Hildebrandt Family : Minneapolis Portrait Photography

Okay, so I'll admit right off the bat that these photos weren't taken in Mpls; they were taken in New Ulm, Minnesota, home of some pretty intense town pride, the Schell Brewery and a few of my favorite family members of all time. They can fill you in on the trivia and tidbits, if you wish :) Mama Shawn will even take you for a wild tour of the town - be sure to buckle up!

They've been patient in waiting for these photos and I am fairly certain they are worth the wait - the perfect blend of comedic and precious moments - the ones that Mama Shawn loves to frame all over her wonderful home. I was both shocked and proud to see all the photos I took of the kids a couple years ago hanging in the family room. Talk about full-on supporting this little business of mine!

Larry, Shawn, Brittany, Trevor and Anna: the five of you are absolutely fabulous and perfect subjects. I am so honored to give you these images and be a part of your lives. Even though we're family, it's about more than just blood lines. It's about the way you cherish each other, the way our eyes disappear when we smile even just a bit, the way laughter and jokes are endless when we're around each other... know you are loved and I look forward to many more "Christmas card photo sessions!"

So... here are your images and enjoy your moment of fame, Britt ;)

Trevor is just pure awesome: whatever he touches turns to gold, whether it's acting, science, writing, sports... he's definitely a jack of all trades. And even though he's the brother, he adores those sisters of his! :)

Brittany and I grew up playing Barbies together, wearing matching spandex bike shorts (and baby brothers at the same time too!) and oversized tie-dye teddy bear t-shirts, complete with a best friends forever set of jewelry. Time, distance and life separated us for a while and about 4 years ago, we reunited and have been inseparable ever since. She's my constant running companion, email buddy and bestie for life.

Anna may be the "COA" (center of attention) at times, but it's much-deserving: this girl was just recruited for the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire volleyball team! You go girl!

Larry and Shawn? The love they have for each other and these kids is undeniable. It's truly such a blessing to be around them.

 My Mom and I joke that these girls could be in hair commercials. Here's the proof:

xoxo,

syd.

sydnee@sydneebickett.com

Cheryl + Greg : Minneapolis Engagement Photography

Remember my fab clients Spencer + Elizabeth? Well, their fabulous factor increased by leaps and bounds when I met Cheryl + Greg! Cheryl worked with Elizabeth "back in the day" and when the ladies chatted about their respective weddings, Cheryl immediately contacted me to shoot their wedding reception next month! YAY! I love my clients!

Cheryl + Greg are LITERALLY on their way down to Mexico as I type this to get hitched - another thing I love is destination weddings! Sad I can't be there to witness their most amazing wedding, but so excited to hear all about it and see them in December for their "back home" reception for all their family and friends.

These two belong in a tropical climate for sure - tall, blonde hair, stunning eyes, mega-watt smiles and year-round amazing tan skin! But even more so, they belong with each other :) The love these two share is undeniable and that both of them told me how lucky they were to have found the other? Icing on the cake.

Their first date (and subsequent dates!) was at Beaujo's in Edina so the obvious choice for their engagement shoot was this intimate wine bar snuggled in the upscale 50th and France area.  A red wine flight later and we were off and running (who says you can't drink at 11 am on a Saturday morning?!). These two rocked the session like only they could - Cheryl's incredible style and attention to detail, Greg's smooth demeanor and attention to Cheryl made this one of my favorite sessions.

Cheers, Cheryl + Greg! Drink an umbrella-ed drink for me and I can't wait to see you, newly married (!) in December!

 I DIED and went to heaven when I saw Cheryl's leopard peep-toed pumps! We totally need to go shopping together, Cheryl!

xoxo,

syd.

sydnee@sydneebickett.com

Liz Logelin Foundation : Minneapolis/ St. Paul Event Photography

I remember reading a story a few years back about this dad Matt, his wife Liz and their newborn daughter Maddie in the Star Tribune. Matt and Liz, a couple who were so excited to welcome their daughter Maddie into the world and only a few precious hours later, Liz passed away. Matt Logelin started a foundation to give financial assistance to recent widows, widowers and their families - to help people in the same way people helped him. I tucked it away in the back of my head and although I was really moved by the story, I didn't think there was much I could do. I was in college at the time and didn't have enough pennies to make a difference.

A few years pass and it's the summer of 2011 and I'm running like a million miles a week and being this fanatic runner. I made it my mission to run the races that gave the registration fee to a non-profit - if I could help people and be an insane must-run-person, then the crazy would equal out the good-heartedness. [Right?]

I wanted to fill a 5K spot for September and found a non-profit called the Liz Logelin Foundation. I read about the foundation on their website and vaguely remembered Matt Logelin's story from 2009. I was about to sign up for the 5K and got a call from my day job about needing a foundation to volunteer with for the company's month of service.

A few lightbulb moments later and we were emailing with these fabulous women, Rachel and Lindsay, at the Liz Logelin Foundation, begging them to let us help with their annual Celebration of Hope fundraising weekend featuring a gala and a 5K the next morning. They told us to bring as many bodies as we could to help.

Reading the stories of the families helped by the LLF moved me to become a bawling baby at my desk every week as the event approached. I couldn't just simply be a body at their event - there was something else I had to do. Fast forward and I was begging Rachel and Lindsay to let me volunteer my time taking photos at the event. I've been given this talent and wanted to use it to bring more attention to this fabulous organization. The ladies immediately said yes and there we were, downtown Minneapolis in mid-September at Solera for the dinner and auction.

After that weekend, after meeting Matt and thanking him for allowing me to help (only to be met with a NO, THANK YOU!), I made a promise to myself and to the LLF that I would volunteer with them in any way they needed me. Part of having this gift of "seeing" is using it to help others. It's not about the recognition or the thank yous but it's about serving people.

If these images can bring light to the amazing work of the LLF and they can help more families in 2012 than they did in 2011, then the work has done its job. I am so proud of these images, more so than any other work I've ever done. They represent people helping people, coming together and making a difference. Recognizing a need and filling it. Using talents, time and blessings to make the world a better place. Isn't that really what it's all about?

Matt wrote a book entitled "Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love" and I bought a copy after the 5K, read it in a day and bawled my eyes out. Such beautiful, honest words and they only cemented my promise to help. So many people from across the world reached out to Matt after Liz passed away - and this year, the LLF raised a record-topping $46,763.42 to help families on their waiting list receive the financial assistance they need. WOOHOO!

xoxo,
syd.
sydnee@sydneebickett.com