Blog
Love stories and more
Look for my favorite wedding planning tips and tricks, behind the scenes tidbits about my life, and, of course, features of many of the beautiful couples who spend time in front of my camera.
I promise it’s worth your while.
3 Things To Do Within Driving Distance of Los Angeles
I’m headed back to Los Angeles in a few weeks to meet my cousin’s first sweet little baby (and to take as many pictures of those tiny little fingers and toes as possible while I’m there!), so it feels like a perfect time to look back on my favorite places from previous visits. If you’re headed out to LA but aren’t entiiiiirely sure the hustle and bustle of the city is what you’re most excited for, here are a few spots to consider adding to your itinerary…
Feeding Your Wedding Photographer
It’s a common question that pops up during the wedding planning process: “Are we supposed to feed our wedding photographer?”
YES. Please!
New Year, New Website
It was a long road. A labor of love. A little bit (okay, a lot bit) frustrating at times. But 100% completely worth it in the end.
I have wanted to build a new website for the last two years and, given it was a pretty daunting and time-consuming task, it always seemed to wind up at the bottom of my priority list. Shocker. (ha!)
This fall, however, I was finally ready to take on the challenge.
17.5 Things I’ve Learned in 35 Years
Turning 35 wasn’t as earth-shattering as I expected it to be. In fact, it felt much like the day before, which is perhaps because my perspective has shifted quite a bit as of late. The last few years have involved a significant amount of self-reflection and personal growth, and you know what?
I’m freaking PROUD OF MYSELF.
The Soup Swap
When my neighbor invited me to a soup swap with her friends, I envisioned that we’d all prepare our favorite type of soup and get together for a giant feast.
While that would have been amazing, this was even better than I imagined.
How to Spend 3 Days In Door County
Last weekend, Kevin and I introduced our friends Derek and Cari to the magic and wonder of Door County for the first time! Even though they both grew up in Wisconsin, this was their first opportunity to visit and we wanted to make sure they had a wonderful time; naturally, we packed in as many of our favorite activities as we could.
Top 3 Things To Do in Door County
I'm in the midst of planning this summer's third (yay!) trip to Door County and it's going to be an extra special one because we're taking two of our best friends for their FIRST EVER VISIT.
A Day in the Life of a Wedding Photographer
Helping create and follow a timeline for a wedding day is one thing, but what about the rest of the day? What does a wedding photographer do?
For me, it starts the night before.
Denali National Park
Hang on a second, is that a grizzly bear?
Rex brought the bus to a gravel-grinding halt and I thought Kevin might jump out of his seat with excitement.
Eklutna Lake
Next up on our tour of the Alaskan wilderness: Eklutna Lake!
Not realizing that I needed to equate the Alaskan version of a “moderate” hike to a hard one in Minnesota, I had naively planned for us to hike a second mountain the day after we scaled Flattop Mountain outside of Anchorage.
Hiking Flattop Mountain
After being on our destination list for ages, Kevin and I were able to spend just under two weeks in Alaska last June. As you know, I’m a big planner and organizer, so I had carefully researched and mapped out our primary plans and stops throughout the trip. We wanted to take a few hikes while we were there, so I headed over to AllTrails to find our best options.
3 Things I Loved About My Wedding
Last week’s blog focused on three things I would change about my wedding, but don’t worry - I loved just about every other aspect of the day! I had a hard time narrowing it down to just three choices, but here goes. :) These may or may not be a good fit for your perfect day, but hopefully they’ll get you thinking about what you really want.
3 Things I Would Change About My Wedding
This week, I wanted to slow down for a few minutes and think back on my own wedding; if I went back in time, what would I do differently? Don’t get me wrong - our wedding really was everything I dreamed and more! But having been part of so many incredible weddings as a photographer, here are a few things that would have been a better fit for us…
My Working Style
If there’s one person you’ll spend more time with on your wedding day than your new spouse, it’s your photographer! So, it stands to reason that finding the perfect photographer not only means finding someone whose style you like and whose work fits your budget, but it also means you should feel comfortable with their personality and working style as well.
The Beauty of Black and White Photography
There is something special about black and white images that make a person sit up and take notice. The emotion is deeper. The story is stronger. We enter into that specific moment in time without distraction, without noise, and we FEEL.
In-Home Photo Sessions
Choosing a location for your photo session can be an overwhelming process! I'm always happy to provide suggestions, but I also like to ask my clients to think about places that have meaning to them, spots that might match a certain aesthetic they're looking for in their images, and distance from their home so they don't need to travel too far to get there. Sometimes the perfect solution is their home itself!
Erickson Farmstead
It was easy to see that the owners and staff have put their hearts into the continued restoration of the farmstead, as each room in the home is full of comfort and charm. The buildings each offer something spectacular, from chandeliers in the reception barn to the gorgeous natural light streaming in through the windows of the summer kitchen. If you’re looking for a rustic location on the north side of the metro, this may be the perfect place for you - they’ll welcome you in like family immediately.
