Lonsdale Ambassadors Photos: Crowns, Confetti & Personality 👑

This past weekend I had the Lonsdale Ambassadors back in my Eagle Lake studio for their royalty portraits. The girls walked in with their crowns, sashes, and gowns, and within about five minutes the studio was full of giggles. I loved it.

This year we tried something new. Along with the classic royalty portraits, we added personality portraits built around each girl’s own interests, so you can see not just the crown, but the girl wearing it.

The Lonsdale Ambassadors represent their community at parades, festivals, and events all year long, and the program has multiple levels: Little Ambassadors, Junior Ambassadors, Miss Ambassador, and Miss Lonsdale. That means a court full of different ages and stages, from girls with brand-new gaps in their smiles to young women getting ready for what’s next.

That range is exactly what I love about this session. Each level brings its own energy. The Littles are pure sparkle and wiggles. The Juniors are confident and a little bit sassy (in the best way). The Misses are poised, kind, and so good about cheering on the younger girls.

Classic Royalty Portraits in My Eagle Lake Studio

We always start with the traditional portraits. Clean white backdrop, crowns straight, sashes smoothed, hands placed just so. These are the images the program uses all year, and they need to be polished and timeless.

And then, of course, I let them be silly. The moment right after the “nice” photo is often my favorite one. A little joke, a big laugh, and suddenly everyone is leaning in and cracking up. That’s the image that tells you what this group is really like.

Personality Portraits: Showing Who Each Ambassador Really Is

This was the part I was most excited about. Before the session, each girl shared a few things she loves, and they brought props to show it. We photographed each one on bold teal and lavender backdrops to match the court colors.

Here’s a peek at what this year’s court is into:

I love personality portraits because they hold onto this season of life exactly as it is. Ten years from now, these girls will look back and remember the guitar they were learning, the team they cheered for, the cookies they were famous for. The crown is a big deal, but it’s the details like these that make a portrait feel like them.

If your kiddo has a big personality (and whose doesn’t?), this is exactly the idea behind my Personality Portrait sessions. They’re coming back this November, and I’d love to see your little one in the studio.

Confetti, Ribbon Backdrops & Pure Joy

You can’t celebrate royalty without a little confetti. We pulled out a colorful ribbon backdrop and let the confetti fly, and it was every bit as fun as it looks. Squeals, squinty-eyed smiles, arms in the air.

These images are the reason I love what I do. They’re joyful, a little bit chaotic in the best way, and full of genuine expression. Nobody was posing. They were just having fun together.

A Full-Circle Moment

One of my favorite portraits from the day is quiet compared to the confetti. One of our Miss Ambassadors held the sashes and crowns from her years in the program, all the way back to her Little Ambassador sash.

There’s something so special about seeing a whole chapter of a girl’s life held in her hands. She started this program as a little girl, and now she’s a confident young woman who mentors the next group of Littles. That’s the kind of story I always want to tell and preserve.

Royalty and Program Portraits in Southern Minnesota

To the Lonsdale Ambassadors families and program leaders: thank you for trusting me again this year. I’m so blessed and thankful to be part of this tradition, and I already can’t wait for next year. You can follow along with the court at the Lonsdale Ambassadors Facebook page.

If you lead a royalty, ambassador, or community program anywhere in southern Minnesota, from Mankato and New Ulm to Faribault, Owatonna, and the Twin Cities area, I’d love to talk about portraits for your court. Every program is different, and I’ll work with you to plan a session that fits your girls, your colors, and how you’ll use the images all year.

And if you’re a mom who just loved these personality portraits, keep an eye on my my Facebook page for fall and Christmas dates!