More Press (Post by Thea)

Media darlings Jason and Rodney popped up on the H & H Weddings blog last week. See the post here. Also, in case you didn't catch their appearance on the cover of our very own Lavender Magazine, see it again here. There couldn't be a more genuine couple that deserve such attention.

xo, thea

Hello! My name is Bryan!

Hi, Name's Bryan.  In case you didn't notice I spell my name with a "y".  I'm one of the new guys on the Rivets & Roses team and I'd love to introduce myself.

I'm a Minnesota native and I love this beautiful city, I enjoy being outdoors and an love a good time. If I'm not shooting couples and families, you can find me documenting my life's adventures. There is nothing like the first few hard cranks of a great bike trail, or the last few miles of a paddle deep in the heart of the boundary waters.

(Latest Adventure: Northern Minnesota winter camping)

I love capturing the moments in life that are made to be shared and held onto for a lifetime. Naturally weddings are such a huge part of everyone's adventure through life and there are moments that should never be forgotten.  When I have the opportunity to share a couples special day with them I do what it takes to make sure I capture all the special moments that they can look back on and enjoy forever.

(Boundary Waters kayaking)

I am so happy to be part of the Rivets & Roses team As this year continues I encourage interaction; I want you all to get involved. Do you have a question about what lens I used? Why I shot something one way vs. another? Want to collaborate on a shoot? ASK ME!

-Bryan Blumenschein

I have a thing with shoes {post by natalie}

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!

winter cheer {by leslie}

Sweet Jesus this winter is testing me! I am craving spring so badly that I even bought a pair of floral pants yesterday! (I know! Who am I?) Earlier this week, I zombie-walked into my nearest flower store demanding something bright and colorful to cheer up my office. And these are what I got. PERFECT!

What are you guys doing to stave off the blues this winter?

Some very Pinteresting Information… {post by natalie}

Defining an aesthetic for your upcoming wedding can be a daunting task. Let’s face it, once you start wedding planning you are constantly being asked about your specific tastes & personality.  Do you prefer a contemporary style? Modern? Classic or Vintage? Will you be designing your wedding with a rustic look or something more traditional? Where do you go for inspiration to figure this all out?? Pinterest. Pinterest is the new bridal magazine. It’s no longer necessary to run to the store & buy every Bridal magazine on the rack. Just turn on your favorite device & log into Pinterest & you have all the inspiration you could ever need at your fingertips. Chances are it will also be easier to convince your significant other to be check out your Pinterest boards rather than be seen lugging around a 350 page Wedding book (been there, done that!).

Pinterest can help you find all the inspiration you could ever dream up, however the mistake I have seen time & time again is just because it’s a DIY doesn’t make it a Do…it could be a hot mess of DIY Don’ts!

So what makes Pinterest-worthy photos? Cohesiveness! Pick a theme & stick with it! Spend your time on several really well executed ideas & don’t just jam pack your wedding with DIY after DIY after DIY that don’t really work well together. And as a photographer, what I mean by “work well together” is “look beautiful photographed together”.

Have you ever logged onto Pinterest & searched “Pinterest Fail”? or “Pinterest Nailed It”? I highly suggest you do so before executing all the amazing DIY ideas you have for your wedding day! Some things are simply better left to the professionals!

First things first though, you need to join Pinterest which allows you to “pin” & “repin” images to your own boards that you create.  You can also “like” pins, which is similar to those people who are avid Facebook users. So start by perusing & create a few Wedding Inspired Boards for your special day….make sure to follow us on Pinterest too!

If you are looking for feedback from your friends & family then invite them to comment on your boards…think this option through before you commit however.  You may want to create a secret board for those “special” details you don’t want everyone privy to. Do you want everyone knowing your “look” before the big day???  It’s your decision!

Your vision will start to come together & this will soon become a helpful tool when meeting with vendors…like your photographer! Happy pinning! Enjoy!

{Here are a few Pinteresting wedding sats I found…granted they are from 2012 but nothing about brides moving more & more towards embracing digital habits is slowing down anytime soon!…}

The Grand Cafe (Post by Thea)

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.  

winter in the kitchen {by leslie}

Man, I don't know about you guys, but this winter is starting to bring me down! At first, I fought it by keeping up my fun, winter activities (shoots in the fresh snow! snowball fights! reading by the fire!), but by now I'm more in "survival mode." This means I'm cooking up a storm (and working on my food photography at the same time). Below are a few of the things I've been eating lately.

Just think how exciting summer will be with fresh veggies and salads! I cannot wait.

Minneapolis Talent Photographer {post by natalie}

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!

Wedding consultations | Let’s chat about chatting! {post by natalie}

{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!

Valentine's Day (Post by Thea)

Indulge those you love this week. Have a wonderful and happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Lately (Post by Thea)

From a warm vacation in Arizona to waking up at 4am on the coldest day of the year for a working trip to Chicago, it has been a busy few weeks. To top it off, amongst the lunches, playdates, and client meetings, my daughter, Annika has become a complete, conversational, little person. Time goes by...

the big easy {by leslie}

Last week I was lucky enough to escape the Minnesota cold for a few days and head down to New Orleans. It was my first time there, and man could I get fat in a city like that. Between the beignets, praline bacon, po' boy sandwiches and fried chocolate pecan pie (omg, so good), it was a cholesterol-raising trip for sure. And since I've returned, I've been dining on chicken broth, smoothies and broiled fish in an attempt to regulate my bloodstream. One of my favorite moments was when it dipped down to 32 degrees and the locals at the bar were all discussing how they could keep their yard chickens warm in such weather. They decided to move space heaters out into the yard. Ha!

Anyway! I thought you might want to see the photos. One note: If you see xxx on a grave, it's a voodoo king or queen's tomb and the xs represent favors asked or granted. Fascinating. Enjoy!

alethea + jarl, married {by leslie}

A few weeks back I was lucky enough to shoot an intimate wedding on a cold winter day inside of a cozy home packed full of friends and family. Oh  man, do I love the small, casual wedding! Alethea and Jarl traveled all the way from their London home to get married surrounded by the ones they love, and it was so great to be a part of their special day!

Also! Special thanks to the wonderful Jackson for second shooting this one with me.

Leah and Brian // New Year's Eve (Post by Thea)

Leah and Brian have a truly amazing story. When I first met them, I also met their daughter Samantha, a playful and wise little girl. Through a touching series of events, Leah adopted Samantha after growing close to Brian, Samantha's father, some years back. The three have an impenetrable bond but they keep their family and friends close as well. Though their wedding day was epically cold, they threw a delightful party at the McNamara Alumni Center. It included 40 children who were treated to a special reception all their own, complete with movies, activities, and glow sticks. This inclusiveness plus the faith and culture of a traditional Jewish wedding made the day one of a kind.

alex + donny engaged {by leslie}

Shooting an engagement session this holiday season is both thrilling (because OMG I love the snow!) and terrifying (because OMG IT IS SO DANG COLD OUTSIDE!). Part of this challenge lies in finding a location that will allow for lovely images both inside and out, and luckily for us the Como Zoo and Conservatory did just that. The other part that is important? Couples that are totally low key and who just want to have a good time and enjoy the shoot. Holy cow, these were those people. We had so much fun catching the end of the day's light and playing in the snow -- even if it was about 2 degrees outside. I am so excited for the wedding this summer!

elizabeth and mike, engaged {by leslie}

Finally! I got to shoot an engagement session in the snow! Not just with snow on the ground, but full of flakes coming down from the sky! It was lovely. And the adorable couple didn't hurt any, either. I had so much fun meeting Elizabeth and Mike for the first time in person (they live on the East Coast) and photographing their engagement session the weekend before Christmas. Not only were they kind and gracious, but they were totally willing to lose their coats and run out in the snowfall for a few shots. I love it when couples come to play!

Annika's Holiday Portrait (Post by Thea)

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!

Kaitlin and Mike // Married (post by Desiree)

Take style and class mixed with the right amount of awesome and you get Kaitlin and Mike. Naturally these two were both totally relaxed and enjoying their big day despite the rain showers in November.  It still made for a beautiful wedding at St. Kates Chapel. After meeting these two during their engagement session I knew their wedding was going to be sooooo much fun and they did not disappoint.  One beautiful bride in her stunning gown, one dapper groom, love, friends, family...it was perfect.

naughty or nice {by leslie}

Since winter is almost here, and weddings are starting to wind down for a few months, I thought I'd share some outtakes from a recent dog shoot I worked on. I do a lot of personal sessions for people, but on this particular day I set up a traveling studio at a local doggy daycare and shot holiday images of the pups for their owners (to use as gifts or with their holiday cards). As you can imagine, not all dogs are enthusiastic about santa beards and reindeer antlers. Here are a few of the outtakes:

To see some of the shots that turned out as planned, you can look here. Enjoy!

Melissa & Laura | Married {post by natalie}

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!