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Light Painting {SE MN Photographer}

Posted in Personal

Last summer, my assistant, Gavin, and I had talked about trying to light paint something. However, as life often does, time slipped through our fingers, but we made time this year to light paint a friend’s old car against the backdrop of my Dad’s cornfield.

We set up the car and our tripod about an hour and a half before sunset and waited for the sun to go down. The setting sun painted the sky with hues of blue, orange, and gold, infusing the landscape with a touch of magic. The old car, a testament to days gone by, stood there, patiently waiting for our artistic touch. With every rusted edge and faded paint, it whispered stories of a forgotten era. It was the perfect subject for our first light painting adventure.

To light paint, you have to light up each area and take a photo, and then in post-processing, you build the photo. While taking the 176 photos we took that night, uncertainty lingered in the air, Gavin and I both thought it was not going to work. But we were determined to try and lit the car 4 times trying a few different things each time. Oddly enough, I decided to try using the photos from our first try to build the photo.

Each layer of light, meticulously captured, has been seamlessly blended using the magic of Photoshop using layers and erasing areas not needed. It takes MANY photos. This photo has 27 layers. As I was editing, I was amazed that it had worked on our first try. Crazy!

In the end, this photo reminds me of the beauty in trying new things, of embracing the unknown with an open heart and an open mind. It’s about stepping into uncharted territory, whether it’s within the realm of art, personal growth, or life itself. Each new endeavor provides us with an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to unlock hidden potentials that lie within us. Never stop learning….

Light painted car in front of corn field taken by Photography by Kari
Light painted car in front of corn field taken by Photography by Kari
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Voyage Minnesota Article {SE MN Photographer}

Posted in Updates

Hey everyone! I am thrilled to share I was recently interviewed by Voyage Minnesota, a magazine that shines a spotlight on Minnesota small businesses like ours.

This feature is not just about me; it’s a celebration of all the wonderful people who have supported me throughout my journey. I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support.

I am beyond excited and honored to be featured and I invite all of you to check out the full article in the latest edition of Voyage Minnesota and read more of the articles on talented small businesses located right here in our beloved state. https://voyageminnesota.com/…/check-out-kari-mcgills…/

Kari mcgill featured in Voyage Minnesota magazine
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Senior Guy Portrait Session {SE MN Senior Photographer}

Posted in Seniors

Every senior portrait session is an opportunity to freeze a moment in time, capturing the unique essence of a young individual on the brink of an exciting new chapter in their life. This past fall, I had the pleasure of working with Mason, an outstanding young man whose passion for aviation and football made his senior portraits a truly unique experience. For me, working with Mason was not just about this particular milestone but the many times I have been able to photograph Mason. 

As a portrait photographer, I have had the privilege of photographing Mason since he was a child. From the first snap of the camera, it was evident that Mason possesses a remarkable ability to make those around him burst into laughter. His infectious humor and vibrant personality always left my cheeks sore from smiling and laughing at sessions. So, when it came time for his senior portraits, I knew we were in for a fun laughter-filled experience, even if he was not excited to be taking photos. 

Embracing Adventure: Preston Airport and the Winds of Change


Our original plan was to kick off Mason’s senior portrait session at the Preston Airport—a location that perfectly showcased his love for flying and his achievement of obtaining his pilot’s license the previous year. However, nature had other plans in store for us. The winds were unusually strong, gusting with such force that even the securely tied-down airplane moved. Safety was our utmost priority, prompting us to reschedule the airplane portraits for another day.

Good Earth Village and Furry Friends

To escape the windy conditions, we sought solace at Good Earth Village, nestled in the heart of Spring Valley, MN. The picturesque landscape, adorned with meadows, trees, and rustic buildings, provided an idyllic backdrop for capturing timeless portraits at Good Earth Village.  We then met up with his sisters and Dad who brought their family dogs for a few portraits. 

Golden Hour Glory and A Bright Future Awaits: Football Dreams and Winona State University

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in breathtaking hues, we made our way to Kingsland football field. Armed with a football, we captured Mason’s passion for the game against the backdrop of his high school football field. Football holds a special place in Mason’s heart, as he will continue playing the sport while pursuing his education at Winona State University.

Second Chances and Cloudy Marvels: A Return to Preston Airport

Undeterred, we returned to the airport the following week to capture some photos of Mason and his airplane. This time, we were met with breathtaking cloud formations that added a touch of drama and beauty to the photographs.

Photographing Mason from his childhood with Christmas Mini sessions to sports photos to his senior year has been a privilege.  These senior portraits symbolize the beginning of a new era, celebrating his accomplishments and the limitless potential that lies before him. It is truly an honor to be entrusted with capturing these precious moments, preserving an important milestone in Mason’s life, and providing cherished memories for him and his loved ones.

Mason poses casually for his MN senior pictures.
Mason with his airplane MN senior pictures.
Mason poses casually at the Kingsland Football field for his SE MN senior pictures.
Mason walking on Preston Airport runway with his airplane MN senior pictures.
Mason with his airplane MN senior pictures.
Mason with his airplane MN senior pictures.
Mason poses with his dog for his MN senior pictures.
Mason poses casually for his MN senior pictures.
Mason with his airplane MN senior pictures.
Mason poses casually for his MN senior pictures.
Mason poses with his dog for his MN senior pictures.

Looking to have your high school senior portraits taken? Click here to contact me for more info!

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Snow Dog Portraits {SE MN Dog Portrait Photographer}

Posted in Dogs

It’s April 1st and Mother Nature decided to play an April Fools Day joke on us all. Who would have thought that we would end the night with a thunderstorm and then wake up to 3 inches of fresh snow?

We know that this time of year is usually a time of warmer weather, mud, and brown and green grass. But, Mother Nature had a different plan for us today. The snow was beautiful. It was also so incredibly bright outside from the sun and the very white snow. Although the snow outside is a bit disheartening to us that are ready for spring, it does make for some beautiful portrait opportunities.

My dog, Maverick, was in heaven as he loves playing in the snow. He has had me go outside six times today just to play in the snow and he is standing in my doorway wanting to go, again. lol I of course had to take some photos of Maverick to capture the April snow.

Although Mother Nature decided to surprise us with an April Fool joke this year, it’s been a lot of fun.

  • dog portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • dog portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • dog portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • dog portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • black lab portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • black lab portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • black lab portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • black lab portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • black lab portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
  • black lab portrait in snow taken by Photography by Kari
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Graduation Announcements, Yard Signs, and Banners {SE MN Senior Photographer}

Posted in Seniors

Graduation is just around the corner. This milestone is one that only comes around once in a lifetime and should be celebrated. We offer a range of stunning, custom graduation announcements, yard signs, and banners. These all make a great way to show off your accomplishment while letting friends and family know about the big day.

**If you did not have your photos taken at Photography by Kari, we can still get these ordered for you but we WILL need a print release from your photographer.**

We offer a range of stunning, custom graduation announcements. Each announcement is designed with care and detail to ensure that you have a lasting keepsake of this special time in your life. purchase one graduation announcement, we are offering our special Buy One Get One (BOGO) offer on our 2-sided and 4-sided graduation announcements! When you purchase one 2-sided or 4-sided graduation announcement, you get a second one for free – so you can share the news with twice as many people! With this deal, you’ll save big on unique customizable designs that feature beautiful colors, fonts, and more. We will even include a digital version of the announcement for those that order a minimum of 150 2-sided or 4-sided graduation announcements so you can share it electronically with loved ones near and far on social media.


If you’d like to get your design finished now, so orders can be placed with the lab with the cards coming in within a few days of the design being finalized, we just need to know any colors you’d like on it and the photos you’d want to be used ( if you need your gallery reloaded, please let me know or your favorites can still be seen, too) , then we can design something and can e-mail it to you to view and decide if you like or would want changes made…. Then we will send you an invoice for them. You can find some samples here: https://photographybykari.com/blog/?s=announcements&searchsubmit-top=search You’ll just need to click on each blog post to show you them. If your senior already has a design in mind that they have seen somewhere, please send me an example and I can do something similar or combine a couple of designs.


Yard signs were a big hit the last 3 years, so we decided to do them, again this year. Signs are available in 18”x24”, 2-sided, printed on 4mm Waterproof corrugated plastic, long-lasting, fade-resistant UV inks, and include a wire stake. They are $25 each or $20 for 2 or 3 or $15 for 4 or more, plus MN and Fillmore County Sales Tax. We are also adding vinyl banners this year. Banners are available in 13 oz. and 18 oz vinyl, single-sided or double-sided, and in 3 sizes. You can choose to order a design shown and custom design colors and logos for the yard sign or banner or they can also match your graduation announcement. Orders can be placed here: https://photographybykari.com/store/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=2761 Orders for yard signs and banners will be taken from now until 4/15/23. All orders for the yard signs and banners will be placed on 4/23. They will take 2 weeks to come in and be ready for pickup. Once your order is placed, please email which photo you would like and the information and colors you’d like added to the design you chose, we will put it together and email you the mock-up for approval before sending it off to the lab to be printed.


We look forward to helping you create a unique product to celebrate graduation!

  • Custom Graduation Announcements, Yard Signs and Banners

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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.

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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