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.
How to Plan the Perfect Sunset Photos
Have you ever noticed how golden, glowy sunset lighting is often used to set the scene in movies when those two characters that you just KNOW are supposed to be together finally realize it for themselves? They might be sitting in front of a window in a Paris cafe when it suddenly hits them, or perhaps they’ve realized they can’t bear to be apart any longer and are running to each other on the beach, but lighting in the film is an intentional choice to enhance the warm glow in your heart that they’ve finally realized they’re meant to be.
Planning Your Walk Down the Aisle
In my experience, if there’s something about weddings that lives up to the hype (well, okay, there are actually quite a few things that do, but this is a big one), it’s your walk down the aisle.
A truly magical moment that you’ll never forget.
It’s not a moment I realized I needed to plan anything special for when Kevin and I were making arrangements for our own wedding, but now I know better - and want to make sure you’re prepared too!
How to Write Your Own Vows
Right in the heart - it gets me every time!
Writing your own vows brings a unique, personal touch to your ceremony and can be a sweet way to share a bit more of your love story with your guests.
Here are my top tips for writing them!
Benefits of a Second Shooter
When it comes to budgeting for a wedding, every dollar matters. Is getting a second shooter worth the money?
It might be the right choice for you if…
Outdoor Photos at Winter Weddings
I looove a winter wedding - and I’m happy to wind up with frozen fingers if it means we had the opportunity to take outdoor photos! If you’re planning a fabulous winter soiree, here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when it comes to your photography plan for the day:
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.
Villa Bellezza Anniversary
I nearly drove off the road because I couldn’t take my eyes off the piece of the Italian countryside that appeared out of nowhere on my drive through Pepin, WI a few weeks ago! I spent about a week in Italy during college and have always wanted to go back - there’s just something about the history and architecture that make the sun shine a little warmer there.
Encouraging Family Members to be Prompt
Everyone knows at least one person who can never quite arrive on time for even the most important of events…and if that person happens to be one of your family members, how can you make sure they show up for wedding day photos when you need them?
Bunker Hills MN Wedding
Kailey got ready at her parents’ home, which also provided the perfect location for her first look with Matt. (A special shout out to her dad for quickly fixing the fence after the storms that came through just a few weeks prior!) Under the shade of two beautiful apple trees, Matt saw his bride for the first time.
Benefits of a First Look
When photos are an important aspect of your wedding, a first look is an effective way to prioritize getting great images with less stress. Here are a few of my favorite reasons why.
3 Alternatives to a Receiving Line
Want to welcome all of your wedding guests (hey, you invited them for a reason!), but you’d prefer to skip the traditional receiving line? I get it! Kevin and I had a receiving line for our wedding and, while I loved being able to welcome everyone individually, it took much longer than we expected.
Intimate Backyard Wedding
The day’s main events were hosted by Max’s parents, and I was delighted to see the first hints of fall color in the leaves, perfectly framing the ceremony space. It was evident they had put a great deal of care and consideration into the planning of a meaningful day, from the design of the invitations to the readings they selected for the ceremony.
Summer Wedding at Erickson Farmstead
It may have been one of the hottest days of the year, but you’d never guess it when looking back on their photos!
Bloomington Nature Reserve Engagement Session
We headed to one of my favorite Bloomington photo spots and made the most of a perfect Minnesota evening. A few flowers were holding on to the last remnants of summer, but I loved that we also found a little color in the leaves and grass as fall starts to take hold.
Marlana + Matthew
I drove back to central Wisconsin for Matthew and Marlana’s maternity session and discovered fresh snow on the ground, temps in the upper twenties, and stunning scenery on his family’s land…this, my friends, is what maternity session dreams are made of!
Covid Wedding at Erickson Farmstead
Months of uncertainty due to a global pandemic melted away as Max and Ciara’s wedding day dawned bright and sunny, with perfect June breezes to make us forget there had ever been a question the day might be anything other than ideal.
Sentimental Wedding in Minneapolis
Mike and Andria were married at her family church; not only were her grandparents original members of the community, but several generations of her close relatives have had their own wedding celebrations there!
Jillian + John
John and Jill’s wedding took place on a perfect spring day in Minnesota. I was so excited to wake up to chirping birds and cheerful rays of sunshine - what a great start to the big day for such a special couple!
Creating a Wedding Day Timeline
Every wedding is unique, which is one of the reasons I love them so much! From indoor to outdoor ceremonies, dates during the summer or winter, and bridal parties of a single bridesmaid and groomsman to those with ten of the couple's best friends standing up on either side, the one thing that is consistent between all wedding days is the need for a schedule or timeline.
Nzube + Jumoke
St. Anthony Main is easily one of my favorite areas - to both visit personally and to photograph. The quirky, colorful shops and cafes that line the river give a little extra flavor to the city, and the beautiful skyline view of downtown Minneapolis can’t be beat! It was the perfect location for this couple - urban, but with some soft touches that made it feel like it’s been their home far longer than the last few years.