BOZEMAN CHILDREN and SENIOR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER, BOZEMAN BABY, CHILD, FAMILY and FAMILY REUNION PHOTOGRAPHY by MONTANA'S SUSANN SAAREL » Babies

the apple of his eye

Susann — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:16:29 +0000

Whatta guy! Chris knows the importance of family (and family photos) and booked this session on the occasion of a summertime visit from his sister, Mara and their mom, Karen. It’s obvious that beautiful women run in this family and seventeen month old Mckenna is well on her way into growing up into one herself. Surely she is enjoying being doted on by her auntie and grandma, but something tells me no one spoils her more than daddy. Little Miss Mckenna, without a doubt, is the apple of his eye.

my favorite girl in the world

Susann — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:28:17 +0000

I have boy/girl twins. How lucky is that? One of each. And every night, since they were babies, I tuck them cozily into bed calling each one my favorite, because *as individuals*, they are…my favorite boy in the world and my favorite girl in the world.

Miss Larissa has been my kindred spirit since the day she came into this world, kicking her way out of the womb (during a C-section emergency birth)..with an “I want to be born…I want to be born NOW!” sort of attitude. A baby with the eyes of an old soul who saw deep into my core. My mini me in so many ways and so much more. She is the mirror into my past and the light into my future. She is for so many reasons, my favorite girl in the whole world…and always will be. And I continue to tell her so every night. Because you can never really tell them enough how much you love them and how much they mean to you…

And despite our crazy short summer that goes by in the blink of an eye, we somehow manage every year, to squeeze in a special summer photo session…just she and I. These images are from Phase 2 of our photo shoot taking place just days before the twins’ departure to California to spend a few weeks with their Oma & Opa on the beaches of Santa Monica. Larissa raided my closet for this one, choosing to wear one of my Monah Li dresses and matching hat. Our session took place near Sky Ranch, in a open field and cattle chute at high noon. I love you, Miss Larissa Sage…you are my favorite girl in the whole world! xoxo…Love, Mom

Keoni

Susann — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:17:17 +0000

Its easy to see who the world revolves around for these new parents. Baby Keoni is a cutie-pie if ever there was one with the hugest happiest smile I’ve ever seen on a 6 month old! No wonder mom and dad just want to eat him up! Dad John is a sweetie himself for booking this session as a surprise for Maria’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Maria!…Or as they say in Hawaiian, Hau`oli Lā Hānau!

Montana Parent Magazine ~ Aug/Sept Cover Child

Susann — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:28:26 +0000

Good Heavens…it’s the back to school issue of Montana Parent Magazine!!! Where HAS the summer gone? The twins start back to school in 27 days! At least we’ll have this cover shot to always remember the summer of 2010 by. Here’s my own Miss Larissa running through a sea of sunflowers here at Sky Ranch. Her cute country dress and lace-trimmed polka dot socks are by Matilda Jane.

Be sure to pick up your free copy next time you’re in town or check out the digital version, here. There’s some great info on getting organized for the school year, after-school programs, and much more including my personal favorite…the four fun farms to visit! Sheep, alpacas and goats, oh my!

In the Country

Susann — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:59:44 +0000

Every summer, when the grass is lush and green and the wildflowers are in full bloom, my daughter, Larissa, requests her own personal photo shoot. As sort of a special send-off, we always do the session just before she and her twin brother, Sam, fly to California for their “Surfin’ Safari” where they get to spend some quality time with their Oma and Opa on Santa Monica Beach. Phase I of Larissa’s photo shoot took place in a meadow of Cow Parsnip just down our road. I know…{Cow Parsnip}…it doesn’t sound romantic, but it sure looks pretty along with Larissa’s super-cute outfit by Matilda Jane. Here are a few outtakes…

Ain’t she pretty? Gosh, I miss my babies sooooo much. Hang in there, mama!!! (I keep tellin’ myself!)…just 2 more days!:) And to my favorite girl in the whole world…I LOVE YOU, BABY! Love, Mom.

Family…bringing your walls to life.

Susann — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:16:18 +0000

Several years ago, I was hired to photograph a Bozeman architect at one of his newly designed properties on a huge parcel of land. As I toured his client’s impeccably decorated home scouting for light and locations, one thing struck me…there was not a single family photo anywhere. Not on the wall, not on a tabletop. Not a one. The only thing in this home to tell me anything about who lived there were the selection of DVD’s in their massive collection! The home was perfection, really…full of the finest furnishings money can buy, but devoid of anything “personal”, the house seemed empty and lifeless.

I have always believed in personalizing one’s space…in making a house a HOME and in “living with what you love”. To that end, we mix antique furniture with new, family heirlooms with our twins’ ceramic vases, and fine art paintings with family photos, many of them simple snapshots. Framed photos sit on the piano, my writing desk, in my husbands office, on our bedside tables, and in the kids’ rooms. They hang in the library and along the walls of our well-traveled hallway. The images tell the story of our lives as a family from the 1930′s photo of my husband’s parents, to photos of Doug & I at our wedding and on our honeymoon, from our twins’ baptism portrait to my fave photo of the kids running carefree along the shore during a Caribbean beach vacation. Our children can view their complete family history on our walls!

Alas, in many homes, walls are empty. Walls just begging to be adorned with family photos and artwork. Perhaps due to lack of time, decorating savvy or both. Decorating with photos does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. The photos do not have to be professional images. Most of us have more photos than anything else in our homes…stuffed in boxes, drawers, closets and attics. Wouldn’t it be fun to spend an afternoon with your kids looking through them all, pulling out the ones that truly “speak to you”, framing and hanging them? Wouldn’t your family love helping you bring that big blank wall or empty hallway to life? Well, there’s no time like the present!…Pottery Barn is now offering 20% off their Wood Gallery Frames. For less than $200 you can create a stunning wall portrait collection that will make your family proud!!!

Here are a few more inspirational ideas for decorating with photos you may already have:

Celebrate Dad!

Susann — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:27:29 +0000

Dads. They’re like superheroes in the eyes of young children. Dad makes his kids feel safe and protected. Dad is the man who can fix everything, from broken toys to broken hearts. Dad gives his kids piggy-back rides, teaches them how to ride a bike and throw a ball. A day, an afternoon, an hour with dad, can make the world’s problems go away…

Over the years, some of my favorite images have been of children and babies with their dads….

In honor of Father’s Day which is just one month away, I’ll be adding some of these favorites several times a week to my facebook page album titled “Sweet Child O’ Mine ~ Dads”. Be sure to visit and check out the latest additions. And if you’d like to Celebrate Dad with images like these of your own, just give me a shout at (406) 222-9453! I still have a few available dates in June and July!

“Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad.” -Anne Geddes

Ted Turner’s Family Portraits

Susann — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:11:27 +0000

I first photographed the Ted Turner family, his children and grandchildren back in the summer of 2003 at his breathtaking Flying D Ranch. Little did I know then, that my images would end up a year later in Architectural Digest in an exclusive look at Avalon, Turner’s Florida Plantation home. A portrait photographer’s work in an interior design publication?…But, of course! Ted knows that beyond fabulous furnishings and great interior design, it’s heirlooms, collectibles and family portraits that make a house a home!

“Avalon is, alone of his more than 20 major residences, the place Ted Turner doesn’t hesitate to call home. He spends more time at Avalon than anywhere else. “ — Steven M.L. Aronson for Architectural Digest, July 2004

Notice how the end tables in this room are filled with framed family portraits for anyone seated to enjoy. The photographer and stylist for this spread convey Ted’s love of family by posing him next to a tabletop of my sepia-toned portraits elegantly displayed in sterling silver frames. Clearly, Ted has mastered the art of “living with what you love”, as written about in yesterday’s blogpost.

Stay tuned for future posts on ways to decorate with family portraits, beyond placing framed images on mantles and tabletops for those of you who prefer a more clutter-free look.

Grand Opening of our Boutique Salon!

Susann — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:49:54 +0000

Please come celebrate with us the Grand Opening of our Photography Boutique Salon in historic downtown Livingston!

When: Friday, April 16th from 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, April 17th from 11-3 p.m.
Sunday, April 18th from 11-3 p.m.
Where: 119-1/2 West Park, Livingston ~ Suite 4

Come any day you like and bring your friends! See, touch and feel our fabulous luxury boutique products. We’ll also be hosting a Matilda Jane Trunk Show! Matilda’s super-cute clothes are not just for little girls, but for big girls, teens and moms too. They’ll be perfect for your summer session!

Sip champagne ~ Enter our drawing to win a free photo session!

If you’d like to attend our Grand Opening event just come on by! If you’d like to be the first to be informed about our future events, please become a fan on facebook and/or sign up for our Email newsletter below:

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MRK Image Cases are here!

Susann — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:14:55 +0000

I have admired these images cases for YEARS and am so pleased to now be offering these stunning products to my clients! Like me, Monica Rich Kosann is a fine art photographer specializing in portraiture. And also like me, Monica loves visiting flea markets and antique shops in the United States and Europe. She began collecting vintage, sterling silver cigarette cases and compacts and not only restored these fine pieces, but turned them into image cases that her clients used to hold smaller prints of her fine photography. The demand for these items inspired Monica to develop her own line of sterling silver image cases.

I am proud to introduce this unique collection of image cases and jewelry in sterling silver and 18 carat yellow gold. These cases, lockets and frames are designed to become precious heirlooms that hold close to us the images that mean so much.

Photos courtesy of The Fine Art of Family.

Feel free to make an appointment to come by the Boutique Salon to see them in person or visit the “heart & home” section of my website to see more. I’m sure you’ll be as enamored with them as I am!