The Photography Blog of Susann Saarel, Bozeman’s premier baby, children and high school senior portrait photographer of Windows of the Heart Fine Art Portraiture and Susann Saarel Seniors. Maternity, family, family reunion, couples, engagement and pet portrait photographer serving Bozeman and Livingston, Montana and beyond…
Welcome and thanks for stopping by my Blog! This is where you'll find my most recent work, the latest news at Susann Saarel "Windows of the Heart" Fine Art Portraiture and Susann Saarel Seniors and a little bit about my life high on a mountain-top at Sky Ranch. Watch for the upcoming launch of "Heart & Home", the latest concept in marrying fine art portraiture with fashion and home design as well as the 2010 Grand Opening of my Boutique Salon in Livingston, Montana's historic district!
For more information about me, my cover child images, my Senior Spokesmodel Program, and my selection of luxury boutique photography products, click on the information link above or better yet, check out my websites. If you are interested in receiving invitations to my photographic exhibitions or any of my "by invitation only" fine art portraiture events, please be sure to join my email mailing list.
Holy smokes…where did January go? I’ve been so busy working on all the exciting things I have planned for 2010 that the month just flew by! Several projects and events are in the works as well as the introduction of some stunning new products, but first things first! Its all going to kick off with this one: Soon, very soon, I will be announcing the grand opening of my Boutique Salon! What is a boutique salon you may ask? Well, its a lovely little “salon” downtown in Livingston’s Historic District where I will display my “boutique” products and portrait wall art and meet with you, my fabulous clients! Hence, boutique salon!
According to Webster, the definition of salon is: 1. a large reception hall or drawing room and 2., a regular gathering of distinguished guests. Although I would define the space more along the lines of “petite” or “charming”, it will most definitely be a gathering place for distinguished guests. Yes, that’s you! I’ll fill you in on more later, but for now, here’s a little sneak peek…
If you’re interested in attending the upcoming 3-day Grand Opening event and you are not yet on my E-Mail Newsletter List, feel free to join by entering your email address here and/or become a fan on Facebook.
Eek,…every year I shudder at the choices of Valentine’s my kids have to choose from to hand out to their classmates and teachers at school. Action heroes and the like. What ever happened to the delightful variety box of heart-shaped cards available at the supermarket in the 1960’s & 70’s? A by-gone era no doubt…So I was thrilled today when I discovered these darling templates that I can personalize with your child’s photo!
We can do a mini-session this week if you’d like the most up-to-date image, or we can use an image from a previous session. The cards are 4×5 and a super darling way for your child to ask his/her friends to “Be my Valentine”! The deadline for ordering is Thursday, February 4th!
Creating DVD slideshows from session photos is just another creative outlet for me! This children’s session was a holiday surprise from mom to daughter (mother of these 4 cute kiddos…see Nina’s Surprise). This show really plays up the wintry holiday feel and the **sparkles**, well…they just make me happy! I love how a DVD slideshow really brings the images to life…
The DVD slideshow was a complement to the 10×10 Keepsake Album which came beautifully packaged in an Impression Case along with an 8×8 and a 5×5 mini-album. Yep, Nina went all out…here are a few images of the finished albums…
Most of all… to be able to enjoy the slideshow and wonderful lay-flat Keepsake Albums in the middle of a cold Montana Winter while sitting by a warm toasty fire…now THAT’s what I call LUXURY!
Oh, gosh…I can hardly remember how many years ago it’s been since I first photographed this gorgeous family…maybe 3 or 4? It was 2005 actually,…so four. Terry and Teresa’s girls were just toddlers then and as blonde and as cute as can be. When I last did their family portraits just this past September, the girls were still just as blonde and as cute as can be while Teresa was glowing in all her pregnancy glory. Pregnant with their first little man, baby Drew. What better wrapped bundle of love and joy could be delivered just in time for Christmas than a beautiful new baby boy!
Happy New Year, Terry, Teresa, Lila, June and new baby Drew!
There were smiles, laughter, joy and good ol’ fashioned fun the day my client, Michelle came out to Sky Ranch to be photographed with her visiting sisters back in August 2006. The sisters held hands and waded through fields of wildflowers. They snuggled up close…closer-than-ever. You would never know that among three young and beautiful sisters, one of them was sick, very sick. Vivacious middle sister Amy had recently been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and was told she had 5-8 years to live.
Seeing and photographing Michelle, Amy and Angela that day, the reality didn’t seem real. The day was perfect, everything was perfect. That day. Three and a half years ago. When I received the news that Amy passed away on January 2nd, my heart sank. For Amy and a beautiful life cut much too short, for her sisters Michelle and Angela, for her parents Frank and Nancy, for her brother Fr. Michael, and for Amy’s devoted husband, Todd and his children.
Sister Michelle said it best when she shared with me her observations of her brave sister, Amy…”I have to say that we (her family and friends) never heard her complain or ask “why me?”. She spent the five years she had after her diagnosis preparing to meet God and figuring out what was really important in life, and when my dad asked her about a month ago if she were afraid to die, she said no, and she was at peace with whatever God had in store for her- even death. She was generous and unselfish, and loved her job as a middle school special education teacher. In reading the cards people were sending after her passing, I think she will most be remembered for her love of God, her smile and laughter.”
(above: Amy, Michelle and Angela)
(above: Michelle, Amy and Angela)
…her smile and laughter…and I will remember her for the same.
by Susann
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