Kruse PhotoGraphics: Blog

Valentine Quick Pics | 2019

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 04:17:47 GMT

It's been wonderful having my studio so far and to be able to offer sessions at the convenience of the client! Check out this year's adorable Valentine's! :D

Bechen Family | Harrisburg, SD

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 04:00:52 GMT

Who misses fall? I DO!! Fall is always such a short time here in the midwest as the wind typically blows all the leaves off the trees quicker than you can say...well, anything really. ;) The Bechen family met up with me at Tuthill park at the end of October to capture their fall family portraits before the sunset and thankfully the trees still had some colorful leaves on them but also lost just enough to make for a little fun. :)

Smith Family | Harrisburg, SD

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 03:38:42 GMT

Another family that has been in front of my camera quite a bit in the last 7 years of business beginning with their engagement session followed by their wedding! I must say, I remember capturing some pretty cool images of these two and now seeing them each year as their family grows, it truly warms my heart. :) Such a blessing to have such amazing clients. :)

Canon | Newborn

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 03:11:40 GMT

Say hello to Canon. This little guy made the trip from Mitchell for his very first professional photo shoot. He was also my very last client session held in my home as I now have a studio space! :D This little guy just so happens to be the little brother to 3 pretty amazing siblings who I've had the privilege of capturing throughout the past 7 years that I've been in business and it sure has been a blessing to watch this family grow and capture their memories. :)

Christmas Minis | 2018

Tue, 25 Dec 2018 19:45:36 GMT

TODAY IS CHRISTMAS!! :D A huge THANK YOU to all of you who chose to have us capture your Holiday family & children's portrait whether you use them for your holiday cards or your holiday social media post. Thank you to all the new clients and returning clients for booking a session this year with us at the new studio! I am beyond blessed to be able to now have a space so I can leave my holiday mini session setups up for more than just a day. It was such a joy capturing both the posed and candid shots of your family and little ones! Although the sessions are short and sweet, I hope that you all enjoyed what I was able to capture for you! We wish you a Merry Christmas and may your holiday be filled with joy and laughter surrounded by those you love, in good company with family and friends. Happy Holidays! :D

A very special shout out to Carl, we wish you a Merry Christmas and we thank you for your service. I hope that the images we captured before your deployment brought a smile to your face and warms your heart every time you view them. May the days of your deployment go quick and prayers for a safe return home to your loved ones.

Eden | Newborn

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 02:55:30 GMT

Say hello to the Little Miss Eden. Isn't she beautiful! And those pink nails are adorable! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit envious of mom's who paint their newborns nails. That is definitely a talent! :D You might remember seeing her older sister before. We did a family session with the gorgeous family a few years back at McKennan Park and now Emery is a proud big sister!

Diablo Sammich | The Phoenix Lounge | Harrisburg, SD

Sat, 10 Nov 2018 18:19:32 GMT

It's time to put the spotlight on Diablo Sammich again! They'll be rockin' the The Phoenix Lounge in Harrisburg tonight! Check out the images captured from their last show at The Phoenix. Want to see these guys live? Scroll down to see a list of their upcoming shows!

Upcoming Diablo Sammich Shows:

November 10, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ The Phoenix Lounge, Harrisburg, SD 57032
December 1, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ Double D Saloon, 325 Main Ave, Brandon, SD 57005
December 7 & 8, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ American Legion, 1701 W Legion Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Lincoln | 1 Year | Harrisburg, SD

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 23:31:38 GMT

This little guy may or may not look familiar if you follow my page. I've captured this handsome fella in some pretty adorable Easter mini session portraits at Lava's earlier this year and now he's O-N-E!! It's amazing how FAST they grow in the first year and I absolutely LOVE capturing this special milestone. They only turn ONE once! :D

Eby Family | West Point, NE

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 00:09:39 GMT

This family right here...THIS is family. Now we may not be related by blood, but I consider them family. They have been with me since the beginning of my photography career and I look forward to seeing them each and every year and it never seems like it has been a full year. This year I traveled to them and captured their family portraits at the local park which I must say was the PERFECT spot! Owen, Barrett, and Georgia are such a joy to photograph. Their personalities sure do SHINE! :D I can't wait to see this family again next year. :)

Paint It Pink! | Sioux Falls, SD | 2018

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 02:41:26 GMT

The last weekend in October I had the honor of capturing the 3rd Annual Paint It Pink Style Show and Benefit by Glamour Defined at the Hilton Garden Downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Paint It Pink was created to honor local cancer survivors and their families with proceeds benefitting the Wig Program at the Avera Cancer Institute. This is such an amazing event and it was truly humbling to be among so many amazing people. Check out some of the photos captured for the event!

And if you haven't already, be sure to throw a Facebook like out to all the businesses who took part in the Fashion show! #PaintItPink!

Diablo Sammich | The Thirsty Duck | Sioux Falls, SD

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 01:10:46 GMT

It's time now for another break from the usual family, children, and professional portraits! Band photography of the one and only: Diablo Sammich. :D They've got a show tonight at the American Legion in Sioux Falls. Here's a look back at their last show in Sioux Falls at the Thirsty Duck! Thank you to everyone who came out to support these guys that night. I hope to see some more familiar faces tonight at the Legion! :D

Want to see these guys live? Scroll down to see a list of their upcoming shows!

Upcoming Diablo Sammich Shows:

November 3, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ American Legion, 1701 W Legion Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
November 9, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ Doxx Bar, 1219 5th St, Sioux City, IA 51101
December 1, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ Double D Saloon, 325 Main Ave, Brandon, SD 57005
December 7 & 8, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ American Legion, 1701 W Legion Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Natalie & Nate | Engagement | 2018

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 20:32:15 GMT

How adorable are these two! :D Meet Natalie & Nate, our 2019 feature wedding couple. So I've been putting off sharing this couple's images of their engagement session(s) until now. We split their session into two and captured some images over the summer down by the river in Yankton and then back on their farm this fall and I think I am obsessed with how beautiful these turned out! Natalie and Nate are such a cute couple and so easy going and free spirited and I can not wait to capture their special day next year. :) Enough said, here's a sneak peek at some of the images we captured! :D

DeBoer Family | Harrisburg, SD

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 12:51:24 GMT

It was an honor to be asked to capture this family's portraits for their family earlier this fall. I've known Jake & Sarah since college and it sure was great to see them and capture some memories for them to cherish for years to come. We met at their folks place just outside Harrisburg which was a surprise to them! :D

Ainsley | 1 Year | Sioux Falls, SD

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 18:45:48 GMT

Little Miss Ainsley is ONE! I seriously can not get over how FAST time goes! It feels like yesterday when we captured her 6 month portraits. I am a bit behind on this blog as we captured these cute images of this beautiful little one back at the end of August. It was quite a hot and muggy morning too which was quite the contrast to the day before. She may not have been all smiles, but we captured some pretty adorable images! :D

Lava's Coffee & Cafe | Harrisburg, SD

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 02:11:56 GMT

Sometimes rumors are just rumors, sometimes they turn out to be true, and other times not. It’s hard to put into words the ups and downs over the past few months. The local coffee shop where I have done all my holiday mini sessions has been in business for 3 years now at the current location on Cliff and it’s sad to see this chapter close for them. As someone once told me, “that’s just business”. Is it right? Who’s to say whether anything in this world is right or wrong. Maybe this is simply the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It’s tough to be in business for yourself and to make a living doing something you love to do. I can relate with my photography business. I’m amazed at the support that this community has for its local businesses. Keeping things local takes on a whole new meaning when you put your dollars into the small mom & pop shops. It’s putting money back into the community, back into the pockets of the people who are making a living doing what they love to do in order to provide for their family. It has been such a blessing meeting Laura and getting to know her and her family over the years and I'm blessed to say that I have found a true friend.

Before I start to get too emotional...check out these product photos I had been capturing over the past few months for Lava's Coffee & Cafe!

Oh and I designed the new logo too! :D

Caramel Chocolate Chip Brownies

Lemon Bars

Cake Pops

Diablo Sammich | Promo Photoshoot | The Phoenix Lounge | Harrisburg, SD

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 21:37:37 GMT

It's time now to take a break from the usual family, children, professional portraits, and get back to some familiar territory. Band photography. Now I say familiar because my husband (the bass player there on the left in the photo below) was in a band for 10 years. Some of you may recall the good ol' Damn Strait days which I can honestly say I may or may not have missed on occasions since they decided to hang up the guitars. I was of course just starting out on my photography journey back then and I've come A LONG WAY since then! You get into such a norm of things and then a new norm comes along when you start a family. All things set aside for awhile but I knew he missed playing. I for one can't deny him of something he takes joy in doing, and for him that's playing music. :) A local band, Diablo Sammich just so happened to have an opening to fill for a bass player. I'm not really sure to this day whether or not the "audition" was truly an "audition" for Kyle or if it was the first "practice" as Diablo Sammich. Either way, he's back in a band and doing something he loves to do!

Want to see these guys live? I know I do! Just need to find a babysitter now... :D Scroll down to see a list of their upcoming shows!

Upcoming Diablo Sammich Shows:

September 29, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ Thirsty Duck, 945 S Marion Rd, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
October 5 & 6, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ Longhorn Bar, 101 N Main St, Mitchell, SD 57301
October 27, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ Staci's Bar & Grill, 217 Main St, Woodstock, MN 56186
November 3, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ American Legion, 1701 W Legion Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
November 9, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ Doxx Bar, 1219 5th St, Sioux City, IA 51101
December 1, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ Double D Saloon, 325 Main Ave, Brandon, SD 57005
December 7 & 8, 2018: 9:00PM - 1:00AM @ American Legion, 1701 W Legion Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Rylee | 1 Year | Scotland, SD

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 02:32:47 GMT

Look who's ONE! :D Little Miss Rylee is nothing short of ADORABLE! Hard to believe it's been a year since we captured her newborn portraits. I'll have to share a side-by-side later of her on that same teal chair as a baby! We traveled back to Scotland and captured these beautiful images for the Settje family down at Lake Henry, and boy was it a humid morning!

Maren | Newborn

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 16:21:09 GMT

Say hello to the beautiful Maren. We captured these shots at Sertoma Park back in August! (Yep, I'm playing catch up again on my blogs! :D ) This was my first ever outdoor newborn session and I'm pleased at how adorable they turned out and how well the session went!

Back to School BASH 2018 | Harrisburg, SD

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 20:02:26 GMT

Yesterday was an amazing event supporting the Feeding South Dakota Backpack Program organized by a few of the Block 500 Businesses on Cliff Avenue in Harrisburg, SD. We appreciate everyone who helped organize this event and volunteered their time to bring this event together! Thank you to everyone who stopped out to enjoy the event and donated to the Feeding South Dakota Backpack Program. We hope everyone had a blast and that this event is the start of an annual tradition. It may have started with just the Block 500 businesses, but as the community of Harrisburg continues to grow, you can expect to see more and more great community events to be held in the future and more businesses coming together to support a great cause. I may not have had anyone book a session, but I did capture some great photos of the event. Check out some of my favorites here!

And if you haven't already, be sure to throw a Facebook like out to all the businesses who took part in this event!

If you want to see more photos captured from the event, please feel free to visit the gallery here--> Back to School BASH 2018

Neeman Family | Maternity Session

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 17:30:00 GMT

Say hello to the Neeman family of three...now FOUR! (I'll be sharing the newborn session soon!) We captured these shots at Sertoma Park back on a sunny day in June! (Yep, I'm still catching up on my blogs from June :D ) Little Brooks has been promoted to Big Brother and I can't wait to share some photos of his new baby sister! :D So be sure to watch my blog for those sweet little images coming soon... ;)

Harrisburg Family Chiropractic | Harrisburg, SD

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 22:33:34 GMT

Have you ever given Chiropractic care a try? My neck injury in High School was the last time I had ever gone to a Chiropractor until I was expecting with Jaelyn. Oh boy was she a different pregnancy compared to Haley! No energy, whatsoever. My back hurt constantly. A few friends and fellow mom's and even my OBGYN suggested giving Chiropractic and Massage Therapy a try. So I did. I sure am glad I did! A pre-natal massage is highly recommended for anyone expecting and if you're looking for a place to go, Harrisburg Family Chiropractic has a 3 massage therapists! I also hadn't ever thought about taking the girls in for adjustments either but when one of your best clients tells you it works wonders for their child, then of course you have to give it a try too! If I could go back in time, I would, just so I could start Haley sooner with the chiropractic treatment for her (several) ear infections she had during her first year. It is amazing the difference! It has been a long time now since she's had an ear infection and I honestly believe it's all due to the amazing care we've received by Dr. Mayland and his staff right here in Harrisburg. We started Jaelyn out with Chiropractic care since she was roughly about 6 weeks old and she's only been sick maybe twice! Chiropractic care might not be for everyone and may not work for everyone, but it sure is worth a shot to avoid those costly doctor visits and prescriptions that come along with all sorts of possible side effects and not to mention the time you have to sit in the waiting room, then sit in the room to wait for the nurse, then wait for the doctor and repeat everything you already told the nurse... Sickness is no fun when you're a kid and it's tough to get them to understand when to slow down and rest and if you have children of your own you know how much patience they have! Now, I'm not saying to never go to the Doctor ever, because there are times when a trip to the doctor or the clinic or ER are necessary, but if it's avoidable and there are other alternatives, then it's worth it! It truly is amazing the difference it makes even in a child's attitude after an adjustment. It has worked wonders for our girls! :D Thank you Dr. Mayland! :)

Rhys | Newborn

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 15:02:10 GMT

The Anderson family was blessed with their fourth child in June and I must say, this little guy sure is blessed to be born into such a loving family. :) His older siblings sure adore him too! The outfits they each picked out for Rhys to wear are beyond adorable too. I can't wait to watch him grow!

Ellie | 1 Year | Cake Smash

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 14:37:45 GMT

Sweet little Ellie turned O-N-E back in June! :D (Yes, I am well aware it is August as I finally get around to catching up on my blogs...) We ventured outdoors to McKennan Park for this little sweetie's 1 year cake smash session and boy was it a windy day! We made due though. :) I think it's safe to say it's a custom now if you book a session with us for a Cake Smash and you have other children, the siblings get to join in on the fun too! In this case, big brother got a taste of the cake too! :D

Quinn | 1 Year | Cake Smash

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 17:10:42 GMT

Back in May this little beauty turned O-N-E! :D (Yes, I am well aware it is August as I finally get around to catching up on my blogs...) It's SO much FUN capturing the 1 year sessions as their personalities really start to shine through. Oh and we can't forget about the fun of smashing a CAKE! Big brother even enjoyed some cake too at the end. Yummm....

Air Madness | Harrisburg, SD

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 16:32:03 GMT

Every now again an opportunity to do something a little out of the norm of my usual photography comes along and boy was this FUN! Air Madness is the local trampoline park in Harrisburg is the hot spot attraction with a lot of entertainment for ALL ages! If you're ever in Harrisburg I encourage you to check them out!

Little Miss Harrisburg Pageant | Harrisburg, SD

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 21:18:43 GMT

For the second year in a row I had the honor of capturing the portraits for the Little Miss Harrisburg Pageant! I know this blog is extremely LATE but I just had to share anyway. So many beautiful girls with some big personalities! There were some familiar faces from the year before and some new ones too. I don't remember who won what title, but in the end it doesn't really matter as they are all WINNERS to me! :D

Of course I have to share some snapshots of my test subject. :D She's quite the sassy pants and it shows. Haha Now hopefully she'll be this excited and cooperative to pose for this next year as she'll be old enough to enter into the contest! :)

Mary & Jake | Sioux Falls, SD Wedding

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 21:16:46 GMT

It seems fitting to share this today as we still have snow on the ground. It's always a guessing game if we'll have snow on the ground in March and we sure did for Mary & Jake's wedding! It made for some gorgeous photos at Falls Park! Here are some of my favorites from their wedding day. Congrats again to Mary & Jake!

Amy & Brian | Crooks - Hartford, SD Wedding

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 21:42:41 GMT

Well January has come and gone and I am of course once again behind on my blogs as it is now April...it is April right? Or is it...🤔 These two had a PERFECT winter wedding, although it was a bit on the cold side they braved the cold for some amazing outdoor winter portraits and I am so glad they did! Check out some of my favorite images captured from their wedding day. 😊

Easter Minis | Lava's Javas Easter spEGGtacular | 2018

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 23:11:11 GMT

Last Saturday we did Easter Mini Sessions at Lava's Javas during the Easter spEGGtacular Event! We appreciate everyone who stopped out and took part with us and the crafts & games provided by Lava's Javas, Table of Grace and Scrappy Turtle. Below are just a few of my favorites captured from each session. Enjoy!

And if you haven't already, be sure to throw a Facebook like out to Lava's Javas & Treats & Table of Grace & Scrappy Turtle!

Mara | 1 Year | Cake Smash

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 17:03:47 GMT

Look who turned O-N-E this month! :D Those smiles would make anyone's heart melt. :) Miss Mara helped me showcase my newest prop too! This suitcase chair is from Country 'N More in Sioux Falls where I worked as a retails sales associate for several years. I had been eyeing this piece for a LONG time! Little Miss Mara was the perfect model for it too! Adorable! :)

Norah 2 Year | Harrisburg, SD

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 17:48:19 GMT

Those 2 years sure went by FAST!! Norah is one of our milestone babies and although the final session for her milestone was her 1 Year Cake Smash, she came back to us for her 2 Year! :D It's amazing much a difference a year makes!

Wollmann | Ainsley 6 Month & Cade 3 Years

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 23:06:09 GMT

It's amazing how fast kids grow in just 6 MONTHS! Little Miss Ainsley sure LOVED her toes during her 6 month session. :D It was tough to get her to keep her feet down for a shot! That's what makes these milestone sessions so much fun. The changes in their development from sleepy little peanuts to rolling around and pulling on their toes and sitting on their own all the way to crawling, standing, walking, and even running! :D Cade turns 3 this month too and so we captured a few of him as well and managed to sneak in family shots! :D

Carter E. | Scotland, SD | Cake Smash

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 03:45:00 GMT

We traveled back to Scotland in February to capture our nephew's official ONE year Cake Smash! :D It has truly been a joy to capture Carter's milestone sessions this past year. Isn't this little dude handsome! :D

Ethan & Ellie | Harrisburg, SD | Cake Smash

Fri, 02 Mar 2018 03:04:46 GMT

As if my clients couldn't get any more adorable! You may recognize these siblings from previous mini sessions over the past year. This time they were in for a full session with cake and all! :D Little Miss E turned the big O-N-E and Mr. E turned F-O-U-R in February! I don't think we could have planned the session any better, even if we did split the session. ;) Oh, and sometimes manners are learned early on...and a fork is a necessity when it comes to eating cake. :D

We Are Harrisburg Fashion Show | Harrisburg, SD | 2018

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 05:06:52 GMT

At the beginning of February I had the opportunity to capture Harrisburg's very first Fashion Show put on by the local boutiques right here in Harrisburg! It was such an honor to be a part of this event in support of the local Harrisburg Area Food Pantry. Check out some of the behind the scenes photos captured as well as some sneak peeks from the fashion show put together by Carrie Ann's Boutique, Glamour Defined, and The Robin's Nest.

And if you haven't already, be sure to throw a Facebook like out to all the businesses who took part in the Fashion show! #WeAreHarrisburgFashionShow

Share the Love | Table of Grace Family Faith Night | 2018

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 20:33:21 GMT

Last Wednesday, February 7th we were honored to be a part of Table of Grace's Family Faith Night at Lava's Javas! We appreciate everyone who stopped out and took part in the Share the Love celebration. We left one Valentine setup for the event and took the time to "Share the Love" by offering free, untouched snapshots of the kids Photo Booth style with the large candy hearts! :D Below are just some of the pictures captured. Enjoy!

And if you haven't already, be sure to throw a Facebook like out to Lava's Javas & Treats & Table of Grace!

Lianna | 1 Year | Cake Smash

Sat, 10 Feb 2018 23:39:22 GMT

Little Miss Lianna turned ONE in January! :D Cue the "Awwww, she's so adorable!" :D She may not have smiled much for me but at least she's got the serious model look down. :D She sure did enjoy that cake too! :D Yum!

Rehfeldt Family | Harrisburg, SD

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 16:11:36 GMT

You might recognize these two from a past wedding we've done. :D They have since welcomed a baby girl into their beautiful family! It was time for an updated family photo and I'm honored they chose us to capture it! :)

Hattie | Newborn | Scotland, SD

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 15:29:23 GMT

I did some traveling to Scotland again for another newborn session this past month. Meet little miss Hattie! This sweet little girl was 15 days new for her portrait session. :)

Kara & Deron | Butte, NE Wedding | Videography

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 17:39:20 GMT

Kara & DeronJuly 22, 2017

Megan & Jason | Le Mars, IA Wedding

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 22:57:41 GMT

These two sure made it easy for me when it came to shooting their engagement session and things were no different for their wedding! I think the photos speak for themselves on how awesome their wedding was this past August in Le Mars, IA. Just like I had a tough time choosing their final images, I had a tough time decided which ones to share from their big day! So I may have went a little overboard. :D We had a blast following these two around capturing the moments from getting ready all the way into their first dance. They even had a surprise in store for the father/daughter dance and mother/son dance as they broke into a choreographed dance during not one, but BOTH! :D

Amy & Brian | Sioux Falls, SD Engagement

Wed, 27 Dec 2017 17:52:13 GMT

I've been meaning to share this blog for awhile now but I wanted to wait until it was exactly ONE MONTH before their big day! :D We captured Amy & Brian's engagement & family portraits back in October when the leaves were just changing and the weather was oh so perfect. :) Oh how I miss fall, yet I look forward to their winter wedding and I pray the weather is just as beautiful as they are! I'll admit I am wishing for some very light snowfall on their big day, just enough for some pretty winter weather photos. :D Oh, and I can't forget to mention how awesome Jax was during the session and all his fun poses! :)

Reece | Newborn | Scotland, SD

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 16:14:08 GMT

I feel so honored to be the one to capture this milestone for Kelli & Matt. You may recognize them as one of my past wedding clients! :D I did some traveling to them for these images and it's something I may be doing more of in the future as an option for clients as sometimes it's just easier on the parents, and the new baby. Lots of work for me, but it's worth it. :) The images speak for themselves here...but isn't she just gorgeous! :D

Jaelyn & Haley | Kruse PhotoGraphics

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 03:42:59 GMT

As if you haven't seen enough of these two already, my two littles are sometimes my little models to test out new backdrops and holiday setups. Here's a peek at what they've been modeling for me this past year! :D

Mara & Kate | Harrisbiurg, SD

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 21:25:32 GMT

Mara & Kate were in for another quick session earlier this year and helped me test out one of my latest backdrops! :D These two are simply adorable! They also remind me a lot of my own two little ones. :D

Christmas Minis | 2017

Fri, 08 Dec 2017 04:23:14 GMT

Crazy to think Christmas is just around the corner! A huge THANK YOU to all of you who chose to have us capture your Holiday family & children's portrait whether you use them for your holiday cards or your holiday social media post. Although the sessions are short and sweet, I hope that you all enjoyed what I was able to capture for you! We wish you a Merry Christmas and may your holiday be filled with joy and laughter surrounded by those you love, in good company with family and friends. Happy Holidays! :D

And if you haven't already, be sure to throw a Facebook like out to Lava's Javas & Treats! Although it is possible to do sessions in my home, it's a lot easier and less stressful setting up somewhere else other than amongst the clutter of our well lived in home. :) And I also don't have to worry about my two littles getting their messy fingerprints all over my props! :D ....aaaand I don't have to make my own coffee. ;) :D

Madilyn | 1 Year | Cake Smash

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 03:34:53 GMT

Look who turned ONE!! (In November...) Little Miss Madilyn Grace. :) I dare you to try not to smile while looking at these! :D Cue the "Awwww, she's so adorable!" :D Madilyn is one of our milestone babies and it sure has been a joy watching her grow! :) Madilyn may not have been a big fan of her cake, but her older siblings sure enjoyed it! :D We snuck in a few family photos and sibling photos too!

Ryan 2 Year | Sioux Falls, SD

Sat, 25 Nov 2017 02:29:13 GMT

As a photographer we always hope that the weather plays nice when we schedule outdoor sessions but sometimes we just have to roll with it! Thankful that the Smith family was able to switch their session to a day sooner! It was still windier than I would have liked but we made due and found a great location for Ryan's 2 year portraits and few family photos as well! :D

Fuks Family Session | Sioux Falls, SD

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 04:27:00 GMT

I don't think we could have asked for better weather and fall foliage for this family session down at Rotary-Norlin Park in Sioux Falls earlier this fall. I had a great time capturing some family portraits for the Fuks family. Fall portraits aren't complete without tossing leaves into the air! :D

Carter Evenson | 9 Months

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:22:06 GMT

Last month we had this little guy in our (in-home) studio for his 9 month session! He's growing up SO FAST! You may recall his red tractor from his six month session, but this time we paired it with a fall themed indoor barn session. He was an adorable little lion for Halloween so we captured a few quick shots of him in his costume too while testing out a new backdrop! :D

Carter | 1 Year | Cake Smash

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 14:27:05 GMT

Well those 3 months sure flew by! Mr. Carter is now O-N-E!! It sure was a breezy day for portraits but we got some good ones! I'm pretty sure Carter takes the cake when it comes to the messiest cake smash session yet! :D He sure LOVED that cake! :)

Ainsley | Newborn

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 15:18:23 GMT

Look who became a BIG BROTHER! :D If you may recall, Cade is one of our milestone babies who is now a big brother to his adorable little sister, Ainsley. An adorable addition to the Wollmann family and I can't wait to watch her grow and capture her milestones! :D

Evenson Family | Scotland, SD

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 17:59:14 GMT

A few years have past and few more grandkids have been added to the Evenson clan! :D It was time to update their extended family portraits and this time on Grandma & Grandpa Evenson's farm! A chilly, gloomy, windy day it was but luckily the rain held off for us to capture some updated family portraits. :) For those of you who follow my page, you may recognize a few familiar faces! :D

Reitcheck Family | Sioux Falls, SD

Sat, 04 Nov 2017 13:30:58 GMT

Earlier this year we had the pleasure of capturing some extended family portraits for the Reitcheck's at Sertoma Park in Sioux Falls. You'll most likely recognize the Eby clan as they are my clients from Nebraska that have stuck by me since the beginning of my photography career. It's always a joy to see them and to watch their little ones grow! :D

Halloween Minis | 2017

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 18:00:53 GMT

Ghosts! Goblins! SuperHeroes! Princesses! Oh my!! Who doesn't love Halloween!?!?

We had the pleasure of capturing each of these cute and 'spooky' kids during the Harrisburg Business Trick or Treating on Friday. We appreciate everyone who stopped out and took part with us. Below are just some of the pictures captured. Enjoy!

And if you haven't already, be sure to throw a Facebook like out to Lava's Javas & Treats and Scrappy Turtle!

Axill | a BIG promotion!

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 03:47:23 GMT

This little guy has some BIG news to share with you! :D

So excited to be able to share this news for this little guy...yet...I think I'll let the pictures do the talking. :D

Georgia | 1 Year | Cake Smash

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 03:20:28 GMT

Look who turned ONE!! (In September...) Little Miss Georgia Ann. :) I think the photos speak for themselves here but let's just take a moment to acknowledge the pure beauty of this adorable little girl. :) Cue the "Awwww, she's so cute!" :D So the last time I saw this little beauty was when she was a newborn. Now the session may or may not have gone the way I imagined it would, let's face it, nothing ever goes the way you image it will...but I managed to capture some pretty adorable photos...and those outfits are just too cute! :) She may not have been a fan of the cake (or getting messy), but her brothers sure didn't mind getting their fingers on it while she got cleaned up. :D

Carter | 9 Months

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 04:26:58 GMT

This little guy right here totally rocked his 9 month session! Especially considering the fact that it started to sprinkle on us! :D We worked quick to capture some pretty cute images of this little guy. Such a cutie! Hard to believe he's going to be ONE soon! :D

Anderson Family | Hartford, SD

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 02:27:19 GMT

I had the privilege of capturing an extended family session for the Anderson family over the summer at their home. :) I captured some fun outtakes during this session as well that I couldn't NOT include for them! :D Climbing trees, picking apples, and searching for Princess Poppy and Branch in my camera lens. Oh and no one can resist a tickle war! :D

Shawnee & Derren | Aberdeen, SD Wedding

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 02:19:58 GMT

This year we traveled to Aberdeen again! This time for short and sweet ceremony with this amazing couple. :) What's even more amazing? They had their ceremony, reception, and dance all in one location! Even though they went with one of our smaller packages, we couldn't help ourselves but capture a few "extras" we wouldn't normally have been able to capture. :D I'm so glad we were able to capture the emotions from this wedding from the ceremony to the reception with the presentation of the quilt. Nothing short of a beautiful wedding for these two. Congrats again to Shawnee and Darren! :D

Jaymie & Spencer | Scotland, SD Wedding

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 01:58:33 GMT

This blog is WAY overdo! My summer wedding season started off with these two high school sweethearts. :) Their wedding day in July sure was a HOT one but we captured some "melt worthy" portraits of these two. We started off their wedding celebration in Scotland, SD and ended with their reception and dance in Yankton, SD. We even managed to sneak away for a few photo ops down by the river! :D Congrats again to this amazing couple!

Mara | 4 Months

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 03:21:47 GMT

Beautiful location on a hot and humid morning! Our session may have been cut short due to the weather but we managed to capture some cute shots of little Miss Mara! :D The colors were absolutely gorgeous at Tuthill and those outfits were a perfect fit! The beauty of the park is nothing compared to the beauty of these two sisters. :) Oh, and did I mention Princess Poppy showed up for part of the session too!?! :D

Rylee | Newborn

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 01:59:11 GMT

These two brothers couldn't be more proud to be big brothers to a an adorable little sister! :) If you may recall, Asher and Luke have been in our (in home) studio before. This time Asher wasn't holding Luke, instead he's holding his baby sister! :D Little Rylee is one lucky little girl to have these two as her older brothers. :) She was such a snuggle bug and I'm blessed to have captured her newborn portraits for her family. :D Oh and those little toes! How cute! Mom did a great job painting them! :D

Carter Evenson | 6 Months

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:38:43 GMT

Meet my nephew, Carter! :D Isn't he just the cutest! This little guy is going to LOVE growing up on the farm. It's amazing how fast he's growing up! 6 Months already! :D We also had to get a few cousin photos in too! I think our little Jaelyn was testing the "CUTE outside TOUGH inside" by tugging on his ear. Haha :D

Ethan | 1 Year | Cake Smash

Mon, 31 Jul 2017 02:48:07 GMT

Ethan is ONE!! (Technically he's almost 13 months now...) :D That year went by WAY too FAST! :D I had a blast capturing this little guys ONE year portraits and cake smash session. :D

4th of July Mini Sessions | Harrisburg, SD

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 19:42:34 GMT

Shout out to Table of Grace and Lava's Javas for allowing us to use their space over the weekend for the 4th of July Mini Sessions! A big Thank You to everyone who stopped in with their kids for a portrait too! I enjoyed capturing each and every one of them and their personalities. :D A few of the props were made locally by Scrappy Turtle right here in Harrisburg! You can check out some of their work and purchase items at Lava's Javas. :)

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE! :D

We appreciate your support of our local businesses!

Be sure to "Like" Kruse PhotoGraphics | Lava's Javas & Treats | Table of Grace | Scrappy Turtle on Facebook!

...and of course we can't forget to include some snapshots of our own little ones. :)

I feel like these images really show how they feel about taking photos "together" for mom! :D

Oh the life of a photographers child. :)

Little Miss Harrisburg Pageant | Harrisburg, SD

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 22:45:39 GMT

This year I had the honor of capturing the portraits for these pretty laddies for the Little Miss Harrisburg Pageant! It was so much fun capturing their personalities and some of them surprised me with their poses when I thought for sure they would be a little shy and need some direction. They proved me wrong! :D Best of luck to all these pretty girls in the pageant tonight! Just remember, you are ALL WINNERS!! :D

Carter | 6 Months

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:26:11 GMT

I think it's safe to say this little dude has got some cool digs! The Harley outfits his parents get for him are just too cute! The other outfits are too. :D I just LOVE capturing this stage in the milestones where baby is sitting up on his/her own and the discovery of new things like soft fuzzy blankets and grass and everything else they can get their little hands on! :D Can't wait to see Mr. Carter again in the fall! :D

Madilyn | 6 Month

Wed, 31 May 2017 03:54:25 GMT

Where does the time go!? I feel like we just captured her newborn photos only just a few short months ago!?! We couldn't have asked for a better day and I absolutely LOVE how these turned out. Little Miss Madilyn was so much fun to photograph! She had quite the faces and that SMILE!! That smile. :D LOVE IT! :D . It also pays to have big brother bounce on your back to get even more smiles! It's funny how kids always think bouncing is so much fun! Haha! :D

Amolins Family | Sioux Falls, SD

Fri, 26 May 2017 15:30:47 GMT

We couldn't have asked for a better day for the Amolins family session. It was a gorgeous day and such perfect spring weather! This wasn't your typical family session and to see Grandparents get in the photos with their grandchildren is such a joy! :D These photos will be priceless memories for years to come for these two brothers. :)

Cade's 2 Year Session

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:29:51 GMT

Cade has some BIG NEWS to share! :D Not only is he now 2 Years Old...he's going to be a BIG BROTHER!!! :D How exciting! This little guy (as I like to call him little "Mr. Fix It" as he was always fixing something for me during our session) is going to be such a good big brother! So excited for him and his family. :)

Easter Mini Sessions | Harrisburg, SD

Sun, 16 Apr 2017 22:54:13 GMT

On Saturday, April 8th we participated in the Easter Extravaganza at Lava's Javas & Table of Grace right here in Harrisburg, SD. It was a crazy busy day with fun crafts and games and some holiday decor from Scrappy Turtle and we can't forget about the yummy treats and delicious drinks from Lava's Javas! Thank you to all who came in to support your local businesses! :D Here's a sneak peek at a photo from each session! :) We sure got some cute photos! :D

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! :)

Thank you to everyone who attended the Easter Extravaganza or stopped in for a beverage or treat on Saturday April 8th!

We appreciate your support of our local businesses!

Be sure to "Like" Kruse PhotoGraphics | Lava's Javas & Treats | Table of Grace | Scrappy Turtle on Facebook!

...and of course we can't forget to include some snapshots of our own little ones. :) Our little Haley wouldn't sit on the Easter Bunny's lap but we at least got a photo of her standing next to the Easter Bunny! :D

Note, we weren't really "planning" for portraits of her but of course she's always ready to "pose" for us when she knows it's not her time for Portraits. Haha

Oh the life of a photographers child. :)

Kelly & Bryan | Sioux Falls, SD Wedding

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 03:20:21 GMT

This blog is WAY overdo! It's been a crazy year so far for 2017 as my first wedding of the year was in February! My oh my am I behind on my blogs! Kelly & Bryan couldn't have asked for a better day for their wedding, especially for February the weather was nothing short of AMAZING! :D These two love birds had an amazing day and I am so thankful that they had chosen us to capture it. It truly is amazing to see families come together to celebrate the love a couple shares and to be in the presence of members both young and old and the seasons of life in-between. I don't typically share this many photos but I felt it was necessary as these two share something in common with my husband and I. These two both had one Grandmother, but now have two as they have come together as a family. The same goes for my husband and I. We both had one Grandmother before marriage, but now have two. :) I cannot stress enough how important it is to have photos with loved ones, both young and old. Life is forever changing day in and day out. Take the time to take the photo, professional or not, it only matters that you have captured it. :)

Norah | 1 YEAR

Sat, 11 Mar 2017 22:54:16 GMT

Well that year went by FAST!! Norah is celebrating her birthday today with family and friends! Happy Birthday Norah! :D I can't believe a year has past ALREADY! Time truly does go by so fast when they are so young. I absolutely LOVED watching this little sweetheart grow and to see the images I've captured of her just melts my heart. Especially when the parents are just as in love with them as I am! :) It was a difficult task choosing my favorites to share, so here's MORE than I typically share from a session. They only turn O-N-E once! :D

Karmyn's 5 Year Session | Harrisburg, SD

Sun, 19 Feb 2017 20:08:12 GMT

It seems impossible that this little girl is already 5 YEARS OLD! We had a blast shooting some Valentine's Day photos, dance photos, and of course we can't forget about jumping on the "bed" for a few pics! I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little teary eyed when editing the photos from her session. How is it that 5 years has past already???

Carter | 3 Months

Sun, 19 Feb 2017 19:46:25 GMT

I absolutely love capturing milestones and seeing babies grow. Crazy to think this little guy is 3 months old! (Technically 4 months now as I am a bit behind on my blog posts!) I got some more use out of my motorcycle backdrop with this little guy. One of these days we might just have to have the real thing in the studio for a session or two. ;)

Ethan | 6 Months

Sun, 19 Feb 2017 19:32:12 GMT

Still hard to believe this little guy isn't so little anymore...he's already 6 months! (Technically 7 now because I'm behind on my blog posts!) It was such a treat having this guy in the studio for my very first session of 2017 and after my "maternity" leave. 6 months is such a fun milestone and I'm delighted to be the one to capture it especially for previous wedding clients! The next time he'll be in my studio is for his 1st birthday! :D

Megan & Jason | Scotland, SD Engagement

Sat, 31 Dec 2016 23:19:30 GMT

These two sure made it easy for me when it came to shooting their engagement session. They picked out all the locations! :D However, when it came to narrowing down to their final selection it was rather difficult to say the least. There were so many good ones it was hard to choose! From the lake to the farm there were endless options for places to capture the love these two have for each other. You don't dance with just anyone in a cornfield. :)

Madilyn | Newborn

Sat, 24 Dec 2016 03:59:36 GMT

When you photograph newborns the goal is always to capture those fleeting smiles which sometimes doesn't always happen and takes a lot of patience. Madilyn was full of fleeting smiles for her very first photoshoot and I'm thrilled that I was able to capture some pretty cute ones! :D We included Madilyn's older siblings for part of the session and you may recognize Londyn and Mason as they have been clients several times before. I absolutely love watching this family grow over the years. :)

Flynn's 1 Year Birthday Party | Sioux Falls, SD

Sat, 24 Dec 2016 03:14:57 GMT

Look who turned O-N-E!! You might recognize this cutie from a wedding blog I had posted recently. This little guy was perhaps the cutest little ring bearer for his parents wedding back in September. :) This wasn't your typical 1 Year Session either as I had the privilege of attending and capturing his 1st Birthday party! :D You really couldn't have asked for a better day in November. It was a gorgeous day and Flynn was surrounded by family and friends who came to celebrate this big milestone. They truly do grow up fast! :)

Carter | Newborn

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 02:59:29 GMT

This little guy was such a blessing to have in our studio and you never would have guessed that he spent some time in the NICU. Although most photographers like to see their newborn clients between 7 & 10 days old, sometimes things don't always work out that way. Yet we can still capture some pretty cute photos even when they are almost a month old. :) He's absolutely perfect in every way and I can't wait to watch him grow! :D Congrats again to Amanda and Philip!

Taylor & Corey | Sioux Falls, SD Wedding

Fri, 16 Dec 2016 22:42:52 GMT

I typically don't favor any one wedding because each and every wedding and love story is different, but this one is different for so many reasons but I will only name a few. Weddings are always thought of and dreamt of in perfection from the decor to the venue to the beautiful ceremony surrounded by loved ones from near and far that have come together to celebrate the love of the bride & groom. Taylor and Corey are perhaps the most down-to-earth go with the flow couple I have ever met. Their wedding day started out a beautiful day with blue skies and sunshine but the skies quickly turned to grey as the autumn storm that was forecasted for the day rolled in as we traveled to their ceremony destination. Any other couple may have been upset by this but these two weathered the storm and made it the best day of the beginning of their journey together as husband and wife. The ceremony, even though it was forced to be held inside the tent, was a beautiful ceremony and an emotional reception but nothing can compare to the beauty of the love that Taylor and Corey have for each other. Congrats and best wishes to Taylor and Corey! :D

Oh, and I can't forget their adorable son! We'll be sharing some cuteness of him from his 1st Birthday party in an upcoming blog! :D

Cindy & Cory | Menno, SD Wedding

Wed, 30 Nov 2016 02:41:34 GMT

It was a bright sun shining day for this fun loving couple! We were back in Menno again to capture Cindy & Cory's special day. This is another wedding I'm sure my husband had a blast shooting as the bridal party arrived and departed in their classics and racing cars! :D As always, it's tough to choose my favorites from weddings to share, so below are just a few of our favorites from their wedding day. :)

Luke's 1 Year Session | Harrisburg, SD

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:15:00 GMT

You really don't realize how fast time flies until your clients contact you to set up their son's 1 year session. How can this little guy be ONE already!? :D They really do grow up TOO FAST! :)

Smith Family & Ryan's 1 Year Session | Sioux Falls, SD

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 14:45:00 GMT

I was excited to have these two in front of my camera again...this time with their son Ryan who is now O-N-E! :D How adorable is he! :) He may not have eaten any of the cake but he sure had fun smashing it and making a mess just as much as I enjoyed capturing it! :D

Cade's 18 Month Session | Sioux Falls, SD

Thu, 27 Oct 2016 15:30:00 GMT

Hard to believe this little guy is already 18 months old! Feels like we just did his 1 year session last week! :D When they get to be this age it's tough to keep them occupied and hold their attention long enough for "posed" photos but that's okay! They are only little for a little while so let them run and be wild! :D Candid photos are always the best in my book. :)

Murphy Family & Maternity | Sioux Falls, SD

Wed, 26 Oct 2016 02:08:31 GMT

Can't wait until I meet their little guy next week! :D At the end of September we had a windy but beautiful day for the Murphy's Family/Maternity session! We ventured around Sertoma Park for some fall photos and I must say, their daughter totally rocked the session with all her awesome poses switching it up every now again before I even had the chance to give her direction! :D

Fall Family Fest | Harrisburg, SD

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 21:27:30 GMT

On Saturday, October 15th we participated in the FALL FAMILY FEST at Lava's Javas & Table of Grace right here in Harrisburg, SD. It was a fun filled day for the kids as they played games hosted by Table of Grace and painted pumpkins with Lava's Javas! Scrappy Turtle brought in some décor for customers to preview and purchase for the upcoming holidays and of course we can't forget the awesome portraits children and families took part in with us! :D Check out our top favorites from each session! :) We captured some great fall family photos as well as some pretty cute candid shots too! :D

Here's a peek at some of the fun from the afternoon at the Fall Family Fest! :D

Thank you to everyone who attended our Fall Family Fest or stopped in for a beverage or treat on Saturday! We appreciate your support of our local businesses!

Be sure to "Like" Kruse PhotoGraphics | Lava's Javas & Treats | Table of Grace | Scrappy Turtle on Facebook!

...and of course we can't forget to include some candid somewhat posed photos of our little "giraffe". :D

Note, we weren't really "planning" for portraits of her but of course she's always ready to "pose" for us when she knows it's not her time for Portraits. Haha

Oh the life of a photographers child. :)

Georgia | Newborn

Fri, 14 Oct 2016 02:56:05 GMT

Kruse PhotoGraphics has some exciting news to share...well okay...the Eby family does, but they are like family so it's exciting news we'd love to share as well! :D Meet Georgia Ann Eby. :) Isn't she ADORABLE! :D Needless to say, she's going to be spoiled as she's got two of the best big brothers who I'm sure will be extra protective of her as she gets older. :) Aside from the cuteness, the best thing about this newborn session were the amazing props that hold valuable meaning to their family that make the photos even more unique and truly theirs! Now if only I could have taken the barn door and the windmill home with me... ;)

FALL FAMILY FEST!! Saturday, October 15, 2016

Thu, 13 Oct 2016 15:03:38 GMT

Join us Saturday, October 15, 2016 for the FALL FAMILY FEST from 10:00AM until 3:00PM!! Fun for the whole family! Lots of fun activities for the kids including a bouncy house, pumpkin painting, and face painting. While you're there, get your fall portraits taken by Kruse PhotoGraphics. Halloween Costumes are welcome! :D Be sure to stop by Forget Me Not and play "SPIN THE WHEEL" to receive up to 50% OFF your purchase of one regular priced item in store. Everyone goes home a winner! While the kids are at play, enjoy a coffee, frappe, smoothie, and a sweet treat from Lava's Javas!

To stay up to date on all details about this event, be sure to "Like" Kruse PhotoGraphics & Lava's Javas & Treats on Facebook!

Here's the direct link to the Event page for the FALL FAMILY FEST! Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1676120626037717/?active_tab=about

Why wait in line? Sign up TODAY for your Fall Portrait Session! :D

Jacobson Family | Sioux Falls, SD

Sun, 09 Oct 2016 02:20:15 GMT

Cutie Alert! :D This little gal was so adorable and to believe she's only a year and half old with all that hair! :D Needless to say I'm a little bit jealous since my daughter who is on the verge of being 2, barely had much hair to even put into pigtails by that age! I still can't get her hair into a single ponytail without it falling out all over the place. Haha :D Anyway, enough talk of my little one...check out some of our favorite images from the Jacobson Family session at McKennan Park!

Whitney & Steven | Aberdeen, SD Wedding

Sun, 02 Oct 2016 15:17:10 GMT

At the beginning of September we had the privilege of capturing this amazing couple's wedding in our first Aberdeen wedding! It may have been a windy day but it was gorgeous day for these two. We took advantage of the beautiful church courtyard for some outdoor photo opts despite the windy weather! It was a beautiful wedding surrounded by family and friends. Congrats again to Whitney and Steven, we wish you both many years of happiness! :D

Norah | 6 months

Sun, 25 Sep 2016 13:25:44 GMT

I can't believe this little cutie is already 6 months old! Feels like just yesterday we captured her newborn portraits. :) Can't wait to see her again when she turns ONE! :D

Hajek Family | Maternity Session

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 03:00:34 GMT

Will Baby Hajek #3 be a "He" or a "She"? We Shall Wait & See! :D Here are a few of our favorites from their Maternity Session with us! :) This family has stuck with me ever since I started my photography journey and I'm so thrilled to be able to capture this new chapter in their life with Baby #3! Can't wait to see if they will be brining home a baby boy or a baby girl! :)

Kelli & Matt | Menno, SD Wedding

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 15:04:37 GMT

We had quite a few "firsts" with this couple for their wedding. First time using our brand new macro lens which I must say, we are extremely pleased with this new purchase! First time we ever had streamers instead of rice or bubbles. First time riding in a cattle hauler for a wedding. Gotta love country weddings! :D To top it all off at the end of the night, they had Karaoke! Okay so enough about all our firsts with this couple...look at them! Such an adorable and wonderful couple to work with and we couldn't have asked for a better day for their wedding. It was truly a fantastic day! Congrats again to Kelli & Matt! We wish you both many years of happiness! :)

Tracy + Craig | Mitchell, SD Wedding

Tue, 30 Aug 2016 01:11:46 GMT

Our summer wedding season continued in Mitchell again at the end of the month with Tracy & Craig! This amazing couple couldn't have asked for a better day to have their outdoor wedding. It was gorgeous! :D The wedding day may be done and over, but marital bliss shall continue on for this adorable couple. We wish you both many years of happiness! :)

Carly + Aaron | Mitchell, SD Wedding

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 21:36:46 GMT

Our summer wedding season started out with these this amazing couple in Mitchell, SD! I was honored to be the one to capture all the special moments of their wedding day. Carly was my roommate in college! :D Congrats again Cary & Aaron and Thank You so much for asking us to capture it! We wish you both many years of happiness. :)

Hello World! - Baby Ethan's Newborn Portraits

Sat, 13 Aug 2016 15:35:25 GMT

We were blessed once again to have previous wedding clients contact us for newborn portraits! It was so exciting to have them contact me with such wonderful news! Even if it is last minute booking. :D I'm okay with that! :D Little baby Ethan was such a joy to have in our studio and his parents had such cute outfits for him! One of his older siblings even had a special cute outfit for him for his first photo shoot. LOVE IT! :D

Hardy Birthday Celebrations!

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 19:11:11 GMT

Zander & Alaina celebrated their birthday parties last month and I was honored to do their invites as well as capture their personalities in a photo shoot! :D These two sure did have a lot of energy and kept me on my toes! I can imagine this is how it'll be for me in another year. :D

Hello World! - Baby Beckett's Newborn Portraits

Wed, 06 Jul 2016 03:41:40 GMT

Last month we were blessed to have another brand new client in the studio! This one even more special to us as we were the ones who captured his parents wedding day a couple years back! :D Little baby Beckett was such a cutie and we couldn't have been more blessed to have him in our studio. :) He slept for most of the photos and woke up in time for the family photos! Love when clients bring in their own props as well. The blanket, the guitar, the tie, the baby shoes, the ring, the cute little finger puppets! They definitely make the photos truly "theirs". <3

Hello World! - Baby Norah's Newborn Portraits

Wed, 06 Jul 2016 03:40:34 GMT

In March we were blessed to have a brand new client in the studio! Little baby Norah who insisted on staying awake through the majority of the session...she didn't want to miss out on anything! :D I'm glad she did too so we could capture those beautiful eyes of hers. :) We did manage to capture a few of her while she slumbered towards the end though. :) A month or so later her "Big Sister" Lola joined us for a few family photos too! :D If you're an avid fan of Kruse PhotoGraphics you will remember Norah from an announcement session we did last year for this couple. So excited to watch baby Norah grow! :D

Brotherly Love <3 Owen & Barrett

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 01:22:48 GMT

I am truly blessed to have such amazing clients, especially these two boys! :D Owen & Barrett were such good models for my newest (old) prop I borrowed from my folks back home. Needless to say I think they LOVED it! :D It's hard to believe Owen is 4 and Barrett is 2 already! Before we know it they'll be graduating high school. I think they got the "senior" poses down good already. ;)

Sister Love <3 Avery & Addy

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 19:24:01 GMT

I was thrilled when Melissa contacted me for portraits of her daughters, Avery & Addy! Just look how adorable they are! And those dresses are just too cute! :D I had a blast with their photo session and I don't think it could have been more perfect of a day! I even stuck around to swing with Avery. :) It's crazy how much she's grown since the last time I had seen her. Blessed to have such amazing clients. :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Sun, 08 May 2016 17:43:57 GMT

A very special Happy Mother's Day goes out to these amazing mom's! Take time to enjoy this day! :)

Thank you for choosing Kruse PhotoGraphics to capture your Mother's Day portraits this year! :D

Grand Opening at Lava's Javas & Treats!

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 17:04:29 GMT

As promised, we have some excited news to share with you!

Kruse PhotoGraphics will be at the Grand Opening for Lava's Javas & Treats on April 30, 2016.

More details coming soon! In the meantime, check out the flyer we created for Lava's Javas & Treats for their GRAND OPENING!!

To stay up to date on all details about this event, be sure to "Like" Kruse PhotoGraphics & Lava's Javas & Treats on Facebook!

Here's the direct link to the Event page for the Grand Opening! Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1688688804735615/

Karmyn - 4 Years Old

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 13:24:18 GMT

Karmyn turned 4 this year! :D

If you're an avid fan of Kruse PhotoGraphics, you may have seen several photos of this beauty over the past 4 years. It's been such a thrill to watch her grow up! From a pretty princess to a superhero, we had a blast doing some test shots of the new backdrops! :D

Pederson Wedding: Kristi & Logan

Sun, 10 Apr 2016 19:03:17 GMT

The first wedding of the season was nothing short of a fairy tale. Kyle and I had a blast shooting Kristi & Logan's Disney themed wedding in February. Although we literately just met the couple a few weeks before their big day, it seemed as though we'd known them for several years! Their fun loving carefree attitudes in spite of a last minute change up is what makes this couple amazing. I'm so thrilled that they had chose us to step in to capture their special day! We wish you both many years of happiness and to continue to live out your fairy tale. :)

Easter Minis :)

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 01:58:49 GMT

We recently made a trip back to Scotland, SD for some Easter mini sessions. I had a blast working with each of these little cuties and couldn't be more pleased with the turnout and support. It's great to see so many new and familiar faces when we travel back. I can't thank each of you enough!

Be sure to stay on the lookout for future mini sessions in both Harrisburg and Scotland...and maybe even some in Nebraska. :)

Cade 1 Year Session

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 16:25:14 GMT

It's hard to believe this little guy is already one! :)

One of the best parts of being a photographer is watching my clients grow and capturing those special milestones. He was a great (and of course cute) model for testing out my new backdrops. Below are just a few of my favorites!

Willis Engagement

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 04:34:18 GMT

We don't get many "nice" weather days in South Dakota mid February but for Carly and Aaron's engagement session, we got exactly that and took advantage of it!! Oh, and of course we can't forget how amazing Lucy was for the entire session.

These are just a few of my favorites from their engagement session. Way too many to choose from!! Enjoy!

P.S. - If you follow me on Instagram, this is the day I took a tumble...but saved the camera! :D A couple of bruised knees and a scrape on my wrist but at least the camera survived and not a single scratch! Had it been the opposite, I think I would have bawled. Literally.

Our New Addition

Sat, 02 Aug 2014 16:13:17 GMT

Special Delivery!

Special Delivery!Announcement of the newest addition to our family :)

Soooo.....

Kyle and I aren't usually very good at giving each other gifts for the holidays, but we decided to make this years holiday an extra special one! :)

We are excited to officially announce that baby Kruse will be joining us this December!! We are excited to be on this new journey in life and can't wait to meet our little one.

Recap of 2013

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 06:02:02 GMT

2013 was an amazing year full of some pretty amazing clients. Balancing my job as a photographer and Assistant Manager at Maria's has been quite a task all on its own. Without the loving support and help of my husband and second photographer, 2013 never would have been possible. Each year our business grows a little bit more and I cannot thank our family, friends, and clients enough for the support the past couple of years. It truly is a blessing to have such amazing people in our lives. Over the past year I have had the privilege of watching little ones grow, couples unite, and families gather. Thank you to all my clients for an amazing year!

Owen

Thu, 05 Sep 2013 18:53:15 GMT

Owen...such a handsome little guy! :)

The day I had the privilege to photograph Owen and his family is one session that will always hold a special place in my heart. Not only were they returning clients, but they are clients who have known me for several years. Although it had been close to over a year since I last saw this little guy he greeted me with a hug that melted my heart! I was filled with so much joy that day and all the little moments that the future held. Later in the session when I had asked Owen to hold his mother's hand and walk with her, he decided he wanted to hold my hand instead. Clever little guy; let's hold the photographer's hand so she can't take photos. ;) Luckily he decided to hold my left hand instead of my right. :) I informed him that I would hold his hand and walk with him under one condition; that he look up at the camera and give me a big smile. Having a fixed lens on my camera at the time I knew it would be a very close shot but as it turned out, it was well worth it! The above photo is what I captured in that moment. My absolute favorite one of the day! :) Little did I know at the time that this photo would be the one to snap me back into reality and give me hope for the future.

Last week I was overwhelmed by the worst physical and emotional pain I have ever had in my life. I was forced to take the week off from retail leaving me extra time to work on my photography. For the first couple days I didn't want to do anything, go anywhere, see or talk to anyone. Nothing could prepare me for the emptiness I felt after the pain subsided. I fought through the tears and forced myself to start sorting through the photos I captured. Just like every session, it was difficult to pick out the very best ones for the final images. Paralyzed by emotions of happiness from seeing the smiles on my clients faces and then sadness from the thoughts of the events of earlier that week, I found myself taking a break walking away from the computer every 10 minutes to wipe away the tears. When I came across this photo I couldn't help but smile. When I captured the image, I thought for sure it wouldn't turn out. I was thrilled to see the image turn out better than I imagined. I was overcome by pure happiness and relief. I had hope again. Everything would be okay. This is life. Take time to enjoy the little moments that make your heart smile. This moment is one that will forever make my heart smile. :)

2012 Wedding Season Recap

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 19:01:28 GMT

Taking a look back at 2012 Wedding Season with a collection of a few of my favorite moments. I couldn't have asked for a better way to start out this new adventure. Thanks to all my 2012 wedding clients for an amazing year!

2012 Wedding Season Recap

Little Miss Edith :)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:07:25 GMT

Check out this little cutie! Say hello to Edith! :)

Little Miss Karmyn :)

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:21:59 GMT

Little Miss Karmyn: 3 Months

I had the privilege of photographing this little sweetie again last weekend. What a cutie! :)

Enjoy 15% off all prints today until Thursday, April 12th!

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:41:24 GMT

15% discount

All orders placed through Kruse PhotoGraphics between now until Thursday, April 12th 2012 are 15% off! Now is a great time to try out different paper types such as Metallic, E-surface, and true B/W. So if you, your family, or friends were looking to make your first purchase or even purchase additional prints, be sure to take advantage of this limited time offer and get 15% discounted off each of your prints!

The discount does not apply to finishing services such as specialty products, gallery wraps, lustre coating, standouts, retouching, or mounting. The discount is automatically applied during checkout, so no codes or coupons required.

Thanks again for your business and choosing Kruse PhotoGraphics as your professional photographer!

Avah

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:39:14 GMT

First indoor photo shoot with my little niece Avah :)

Special designs such as child's name & graphic in this photo can be added to photos by request for a small additional charge.

DJ-Club Promos & Photography

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:52:03 GMT

Check out my latest work for a good friend, DJ Mikhail! Like most men, he didn't want to have his picture taken; however, needed a good pic for promoting himself as a Professional DJ at Club David. You can find him down at Club David every 1st and 3rd Friday night!

Below are a couple designs I created for DJ Mikhail Using Lightroom & Photoshop.

First time blogger - long time Photographer

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:02:35 GMT

Hey everyone! This is my first ever blog and wanted to let everyone know what I've been up to the past month or so.

Business is really picking up and I'm super excited for each of my upcoming weddings, children, and family photo shoots. It never gets old and I love my job!! We are still in the process of finishing our basement and photo studio but hope to have it completed in the next coming months.

Be sure to check back often for sneak peeks and updates of my recent work :)

Crystal