New Blog

If you're looking for my blog...go to

www.alisonleaphotography.com/blog

Hope Chest for Breast Cancer

I am honored to be a part of a new project!

A friend of mine, Korie Regan, is leading this project for the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer (www.hopechest.us). We are putting together a calendar to raise funds for the Hope Chest while honoring women, sharing stories of HOPE and helpful information on breast cancer. They have gathered 12 monthly stories on women that have experienced breast cancer and what gave them HOPE during that time. It’s going to be a really neat project that the Hope Chest will do every year.



Also…as a side note, you can honor someone by “purchasing a day” for $25 to celebrate them. Their name will be listed on that day either in “honor of”, “memory of” or in “thanks to”. Please let me know if you'd like the contact info to purchase a date!


And PLEASE feel free forward this on to all of your friends and contacts!

Duke - 18 months

Duke is such a sweet little guy, but he is "all boy!"
He smiled at me right away and then ran around showing me everything...his toy farm and several other toys.







Duke's nanny joined us to help with photos and to be in a few.




Getting an 18 month old to sit "nicely" and smile for the camera is really a performance. But, I tell parents all the time...you only need one split second of a smile to capture it. We managed to get a few family shots. And I LOVE the one of Duke and his mom, when she's giving him a kiss.


He sat so nicely when he was reading his books. It was sweet.



This is definitely my favorite of the day. Duke's room was so cute and he was playing peek-a-boo with me from in his crib. He'd JUMP UP and his smile was to die for!

I can't wait to photograph your 2nd birthday, Buddy!

Walk For Life

I have started to work with another non-profit organization - New Life Family Services .

This is a little blip of info from their website.

"At New Life Family Services, we compassionately open our doors and our hearts to women and men who believe that abortion is the "only" solution to an unplanned pregnancy. Through practical and spiritual counsel, we provide education and support with the hope that each client will make a life-affirming decision for their unborn child.

Every day lives are being saved. In 2008, our five centers served over 10,000 clients! Of the abortion-minded clients who had ultrasounds at New Life, more than 9 out of 10 changed their minds from abortion to life because of the ultrasound images they were able to see! We are here to reach out and show the love of Christ to those in a difficult situation, touching hearts and lives, one at a time."

They offer all kinds of support: free ultrasounds, education, abortion recovery support, adoption services, and much more.

The staff and volunteers at NLFS are kind and loving as they help people to see that there are options and abortion is not the only way.

This year, I photographed their fund raising walk.
It was so cold, but the show must go on! Families walked, kids walked and even DOGS walked for LIFE!

There was an awesome puppet show - a non-profit organization based in Chanhassen - The First Light Puppets.

I have the pleasure of working with New Life Family Services again later this summer, so watch for more pictures.

Jill & Adam - Minnihaha Falls

Jill and Adam are getting married this fall and we are so excited to photograph their wedding.

What a fun couple.

My baby's got teeth!

I just had to post a couple pictures of my little girl, Brenna.
She just turned 7 months old TODAY!
Look at her two little teeth. I never thought teeth would be so dang cute!

Mom's Fellowship

I belong to a Mom's Fellowship at our old church and LOVE it!
The moms are awesome and Brenna loves being with the other kids.

This year, it has been an amazing blessing to be a part of the group. Karen, our fearless leader, has directed the group, reasearched things, read books, created meals and snacks, and so much more. We appreciate her willingness and servant's heart. What a great example for each of us.

For Mother's Day, I decided to give each of the mom's a mini-session after our group. So, here are some of the pictures.

Aren't they cute!?!?!

Sweet little Joey

Joey is such a happy little guy.
Brenna and I went to visit Joey and his mom, Annie. The babies enjoyed "playing together" and interacting.

Annie and her husband, Mike, have four daughters (all the way from elementary school through college age!) and along came Joey. What a blessing! They recently moved to a new home with lots of land. We spent time inside with tons of natural light and then headed out to the swing.



When Joey smiles at you, your heart melts. I don't know if anyone could do him justice with the camera. He loves his Mommy so much, you can just see it in how he looks at her. It's beautiful!


I was told that this swing is Mike's favorite place...


Annie, I love spending time with you and your family. Thank you for allowing me to capture this stage of Joey's life.

Matthew Michael

Matthew, Steve and Amber are dear friends of ours. Matt was born just a few days after Brenna and we play together often. I LOVE this first picture of Amber and Matty!!! How beautiful.



What a great family!

May 23, 2009 - Kala & David - part ii

Aren't they a beautiful couple!


Briana and Brian, I photographed their wedding in 2005. Now, their little boy is due in October. Thank you for the referral. Much love!


Kala and her AWESOME personal attendant, Christa





A beautiful ceremony location - Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St Cloud, MN


David's family


Kala's family.


Bri (the bridemaid on the end) is pregnant. I love this one with her little belly out.


David's siblings and all of the spouses!







Kala and David's wedding was beautiful. The ceremony was definitely a sacred event and the center of the day. The faith that they share is obviously the center of their relationship. It brought me such joy to be a part of their day.

Kendra, my associate photographer, and Monika, an extra assistant for the day, and I chatted about ideas for the day, the time line and the names of family and wedding party - as we normally do. But, today, as we drove to St Cloud, we were almost giddy. There was just something about that day. I'm still not sure what it was.


At the end of the night, I was talking with Kala's mom and she gave me one of the best complements of my career. She simply said, "now I know why Kala wanted to hire you so badly." Wow. Thank you.