Love Will See You Through | Anastasia & Elliott

A few weeks ago, after what felt like the longest year, I packed my camera bag and headed to Sioux Falls. I had the honor of photographing my cousin’s wedding day. What a joy.

The venue was gorgeous and the weather was perfect but nothing compared to seeing these families and friends come together. You can imagine the laughter and tears. I get goosebumps thinking about it.

As I lifted my camera to my face at the start of the day, my nerves dropped. I got to shoot alongside my dad and in the end we came out with a pretty gorgeous album. I’m so excited to give you a sneak peek.

Can you feel the love? Simply beautiful.

Thank you Anastasia and Elliott! Wishing you an abundance of blessings forever and always!

XO - Elyse’

What do you see? | Aspen, CO

Aspen, Colorado.

A place that holds so much of my history.

I’ve dreamt of taking this trip for as long as I can remember and this month, after a very long year, it happened.

You might not know this, but I was born in Aspen. The summer of ‘87.

Two years before I joined the world my parents met at Wagner park.
My dad’s originally from northern Minnesota and my mom’s from upstate New York. They both found themselves in Aspen in the late 80s for work.
Not even a year after meeting, they wed at Aspen Community Church.

It felt nostalgic walking the streets 30 years later. Getting to see in person what I’ve only seen in photos made this trip feel so special.

We also got to catch up with my uncle Chuck who moved to Aspen right around the same time I was born. He was so good to us — and with his local knowledge had us out for some good sightseeing and delicious food.

In the short time we were there, even during off season, we really got a feel for Aspen. The crisp mountain air was everything I hoped it’d be and we’re already talking about getting back!

"Hot Meals, Biology" from What Kind of Woman, Kate Baer

I was walking through Target with two rambunctious boys, mind running a million miles a minute, “almond milk, diapers size 5, tortillas…” when I glanced over at the bookshelf. In big bold letters I saw WHAT KIND OF WOMAN, KATE BAER.

Poetry.

I put that book in my cart so fast.

When I got home, we got through dinner and bedtime. I cozied up on the corner of my couch and let the pages dance through my fingers.

This poem caught my attention and I wanted to share it with you.*

Hot Meals, Biology

My husband does not like poetry. The

soft, ambling words with no beginning

or strong, reliable end. Instead he likes

more certain things: hot meals, biology,

the feel of the putting green.

What he doesn’t know is how much the

touch of his baby’s skin or the way his

mother forms his favorite pie, thinking

about the morning he was born, is all a

verse. A covert melody.

*This work was published with permission from the author, Kate Baer

2020 in 36 Photos / H O M E

Blink. Another 365 days have passed. What a freaking year.

It’s wild to look back (2018, 2019) and see how much things have changed, how different things have been and the memories. I cherish this.

I’m learning with this project that challenge and joy will be weaved in every month and every year for as long as I’m lucky enough to walk this earth.

2020 hasn’t been any different. The longest year at times and yet here we are, the end of December. I’m looking toward 2021 with stars in my eyes, hoping that it’s filled to the brim with family.

As we’ve known all along, it’s what’s most important.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Inhale. Exhale.

Bring on 2021. We’re ready!

BAD APPLES - Analog Collage Collection

Society puts a lot of pressure on women to be a certain way. In ‘Bad Apples,’ the analog collage series, I work to shatter the negativity associated with choosing a different path. Using paper, old book pages and glue — I create art that proudly tells a different story.

This collection reminds us that there’s beauty in who you are, no matter what you’re told to be.
It represents freedom, femininity, equality and yes, a bit of magic.

On the Road & In Flight are a part of the first collage show with PxP Contemporary. You can purchase either of those straight from their website. The remaining 11 pieces are for sale right on my website. You can shop both by clicking on the buttons below.

Thank you so so much for being here and checking out my work. I appreciate you!

On the Road, Original Collage
8x10, 2020

Available for purchase on PxP Contemporary

In Flight, Original Collage
8x10, 2020

Available for purchase on PxP Contemporary

Believe It, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Electric, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Skin, Original Collage
8x10, 2020

Out, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Pieces, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Feel It, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Held, Original Collage
8x10, 2020

Storm, Original Collage
6x9, 2020

Solitude, Original Collage
6x9, 2020

No, Thank You, Original Collage
5x7, 2020

Taller, Original Collage
5x7, 2020

The Other Kingdoms | Mary Oliver, Devotions

I recently received Mary Oliver’s book, Devotions. I keep it next to my bed and each night read a handful of poems. I swear they were written for me. To stir and then settle my thoughts.

Mary Oliver has an incredible way with words. Each new page is vibrating with magic, the type of magic that goes a few extra layers deep. You feel it. Do you have a Mary Oliver favorite?

The Other Kingdoms, Mary Oliver, Devotions

Consider the other kingdoms. The

trees, for example, with their mellow-sounding

titles: oak, aspen, willow.

Or the snow, for which the peoples of the north

have dozens of words to describe its

different arrivals. Or the creatures, with their

thick fur, their shy and wordless gaze. Their

infallible sense of what their lives

are meant to be. Thus the world

grows rich, grows wild, and you too,

grow rich, grow sweetly wild, as you too

were born to be.

Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 2020

The One Thing I Need To Do Each Night

As most of you know I started participating in the 5am club about a month ago and I really, really love it.

It provides me with time to move my body and stimulate my mind before I begin the day of demanding children and to-do lists.

The schedule looks something like this:

• 20 minutes of morning pages (writing)

• 20 minutes of Yoga

• 20 minutes of reading

I’ve been on a pretty good morning roll and the reason starts long before my alarm goes off.

In fact, it’s because of what I do at night before bed that I’m successful in the morning.

The only way I’ve found, to guarantee my success is to: PREPARE. PREPARE. PREPARE.

Before bed, I lay out my Yoga mat, fill my water bottle, flip my notebook to a fresh page, get my pen ready, put my book pile on the arm of the couch and set my alarm.

When I do all of those things the night before, I get up at 5am.

When I don’t do those things the night before, I “sleep in”.

100% of the time.

Really, when I think about it… anything I’ve ever gotten done that I’ve wanted to do has come from planning and preparing.

So now I ask you this:

What do you want to start? What do you want to accomplish?

How can you make a plan that guarantees your success?

Lastly, I have to make sure I point out that I’m far from perfect. I’ve been choosing to not set an alarm on Sunday because sometimes it just feels good to not. If I’m up late working on something, I’ll set my alarm for 5:15am or even 5:30am. I do the best I can and if I start to veer off track my goal is to always pull myself back on as soon as possible because I’m worth it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any and all of this!
Comment below or DM me on IG!