Last year at this time I was on a road trip with my two boys from Duluth, MN to my parents' cabin in northern Wisconsin and we drove right through Ironwood, Michigan: The home of the Stormy Kromer. 

As we rode through Ironwood, we passed by a statue of a giant hat. 

"Hey look! It's Grandma's hat!," said Arlo. Indeed, the statue was a replica of the red Stormy Kromer hat Grandma Lynn wears.

So we pulled in on a whim & bought a round of new Stormy Kromer hats for the three of us.

They were our only souvenirs from that trip (besides rocks)...

Everyone in my family is a big Stormy fan.

 Last year I wrote a blog about that road trip and Stormy Kromers. Read it here if you like.

A few days after the boys and I stopped  & bought hats in Ironwood, I reached out to the company and eventually I became a Stormy Kromer Ambassador! 

I also had dreams of someday shooting their catalog!

So.... fast forward to exactly one year later - to the day!!! 

I found myself back up in Ironwood, Michigan.

This time I left the boys at home with my husband.. because I was there as the hired photographer!!  With models, assistants, stylists, mood boards, props, never-been-seen-before clothing and more!

I was there to shoot their Spring/Summer 2017 catalog!

A dream come true! 

Truly serendipitous!!!

This was my second time shooting for them - I also shot their Fall/Winter 2016 catalog which is being launched very soon! I can't wait to share some of my favorite photos from that shoot. 

I can't share the official photos from this recent shoot until next spring - but I have snuck a few "peeks" into this post!  It was wonderful! There is so much beauty in the UP. We shot along the shores of Lake Superior, near waterfalls and in the quaint town. 

It is such an honor to have a relationship with this brand!

They are family owned. In fact, I worked side by side with Gina - the President of Stormy Kromer - during my shoots. I also had the chance to meet her family and some great staff. Working with them really makes you feel like you are a part of a family. 

There is so much love behind their Made-In-The-USA products. I toured the factory after our 2-day shoot. Their factory is filled with hard working locals who do much of the work by hand. It is truly a labor of love.

Thank you Gina & Andrea for your time & assistance & trust in me! I had a great time getting to know you Ashley, KJ, Jen, Dominic, Jimme-Lyn, Austin & Libby!! You all were wonderful to work with! 

 Until next time!

❤️Jill