Hello, Sweet Hellat | Maris Ehlers Photography

I am so grateful that people take the time to read my blog (when I post, that is).  I am even more grateful that so many of you take a moment out of your busy day to not only read what I post or to look at the images I share, but to post a comment, either here on the blog itself or over on my facebook page. I appreciate every single comment, more than you know. 

In order to be an "audience", you have to make some sort of commitment to the person you are being an audience for.  As a reader of my blog, you have made a commitment to me to be part of my "audience", and I, to you. 

When I post, I always want to capture something of the audience:  your time, your thoughts, your imagination, maybe even your heart. 

When I first wrote about Hellat this spring, I wanted all four.  

Hellat is from Iraq, and is just about the sweetest little girl you will ever meet. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and after much, much treatment, she had been hospitalized yet again and the doctors could do no more.  She was given the range of a few hours to days to live, and those who love her were in agony. 

At that time, in preparation of a painful goodbye, I finally posted the images that I had taken of her months earlier.  I wasn't sure what to say - after all, how do you announce that a beautiful young soul is  going to be taken so early in life?  I titled the post "Godspeed, Sweet Hellat", and so many of you reached out with words of support, encouragement and love for a family most of you had never heard of before. Some even asked that I keep you posted about Hellat. 

I failed to do so, but in all honesty, it was because I really didn't know what to say!  The doctors who gave her those few short hours to live, did so based on the best medical information they had at the time.  Twice. Hellat was hospitalized for over five weeks, and multiple times the belief was that she wouldn't make it through the night.  Her mother, Sona, never left her side, even though she had four other children at home to care for.  Her dedication and stamina would rival that of any of us had it been our child, and the family's inability to give up amazed us all. 

So, I saved my update.  Why? Because I wanted to share with you what I was able to share in a couple of weekends ago, and that was the joy of seeing Hellat again this summer, at her home with her friends and family near by, and having her in front of my camera again, on a much, much happier note! 

Hellat, who could not move much at all when I saw her last, who had to be carried everywhere, proudly stood for her first portraits with me, and it was simply amazing.  

She has captured my imagination, my time, my thoughts, and yes, even my heart.  And perhaps even a miracle or two.  

Hellat with her teacher and my sister-in-law, Stephanie.

So, Godspeed, indeed.  Godspeed on your journey here on Earth, full of miracles, surprises and love.

The Passing of the Royal Crown - A Fairytale in Progress | Maris Ehlers Photography

Once upon a time, there was a darling princess named Zoe. She lived in the kingdom of Canada, until the royal family decided to move their castle to Minnesota. Princess Zoe loved it in Minnesota, but after a few years she started to not feel very well.  After a few weeks of wondering, it was discovered that Zoe had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a form of cancer that most often strikes children and teens, and the battle began.  

Zoe fought this battle armed with the grace, courage and strength she found inside herself, and wore the support and encouragement from those who loved her like armor: Impenetrable and unfailing. 

She was winning the war, but had one more fierce battle to go. The court jester decided to take some pictures of the Princess to show the world just how beautiful she really was. 

The result was so surprising. People from near and far, people who knew Princess Zoe and those who had never heard of her before showered her with even more love and support than she thought possible, forging her an invisible crown of protection with their kind words and thoughts, and victory was hers.  

-----

Now you might think this is the end of our little fairy tale, but there is now another chapter to be told. During Princess Zoe's battle, the court jester met another lovely family, this time from the village of St. Michael, Minnesota. This family was celebrating a wedding, and there were many princes and princesses that were all a part of this happy day. 

One of these princesses was a lovely girl named Yvonne, who hails from the Kingdom of St. Paul. With dark hair, and chocolate brown eyes, she was the fairest of the fair in her glittery blue dress and silver shoes, and they all danced the day away. 

In June, the week that Princess Zoe received the news that she had won the battle against her cancer, Princess Yvonne received news that she, in fact, would be gearing up to fight the very same battle that Zoe had just won.  

So on a sunny evening not that long ago (ok, last night), Princess Zoe met with Princess Yvonne at the Court of Hanover, so that the court jester could document how Zoe, with care and kindness passed on the invisible crown of protection given to her by so many good wishes, to help Yvonne fight the battle that she has just begun.  

And so, please consider this your royal invitation to follow along on Yvonne's journey and to prepare to celebrate her happy ending yet to come.  

XOXO to both of these beautiful girls! 

Maris 

The Avengers, Harry Potter and The Good Doctor | Maris Ehlers Photography

I know you have those days.  You can pretend you don't, but I know you do.  We all do.

You think if you step on one more sharp Lego TM piece left in the carpet you'll throw them all out.  And then you feel guilty because you know that soon, all too soon, Legos TM will be a thing of the past, and you will long for the days when you would get up in the middle of the night to comfort a child only to have an errant Lego TM piece pierce your foot and send you howling in silent pain to the floor.  But maybe not today.

*****

This morning I had to take my 8 year old son to the doctor because of an infected finger.  While out hunting for garter snakes this past weekend with a hoe, he got a sliver in his hand from the material that the weeding hoe was made of (Am I a bad mom if I admit to offering a bounty of $1 per snake carcass? If so, too bad!).

He pulled most of it out, with dirt stained hands and fingers, mind you, but yesterday it wasn't looking so good.  A little infected, so we cleaned and soaked it, hoping it wouldn't get worse.

Today he woke up and let's just say it was definitely worse, so off to the doctor we went.

Here are my ten favorite questions from the car ride from the house to the doctor's office:

TEN:  

H:  "Mom.  Would you rather be put in a pit of tarantulas or rattle snakes?  Which do you think would be the most lethal?"

Me:  "Um, that's hard to pick, considering that the idea of even being in a pit of garter snakes would probably cause me to have a heart attack."

H:  "But Mom, you have to pick one."

Me:  "Tarantulas."

H:  "Seriously? Have I taught you nothing?"

NINE: 

H:  "Mom.  If you weren't already married to Dad, who would you rather marry? Thor or Captain America?"

Me:  "Um, well, that's hard to pick.  Thor, maybe?"

H:  "Bad choice.  Thor is the God of Thunder, and so he might have a temper, where Captain America is an all around good guy and he was willing to take a grenade for his comrades. That's the kind of man you want to marry."

Me:  "But Thor is hotter."

H:  "Mom!!"

EIGHT: 

H:  "Mom.  Can I have a machete for my birthday?"

Me: "No."

H:  "You never let me have anything I want."


SEVEN: 

H:  "Mom.  If a stick of dynamite hit a iceberg, what would happen?"

Me:  "Eat your poptart."


SIX: 

H:  "Mom.  What do you think would be worse?  A tornado mixed with a volcano, or an earthquake with a blizzard?"

Me:  "Really.  Can you give me some good choices here?"

H: "That's not the way it works."

FIVE: 

"Mom.  Who would you rather find in a dark alley?  Professor Snape or Malfoy's Dad?"

Me:  "Neither.  Eat your Pop Tart."

FOUR: 

H:  "Mom.  Who do you think would win a fight?  Iron Man or Thor?"

Me: "Didn't they fight each other in The Avengers, and neither won?  Didn't they just beat each other silly?"

H:  "Yeah, that was awesome, wasn't it?"

THREE: 

H:  "Mom.  Why did Loki's arm heal when the Frost Giant grabbed him?"

Me:  "Because he was really a Frost Giant, but he didn't know it at the time."

H:  "Correct."

TWO:  

H:  "If it were your birthday coming up soon, would you rather get the Lego TM Harry Potter Knight Bus or a machete for snake hunting?"

Me:  "Well, the machete is definitely out, so I guess it would be the Knight Bus set by default."

H:  "You're no fun."

ONE:

H:  "Mom.  Will you hold my hand if it hurts when the doctor pokes my finger?"

Me:  "Of course."

H:  "I knew you would."

*****

So the next time I trip on a Lego TM jewel in the dark of night and stifle my cry of pain so as not to wake anyone, I'm going to remember this conversation and smile.  I'm still going to throw the stupid Lego TM piece away, but I'm going to smile fondly while doing it.  ™ and all.

Winter Children's Portraits | Maris Ehlers Photography

I haven't posted any previews of sessions for quite some time, so I thought I'd share some pictures of Miss Ava from a cold Friday earlier this winter. 

Ava's mom chose a family stories package this year, and with three BEAUTIFUL girls, I think they will love it.  Their package, the platimum family stories package, includes four sessions.  They'll use one for each of the girls and then one for their family.  

Their youngest just turned 3, and she'll be joining us for the Enchanted Garden Summer Portrait Series in June.  We can't wait! 

Anyway, back to Ava and her fun winter session (shameless promotion above, I know!).  :)  

 

 

 

 Ava, you are so much fun to photograph, and such a good sport.  You did great! 

Little Hearts Can Teach Big Things | Maris Ehlers Photography

We want our children to recognize the value of doing good things for others.

Good deeds. Selfless acts. Making a difference. These are things that matter, we say.  These are the things that matter, and so why isn't your homework done, your bed made and your face washed? 

This morning, after a hectic week and weekend, the kids and I were in the middle of the "we're going to be late for the bus" churn.  Mondays are always rough, and this one was no exception. 

I typically have to give my son multiple reminders and sometimes warnings for each and every task that needs to be done before we leave the house.  "Did you brush your teeth?" can sound more like a line from our own family school morning liturgy, repeated in various voice tones at the same time in the process nearly every single day.  

Sometimes I even have to tell him "I cannot listen to what it is that you are trying to tell me until you do what it is that I have asked you to do." This, is seems, is my mantra. 

Today, with my head and arm buried under the couch, trying to reach for an errant shoe (that should have been on his foot), I was repeating my liturgy of the morning.  "Hunter, do you have your backpack ready?  Did you feed the dog?  Where is your coat?"  

He was talking about rocks and dogwood trees and I don't know what else.  I admit it. I wasn't really listening.  I was giving him the obligatory  "Umm hmmm" and the "That's nice.", while my mind raced around the many other things that needed to be done. 

He was talking.  I was wondering how his shoe got this far under the couch in less than twelve hours.  

He was dreaming. I was frustrated. Why can't he just follow directions, do what he's told, and follow the rules? 

Pulling myself up to my hands and knees while picking something else up off the floor, I said "I cannot listen to what it is that you are trying to tell me until you do what it is that I have asked you to do."  

He went to get his coat.  And then the soft echo of the last thing he said permeated my thoughts, just a second later than he said it. 

"Mom, you know my birthday money? That I've been saving for a scooter? I'd like to donate it and give it to someone else. Someone in need."

And in that moment, with a child's shoe in my hand, the frustrated scowl left my face.

I found gratitude. Gratitude that he was not following my directions. My rules.  

Gratitude that he was following his heart.  

AN UPDATE:  A Twitter follower read this post and said he would Match what Hunter donates.  Hunter chose the Hanover Area Foodshelf as the organization he will donate his birthday money to.  So now, we are going to see if anyone else is interested in donating, too!  Will you join us?

WEDNESDAY UPDATE:  Raised so far?  $520!

Share the love. Share this post! 

Seth Godin's Medicine Ball Workshop | Maris Ehlers Photography

Most of you know (because I can't seem to stop talking about it), that I am in New York for a three day seminar with 62 other people.  While that might not be so remarkable in and of itself, what makes is so remarkable is that the seminar is being led by none other than Seth Godin.


If you haven't heard of Seth Godin and you are doing anything to earn a living, you should get to know his work.  He has an incredible mind, and not only does he understand people, marketing, business, technology and the world in general, he believes in making a difference.


It has been humbling to be here, listening to him share himself , his knowledge and stories, but it's been fascinating to be here with people from all over the world and many different walks of life, too.  People from big companies like Google, to people doing their own thing like executive coaching, consulting, people who are educators, entrepreneurs, creators, developers, and everything in between.


At the end of the day yesterday I was complete mush.  My brain was on complete overload, and it felt fantastic.  However, it didn't make for a good night's sleep because so much of what he talked about challenged so much of what I already thought I had figured out.  And it was very unsettling.  In a good way, but unsettling nonetheless.  Seth says that if you want to succeed, you better be prepared to fail.


What? You better care enough to be willing to fail.  Be willing to throw yourself out in front of a bus for what you want to accomplish, achieve, believe.  Now that's drawing a line in the sand, isn't it?


During an exchange with him he pushed me to tell him who it is that my business story is for, and why it is that people come to me when they can go anywhere for photography. That's a daunting question to be asked, especially in front of a crowd, and I think we all know I'm not speechless very often.  


And at the end of the day, while I'd like to think it's because of my art, or my ability as a photographer, that's not entirely true.  It's because I care about documenting lives, and I want to tell your stories, whatever they may be.


Everyone does have a story, and that is my mission as a photographer: To tell stories. It's not to be Shutterfly, a designer, or photograph as many people in Minnesota as is humanly possible.  It is to engage with you, discover your story, and tell it in a way that is both meaningful and priceless to you.


Because as we say, "Everyone has a story.  Let me tell yours."

Hellat's story?  That she is a beautiful, loved and cherished little girl.  That she is more than her diagnosis. That she is perfect.  Just as she is.

Fall Family Portraits in Minnesota | Maris Ehlers Photography

Fall in Minnesota is such a great time for family portraits.  Our favorite time of day to shoot is no different than most - that golden hour when the sun has lost its harshness and has a nice warm color to it.  While that magical hour in the summertime is later, in the early fall (when these were taken), we try to hit our stride at around 5:00 p.m. or so.  on this day, it worked out perfectly. 

The trick to taking advantage of the warm glow of the sun is to make sure when you are shooting into it that you control how much light is hitting your lens.  Some lenses can handle this well and some cannot. Know which of the two you have.  The other trick is to get your exposure on your subjects right without blasting out the background too much.  The whole point of these next few shots was to capture the boys with the golden, warm light behind and use it to frame them.  

Their Dad liked the picture below with both boys looking at the camera.  I do, too, but mom and I admittedly both preferred the image above where Peter, the youngest of the two, has that giggle about him that just draws you in.  Which one do you like best and why? 

This next image wouldn't be for everyone.  There's a lot going on.  The soft sun, the back of the old truck, and the fuzzy grasses in the foreground as well as the background, but I like pictures that are unique and different.  This one qualifies, and I love how the oldest brother has such a big boy look and pose while the youngest is PURE little boy.  Posing like this provides context, and if you couldn't tell by looking at their faces, you can tell by how they are sitting which one is the older, more serious sibling and which one is the younger, gleeful one.  

Well, really.  Can you go wrong with little boys and farm equipment?  I think not.  Especially with the wheat blowing in the breeze around them. 

Childrens Portraits with Farm Animals | Maris Ehlers Photography

I've been photographing Piper since she was born, and from the get go she has had the most beautiful blue eyes.  

Now as a toddler, she is simply stunning.  

Her parents wanted to capture her on her grandparent's farm with her pony Blueberry.  We decided to add Ollie here and I am totally enamored with this look of hers.  It wasn't posed - she just lifted her hand towards her face, and click.  

I love it because it's unique, but mostly because it captures a moment and a memory, long after Piper and Ollie are grown.  

Capturing children in the morning is really the best time of day for them until they are school aged.  Morning sun can be tricky, but here we shot pretty early in the morning when the dappled sunlight wasn't quite as strong and high.   

Pictures of a Pony Named Blueberry - Children's Photography | Maris Ehlers Photography

The end of the summer was a perfect opportunity to capture a beautiful little girl named Piper on her adorable horse Blueberry.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Never Grow Up - Children's Photography | Maris Ehlers Photography

The back to school mini sessions were a great way to spend a summer Friday.  Thanks to all of you who participated, and thanks to Angel and Katie for their prop wizardry skills.  :)  


Parents, your slide shows and package info will be posting soon.  If you want to take a look at the video reel, here it is: 

I get all teary-eyed every time I watch it.   

It's funny, because it wasn't until this past week that I think my kids truly hit the wall and are ready to go back to school.  Or maybe they've been ready for a while and I finally hit that same wall and am ready for them to go back.  Not sure, exactly.  I do know that they are sick of being each other's main playmate, and seem to be bickering, squabbling and just not getting along more than usual.  And that's really saying something!  

Yesterday, we had the gray spray paint incident, and surprisingly enough, I didn't even really lose my cool.  Why?  I think I'm so far past that right now (getting upset about some of their antics didn't seem to work anyway), and honestly, the real reason is because I probably would have done the same thing at their age.  No, I know I would have.  I do recall playing in a bag of cement in the back of my dad's pickup truck that did not go over well.  

There are days when it is hard to remember that if kids knew how to act all proper and adult-like all the time, it would probably mean that they were, well, an adult.  They aren't.  They are kids, filled with curiosity, impulses, and a desire to play and explore.  Consequences aren't really at the front of their radar screen.  Sometimes adults don't act all that adult like, so how can we expect that of our children at all times? 

I guess that means gray spray painted toes (and shoes) for the last few days of summer, or maybe it means an extra glass of wine after dinner for mom with a prayer for more patience.  I don't know.  

I do know though, when I take a moment to look at a picture of my children, or hold them on my lap to snuggle, I realize how fast it all is going.  How big they are getting, how grown up they are becoming in their own ways.  And while I want to see and explore every new tooth, new idea, next step, new year with them, I truly do wish I could dig my heels in, stop time and have them "never grow up".  

I hope you all have had a wonderful summer and are ready for a fantastic school year of new experiences and growth.  

Cheers! 

Children's Portraits on a Summer Evening Road | Maris Ehlers Photography

This session took place a few weeks ago with gorgeous evening light.  Definitely a favorite session of the summer.  

I love posing subjects off center.  I think it makes an image look so much more interesting and adds a lot of depth.