Minneapolis
I have posted about Laura & Melissa's wedding a few times already on this blog…about their engagement session, backyard brides dinner & their wedding! I was beyond excited to see that the Spring Wedding issue of Lavender Magazine hit news stands last month! Absolutely thrilled to have these two lovely brides grace the cover & inside spreads! What an amazing day this was!! Here are a couple of screen shots from the magazine…click on the links above to enjoy the online issue! Enjoy!
Ok, so it's the end of winter & I am so completely over it. I usually dread that very "brown" time, after the snow is gone & before the grass turns green…this past week we had some higher temperatures which started to melt the massive amounts of snow everywhere & I can honestly say seeing all of the brown ground peeking out through the snow put the biggest smile on my face! Did you know that this Thursday is the first official day of Spring?? I am so EXCITED!!! The only reason I'm glad that there is still snow on the ground is because of this Engagement Session. We've had this bonfire idea brewing for a little while now & this past weekend it all came together! So thrilled for these brides-to-be! For now, just a sneak peek while I get everything edited! Enjoy!
I have a thing with shoes. Shoe shots that is. Brides shoes are some of my most favorite things to photograph at weddings! I think it's because more often than not they are sparkly & I have a tendency to be very attracted to sparkly things…even my camera strap is sparkly! The other thing I love about bride’s shoes is how they are such a reflection of the bride! My bridesmaids dresses we purple so my shoes were purple…I loved wearing a pop of color on my feet when I walked down the aisle! So I thought today I would share just a few of my favorite shoe shots with you! Enjoy!
Today, I want to feature one of my favorite restaurants in Minneapolis, The Grand Cafe. Annika and I braved the cold weather late this morning for Eggs en Cocotte, Carmel Apple French Toast, and fresh orange juice. As always, the table setting was irresistibly quaint and the atmosphere comfortable. And, in case you didn't know, they host weddings. I can only imagine an intimate and cool reception here. Hope you enjoy these pictures that I managed between bites.
This is one of my beautiful soon-to-be-brides! Lisa wanted to update her photos for her website & Facebook pages with some fresh new imagery & I was more than game! Besides weddings a lot of the sessions I photograph are of newborns & children & what I like to call "Talent Sessions". I mean, let's face it, in some way shape or form, we are all talented. Some people can draw, others can act & then there are those of you who sell real estate really well! I'm not sure about her ability to draw or act but Lisa sells real estate really well! This was also a fun way for Lisa & I to get to know each other a little better before the big day! Here is just a sneak peek of a few of the images from her session! Enjoy!
{I’ve been thinking about that opening line for a while now!} So lets pretend we’ve chatted over email about the date you are getting married, where, how over the top or intimate the wedding will be, you love my work & totally want to hire me…what’s the next step? Getting together to go over all the details of the wedding day! Usually when a couple hires me it is still pretty early in the planning process, maybe you don’t even have the ceremony or reception locations booked yet??…but I still like to get together over a cup of coffee or at the studio to go over all the plans you have in your head for the big day. Why? Well, to be honest, I’ve photographed a lot of weddings {not hundreds of weddings, but a lot compared to someone who has photographed a few} & I have seen a lot of things that work well & a lot of things that don’t work well. For instance, debating if you should see each other before the wedding? I would ask you what season are you getting married in & if you are set on a specific time for the wedding…why would I ask you these things? In the winter we lose daylight fast so if you aren’t going to see each other before the wedding & you are planning a 6pm ceremony, then some of the Wedding Party & Family photos will have to be photographed when it is dark outside, in a short period of time most likely over happy hour & prior to dinner…are you ok with that or did you envision your Wedding Party & Family photos in pretty, soft, sunny light outdoors, or did you envision mingling during happy hour with your guests? All things to consider when planning your wedding day!
After this initial meeting I like to put together an editable tentative timeline for my clients that outlines the events of the day. This is something I always pass along for you to use as you start to narrow down the details & work out the logistics of your wedding day! Then, about a month before the wedding, we get together again! By this time the details have all been worked out & we really get into the nitty-gritty of the day…who is going to be where & when, what I am photographing when & how…we fine tune the schedule so we are all set walking into your wedding day! I love photographing weddings…but I also really enjoy the collaborative process of making sure your timeline for the day is going to allow you to get all the photos you want & enjoy your wedding day to its fullest!
Lately, I've photographed many families for their annual holiday portrait. Last week, after a shoot with a little boy in the studio, I managed to get Annika in her holiday dress and her hair brushed so that I could snap a few portraits. As with most toddlers, we had just under 5 minutes before things unravelled. Here is Annika, not quite 2 years old. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday, especially the newlyweds and newly-engaged!
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not normally at a loss for words! I've been trying to wrap my head around everything that this day meant to Melissa & Laura...somehow capture that in words & spill it all over this page for you to soak in...oh how I wish you all could have been there for every wonderful moment! From the nervousness of getting ready to the anticipation of that first look...& then to that moment, standing before their friends & family, legally committing themselves to one another...ohhh! & the party!!! This was such.a.beautiful.perfect.day. So, instead of trying to spell it out, I'll just let you re-live it with me in the imagery...congratulations Melissa & Laura! Enjoy!
When I showed up to the Brides Dinner & saw the cans of Contadina Tomato Puree I just knew these were going to be my kind of people! This backyard Brides Dinner was simply perfect. From the family style set up & checkered table cloths to the twinkling lights & the puppy's tux...yes, the puppy's tux...Melissa & Laura couldn't of had a better night with their family & friends! While I was there I had the opportunity to sneak Melissa & Laura away for a bit...goodness how I love the excited nervousness of a couple as they start to realize that tomorrow, TOMORROW they will be married! And how truly exciting that we live in a state where Melissa & Laura would be able to make their commitment to one another legal! Very proud to be a Minnesotan on this particular night...enjoy!
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!
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!
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!
You know that one time of every day where no matter what you're doing you stop, look up & take it all in because the sunlight that is filtering through the trees & making the brush around you glow catches your breath & takes it away? Yeah, me too. This happens to be just the specific time of day that I photographed Sarah & Luke's second Engagement Session. Yes, Engagement Session number two! The first time we worked together was in Minneapolis...this time we met at St. Olaf! I haven't been to St. Olaf in ages, literally I think I was there for a concert in High School? Maybe a night of random partying in College?? In either case this campus wasn't as I remembered it...maybe because I wasn't looking at it before through photographer eyes??...regardless, the St. Olaf campus is beautiful. Absolutely. Gorgeous. Campus. This happens to be where Sarah & Luke met so I was thrilled to be able to get back there with them to photograph these special memories in a place that meant so much to them!
Oh! There's a special story with the seats...gives me the goose bumps!...but you'll have to wait until you see the wedding sneak peek to hear more about that! Enjoy! ciao! natalie
I found these two handsome guys just north of the Twin Cities a few weeks ago. Over wine and delicious cheese I got a tour of the home they built together and learned their love story. Though they are getting married this August at the Guthrie Theater, Jason and Rodney already have a long history together. They first exchanged vows in Vermont almost 10 years ago. The Guthrie ceremony will make everything official under the new laws of Minnesota and it will be their 10th wedding anniversary. Good stuff. Thanks for letting me be a small part of it all guys!
Earlier this Spring, Tom, Kristen and I went out for a sort of encore engagement session. Our first engagement session happened last winter when we did something in studio. But Tom and Kristen have a special place in their hearts for these pups and they wanted to include them in another session. Cedar Lake provided a great backdrop where we could let our hair down and go sans leash. Thank goodness it has warmed up since these photos were taken! Looking forward to seeing you soon Tom and Kristen.
It seems like forever ago but early this spring I shot a spread for MN Meetings & Events Magazine styled by the ever so talented Marsha Hunt & Bridget Connell, co-owners of Haute Flower Boutique, & Event Coordinator Emily Donovan at Architectural Antiques in Minneapolis. It's finally been published!! Here is a quick link to the online edition of the magazine...feel free to skip ahead to page 26!
Marsha & Bridget set out to create a table top that radiated the feeling of a sultry simmer night in the city with an eclectic, urban vibe. Inspired by Architectural Antique’s unique venue space in Minneapolis, MN with thousands of fascinating antique pieces arranged in artful disarray, they wanted to create an island of brilliantly colored florals underneath the warm glow of dozens of shimmering chandeliers.
It was love at first sight once they spotted the antique painted metal zebra; they knew they had found an inspiration point upon which to build the entire look around. The Zebra is originally from a carnival ride, most likely from the late 1940’s. Its aluminum body is hand painted in a graphic black & white, complete with leather reign. The focal point of a tablescape is usually the floral centerpiece, but they loved the idea of taking this one-of-a-kind antique piece & building our floral design around it. They created a “saddle” of pavé style orange flowers to provide a jolt of color & then added the additional floral pieces to the tablescape to anchor the color scheme at both ends of the long table. The sheer unexpectedness of it provides a jolt of color & excitement & helps create a carefree, summery, almost carousel-like atmosphere for this event. As a focal point, it created a fun & whimsical feel to the entire tablescape & allows them to see how the non-traditional use of an item can create a unique & dramatic effect.
“We used a selection of orange roses, tulips, & ranunculus with fresh oranges & tangerines. The purpose of the eye-popping orange color was to create a natural focal point for the eye to rest on amongst the delightful visual cacophony of all the eclectic antiques. The counterpoint to the bright orange was the use of teal blue accents punctuated with black & white details. In addition to our fascinating zebra (!), we used a white crocodile patterned table runner & black croc charger plates. The end result was a contemporary tablescape interspersed with carefully edited antique details, creating an interesting juxtaposition of old & new.” – Haute Flower Boutique
“Within the front aisle of our showroom, Haute Flower Boutique selected dramatic pieces, such as the circa 1905 four-foot diameter crystal chandelier, which was displayed in line with other period crystal chandeliers at varying heights over a large, custom built harvest table. Two carved walnut chairs from a Mason’s lodge where placed at the heads of the table & an assortment of brass candle stands & teal blue insulator caps where used to create small flower vases for each seat. Also on the table (with the fabulous Zebra) is a wooden trefoil that was once part of a gothic door surround, & miscellaneous pieces of glazed terracotta, which were once originally from the exterior of a building. Crystal doorknob sets, & antique door brass door plates with plenty of patina are used as part of the table arrangement as well as the letterpress letters. For the bar, a Carrera marble washstand was used, surrounded by vintage pop crates & large green shutters to create a colorful backdrop. Hanging above the vignette, is an early 20th century Quezal light fixture which features five hand-blown ‘pulled feather’ shades to balance color & organic feel throughout the scene. The delightful antique washstand was intended as an innovative way to serve iced drinks with the antique soda crates staging the extra beverages. The crystal doorknob pairs & the doorknob back plates were an interesting addition to the place setting along with the printer’s block letters. The details were chosen for their aesthetic value as well as for being great conversation starters among dinner guests.” – Architectural Antiques
Not only is Architectural Antiques a great location for meetings but it's an amazing space for you to book your wedding & reception! Hint hint...I would love to photograph a wedding here!
All floral arrangements, concept, styling & event design
White vases & containers
Orange satin ribbon
Real boxwood topiaries with jeweled accents
Black & white harlequin patterned containers
Mercury glass votives & pillar candles
Black charger plates & clear glass plates
Flatware & goblets
White napkins & white croc table runner
Mahogany chivari chairs & white chair pads
All architectural elements & styling
Chandeliers – circa 1905 four-foot diameter crystal chandelier, which was displayed in line with other period crystal chandeliers
Table – 12 foot custom built oak harvest table
Gothic chairs carved walnut chairs from a Mason’s Lodge with aqua mohair cushions
Carrera marble washstand
Vintage soda crates
Green shutters
Stained glass panels - a variety of early gothic stained glass panels with a mix of purples, greens, blues & greens
Child dress form with stenciled details
Round white trefoil architectural fragment from 1880’s gothic door surround
Zebra!
Wire bird cage
Crystal door knobs
Door knob backplates
Printer’s letters (described in more detail below)
Teal green tiles
Aqua blue glass insulators
Local market:
Orange Crush soda & fruit
Adria and Jon are two of the most sincere and happy people ever. We had a wonderful time goofing around at Como Zoo and Conservatory last week. Well, all was good except a fateful ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl. Ahem, I for one may be getting too old for that and was woozy for hours afterward! But, all in all, Como Park may be one of my favorite places to shoot an engagement session. There is a kitschy amusement park, gorgeous landscapes, nature trails, even a bit of architecture! Looking forward to Stillwater with these two and their families this August.
After two rain delays, Jennie, Tom, and I finally found a gorgeous day to run around St. Paul. The two share a lot of history in the city. Jennie works in downtown St. Paul and Tom proposed to her in Rice Park. We started the evening at Harriet Island, where across the river I'll shoot their wedding in September. Given Jennie's eye for detail, I know it will be beautiful! Congrats Jennie and Tom!
I can't begin to tell you how happy I was to be asked to photograph Sarah & Luke's wedding this summer! They are such a beautiful couple & they have such a fun loving & easy way with one another...July can't get her quick enough! In the meantime here are some images from their bridal themed engagement session! Enjoy!
