BOZEMAN CHILDREN and SENIOR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER, BOZEMAN BABY, CHILD, FAMILY and FAMILY REUNION PHOTOGRAPHY by SUSANN SAAREL » Couples

Welcoming 2012 with a grateful heart.

Susann — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:37:51 +0000

Happy New Year!!! Wow! What an amazing hear I had! Oh sure, it started off with a doozy of a winter and an unplanned 2 month hiatus as I became a full-time nurse to Doug after his accident, but professionally, 2011 was my greatest year ever! So I never got around to building my mobile websites, pulling all the garden weeds or sending out Christmas cards for that matter, but I won’t complain because for me, busy = blessed. I had the privilege of meeting and/or working with dozens of families from all over Montana, the U.S. and from as far as Europe and have enjoyed making new photographer friends through Facebook. To top it all off, our family celebrated the Grand Opening of my new boutique studio in Livingston in August to rave reviews, were featured in the Livingston Enterprise and in the Bozeman Chronicle’s B2B (Business to Business) Trade Journal (see page 2…the Comings and Goings section), and were also featured on The Savvy Photographer Blog, an inspiration blog for photographers with a world-wide following.

Decorating and outfitting the boutique studio was a 10 month long labor of love. In between, I shot my first newborn and baby studio sessions ever, a handful of family reunions, and a bunch of family/child sessions mostly here at Sky Ranch. I am so grateful to the people who invite me into their lives trusting me to photograph their most important family moments. I want to remind each and every one of you how beautiful you are…how special your connections are…what a gift to your family you are. So, with a grateful heart, I created something especially for you…the first of hopefully many more, “Year in Review” videos. Here, are a few of some of my favorite images from 2011…”The Year in Review”!!!

May God bless you and your families in the coming year!

xo,

Susann

flowers in the fall.

Susann — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:21:32 +0000

Every child is a flower. Blooming in their own special way. Mason (14), Maryn (2) and McCall (4 months) were the flowers blooming in the field and on the mountain-top during this recent family session at Sky Ranch taking center stage among fields of grass and sagebrush. The kindness and sweet love between them all, mother & father, sisters & brother, was something special to behold. Like flowers in the fall.

The Boutique Studio ~ A Grand Opening Celebration!

Susann — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 01:25:36 +0000

Nothing like a few setbacks to make a Grand Opening celebration all the sweeter! I had originally intended on a Spring opening…you know…just before the busy season. Yes, that would have been perfect. But God had other plans. As if 400% snowfall at 6,100 ft. weren’t enough…I dropped everything for months (namely my business), when my husband, Doug was nearly killed after being kicked in the face by a horse on March 3rd. So, I’m playing a bit of catch up here with an official opening at the END of summer!

We have been so very blessed that first of all, Doug survived the accident (the worst trauma Bozeman Deaconess had ever seen). And that Winter finally gave way to Spring. Blessed that my business continued to GROW despite the fact that I didn’t send out a single email newsletter all year and that my websites are not yet mobile-compatible (which was my plan for March, no less). We took it moment by moment, day by day, week by week. Summer has just flown by and it’s the last Art Walk of the season…and yes, of course…there is still so much I wanted to do to be “ready”…but guess what? We are having a celebration all the same because sometimes you just have to count your blessings right where you are!

So please, join us and bring all your friends to our Grand Opening Celebration to be held in conjunction with the famed Livingston Art Walk:

WHEN: This coming Friday, August 26th

TIME: 5:30 – 8:30 P.M.

WHERE: 114 E. Lewis Street (4 or 5 doors east of Main)

The Saarel Family would be honored to have you attend. Enjoy a glass of champagne and gourmet caramels while you peruse our fine boutique photography products. Enter a drawing to win a FREE Holiday Mini Session. We are so grateful to be here and would like to share our joy and blessings with you!

It was a family affair…

Susann — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:57:43 +0000

It was definitely a family affair when Michaela, her 4 yo daughter Teileigh, her sister Whitney and last but not least, her fiance Ryan arrived at Sky Ranch for their summer photo session! We met back in April at the boutique studio to discuss the photo shoot and I knew then it was going to be fun and easy especially when adorable little Teileigh hugged me tight to say good-bye. Her mom and auntie are absolutely stunning and Ryan is a sweet gentle soul who it’s clear would do anything for the woman and girl that he loves.

Colors of the World

Susann — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:17:15 +0000

When Leland’s grandma prepared to knit him a new winter sweater, she asked him what colors he wanted it to be. His response? “Every color in the world!” Boy, did she deliver! Leland’s sweater is as gorgeous, happy and bright as is his entire family! It’s been a few years since I first saw these cute kiddos stomping through rain puddles at a summer BBQ in Paradise Valley and wishing I had my camera with me so I was thrilled when mom, Angela won a family photo session and a 16×20 fine art canvas print in my most recent facebook contest! Thanks, Angela for playing along and for being a fan!

We are gathered here today…

Susann — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:46:58 +0000

…to witness the coming together of this man and this woman in holy matrimony. These were the words Susan and Ed likely heard during their wedding ceremony back in 1960. Fifty years later, they gathered once more…this time with their children, grandchildren, Susan’s sister, niece and nephew in-law to celebrate at Chico Hot Springs Lodge. Susan & Ed had these fabulous t-shirts made just for the occasion. The group had been busying their days with trips into Yellowstone and dips in the Chico pool, but took some precious time out for a family reunion photo session. You never know what you’re gonna get with kids under the age of 5 and triplets Jay, James and Jacob (3-1/2), not to mention their cousin Jack (5) kept me on my toes the whole time. Girls, as we all know are sugar & spice and the triplets big sis, Jacey (8) was just that!

Susan & Ed, I had a ton of fun spending a sunny summer morning with your beautiful family. Congratulations on your 50th and many, many more!

50 years and counting {Chico Family Reunion}

Susann — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 23:04:53 +0000

I got the call just days before. Poor Becky had been laid up recovering from knee surgery when it suddenly occurred to her she hadn’t hired a photographer to document the momentous occasion of her parent’s 50th wedding anniversary and family reunion at Chico Hot Springs Lodge. Far be it from me to say I’m too busy to be there…after all, 50 years is an incredible accomplishment and family members were coming from as far as Florida to help celebrate! I’m so glad for the opportunity to meet Lowell and his beautiful wife, Gwen celebrating 50 years and counting! Becky was a real sport in tossing her crutches aside and hobbling into place for group portraits. Her doting husband Bob was always at the ready following each shot with a folding chair! Awwww. The grandkids were absolutely delightful and beautiful, I might add! And to top it all off, sweet Bob even made himself late for dinner by helping me search for my lost earring! (I should have known better than to wear my beautiful new chandelier earrings, but they just made me feel so pretty!).

50 years of love and togetherness, 3 children and 8 grandchildren later…

Here are a few more from our session…

A few days later, my husband and I returned to the scene of this session AND my lost earring, metal detector in hand combing every inch of the gravel and grass when along came friendly Chico Maintenance Man, Amos who found it within minutes!!! Just like that! Thanks again, Amos!

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:

For Email Marketing you can trust

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!

Carefree

Susann — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:09:52 +0000

Many thanks to the “K” family of Bozeman who were the winning bidders of a family & child photo session with ‘yours truly’ during the live auction at last November’s Chocolate Moose in Bozeman, benefiting the Great Beginnings Montessori School. Anyone that knows me knows that causes benefiting children and animals are very close to my heart, so I am always honored when asked to donate to such a cause.

What’s just as rewarding as benefiting a good cause is getting to meet and photograph wonderful families, such as the “K’s”! They came prepared with beautifully coordinated outfits, abundant smiles and a fun and relaxed “We’re prepared to do anything!” attitude. It’s obvious that their carefree style is a reflection of the love and respect they share as a family…