I met Heather...

...as we were standing in line waiting to register our little girls for dance this summer. She explained their family would very soon be adopting a little boy. I was thrilled when Heather called not long ago to schedule a session to celebrate the new addition to their family!

And here is that new addition, Jett, on Daddy's shoulders!

Big brother Ty...

Big sister Elisabeth...

And "little" big sister Isabelle!

A couple all together...


We had a stunning sky right at the end of this fun session.

Thanks for choosing me to make portraits of your beautiful family at this happy time in your lives! Congratulations and many blessings to you!!

McKenna

Take a look at this little sunshine! I was just talking on the phone to McKenna's Mom this afternoon, and I realized I never blogged my favorites from her session! So here they are!

I just love those sparkling blue eyes! McKenna is such a little sweetie with tons of personality!

McKenna is first cousins with, and almost exactly the same age as my sweet nephew Ezra! While it was lots of fun getting to know McKenna, I have to admit that after she and her Mom and Dad left that night, I got a little sad over missing Ezra who lives in Washington State. And not only Ezra, but all my nephews and nieces who all happen to live so far away. They are all so precious. Anyway, back to the adorable subject at hand! :-)

I just LOVE the golden light we got for this portrait of McKenna!

Thanks, Althea and Kyle, for coming down from Rock Rapids to let me photograph McKenna!

Braden is the newest addition...

...to this beautiful family! Having three wonderful boys at home myself, I always smile to myself when a family of mostly girls gets a boy thrown into the mix! Not that girls are not spunky and lively, I know they are (I have one of those too!) but there is just something about boys being boys that is so active and FUN! And sometimes WILD!

Braden seems to be the perfect combination of sweetness and being all boy!

I will post a few nice images we got when they were over recently to get portraits made. Enjoy!

Siblings Braden, Jenna, Raya and Kylie


Braden and Raya sporting authentic outfits from their native country...China.

The Timm Family!

I really enjoyed meeting this family recently when they came over to get portraits made. I hope you enjoy these favorites of mine!

If you have read my blog for very long...

...then you undoubtedly remember adorable Thatcher and Lily! On a lovely fall day not long ago they brought their parents along for some family portraits. If you live in Sioux County, you may wonder why Dad Adam looks so familiar. I'll give you some hints--latte, great atmosphere, breakfast sandwiches, mocha, desserts, cappuccino, coffee................yes, you guessed it! Kim and Adam are owners of Butler's Cafe and Coffee in Sioux Center! If you haven't been there lately, call a friend and meet them there for lunch or coffee!

Here are some of my many favorites from their session:





The first Sioux County person who leaves a comment on this post gets a $10 gift card to Butler's mailed to them! Make sure to email me your mailing address (info at vanessabartelsphoto dot com) so I can get it to you!

Mini Sessions!

I have known for a few weeks that I wanted to do this on Nov 1, and have been just plain too busy to blog about it, but now it’s less than two weeks away and so I’d better get on the stick and give you the scoop!

These sessions are much shorter than my regular 1 ½ hour sessions, and would be perfect for one or two children, or a small family. There may be extra time after we get your main goal accomplished-say a family picture for Christmas cards-and then we can keep shooting until the session is over.

What: Short 20-25 minute sessions that start on the hour and half hour between 8:30am-2:30pm

Where: If the weather is nice, sessions will be outdoors here on the acreage. If not, sessions will be in the studio. Sessions will either be outside only for the entire 20 minute session, or if the weather does not cooperate, in studio only.

When: Saturday November 1 between 8:30am and 2:30pm

Cost: $10 session fee due when you arrive for your session. Contact me at (info at vanessabartelsphoto dot com) for print and image pricing details and specials!

After the session: 25-50 proof images will be available for viewing and ordering online for one week: from November 8-15. Orders must be placed and paid for by Nov 15 and will be delivered on Dec 6.

Let me know if you are interested!

Casey

This spring I decided I had to cut something out of my photography offerings because I was sooo busy last summer and did not spend the time I needed and wanted to with my precious four kids and husband. I decided my senior sessions (3 hours in the evening and 3-4 different locations) had to go even though I love to do these. So I declined requests for senior sessions when people called.

I did however have several Moms of high school seniors call and schedule their seniors for a regular 1 1/2 hour shoot during the day, and I was thrilled to do that for them! I thought about not blogging these sessions because of my not offering senior sessions this year, but these senior kids did just exceptional and I was too excited about their images not to blog them!

Casey is one of those seniors! He and his parents came over recently for a shoot. Casey was lots of fun to meet and get to know. As you can see he likes his wheels!

Josh and Laura

I have had the privilege of photographing these two for the last few years and I was so glad I got to again! Here are a few favorites from their recent session:

Joshua: Little gentleman

Laura: Little lady


Love this one of them together!

Today...

...the kids are exchanging pictures with their classmates in school. Here are theirs!

It's always such fun...

...to photograph the children of dear friends! It is kind of like photographing my own kids, except they listen better! Here are a few favorites from this session!

Another family!

I happened to have tons of favorites from this session! I have lots of catching up to do on the blog, so I will let the images do the talking!

Introducing...

One of the first of many family groups that I have had the privilege of photographing lately! Meet.....

Tommy

Kayla

Matthew

and Josie!

Aren't they a good looking bunch?