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Happy Brother and Sister ~ Twin Cities Minnesota Family and Child Photographer

I am patiently waiting for the spring weather to arrive.  I love doing sessions outdoors and look forward to spring, summer and fall for many outdoor moments captured.  I am blessed to have a home studio with great natural lighting and am able to use it for newborn sessions and winter sessions with little ones that can’t wait for warmer weather.  Atticus has recently turned 3 months and he is a “Grow With Me” Baby and his bigger sister, Charlotte,  was 2 years old in January. I have photographed all of her milestones and look forward to watching her and Atticus continue to grow.  Here a few sneak peeks from the indoor studio session.  Looking forward to our next session being outdoors and getting the whole family in there for some mom and dad love!:)

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A Year Filled With Love…2014

A Year Filled With Love…2014

 

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated my blog.  I was so blessed last year with new clients and returning clients and friends and family that my fall was so busy that I still think I am recovering.  I know as a mom we are always trying to find balance in our lives and I felt this past fall was extremely tough to devote enough time to my son and husband as well as the time needed for my photography business.  Luckily with a little lack of sleep and wonderful patient clients I made it through the busy season!  With that being said, my blog, Facebook, and staying in contact with all of you fell a little behind.

 

I am blessed to say that I am so extremely excited for what 2014 has to bring for Jill Hotujec Photography.  I have been blessed with some beautiful weddings that I am lucky to be a part of this year and all of them are unique in their own way with so much love in the air it makes me smile.  I love to meet the engaged couple in person first to go over my process, paperwork, and to show them my work and albums as well as get to know them and have fun on their engagement session.  I love every single engagement session I did this past 2013 in preparation for their weddings this year.  I will post a few of my favorite images below from each of the fabulous couples in LOVE!

 

One thing all of them will verify is that as much as I love the emotion and feelings that photography can capture I also LOVE natural sunlight.  I get giddy and literally do a happy dance with perfect light!  I know there is something special about being engaged and getting married but I recently read a blog post by Julie Paisley Photography that inspired me and touched me in a way that I wanted to share with all of you that have been married for 5 years….10years…15year…20years……and many more!  The feelings you get when you are newly in love with butterflies in your stomach and looking forward at your life together is irreplaceable but it is equally as important to know that love changes.  Love takes on new forms. When I read Julie’s blog it touched my heart as this real love is what I have been living and my husband has stood by my side through all the ups and downs life has brought us.  It makes us stronger and it changes the lens you look through to see the many blessings around you.  Here is part of Julie’s blog that touches me personally:

 

Written by Julie Paisley Photography:

 “You see, young love is just amazing.  It’s all butterflies in your belly, electric shocks when he touches you, a smile that can melt you in a heart beat and while that is the most wonderful feeling in the world, it’s not really reality.  I think that is why the divorce rate is so high.  So many people think that if any of that goes away, well, it just means that you are no longer in love.  People just have accepted that it happens, you move on and find someone else.  This my friend is so, so sad.

Let me be a little honest with you.  You see, real love is so much more.  For me, real love is when you are at your worst, have gained weight, or received a terrible too short haircut and he still thinks you are the most beautiful person in the world.  Real love is when you are puking your guts out but he is there with a cold washcloth to wipe your face all the while he is gagging and trying not to puke himself!  Real love is sitting there holding your hand and just being quiet while you cry and question God why you cannot get pregnant and give him a child.  Real love is when he overlooks your mess on the side of the bed while it’s totally driving him crazy.  Real love is when he sleeps with headphones on because you snore instead of sleeping in the other room.  Real love is no matter how many times you change the paint color, he just says nothing and patiently paints it again.  Real love is when he quits his job to be a “stay home dad” so that your career can flourish and Real  love is when he is willing to go back to work so that you can take a break.  I could go on and on but I hope you get the picture.  REAL LOVE is not a “feeling”  REAL LOVE is action.”

 

As my title states…LOVE is in the air this year:)  I am honored to capture some of these moments on camera to last a lifetime and would love to have capture those that have been married for years together to relive that wedding moment with a special place you cherish together, a romantic love letter you write to each other, a walk in the woods together to show a place you shut out the rest of our busy chaotic world and just be “in the moment” together.  I would love you to have these moments to cherish for a lifetime and show that you have grown together as a couple and grow more and more in love with each other as the years go on.

This would also be a wonderful gift for your parents and grand parents to have a session to get dressed up and a special place to share a letter with each other about how much they mean to you!  Please feel free to contact me with questions and I cant wait to see this year filled with love!

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Stephanie - These are gorgeous! The one with the couple on the log in the stream – to die for!! Love them all!

Maura - So beautiful! Love the emotion your photos evoke!

Nicole Gulick - Such lovely images! Julie was so right with that blog post! Love that that inspired you

been waiting so long for this moment… ~ Military homecoming MN & WI Professional Photographer

I was able to be a fly on the wall for Jake’s homecoming to his family’s home.  He traveled for 7 days to get home to see his wife and two daughters and family.  Lucy was born while he was gone 6 months ago and this was his first time holding her and Sofia has been missing Daddy and couldn’t believe her eyes when he arrived at the top of the steps.   I am humbled by the sacrifices made by those in the military and their families for our country.  Thank you to those serving and I am honored to be able to capture moments like these of pure emotion. Thank you Jake for your service and I am so thankful that you are home safe and with your family.

Fall Family Session ~ Twin Cities Family Photographer

I LOVE when I get the opportunity to watch families grow with my photography.  The Swanson family has been friends of ours for years and I have been able to photograph this family for the past couple years and I love every session.  Thank you for allowing me to capture your family.  Both the girls have so many different expressions that I loved editing and allowing the story to unfold!  I hope you feel it captures their true personalities.

I hope you enjoy!

Levi Hudson High School Senior 2014 ~ Senior Professional Photographer for MN and WI

Levi is a senior at Hudson High School and we had a lot of fun hiking, climbing, chatting and taking lot of photos during his session.  I also went to High School at Hudson High and love heading back to WI for sessions!:)  I was able to photograph Levi for his senior photos and he chose the location of Willow River Park in Wisconsin because he spends a lot of time there with friends hanging out and kayaking.  It was beautiful and he even made me do a little rock climbing in some water for some photos up high by the falls.

Enjoy and I hope you have a great senior year Levi!

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