About Jenny Swanson Photography
I am a mother, wife and photographic artist. I specialize in family, graduating senior, and maternity photography in Saint Louis, MO.
I have a romantic life view. I love seeing passion in every circumstance and believe everyone and everything has beauty. I use this passion and beauty to inspire my photography. I like to build each session around the client: what do they love? what inspires them? what feelings do they want to convey in their photographic memories? how do they want to decorate their home with their memories? ...I look forward to making your memories into art!
On Saturday, I participated in a senior photography workshop / group shoot hosted by Stephanie Pana Photography. It was a blast! There were 9 photographers, 2 models and 2 fabulous locations. You can even see a VIDEO of our shoot that Stephanie created! Here are some of my images from the shoot! Enjoy!
This is a group of three really great brothers. Smart, engaging, and soo good natured… It’s always a pleasure to photograph their family. The oldest, Ben, is a 2012 DeKalb high school senior! Congrats Ben! I hope it’s a fantastic year!
Here are a few of Ben’s senior portraits, along with some portraits of his brothers…
Maternity sessions are some of my absolute favorite sessions… and I completely adore clients who are up-for-anything! This gorgeous momma-to-be was 31 weeks and willing to try all my crazy ideas: laying in a river, tromping through a soybean field, wearing a frilly belly band (made by the talented Izzy Mae Stitches & Style)… and, we had a blast! Cheers to a smooth rest of your pregnancy and an absolutely perfect little girl!
Earlier this week I mentioned that my family picked some raspberries at a local farm. It was the perfect evening. We were the only people in the raspberry field, the weather was warm, and the sunset cast rainbow hues into the sky. My son just turned two and loves being outdoors. He doesn’t stand still too long (can you tell from the photos?!) but he picked a few berries and thought the experience was fun. Here are a few images… Enjoy!
If anyone is interested in a raspberry-picking portrait session, let me know! I will include a pint of berries in your session fee!
In celebration of the new school year and the completion of my PhD, I’m having a contest!
The prize is an outdoor session + CD Plus package (outdoor session, all jpg files + release, 4×6 of all images, and a mounted 11×14)! A $380 value! (session can take place around DeKalb, IL or Brooklyn Park, MN)
How to ENTER and WIN!
(1) Submit a photo! Photo can be of you, your kiddo, you and your hubby/fiance/bf/gf, your family, or even your pet. Entries can be submitted until Thursday, September 8th at midnight (CST). Only photos that were taken by you or a family member can be submitted. One photo per person.
(2) Vote! Get as many votes on your photo as you can! Voting starts on Friday Sept 2nd and will continue until Sunday September 11th, at midnight (CST). Your friends will need to ‘like’ Jenny Swanson Photography to vote on the contest.
(3) Win! If your photo gets the most votes, you win! So, spread the word and get your friends and family to vote!
Terms and Conditions: The prize is for an outdoor, on location, photo session around DeKalb, IL or Brooklyn Park, MN. The photo session must occur within 15 miles of the DeKalb, IL or 20 miles of the Brooklyn Park, MN. The DeKalb session must occur before November 30, 2011. The Brooklyn Park session must occur before the 2011-2012 school year is out (the longer time frame for the Brooklyn Park session is due to my infrequent travel to Minnesota, opposed to living in DeKalb). Winners have 72 hours to claim their prize, after which the photo with the second highest votes will receive the prize. Weddings, events, studio sessions, and newborn sessions do not qualify for the free session. A family session is for one immediate family only, not for extended families. Free session has no cash value and can not be donated to any third parties.
I have had the best time in Minnesota this week. I photographed two beautiful families and a gorgeous senior. This is another one of my favorite families – they’re full of laughter and always fun to be around! I just LOVE the images of grandpa being silly with Mr Jack. Too cute. Here’s your sneak peek, you guys! 
Seniors are some of my favorite people to photograph. They’re whimsical and up for anything! I’ve been looking forward to this session with Miss V for awhile. She wanted images that were natural, soft and beautiful. I absolutely LOVE what we captured. Here’s a sneak peek!
I just love this little family! I’ve actually known momma H since high school. We swam together, lifeguarded together, and even went to college together. I’m glad she’s still adventurous because I took them into some deep woods and 6 ft tall grass fields, full of mosquitoes, to get these fabulous images! Hope you love them as much as I do!
As a photographer, I have cravings. Like, when I see gorgeous, yummy light, I CRAVE to photograph people in it! It tends to be a blessing for the people around me.
So, last week we were at a picnic gathering in Creston, IL and the few minutes before sunset were just fabulous! I got my hubby to ask a coworker of his – whom I’ve never met – if I could photograph him and his lovely fiancé. This adorable couple has only been engaged for a few weeks, so it was perfect! So, we headed across the street and took 3-minutes of portraits.
You may be asking… THREE MINUTES? Yep. Three minutes. I think I took 8 frames total. Here are some pointers for some quick, spur-of-the-moment portraits…
1) Survey the light. Always know where your light source is coming from. These were taken in the last few minutes before sunset so the sun was low in the sky. I like to put the sun behind my subjects for a bit of backlighting and sunflare.
2) Be aware of your background. These were taken in a softball field! The playing field was to the left and a school playground was to the right. You don’t need fabulous locations for fabulous photos. Just try to keep your background a good distance from your subjects.
3) Have fun! Relax, and your subjects will relax too! Can you tell I met this couple just a few minutes before?!
Enjoy! -Jenny
