Rehwaldt Family : Minneapolis Lifestyle Photography

Let me start by saying that I have been a cheerleader of this family for the last decade! When I make a list of things and people that fire me up and make me leap out of bed in the morning, it's people like these three. Their support and encouragement of this business has been unwavering and likewise, I love seeing their Facebook posts and photos of their growing family - every time we see each other, they're celebrating another beautiful milestone!

We celebrated Nolan's one year birthday with a session at the Minnehaha Falls - where we've been numerous times before and somehow, someway, each session looks a little bit different. Being the moving, grooving one year old he is, Nolan kept us laughing and smiling the entire session. Can you believe his cuteness?! Those eyes, his Toy Story Andy boots, his cowboy hat and that shirt just like his Dad. I adore these images, but even more, I adore the people in them.

These three are the reason why I'm doing this gig full-time. Telling their story and giving them these images feels like everything I was born to do. I'm so grateful for families like these guys, for the ability to do this "good work" and even more so for the gift they've given me: they trust me completely and are so open and honest when it comes to story telling. It's true that God has blessed them so richly and he will continue to do so - I can't wait to see how their story unfolds and I pray I get the honor and privilege of telling it!

I love you three. To infinity and beyond.

xoxo,

syd.

sydnee@sydneebickett.com

612.293.9096

Riding Bikes : Minneapolis Lifestyle Photography

As promised, here is the second half of Nate + Laura's five year anniversary session! These two love biking together, so I brushed off this old vintage bike, borrowed a picnic basket from Marissa and off we went. 

I've never really been one to pick apart images before and tell you my favorite parts, but that's all about to change :) There are big new exciting things in store over here!

The simplicity of these images - the basic colors, the pink for Laura and the blue for Nate, and the ease and feel of their love for each other - are some of my favorite things. The way they look at each other with such a knowing, deep love; it inspires me! Laura's pure smile really tugs at my heart - and Nate makes her smile often, so that's just an added bonus. When I offered the opportunity to shoot a couple "jumping" photos at the end, Laura jumped at the chance. "I always love the jumping photos you take! They're so fun and I've always wanted one!" My heart soared. That this couple was able to  have images of themselves, celebrating and capturing their love after five plus years together and I was able to give that to them? #dreamcometrue

Cheers to the next five years and many more, lovebirds!

xoxo,

syd.

sydnee@sydneebickett.com

612.293.9096

Nate + Laura : Minneapolis Lifestyle Photography

Last November, I featured a little giveaway each week over on my Facebook page (ooh, yes, click here and LIKE me!) to thank my loyal and lovely fans for their support. As fate would have it, Laura won on week three and immediately emailed me to book their session for this spring. "I've been hoping for MONTHS that we could have a session with you" were the first words in her note. My heart skipped a beat and we were off and running.

I first met Nate, Laura's husband, in an English course during our undergrad at Concordia St. Paul. Obviously Nate is a million times smarter and funnier than I could ever hope to be, so of course we were friends and worked together on a few projects here and there. He's a teacher now and an outstanding runner. Remember my little running thing on the side? Yeah, Nate runs marathons and does triathlons like every day. Check out his stats here: Twin Cities Runner

And Laura? She's just about the sweetest, loveliest lady you'll ever meet. She's a teacher too and has such a heart for those little kiddos. These two celebrated their five year wedding anniversary (woohoo!) in June and when we talked about their session, they mentioned a mutual love for the outdoors, picnics,  playing music together, running and biking. We spent a lovely Sunday afternoon shooting these "love" images for them - so much fun that I'm sharing only the first half now... check back soon for part two!

xoxo,

syd.

sydnee@sydneebickett.com

612.293.9096

family of three: Minneapolis Portrait Photography

I met Brandi back in 2008 when I was an almost-college-graduate and was interviewing for my first big girl job at a local gift boutique. Super nervous and almost unable to walk in my high heels, I think I impressed her because I got the job - and thus began a long stint together in the dark cold (or humid, depending on the season) basement, working hard on product photography and copy and making the magic happen, Internet-style.

We bonded over a love of photography, good cheese, the Current and self-taught Photoshop skills and for three years, we chatted day in and day out. About a month before I left that job for another big girl job, she spilled the beans: her and Clettis were expecting a little peanut! I *almost* took back my resignation but B promised we would stay in touch.

Over Starbucks dates and Turtle Bread lunches, we swapped corporate stories and gabbed about how exciting this new little guy's entrance would be - I couldn't wait to meet him! July 26 came and little Cannon was born! YAY! After meeting the little guy, I demanded that B & C let me photograph their new family... and once fall arrived and the leaves started changing, we set the date.

The coolest part of this shoot? Not only their coordinated outfits but the collaboration that happened on both sides of the camera. Being photographers themselves, B & C told me what their hopes for these images and I just stood back, letting them be them and feeling so grateful they let me do my thing. The result? A few of my favorite images of all time. I didn't realize this until just now, but all this images are so close and tight - just like the bond between these three. The look on Clettis's face in the first image gets me every time - "omg, we made this adorable argyle-sweater-wearing kid!"

Knowing B all those years ago and being as attached-at-the-hip as one could be with their "boss lady," I am so proud of this Mama. She and Clettis are the most doting yet laid-back parents little C could have - he is one of the calmest kiddos I've ever seen. So content and just soaking in the world around him (except when it's cold and windy like at the end of our shoot!) - I can't wait to see this little family grow.

xoxo,

syd.

sydnee@sydneebickett.com

Love, 10 years in the making : Minneapolis Portrait Photography

Ashley + Corey have graced this lovely blog before, but now, Nolan Jean is finally here, he's 6 months old and pure awesome. This couple has been clients of mine since 2007 when they tied the knot, but 2011 marks 10 years of love for these two!

We took a trip down memory lane over at Minnehaha Falls, where Corey proposed and we took their wedding photos four years ago. Having Nolan there was the missing piece of this love puzzle :) He is the most adorable little dude and looks just like his parents! I was totally in love with their fall color scheme. And Nolan's corduroy jacket and hat?! AND a raccoon hat? His Mama has a great eye for style, that's for sure.

Nolan had a little trouble smiling (as seen in the second set of images) but he warmed up and the outcome is just precious. Once he went back into his stroller after the session, he was just babbling away, making the most hilarious faces - we had no idea what he was saying but he sure had fun! Those blue eyes will just melt your heart :)

xoxo,
syd.
sydnee@sydneebickett.com

A Family of Superheroes: Minneapolis/St. Paul Portrait Photography

Way back last spring, I hosted a contest on my Facebook Fan Page (hey! Like me!) in an attempt to get more fans. Maybe my self-esteem was low that day and I simply wanted more friends... but I got 'em! It went a little something like this: the 250th fan won a free photo session - and the person who referred them won one too. Funny thing was, the winner was my 6th grade teacher's husband and it was my 6th grade teacher who "referred" him! So we killed two birds with one stone and set off planning a fabulous family photo session!

As life would have it, we planned and the weather didn't cooperate. Numerous times. But they stuck with me and we had a date nailed done at the beginning of the summer. But again, as life would have it, they cancelled... little did I know, it was because they were 24 hours away from welcoming their 2nd son into the world! We waited a few weeks for the new family of four to adjust and then celebrated this little miracle at an historical train station - one of big brother Isaiah's favorite things is trains!

Dad is actually publishing his first book of awesome fiction, Failstate, due out next year! And since you "liked" me, you'd better "like" him too!

FINALLY! Here is my favorite family of superheroes:

Right before I shot the second image in this set, Isaiah was informing me that he had been to this place before (Mom said he hadn't) and I asked when. To our surprise, he said he had dreamt this exact photo last night in his dreams! The result was this ahhhhmazzzing photo of his parents cracking up and of course, Isaiah is looking adorable!

Introducing Micah:

xoxo,
syd.
sydnee@sydneebickett.com