Kari! : Minneapolis/St. Paul Portrait Photography

2012?! Where has the time gone? I promise a "best of" post coming your way soon, along with some GREAT BIG HUGE WONDERFUL NEWS... but until then, let's play a little catch up, shall we? Grab a big cup of coffee, buckle up and stay tuned, friends :)

....

In 2009, I was just graduating from Minneapolis Community & Technical College and we had a little giveaway at our senior portfolio show. Each graduate drew a name from a fishbowl and offered a few portrait session to that person. As luck would have it, I drew the amazing and fabulous Kari!

[Kari and I met in 2005ish when I was just a college kid, learning my way around the mysteries of the darkroom and Kari was besties with my beloved professor, Cate - she took the class too, just for kicks. Our friendship grew through those long nights in the pitch blackness and ultimately, we ended up working together for two summers at Farm in the City (a nonprofit summer camp teaching the kiddos about sustainable living (before it was cool!) and photography). Over the years, we're talked photos, life, peace, love and shared an immeasurable amount of coffee together.]

Fast forward to 2011 and FINALLY Kari and I found the perfect date and styling options for her fun and fabulous photo shoot! And just a mere block or two from her home in St. Paul too - even better! Without further ado, and since Kari officially debuted these photos as gifts for friends at her annual holiday party, I can finally show you these drop-dead-gorgeous photos.

Side note: I normally don't shoot or display my work in black and white unless it's film... and it wasn't until Kari suggested converting a few of these that I fell.in.love with the emotion in these images. YAY!

I am so blessed to know this amazingly wise woman - her open and honest personality is one I treasure so dearly. Her life story is so varied and amazing - full of strength, risk-taking, determination and adventures. Friends who instill those same values in each other are really what makes this whole life worth living, right? :)

 Side note #2: Kari couldn't wait for me to come over so she could show me this image of her, circa 1980s, in her stunning business suit. She was working as a photo assistant (Jane of all trades, this Kari) for a second and played around with the other assistants taking images of each other and this is the only one she has kept. Isn't this amazing?!?!

xoxo,
syd.
sydnee@sydneebickett.com

Hannah: Minneapolis Portrait Photography

From the second I heard her introduce herself across the room, I was instantly jealous. Hannah Hitchcock... endless branding ideas, endless awesomeness! But as I soon found, this lovely lady is more than just her name. She is openness, honesty, beauty from the inside out and she shares a passion for all things gorgeous, DIY and soft sunset light :)

And the funny thing is, I had been praying for a friend like her for almost a year. I was done with school, out of the "photo niche" and just trying to make things happen for my business on my own. She was exactly what I needed: inspiration, a willingness to work hard and shoot more, motivation and most importantly, friendship. I love this girl - I mean, she laughs at my jokes. What more could I ask for?!

We had been trying to get together to shoot for the better part of the summer and finally, it happened! She shot me first, and those images can be found on the awesomeness that is hannahhitchcock.com. I adore every image she shot of me because they are REAL. She brings out the best in her subjects and makes you feel like you're the next America's Next Top Model. Like for real, just go audition straight from the shoot and you'll for sure make it ;)

The best part of shooting fellow photographers is that you allow each other to just do your thing. You trust the other person's judgement (they do possess the ability to make you look good or else you wouldn't be there, right?) and there's a freedom to be brave and honest found in those few hours that you really can't put into words. You can just be, which actually, is an even better gift than the photographs themselves.

xoxo,
syd.
sydnee@sydneebickett.com

Anna: Minneapolis Senior Portrait Photographer

When Anna did some modeling for my senior portfolio a few years back, I was amazed from the first shot at how natural she is in front of a camera. Even when it was negative 30 degrees and I made her pretend to love hosting a tea party in the woods and kissing a ceramic frog, she was a beauty.

And now, two years later, she's about to begin her senior year of high school and the world is her stage. Literally and figuratively. She's an amazing actress, dancer, volleyball star, and most importantly, the most genuine girl you'll ever meet. This girl's going places, whether it's big city or small town, she will knock the socks off whoever she meets and whatever she ends up doing.

[I'm not saying all this just because she's my cousin, but seriously, this girl is one in a million. Well, a few in a million because she has an equally-awesome brother and sister and set of parents that will rock your world. But yeah, she's my cousin. How can you tell? Definitely not from our similarities in height or athletic ability but in that hilarious way we all laugh, throwing our heads back and smiling so big our eyes do this disappearing act that everyone marvels at :)]

Anna... I could go on for days about how adorable, beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous, talented, stunning, amazing, gifted and sweet this girl is, but I'll let the photos do the talking.

Can't wait to do this again in a couple months!

xoxo,
syd.
sydnee@sydneebickett.com

Rita: Minneapolis Portrait Photography

Oh Rita Rita Rita... I met this lovely lady about six months ago when we both started a brand new job together and she surprises me every day. Her maturity, her excitement, positivity, and humor have brought such a fresh perspective to not only our job but to my life.

At first I saw her as a little sister-type, a mentee, but it only took a couple weeks for me to realize that despite her beautiful age of 19, she is a marvelous young lady. This girl knows what's up, let me tell you. Whether it's her knack for all things Italian, her family-oriented spirit or her outstanding fashionista sense, Miss Rita is one of a kind and I am so blessed to call her my friend.

So, here she is, in all her hippie, rocker-chick, standing in a field and rocking it out self :)

xoxo,
syd.
sydnee@sydneebickett.com