Marie and I want to wish everyone and Safe and Happy New Year

January 6th, 2010

Another year…has past into the record books of history.  In the past Decade, we have been witness to Electronic Revolution; Smaller, Faster, Smarter.  From Walkmans to Ipods, Desktop PC’s to Pocket PC’s and from Photographic Film to 32GB cards in 21mp cameras!  O M G!

So in this day and age of Quick, Instant, Green Screen Photo Studios we built an Old Fashioned Studio, Forty miles from town!  Why?

Because we believe in the Old Fashioned Values, Quality not Quantity.  One photo shoot per day instead of Two every hour!  You just can’t rush art!  Anybody can take a picture, but it takes years of practice, thought, experience and yes failure, to know when Art is in the making.

My wife Marie has been a Professional Portrait Photographer (Making her living on photography) since 1989!  And I have been making my living off photography since 2002 when I finished photography school.

Last year at this time we were in the process of changing our lives (we just didn’t know it), our studio has grown, the word has gotten out and we are a recognized name in Professional Photography!   We ask ourselves this question often, (at what point do we quite our day job and do only photography and apartment maintenance?

Stay tuned for more information!

The Grand Rapids, MN Bridal Show is Saturday February, 6th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN.

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Sweet Water Photo Studios Website changes – www.sweetwaterphotoonline.com

December 12th, 2009

We have added a Splash Page with the Option of High Speed, Blog, or Dial Up for all our customers, including those on I Phones and Dial Up! The Splash page also includes a FLASH Download for those that have not installed FLASH yet.  FLASH is required for High Speed viewing.  We have added Bellies and Babies to the Ongoing Projects area.  This includes some of the babies that we have photographed during 2009.  ALSO in our Ongoing Projects area we have added Architecture an assortment of photos from a one million dollar “cabin” on Lake Vermillion outside of Cook, MN.  More changes will be coming as soon as the Web Site Gods smile down on me.  Below is a sample of the new background.Web Site Background

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Happy Holidays to all friends, customers and past customers

December 4th, 2009

Well after a long and weird Autumn, winter is making it’s presents known.  The New Studio is put away for the winter and we are making plans for the 2010 season.  We continue to add to the Coka-Cola theme with old wooden cases and old signage.  This winter we will be printing direct mailers for different groups, Motor Cycle Clubs, High School Graduation Portraits, Engagements, Portraits of Families and course Bellies and Babies.

We are currently scheduled to attend the Grand Rapids 2010 Bridal Show at the Timber Lake Lodge on February 7th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.,  also we are making plans for a One month showing at  “Brewed Awakenings” Coffee Shop in Grand Rapids during the month of March or April??  And the a Bridal Show at Giants Ridge, Biwabik, MN April 17th from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

It has been a very busy Autumn with Christmas Cards and finalizing the 2009 Wedding orders.

Once again the Turkey Dinner fairies made their rounds, serving the needs of those that need.  Drop suggestions for the Turkey Fairy via email.  09Turkeyfairybox

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Completed Portrait backgrounds at Sweet Water Photo Studios

August 16th, 2009

So after beating my head against the wall for two months, We have completed our work on our New Photo backgrounds.  We brought some models to try things out and they seem to work.  Some changes will be made, but very small ones to be sure.Back in TimeWe have also completed work on our Barn background and the Rusted Metal background

The Barn background

The Barn background

Rusted Metal background

Rusted Metal background

The total bakcground package has pay telephone, a 1950’s Coke machine space for Motor Cycle Portraits, Seniors, Engagements, Families and Groups.New Studio 2009

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It’s been a very busy summer around here with photography

July 28th, 2009

So it’s been almost 3 moths since my last posting.  Wedding Season, you know.  The work on the New Studios has been constant by spurts.  Weather delays, bugs, time contraints or lack there of leave me with little time for the internet and extra activities.  Here a picture of the Coca-Cola wall that we expect to finish by the First of August, 2009.  The hand painted Drink Coca Cola sign will include a 6 foot high bottle and cap design dating from the 1940’s – 50’s era of buuilding art.  The set will also include a 1954 Coke bottle vending machine in original condition, and a wire bottle rack for the empties.  CokeWallSoon2BDoneThe decking is built on 4×4 beams with 1×6 boards that I expect will support the weight of at least one Harley Davidson motorcycle for bike portraits.  The pay phone is the ONLY pay phone in the Togo, MN area!  So come one, come all for a portrait of the past!StudioalmostdoneDSCN0408

Above is a picture of the new studio sets for high school seniors.  There is barn wood on the left, 75 years of Minnesota license plates in the middle and a rusted metal scene on the right.  The middle one moves back and forth to allow more room on the sides.

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New Sweet Water Photo Studio Sets (05/2009)

May 30th, 2009

So the time has come, after many delays, the day is upon us that WE will start to create the New sets for Senior and Engagement photography here at the Studio.  The ground work has been laid, the workers contacted, the materials are all in their correct locations, We are just waiting for the right time to start and finish four Projects.  We are adding a new “Old Fashioned” swing, a “Western Barn” set, a “Heavy Metal” set and finishing up our “Birch Forest: set.

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Spring Thaw (2009) in North Eastern Minnesota

April 12th, 2009

Mother Nature has decided to act on the “Spring Thing” and allow the snow to go, so far.  Though the flowers aren’t blooming this far north, but I did see several small dark colored Butterfly’s.

During the weekends I often take drives to photograph the changing surroundings we have here.  One of the thoughts racing through my mind is the creation of a new website that will bring the local residents and business’ together in these trying times.

The website, www.togomn.com will help to pair the local resources with the needs of the areas residents and visitors alike.  Funding for the website will come through advertising, sales and free will offerings.  Here is a sample of the www.togomn.com Bumper Sticker that will be available for $1.00 plus tax ea from local business’.  wwwtogomncom-bumpersticker

During my drive today I ran across Jeff Lindell and his son working on their backyard sawmill.  In his spare time Jeff operates Lindell Trucking Excavating from their home in Gheen, MN.  Jeff has several tools that I found could be very useful to the North Eastern Minnesotan’.  _dsc0535april_dsc0533april_dsc0530aprilAdditionally, Jeff offers a real nice cold storage building for around $7,000 completely built on your site.  Jeff can be contacted at this email address: lindelltrucking@yahoo.com

35 x 72 foot storage building

35 x 72 foot storage building

35 x 72 Foot storage building

35 x 72 Foot storage building

Also today, I met Jon Strom, a local Carving Artist and Log Home Artist.  He has just launched a new website detailing his works @ www.stromart.com, Jon and his family live in a beautiful, hand built log home with wood and solar heat.  The home also sports a solar array that powers their needs and keeps them off the grid.  Jons wife, Elma operates a sewing company called “Needs and Treadles”, she makes some really stylish winter hats.  Elma  can be contacted at email: needsandtredles@earthlink.net OR through WWW.STROMART.COM.

For those of you that haven’t heard, MNDOT is going to widen State Highway 65 from Nashwauk, MN to Togo, MN in 2010.  This will include two turning lanes (East & West bound) for the Togo metroplex.  I’m guessing that MNDOT will spend $500,000 on an intersection that sees 300 vehicles per day.

The other day (saturday), I went to Denny Hill to talk about purchasing some 4×4 posts for a project of mine.  Well it turns out that Denny does alot with wood.  Pretty much from the time it’s fallen till the time it’’s installed or made into something.  He has a plainer that makes four cuts at once for making paneling or flooring.

Denny Hill with several 60 footers

Denny Hill with several 60 footers

hand made paneling or flooring

hand made paneling or flooring

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Time once again for Proms across the Northland, which means Graduation Pictures aren’t far behind

April 6th, 2009

Sweet Water Photo Studios has several packages for the BUDGET minded shopper.  Our prices haven’t changed in several years.  We offer ON Location photography or if you wish you can come to our outside studio.  We have a 1954 Chevy truck and a 1941 International truck, we also have a 1936 McCormick-Deering tractor, a 1890’s dump rake, a Birch forest, a wall of Minnesota License Plates 1925-2000.  Rocks, streams and barns are all within very close access.  We have a Wildflower field, a Haywagon, room to bring your own ATV, Horse, truck or car (80 acres).

This is the Senior Price lists page #1 and #2
hp-senior-price-list-2-0072
senior-price-list-1-2009
Here are some images from the past couple of years…

the many faces of Bekah

the many faces of Bekah

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Prom Photography Promtness

March 28th, 2009

It’s Prom time again, and this year Sweet Water Photo Studios will be photographing the prom for the Cook, MN High School.  The Prom photos will start at 2:00 p.m. at the Cook School gym.  With the Grand March at 4:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. Prom Photos start time

4:00 p.m. Photos Stop time

4:00 p.m. Grand March

For more information contact www.sweetwaterphotoonline.com  or 218-376-4492


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March 28th, 2009
Now a word from our sponsors . . .

Now a word from our sponsors . . .

Someday in near future, www.togomn.com will up and running, slow at first.  Sort of a work in progress.

I started to create placemats for restaurants five years ago, and it keeps my mind expanding in the graphics field.

Please Contact these business’ for any of you local Northern Minnesota needs.

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