Brooke Marie

As promised, here is sweet, little Brooke Marie's slideshow!

Enjoy.

Stacey

Meet Brooke!

Our really great friends, Kerri and her husband Don welcomed their second baby girl into the world on Feb. 18th! I popped in to see them at the hospital on Tuesday and snapped some shots of baby Brooke. What a little peanut! I just can't get over how big Ian is in comparison. He's only 4 months older, but like three times the size! Crazy. Anyway, this is just a little preview for you. I'm planning to go over to their house this weekend for a full session. Check back for a slideshow sometime next week.

Congratulations guys. She is just gorgeous!!:)

Stacey

Happy Birthday Bird!!!

That's right everyone, today is Stacey's birthday. We are both looking forward to going out (without kids in tow) tomorrow and having a little dinner, do some shopping, and see Juno! It will be a well deserved night out.

This will be Stacey's ninth birthday that we have spent together. In that time, it is amazing to see what she has accomplished. Not only is she a wonderful wife, but an unbelievable mother. Needless to say, Lauren, Ian, and myself are pretty lucky! Between balancing family and the business, she has spent more than one late night in front of a computer or in the chair rocking one of the kids to sleep, only to start over the next day. Her dedication to both is a real accomplishment. I couldn't imagine what it would be like without her; she truly is my better half! With that in mind, please join me in wishing my wonderful wife a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Cheers babe, you deserve it!!!

My Boys

It's been a while since I posted pictures of our boy child. He has grown and changed sooo much in the last three months. It feels like yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital. Oh, who am I kidding, it feels like yesterday that we brought LAUREN home! Time seems to go faster and faster with every passing year. Tomorrow is my birthday and I'm not even going to start on the whole age thing and how I can't believe that I'm not 26 anymore! (not even close). My darling husband is taking me out for dinner and a movie sans kiddos and I can not wait :) We're going to see Juno, which we heard is really good. I haven't decided on the restaurant yet. Bummer it's supposed to be subzero yet again this weekend. Whatever though...we live in Minnesota, what do you expect??

Anyway, here are my boys watching the Super Bowl.



As you can see, Mom is still MUCH more interesting than the Giants:))



My boys!



And here's a few of baby Ian. He's totally into his excersaucer. Just can't take his eyes off that kitty cat.

Diary of a Washed Up Rock Star Wedding Photographer

Anybody who has ever had the opportunity to meet Joe Photo, will love this video. Cinematic Studios and WPPI have teamed up for this video series. For those who don't know who Joe is, or haven't met him, he is a very talented photographer from Orange County, who has found a way to bring his inner rock star to the world of wedding photography. Pretty sweet if you ask me! Stay tuned for when part two shows up. In the meantime, have a laugh and a good day!



P.S. All photographers interested in learning more about this project, go to the following link.

Engagement Session - Minnesota Style

So, Stacey and I have always thought doing a winter engagement session would be fun, but it can be difficult. It seems like you either have beautiful white snow and it gets a little cool or you have melting brown snow and it is nice out. Well, last Sunday we were able to get both. Earlier in the week, we got a fresh dusting and then got the session scheduled for the first day into the 30's!! Talk about a lot of fun.

First of all, Camilla and Jim are so much fun. They wanted to do some ice skating, and were totally game for pretty much anything. We started out at the ice rink on Lake of the Isles, and soon realized that they were both good skaters which made for some cool pictures. Here they are showing their skills!



From there, we walked on the lake a little, and took a few shots near one of the bridges where the lake channels into Lake Calhoun.





At this point we decided to head into Uptown and take some shots along the streets.


It didn't take long for us to decide to head into the warmth to grab a bite to eat. What better way to warm up on a winters day than a little Famous Daves BBQ! Ribs, brisket, cornbread, YUMMY!! The Famous Daves in Calhoun Square is really cool because they have live music a lot of the time, and it has a bluesy back alley BBQ joint type of feel.


After our bellies were all nice and full, we headed into the night and got a few cool shots. Stacey and I love to shoot in town at night and use all the city lights. You can really get some cool images.



Needless to day, we had a great time and can't wait for the wedding. It is going to be a blast! We would also like to say thank you to our friends, Tasha and Kristi, with Dolce Studios for referring Camilla and Jim to us. You guys rock!

Thank You Ray Santana!

So check this out. Miami photographer extraordinaire, Ray Santana, was hosting a contest on his blog to win a Boda Dry Bag, and guess what, I won.


This bag sounds really awesome. I will post more and give all the cool details when I receive the bag, but I was too excited to completely wait until then.

Thanks again Ray!

A little fashion and shop talk

Hey everyone,

I came across this image and wanted to use it as a chance to inform people on some of the long standing "rules" of photography. To me, this image is a great example of balance between space, depth, and light. For some of you photographers this may be old news, but for some of you, it may be interesting. One of the basic rules of composition in photography is called the rule of thirds. The philosophy is that often an image looks best when it falls on the grid created by splitting the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. It is a common design technique and frequently makes for a more interesting image. Another common way to create intrigue in an image is to have layers which help create depth. Things in the foreground and background which help give a sense of place. What I really like about this image is that it includes both. I have created the grid, so you can see what I am talking about.



If you look, the subject falls on the vertical grid and the edge of the model in the bottom right, and the model in the upper left, help add dimension. Another thing that works really well is the balance of light and dark. Your eye instantly goes to the light of the models since the background is so dark.

At any rate, I hope this was informative but not boring. I wanted to take the opportunity to give some insight into why I think this is a cool image. P.S. models and beautiful gowns help!

Elegance

Here is another shot I liked from the TCBA show I posted about yesterday. This elegant arrangement was put together by Stems and Vines. They had some beautiful bouquets and this gorgeous setting displayed.

Twin Cities Bridal Show - Wedding Fair

Hey everyone, Stacey and I would like to thank all of you who stopped by our booth at the Twin Cities Bridal Association - Wedding Fair. We had a great time meeting everyone and would love to sit down and talk to you more in person.

While at the show, I thought I would grab a few shots. I will post more later, but here are a couple from the fashion show. Runway is something new for us, but it was a good time. Plus the gowns were gorgeous.

Mestads sponsored the Couture Runway Show for the event. I will try and find the designer of the gown during the course of the week.



This gown was sponsored by Bridal Accents Couture. The gown was by Platinum for Priscilla of Boston.


I will try and post more as the week goes on.

Hope you had a great weekend.

Had A Bad Day???

Sometimes working together can get a little rough!

j/k, we have a blast. Or at least when this is not happening.

Winter Glorious Winter

What a fantastic wedding we got the chance to shoot in December! Meg and Randy are such a great couple, and have such a fun personality. We were introduced to them via a reference from our friend (and very talented photographer) Sara Rubinstein. After talking with Meg a few times on the phone, we knew we were going to have a fun time.

The day started by meeting our friend (and photographer extraordinaire) Sue Austin, at Meg and Randy's house. We got some great shots at the house while Meg was getting ready and when Randy saw his new bride for the first time.
It was great to see how excited he was when he saw Meg.


From here we went to Valley Grove, for the wedding. It was truly amazing to see this classic white country church with snow all around. What a sight!

Take a guess at which of these cute flower girls is not used to Minnesota winters?

It was a real treat meeting Randy's grandmother who is 100 years old, and still lives on her own. It must be unbelievable to listen to the stories she has to tell. Talking to Randy, you can really tell the respect he has for her.

Right before the ceremony, Meg and Randy went for a ride on the Bobsled, pulled by these beautiful draft horses.

The happy couple coming down the aisle. I just love their expressions.


At this point, we went to Carlton College for the reception. It was held in the great hall which reminded me of the one portrayed in Harry Potter. The food was excellent and they did a great job. Check out how Meg incorporated the season into her flowers. It really gave it that winter holiday feel.

And check out this cake! The two of them really enjoy the outdoors, and they did such a fun job incorporating that into the day.

During dinner, Meg's dad gave a very nice and eloquent toast.


To finish the night, they had a surprise for the guests - FIREWORKS!!! We were told it made for quite a few stories in this small town. But after meeting the two of them, I wouldn't expect much else :)


We would like to thank you guys for allowing us to be a part of your special day. We truly are blessed to be entrusted with your memories. Be sure to check out the slideshow for additional highlights from the day.

Happy New Year!

With a new year upon us, we would like to pause and reflect upon 2007. We had a great year filled with some wonderful events, particularly the birth of Ian. We got the opportunity to work with more great clients and their families. Stacey and Lauren got to spend almost two weeks in Florida with her family, celebrating her sister's wedding. We met some wonderful people within the industry, highlighted by attending Mike Colon and Kevin Kubota Workshops. I got the opportunity to be a guest of one of our past clients for a Vikings/Chiefs game at Arrowhead (plus I got to go on the field). Lauren is getting bigger and more amazing every day. Finally, our business enjoyed it's most successful year yet. After having such an amazing year, we are really excited about 2008. Staja Studios will be going through some exciting changes, which we look forward to sharing with you as they come along.

Despite all this excitement, one thing will not change. We remain committed to providing our clients with more than just photography, we aim to provide you with an experience.

Take care everyone, be safe, and thank you ALL for a wonderful 2007!

Jason and Stacey

Merry Christmas!

We would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!!!

And The Winner Is??????

First off, we would like to thank everyone who entered our "Let Us Help You" Christmas Contest! There was more than one very deserving entry, but as with all things, we had to make a choice. We would like to congratulate Jennifer Mortensen (one of our "08" brides) for her very touching entry. We have posted the story below, but neither one of us could think of a much more deserving family than the one she wrote about:


I believe in the miracle of Christmas, the blessing of family, and the wonderment of friends. I believe that God knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). And I believe that He places certain people in our lives for a reason.

I firmly believe God knew what He was doing when He introduced me to my good friend, Sarah Petroske. I know it sounds cliché, but everyone needs a friend like her! She is a devoted friend who is always willing and wanting to lend an ear, a voice, or a really good laugh! Throughout the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Sarah and I have continued to make our friendship a top priority.

I trust the reason Sarah is such a good person is because she comes from such strong, faithful roots. The obvious love her parents have for each other has overflowed to their three children. They have raised a beautiful family, continually supporting each other, and instilling remarkable values in each of their three children. As all families do, the Wensmann family is constantly changing.

In a couple of weeks, Sarah’s older sister and her husband will have a baby...the very first grandchild of the Wensmann family. How exciting! Babies always seem to bring out new attitudes of thanksgiving and peace.

And just a few short weeks after the addition of the new baby, Sarah’s younger brother will be getting married. Again, how exciting! Life just seems a little more complete when you find that special someone.

The very unfortunate piece to all of this, is that Sarah’s father, the pillar of strength in the Wensmann family, was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, last year. This devastating disease, despite much research and development, has no cure. The Wensmann family finds peace through their faith, and somehow manage to find the silver lining in this very deep, dark, gray cloud.

I believe that the Wensmann family, with all of its new additions, is exceedingly deserving of the “Christmas Contest” this year. I believe that a beautiful photo of this beautiful family is one that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.

Jennifer Mortensen


It is so unfortunate to hear about a family going through something like this, but we can only hope that the gift she will be able to give them will help make their holidays a little bit brighter.

Congratulations Jennifer! We can't wait to meet The Wensmann Family, and they are in our prayers.

- Stacey and Jason

Let Us Help You This Holiday Season!!!

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and being with the ones you love. As time passes and things happen in our lives, this seems to ring more true than ever. Reflecting on the past year, we couldn't be luckier or more thankful. Our family has grown, our business has been good to us, and we are embarking on what we feel is going to be an exciting new year. With that in mind, we would like to help you with your shopping for the holidays. What could be a better gift than the gift of memories?




Not only do we offer gift certificates for a family session, or toward someone's wedding, we are going to help one lucky person with their shopping this holiday season. We will be giving away one of our lifestyle portrait or engagement sessions! The catch is that we are going to give it to someone to use as a gift. In order to participate, we want you to tell us who deserves this session and why. Is it a friend who has fallen on hard times, your parents who are going to have their 30th wedding anniversary, your younger brother and his girlfriend? We will choose which story we think has the most deserving recipient, and in turn will give the winner a certificate for one session to give as a gift to the person/people you submitted the story about.

In order to participate, please send your submission to info@stajastudios.com under the heading of "Christmas Contest". All submissions must be received by midnight on Saturday, December 15th. We will be announcing the winner and sending the certificate the week of the 17th.

Additional Details:
- Anyone is free to participate.
- The certificate is valued at $350 and includes the session itself (Twin Cities Metro Area), on-line proofing, and one 8x10 mounted art print.
- Any travel costs outside of the Twin Cities Metro would need to be covered.

We wish you all the best during this wonderful time of the year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

- STAcey and JAson

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wanted to take a moment out of the busy holiday and give thanks for many things in our life. We have a new wonderful addition to the family, which we are so grateful for. We have great families, wonderful friends, and the best clients you could ever wish for. With that in mind, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Cheers!

- Jason, Stacey, Lauren, and Ian

Mr. Ian's arrival

Hello everyone!

Well, I feel like I've been on a distant planet somewhere for the last three weeks and have just returned home. Here is the full scoop on the arrival of our gorgeous baby boy:)

Sunday, Oct 28th was a really busy day for us. We went to Lauren's friend, Reese's, 3rd birthday party, then we headed over to a Confirmation brunch for Jason's cousin, Matt, and then straight to Aunt Ruth's house to carve pumpkins with the rest of the Thon clan. When we finally got home and settled in for some Desperate Housewives, it wasn't long before my contractions started. By 1am, they seemed to be close enough to head to the hospital. Sadly, by 7am, they were pretty much non-existent. Thankfully, my fabulous OB agreed to get the party started anyway and by 11:29am Ian had landed:) Funny thing about me and labor, it never seems to last long enough for me to feel like I've had the full experience. I'm a "one push" kind of girl. I know I should be so grateful for that, since some people push for hour after hour, but one push...really??? Well, no matter how they arrive, feeling your baby set on top of your belly for the very first time is something so miraculous that it can not be described. It's the most wonderful experience I have EVER had. We spent Monday and Tuesday in the hospital and arrived home in time to go trick-or-treating with Lauren. He has been a man on the go ever since.

I'm very happy to report that (we think) he has figured out that daytime is for being awake and night time is for sleeping. We are getting chunks of 3 or 4 hours at night now. I guess that probably doesn't sound so fabulous to people without a newborn, but for us it's awesome!

Many people have been asking us for more pictures of Ian and here they are. It's crazy how quickly the little guy has changed. He's only three weeks old on Monday, but already has lost that raw chicken/alien baby look. It's kinda sad.

Okay, I'm sharing these photos of me looking REALLY bad, so no nasty comments okay?!! :)

Stacey

After a LONG LONG night, and before being induced (aka pre-pain)

Post epidural and about T minus 15 minutes

Ian! About 30 seconds old!


Three very happy and tired Thons

Lauren came to the hospital to meet her new baby brother. So far she still loves him:)

She was really stoked when she found out he came bearing gifts...namely the Hungry Hungry Hippo game she's been eyeing for months.

Our family

Here's a little progression of our boy. I still can't get over how quickly he's growing and changing. This is Ian one day old.

Very first bath at home 3 days old

His signature look. 7 days old

10 days old

15 days old

Lauren with "her baby"

17 days old