Can you believe it's been 19 years of helping families preserve their memories?!

I've dug into my archives and posted some images I've taken over the years here. Some  of these families, I'm still capturing today!! Want a little blast from the past? If you've been on this journey with me for a while, you might know this story already...

I started back in 2007 as Photo Creations by Christina. My first studio was a one room office on Century Ave in Oakdale. I had a Grand Opening party. All of my grandparents were still alive then and I took pictures of them at the party. My 92 year old Grandma still tells the story of how her dentures fell out while she was talking in front of everyone 😂

Then I moved my studio to Larpenteur Ave in Maplewood and changed my name to NinaMarie Studios. I hired my friend, Bre, to help with editing. I was shooting like 20+ weddings a year at this time! I remember staying at the studio until 3am editing many nights. Yep still an over-shooter!

Next came the garage studio in White Bear Lake in 2012. I had my first son, Grayson. He would sit in his high chair while I edited and he'd scream for food. That boy really loved his food.  This is where I really started to grow. Santa left a note on my door and so began the 14 years of amazing Santa events. 🎅

In 2014 I had my second son, Brady, and we opened in the Grand Garage in downtown Stillwater. Wow that was a wild ride! I was there for like 5+ years. I opened my clothing store, NinaMarie Boutique. Those to me were the good old days of the business. I also opened a second boutique in downtown North St. Paul.

After the new bridge in Stillwater forced many businesses to close, including my boutique, I moved my studio into that skinny little brick space in North St. Paul. I rebranded to Blooming Portraits as a fresh start. I also moved into the apartment above the studio and raised my littles there. I'd go back to those days in a heartbeat ❤

Just before COVID, I had my studio in a warehouse loft in Minneapolis while I attempted a boutique again. We had to use a scary freight elevator to get into the loft. Eek! Seventh Boutique was brought back into that skinny little studio space in North St. Paul. It didn't last long though...COVID hit.👎

In 2021, I moved Blooming Portraits into a bigger space next door in North St. Paul. It was a great space with beautiful hardwood floors and a big garage in back. I would have stayed there, but I decided to move my studio into yet another garage (seeing a theme?). This time, my own garage! In Oakdale. Ugh I loved that big space, but despite the huge heater, it was just so cold in the winter 🥶

That brings me back to White Bear Lake for year 19! I've been in the Avalon for the past 2 years. I started doing eyelash extensions as Bloom Lash Room as well. Doing lashes is another creative outlet for me, but one where I get to gossip with lovely women (you know, rather than chasing crying babies and wiping noses! 🫢)

Through it all, I have to give a shout out to my father for literally renovating every. single. studio. He is truly amazing. And also to my mom for letting me vent when things didn't go as planned and for giving me lots of creative direction throughout the years. I couldn't have done it without these two👏

In honor of my photography studio's 19th birthday, I'm running some specials this week only. Check them out below, after you read through some sentimental words 🥹

Whether you've been my ride or die since the beginning or only here for a short while, thank you for being a part of it. Thank you for entrusting your special moments to me. I used to be able to remember everyone's names and faces, now I'm old and it's getting hard, but if it's been a while, I'd love to capture your family again. It's crazy when I photograph high school seniors that I captured as babies or the babies of those that I photographed when they were kids. Now I'm feeling really old, so I'll leave it at that!

These past 19 years have been so hard, many of the years were emotionally draining. I had to learn how to push through bad reviews, many months when I was barely scraping by, COVID, and a horrible Facebook hack that almost cost me my business. As a single mom though, I was thankful to have a business that gave me time with my kids, a business where I met lots of awesome families (many of which became good friends), and a business I am proud I stuck around for. I'm not sure how many more years are left for my photography business, but I'm grateful for the 19 I've had. God is so so good.

Happy Birthday Blooming Portraits!

                                                   xoxo, Nina