Twin Cities Senior Portrait Photography | Maris Ehlers Photography

If you think you are ready for your senior portraits and know who you want to hire, be sure to take our unbiased and friendly quiz below.  The answers might surprise you!  Then again, maybe not!

The MEP Senior Portrait Quiz: 

1.  When do "adults" typically have awesome professional portraits taken? 

A.  When they graduate from high school

B.  When they get married

C.  When they become a professional model 

D.  All of the above (which isn't very often!) 

2.  What makes MEP different than other professional photographers who will try to get you to hire them to take your senior portraits? 

A. We're picky about who we work with 
B.  We are DYING to make you look amazingly fabulous
C.  We are dorks, but we are a lot of fun to work with 
D.  All of the above

3.  What is it like to have your portraits taken by Maris and Angel? 

A.  A little nerve wracking

B.  A lot of fun

C.  Much silliness ensues

D.  B & C (but not A) 

4.  How do I know you'll take the best possible pictures of me? 

A.  If you don't look good we don't look good 

B.  We love to show off our work, and we can only do that when you look amazing 

C.  Why else would we do it? 

D.  All of the above

5.  Will you help me pick out the right clothing and styles to wear? 

A.  Um, yes. 
B.  See A.

6. How do I know my pictures won't look like everyone else's that you take? 

A.  Because once we take a student from a school to a location, we don't repeat that location with any other student from the same school. 
B.  Because we spend a significant amount of time planning your session BEFORE you come in so that we know we are going to create imagery that is all about you, not about you and the 10 other girls you know that came here, too. 
C.  Because we give our students an opportunity to help design their sessions. 
D.  All of the above 

7.  How do I book my session with you? 

A.  Call us:  763-355-5350 
B.  Email us:  info@marisehlersphotography.com 
C.  Text us:  763-370-4704 
D.  Facebook us:  MEP on Facebook
E.  Tweet us:  MEP on Twitter
F.  Any of the above! 

Score:  6+ Call us

Score: 3-5 Call us

Score: 1-2 Call us

Indian Fashion Inspired Senior Portraits | Maris Ehlers Photography

There are so many reasons why I just love Shikha's senior portraits.  She's beautiful, kind, smart, and of course has an incredible smile.  What I really love though, is the experience that she gave me.  We always strive to create a fun and unique experience for our senior girls, but when they allow me a glimpse of who they really are, I think I end up receiving a lot back in return. 

Shikha is Indian, and it was important to find a balance between all that is Shikha!  Her parents wanted portraits that not only showcased her as a beautiful, outgoing and amazing American teenager, but that would also pay homage to their culture and that part of her life.  

Here are just a few images from her session that day. 

Enjoy! 

This is the sari that Shikha's mother wore on her wedding day.

 Enjoy your Chipotle tonight, Shika! 


Makeup:  MJ Evans for Glamourazzi

Cottage Grove Senior Portraits | Maris Ehlers Photography

All of our seniors are special, but some do stand out in the crowd.  Greta, a senior at Cottage Grove High School, certainly does.  Not only because she's smart, kind, beautiful and sweet, but because she's family! 

Angel and I were more than happy to make the trek down to Cottage Grove over the summer to photograph her on her family's farm as well as have her come to us for some fall color portraits as well. 

Greta, we think you're fabulous! 

One of my favorite senior images of the year! 

Well, and who wouldn't love Albert? 

Greta's steer Albert was crowned Grand Reserve Champion at the Minnesota State Fair just a couple of weeks after these pictures. Unfortunately for Albert, winning does NOT necessarily mean good things when you're a champion steer named Albert. 

I really should post the outtakes from this portion of the session.  Senior pictures… mandatory.  Pictures on your family farm… memories in the making.  Watching your cousin chase a pig while squatting… priceless! 

Oh, I love this picture!

The talented Ms. Greta actually made this dress!

Apparently she can even make an old rusted clothes line look good!

Greta in her FFA jacket.

We're not saying this is the school she's going to, but maybe? 

Minneapolis Gymastics Photography - Part IV | Maris Ehlers Photography

Today we're on to part IV of our series of the Maple Grove sibling gymnastics duo, Renee and Abby Edelman.  

You can read parts I, II and III here.  

I really don't have a lot to say about this series, except that Abby is truly one of the most gorgeous girls I have had the pleasure of photographing.  Seriously, seriously beautiful! 

If you have a teen or a senior with a story worth celebrating, we'd love to tell it for you.  Because as we say, "Everyone has a story. Let us tell yours." 

Assisted by:  Angel Petit for Maris Ehlers Photography 

Hair and Makeup:  MJ Evans for Maris Ehlers Photography

Minneapolis Gymnastics Photography - Part III | Maris Ehlers Photography

If you're reading this post, then you've probably already seen Parts I and II and are back for more.  And we're glad you're here. If you haven't looked at those, please do so because then this will make a lot more sense.  

As a parent of a seven and nine year old, we've been involved in various activities for a few years, but a lot of it has been for fun and exposure, not for hard core training. I know there are some hockey families out there that started the hard core part pretty early, but as we don't do hockey at our house we haven't experienced that yet.  But because I photograph so many high school seniors, I like to daydream about what my kids' lives will be like when they are approaching their final year in high school, and maybe even their final year at home. 

I know that whoever they will have become, whatever they are in to, I will want to capture that with photographs. I hope they have a passion as strong and alive as these two girls, that they are as committed to a passion and skill as much as the MGSH hockey players were that I photographed last year, and I hope they are as talented as the MGSH Dance Team Captains are that I photographed this summer. 

And so what I see now, with these amazing experiences behind me, is that while it didn't start out that way, is an emerging niche in the senior market for us. To celebrate and acknowledge the passions of high school seniors (and often their parents) that go beyond the traditional senior portrait - those are important, too - but something special that celebrates the weekends spent on the road at soccer tournaments, freezing in hockey rinks, bandaging up beat up feet, buying yet another sparkly costume, or endless hours watching your kid earn a black belt through the glass.  Whatever their passion is, whatever makes them glow, whatever their spark is, their senior year (or even earlier) is such a great time to capture that in print.  In a way that is completely, 100%, and totally unique to them.  

So here in Part III is another glimpse at Renee, in a completely crazy and fun set of images. As the first post went out yesterday, Renee's mom Mary sent me a beautiful and kind note.  In it she said " I feel I can see Renee's soul and see just how fierce and determined she is. " If I had to guess, I'd say that her teammates and close friends see her this way at times, but probably not everyone.  So here's to Renee,  and here's to souls that shine. 

Assisted by:  Angel Petit
Hair and Makeup by:  MJ Evans