Post by Lucy

On Friday evening I made my way over to Palace Theatre in St. Paul to photograph an old favorite band of mine, Death Cab for Cutie. I adored this band back in high school and early college and I had never seen them live before, so eagerly jumped at the opportunity to shoot the show.I shot these images for City Pages, but sadly, my photo pass did *not* include a ticket to the show. That is fairly common with concert photography, and means that I was allowed into the venue for the opener, and then was able to shoot the first three songs of the Death Cab set before being ushered out of the venue. A bit disappointing not to see them perform some of my old favorite songs, but it's always magical to be in the photo pit, so close to an artist you love.The opener was Charly Bliss, a Brooklyn-based power pop group.  

post by leslie

Last night, I had a family photo session at a gorgeous nature center north of the cities. On the way there, I drove through a torrential storm that reminded me so much of Miami (that place gets storms like no other). The wind was insane and my windshield wipers could not even begin to keep up.But one thing I learned from Florida is that storms this strong move fast, so I was hopeful it would clear up by the time I reached my destination. And it did! Yay!We got some fantastic family shots, but here are a few snaps I took as we were hiking around. Such a wonderful night.And for your internet shares of the day:+ Sixteen Candles was one of my favorite movies growing up, but this article is spot on and it stunned me.+ I finished this book in two days and it's the best non-fiction I've read in a very long time.+ Hey moms! Are you in the photos with your kids? This is not a plug to hire me (or maybe it is....)

post by leslie

One of the most serene parts of our visit, surprisingly, was not the water. It was the woods.The silence, the smell, the dampness... it was all just perfect. I wanted to hike all day long exploring the moss and the nature around me. Here are a few photos of the woods on Salt Spring Island.

post by leslie

I know that in the past I have mentioned these Day in the Life sessions that I am launching, but you guys, these sessions are so magical. I love spending so much time getting to know my clients, I adore making photos of the day-to-day moments that zoom by parents in the early years and I truly am in awe of how hard parents are working day and night (both for income and to make their kids happy!).The family I'm sharing with you today is in a very real struggle as they have an infant, a 2 year old and a high energy (BUT OH SO ADORABLE!) dog. Being with them reminded me of how hard those first months with an infant can be, but especially when you have another child in the house. You are suddenly split up into one-on-one defense (better than zone defense, I presume), and you are so exhausted. Middle of the night feedings? Yup. Potty training at the same time? You bet. Sucking snot out of your childrens' noses? Of course. But these parents? They laughed through it all, and we had so much fun. And I felt so guilty the next night when I slept for 9 hours and hoped that much sleep was in their future soon...Below are a few of my favorite shots. I also did a film for this family, which you can see here. Enjoy!

post by leslie

I mean, Canada is like a wilderness paradise. The fog. The water. The wildlife. It was so magical... but I think I've said that before.One morning we drove up to the tallest peak on the island and hiked around taking photos. Anyone want to meet me there for a family session?

post by leslie

One of our favorite things about the Pacific Northwest is the ferry system. Riding ferries is such a treat. You're being forced to slow down, to wait for the schedule, to watch the water go by (or as many locals do, to sleep in your car on the ferry).Ezra was mesmerized that we DROVE OUR CAR onto a boat. I was mesmerized by the seals we saw in the water, the breathtaking views and the magic of slowing down and enjoying the journey. Below are a few more photos from the boat. That's a seal! For your internet share today, I simply give you this.I know the ideas I'm about to express are not new, and I myself have been seeing them online a lot (and said more eloquently), but the idea that the men accused in the #metoo movement are being persecuted and that there is no safe place for them and that they are angry and afraid makes me irate.I have been living in fear of walking to my car alone at night since I was 12 because of what might happen. I have been checking under my car in parking garages for years due to this fear. How many men find their keys before leaving a place after sundown to carry in their hands as a weapon should they be attacked? Because this is normal behavior for women. Because we have been afraid our entire lives.We have been inappropriately fondled at school (for me it happened in 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade), and kept quiet for fear of what would happen to OUR reputations if we spoke out. I have had to think so quickly on my feet about how to respond to unwanted advances. How do I turn this guy down without angering him? How do I make this casual? How can I escape this situation safely?I have friends who have been drugged in bars to be taking advantage of, I have friends who have been assaulted. This is not uncommon. This is, sadly, normal.My father just called me last month to make sure I'm not meeting strange men in places for photo shoots that might result in danger. That I have a plan. That I know something about them first. How many male photographers worry about their safety before a portrait session?This is how women grow up. This is our reality. So the idea that men are actually afraid right now of being accused of something and they might not get a job they want? Sorry. I am not so sympathetic. 

post by leslie

One of the more touristy things we did on the trip to Canada (besides the whale watching) was a visit to Butchart Gardens. It made for a lovely morning walk, and they had a nice carousal for Ezra to ride. The colors were astounding, but so was the price! It was a lovely day, but I prefer the free gardens in Europe.

post by leslie

So we kept hearing that they had a great petting zoo in Victoria. That's not normally something that makes the guide books, you know? But this one did -- especially since Prince Harry's family visited a few years ago. Well if it's good enough for the royals, then it's good enough for us!You guys, this was the CLEANEST petting zoo I have ever been to. There was a woman in the pen with the baby goats whose No. 1 job was to scoop up poop the very second it hit the ground. The pen was spotless (Sidenote: Canadian public bathrooms are just as pristine! Those Canadians are polite AND tidy!).Anyway, here are my photos from the petting zoo because even though I think the forests and mountains and sea are spectacularly beautiful, sometimes it's fun to look at baby goats. This one kept trying to eat everyone's coats! He even took a sniff at my camera! They'll eat anything! No internet shares today -- too busy catching up still! Forgive me!