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

Pumpkin

Susann — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:56:25 +0000

I love this little pumpkin. I mean how can you NOT love him? But what I love most…how his parents love him, dote on him, lavish him with kisses and laughter. I’ve been documenting Luke’s first year, from his newborn session to Luke at 7 months. And finally his studio birthday session (photos coming soon) to his first official family session here at Sky Ranch. It has been a beautiful journey watching this little one grow.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boys…

Susann — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:30:57 +0000

Have you been to Kid Stuff in Bozeman? Gently used fine clothing and gear for kids? Not only does Kirsten own and operate Kid Stuff, she is also the fabulous interior designer behind Habitat Interiors serving clients from Bozeman & Big Sky to the New York metropolitan area as well as being mom to these two beautiful boys, August (3) and Everett (21 months). As I was editing these images, John Lennon’s song “Beautiful Boy” written for his son, Sean, played in my mind. Such a beautiful song for all little boys everywhere…

JOHN LENNON
“Beautiful Boy”

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He’s on the run and your daddy’s here,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It’s getting better and better,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we’ll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it’s a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Darling,
Darling,
Darling Sean.

Wall HeART Wednesday ~ Child’s Play

Susann — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:28:08 +0000

One thing I really wish we did we we built our home was create a playroom for our twins…a designated area where they could play, do art, make a mess and at the end of the day, all I would have to do is shut the door! I still find myself tiptoe-ing through their rooms, side-stepping everything from a floor full of legos in his room to dollhouse furniture in hers. I loved researching ways to decorate kids playrooms with photos for today’s post. There are so many original and fun ideas to create a children’s play space…here are just a few…

This fabulous playroom by Captured Simplicity showcases beautifully framed large child and family portraits in an unexpected mix of bright happy colors. What impact!

Decorating a playroom with photos can be as easy and affordable as installing a few picture ledges and artfully arranging mounted portraits in both black & white and color upon them. The grouping can be updated and rearranged easily. I also love the chalkboard black magnetic board in this room by Styleberry Photo.

These doodle frames by Design Aglow are perfect for creating a canvas wall display in a child’s room or playroom. Modern and whimsical, clean and fresh. I love it!

This tidy children’s library flanked by two toy chests is beautifully decorated with colorful lampshades which complement both the large color and black & white children’s wall portraits. The bright green wall also helps give this space punch!

Finally, how amazing is this shared kids room? With a space this large, there is room for two of everything as well as a large play table where the kids can play games or do art projects together. And, did you notice?…two entire walls are dedicated to photos of the kids laughing and having fun both at home and on vacation! What a great way to keep family memories and happy times alive.

If you’re lucky enough to have the space to create a playroom for your child or are thinking of redecorating your child’s play space as he/she grows, I hope these images and ideas have inspired you! Happy Wall HeART Wednesday!

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.

In love with fall {and these kiddos}

Susann — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:33:12 +0000

The wildflowers disappeared and the fields dried out in August as they always do here at Sky Ranch. So, I’ve been waiting. Waiting for the spectacular show of color in the aspen trees and spirea bushes along the road that leads us home. The last time I photographed this beautiful family, there were just 2 kids and we shot a good portion of the session along the road with fall in full bloom (see the session here). This time, there was a new addition and I wanted to do something different so we shot this series entirely on the mountain-top. No aspen, no spirea, just the golden glow of sunshine that only fall can bring. I’ve discovered that I appreciate fall’s beauty more than ever for she seems to be the shortest season of all here at Sky Ranch…{not to mention how I love these kiddos…gorgeous and full of spirit!!!}…

Thanks, Kylee and Tyson for making the trek back to the ranch. I loved meeting Alyson and seeing you all again!

Wall HeART Wednesday ~ Staircases with WOW!

Susann — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:22:22 +0000

Does your home have a staircase? If so, what is decorating the walls? If you answered “nothing”, then you are missing a fabulous opportunity! I can’t even begin to tell you how many homes I have entered where there is nothing decorating the staircase walls! I am pleased to say that I have had clients who recognize the opportunity and have had me do installations of framed photos of their children and family and most recently a canvas grouping on the staircase landing in a modern-style country home in Bozeman. I even flew to San Francisco several years back to photograph a friend’s pair of cats, the result being displayed in a series of framed 8×10′s leading from the entryway up the stairs into the home’s living space. Curious? Looking for inspiration? Come check it out…

Love this grouping of family photos (new & vintage) along with landscapes from the family’s travels.

Family photos through the years can be displayed as a cohesive collection when photos are printed in black & white or sepia tone and framed in black or cream-colored frames.

I love this gallery of sepia-toned images displayed in various shapes & sizes of black frames with a few wall quotations and stitchings mixed in adding meaning, depth and dimension.

An interesting mix of black & white photos framed in various black & white frames styles, shapes & sizes hang alongside a canvas print and family initials making for a meaningful and interesting staircase display.

photo courtesy of Tracie Rossie

How over-the-top this is! Perfect for a clutter free modern house with simple clean lines. Let’s go crazy on the staircase! Slade Architecture created this magnetic wall specifically for their clients to hang family photos upon. As you travel up the stairs, you travel the family timeline. Read all about the design concept here.

Photo courtesy of Slade Architecture

And finally…OK, I know…no photos along these walls, but I just had to share this design by Holly Mathis Interiors of Texas. Love how the steps up to the kids rooms and playrooms are numbered.

Photo courtesy of Holly Mathis Interiors

With the upcoming holiday season, this is the perfect time to spruce up your staircase and create a meaningful display your family will enjoy in all the years to come!

I love this photo because…

Susann — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:18 +0000

A few days ago, a pair of Bozeman twin girls, Emily and Olivia, celebrated their 14th birthday. A pair of girls I photographed YEARS ago along with their big brother here at Sky Ranch. As a surprise, I posted one of my fave photos of the then 4 yo twins on facebook wishing both a Happy Birthday to which Emily commented, “Thanks! This is definitely my favorite picture of Olivia and me.” And then I wondered…of all the photos of her and her sister taken over all the years, why…why was THIS her favorite? What did this image mean to her? So I asked her. And with her parents permission to post on the blog, she told me…

“I love this photo because Olivia and I are best friends, and we always have each others backs. This photo shows just how much we love each other even when we are fighting. And that nobody can separate us. ” ~ Emily

Thank you, Emily for sharing…it means so much to me that this image holds so much meaning for you, perhaps even more meaning as you and your sister grow up and the years pass by…

Gard-Silverman Family Reunion

Susann — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:40:05 +0000

I love family reunions! I love big families! These two gorgeous sisters, Linda and Judy and their children and their respective families came together recently from as far as Atlanta, Baltimore and Jacksonville, Florida for Linda’s birthday and a summertime reunion at a fabulous rental home in Bridger Canyon. The group of 22 including eight adorable grandchildren were a blast to photograph taking turns in front of the camera until I had captured them all. In between, the adults mingled, sipped wine and took in the magnificent views while the children romped around, everyone clearly enjoying each another on a perfect Montana summer evening….

Cowboys & Indians

Susann — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:00:05 +0000

I don’t normally do commercial photography shoots, but when Sadie Mae called me in a relative panic in need of an image for her upcoming ad in Cowboys & Indians magazine with a submission deadline looming, I couldn’t resist saying yes simply because I just love her and her family (gutsy enough to smile through a photo session in a snowstorm seen here), but because I believe in her company, Little Turtle’s Tipi! I am very much a fan of toys that inspire imaginative play, where children can travel to the land of make-believe in their own backyard, where they can become Cowboys & Indians or bears and wolves for that matter. The tipi session was a family affair with Sadie’s son, Luka and my own twins, Sam & Larissa as “models”. Sadie and my husband Doug were “production assistants” setting up tipis and props while I directed. Once we let the kids loose, the session took on a life of it’s own to which the resulting photos can attest.

Little Turtle’s Tipis are hand-made in Bozeman, Montana. They come in two different heights and are perfect for indoor or outdoor play. Children can “customize” their tipis with markers and paints, creating an heirloom to be passed down for generations!

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!