Noelle and Chris had such a fantastic wedding day. It's always such a treat for me to photograph a wedding in my hometown of Yankton, South Dakota - and their wedding was no exception. The day started at the Historic Cramer Kenyon house where the ladies all got ready together. The house was buzzing with excitement when I arrived and Noelle was cool as a cucumber, handling any day-of nerves like a pro. She opened gifts from Chris which included a stunning necklace and tickets to see Beyoncé live (nice work, Chris) as laughter echoed through the hallways. Having your wedding party get ready at a home or historic place like this makes for such a great mood as the final preparations occur. Chris and his guys made their way to the Cramer Kenyon house in time for the bride and groom to share a private first look. Noelle beams when she's around Chris, and Chris is pretty much always smiling when Noelle is around. The rest of the day went off without a hitch: we went to the Lewis and Clark Lake for some fun bridal party photos, asked Noelle and Chris to trust us as we dragged them to the most random field off the side of the road for couple portraits, their ceremony by the Missouri River was beautiful and heartfelt, and the party was filled with laughter and fun down the road at the historically renovated Old Mill wedding reception space downtown...it was a good day. The party wouldn't have been complete without the outpouring of love from their family and friends who showed so much support for the newlyweds (the pizza fest for dinner also didn't hurt anything!) Noelle and Chris, we are so happy for you two. Congratulations on such an exciting time in your lives!
Stephanie + Baby M
It's such a joy to watch your friends become mothers. My dear friend Stephanie has been in my life for over ten years - from the dancing days in college to rendezvous in Paris, weddings, dinner parties and everything in between - there has been no greater time than the last seven months as we've shared in Motherhood together. Stephanie and her little sweet pea M came into the studio around Mothers day for some portraits of just the two of them and it was such a treat to capture their special connection. Little M was full of giggles and coos and it's clear from the photos that Steph glows when she sees her daughter. She's such a wonderful Mama. I couldn't resist sharing some of the images from our time in the studio together, and hope you love them too.
Megan + Jennifer = Married
Megan and Jen's Wedding at Heartland Restaurant in Saint Paul was a delight to photograph. As we've gotten to know these two throughout their engagement, we've learned that they are not only well suited for each other, they bring so much joy into people's lives with their generous hearts, boundless talents and compassionate outlook on life. They have been together for a long time (they have the sweetest daughter) but it wasn't until recently they decided to make their commitment a legal union. A few highlights from their wedding included a traditional Japanese flute and drum performance featuring the brides' very own ensemble which brought a personal touch to their ceremony. Their guests shared various readings and accolades throughout the day which left few without dry eyes. And of course the phenomenal food Heartland provided for the guests brought Megan and Jen's vision for an intimate gathering with really good food to life. All in all, it was a great day and we were honored to tell Megan and Jen's wedding story. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Katelyn + Mark = Engaged
Katelyn and Mark's Engagement Session at Como Park in Saint Paul has to be one of the most quintessential "Spring" sessions we've ever done. The night was perfectly May - 65 degrees, sunny and full of soft pretty blooms. Their session was sort of a pseudo Engagement meets Married Portrait session since they are technically still engaged but will be getting married with a very small guest list (under 10!) in Colorado later this summer. They live in Saint Paul and wanted to commemorate this milestone with some photos in a park they love with some laid back photos. We had a great time, I practically wanted to adopt them as new best friends and invite ourselves over for game night and pizza at their place. Their chemistry together is that of a couple who has been together for decades: easy, trusting and compassionate. We wish them the best wedding day ever (they will be getting married at sunrise and having a wedding breakfast as their celebration!) and know that where bacon, Katelyn and Mark meet, it is bound to be an amazing day. Congratulations Katelyn and Mark, and thanks for allowing us to document this special time!
Lif + James = Married
What a lovely little wedding this was! Lif and James were married with an audience of three guests back in April. James grew up here in the states, and Lif grew up aborad, but Minnesota brought them together. They will be celebrating with two more traditional weddings (one here and one abroad!) but wanted to make their commitment legal before they waited any longer. They had a brief ceremony at the Semple Mansion in Minneapolis and I joined them afterward for some portraits around the Mansion and since it was rainy we hit up one of our favorite Minnesota indoor spots - the Como Conservatory in Saint Paul. The lush greenhouse provided a beautiful backdrop for the newlyweds who were literally giddy with excitement at their new state as husband and wife. It made my job a piece of cake as they waltzed through the Conservatory on their cloud of wedded bliss. Lif and James, thanks for trusting us to capture this special day, we know there will be so much happiness in your future together! Congratulations!
Angela + Tom = Engaged
Hey guys! It's been awhile. We've missed blogging - and just in time too because we have a roster of great shoots to share and it's officially WEDDING SEASON! Before spring morphs into summer and we wonder where the time went, we had to share some of our favorite photographs from Angela and Tom's Engagement Session in Wellesley, MA at the lovely Elm Bank Horticultural Center. Chuck captured these photos and he'll be returning when they tie the knot this July at Fruitlands. We're in love with the photos and think these three make an incredibly adorable trio. Angela and Tom, little L is lucky to have you as parents. We can't wait for July!
Autumn + Kate = Married
We love this wedding and this couple for so many reasons. The one that sticks out the most though, has to be their natural ability to make each other smile. In their vows, Kate promised to keep Autumn safe, and Autumn promised to keep Kate wild. How beautiful is that? Their entire wedding day was filled with genuine love and infectious laughter. We could not wipe the smiles off our faces watching these newlyweds together and know the world will be a better place because they are together. Some highlights from the day included taking photos in front of the Bob Dylan mural downtown Minneapolis (with NO cars in front of the wall, thank-you universe!) and watching their guests (unsuccessfully) resist the impressive dessert table. And when I say impressive I mean IMPRESSIVE. Their day in one word could easily be summed up as: happiness. Congratulations Autumn and Kate! We are so happy for you both.
A - First Birthday
Few things are sweeter than a one year old baby. Eyes glittering with life, love brimming over and a spirit full of adventure, there is a reason parents of babies transitioning to toddlers are happily exhausted. Sweet A's family asked me to photograph their newly minted one year old in our studio and we couldn't resist. A few simple and colorful streamers made a happy accent to Miss A's bubbly personality. Shooting in our new studio was also a treat for me since we've spent several years renting space from others but photographing this sweet peach was the best part of it all. Happy Birthday little A, you are a lucky kid to have such an amazing family!
Noelle + Chris = Engaged
Winter and early spring in Minnesota can be pretty drab outside. Don't get us wrong, we love cozying up under a blanket with a good book after romping around in the snow for a little while, but come March and April, we're ready for green. When Noelle and Chris approached their Engagement Session, they wanted to do something with a little color and personality. We started their session off in our studio Downtown Saint Paul, and took a few photos downtown before heading to the oasis of the Como Conservatory for some photos with a punch of color. The warm, dewy air of the Conservatory left us feeling like we were at the spa for a few hours, and the lush colors and bright flowers were the perfect backdrop for these two. We will be photographing their South Dakota wedding come May, so it was fantastic to get them in front of the camera for a little while before the big day. I loved their calm and trusting connection together. It's as though they've been together for decades! Noelle and Chris, thank you for allowing us to photograph you...see you SOON!
The E Family
It seems like just yesterday we were photographing Maggie and Louis' Wedding in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Fast forward a few years, a cross country move and two babies later - this family has grown in size and love. It's not often we get to document personal friends of ours, but when it happens it's incredibly special. We enjoy every interaction with Maggie and Louis. They are thoughtful, smart and fun folks to be with. Their kids are lucky to have such strong role models in life! They welcomed their daughter in October and when they invited us to come take photos of their new family of four, we were honored. Big brother R seems to be settling into his role with such grace, and little C is just a bundle of sweetness. Maggie and Louis, we are lucky to call you friends. Thank you for allowing us to photograph your family!