Bride & Groom Art Albums: Part 1

You dream for years, you plan for months, and then your most significant day is over in just a few hours. Often it seems like a blur and it is hard to stop and soak in all the beautiful moments. I love that I get to not only capture those moments- but help the bride and groom relive all the incredible emotion forever through creative and candid images.

Albums are a great way to preserve these images in an artistic way. These aren’t your grandma’s albums. They are modern, custom and high-quality. Each page is ¼ an inch thick and the designs are flush-mounted- that means seamless viewing and vivid images. No mattes. No templates. Only the best for my amazing clients!

Unfinished Projects

I had this picture of what it would be.
I would peacefully be sewing by the fire after my son had gone to bed. The finished product would be a wonderful throw for the living room sofa that was both functional and enhanced the design of the room. Yet, here it sits-two months later...unfinished.

I am not naturally domestic by way of crafts. I love decorating my house. I am obsessed with keeping our home clean and organized. I am even improving in my cooking skills. But I think I missed the days in middle school where we covered sewing. Don't get me wrong, I can sew a button on a shirt like it's my job, but anything beyond that and I am lost- or at least royally intimidated. So I asked for assistance from my nearly 80 year-old grandma. Her sewing skills are truly impressive and a lost art to my generation. Being so, her part was done two months ago and I have made almost no progress since. The longer it sits, the less likely I am to complete it. Yet, it seems to mock me every day. "You can't do this. You're incapable of making a blanket." Ok, I know I am being melodramatic but do you ever start something with such determination- only to have it fizzle out and then...mock you? Such is the case of the blanket.

So here is to unfinished projects. To the hope that they will, one day, reach completion and fulfill their purpose in grandeur. And here is to letting myself off the hook and being thankful for what was accomplished today, (laundry, dishes, business calls, designing, cleaning, a visit from friends, and most importantly, the caring of my son)! Unfinished projects are inevitable. I guess the really sad part would be if I ceased to find excitment in the start of a new endeavor and just avoided it all together.

I am a work in progress and so is my blanket. For today, that's ok with me.

Scarves...

We all have them. It might be shoes for someone and purses for another. They help define our sense of style and our friends come to know our intense love for them. For me, scarves happen to be a favorite. I love to enhance the look of any outfit with a colorful and bold scarf. Living in Minnesota, they also have the added bonus of keeping me warm.
I had thought that the season for scarves was coming to a close- but think again. We are currently "snowed in" as a family and enjoying every moment of it. Don't confuse me; I am not delighted by the snow but I am enthused about hot chocolate, a game of monopoly, and lots of sweet snuggles with my beloved son. I guess it's not quite time to put away my scarf collection.

Happy "spring" everyone! :)

Maternity Session: Sarah & Jesse

Sarah has grown to be one of my dearest friends over the last couple of years. So when she and her husband, Jesse, told me they were expecting just days before I welcomed my son to the world, I was beyond excited! It has been a joy to watch the little boy grown within her over the last few months and I cannot wait to see them as parents, (and photograph their little boy throughout the years!).
I had the honor of taking a few maternity shots when they stopped by this weekend. Here is a sneak peak at a few of the images.

Restless

I’m restless until I rest in You.

I find myself quieting my soul lately so that I can truly see, truly hear, truly feel. Life moves incredibly fast and so often I feel restless, unable to be still and know He is God.

Anxieties weigh heavy on us. Commitments pull at us from every side. We constantly feel that we will never “catch up”. I lose sight of my priorities all the time. I am a Christian first; a wife second; a mother third; a photographer fourth; and so on. As the German philosopher, Goethe, once said, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”

Still my heart.

This has been my silent prayer as of late. I don’t want to go through life on autopilot. I desire to do the will of the One I was created by, through and for. This means intentionally living a life that mirrors what is in my heart.

On a practical level, it means seeing the opportunities He has given for a quiet spirit. I could be upset that my little baby waking up four times last night meant for us no church this morning. But, today, I see the beautiful time I have now to be quiet and still before Him as my sweet boy sleeps.

St. Augustine once wrote “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” What a profound truth. Isn’t that the way we feel when we are honest and look deeply into ourselves? No amount of external success, financial security or sheer popularity will sincerely satisfy and still our restlessness. We can try. But we often end up feeling more empty then when we began. That is because we were created for more. We were made for something far more substantial. It isn’t found within- it is found when we realize we are nothing without… Him.

So how does this relate to photography? It has everything to do with it. I see the world through a beautiful filter called faith. It directs my sight. It makes sounds of life sweeter. It enables me to feel in a vibrant way. I live life with an anchor known as the Almighty. He is the only reason I can see beauty and then He gives me the privilege of photographing it.

May this day be one where I am still and know.

In about a month, I will be entering the beginning of busy season. At that point, this blog will be featuring wedding, grad and family portraits from the many sessions I am honored to be a part of. Until then, I thought I would share a little more personally. Photography is such a subjective profession; so much of my heart and soul goes into the finished product. I love that you can have the exact same set of variables- same subject, location, lighting, etc, and two different photographers will create VASTLY different images. Anyway, being that it is so personal, I thought a few more personal posts would be fun…

Spring has sprung?

We are born into harsh winters. Massive snowstorms. Cabin Fever. Persevering through months of below freezing temperatures. This is the stuff Minnesotans are made of. But I think I speak for all of us when I say this winter was especially brutal- which makes this spring weather especially wonderful! It has been a motivating factor in getting out there and…dare I say it, running!

After having my baby boy about 7 months ago, I have not been exercising regularly at all. Gym membership seemed unreasonable for me and I get so bored with workout DVD’s. I am currently about to head out for my 5th run in 8 days. For me, the “couch potato to 5k “plan has been perfect- and I am even starting to enjoy the experience. I think part of me is writing this for the world to see to ensure I stick to this commitment. So, if you don’t mind, would you lovingly hold me accountable? I want to emphasize the lovingly part. :)
Here is to spring and getting outdoors! Have a blessed day!

Details: Part Three

What is it about flowers that make us fall in love? The fragrance? The vibrance? The people who are thoughtful enough to handpick and deliver them to us? They are an important element to any wedding. Everything from the color, and the way they’re arranged, to the simplicity or complication of the petal and the season they represent, comes into play when selecting the perfect flower.
I love getting a sneak peak in the early moments of a wedding day. Just like the wedding dress, the flowers are often a great portrayal of the style of the couple. Elegant. Simple. Loud. Soft. So unique and so much is communicated through these details! Here are a few shots from 2010- which ones do you like best?

Details: Part Two

I remember shopping for my wedding dress. It was almost 5 years ago to the day that I found it. I had tried on several and while I had liked many of them- I wasn’t sure any of them could be considered “the one”. Then the bridal shop attendant brought in a beautiful, flowing dress that instantly reminded me of the movie Ever After. As I slipped it on, and saw the excitement in the faces of my friends and family, I knew it had to be good. Once I looked in the mirror, my suspicions were confirmed; I was wearing the wedding dress I had dreamt of for years.

To this day, as I recall the events of one of the most significant moments of my life- I am so happy with the wedding dress I selected. It really reflected my own personality and set the theme for my wedding day. I wanted a simplistic beauty to be the trademark and my dress was exactly that.

Now, as I meet with brides and we excitedly discuss their wedding day details, the dress is inevitably the first topic we cover. There is no doubt it is a critical aspect to the bride and the wedding event itself. Whether glamorous, sleek, simple or extravagant, I love photographing the dress and capturing this important element in a unique way.

Here are a few shots of stunning dresses from a couple of 2010 weddings…

Details: Part One

Never underestimate the importance of wedding day details.

Whether it’s the delicate beading on a dress, the vibrant flowers held by the bride, the color-coordinating programs or the elaborate centerpieces at the reception- these details help tie the day together in an unforgettable way. I love to capture the day as it unfolds and tell the unique love story of the couple. This story is made complete by the details.

In October, my friend Claire married her sweetheart Mike. The wedding was beautiful and her details were the perfect example of how the day is enhanced through weaving a theme into each and every part of the wedding!

Authentic Emotion

I love capturing real, raw emotion. That could be my favorite aspect of photography- allowing that authentic emotion to be showcased in a stunning way.
Something I have learned in the last few years in the incredible importance of getting to know the people I am photographing. Instead of forcing my style on them- I try to really understand the perspectives, passions and personalities of my subjects so that those unique components can literally SHINE through the camera. In doing this, no two sessions or weddings are the same; it makes my job exciting and it completely differentiates the results.
As far as genuine emotion, there is nothing better than having the honor of photographing a bride on her wedding day. Tonya epitomized the “glowing bride”. Her September wedding was set in the always- stunning town of Stillwater- a place I just adore! Throughout her day, we were able to showcase both her dramatic, glamorous side- as well as her giddy, joyous feelings! What a beauty!

Walk With Me...

I’ve been twiddling my thumbs about starting a blog for a few months now. My biggest arguments against it were the time factor, (is there ever enough of it?), and the fact that I often question if I would have anything worth reading to contribute to the already saturated blog world….
BUT alas, I have decided to give this a shot. I’ve accepted that the only followers I may ever acquire either raised me (hey mom!) or are married to me (hello honey!).
Now that I’ve moved past that dilemma, I sincerely hope this process enhances my experience as a human and photographer and more importantly, showcases some of my amazing clients! If, along the way, these words happen to inspire or interest others- that will be an unexpected bonus!

Thank you for walking with me in this experience of life… let’s live it up!