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Happy Veterans Day {SE MN Portrait Photographer}

Yesterday I happened to go outside and saw these guys coming over the hill in front of my house. So I grabbed my camera and drove down the driveway to ask if I could grab a photo.

They are part of the University of Iowa Veterans Association They are ruck marching the game ball 286 miles from TCF Bank Stadium to Kinnick Stadium for the November 14th football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

They are also carrying 22 lbs on their backs to honor the 22 Veterans who take their own lives every day.

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans out there that have put their lives on the line for our freedom. Thank you for your service, to those in the military, past, present and future!IMG_5720-Edit-001IMG_5721-Editb-006

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SE MN Farmer {Spring Valley Minnesota Portrait Photographer}

This afternoon as I was coming home from meeting a client at the studio, I came up the hill  and saw my Dad in the field chopping.  I thought it was so beautiful with the dust flying  and the building site in the back.  I always mean to go take some photos of harvest, but it just never happens since it is also my busy time.  But today, I was like you know what, we’ve been working so hard this Fall, I am going to take a few minutes to grab some shots of my Dad for me.  So, so glad that I did take the time.  I just love them!

And in the words of Paul Harvey  as I believe the job my Dad does is so important and love him dearly for all his hard work in and out of the field and  that I still get to watch him do what he loves to do, be a farmer:

“And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker.” So God made a farmer.

God said, “I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board.” So God made a farmer.

“I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife’s done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon — and mean it.” So God made a farmer.

God said, “I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, ‘Maybe next year.’ I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain’n from ‘tractor back,’ put in another seventy-two hours.” So God made a farmer.

God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor’s place. So God made a farmer.

God said, “I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week’s work with a five-mile drive to church.

“Somebody who’d bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life ‘doing what dad does.'” So God made a farmer.”fm2

fm5fm1fm3This is my absolute favorite.  When I looked at on the camera, it made me tear up. It’s just how I picture my Dad, working hard, likely dirt on his clothes from either dust from the tractor or grease from the machine shop he runs and driving something, whether it’s one of  his trucks, race car, snowmobile or tractor.  It’s my Dad…  Love how the dust and a little photo shop made it look like a photo taken at sunset, too.  fm4

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Happy New Year {Spring Valley MN Portrait Photographer}

Hard to believe another year has flown by! I am so thankful for  the best year ever with the most amazing seniors, families, bellies, babies and smiles that you allowed me to capture in 2014! Thank you for a wonderful year!

Lots of changes coming for Photography by by Kari  including new session packages and products! Until then, stay warm with your loved ones!
Also, I hope your holiday season was great and memorable, and that the New Year brings you much happiness and joy.

With that said it’s…..

GIVEAWAY TIME!  We would like to say thank you to our amazing clients and fans for being so loyal throughout 2014,to show our thanks, we are going to give away a free Standard Session, with a $100 print credit.  To enter, simply share our fan page on Facebook and then comment on the blog  letting us know you have done so!

Here is how it works…

1. Go to My Facebook Page

2. If you are not yet a fan, click “Like”

3. Find this post and find the  “Share” link

4. Select “Share on your Timeline” and target “Public” or “Friends”

5.  Come back to the blog and make a comment below letting me  know you shared the post on Facebook. Make sure you use your correct email, so we can contact you if you are our winner.  (Your e-mail address can only be seen by the blog administrator)

**  Winner must be a fan of our Photography by Kari Facebook fan page and be at least 18 years old.  Contest starts now and will end at Noon 1/2/15 , and winner will be announced on Jan 2, 2015. Winner will be selected by drawing a name out of a  hat. Winning session includes, a 1-2 hour session with one location within 25 miles of our studio or in studio, up to 4 people included in the session, online gallery for 30 days with 20-30 proofs, and $100 print credit.**

***Disclaimer, this give away is not sponsored or associated with Facebook nor will the winner be notified by Facebook. Unclaimed prize has no value.  ***

And once again since it’s so cold, here’s a photo from 2 of the warmest days of this year with some of my favorite people….

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Happy Veteran’s Day! {Southeast Minnesota Portrait Photographer}

Today, I hope we all take a moment to thank a Veteran for their service.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, I wanted to feature some of my clients who have served or are currently serving.  If you’re a Veteran, thank you. Let’s not forget the sacrifices of those who are serving or  have served and their families! Thank you for your service.. I appreciate it to no end.

If you know a Veteran, tell them I said thank you.

 

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Yay! Warm Weather! {Southeast Minnesota Portrait Photographer}

Wow, it’s been awhile since I have posted on the blog.  We have been pretty busy lately, so I have just been posting to Facebook recently, I guess. I need to go back to posting here, again.

What better way that with some quick photos I took last night on what feels like the first really nice day in forever here in MN.  It felt so good to be outside with great temps, no wind, and no cold weather gear on.  😉  I took full advantage of the day, lunch outside on the patio at Whistle Binkies, ice cream at the DQ after picking up my cousins from school, and some photos around the farm with Jackson…

Jackson loves it when we roam around the farm until I put the camera up to my eye and point the camera at him, he likes to ignore me.  No matter what crazy sound I make or if I mention treat or his ball, he still pretends I a not there.  But if I put the camera down, he will look right at me.    They are just too smart some days!

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Photography by Kari specializes in custom portraiture of newborn, family, children sports team banners, dog, and high school seniors in Spring Valley, MN, and surrounding Southeast Minnesota areas.

Areas, including, but not limited to, Rochester, Preston, Chatfield, Stewartville, Grand Meadow, LeRoy, Ostrander, Kasson, Hayfield, Plainview, St. Charles and Pine Island.

Southeast Minnesota based photographer.

specializing in newborn, family, children, and senior photography.

located in sPRING vALLEY, mn

TELEPHONE :: 507.951.0640

E-MAil :: kari@photographybykari.com