Travel Photography

December 02, 2016 in Hired Work, My Family, Travel

There are vacations and then there are trips. To me, the former conjures up images of lounging, reading, and drinking cocktails with umbrellas in them. The latter usually involves sight-seeing, activities, and being constantly on the go. I've done plenty of both and have grown to love each. I’m quickly learning that traveling with kids is all about finding the perfect balance between “vacation” and “trip” - keeping them entertained and happy and sneaking those brief moments of relaxation whenever possible.

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Paradisus - La Esmeralda grasps this concept fully. They know just how to cater to families trying to strike a balance. The mini bars are stocked with both liquor and chocolate milk. The turndown service at the end of the day includes champagne for the adults and cookies for the kids. And while Andrew and I didn’t go so far as to drop our kids off at the in-house day care and peace-out to the spa, we did decide - after our action-packed second day - to spend our third day hanging around Paradisus and taking advantage of its many amenities. We slept in, watched the sunrise from our balcony, and ordered room service for breakfast. The kids played with Lego sets my mom had sneaked into their luggage and Andrew and I actually got to savor our morning coffee.

One of my favorite moments from the trip came that day when Nora discovered there were kid-sized slippers and a bathrobe in the closet to match the ones I’d been wearing. She donned them and we were “twinsies” most of the morning. It was such a sweet moment and a beautiful reminder that the most meaningful memories can be created even when you’re not actively seeking them out.

When we decided we were ready for an excursion, we didn't need to venture far; the pool and the beach at the resort were all the entertainment we needed. My little water babies loved swimming the ocean - meaning they clung to us for dear life as Andrew and I jumped up to ride each cresting wave. We built castles on the beach and let the waves wash up on our feet and cover our toes with sand. When we needed a break, we headed for the pool where we lounged in cabanas, ordered food and drinks, and relaxed while the kids splashed in the water.

Upon the recommendation from our fabulous butler (did I mention there was a butler?!), Paulina, we dined that night at the resort’s teppanyaki restaurant. Not exactly authentic Mexico, but delicious and highly entertaining for the kids.

When we returned to our room at the end of the day, Paulina had a surprise waiting for the kids: a bubble bath in the huge tub with balloon swords and animals in it. (This was on the heels of a treasure hunt she had staged for them in the room the night before.) They were delighted and it was the perfect ending to the perfect day - one where we had just the right amount of activity and relaxation, the perfect mix of vacation and trip.

Day of Adventure // Travel Photography

December 01, 2016 in Hired Work, My Family, Travel

Any of my fellow children-of-the-80s out there remember The Voyage of the Mimi?! Specifically the second voyage where a young Ben Affleck and his pals try to thwart looters from pillaging sacred sites in Mexico? Watching it (on laser disc, obviously) in late elementary school left such an impression on me that when I first visited Mexico years later, I was mildly obsessed with Tulum and made my family go see the ruins.

I was 16 years old and the ancient Mayan city lived up to all of my expectations. It was magical and mysterious. Its fortresses were formidable and its beaches were treacherous and beautiful. We hired a guide to show us the secrets of Tulum and I hung on every word he shared with us about the Mayan history and culture. I vividly remember this visit to the centuries-old city as the first of many experiences I would have where my own tiny place in time and space was truly put into perspective.

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If our first day in Mexico was about getting settled in to our luxurious new surroundings, our second day was full of non-stop adventure. There is no shortage of things to do along the Mayan Riviera. We opted to pack two of the area's most amazing destinations into one day and, thanks to Olympus Tours, we were taken from place to place with ease.

Tulum was of course included in the itinerary and the tour bus brought us there first. The kids weren't exactly as awestruck at 2.5 and 5 years old as I was as a teenager, but my little engineer Julian's interest was certainly piqued when he realized that the Mayans didn't use excavators and backhoe loaders and tower cranes to build the impressive structures. The seaside cliffs were just as stunning as I'd remembered them, but sadly the beach was closed due to very high tides that day. We sat in the grass, had a snack, and took in the magnificence of the whole place.

Our second and final destination of the day was the ecological park, Xel-Ha. I had heard of its attractions - swimming with dolphins, floating through blue lagoons, zip-lining over water - and was dying to see what it was about. The moment we arrived, we were all blown away by how wonderful it truly was. The kids were wide-eyed as we made our way past dolphin pools, parrots on their perches, and iguanas sunning themselves. There were hammock groves for lounging, piña coladas for sipping (all food and drink was included in the price of admission), a playground, ropes courses, wild mangrove forests, and perfectly curated gardens.

One thing that immediately struck me was the park’s dedication to preserving the natural wonders within its borders. Andrew and I noticed the compost bins, absence of plastic water bottles, and signs reminding visitors to only use biodegradable sunscreen.

We ate lunch at a buffet of delicious, authentic Mexican food, dropped our clothes and gear off at (free) lockers, picked up some towels, and made our way to the mouth of the river - the main artery of the park. We hopped on inner-tubes - each of us with a kiddo on our lap - and floated our way down into the lagoon. From there, we could disembark at various points - to cliff jump, snorkel, ride the zip line, try the ropes course - or just keep drifting lazily in the turquoise water. We opted for a combination of all of the above and loved every minute of it.

At the end of the day, exhausted after nearly 12 hours of adventure, we boarded the bus back to Paradisus. Just before he drifted to sleep on my lap, Julian said, “mama, can you even believe I tried snorkeling today?!” I just smiled and hummed the Voyage of the Mimi theme song quietly to myself.

A Hidden Gem // Travel Photography

November 30, 2016 in Hired Work, My Family, Travel

To understand why I might consider an all-inclusive resort in a popular tourist area in Mexico a "hidden gem," one must first understand my travel history. I am fluent in Spanish. I have lived in South America and backpacked through Peru, Argentina, and Chile. I have stayed in hostels, camped, cooked my own food, lived on very little money. And I have been to the Mayan Riviera four times, staying in modest vacation rentals in a small fishing village on each visit. I scoffed at all-inclusive resorts and wrote them off as not being an "authentic" travel experiences or as too insular.

That was all before kids.

Now I realize - after having discovered the magical place that is Paradisus - La Esmerelda in Playa del Carmen - that an all-inclusive resort can be an amazing haven of recreation and relaxation and family-friendly accommodations. Were it not for our recent #SCAgetaway, I would never have discovered Paradisus, a place where they provided anything and everything we as a family with two young kids might want.

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On the day of our departure, Andrew and I awoke to a 3:45 a.m. alarm, threw on our clothes and woke the kids - Julian (5) and Nora (2.5) - for our 4:15 a.m. taxi pick-up. The plane lifted off under cover of darkness at 6:00 in the morning, the kids sitting wide-eyed in their seats, still in their jammies. Both had flown before, but when they were infants, and neither one remembered the experience. They were mesmerized, terrified, and fascinated all at once. At one point, Julian asked me, "are you sure this is safe?" (something I wonder to myself every time I fly). As the sun began to rise - a spectacular sight from an airplane window - any anxiety melted away to pure excitement.

We were met at the Cancun International Airport by a friendly driver from Olympus Tours who fulfilled my lifelong dream of being greeted at an airport by someone holding a sign with my name on it. We sprang for the private transfer to the hotel which was worth every penny - the kids dozed just long enough in their carseats to take the edge off of their tiredness and Andrew and I took full advantage of the wifi in the van to catch up on work emails (Andrew) and post to Snapchat and Instagram Stories (me).

The VIP treatment continued ten-fold when we arrived at Paradisus - a huge resort situated on the beach near Playa del Carmen on the Mayan Riviera, yet not at all visible from the main road. We were whisked to the family concierge desk via golf cart, where we were fed champagne, outfitted with stylish wristbands, and introduced to our family butler Paulina, who gave us a tour of the myriad amenities available: several swimming pools, a rock climbing wall, babysitting services, tons of restaurants, a private beach, and beautiful grounds nestled among a mangrove forest.

We checked out our amazing room, where sand toys awaited the kids, and we discovered that we even had a jacuzzi on our balcony that looked out over the Caribbean Sea. We immediately donned swimsuits. It was then that getting up so early in the morning paid off: the kids were splashing in the pool and Andrew and I were enjoying margaritas by noon.

The rest of our first day in paradise was spent going from the pool to the beach and back. We had a delicious dinner at the resort's Brazilian steakhouse, and we were all sound asleep by 8pm.

Here are some of my favorite images from that first wonderful day.

Heading to the beach on one of the many boardwalks that cut through the mangroves.

Nora checking out the koi pond in the lobby.

One last stop at the beach before dinner to watch the sunset.

Huge thanks to Sun Country Airlines, Paradisus - La Esmerelda, and Olympus Tours for this amazing opportunity.

Road Trippin' // Lake Superior Landscape Photography

October 19, 2016 in Travel

There's nothing quite like a mid-week road trip. To the North Shore. With a dear friend who is also a photographer. One who is totally down to spontaneously pull over to the side of the road for those "hey look!" moments.

Eric and I had a fabulous time soaking up the fall colors along Lake Superior, chasing light, and standing in as each other's models. We explored places we'd never been before and hit up some old favorites. My heart and my camera roll are both full after our 36-hour adventure.

Perchance to Dream // Minneapolis Couples Photography

September 25, 2016 in Personal Work

I knew I wanted to explore themes of LIFE and LOVE and DEATH.

I knew Lakewood Cemetery was the perfect setting and David & Emilie were the perfect models.

I knew they were to be dressed in black & white - almost as if for a wedding - and we needed red roses.

And that day, when we stumbled upon a majestic, old willow tree, the final piece fell into place: I knew that Shakespeare's words - the ultimate commentary on life and love and death - would weave it all together.

“The love that follows us sometimes is our trouble,
which we still thank as love.”

— Macbeth, Act I, Scene VI

“For where is any author in the world
Teaches such beauty as a woman’s eye?”

— Love's Labour's Lost, Act IV, Scene 3

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts.”

— As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII

“The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
For that sweet odour which doth in it live.”

— Sonnet 54

“Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.”

— Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene 2

“The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
Sing all a green willow.
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow.
The fresh streams ran by her, and murmured her moans,
Sing willow, willow, willow.
Her salt tears fell from her, and softened the stones
Sing willow, willow, willow—”

— Othello, Act IV, Scene 3

“Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep. ”

— The Tempest, Act IV, Scene 1

Benjamin + Kelly // Minneapolis Engagement Photography

September 22, 2016 in Personal Work

“The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.”

— Rumi

“Every tree and plant in the meadow seemed to be dancing, those which average eyes would see as fixed and still.”

— Rumi

“When in love, body, mind, heart and soul don’t even exist. Become this, fall in love, and you will not be separated again.”

— Rumi

The Kieners // Minneapolis Maternity + Lifesyle Photography

September 22, 2016 in Personal Work

I could talk about how I've known the Kieners for more than 15 years. How we've been college roommates, travel companions, bridesmaids, poker opponents, drinking buddies, and neighbors during that time. And how our daughters were born a little over a month apart and have become besties. But all of that would still seem inadequate. So instead I'll just leave you with a set of images - a mixture of candid at-home family moments and posed maternity portraits - that I took of this beautiful family of three very shortly before they became a family of four.

Top Brass // Minneapolis Music Photography

September 14, 2016 in Hired Work

Meet Copper Street Brass: a cool group of humans who also happen to be super talented musicians. They recently stopped by NECO for some head-shots, group photos, and close-ups of their beautiful instruments. When we were done, they let me get creative and take one of my favorite #thingsorganizedneatly shots to date - involving an 8-ft ladder and thousands of dollars worth of brass.

Well. Being. // Minneapolis Yoga Photography

September 12, 2016 in Hired Work

Dedicated to improving the lives of members of her community, Julia Starr left her corporate day job and founded her own yoga and wellness brand: Starr Health Co. She teaches yoga - something she has practiced almost her entire life - and is pursuing a masters in the U of M's Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching program.

We recently met for some in-studio head-shots (and yoga poses, of course!) and then ventured out to a nearby park for more photos. Check out my favorites below and be sure to visit one of Julia's classes in the Twin Cities.

Summer's End // Minnesota State Fair Photography

September 03, 2016 in Instagram

Last week, Sony Alpha invited a group of local photographers and Instagrammers to the Minnesota State Fair to try out their a7R II camera - a full-frame, mirrorless powerhouse. I chose to use their 24-240 f/3.5-6.3 lens which offered up awesome chances to capture candid people pics. The camera worked great in low light and was easy to use. I'm not saying I'm ready to trade in my full Nikon kit just yet, but damn, this was fun to play with.

Thanks so much to Sony Alpha and photographer, Marc Coleman, for organizing this event, #SonyattheFair!

The Boxer // Minneapolis Fitness Photography

August 13, 2016 in Hired Work

Personal trainer, boxer, all-around awesome dude. Meet Alex.

A few weeks ago, I met up with Alex bright and early at the famed Uppercut Boxing Gym in NE Mpls to take some portraits and photograph his training session with Tatum. Here are some of my favorite images from the day.

Free Bird // Minneapolis Yoga Photography

August 11, 2016 in Personal Work

I've known Julia for years and have always admired her creative energy and free spirit. When we decided to collaborate on a yoga shoot, I created a shared Pinterest board that we could both pin ideas to. Perfectly in synch, we both immediately began saving water-themed shots. Our amazing sunset shoot at Cedar Lake was clearly meant to be.

Water Dance // Minneapolis Portrait Photography

July 16, 2016 in Personal Work

"Water Dance"

Photography: Rita Farmer

Model: Greta Sundquist

Styling: Lydia Mae

Assistant: David Maxwell

The Queen in the North // Minneapolis Portrait Photography

July 16, 2016 in Personal Work

"The Queen in the North"

Photography: Rita Farmer

Model: Greta Sundquist

Styling: Lydia Mae

Assistant/2nd Model: David Maxwell

The Enchanted Forest // Minneapolis Portrait Photography

July 16, 2016 in Personal Work

"The Enchanted Forest"

Photography/Floral Design: Rita Farmer

Model: Greta Sundquist

Styling/2nd Model: Lydia Mae

Assistant: David Maxwell

Traditions // Lake Superior Landscape Photography

July 16, 2016 in Travel

This place is so special to me, I almost hesitate to share photos of it. This year, my family celebrated 50 years of coming to Split Rock Cabins, a place that for many of us feels like church.

Our week at Split Rock this July was filled with hours on end spent by the Big Lake, explorations on the Superior Hiking Trail, and visits to some of Minnesota's (and this year, Canada's) finest waterfalls.

Namaste // Minneapolis Yoga Photography

July 11, 2016 in Personal Work

Filed under amazing people I've met through social media is Tatum Fjerstad. She's a teacher, a writer, and all-around very thoughtful human being. The first time I met her in real life was when I attended one of her yoga classes - it was like nothing else I had ever done before. While guiding us through sun salutations and meditative breathing, Tatum shared poignant personal stories which served to illustrate to us that it's ok to love ourselves. I left feeling emotionally restored and calm - like the-way-you-feel-after-someone-has-just-brushed-your-hair-calm (ladies, you know what I'm talking about).

Do yourself a favor and check out her website and Facebook page for information about her upcoming classes, many of which are donation-based and some of which are even FREE! You can thank me later.

We recently got together for some hangs and a photoshoot. Here are a few of my favorite images from the evening.

Black. Lives. Matter. // Minneapolis Portrait Photography

July 11, 2016 in Personal Work

My heart is broken. For black lives taken unjustly and too soon. For a society that forces grieving family members to say, "he was a good guy" as though being a human being isn't qualification enough to not be murdered on a Wednesday night. For a pattern of white supremacy that pervades our justice system, our news outlets, and our political process - that perpetuates and condones racism and excuses the behavior of those who still don't understand what is meant when it is said that Black. Lives. Matter.

Asta + Arlen // Lake Superior Wedding Photography

June 21, 2016 in Hired Work

My first-ever wedding as the primary photographer took place on a rainy, foggy day on Lake Superior. And it couldn't have been more beautiful.

Huge congrats to Asta and Arlen on their nuptials. And a huge THANK YOU to them for their willingness to put up with a little rain for the sake of some amazing images. It was such an honor to capture this special day.

( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )