2,457 Days | First Look {post by natalie}

2,457 days after their first date...they got married! I shared the first part of Sarah & Luke's wedding in a post a little while back...just in case you want to check out all of it's loveliness click HERE! But what I couldn't wait to share with you was their first look! We weren't allowed to post these images until Orchestra Hall officially opened after their extensive remodel...but it was worth the wait! The newly remodeled space is absolutely breathtaking. The gray-and-white color scheme, granite floors, glassy staircases, various levels and large glass-enclosed atrium was the perfect backdrop for this beautiful couple! My heart skips a beat every time I look at these images! And a HUGE thanks to my amazing second shooter Melissa! Some of the below images are hers...love working with such talented people! Enjoy!  

Melissa and Laura | {post by natalie}

I love getting to know my clients. I love getting to know their stories. I love chatting, & laughing, over wine after a beautiful sunny afternoon & feeling like we are just old friends catching up. And I can tell you right now, without a doubt, I am going to love photographing this wedding! Usually an Engagement Session is included in the collection that my couples purchase. In this case Melissa & Laura won an Engagement Session from another photographer so they really didn't need me to to photograph another Engagement Session for them...but what a lot of photographers will tell you...is what's nice about an Engagement Session is that I get time to work with the two of you prior to your wedding day to see how you best fit together. I absolutely LOVED working with my photographer on our Engagement Session when Dave and I got married. True story - I hated the way I looked when I kissed my soon-to-be-hubby in our Engagement Photos...so what did we do?? Practiced for the big day! And I can honestly tell you I LOVE every kissing photo we have from our wedding! Haha! Dave will tell you there was too much kissing at our wedding...but I digress...not only was it beneficial for me to see me/us but it was also beneficial for our photographer to see how we looked/photographed best together...makes walking into the wedding day a little less stressful for your photographer for sure!

So before we sat down over wine to chat through the details of their wedding day, Melissa, Laura & I drove around in their bright orange convertible beetle bug (SERIOUSLY LOVE!!!) until we found a sunny little park...enjoy!

Just a guess...but I think they MIGHT be excited for the big day!

Love in the heart of the city | Minneapolis Wedding Photographer {post by natalie}

These two are gentle, kind souls. She's sweet, sincere & ridiculously witty. He's charming, funny & thoughtful...& together, they are amazing. Sarah & Luke's wedding took place at the Historic Wesley Church in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis. The ceremony was followed by dinner at Porter & Frye at the Ivy Hotel & the day ended with an intimate reception at Britts Pub for 150 of their closest friends & family. From the shoes, the dress & perfectly placed details, like a pocket watch held within the brides flowers, to the historic & modern spaces that made up the backdrop of their wedding day...every moment was perfectly orchestrated. Perfectly orchestrated as it should be given how musically gifted these two are! Speaking of music...this is only part one of their sneak peek. Part two will be unveiled after September 20th! I simply can't wait for you to see where they had their first look! Until then...enjoy!

Meghan and PJ Engaged in Chicago (Post by Thea)

Chicago, where the sun shines and where the sweetest couple ever got engaged. When Meghan, PJ and I first began discussing their wedding, it came up that they were engaged at North Avenue Beach. PJ was getting his Masters at DePaul University and Meghan was visiting almost every weekend via a friend's companion pass on Delta. Nice deal, right? So, a large part of their relationship grew in Chicago. Since I have so many fond memories and friends there myself, we hatched a plan to shoot their engagement pictures on location at the first sign of nice weather. Here are the results!

On Being One Year Old (Post by Thea)

I have a daughter, Annika. This week, I've been wondering where the past year went to. Though obviously on a much smaller scale, I am having as much fun planning her first birthday party as I had planning my wedding. I took her picture just the other week. Isn't she cute?

A Winter Day (by: Marc James)

a little impromptu shoot with model Blair Emerson around Harriet Island. I recently got some new fun equipment so this was a great opportunity to test it out!

Sneak Peek | Destination Wedding {by natalie}

Here's a little sneak peek of what I am working on right now! This little gem of a wedding was so! much! fun! I can't wait to share the rest of the images! For now, just a little grooms dinner teaser. Enjoy!

My day with the City House (Marc James)

A few days ago I had the pleasure of working with the City House. The City House is a group  that connects those on the margins of society, who might be homeless, in prison, or in recovery, with those in the mainstream of our society, for mutual listening, learning, and transformation. I was able to document the days of mentors and leaders in this group and talk with them about the lives they have lead and the lives they currently lead, an experience I won't soon forget.

the end of winter | engagement session {by natalie}

The end of winter means the beginning of wrapping up wedding plans for these two! I had the idea for this session in the works for quite some time and I'm incredibly lucky that Stephanie an Aaron were willing to wait until I said "Today is the day!"...from the crisp white snow and warmer-than-cool temperatures to the setting sun I think it all came together beautifully! Stephanie and Aaron were quite the troopers for me as well...the road to this particular park was closed so we had to hoof it there through the melting snow...I thought it was pretty treacherous, my boots were soaked (!) but that's nothing for these two. As avid campers, hikers and mountain climbers, and by mountain climbers I mean SERIOUS ROCK CLIMBERS who like hang off the side of cliffs, I think they got a kick out of my apologies about having to walk in the snow!

High School Sweethearts {by Desiree}

These two started dating when they were in 11th GRADE.  Through it all - college, long distance dating, and more they stayed strong.  They're also two of the coolest cats in town.  They were married in the beautiful big church at St. Kates here in St.Paul.   It was an ABSOLUTE BLAST photographing their wedding here in the Twin Cities. Cheers!

A Tale of Two Dresses (by Louisa)

Sam and John. John and Sam. Sweeties for the past six years, when both of them were even younger youngsters than they are now. They got married at the beautiful Trellis Center in Stillwater, Minnesota and I was overjoyed at all of the pretty things that they made for their wedding day. Sam loves beautiful things so much that she had not one, but two dresses! One of the best moments of the day was when Sam walked down the aisle in her long, GORGEOUS formal dress. John had no idea that dress #2 existed and the expression on his face was priceless. It goes without saying that I wish these two all the best and I can't wait to see what's next for them.

FOUND // The Art of Wedding

What an amazing evening! More images from last night's FOUND // The Art of Wedding coming soon!

Thomas Fox {a homespun vintage wedding}

This wedding was an especially special wedding for me to photograph...Mary is an actor {who has traveled the world, moving back to the twin cities to both direct & act} & Blake is a musician {who captivates his audiences with his guitar & "honey-wiskey" voice}. Mary is my sister-in-law & Blake is her husband. This entire day was completely Mary & Blake. From grandpa's suit & a wedding dress worn by two aunts & her mother, vintage wine glasses found at thrift stores & china borrowed from friends...to the all organic feast & home baked pies...everything that Mary & Blake are, everything that they believe in, was reflected in every last detail of their wedding day. Congratulations to two of the most amazing people I know! {x! ciao! natalie}