Carlson Studio

December Newsletter

2011-12-01T09:18:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a beautiful holiday season and a new year of peace and happiness!

Studio Portraits with Santa
(Make great gifts!)

Saturday, December 3rd
from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
at Carlson Studio

No appointment necessary - No session fee

Packages starting at $10.00

50% of the proceeds benefit the NL-S Autism Program

Join us for holiday fun and treats!

Greeting cards with Santa are also available!

It's not too late to order your holiday greeting cards and gift portraits for family and friends.

Stop in soon to order to receive your photographs in time for Christmas!

Carlson Studio will be closed Saturday, December 24 through Wednesday, December 28th

September Newsletter

2011-09-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

With fall just around the corner, we're preparing for family and senior portraits with beautiful outdoor color! Our schedule is filling fast; call soon to book your appointment.

New shapes are available for our Luxe Greeting Cards and Our Metal Wall Art.

Displays are soon to come!

2012 Seniors

We hope you have a great year!

If you have not had your portraits taken, we still have sessions available. Contact us to reserve your date!

Fall Colors

Fall leaves tend to peak the first two weeks in October; a popular time for family and senior portraits. We photograph at the most colorful location available to us to ensure vibrant images for your wall. It's always a good idea to dress warm, as the fall air can be chilly!

Double - Sided Wallets and Accordian Albums

These new items have been a huge hit already with clients looking for a unique way to share images with others. Both come in custom tins for protecting your images in your pocket or purse. We can add the name and/or age to the double - sided wallets as well!

Looking for a way to display your holiday greeting cards?

We received one of these hangers as a gift and had to order some to have on hand for our clients. What a great way to showcase festive cards from friends and family!

It's the Little Things

2011-07-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

It can be difficult choosing just a couple images to share with others from a portrait session. We are excited to introduce two new products for your purse or wallet to showcase your images!

Our durable double-sided wallets are a great choice if you can't decide on just one photograph to share with friends and family. A set of 24 comes in a custom-designed tin for 48.00!

Wallet-sized accordian albums are also a wonderful addition to your collection. They hold 12 images enclosed with a magnetic cover. A customized tin is included for safe storage. A total of 13 images for 50.00!

June Newsletter

2011-06-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2011!

We wish you all the best!

We're always looking for fun, new products to offer our clients and have some exciting options now available!

Our Luxe card line has been available since early spring. These cards come in a variety of shapes and colors for any occasion. They were very popular for our high school seniors this year. We also have some creative designs for your holiday greeting cards!

Gallery Circles are a creative new way to display your series of portraits on the wall. Printed on metal, the arrive with the hanging hardware already attached for a modern, frameless look. Circles may be ordered individually or as a discounted grouping!

Summer Specials for the Class of 2012!

Free! 47 wallets for June sessions only (from one image selected for finished prints)

Free! 31 wallets for July sessions only (from one image selected for finished prints)

Free! Class of 2012 t-shirt (with $500.00 portrait order while supplies last)

Free! Buddy Session with family or friends during your senior session (June, July and August sessions only)

Two senior portrait scholarships to be awarded through Carlson Studio!

Our winning recipients will be awarded both an indoor and outdoor session, along with our popularr 3 pose special at a value of $415.00!

Students wishing to apply must submit a short essay (250 words or less) stating why they would be deserving of the portrait scholarship. Awards will be based on either financial need or personal circumstances.

Applications may be picked up at Carlson Studio or downloaded at carlsonstudioinc.com and must be submitted by June 15 to be considered. Winners will be notified by June 22.

Winners Announced!

2011-03-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to this year's pet contest winners! We appreciate all the votes that came in; it's been a busy week. We enjoyed photographing all your wonderful pets and look forward to another great fundraiser next year!

1st place: Heidi Ennenga

"3 of a Kind or Full House?"

winner of a 16x20 print

2nd place: Steve and Amber Vick

winner of an 11x14 print
"Tell Us You Brought Two Treats?!"

3rd place: Kathy Mahn

"Get off the What?"

winner of an 8x10 print

Vote Now!

2011-03-07T12:08:00.001-08:00

We have enjoyed photographing the pets for this year's Furtography Humane Society fundraiser! Thank you so much to all the participants; your donations are appreciated. After a successful second year, we're happy to make this event an annual tradition at Carlson Studio!

To place your vote, please visit carlsonstudioinc.com.

Click on the "Contact Us" button on the bottom of the page and enter your name, email and title of your favorite portrait in the "Message" box.

Please vote only once. All voting must be done between March 8-15th; winners will be notified March 17th, and images will be posted on our blog. Prizes will be awarded soon after!

Good luck!

March Newsletter

2011-03-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

Spring is just around the corner! We're looking foward to the warm weather and another great season of outdoor portraits. Now is a great time to start planning your summer session!

Voting Begins Soon!

We have finished our pet sessions for the Humane Society fundraiser and our generous clients have donated 400 pounds of food!

Voting on our blog will take place for your favorite pet March 8-15th.

First place is awarded a 16x20 print, second place receives an 11x14 and third will be given an 8x10.

We had a great time photographing your pets and can't wait to do it again next year!

Class of 2011

As the end of your senior year draws near, it's time to think about your graduation announcements. We offer many styles to choose from and will work closely with you to ensure your cards showcase your senior portraits and unique style.

Carlson Studio suggests you allow 3-4 weeks to complete your finished order.

Updated Website!

Our images on the Carlson Studio website were recently updated! Please visit carlsonstudioinc.com to view our new galleries and get fresh ideas for your next session.

Coming soon!

2010-12-31T07:59:00.001-08:00

The Humane Society fundraiser is coming up in February! We had a wonderful response last year and hope this year is even better. Mark your calendar and give us a call to set up an appointment to enter your pet into the contest!

December Newsletter

2010-12-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

This Christmas and always, may you be surrounded by the gift of friendship, the joys of family, and the spirit of love!

Last minute gifts may still be ordered!

Holiday greeting cards and prints take approximately two weeks to arrive. Order soon to receive them in time for Christmas.

New Frames for 2011

We have added a new collection to our framing options from Wild Sorbet. These frames are wonderful art pieces for decorating your home!

Pet contest benefitting the Humane Society

Pets will be photographed between February 15-27.

Bring a bag of Science Diet brand pet food and your session is free!

You will also receive 25% off a 10x20 composite and 15% off our other products listed!

Magnets

Notecards

Keychains

Coffee Mugs

4x5-16x20 portraits

You choose your favorite portrait for the voting on our blog which takes place March 8-15th.

Most photogenic pet will win a 16x20 portrait. Second place receives and 11x14 and third will be given an 8x10.

You're invited to join the Carlson Studio Birthday Club!

Enjoy no session fees and 10% off all orders- save over $100.00!

Offer is free to clients who take advantage of our 1st year special!

$75.00 enrollment includes one session a year during the month of your child's birthday until age 6

2010-12-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

Fall Newsletter

2010-09-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Fall!

With the changing of the season just around the corner, we're looking forward to photographing families, seniors and children in the beautiful color.

Fall Photography

We recommend calling to schedule your fall session as soon as possible. Our book will fill up quickly with clients who enjoy the brilliant color as a background in their photographs. Peak color usually occurs the first two weeks of October.

Attention Class of 2011!

Be aware of your yearbook portrait deadline. Many schools require your image in by the first of December.

We are still busy photographing seniors as fall is a great time for unique images!

Greeting Cards

With the holiday season a few months away, it's not too early to start thinking about your greeting cards. We have several styles to choose from to compliment your photographs.

Yes! We are photographing weddings!

We are now photographing weddings throughout most of the year, due to many requests from our clients. We have exciting new products to showcase your special day including guestbooks and new custom designed artisan albums. Our wedding images are now available to view online at carlsonstudioinc.com. Check out our gallery!

Carlson Studio Weddings

2010-08-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

With many requests from our clients, we are pleased to announce we will now be photographing weddings throughout the entire year!

Our custom wedding coverage has been upgraded with new added amenities. The engagement session is included along with a hard cover guestbook displaying your images to be enjoyed by your guests. Our complete coverage also includes a beautifully crafted 12x12 artisan album, a DVD slide show and a 16x20 wall portrait.

With 30 years of creating memorable wedding images, we offer experience you can trust! Relax and enjoy this important day, knowing the special details will be archived forever with unique and artistic coverage from Carlson Studio.

Maurices Model

2010-06-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

Maurices clothing store in the Kandi Mall in Willmar has been kind enough to create a great senior display with us again this year. Photographs of our model, Anna, along with the outfits she's wearing in the images will be up soon in a large glass window display. We're looking forward to seeing it completed!

Summer's almost here!

2010-06-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who attended our senior open house last Thursday! It was a fun and busy day; we're excited to start photographing the class of 2011. If you haven't booked yet, there is still time to get in on our great specials for June and July!

We have also created a Facebook page to keep in contact with our clients. We'll be posting favorite images and ideas frequently. We hope to hear your comments! The link is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111895702187175

We hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Senior Open House

2010-05-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready for the Class of 2011 with a 12 hour booking special taking place tomorrow! We will be open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm to schedule your senior portraits. All sessions are 50% off if booked and paid for tomorrow only.

We have some other great summer specials to take advantage of as well!

47 free wallets for June sessions only (from one image selected for finished prints)

31 free wallets for July sessions only (from one image selected for finished prints)

Free Class of 2011 T-shirt (with $500.00 portrait order while supplies last)

Free buddy session with family or friends during your senior session (June, July and August sessions only)

Two senior portrait scholarships will be awarded through Carlson Studio!
Our winning recipients will be awarded both an indoor and outdoor portrait session, along with our popular 3 pose special at a value of $415.00!

Students wishing to apply must submit a short essay (250 words or less) stating why they would be deserving of the portrait scholarship. Awards will be based on either financial need or personal circumstances.

Applications may be picked up at Carlson Studio or downloaded at http://image8.photobiz.com/2618/20100218133153_63755.pdf

They must be submitted by June 15 to be considered. Winners will be notified by June 22.

France

2010-05-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to travel with a local group to France in April. We arrived in Paris just before the volcano erupted in Iceland. By the time we flew home, all flights were back on schedule. Timing is everything!

I'll share just a few highlights:

Mont. St. Michel

When the tide is in, water surrounds this fortified monestary which was first built in 904.

It was added on to for many centuries after.

The rock which the monestary is built on is actually a part of the structure.
Palace of Versailles
Ornate beyond words, 800 rooms for a family of 4!
Queen's bed

Monet's garden

Chateau Chenonceau

Notre Dame

Eiffel Tower

Looking up

From the top

Normandy - Omaha Beach

St. Malo

Located on the north coast of France, this fortified city is surrounded by

a brick wall for protection.

Mussel and treasure hunting are a frequent pastime with the tides changing every 6 hours.

Fourfourty

2010-04-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

It was an exciting week last week as a local band, Fourforty, had the opportunity to open for Bon Jovi at the Excel Energy Center! They were the winners of the Big Break contest on KQRS. Marti was able to go to the concert to take photos of the band as they were playing and got some awesome photos. Fourforty sounded great, and we'd like to congratulate Brian, Pat, Kelly and Mark on a job well done!!!

Congratulations!

2010-04-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the New London-Spicer boys basketball team on their state win! What an exciting year!

Spring has come quickly and the class of 2010 will be graduating soon. We've been busy creating announcements for seniors; there are several new designs this year. We encourage seniors to order soon, so invitations can be mailed out in plenty of time for their parties.

We've also been preparing for the upcoming class of 2011! The new brochures will be sent out in May, and we're looking forward to a great summer of photographing senior portraits.

And the Winners Are.....

2010-03-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who voted during our first pet contest! We were excited to have 535 total votes over the week. The contest was so much fun and we recieved great feedback from clients and voters. We hope to do this every year!

Congratulations to the following winners:

"Puppy Love" 1st Place, winner of a 16x20 print - Melissa Baggenstoss

"Flower Girl" 2nd Place, winner of an 11x14 print - Darlene Larson

"I Rule, You Drool" 3rd Place, winner of an 8x10 print - Peg Johnson

Vote for your favorite pet!

2010-03-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who made our Furtography pet contest a success! The amount of pet food donated totalled 500 pounds. We had a lot of fun photographing your pets over the past two weeks. We hope to do this again next year!

To place your vote, log onto carlsonstudioinc.com. Click on the "Contact Us" button on the bottom of the website and enter your name, email and the title of your favorite portrait in the "Message" box. Please vote only once. All voting must be done March 8-15th; winners will be notified March 17th and images will be posted on our blog.

Good Luck!!

Furtography

2010-01-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

We are busy preparing for our first ever pet portrait contest! We are offering a free session fee and new products at discounted prices for those who bring in a bag of Science Diet pet food to be donated to the Humane Society.

Pets will be photographed between February 15-27th. Times are limited, so call soon!!

You choose your favorite image to have posted to our blog for others to vote on March 8-15th. The most photogenic pet will be awarded a 16x20 portrait. Second place receives an 11x14, and 3rd will be given an 8x10.

A 10x20 composite of your pet is available at 25% off during this event. Other fun ideas include magnets, notecards, coffee mugs, keychains and wall prints.

We are looking forward to the experience!

Giddy-up!

2010-01-22T10:11:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you combine a rocking horse, a cowboy hat, cowboy pj's and a small cowboy? A session full of personality, smiles and wonderful expressions! A multiple image composite was a wonderful way to display all the fun moments that were captured. These portraits reflect the playfulness and excitement of a child this age.

New Website!

2010-01-18T11:39:00.000-08:00

We're excited to announce our new website! The address, carlsonstudioinc.com has not changed, but we do have a new, updated look. We will now have better online proofing options as well as online ordering (still under construction). We're happy to have all new images on our web display and look forward to your feedback!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday!

Now that the new year has come, we're taking advantage of some quiet time to regroup. Every January we clean, fix equipment, reorganize and prepare new samples, advertisements and displays for the year. We are also working on new product ideas we're excited about, which will be available soon!

We look foward to seeing you in 2010!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

We wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday season. Although the predicted storm may cause some changes to plans, we hope you enjoy the beauty of the season and take time to reflect on the gifts life has brought you this past year.

Our holiday hours are:

Christmas Eve 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Christmas Day Closed

New Year's Eve 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

New Year's Day Closed

Santa Day

2009-12-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Our Santa day fundraiser for autism was a success and a lot of fun! We'd like to thank everyone who came in for photographs, as well as Jim Shimek for his help. We have posted some of the images from Saturday, enjoy!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to count our blessings and to thank you for your support. We hope you had a wonderful holiday surrounded with friends and family and continue to enjoy the celebration through the weekend!

Studio Portraits with Santa!

2009-11-06T14:52:00.001-08:00

Join us Saturday, December 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for portraits with Santa! They make wonderful holiday gifts. Photographs will be taken at Carlson Studio and 50% of the proceeds will benefit the NL-S Autism Program. Join us for holiday fun and treats! A special thank you to Jim and Julie Shimek for all their help!!!!!

Family Time

2009-10-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

As the Holiday season draws closer, families are beginning to make plans for celebrating the festivities together. Thanksgiving time has been always been popular for having group portraits done in the studio. Christmas is the following month, making cards and portraits wonderful family gifts. Gift certificates are also a great idea; we do several sessions around the Christmas and New Year holidays when families are together as well. It's a wonderful time of year to update your family portraits and capture the warm memories of the season!

Frigid Fall!

2009-10-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a very cool fall so far! Rain, snow and wind have impacted the amount of fall sessions we've completed this year. Luckily there are still beautiful colors on the trees around the area. We feel optimistic that the precipitation will slow and we'll be able to get outdoors. We have rearranged the schedule to accomodate sessions that have been rained (or snowed) out and feel confident that high school seniors and families will have the chance for a beautiful fall background in their portraits.

Boudoir

2009-10-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

We are excited to introduce our new boudoir sessions! Most will be done during the evening when we are closed to walk-in clients. We offer individual sessions as well as small groups. Our parties offer special discounts for the hostess who may invite 4-10 guests. Each guest's session may be photographed privately and all previews are viewed from your own home. The parties are a wonderful idea for a girl's night out! The hostess may bring beverages an hors d'oeuvres and our staff will serve the party. Style of photography is up to each client; we want you to feel comfortable, have a great experience and have finished images that reflect the essence of your beauty.

Team Effort

2009-09-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

During one of our recent senior sessions, we both had the opportunity to photograph the same client. She came in two seperate days for portraits, and had a different photographer each time. We were thrilled with the variety of poses and ideas we were able to offer the senior. She was also happy to have the two different experiences and styles. We hope to collaborate on more sessions in the future; it was a great situation for all involved!

Dress Up

2009-09-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

Special occasions and holidays go by so quickly. Many times a special outfit or dress is involved with the festivities. When the party is over, what happens to the exquisite clothing involved? Many times it's packed away, handed down or sold to someone else. Why not document the occasion with photographs?

Your Stuff

2009-09-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

With senior photos in full-swing, we're doing a lot of "your stuff" sessions. These are a great way to capture the sports or hobbies you are into. Seniors are invited to bring in sports equipment, books, musical instruments, pets, hunting gear, dance costumes, vehicles, etc. We can combine all your interests in one session or focus on just one or two. Either way, it's a great way to capture the things that are important to you!

New Greeting Cards!

2009-09-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

It seems early, but families will soon be coming in to order their holiday greeting cards from the portraits we have created over the past year. We are excited to have some new designs to offer! A talented graphic artist (and friend), Christa McDermott, has created a book of wonderful cards for the upcoming season. It may take two weeks to receive your order; cards should be ordered by early December to get them sent out by Christmas.

Personalize your portraits

2009-08-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

When we photograph a client, we strive to portray his or her personality. Portraits should tell a story; whether it's an emotion, a personality trait or a specific hobby. It's a way to document the present to preserve for the future. Technology has given us new tools over the years to create truly one-of-a-kind images. Discussing with our clients what they would like as an end product gives us an idea of how we can personalize it to become a unique creation to display in their homes.

Fall is upon us

2009-08-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

It is already nearing the end of August and a new school year is quickly approaching! We have noticed early signs of fall this year such as the sumac changing color and some of the leaves beginning to turn yellow. Outdoor fall sessions are very popular for families and seniors, and they're booking up fast! We have several locations with beautiful color around the area to photograph at. Usually the second week in October is our last week for outdoor photos; with the early changes it may be sooner this year. To capture the beauty of the fall colors, an appointment should be scheduled soon.

New babies

2009-08-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

We have photographed many newborn babies through the years; this has become a very popular session! Capturing the tiny hands, feet and expressions is such a great way to document the new baby's first few months. This session can be done anytime during the first year, but many prefer to do it shortly after birth. Marti recently photographed this session and we were thrilled with the infants expressiveness and the warmth captured among the family members.

Be Unique

2009-08-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

There are may ways to give your photographs a unique touch. Different clothing styles and choices of backgrounds or locations give you endless possibilites. Adding special effects to the finished image can also set it apart and add creativity. In this session, many of the finished images were in color. The young girl's shirt had beautiful decoration at the bottom, which made for a great selectively-colored portrait. What a great way to add variety to your wall!

Families

2009-07-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

August is just around the corner! It's hard to believe summer is going by so quickly; fall will be here soon. Now is a wonderful time to update your family portraits. We have many popular outdoor locations for family groups, as well as several indoor backgrounds. For the 2010 graduates: we are still offering the buddy session FREE when you schedule your senior portraits to be done in August. Family portraits are wonderful heirlooms and gifts to give for special occasions throughout the year.

Seniors.....Online!

2009-07-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

We have tried something new for seniors this year, and we've had wonderful feedback! If previews are returned on time, we email the images you order from for use on your website or mp3 player. It has been a great way to share senior photos with friends and relatives who live a distance away. We are excited to offer this incentive to the class of 2010!

Tornado!

2009-07-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

We had some excitement toward the end of the day yesterday. As Marti was assisting a client ordering and Charlotte was showing a family their slideshow, the sirens began to sound in Spicer. Marti peeked outside and noticed the clouds rotating just to the west. All of us quickly piled into the bathroom (the safest place in the building) and anxiously waited through the storm. As we ventured out, we noticed only a few brances from the weeping willow in back had been taken down. Amazingly, that was the only damage here!! Buildings just down the road, as well as the baseball field, sustained much more damage. Many homes in the area were also affected. We certainly feel lucky! Neither of us were able to take any photos during the storm, but seeing the images and footage on the news was incredible. What a day!

Memories

2009-07-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

This time of year, we are busy photographing the upcoming high school seniors; the summer seems to fly by! We truly enjoy getting to know the graduates and their families thoughout the season. The following story was submitted by the parent of a senior a couple years ago about what the portaits meant to her. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

From Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to Flight of the Bumble Bee, I look at this photograph and see not only the accomplished and mature young pianist you have become, but remember your musical journey. I remember the hopes and dreams we had for you when you were born. Singing lullabies, then moving on to Raffi and Barney. I remember getting an old clunker of a piano when you were two, just so you could experiment with sound and could sing and dance when I'd play your favorite nursery rhymes. When it was "finally" time for you to start your piano lessons, you were so excited! Remember Mrs. Montgomery and her candy dish? I can hear your first "Little Etude" and practicing scales and arpeggios. Recitals and contests, Beethoven to Lori Line, on stage or just in our living room, it has been such a pleasure to hear you express your love of all kinds of music and share your talents and gifts through playing for others. My wish for you now as you begin your adult life, is that you never lose your love of music! So, dear Allie, "Thank you for the music, for giving it to me."

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

We hope you are able to spend some time enjoying summer over the holiday weekend. It's a wonderful time to get together with family and friends. There are so many festivities to take part in this time of year!

The following is from a session photographed recently of a grandmother and granddaughter who share the same name. They make a timeless heirloom to pass on to future generations!

New Locations

2009-06-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

We have begun to photograph the class of 2010 over the past week! It has been hot, but we've been having a wonderful time with the seniors. With new ideas and some new locations, we are able to offer a lot of variety in each session. The following are images from a senior photographed on two different days. This is a great option for those who would like to make a big change between sessions, such as changing a hair style from straight to curly. The senior season is off to a fantastic start!

Studio Hop

2009-06-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

The Studio Hop was held this past weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, and we really enjoyed participating this year and hope to do it again in the future! New ideas were shared, and many eclaires and cream puffs were consumed. We appreciate those who were able to stop in and visit. It was great meeting new people and visiting with old friends; we hope everyone had as much fun as we did!

Welcome Summer!

2009-06-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2009!! We hope you enjoy the summer as you make plans for the future. We wish you the best of luck!

We have been busy at the studio with consultations for the seniors of the upcoming class of 2010. We have already begun to photograph as well! We have a new ad, paired with Maurice's, right outside their store in Willmar. The images show new locations and backgrounds we have available this year, as well as some great clothing ideas. A BIG "thank you" to Christa Schmidt for being our model this year!

It's hard to believe we're almost half way through June already; the summer seems to fly by! We hope you are able to relax in the warm weather, spend time with your family and friends, and enjoy the long days of summer!

Studio Hop

2009-06-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

Only two weeks until the Studio Hop! We are looking forward to participating this year; it should be a fun weekend. Carlson Studio will have art and landscape photographs for sale, as well as notecards. The Studio Hop (studiohop.org) includes 30 artists from the Willmar, Spicer and New London areas. It will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21. We're busy getting ready and hope to see you then!

This is an image from a recent session. Kory enjoys coloring, and his books and crayons made awesome props for the images. What a fun idea!!

2009-05-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

We had a fun day and a great response to our senior open house yesterday! It was wonderful to meet some of the upcoming seniors; we're looking forward to a great summer!

We are offering senior scholarships this year to two students based on either financial need or personal circumstances. They offer a session including indoor and outdoor portraits, along with our popular 3 pose special with a value of $415.00! If you or someone you know are interested, applications can be downloaded from our website, carlsonstudioinc.com or picked up at the studio. They must be submitted by June 15 and the winners will be notified by June 26.

There is also a special for seniors who book in the month of June. You can recieve 47 free wallets as well as a free buddy session! Sessions are limited; book now!!

Class of 2010

2009-05-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

The end of the school year is close, and we are gearing up for our open house for the class of 2010! This Thursday (May 28) we will be taking appointments all day until 7:00 p.m. If you call or come in and prepay, you will receive 50% off your session fees! Join us for refreshments and get some great ideas for your portraits. You'll also be able to check out new products and specials we have available this year. We are looking forward to a fun day with the upcoming senior class!

Stories

2009-05-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

There is always a story, emotion or purpose behind a photograph that has been captured. Even if it isn't apparent immediately, it seems after time an image will become more and more important to it's owner. For the past two years we have invited clients to share the stories about the portraits we have created for them. We have an album on display containing the responses, and would like to share them on our blog. If you would like to share your own stories, please contact us!

Enjoy!

"GIrls in dresses...what is more cute and sweet? There's an innocence no matter the age. You are leaving those little girl years behind, but I still see the 1 1/2 year old spinning and twirling to see the dress fly. Now, you're a flower girl in a wedding, dancing like a butterfly in the dress your grandma made for you. You're growing up, but as you dance around in this dress, that "little girl" simply laughs, "I'm still here, Mom!" You'll grow up and change, but you're always my little girl!

Making Portraits Personal

2009-05-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

It is so fun using cute props in children's portraits to make them a little more personal. We have several items at the studio to choose from. What we have found adds a special touch, is the use of our clients' own props. Incorporating a child's favorite toy, a family heirloom or hobby can give a portrait so much personality! We were excited about a recent session where the baby's blanket and the family's guitar became a part of the image. What a great way to tell a story!

This week we are excited to announce a new face at Carlson Studio! Michelle Dahline has joined our staff, and we're looking foward to introducing her to our clients.

We are also introducing a special for our 25th anniversary. From now until May 30, we will be offering a family session and framed wall portrait for 25% off. Call now to schedule an appointment; time is limited!

We never stop learning

2009-04-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time at the Nothern Light photography convention this year! We took part in many classes and a trade show that have given us some fun ideas on new products and services. It's so fun to meet with other photographers and share thoughts. We truly enjoyed our time there!

These were our top scoring images in the print competition.

We were also able to enjoy some fun down-time together.....

This "photo-of-the-week" is a 6 month old we are photographing every 3 months for our First Year 4 in 1 special. A photo is taken at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and incorporated into a composite at the end of the baby's first year. It's a fun way to capture all those little changes!

Getting Ready!

2009-04-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

We are hard at work preparing for our busiest season (summer of course) which feels like it's just around the corner! Charlotte attended a Photoshop class on Wednesday to learn some fun, new tricks. We will be off to Breezy Point Resort from Sunday to Wednesday for the Minnesota Professional Photographers Association convention. We'll attend classes, participate in a print competition and network with other photographers about the ever-changing business. It's always an enjoyable and informative experience!

This image from the past week was a request of one of our customer's. She has five grandchildren and wanted to display their baby photos together. We located the past files and put together this composite for her. We all found the finished image to be an adorable way to display these children at nearly the same ages!

Happy Spring!

2009-04-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's finally warming up and feeling like spring! It's always an exciting time of the year. We're busy creating graduation announcements for the class of 2009; commencement is just around the corner. The year seemed to fly by!

We are also preparing for our 25th anniversary this year. We've been busy reorganizing, painting and redecorating. We had new carpet installed on Monday and are enjoying the updated look! We are planning an open house for this summer.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the sun!

Children's Special

2009-04-03T14:48:00.000-07:00

We have had a great few days with our children's special! Thank you to all those who came in! A lot of wonderful expressions were captured and we look forward to seeing the finished product. This was a great session that would be fun to do every year!

A Great Week!

2009-03-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a fun week for us, both in and out of the studio!

We are preparing for a frame sale beginning April 1st. It's a great time to get those photos on the wall!

Nikki and Brian of South St. Paul recently welcomed Isaac into their family.

This was a wonderful session! The grandparents came along to capture images with their first grandchild.
We don't do many sessions with the grandparents and new baby, which made this such a moving experience.

All involved had a wonderful time!

Congratulations on the new addition to your family!

Our family was able to take a weekend trip to Lutsen on Lake Superior for some skiing and relaxation. We had beautiful weather and were fortunate enough to watch the ice coming off the lake!

We're happy to report no injuries while skiing; Marti did fall while browsing in the gift shop......

Updated Website and New Books!

2009-03-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

We are excited to introduce our new Artisan Albums! We have three different sizes available, each contain 21 images from your session (or multiple sessions). The pages are custom created to match your images. Different page textures are also available. We have had a wonderful response from customers who have already ordered the albums.

Our website has also gone through some updates; new images are posted from the past year in all of our galleries!

We hope you are enjoying the warmer weather. Spring is just around the corner!

Children' Special

2009-03-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

One more post for today...

We are having a limited edition children's special coming up April 1, 2 and 3rd! A 1/2 hour session and 5 image collage are included for $99.00! We will capture a fun sequence of different expressions for you to display. We are really looking forward to these sessions!

2009-03-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new Carlson Studio blog!

We are excited to have a new way to communicate with our clients. We will be sharing new ideas, photographs, specials, and stories through this page. We look forward to your feedback and hope you enjoy the blog!