Grinkie Girls - All Ages Are Encouraged

We're well over the 150 mark - and in that time - we've photographed  a bevy of pin up beauties. Pin up photography sessions are for everyone. Young and old and in between, seeing yourself through the lens of Grinkie Girl Photography is life changing.

Something New for Date Night? Pin Up Portraits!

Rick and Melissa have been happily married for years, raising four children. To keep things fun and interesting, Rick wanted to plan a special date night for the two of them. Something different to get away from the laundry, dishes and mostly the awesome four kids.

He was struggling to think of something new they could do together when he read an article in the Star Tribune about MnUps Magazine and Grinkie Girls Photography. Perfect!

Hair & Makeup - Avis Maria

He set up a shoot with Christi, packed wine, glasses, fancy cheese and crackers and off they went. Watching Melissa go through the transformation from everyday beauty to pin up model was a fun experience for both of them. Great date - and terrific pictures to go with the memories.

Rick & Melissa

Three Generation Photo Shoot

by Christi Williams, Photographer

I am not going to lie, I'd been looking forward to this shoot for weeks. Kristyn was at a pinup workshop with me when I was talking about how much I was looking forward to an upcoming shoot with a 70 year old.. She immediately thought of her sassy 86 year old mother-in-law. When she suggested a three generation shoot - I nearly passed out with joy. How fun would that be?

Mom, Daughters & Grandma having tea

About a month later we had the shoot and had a blast! She wanted to create a special memory for her kids with her mother-in-law and ended up creating a special memory for all of us. The girls loved getting all dressed up and having their hair done up fancy. I definitely see more multi-generational shots in my future.

"What do you give a mother-in-law who has everything for her 86th birthday? Photos to cherish and memories to last a lifetime!! I can't express enough what a wonderful experience we had at Grinkie Photography. The time flew by so fast. Christi Jean Williams thought of everything. It was a full day of laughter and fun. Everyone should have the experience of being a Grinkie Girl!"     --Kristyn

Grandma saves the day! Nasty little mouse....

Pin Up Model (and Editor of MnUps Magazine) Gets Tattoo in Celebration

by Christi Williams, photographer

Local pin up model and editor/publisher of MnUps Magazine got a new tattoo in celebration of a monumental life change and the launch of her new Minnesota-based pin up magazine, deciding to bring more color to her life, and her back. I sat down with Dawnfelice to talk to her about the experience.


The final product

Christi: Why did you choose this design?

Dawnfelice: Each aspect of the tattoo holds special meaning for me. The woman represents freedom, joy and self-love. I've come to a place of honoring my body in it's current form, not 10 pounds from now, but now. I am beautiful and worthy. The butterflies represent growth and transformation. The daisies are particularly special. When I was a child, I was quite ill and spent a lot of time in the hospital. My dad would bring me daisies which were my childhood favorite. They still make me smile and represent how fragile something can be and still persevere. Daisies aren't hardy, but they always come back.


This is a before picture of the butterfly tattoo that was being covered.

Christi: So, Dawnfelice, why did you choose Live Fast Die Young for your tattoo?

Dawnfelice: I was here a few months ago for a pin up shoot with Grinkie Girls Photography and loved what I saw. It was clean, open, and had great style. After researching the artists I decided on Josh Cerny because I felt he was a good match with his style. I needed skill because I wanted to cover an old tattoo. Josh designed the beautiful artwork. I needed a fresh start and I was ready to put reminders of the past behind me. My heart seriously skipped a beat when I saw his design.



Josh Cerny - work in progress



We've had some fun since the tattoo was done, including having Rockabilly Legend, Brian Setzer take pictures of it during the GSTA car show opener.


Brian Setzer checks out the little lady.

The final product is the work of more than eight hours, and is a classically colored work of art. The perfect celebration!

And The Award Goes To....

Christi Williams of Grinkie Girls Photography. Congratulations to our very own Christi Williams for winning the "Best Catch Phrase" award from the Twin Cities Wedding Professionals.

Originally introduced by Flip Script Films in the Grinkie Girl commercial, and sung by Jillian Rae of the Music Lab, Christi came up with the phrase as she was falling asleep one night.

Developed from true love of the art, Christi is quickly becoming one of the Twin Cities top pin-up photographers. She works hard to get people looking and feeling their best, turning everyday beautiful women into sassy pin-up girls. She has also begun working with other industry professionals. B-movie director Christpher Mihm came into the studio, along with his monsters for a shoot.

You can see her work all over the Twin Cities at places like Glam Doll Donuts, Sister Sludge Coffee Shop, and in Minnesota's Premier Pin-Up Magazine, MnUps This award is only the beginning of proving to the Twin Cities that Grinkie Girls Have More Fun.

Give Mom Something Different This Mother's Day

Call or email christi to order a fantastic gift certificate for a pin up photography shoot. She'll feel like a million bucks!!

"Petty Girl" to Grinkie Girl.... A brief history of the pinup....

 by Michael Potter

Back in the 1930s there was a man named George Petty, and he decided that beautiful women are something that the world needed to see. Mr. Petty began creating art pieces that we know now as a 'pinup'. These lovely ladies became know as "Petty Girls" and were featured in major advertisements, calendars, and the cover image of Esquire No. 1.

A Jantzen Bathing Suit Ad featuring a Petty Girl

Another famous name to come out of the 1930s is Gil Elvgren. Born in Minnesota, he went on to study at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Some consider Elvgren to be one of, if not the most influential pinup artist of the 20th century. After his studies in Minneapolis, Elvgren moved to Chicago to work with Stevens and Gross, Chicago's most prestigious advertising agency. Elvgren worked with companies ranging from Coca-Cola to General Electric over a 40-year career.

A Gil Elvgren Original

In the 1950s, pinup models became household names and feature actresses in Hollywood. Women like Marilyn Monroe and Betty Page took America and pop culture by storm.

During World War II, the pinup could be seen painted on the nose of military airplanes, the most famous being the Memphis Belle.

The art of the pinup never really ended, but in the 1960s went into a recession. However, some notable ladies, namely Raquel Welch, kept the pinup culture alive.

Fast forward to today. The culture of the pinup is not only alive but making a full resurgence into pop culture. You can find the classic images of Bettie Page and Marilyn Monroe on everything from tee-shirts to tattoos. Children and adults alike are falling in love with the pinup all over again.

Christi Williams and the Grinkie Girls are doing their best to bring the pinup culture to Minneapolis, turning everyday women into sassy pinups. Having fun is a safe, easy-going, loving atmosphere are the most important aspects of a photo shoot with the Grinkie Girls. The fantastic pictures are a byproduct of the lively environment.

Teaming up with the Grinkie Girls is Dawnfelice Warneke. She and the team at MN-Ups Magazine, out of a true passion for the lifestyle, worked hard to put together Minnesota's Premier Pin-Up Magazine, reintroducing Minnesota to the pinup culture and having fun along the way.