M-A-Y? Gah! Where did it go? And did I maybe, just a little bit, completely and totally blow my usual post date? Absolutely.

Did I forget about it? Actually, no.

I’m usually pretty good at cranking out a blog post at the last minute, but this time I didn’t have the time or the brain space to follow through. And that’s going to have to be ok.

So here we are: a minimal, not-very-deep, but fully finished and very delayed post for May. Since everything is running behind, I’m keeping this one simple. I have a few things I’m saving for future posts, including sharing a big mistake I made with a client in April that completely changed how I approach editing. But that’s a tale for future storytime. Not today.

The past several weeks have been packed with work travel and the full shift into summer life with my kids. Everything is in motion. The school-year routine is behind us, and we’re all adjusting to a new rhythm.

It feels good to be busy, both in business and at home. But I’ve learned that staying grounded requires some firm boundaries. The one that’s been most important lately is around Fridays.

Now that I’m not driving kids to and from school, my days can start earlier and run a bit longer if needed. That extra flexibility during the week has allowed me to protect Fridays as a non-working day. Not because I can’t work, but because I’ve made the choice not to. When I have the ability to shape my own calendar, I want it to reflect my values, not just my availability.

Here’s how my summer hours will look from June through August:

Booking Days: Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Most studio sessions will be scheduled on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons or Thursday mornings.

Mondays are for editing and occasional shoots if needed.

Fridays are closed for bookings.

Why take Fridays off? Summer is super short in the upper-upper Midwest, and I promised my kids we would make the most of this glorious time together with what we’re calling Friday Fundays. We’ve got a running list of ideas that keeps growing: state park hikes, garage sale treasure hunts, thrift store hauls, picnic bike ride. All the things that feel like summer.

When I’m traveling often for client work, which I love, it can be easy to fall into a rhythm where home life takes the back seat. But presence does not just happen on its own. It has to be protected. For me, that means building space into the week for fun, rest, and connection, even if it requires longer workdays earlier in the week.

I know this won’t be the rhythm forever. Seasons change, and schedules shift. But while this is the shape of summer, I want to honor it. I want to show up for it. I want to give my kids the kind of summer they’ll remember and remind myself that I get to choose how I spend my time.

So yes, I’m still working hard. But I’m also making space on purpose. For joy. For slowness. For bug spray and bike rides. For whatever feels worth pausing the work to experience.

And I’m really grateful that I can.

May’s Plant of the Month: JoannE

Joann is a slow grower, but every once in a while, she has a bit of a spurt. She’s always been a one-branched beauty, but with a new home/location at the studio, she’s been bulking up a bit.

Stuff I can’t Stop Thinking About

SIX the Musical

In late May, my daughter and I did a marathon one day trip down to Sioux Falls to see SIX the Musical at the Washington Pavilion. Holy moly! I didn’t know what I was getting into. Before the event, I had just listened to a couple of the songs and figured I loved history, so sure, it sounded fun. Y’all… It was a non-stop bop the whole way through. Less musical, more rock concert. Not what I expected. Would recommend.

Everything is Tuberculosis

The kid and I decided that the road trip to Sioux Falls would be an excellent time, FINALLY, to listen to John Green’s book Everything is Tuberculosis. Am I slightly traumatized by the knowledge I learned in this book? Yes. Am I angry? Yes. Did I cry, laugh, and laugh-cry? Yes, yes, and yes. Did you know that all those people in the old-fashioned days dying of consumption were actually dying of tuberculosis, and people around the world are STILL dying from it today? My world will never be the same.

10 Snaps From May

1: Updated Headshots of my pal Ashley for her birthday. 2: Dawson & Karly of Fargo Remodel. 3. Sister-sisters Sawyer & Sloan. 4: UnStuffy Content for Vogel Law. 5. A UnStuffy Headhot of Ingrid who recently graduated from law school. 6: UnStuffy content at Rutgers Bay Lake Resort for Odyssey Resorts. 7. New Headshots for the lovely Leah. 8. U.S. Army Veteran Stuart Fuke (and his mom) walking through his new home donated by Freedom Alliance. 9. UnStuffy Content for the Minnesota Apprenticeship Program. 10. Headshot of Jessica during a recent on-location UnStuffy Team Session at Bert Cameron’s Edward Jones office in Fargo.