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

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:

Montana Parent Magazine ~ June/July Cover Child

Susann — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:15:10 +0000

The earth was wet and soggy and our boots became ever heavier with the weight of the mud the day we first set foot on our new logging trail after a spring rain. Deep into the forest, midway along the trail, nature’s magic revealed itself. Amid towering moss-laden pines, the fragrant forest floor was lush with fresh grass and dotted with miniature wildflowers. We swore this spectacularly beautiful spot was enchanted and that fairies lived here, happily flitting about from tree to tree.

It was years later when I took this photo of my own Larissa running through the woods not too far from our “Trail of the Fairies” for her own personal Children’s Fantasy Session. The image holds a lot of meaning for both her and me, so we are thrilled to have it grace the summer issue (June/July 2010) of Montana Parent Magazine!

Be sure to pick up your free copy in Bozeman or Livingston at various outlets or, if you’re from out of town, be sure to check out the digital version! Enjoy!

Feels like Christmas

Susann — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:06:34 +0000

It’s been snowing off and on all month so far which means quite a bit of plowing, shoveling, MUD, and keeping the winter gear at the ready for another few months just to be on the safe side (yes, we’ve had snow at late as June and as early as September at Sky Ranch!). So I’ve been working in my office here at 6,100 ft. this past week, watching the snow fall and thinking about how it looks like Christmas. And better yet, it feels like Christmas every time the FedEx and UPS drivers arrive to deliver all the fabulous new boutique products I’ll be displaying at the Grand Opening of The Boutique Salon tomorrow night…

So, just to give you a little background on my journey as a photographer and the concept behind The Boutique Salon, I thought I’d share with you this little promo video I created…just a little sneak peek of what’s to come.

I’d love to see you at the Grand Opening…and remember, we’ll also be hosting a Matilda Jane Trunk show for the 3-day event (the trunk is already here and let me tell ya, the clothes are darling!). Again, here are the details:

WHEN: Friday, April 16 from 6-8 pm and Saturday & Sunday from 11-3 pm

PLACE: 119-1/2 West Park, Livingston (just above the Mexican Restaurant)

Bring your friends!

Little Red Riding Hood

Susann — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:20:29 +0000

I escaped our snowy Montana mountain-top for a few days last week to attend the fabulous Nichole Van‘s {life as art} photography workshop in Salt Lake City! Salt Lake City is truly beautiful and CLEAN, with stunning architecture. Even the venue at the Commander’s House at historic Ft. Douglas was incredible complete with hardwood floors, crystal chandeliers and delicious meals and snacks throughout the day.

Most impressive was Nichole’s comprehensive program, her 247-page workshop workbook, her awesome giveaways and incredible sharing. She even shared one of her favorite models with all 24 of us one afternoon…her beautiful daughter who wore a gorgeous Victorian cloak custom-made by a local costume designer and seamstress. I am definitely going to have to have one of these made…don’t you think? So here she is in all her winsome glory…Miss Little Red Riding Hood…

Thanks again, Nichole!

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!

Distinctly Montana – Winter 2009-10

Susann — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:21:02 +0000

My fine art portraiture of children, families and high school seniors has long overshadowed my humble beginnings as a landscape and “Images of the West” photographer. When I first roamed the West and was introduced to Montana by my now-husband, Doug, these are some of the scenes I focused my lens on. Some of these images, including Polaroid Transfers and Emulsions are over 12 years old! Still, the imagery remains true today. The scenes have not much changed, if at all. And that is what we love about Montana! I am honored to be a featured photographer in the current issue of Distinctly Montana, a first class magazine and resource guide to Big Sky Country.

To see more of my “Images of the West” including brandings & rodeos, check out my website and/or my Stock Photography at Wild West Photos. These original images are also available for purchase as fine art, framed or unframed.

The Luxury Boutique

Susann — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:56:34 +0000

Last Thursday saw a great turnout at the LillyLu at the Woodlands event. It was a ton of fun to catch up with a bunch of my longtime clients, friends and fans of LillyLu, and fellow child photographer Doug Loneman and his lovely wife Stana of loneman photography. The shopping for baby and children’s clothing and accessories was plentiful. The mood, happy and relaxed. It was the perfect venue to “unveil” my wonderful new luxury boutique photography products…

Quite a spread…I know…in fact, there were some who suggested that I open a retail space in Bozeman! Others were truly amazed at the variety of luxury boutique photography items that can be created and that it’s not just about 5×7′s and 8×10′s and holiday cards anymore. The photo session is only the beginning in creating everything from fine art canvas prints to grace your walls to heirloom quality photo jewelry and handbags with which to adorn yourself!

I was pleased to introduce my new line of handmade frames by Obrien Schridde. Designed to look weathered and worn, these romantic frames have been featured in Country Home and Country Living magazines and are absolutely stunning. The quality is second-to-none! My new accordion wallet books were a big hit and are perfect for baby, child or senior portraits. Appreciated above all were my trio of custom-designed albums housed in a luxurious Impression Box. The trio included a 10×10 Flush Mount Panoramic Album, an 8×8 Companion Lay Flat Album and a 5×5 Companion Press Book. I have a variety of custom designs available for baby, childrens or high school senior portrait albums.

For the time-being, my boutique remains high on a mountain-top at Sky Ranch, but will be traveling again in July to the next LillyLu event near Springhill. The two-day event will be held July 10th & 11th. Save the date!!!

Attending Trade Shows in Jammies…

Susann — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:14:16 +0000

When you work from home, it’s all too easy to wake up and feed the dogs, whip up the kids’ breakfast and send them off to school, make a few beds, clean up the kitchen and then set yourself down at the computer in your jammies with a cup of hot coffee. All too easy, I say… Before you know it, it’s noon and when the UPS man arrives to make a delivery, I am scrambling for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt…

Today, however, I actually showered and got dressed to attend PDN‘s (Photo District News) first-ever Photographers’ Virtual Trade Show although I could easily have stayed in my jammies and no one would have been the wiser. I attended a webinar held by famed photographer and Photoshop “action hero”, Kevin Kubota in which he described how to break the rules for cutting edge portrait photography and I browsed the trade show including the AsukaBook and B&H booths at my leisure.

Technology is making it so easy to continue to learn and stay on top of the latest trends and to share information!! I am loving the 21st century!

Wild West Photos

Susann — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:03:26 +0000

I met Brian Farrell a few years back after reading about his new outdoor and adventure stock photography business, Wild West Photos, in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. After seeing my some samples of my work, he was happy to take me on as one of his featured photographers and I was gung ho until the reality of going through thousands of slides and negatives hit me. Then, somehow…time slipped away and a whole year went by…

I was just thinking of Wild West Photos again this January when I received an email from Brian. So I buckled down for a week or two and went through every image I had, had the slides and negatives scanned onto CD’s and I’m happy to say, I am now up and running selling my Images of the West as stock imagery with Wild West Photos!

I am proud to be in such good company as one of less than 30 featured photographers. With over 200 images online, my stock photography runs the gamut including images in such categories as agriculture, black & white, ghost towns, landscapes, Wild West, wildflowers, wildlife, Yellowstone and energy. In submitting my work to Wild West Photos, I realized a part of me misses shooting the beautiful Montana West, it’s people and their lifestyle. It’s been years since I photographed a branding, a rodeo or a wildflower for that matter. Of course, I have a good excuse in that the demand for my portrait photography took over and I have loved every moment photographing babies, children and families, but perhaps there is a balance to be found between the two… Perhaps it’s time to rediscover the Wild West…

Upcoming Lecture: MSU Photography Club

Susann — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:27:18 +0000

I lectured to a great group of ladies last month at F-11 Photographic’s Glass House Photography Group in Bozeman (which, as of this month is now also open to men!) on “Finding your own Path as a Photographer”. The women were very complimentary of my presentation, one even suggesting that I write a book and another requesting I speak to the group again on yet another topic in the near future! Thank you, ladies!…

I also met several up and coming portrait & wedding photographers including Jessie Moore of Jessie Moore Photography and Kali Foley of Kali Foley Photography. Kali, a Glass House member AND president of the MSU Photography Club invited me to give the same presentation to the MSU group this month on Wednesday, March 24th at 6:30 p.m. Here are the details:

Not only will there be free pizza, but the lecture will also include a slideshow presentation illustrating my own personal path as a photographer. I look forward to seeing you again, Kali, and to meeting the photographers at MSU!