If your ideal family photo looks like it belongs in a designer frame and your kid has peanut butter on their face 90% of the day—you’re in the right place.
Finding a family photographer isn’t hard. Finding one who gets your kid’s weird dance moves, your need for timeless style, and your absolute refusal to settle for cheesy photos? That’s rare.
Welcome. I’m a Minneapolis-based family photographer serving Edina families who want polished images with real soul. My work is known for natural light, neutral tones, and a calm, child-led approach that somehow coaxes magic out of even the most snack-demanding toddlers.
Edina’s charm—tree-lined streets, parks that feel like movie sets, and homes that are basically magazine covers—deserves to be captured with care. Whether you’re celebrating a baby on the way, a newborn fresh from the hospital, or the full chaos of family life, I’m here to document it beautifully.
Luxury meets laughter here. Let’s make photos that feel like you—only elevated.
Edina has this quiet confidence about it. The kind of place where fall leaves actually crunch under your boots, front porches look like they belong in magazines, and the parks? Well, let’s just say they make my job easy.
It’s one of my favorite spots to photograph families. Whether we’re in your own backyard (truly underrated), strolling through Centennial Lakes, or catching that golden-hour light in Arden Park, Edina knows how to show up.
But the real secret? It’s not about finding the prettiest place—it’s about finding a place that feels right for your family. Maybe it’s where your toddler first learned to run. Maybe it’s just where everyone can actually relax. That’s where the magic happens.
And if you’d rather skip the bugs and breeze, my light-filled studio is just around the corner. Think clean backgrounds, calm energy, and zero chance of anyone stepping in goose poop.
Studio or outside, minimalist or cozy—we’ll find the spot that fits. Because when the setting feels natural, the photos always do too.
Maternity sessions are less about perfectly posed hands on your belly in a field of wildflowers (unless that’s your thing) and more about pausing for a moment to honor what your body is doing and what’s ahead.
Whether we photograph you in my natural light studio or catch the glow of an Edina evening outdoors, these sessions are calm, connected, and entirely centered on you.
I’ll guide you through every step, including what to wear. With a curated studio wardrobe and expert styling support, you’ll look and feel like the version of yourself you want to remember.
You belong in the frame before everything changes.
Newborn sessions are slow and calm, just like they should be. No timers, no pressure, just plenty of time for feeding, cuddling, and letting baby settle. I photograph newborns in my studio, at your home, or even outside if the weather is good. If you’re delivering at Fairview Southdale in Edina, I also offer Fresh 48 sessions right there in your hospital room.
The setting is always chosen with your comfort and connection in mind.
You’ll have access to a thoughtfully curated wardrobe with wraps, blankets, and outfits for baby, along with clothing for parents and siblings too.
This season is hazy and short, but the photos will last. We will keep it simple, connected, and full of love. All you need to do is show up.
That first year is a blur of growth, giggles, and questionable sleep schedules. One minute you’re swaddling them like a burrito, and the next they’re grinning with frosting up their nose. Milestone sessions are made to slow it all down. Just enough to catch who they are right now, before they change again.
We’ll document the big ones like sitting, standing, and turning one, but also the sweet in-betweens. The gap-toothed grins. The dimpled elbows. That one scrunchy face they make when they’re proud of themselves.
All sessions include access to the studio wardrobe, so there’s no need to panic about outfits. And if you’re planning a cake smash, we’ll keep it simple, clean, and totally them. Cake is up to you. Cleanup is on me.
Milestone sessions can be booked on their own or as part of a Collective Membership. Either way, you’ll have images that don’t just show how they looked. They’ll remind you exactly who they were becoming.
Family sessions are less about standing still and smiling at the camera, and more about what happens in between. The quiet hugs, the windblown hair, the way your kid grabs your face when they’re really trying to tell you something. That’s what I’m after.
We keep things relaxed and flexible. You don’t have to practice poses or bribe anyone with snacks. I’ll guide you through what to wear, what to expect, and how to make the most of your session without turning it into a production.
Whether we’re in my studio or chasing light at a park in Edina, these sessions are meant to feel easy. You’ll walk away with images that look beautiful, yes, but more importantly, they’ll look like your family. The way you are right now.
If that includes a little chaos and a lot of love, you’re doing it right.
You know what’s worse than trying to take your own family photos? Trying to dress everyone for them. That’s why I make styling easy, so you don’t spend your week panic-scrolling through online returns or arguing over whether your toddler can wear light-up sneakers.
Every session comes with access to my curated studio wardrobe, which includes dresses for moms, outfits for babies and young kids, and clean, classic shirts for dads. If you’d rather wear your own pieces, I send out a monthly Looks Book filled with clickable outfit inspiration that actually works in real life and photographs beautifully.
The goal isn’t to match. It’s to look cohesive, comfortable, and like you made a really excellent decision without lifting a finger. And yes, I’ll tell you if something isn’t working before the session. That’s part of the magic.
You deserve to feel amazing in these photos. And honestly? That starts with what you’re wearing.
Once you’ve reached out, I’ll walk you through the entire process step by step. You’ll receive the invoice for the creative fee along with the session agreement, and then everything you need to start planning. I’ll send over detailed guides that cover what to wear, how to prep, and what to bring.
If your session is in the studio, you’ll choose outfits from the client wardrobe once you arrive. For on-location sessions, you’re welcome to schedule a wardrobe consultation ahead of time so we can plan the details before the day of your session.
Sessions themselves are relaxed and child-led. That means we follow their lead and leave space for snacks, breaks, and the occasional meltdown. I’ll guide you the whole way with calm direction, gentle posing, and a few silly tricks up my sleeve.
Afterward, you’ll receive a curated slideshow of images to view at home. Once you select a collection, you’ll have 30 days to choose your final images and use your print credit toward beautiful products in your gallery store.
It’s a thoughtful, flexible experience built around real family life.
You’re not looking for someone to just take photos. You’re looking for someone who can capture what your family feels like. The moments that happen when your toddler forgets the camera is there. The way your baby fits on your chest right now. The look your partner gives you when no one’s watching—but I am.
I’ve been photographing families for over 15 years, and the one thing I know for sure? No two are the same. That’s why my approach is never one-size-fits-all. We plan ahead, we keep things flexible, and we create space for connection, not perfection.
Whether you’re walking into my studio for the first time or emailing me for our fifth session together, my goal is the same. To help you feel seen, supported, and actually excited to be in front of the camera.
I’m Michele. I’m a photographer, a mom, and someone who understands how quickly it all moves. You don’t need to have it all together. You just need to show up. I’ll take it from there.
If you’re hoping for clean, connected, and beautifully styled portraits that feel like your family, not a performance, I’d love to work with you. Whether you’re welcoming a new baby, documenting that wild first year, or gathering everyone for an updated family photo, I’ll help make the process feel doable and worth it.
Sessions fill quickly, especially in the fall. It is always a good idea to start planning early.
Click below to inquire, ask questions, or say hello. I will guide you through everything from wardrobe to gallery delivery. You do not need to overthink it. Just reach out. I will take it from there.
Not sure where to start? This free guide walks you through exactly how to plan a photo session that feels natural, looks elevated, and actually works for your real life.
Inside, you’ll find tips on what to wear, how to prep your kids (without bribes), session-day do’s and don’ts, and what makes the difference between photos that look nice… and ones that mean something.
Whether you’re planning maternity photos in the studio, a newborn session at Fairview Southdale, or a fall family session in the park, this guide will help you walk in feeling confident and ready.
Grab your copy below and take the first step toward photos that feel like you—only better lit.