Dan and Emily's Ft. Myers Florida Beach Wedding 2009

Dan and Emily are a fabulous couple with many warm and wonderful family and friends that came to celebrate their wedding
in beautiful Ft. Myers Florida. Emily is one of the most laid back and sweet brides I have had the pleasure to work with and what a great time I had photographing both her and Dan!

This year I am asking all my couples for an extra bit of time after the ceremony to photograph the bride and groom alone. This is my favorite portion of the wedding because it is typically the first time the couple has been alone since they have gotten married! This is a time to have fun, take a deep breathe and have a few moments alone as husband and wife before the big party!! The photographs from this time of the day have a magical quality to them that is just about the bride and groom!

Dan and Emily were very gracious in taking time after their ceremony for photographs of the two of them alone down the beach at the boardwalk. We captured some fun shots and in no time were back at the party!

In many of my photos I start out by posing and giving a few instructions. After this typically we mix it up and have some fun. The photograph of the groomsman and the lemur shows you just never know what can happen during wedding party photographs!! Being ready for those unexpected moments is the most important and in the end is the most rewarding part of every wedding I photograph!!!

Thank you Dan and Emily!!! What a perfect day!!!!

Spring Family Portraits and Purple Newborn Baby Flowers!

I am so happy for the gorgeous weather the last couple of weekends! The flowers were blooming at The Lyndale Peace garden and happened to match new baby Hopes outfit perfectly! Meghann, Peter and family are very special to me as I was so fortunate to shoot there gorgeous fall wedding at Gooseberry Falls last year. To be able to take photographs of them with their newest family member was the best! Thank you Meghann and Pete for all your support!

Sarah, John and Family at Lyndale Park Peace Garden

Once in a while I hesitate to bring my camera in to a concert because I am not sure it will get through security and I will have a long hike to take it back to the car!  This was the case for the Michael Franti and Spearhead Freedom Tour 2009 show held at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. In the end I decided to risk it and bring my camera into the show. I had no problems at all bringing it in and feel blessed by how many people I met that night while taking photographs! Sarah, John, Chlo, TJ and Mara are a beautiful family I was fortunate to meet from this fun night! Since Sarah and her family live in Iowa and I live in Duluth I am especially happy we were able to plan to get together in Minneapolis at Lyndale Park PeaceGarden. 
www.minneapolisparks.org/default.aspPageID=4&parkid=349

I love the magical quality of this park and always love seeing how children react to all the rocks and trees to climb and flowers that are blooming from May to September.  Here are some of my favorite photographs from the park and also I included a few from the concert! Thanks Sarah, John, Chlo, TJ and Mara.