I recently made a trip back to Iowa to visit my parents and do a big family photo shoot (blog coming soon!) It's been awhile since I've made a trip back to the farm in the thick of harvest season. I forgot just how beautiful it can be. 

I have to admit there was a small bit of strategic placement to get this shot. I wanted to capture the sun setting just behind the combine, so I rode out in the middle of the field with Dad and asked him to stop so I could run ahead in the bean rows and capture this amazing scene. The coolest thing is not only the clouds and sunset, but the way the bean rows are lit up from behind and our family's farm-skyline, as you could call it, in the background. 

I like to call this one "The Farmer's View" -- from inside the combine. Love that Iowa landscape!

Here is a bean plant about to meet its 'doom'....


My parents' yellow labs, Jack and Gracie, love running alongside the combine. The follow my dad EVERYWHERE! Its so cute. This was taken from inside the combine! 

Harvest season just amazes me. After meticulously planning, planting and watching over their crops all summer, the farmers get to reap the harvest and complete the process for one more year. It's all based on the grace of God -- whether or not it rains too much or freezes too early. The magic of planting a seed, watching it grow and harvesting the crop is just another amazing part in the circle of life! Sometimes we just don't take the time to sit back and think about how incredible it really is.
{sj}

I met Tony and Jackie at Matt & Molly's wedding this past spring and was so excited when they asked me to be the photographer for their Sept 2009 wedding. 

They are the most adorable couple!!

We met up on a Friday for their engagement photo shoot at St Anthony Main. Despite a brief rain shower, the cloudy skies made for PERFECT lighting and really added to the scenery (not to mention a great shot of them with an umbrella!)  

As we were walking back towards the car, I looked up and saw this awesome scene. Though Tony wasn't sure what to think of the dramatic pose at first, I told him just to 'humor me' and try it for a few shots. It turned out AWESOME. So, thanks goes to Tony for playing along!!

I can't WAIT for their big day! We are going to have so much fun-- I might even get Tony to do some dramatic model poses again :-)

{sj}

Another beautiful sunny day at the Arboretum, and another awesome high school senior photo shoot! 

This first photo is my favorite -- I love how Catherine's pink shirt matches perfectly with the grass in the background! There's something at the Arboretum to match just about any color. Its great!

{sj}

was still there.. and it was! After it hopped down to a nearby branch I snapped this last photo. 

Kirstin really had a great 'serious' look. Very sassy, as I like to say. :) It was such a fun photo shoot!I keep finding awesome new places all around the Arboretum for photographing. That place is just incredible!

Thanks for making the drive up from Mankato, Kirstin!

{s.j}