S and D ..... truly a FUN couple!  Fun family, fun friends, fun food, fun clothes, super fun music!!  These guys really know how to throw a party!  Not only was their wedding touching and sincere, but this darling couple know the value in having a good time!

S's dress was stunning....you will get to see more of this beautiful dress in a "trash the dress" shoot (to be posted soon).
Have I said just how suave D is????  Oh my!  Besides his day job D is a super talented keyboard player in a local band...check them out!

Before the wedding I remember S describing what she wanted for flowers.  Simply stunning!  Jen Zierke of Prairie Crocus Design


I love how she is holding on to dad just before walking down the isle ... cried when I saw this image (taken by my lovely assistant, thank you Emily!)



And then they danced.... no they didn't just dance.  D held out his hand to his bride and she entered the dance floor, then he pulled her toward him like there was no tomorrow.  Yep, I got a little weak in the knees...no joke!

a day with MOMMY

I finished this shoot of a beautiful mommy and tiny, sweet daughter....as I am loading the images I see this:
I set my camera down and said to my self *I am done...I don't need to take another photo.  This image is so tender that I am satisfied entirely.*



Of course, I will not put my camera down forever.  But I will look back often to these tender moments between a mother and her daughter and forever remember that this is why I take pictures. 

little brother

Little brother

wake up

little brother 

don't cry

when you are bigger

we will run and play

here is big brother, still so little himself.

just back from China

There once was a farm....

and on this farm a beautiful young woman dressed for the most important day of her life...her wedding.
her dress was amazing!  and the comb for her hair was made by her sister-in-law.
isn't she beautiful!  and oh, so happy!
I caught D off guard a bit with this shot...but that is how I like guys shots...not quite perfect.

C put a great deal of effort into the details of the reception
funny stories were told


and at the end of the day everyone threw off their shoes and danced to celebrate the love of sweet C and handsome D.

my little darlings

I am like the shoe maker whose family has no shoes...or is it the cabinet maker that doesn't have any cabinets....or is it the plumber who has a leaky faucet??? anyway, I am the photographer who doesn't have pictures of her family. This winter my photo friends took some awesome shot of my family, but this summer I am inspired by the kids tan shoulders and pink cheeks. So one morning, completely unexpected I told the kids they had 5 minutes to choose a white shirt and meet me by the patio door. They know me well enough to know that this was not up for debate. Within 15 minutes I had all the shots I need. Here are my little (some 6 feet tall) darlings.

Photo Booth Mania

I shot S and D's super fun wedding on Saturday. They are so fun they had a photo booth....melissa style. So in honor of the release of their photo booth gallery I am making a post of my fav's. A special thank you to my dear Emily who did a fantastic job at the Booth! Enjoy!

The tree that was planted in 1989

This is a sad story about a little tree. This tree was planted in 1989 by a loving family who watered it and cared for it until it was big enough to climb and play in. The boys in this family have played countless hours in this darling little tree. The branches are low, perfect for climbing....any little boy's dream! The street in front of their home is going to be made wider so the little tree is going to be cut down. So sad. But before it was cut down we took some time to remember, and forever capture the little tree in pictures. Take a look...

Trash the dress

You may ask...*what in the world is trash the dress???* Well, trash the dress is a fun way for you to get amazing images in your beautiful dress without the stress of the wedding day. We will find a fun location, could be city, could be country. The session takes place after the wedding...could be days, months, years after the wedding. Here are some examples while shooting with my dear friend Erin Johnson (make sure to check her out!  she is the best wedding photographer in the Twin Cities!)