An Introduction to the new Rivets & Roses Team!

It's a very exciting time here at Rivets and Roses! Earlier this fall, we decided to hire a few more photographers to join our team and expand the Rivets studio! We were so happy with each and every single applicant and are absolutely thrilled with all of the new talent we are bringing to the team! We will officially be launching the new Rivets and Roses crew in a couple of weeks, but in the mean time, here's a quick introduction to our new photographers! Hi, I'm Desiree, otherwise known as Dez. A few things I couldn't live without: coffee, my camera, my iPhone, hot summers, and my twin sister Kelly...not necessarily in that order. I like photos, photography, taking photos and think Instagram is completely awesome.  [quote]I'm THRILLED to  be a part of one super cool and insanely talented gang.[/quote]  I can't wait to meet ALL the amazing people who love each other and who love photography as much as we do here at Rivets and Roses.  I hope to grow and define my photographic style here at R & R and capture all the tears and love this wedding season.

Hi! I'm Leslie. I love dogs, live music and really obscure cosmetic names (the nail polish I'm wearing right now is called "Dive Bar"). My favorite weddings to photograph are those that celebrate the unique qualities of the couple. I love it when the theme of the day is centered around who the couple are or how they fell for each other and not a generic idea taken from a bridal magazine.* And I am dying to shoot a wedding in the middle of the woods this year.

[quote]*Confession: My own wedding, many many moons ago, did not reflect who we were as a couple, and was full of cliche ideas I found in wedding magazines. If I could do it over now, it would be very different. Not to say we didn't have a blast regardless.[/quote]

[quote]The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust[/quote]

Hi, I'm Louisa.

The first time I picked up a camera I had no idea how profoundly photography would change my life.  About two and a half years ago, when I got my first SLR camera I fell completely in love with an art form that had always intrigued me. Since then, I've had incredible opportunities to travel to places like California, Las Vegas and Italy, curate and put on my own art show and meet inspiring, creative people at every turn.

I love shooting photos because I get to show people a side of themselves they'd never see by looking in the mirror. The beauty is in how I see you, not what you look like. I like to work with clients who are willing to truly relax with me and in front of my camera. I am inspired by nature and light and find that the best work I produce is made in wide open spaces, when I'm surrounded by trees or near the water. As far as my personal life goes, I'm a Minnesota girl who's had the luck to travel a bit. I live in an old house with my tall boyfriend and our two cats and two dogs. Our home is full of art and light and candles and dying plants (I have no green thumb whatsoever and our animals eat anything that isn't contained in glass). I like to eat steak and drink tea and my favorite dessert is ice cream. I look forward to meeting you and to working with you if you, too, like wide open spaces, trees and water.

Ello All!! I am the one they call Marc James and I am one of the newest Rivets & Roses photographers. Today I am here to give you a brief introduction to me and what brought me to Rivets & Roses.

Born from a heap of snow my mother always said I came out of the womb with a camera in hand, literally, I was a medical miracle. From the day I was born I always knew what my calling was, I was to be a doctor. 20 years later I came to the realization that I was a much more talented photographer than doctor, but I still play Operation frequently to keep up on my skills.

Before Rivets & Roses I can honestly say I never saw myself as a wedding photographer but when I spoke with Eliesa and I got the chance to see her work I knew that there is a place in the wedding world for photographers like me.

[quote]I have never wanted to shoot conventional images and now through Rivets & Roses I finally have the opportunity to capture the most important moments in your life while giving you images that will truly last forever.[/quote]

I look forward to meeting all of you and I cannot wait for you to see what the Rivets & Roses team has in store!!

Hello, I'm Natalie. First and foremost, I consider myself an artist...and my medium? Light. I love playing with light. Light that exemplifies emotion, glamorous sparkly light & simple quiet light, the way natural light finds depth in the eyes and bride in the arms of her groom....I love playing with light! I’m thrilled to be a part of the Rivets & Roses team. [quote]I’m looking forward to pushing myself creatively this year, to new adventures & meeting new people, to opening myself to opportunity & embracing it with reckless abandon.[/quote] My passion lies in photographing your wedding day with artistic creativity, distinctive vision and timeless style providing you with clean modern imagery. Twenty-twelve has just started and already it is turning out to be the best year yet!

Want to work for Rivets and Roses? Now's your chance!

Check out this message below from Rivets and Roses owner Eliesa Johnson! Woo hoo! Our business is growing and so are we!

For the first time, we are on the lookout to hire new lead photographers to shoot for Rivets & Roses and join our team! I'm SO proud of the work that our current photographer, Louisa, has produced and we want to continue that trend by hiring only the best of the best!

I started this brand with the intention of having it support 3-4 photographers, and I am looking for THE most AMAZING people to be a part of this!

I am looking for photographers who:

Are Experienced Love to photograph weddings Have a great sense of style Give the absolute BEST in customer service Have inspiring personalities Love to connect with people Outgoing Organized Detail Oriented Confident Have an amazing work ethic Passionate Work well in a team Love to have fun!

This opportunity is perfect for photographers who want to photograph weddings and create an amazing client base without the necessity of running their own business. This will be an independently contracted position and photographers will be responsible for supplying their own professional gear. We also require a 2 season commitment for this position. Compensation will be a contracted rate per booking to be discussed upon hire. Other job responsibilities include:

Blogging/Social Media (under company's website) Creating and updating online portfolios (under company's website) E-mail correspondence with potential clients Client Meetings Vendor Relations Prep for actual Wedding Day Photographing Engagement Sessions and Wedding Day coverage File Management with the studio Client Follow Up

Alex and Elisa get married!

Here's a note to those of you who decide to get married in California: Please invite me to come with you! Elisa and Alex were wed in a beautiful mission on the University of Santa Clara campus, where they met years ago. Except for a little snafu with the groomsmen's ties, their day went off without a hitch. I was so thrilled to be a part of this day and to have my dear and talented friend Amelia come with me as a fabulous assistant. This wedding was a perfect way to end the 2011 wedding season. Congrats to Alex and Elisa!

The Right Light

Mimi and Brian met me in Excelsior and wandered around by the lake for an hour while we shot the photos. We had a tiny bit of sun, some amazing cloud cover and just a tiny bit of rain. All in all, it made for perfect shooting conditions. Plus, these two are seriously good-looking. Can't wait for their wedding at the Enchanted Barn this summer!

Adored

Lindsey and David are...well...they're pretty much adorable...all the time. Before our wedding consultation I exchanged a handful of emails with Lindsey that left me thinking, "boy, I hope they hire me!" I think I actually told them that if they didn't hire me I at least wanted to be friends with them. They are CLEARLY in love. I mean, total, complete, googly eyes and butterfly kisses IN LOVE. And did I mention that they're funny? And did I mention that as luck would have it we're even neighbors?! Our engagement session was pretty much perfect. They found a gorgeous nature park and we were graced with unbelievably beautiful morning light and just the right temperature for snuggling. I cannot wait for their wedding next March and for what promises to be an awesome friendship with truly wonderful people. Congrats to Lindsey and David!!!  

So I love you because I know no other way (by Louisa)

There are some things in life that fill you with absolute joy. For me, Melissa and Jamie’s wedding was one of those things. Melissa has been one of my bestest, most wonderfulest friends for almost 9 years and yesterday she married the love of her life.

Jamie and Melissa are honest, beautiful, sincere, gracious…the list goes on and on. Having two brides to photograph was AMAZING, as I got to shoot two bouquets, two dresses, two sets of jewelry, etc. You get a bit more chaos with two brides (!) but at the end of the day, watching these two tie the knot and declare their love for each other in front of family and friends was one of the highlights of my life. (Side note: ridiculously hard to shoot photos while crying like a baby)

Melissa and Jamie: I love you both dearly and I could not be happier for you. You make beautiful brides and even more beautiful friends. May you continue to make each other laugh, be kind to each other and find joy in your life together.

Ali and Riley tie the knot (Images and post by Louisa)

What do you get when you match a handsome hunter with a gorgeous dead-ringer for Taylor Swift? You get an amazing yacht club wedding with a beautiful young couple. Despite rather intense heat and humidity, their day went off without a hitch. They got ready in a family home on Manitou Island and were wed at the White Bear Yacht Club, my new favorite place to shoot. Floor to ceiling windows? Check. Amazing wallpaper in every room? Check. Ali and Riley were surrounded by friends and family from all over the country and I was so delighted to be a part of the day's events. I hope you enjoy looking at these images as much as I enjoyed making them.