly wanted to stay forever, playing blocks, reading books and being silly. Charlie and Arthur just celebrated their first birthday and they just keep getting cuter. Those blue eyes, Arthur? It was love at first sight! Charlie's smirky smile and daredevil nature won my heart instantly. These two are probably the most "liked" babies on Instagram, so the chance to get them in front of my camera as a family of four felt like a dream come true. And baby TOMS? HIGH FIVES!

Best part ever? They were willing to model for part of a BIG HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT coming your way in a few short weeks ... but for now, can we play in your home, together, in... CALIFORNIA?! Get this, friends: I'LL BE HOSTING FAMILY SESSIONS IN CALIFORNIA ON MAY 25TH AND 26TH! 

Here are the details:  Pick your favorite backyard spot, room in the house or even your front stoop - I'll come to you and we'll make magic together!

Saturday May 25 in Oakland - any time you prefer, but there is time for 8 sessions. First come, first serve! 

Sunday May 26 in LA - 5 pm to 8 pm - just in time for golden hour! 

Choose your session option:

- Half hour session and you receive 15 images on DVD for $225

- One hour session and you receive 25 images on DVD for $300

A 50% deposit is due upon booking to reserve your spot - I can't wait to meet you! Put your info HERE and let the magic begin!

This California trip is a dream in the making - the first step to watering this little Mpls-based business and watching it GROW! Spread the love to anyone and everyone you think would be interested - I couldn't do this without all of you!

As if you're not convinced, doesn't this look like the most fun, EVER?!

xoxo,
Sydnee 

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day this January, I trekked to the Mellins' home on what was honestly the most bitterly cold day we had this winter. You remember? The winter that never left? As in, the one that stuck around through MAY?! Fingers crossed, we've turned a corner here in Minneapolis! My sunshine-loving self can't take any more gloomy doomy days!

Okay, back on track: So it was cold. I walked into the Mellins home and instantly? WARMTH. These five have got that warm, cozy family life down pat. I instantly felt calm in their presence and knew for certain, that if they booked me as Ben's Bar Mitzvah photographer, I'd love every single second. And, as always, they didn't disappoint! They booked on the spot and we got the ball rolling!

The weekend arrive and we were having a warm streak in March, thinking for certain that we could even be brave enough for some outdoor fun family portraits at Mount Zion synagogue. But, as Jack Frost would have it, it snowed what felt like 6 feet on Friday night for the family meal and services. Ben's paternal grandparents + family, being from Florida, thought they had entered a tundra. They pretty much had! They even had to buy winter coats upon landing at the airport! 

Regardless of the weather, the weekend was all about Ben: sweet, endearing, soft-spoken and just plain awesome. This kid is a reader, after my own heart, and he loves soccer and his friends almost as much. Although I wasn't allowed to take photos during the service, I was there in the back, soaking it all in. When us photographers are "working," sometimes it's hard to take a step back and see events and people and emotions and traditions for what they are: beautiful. Of course we capture all these things all the time and for me, it's often in the editing, spending time with your families and seeing the moments I had no idea I captured. We just focus on the focusing, clicking the shutter and being in the moment. Thank you, Mellins, for giving me the gift of experiencing Ben's Bar Mitzvah service 100% fully and honestly. I am forever indebted to this "insider" part of the weekend - part where I finally, having never known any Hebrew, had the opportunity to learn a little bit more and hear Ben's delightful speech. You've got an amazing kid on your hands, but I think you already knew that :)

So! Without any more gabbing on my part - here are the images that I believe captured Ben's Bar Mitzvah the most completely. Special thanks to the ever-awesome Stillmans - you guys rock at referrals!  

xoxo,
Sydnee

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vendor love!
synagogue: Mount Zion Congregation
party: Neighborhood House
event coordination: Event Lab
DJ: Total Entertainment

Popcorn + bowties + red glitter shoes in the studio - can't think of anything better! The Levad family joined me at my last mini session day in February and brought with them the most amazing family session theme I've seen yet - throwing popcorn! YESS! Maren is a colleague from a partner organization I work with as part of my nonprofit work and Mike is a photographer himself... and Eliza? She's only the coolest toddler with the biggest personality you've ever seen! She's precocious, hilarious, respectful and 110% lovely! I can't wait to see her grow! (hint hint!) 

I loved everything about this session and everything about this family! When my clients pick their brains about what makes them THEM, the results are always the absolute best. I love helping with the styling and offering advice, but it's such a sweet surprise when they show up at my door, or I at theirs!, and everything is so perfectly tailored to their personality as individuals and as a family. Come as you are and I promise we'll make magic together!

Families are the part of my business that make my heart soar the absolute highest - but more on that coming soon ;) For now, enjoy the Levads and their popcorn tricks!

xoxo,
Sydnee 

As promised, Boston is back! But this time, he brought a friend - and no, not his donkey, but HIS LITTLE SISTER! Finnley Kate arrived a few weeks early, much to her parents' surprise, and of course, this little love is so sweet and teensy tiny! Mama Heather asked me if I wanted to hold her upon visiting them at home a few days after Finnley was born and I was amazed when she handed me a big blanket - with Finnley inside! She was only 6 lbs! 

Finnley had me at hello and was so sneaky about falling asleep for her session, but that pacifier really does the trick! And can you just not even handle that white bow headband?! Do they come in grownup sizes? :)

This new family of four will be back on the blog soon, once Boston and Finnley get acquainted and summer comes around. I can't wait to see them again soon!! 

xoxo,
Sydnee 

Doesn't your heart just MELT looking at this sweet face?! Boston visited me at the studio a while back and even though he was unsure at first, all it took was a little cookie to get him to warm up! He was about to become a big brother when we took these photos and being a big sister myself, I gave him some tips PLUS Boston's dad works with my dad, so we were already pretty much BFFs. This expressive little guy was amazing and adorable - check out the many faces of Boston! 

ps. Come back later this week to see if the stork brought him a little brother or a little sister! 

xoxo,
Sydnee