 There are some senior sessions that feel like a portrait session from beginning to end—and then there are the ones that turn into a little bit of everything. Sydney’s session was definitely the latter, which I loved because it was so her!
Sydney is a senior at Park High School, and when we started planning her session, we knew we wanted to include some of the things that make her who she is right now. That meant her new motorcycle, her boyfriend, her brother and his Supra, and plenty of time for her own senior portraits, too. And yes—her motorcycle is very new. She’s only had it for about two months! She actually got her permit before her boyfriend did, but he got his motorcycle first. Sydney got hers about a week after him, so naturally, a mini motorcycle couple session had to happen. (The two of them actually met while working at a haunted house, where they are both scare actors. )
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 There’s something really special about photographing a family for years and getting to watch their kids grow right in front of your camera.
This family has been in front of my lens for quite a while now, and every session feels a little different as their kids grow and their personalities come more and more to life. Their daughter has grown into the sweetest little girl. She wanted to hold my hand as we walked, and more than once she proudly showed me how she could make a heart with her hands. ❤️ Those little moments are the ones I love catching. And their son? He’s growing into such a great young man. You can see how closely he watches his dad—what he does and what he loves—and he has such a sweet instinct to look out for and protect his little sister. It was so fun to watch. He's also pretty proud of where he's at in his reading levels (way to go, teacher mama!).  There are some families you photograph, and then there are families you get to watch grow.
Josh and Erin are definitely the latter. Their story with us actually started on our couch. Yep—their love story began right here in our home, and over the years, we’ve had the incredible privilege of photographing so many of their biggest moments. We photographed their proposal, then their engagement session, then their wedding day… and now, somehow, we’re here taking their family photos with little Jake! And let me tell you: Jake is a huge hit around our house. These three live super close to us, which means they can’t even walk by without getting a greeting yelled out the door at them. 😂 At this point, seeing Josh, Erin, and Jake around the neighborhood just feels like seeing family.  When was the last time you had professional photos taken? Not the quick selfie. Not the picture someone grabbed on their phone. Not the photo where everyone is smiling except the person taking it... We're talking about the kind of photos where everyone gets to be in the picture. Maybe your answer is, "Honestly? It's been years." Or maybe you're thinking, "We've never actually done them." Or perhaps you have thousands of pictures on your phone, but when you scroll through them, you realize something: You're hardly in any of them. We get it. Life is busy. There are kids to get out the door, work to do, activities to get to, meals to make, and approximately 47 things happening at any given moment.
But you don't actually need a reason beyond: "This is our life right now." Your kids won't always be this little. Your family won't always look exactly like this. Your marriage won't always be in this particular season. And you won't always be the person you are today. There is something really special about having photographs that let you look back and remember not just what you looked like, but who you were together. You're probably missing from more photos than you realize. If you're the person who usually takes the pictures, you know exactly what I'm talking about...
 You don't have to know what to do in front of the camera. This is probably one of the biggest things people worry about before a portrait session. "We're awkward." "We don't know how to pose." "My kids won't sit still." "I hate having my picture taken." Good news: You don't have to know what you're doing. That's my job. I'll help you figure out where to stand, where to look, what to do with your hands, and how to interact with the people you're there with. You're behind the camera at birthday parties. You're the one taking the vacation pictures. You're the one saying, "Wait! Let me get a picture of you guys!" And that's wonderful. Keep doing it! But eventually, you realize that you're documenting everyone's life while being absent from a lot of it. And even when you try to get everyone in the frame, there's only so much you can do with a phone balanced on a rock, a timer counting down, and everyone trying to look at the camera at exactly the right moment. 😂 That's one of the things I love most about being a photographer. I get to take care of the picture so you can actually be in it. 
Professional portraits aren't about creating some perfectly polished version of your life.
They're about remembering the real one. The gap in your kid's smile. The way your daughter reaches for your hand. The way your husband looks at you when you aren't paying attention. The personality that somehow comes through in one particular expression. Those little things are part of your story, too. Someday, these photographs will mean more than they do today. Right now, you might look at your family and think, "Of course I'll remember this." And you probably will remember a lot of it. But photographs have a way of bringing back details we didn't realize we'd forgotten. You'll see the house you lived in. The clothes your kids wore. How tiny their hands were. The way you looked at each other. The people you were before another five years of life happened. And someday, your kids may look at those same photographs and see something completely different. They'll see themselves surrounded by people who loved them. That's pretty powerful. So, make some time for it. You don't need to have a huge milestone. You don't need to have everything figured out. You don't even need to love having your picture taken. You just need to decide that this season is worth remembering. That's where I come in. I'll help you with the location, the outfits, the posing, the lighting, and all the little things that can make having your picture taken feel intimidating. You get to show up, be with the people you love, and let me take care of the rest. Because someday, "I wish we had more pictures together" is a much harder problem to solve than "I'm really glad we took the time." So if you've been thinking about getting photos done, maybe this is your sign. ❤️ I'd love to help you capture this season of your life.  There's something about this season of life you're in right now that's worth capturing — the messy mornings, the way your kids are growing a little taller than last year, the everyday moments that turn out to matter most.
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Hey! I'm Lindsay, a Minnesota photographer who loves capturing real people, genuine connection, and the beauty of everyday life. My husband Mark joins in for some weddings — otherwise, it's just me behind the camera.
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Wiggins Photography LLC
Cottage Grove, Minnesota photographer specializing in family, senior, couples, and wedding photography — including engagement sessions — throughout the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Central Minnesota area.
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