Mink recently moved into a new photography studio south of Pine River on Highway 371.

Her Lakes Area Photography business is under the same roof as the newly opened Mother Earth's Bounty natural and organic grocery and Cool Beans coffee shop.

Mink began her photography business last October and focuses on a contemporary style of photography, specializing in babies, graduation, weddings, portraits and more.

Opening a business in the Pine River area makes sense for Mink. She graduated from Pine River-Backus High School in 2001 as Gloria Linn.

Mink earned her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she also took photography courses and enjoyed photography as a hobby.

Following the birth of her son she decided to "give a photography business a shot."

The most rewarding part of photography is making people happy, Mink said.

"I like to do whatever people are interested in," she added about composing a shot and choosing props. "It's their picture and it needs to represent them - not what I like, but what they like."

Aside from photographing subjects in her studio, she's also happy to shoot on location. "Wherever people are comfortable," is where she'll go, she said.

Mink loves photography, and she takes a lot of photos. "In order to capture the true emotion you need to snap a lot of photos," she said.

Shooting with a Canon digital camera, she does her own photo editing in house and sends her photos to a professional developing company for printing.

Mink can take - and edit - color, black and white and sepia-toned prints and complete a variety of picture effects.

She likes both action and posed shots.

She'll be shooting lots of wedding this summer and for wedding photography, "it's really about having fun," Mink said.

She recommends a photography checklist to ensure that all the individuals in the photos are available at the right time and that every shot the bride and groom want is completed.

Mink loves natural, soft light for shooting.

"I'm willing to find the perfect place to take pictures," she said.

And, because she loves to shoot from a variety of angles, she'll often find herself standing on a chair or lying on the floor to get that perfect shot.

Taking pictures of children - and especially babies - is something Mink enjoys.

"I love infant photography," she said.

A key to good child photography is letting the kids play and relax.

It's easy for Mink to find inspiration for her photographs.

"Everyday stuff I see inspires me," she said.

She especially enjoys freezing moments in photographs and capturing every tiny detail.