Nicki Gordon Photography

Lazy Tuesday

2012-02-21T16:12:00.000-06:00

Just realized that with the busyness of life I've forgotten to post in a while. Foster and I are having a nice lazy day around the house. Then I opened the door to grab the mail and he wanted out! Had to grab the camera quickly and get a few shots...

Mom, really, I have my hat and everything.

Okay fine...I'll also be happy playing with this thing.

Chase!

2012-02-06T09:38:00.004-06:00

Isn't it shocking sometimes how quickly babies change? I took photos of Chase just three short months ago and he already looks so different at 6 months old. Such a big boy now! He was a trooper putting up with me placing him in buckets and forcing him to have tummy time...and asking him to smile while doing it! Although nothing compared to the shots I got of him with his Mom and Dad. They are always the best props. He did a great job, as you can see:

Twins!

2012-01-17T11:05:00.002-06:00

This is Adalyn and Paisley--adorable twins that just turned 6 months old. They were so sweet and smiley during their photo session. It's not easy to be a little gal and put up with wardrobe changes, headbands, bows, sitting in baskets, and even wearing wings...but they smiled through it all. I went to college with their wonderful Mom and watching her and her husband take care of two little girls under the age of one is so much fun. They are busy! I had a hard time picking my favorites, so I'm going to post a bunch.

Ho Ho Ho!

2011-12-22T13:46:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas from Nicki Gordon Photography...and my very own little Santa!

Sweet Little Samantha

2011-11-28T16:31:00.002-06:00

Finally, a little girl to take photos of! Of course I love little boys, but I have had a lot of baby boy shoots in the past couple months and not many girls. So it was a fun change to take pics of a baby in bows, dresses, and tights. Also, I'm not sure what the deal is lately, but I seem to have some sort of effect on babies that makes them not want to sleep in my presence. It must be my sparkling personality. They just want to stay awake and hang out with me! So Samantha stayed awake for just about all of the 2 hours that I was taking pictures of her. She was so alert and very aware of her surroundings, which means I got lots of shots of her beautiful eyes looking around. Such a little sweetheart. Now speaking of babies that like to stay awake...I hear my little guy waking up from his (very short) nap....

Brenna

2011-11-18T11:00:00.001-06:00

Brenna and I ventured over to another one of my favorite spots, Minnehaha Park, to take her senior photos. It been so nice to have such a warm Fall. I remember taking senior photos last year wearing a pea coat and hat to keep warm. So I was definitely spoiled this Fall and able to shoot outside a little longer than last year. Anyway, as you can see, Brenna is just beautiful and was so much fun to work with. Here are some of my favorite shots:

Colton & Chase

2011-11-15T10:00:00.001-06:00

Colton is another kiddo that I've been taking photos of since he was a baby. It's been so fun to watch him grow up and to be a part of documenting it all. He turned three years old this Fall and I think it's the first time he was actually interested in getting his picture taken, so that was fun. Colton is now a big brother to Chase (3 months old)....who looks exactly like him! I think it's going to be hard for their parents to tell their baby pictures apart!

Jack

2011-11-13T21:06:00.000-06:00

Jack is the son of one of my best friends, Katie. Kate and I have known each other for over 20 years and we were both pregnant at the same time and due within just a few weeks of each other. I hope Jack and my little guy Foster end up being great friends like Katie and me. Jack is quite the handsome little guy and I loved that he was decked out in a tie for his photo shoot. As you can see, he is quite the little model.

Engagements

2011-11-09T10:21:00.000-06:00

I've been taking lots of engagement photos this Fall for weddings that I'll be shooting next year. Thought I'd share a few shots of all the lovebirds!

Running around Noerenberg

2011-11-07T16:43:00.000-06:00

I've mentioned before that I love shooting at Noerenberg Park in Wayzata. It's a great spot when taking pics of little kids since there's tons of space for them to run around and lots of paths and steps to keep them occupied. I've been taking photos of Caitlin since she was just a little baby and now she's a cute little lady. You can tell she's a great big sister to her brother Tommy. As you can see, they both kept us busy that afternoon!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T19:23:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween from me and my little monkey! This is the only shot I could get of him not stuffing leaves in his mouth. Turns out I need an assistant when taking pics of him in the yard!

Nicci

2011-10-31T14:17:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again...when Senior pictures are due for the yearbook! I've had a handful of senior shoots this Fall and as I've said before, I always get to take photos of such smart and beautiful ladies. Nicci was so much fun to work with. We had the shoot at Noerenberg Gardens when the leaves were right at their peak colors. Below are some of my favorites.

My little man is taking a much needed nap right now, but when he's up I'll post a pic of him in his Halloween costume :)

Maggie

2011-10-27T10:18:00.000-05:00

One of the many things I love about my job is when I get repeat clients and get to see how much their little ones change over time. For instance, I took pics of Maggie for the first time when she was just learning to walk and now she's in preschool. It's so fun to see how much she changes each year and to see her personality come out. The cutest thing about this shoot was that her Mom wanted her to wear a little bow/headband, and as soon as I'd snap one pic of her with it on, she'd quickly move the bow to the center of her forehead and laugh. It was the funniest thing...she just did not want to have that bow on. Haa. I've posted a couple pics of it. It really did look cute when she left it on!

Sam...and Thomas The Train

2011-10-25T11:35:00.000-05:00

I used to watch Sam a couple days a week when he was just a teeny tiny little guy. He was born prematurely, so he really was a little peanut. To see him now as a little boy running around was so much fun. And I am just in love with all his curls! He wanted to hold Thomas The Train for most of the shoot, so I cropped him out of some, and kept him in others because it was quite adorable how into the train he was. So great to see you Sam! (and Michelle!)
Here are some of my favorites:

Yes, Another Farm! This Time With Actual Cows.

2011-10-20T18:57:00.002-05:00

I've had a running theme for the last month or so of farm photos. And I love it. This last one was an actual working farm with cows and tractors and corn...the works. It was a really fun shoot, but I did have to hose down my stinky shoes afterwards.

Cuteness All Around

2011-10-20T15:46:00.000-05:00

I am always impressed when families show up to shoots with coordinating outfits and hair styles in place, because I know how much time and effort it takes to pull it all together. Then I take photos of a family with FOUR kids that are all well behaved and cute as can be and I have to wonder how their parents get everyone out the door on time. I have one seven month old and it is a struggle some days.
It was fun to see how much Ashley, Abby, Izzy, and Nolan have grown in just one year. Here are some of my favorites:

Kevin & Carrie

2011-10-07T10:13:00.000-05:00

If you're a bride looking for ideas for your wedding....this is the wedding to look at. The reception was held at the couple's house in Red Wing, in a large barn-type building (sorry, I'm sure there's a proper farm term for it). The huge space and tall ceilings gave tons of opportunity for decorating with fabric, lights, chandeliers, flowers, and candles. And just to give you a better idea of how ambitious they are...they made their own wine and brewed their own beer. With custom-made labels. Now that is dedication!
I don't really do it justice by trying to explain it, so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Besides the wedding location being beautiful, Kevin & Carrie looked wonderful as well. They had over 400 guests, and you could tell every one of them was overjoyed for the happy couple. Congratulations you two!

And We're Still On The Farm!

2011-10-03T17:16:00.001-05:00

And the farm shoot continues. Moo. Here are my favorites of Rick & Kirsten's family:

Out On The Farm

2011-10-03T17:16:00.000-05:00

My Aunt Annette and Uncle Ron live on a gorgeous farm in Brandon, MN, and I had the chance to take photos of two of my cousins' families there. I love the variety that farms offer with all the unique buildings, textures, & lighting opportunities. I could've taken pics of their families all day. Thanks Annette and Ron for letting us take photos there--you're lucky you don't live closer, or I'd be hitting you up all the time to use your place for shoots! I'll post Elissa's family in this post and Kirsten's in the next.

Connor & Noah

2011-09-20T10:11:00.001-05:00

I was amazed at how together Noah and Connor's Mom was at this shoot when she had a newborn and 19 month old under one roof! I'm not sure how she's doing it, but I'm tired thinking about it. Good thing these little guys were so well behaved. As with most little ones around 19 months old, Connor had no interest in looking at the camera, so I did the shoot "paparazzi style" with my 70-200mm lens and just let him do his thing while I stood back and tried to get a shot of him standing still. It's a fun age, but they are so fast! Here are some of my favorites:

Jameson

2011-09-16T10:57:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to take photos of another sweet little boy, Jameson, and he was so wonderful. He really didn't make much of a peep for the whole shoot. As long as he had his pacifier or was being held by Mom or Dad, he was a happy camper. Such an nice life. I can't wait to see you again Jameson...I have a feeling you're going to grow very quickly! Here are some of my favorites:

I can't resist...

2011-09-11T21:54:00.000-05:00

....I have to post a couple pics of my little man because he turned 6 months old! We are so lucky to have you in our lives Foster!

Blake

2011-09-11T20:53:00.000-05:00

Here is my friends Jaime and Matt's adorable little boy, Blake. He was just the tiniest little cutie when I took pictures of him. And he immediately stole my heart by wearing a Badgers hat. Yay! However, Blake was yet another baby that didn't want to fall asleep when I was there! We tried to get him to doze off so we could maneuver him how we liked, but he was having none of it. Just too much excitement going on. So instead I got some cute shots of him gazing out the window and cuddling with Mom and Dad. Blake, after watching your Mom's belly grow over the past 9 months, it was so nice to finally meet you!

Nick & Chrisie

2011-09-08T17:41:00.000-05:00

Okay I'm getting really ambitious with the blog posts this afternoon since Foster is taking a little nap. One more! I shot Nick & Chrisie's wedding on the Bella Vista out on Lake Minnetonka. It was a gorgeous setting for a wedding and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a less traditional wedding location. The couple said their vows as the sun was beginning to set and it really was a perfect day. Congratulations Nick & Chrisie!

The Kilzers

2011-09-08T17:19:00.001-05:00

I really luck out with my shoots and always get to work with such cute kids. Jackson (the younger boy) had everyone cracking up the whole time. Such a little comedian and highly entertaining. His Mom told me he fell asleep as soon as he got in the car after the shoot. I believe it, because I was exhausted just watching him. And Jacob is officially ready to be a model. He had all the poses down and I could've taken pictures of him all day. Always fun to work with such a nice family on a Sunday afternoon! (oh and this was at Noerenberg Gardens in Wayzata.)

Lots of kiddos!

2011-09-08T17:02:00.000-05:00

Lots of photo shoots kept me very busy for the month of August. It's always great to be busy, but definitely brings some new challenges when also taking care of a baby! Foster is already 6 months old tomorrow and he has his first tooth peeking out. My little man is growing up!
But back to photos. I had the opportunity to take pics of Kate, Leo, and Ivy again this summer and it was so much fun to see how they've changed in just one short year. We had a big group that day, since their cousins Paige and Drew were also there. Everyone was hamming it up and very photogenic, so it made my job easy. Look how cute these kids are:

Eli & Clara

2011-08-31T16:54:00.000-05:00

Must. Squeeze. Her. How adorable is little Clara? She was just so cuddly and giggly. What a sweetheart. And her older brother Eli was just as adorable. Eli's 4, so he was a tad harder to get to sit still...but he did ham it up for me for a couple shots. We took these pics in my neck of the woods along Minnehaha Creek in South Minneapolis. Here's Eli & Clara in all their cuteness:

Baby Benjamin

2011-08-21T13:44:00.000-05:00

How adorable is this little sweetheart, Benjamin? He was such a little honey. He was wide awake for about half of the shoot which is pretty unusual for such a little guy. He obviously just wanted to be a part of all the action. Welcome to the world little Ben! Here's a few of my favorite shots:

Graeme & Luke

2011-08-18T09:43:00.000-05:00

These are two of my favorite little boys. I used to nanny for Graeme and Luke a couple days a week and they are so sweet and full of life. I hadn't seen them in a couple months and was taken aback by how much they'd changed. Luke is the younger one, and the last time I saw him he wasn't quite walking yet. The day of of the shoot he had mastered it and was crazy fast. In some of the photos he was literally just a blur running across the shot. And Graeme was cracking me up showing me his pirate impersonation. He was also really into sticking out his tongue. Which actually a lot of kids like to do when I point the camera at them.
My heart melted at this shot of them hugging. (click on the link below to see more of my favorites)

Geno & Macy

2011-08-12T18:08:00.000-05:00

I loved shooting this wedding! Geno & Macy got married at the beautiful Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake. My main men (my husband, Mac, and our little man, Foster) came along for the trip to enjoy the resort as well. Personally I think Mac wanted to tag along because he was nervous to spend a night alone with a five month old.
We had a gorgeous afternoon to take photos, but unfortunately right before the ceremony it started to downpour. The couple were so laid back and the rain didn't faze them. So the ceremony was moved inside and it was perfect. There was even a giant moose head over the fireplace watching the couple say their vows. Ha.
Geno heads back to Afghanistan soon and I will keep him in my thoughts for a safe return home as soon as possible.
Congratulations Geno & Macy!
Here are some of my favorite shots from the day:

Brad & Annie

2011-07-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

This was a beautiful wedding I shot at a lovely old church in St. Paul called The Church of St Louis, King of France, or "The Little French Church". The ceremony was just a small group of family and friends, so it was very intimate and romantic. Brad and Annie are such a sweet couple and even planned their wedding while dealing with the floods surrounding their house in North Dakota!
Congratulations on your marriage Brad & Annie! Here are some of my favorite shots:

Senior photos

2011-07-21T20:51:00.000-05:00

Senior photos are always so much fun to take. I think I luck out and always get to take pics of girls who are much more stylish and confident that I probably ever was in high school. Gabrielle was no exception. She had the perfect accessories for every outfit...everything coordinated from the shoes to the bracelets to the earrings. We took photos at one of my favorite shoot locations, Minnehaha Falls, in South Minneapolis. I always find new little spots to shoot every time I go. Here are a few of my favorites:

2011-07-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

It's been great to get back to work this Spring/Summer after taking some much needed time off for maternity leave. I love taking engagement photos, and Kevin & Carrie are friends of mine, so that made this shoot even more fun. They're getting married in September at their house in Red Wing and I cannot wait to shoot it! Hopefully it's not a billion degrees out like today.
I'll post some more pics from other shoots I've been up to when I have more time...but until then...here are the lovebirds:

New Blog!

2011-07-12T14:03:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my new photography blog! I've been very busy this summer taking care of my new little guy, Foster, while also running my business. So I figured why not throw another thing on my plate and start a blog? In honor of Foster being a big four month old, and to thank him for putting up with a camera being in his face a lot, the lucky monkey gets to be in the first photo I post. Clearly these days he's really into his giraffe and eating his hands, while waiting for his hair to grow back. The other photo in the header is a pic I took of Grafton Street in Dublin.

I plan on this blog being a place that current and prospective clients, as well as family and friends, can visit to see what I'm working on at the moment. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors I'm sure to make. I really get into using commas and I tend to just throw them in instead of ending a sentence, which is annoying, but it's also why I'm a photographer and not an English teacher.

Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you continue to do so!

Nicki