minneapolis photographer | jennifer witt photography

I joined this family while they painted their plates (and dogs, and cups, and dog dishes) at Paint Your Plate in Edina. After getting artsy, they headed over to Edina Creamery. I have to admit, it was a little disheartening to walk in to the smell of fresh waffle cones and know I couldn’t have one. However, seeing the pictures that I took during that time made it totally worth it. The light, the interaction, all if it….it was perfection. These three have such an amazing dynamic about them. Sisters, mom, daughter, auntie, and niece all rolled in to a sarcastic, hilarious, intelligent ball of love. I hope you enjoy the photos. I, for one, could not stop swooning over them.

As most of you know, I took this fall off. We had some things happen in our lives that made me realize I needed to spend my weekends with my family. I loved spending all my free time with my this amazing little family I’ve built and it was so refreshing. However, I’m so ready to dive back in to photographing all of you! Here are some photos that I didn’t get around to sharing while on hiatus; some are from sessions and some are examples of how I spent my downtime. Enjoy!

This week’s challenge was all about the eyes. I couldn’t help but enter one from a few months ago. It’s amazing what eyes say to you.

Hello world! I know, I know, it’s been slow around here. I’ve been enjoying being a stay at home mom for the summer with my boys and the boys just got over croup which was in our house for a whole 15 days. It has been kind of crazy. I hope this session will make up for the fact that you haven’t heard from me for a while. Before I get to that, though, just a reminder that my past clients should have received info about my new referral program in their e-mail.

My littlest sister is going to be graduating this year. I can’t believe it. She was born when I was 12 and, while at the time I was totally disgusted that my parents let that happen, now I can’t imagine my life without her. I don’t target the senior market, but how could I not do Janelle’s. We did a session in Iowa which I dubbed the “country” session and then a session here in Minneapolis which was our “urban” session. Of course, since it’s my sister I have a million pics that I love and can’t choose between so you get a big ol’ preview. Plus, her boyfriend, Wyatt came along both times so that just added to the number of pictures to choose from. Here are some of the pictures from our our day in the country. Enjoy!

I know. It’s been a while. I’ve been busy finishing up my school year and hanging out with my family. I’ve had a real affinity towards black and white photos lately so I thought I’d put some of them up. Of course, as you can see from the last picture, some photos just scream to have their colors shown!

I have started booking for this summer and spring! It was nice to have a break after a busy fall, but I am ready to see all my wonderful past clients and look forward to meeting new ones! When you have a date in mind, send me an email, even if it’s not totally nailed down yet. We can at least pencil you in and go from there.

And now, some uber-cute eye candy for you to enjoy!

I seem to have a new favorite photo every other week-at least. Of course they are not always of my kiddos, but during the dull-who-wants-to-shoot-outside-in-this-weather that is a Minnesota winter, my kiddos see the lens of my camera more than they would like. We had a string of warm days and then, all of a sudden, it was cold again. Suck. But alas, this momma was on spring break and wanted to get outside every day that we could. Plus, the warmer weather we experienced the days before had me all jacked up on vitamin D and even though we froze our tushes off (thanks to the wind coming off the still frozen lake), we enjoyed an hour at the park. Okay, maybe not quite an hour. I wasn’t exactly dressed for the weather. The photo was taken while my recently turned 3 year old was climbing. In golashes. In mittens. That’s quite the feat if you ask me. I love the texture, I love the black and white, but mostly I just love the moment. This quick moment when he looked up at me and said, “Momma, I’m coming up. Watch out. Please.” Touching, isn’t it? My first born, my Mr. Sensitive, my momma’s boy telling me to move out of his way because he’s doing his thing and I’m, apparently, in the way. My heart was torn between two realizations. First, that my baby was growing up and needed me less and less. Second, that we have, thus far, raised a smart, self-assured, confident little boy. One who only needs us less because we have made him feel safe in taking risks and in being independent. Okay, so honestly, the second realization was really just my brain trying to make my heart get a grip on itself, but it did help the sting a bit. So here’s to babies becoming kiddos and to hoping that their demands are always followed with a please!

Oh the quiet season that is winter in Minnesota. After a crazy-busy fall, winter seems so quiet. I will be shooting a wedding in March, a large prom group in April, and will be doing a commercial shoot for a small headband/tutu company this spring. I’m excited for all of them because they are not what I typically photograph. I know I said I would never do another wedding but it’s for a good friend who has assured me there will be no -zilla’s at the wedding (bridezilla, mother-of-the-bride-zilla). Plus, the bride and groom are so fun so I know I will have a blast photographing their big day!

I was so grateful to receive holiday cards from many clients. It meant so much to me to know that my photos were gracing holiday cards on doors, walls and fridges across the nation. It was wonderful to have them all displayed on my holiday card wall. I still haven’t taken them down!

I did a little impromptu mini-session with my boys. By impromptu I mean I was snapping pictures of them and out of the blue it was like they actually wanted their photos taken. It was bazaar. A bazaar moment I am so thankful for because I got a chance to get some good shots of their faces. Usually they are so enthralled in whatever they are playing with that I get profile pictures or the tops of their heads. Hudson was playing with his bear and actually stayed in one spot long enough for me to capture his sweet little face. Corbin thought he was on a photoshoot. It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen. He would smile or pose and then ask to see the photo. I love the one I got of him looking up. We were in front of a sliding glass door and it was snowing outside. I told him to look at the snow, which he hadn’t noticed yet, and I managed to snap his surprise (and his amazing lashes). I’m not sure what his amazement was all about in the last photo, but I’m so glad I captured it. It’s so him. I can’t choose whether I love it in color or black and white most so I included both! Enjoy the pictures of my boys and check back to see the exciting sessions I will be doing this spring!

I love photographing newborns. This one is super special because Kyler is my very first nephew. We did a mini-session with Kyler. A mini-session is about half the time and half the photos of a regular session. It worked well for all involved because we only had about an hour and a half smashed between two family Christmas celebrations. I prefer to photograph newborns before 10 days old when they are still all curly and sleepy. Kyler was 20 days old so we got some great awake shots, and a couple sleepy photos. He wasn’t nearly as excited to be all curled up as he would have been a week before but he was so patient and so alert. Here are some of my favorite photos from the day.

I was kind of sad to do my last photo session of the season. It’s been good to look back through the posts of the families that I’ve been lucky enough to do sessions with. You all made my first “real” photo season awesome. I was thrilled that my last session was with a dear friend. She was hearing about jennifer witt photography before it even was. She (along with the awesome momma from this post) is part of my Friday retreat. Well, kind of. I mean as much as having a playdate with four children – two and under – running/screaming can be a retreat. Hey, every momma knows time with other mommas is pretty sacred, even if the soundtrack to the playdate is two year olds arguing over a toy broom. But, I digress…

This family was so fun and laid back. Laura left her purse just about everywhere you can imagine and it’s a miracle it didn’t get lost at some point. Here are my favorite shots from the day. Enjoy B family and thanks for letting me end on a fabulous note!

I had to include this last photo. I cracked up as I was editing. It’s as if Chase is saying, “You have got to be kidding me. We are sitting on old wood, what is there to smile about?”

I had never been to Bandana Square before but this family heads there often. Their boys love the train museum. It was an awesome location with loads of character. We ended up getting shots in and around the outside of the building. Grayson wasn’t so sure of me at first, but my super duper preschool teacher powers won him over and he told me all about his ball themed birthday party. Xander was down for anything and pretty much stayed put wherever we decided to put him. Thanks for a fun morning D Family! It was great to work with you.