Happiness is a Great Beautifier

Last night, I had a unique challenge. . . photograph a wedding  at night.  Panic set in when I realized I would have to choose between using flash to properly expose images, or make do with the natural light and what I my bag of equipment could make happen. 

The wedding of a very dear friend was held at The Trellis - an impeccable garden spot in Stillwater.  It was intimate and beautiful with loving friends and family at a candlelight ceremony and garden reception.   Yep... there was no way I was going to destroy the ambiance of this moment with flashes firing off.

As the evening wore on, I joyfully laughed and took in the perfect evening air, fighting back tears when I realized that everything under God's plan has a purpose and a schedule.  You see, the couple last night were high school sweethearts, getting married after decades apart and lifetimes of experiences.  

I have known the groom many years and adore him like no other.  Seeing this wedding last night and the images this morning, I realized - happiness is a great beautifier and the love we feel brings so much not only to our lives, but to those who love us.  His smile and the way he held his beautiful bride, I know his heart is renewed and there was no better place to be last night than watching these two bind their lives together.

To Randy and Debbie ~ thank you for letting me share in this joyful evening.  May you both enjoy a perfect future filled with joy, love, friendship and passion.

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Murphy!

I told someone recently that you can't always expect to find your soul mate 10 miles from your house.  Sometimes, you have to act on faith and venture out beyond your comfort zone.  I never realized how true this was until I met this couple.

Doug and Elizabeth met online (like many do these days).  She lived in Mexico, he lived here in Minnesota.  After some time corresponding online, he flew to Mexico to meet and spend time with her.  Only then did he realize she did not speak a word of English.  They found a connection and continued seeing each other.  When the time came for him to propose, he had her brother there to help with the translation.  Soon, she was living in Minnesota and they were building a new life and learning how to communicate with each other about life, love and experiences.

Three years later, they are now married. Their families are merged and their life will move forward together.  Their journey to find what God has laid out for them covered many miles, a lot of patience and trust.  But, watching the glances they stole of each other on their wedding day and the simple smiles they shared in quiet moments alone, it is clear... they have found the one person in this world that God put on this earth just for them.

Congratulations, Doug and Elizabeth!  

How can you not love groomsmen?  They are always the most spirited, amusing and playful group in the bunch!

Thanks for the many laughs, guys!

The Most Wonderful Things Happen at Night

This week we had the most fun being a part ofsurprise proposal at the Stone Arch Bridge.

It started with a simple request.  "Help me capture this special moment".  Soon it was scoping out the bridge, rehearsing the proposal and organizing the details of the evening.  (Not going to lie... realizing I would be doing a night shoot with NO flash, strobes or modifiers had me a bit panicked at first.)  With the help of a fake model to explain my presence and a gorgeous evening, the setting was in place for a very special moment.  (Well, that is until all of humanity decided to stop at our marked spot, blocking our view of what was about to happen!  Fortunately, we had a soon-to-be groom who could roll with the changes and hit his mark.)

When all was said and done, we had the beautiful opportunity to witness the start of a new life, a celebration with friends and family and the wonderful proposal between Scott and Lindsay!

Congratulations to you both!

Trash the Dress? No way!

I have been honored to know Alissa for many, many years.  I have loved her for her wild spirit, outspoken nature and joyful heart.  In recent years, I have seen this heart grow to include Michael and the joy between them as they married and began a life together.

Before her wedding event took place, Alissa was already planning her Trash the Dress shoot with me.  Normally, this is a day filled with water, mud, paint, even fire.  (When brides go out and simply enjoy a modeling session where anything can and will happen to her dress.  I mean, it's not like you are gonna wear it again!)

Alissa was a perfect candidate for that.  The problem?  Um, hello!  Have you seen how gorgeous that wedding dress was?!  There was absolutely NO WAY we were going to do ANYTHING that would destroy this gorgeous work of art.

So, with a gorgeous fall afternoon in tow, we simply headed out to one of my favorite parks and captured time.  Beautiful simple moments between two hearts - something that a busy wedding day left so little time for.  We didn't need to trash anything.  The beauty of what had been built between Michael and Alissa over the past 4 years was all we needed!

And, in the first 10 minutes, we had already captured all I ever hoped for. 



Stepping Together

I have been blessed to meet and work with many photographers on many different subjects.  But, this day, it was an opportunity to work with a photographer as she worked to capture the most important day of two people, one of whom was her goddaughter.

Serving as a second shooter, my role was easy.  To simply capture the moments in the day.  Yet, when the day was done, I was left with the knowledge that I would carry with me something amazing.  I had witnessed the start of a new life as two people stepped together on one path.

Though I would only know this couple for a few hours, I am honored to have been witness to this day and to have spent time with their families and friends as they celebrated a beautiful day and a new legacy.

Congratulations, Jessica and Brad!


A Disney Inspired Engagement

As most people know, I do not do a lot of weddings in my body of work.  While they are always beautiful and fun events, I simply tend to focus on other genres that play to my greatest passions - storytelling and invention.

Then I met Bryanna and Zach. 

From the moment they began telling me of their personal interests in the performing arts, to the fun design for their wedding reception, I knew this was going to be a couple I would adore working with for their wedding.  With a passion for movies, performance and stories, their engagement session would not become simply a documentation of a moment or a ring, but instead the channeling of three Disney stories following the journey of love.

Today's post features just one of those stories - the kind, lasting love of 101 Dalmatian's Roger and Anita.  Seeing Bryanna and Zach navigate the journey of our shoot, it was clear from every moment they looked towards each other's eyes to the way Zach touched and guided Bryanna with such chivalry that theirs was just that.  A lasting love that will guide the way of many beautiful stories to come.


A Look Back... A Look Forward...

One of the joys of launching a new website is revisiting past work for the online portfolio.  Such is the case with the following images from a darling outdoor wedding at Windbeam Farms in 2012. 

On June 8, Michael and Laura Woodward will celebrate their 2 year wedding anniversary.  In that time they have traveled the world before settling their home in Arizona - building upon their lives as teachers and athletes.  The wedding was a perfect reflection of that spirit and a wonderful look at the love between two people and their dedication to a path the Lord has laid for them.

Congratulations, Michael and Laura!  It looks like you have had a wonderful first two years and many more adventures on the horizon!

This gorgeous wedding took place at Windbeam Farm in Wisconsin and featured a wonderfully natural design, lots of loving friends and family and many quiet personal moments between the bride and groom. Everything a wedding should be!