Five Blocks Up the Road, Tiny Acorn Portraits Reopens

There’s no question we’re living in a tough economy. In order to stay afloat, many businesses have had to make adjustments and sacrifices.

is no exception. Nearly 16 years to the day after opening on 50th and France, the business was forced to relocate. Thankfully for loyal customers, it didn’t move far. 

With a tight economy and high overhead Owner Laura Halverson realized at the start of 2011 she needed to downsize the business she has been with for 12 years and owned for three. 

At one point, the business had three locations: Edina, Minnetonka and St. Paul. Since 2007, there has been only the location at 50th and France. Tiny Acorn Portraits is now a mere five blocks up the road—at 4532 France Avenue—a building that is also home to a massage therapy business, psychologist’s office and yoga studio. Until recently, the space now occupied by Tiny Acorn Portraits had been the home of another photography business, Camelot Photography.

Matt Garceau, owner of Camelot Photography, said he had grown accustomed to having an office space, but recently recognized that leasing an office was largely unnecessary for the wedding photography business. Garceau now works from home, making it easier for him to spend more time with his three daughters. He also has an appointment-only space at the Lowry Rose Building at 22nd and Dupont in Minneapolis, greatly reducing the business’ monthly rent.

Garceau said it just made more sense for Tiny Acorn Portraits, as a child and family photography studio, to operate out of the space.

“It was a good move for everyone,” he said.

Moving Tiny Acorn from 50th and France was initially emotional for Halverson, but she was quickly comfortable in the new space.

“It’s sad. I had been there for so long," she said. "I kind of grew up there...I spent a lot of my time right out of high school there. But now that I’m here I love this. I feel like I’m working from home.”

One could argue that the new space offers the best of both worlds, as it is steps from the heart of Linden Hills but only five blocks from the 50th and France shopping district. Plus, Halverson added, the building has a homier feel and its own parking lot.

In the last several years, clients’ buying trends at Tiny Acorn Portraits have changed, with many opting to purchase one 16 x 20 or a couple of 8 x 10 prints rather than the formerly popular “nine series” (a set of nine 8 x 10 prints), and choosing standard color or black and white photos over hand-painted—a Tiny Acorn Portraits specialty.  

Some things, however, have stayed the same. Tiny Acorn Portraits still specializes in photographs of kids, families and pets. Halverson has a particular passion for the niche and can’t quite pin down her favorite age to photograph.

“‘I love six months,” she said. “I love their personalities that come through at this age, their chunks and rolls... you just want to eat them up. And then the one years, which are super important to the parents; it’s a big milestone...But then I love the five, six, seven-year-olds. They start to show a little of their nervousness; you have to work a little harder to get their true personalities to show and I like the challenge. And the older kids... I love all ages. I love pets too.”

Not always the easiest subjects to photograph, Halverson credits her assistants with helping her capture the priceless shots. She always has one on hand during a photo shoot to help the kids forget about the camera—whether that means blowing bubbles, running around the studio or acting like a monkey.

“A prerequisite to work here is that you have to be able to make some really good animal noises,” Halverson joked.

So what’s the silliest thing Halverson’s assistant Sarah Primus has done to get a kid to laugh during a photo shoot?

“Probably making him say his father wore a pink tutu,” Primus said.

If it works, it works. 

As for the future, Halverson is staying positive and embracing the necessary leaps of faith that come with running a business, "hoping that (she) lands on soft ground."

“I’ve just been flying by the seat of my pants,” she said. “We’re still here and we made it through. I think things are changing and if we made it this far that probably says something."