Anna Mayerminnesota | Anna Mayer

Gone to “The Lake”.

Anna — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:12:37 +0000

Growing up in Minnesota means summers at “the Lake”. We don’t say, “We’re going to Long Lake.” or “We’ve gone to Big Sand Lake.” We all say and understand “We’ve ‘Gone to the Lake’ ” One of my favorite photos of all time is of a big red barn, in the middle of being painted. It must have been a beautiful Minnesota summer day, because in big strokes of their brushes they wrote “Gone to The Lake”. Because, I’m telling you, when you put up with snowstorms and frozen boogers and scraping off your car, those hot summer days are precious commodities and the only good place to spend them is “The Lake”. I imagine that’s a little funny to people from other states. After all, Minnesota is home to 11,842 lakes, not counting the little ones that are still good for a dip. Why wouldn’t you specify which lake you referred to? Well, because it doesn’t matter. The Lake is just that perfect place, easy to find, just drive ten miles down a county road and you’re there. Bring your bathing suit, a towel and an old tractor tire inner-tube. Float the day away and forget about everything. Summer is short and the summer days at The Lake; blissfully long.

So these photos hold a special meaning to me. My childhood played out by a new generation, splashing on the beach, swimming in the warm, fresh water. Ahhhhh . . . The Lake.

Funny story about Minnesotan’s habit of dropping everything on a hot summer day. When we moved from the Iron Range to the San Jose area in January of 2001, I was so delighted by all that January sun. Each day Isaiah and I would “drop everything” and head out into the beautiful sunshine. We didn’t have a lake to enjoy, but we played at the park, went to Happy Hallow, took leisurely walks. It was delightful. After a week, and then two, and then a month, my laundry was really piling up, the dust was taking over my home and everything was in a real mess. I realized, then, that I wasn’t in Minnesota anymore. In California I would have to clean my house, even in the sunshine, because, well, it was apparently here to stay.

Watching them grow. San Jose family photographer.

Anna — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:23:00 +0000

How cool is it, that in these fun photos of adorable boys, you can see the photos from a previous session up on the wall behind them? I love it! Of course, I’ll have to go back again to capture the new display they now have from THIS session. Maybe next year I can take a photo of them in front of the photo of them with the photo of them in the background! Ha! Sounds kind of Alice-in-Wonderland, doesn’t it?

Ooooh, pretty! Rolling out some awesome holiday cards.

Anna — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:30:00 +0000

One thing I really really love about my job is the Christmas card creation process. I plan and think and dream and just really put myself fully into the process of making my family’s card the best it can be. Just as fun (and not nearly as stressful) is the process of helping my wonderful clients create amazing holiday cards to amaze their family and friends. These will do that!! Not only do we have awesome new designs but we have sweet new die-cut papers, too. It’s going to be an awesome year for holiday cards for my lucky clients. Fun fun!!

The round cards are actually circles. So cool. And they come with a hole in the top (optional) so you can embellish with a pretty ribbon to create an ornament. Haven’t seen that before, right?

Sweet sisters in their favorite tree. Family photography in Los Gatos, CA.

Anna — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:27:00 +0000

I really loved this session. The girls were just sweet and fun and they had no problem showing me all the cool things they could do in their spectacular backyard. In the hour I was with them we managed to capture a whole lotta’ “childhood” for their mama; an especially wonderful gift when you children are older and have one foot in the more grown-up (and sometimes less sweet) world of a teenager.

Oh, for heaven’s sake! Too stinking cute!! San Jose Children’s photographer.

Anna — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:33:00 +0000

Imagine my delight when these two little cuties walked up to me at our Short and Sweet at McClellan Ranch. Not only were they cute, but they were sweet little monkeys, too. I just loved them and their beautiful and lovely mama (who, unfortunately, wasn’t being photographed that day. Next time, right?).

Day Four. Milwaukee children’s photographer Up North, in Minnesota.

Anna — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Oh, how I love these! I’ve been meaning to post these of my dear friend’s children picking blueberries for quite some time. This friend and I met on my first day as a new teacher up in Eveleth, Minnesota, one of the coldest places in the United States. I moved there with young Tyler to take my first real job as a Special Education teacher and Girls Hockey Coach. She was newly engaged and I soon became engaged as well. We were instant friends. We married just two weeks apart and we have been friends through all of the ups and downs of married life and growing families.

This shoot was a quick, rather impromptu session at a not-so-ideal time of day for photos. Thankfully, with a little maneuvering, you really can make almost any crazy lighting work. Not only was the sun high in the sky, but this entire session took place in the most unlikely location: the ditch across the road from their house. I just love the summery feel, the sweet toe-heads, and the happiness the kids felt while they popped nature’s sweetness into their mouths. Mmmm . . . so yummy!

View the rest here.

Day two. My favorite beach, a honey & a new habit.

Anna — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Hey, check it out; I’ve made it to day two! Don’t laugh, it would be easy to slip. Its not a habit yet! I have another habit I am trying to create; running. Not that I have TIME for running. I am honestly not sure when I am going to squeeze it in. But I know I need to do it and so I am going to find a way! My son, Isaiah, (10) is really into running. He ran cross-country this fall in middle school. He and I are thinking of signing up for a 5K on New Years Eve in Minnesota. We will be there for our first Christmas back in the Midwest anyway, so why not? I can’t think of a better running partner, can you? The bonus: my brother and sister both ran the Twin Cities Marathon this fall (way to go, guys!) and they are both thinking of running, too. It will be a family affair.

About today’s image; I just love shooting at the city beach in Capitola, California. Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz is also lovely, but I love the pier, the rocks and the lighting at this beach especially. This shot I just love and her parents must, too. They got a big canvas of it, which I just loved. Nice pick.

Love this family and love this beach! Milwaukee family photographer.

Anna — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:59:08 +0000

I had the pleasure of capturing my dear friends and their adorable boys on the beach in Duluth, Minnesota while I was on tour last month. Our shoot got off to a bit of a rocky start. My friend gave me directions to the beach that sounded a bit like this: you go down the road past the lift bridge, then, when you get to the community center (you know, the one that is currently under construction and has no signage) you turn on 23rd AVENUE (you know, the one that is actually named 25th STREET), turn left. You will see the beach access right there (you know, the 10 inch break in the foliage on the dunes that is completely obscured) and you will be there! It reminded me of old jokes about rural “directions” using burned down barns that “used” to be there and restaurants that “used” to be named such-and-such. LOL I thought I knew which beach she meant, so I got there early and parked my self in the sand with Lydia and Shannon (who as hanging in Duluth with me). Unfortunately, the number I had was her HOUSE phone…not that it mattered because she left her cell phone at home! I ended up driving up and down the “road past the lift bridge” half a dozen times before I found a local who could help me decipher the directions and point out that I was just two blocks away the whole time!

It all worked out in the end, because their photo shoot was awesome, the boys were adorable and fun and the light at the beach was sweeter than it would have been had we started on time. All in all, it was just funny, more than anything. And since I abandoned Shannon and Lydia on the beach (and Shannon’s cell died so she didn’t know what was happening) I had to take them out for ice cream at the Portland Malt Shop, which I didn’t mind doing at all!

Thanks for sharing your sweet family with me, my friend. Next time we come to Duluth we are going out for drinks and steaks and some real catching up!

Life. Captured. A fabulous opportunity.

Anna — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:39:08 +0000

The Goggle Project. Another hero in San Jose, CA.

Anna — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:52:24 +0000

I love this project! Just so silly and sooo fun! This little man has been in front of my lens since he was just days old. Had fun capturing him and his big-sister in their goggle-get-ups. I will share her’s soon. If you haven’t sent me goggle-goodness, its not too late! Check it out.

san jose children