Post by Maggie Witter

June 24, 2016

Mill City Farmers Market Engagement // Chrissi + Eric // Post by Maggie Witter

June 22, 2016

Chrissi and Eric had their second round of engagement photos with me at the Mill City Farmers Market. There was nothing better than getting up early to grab coffee with these two and photographing their happiness together. Can't wait for their wedding day in October!

Ask The Team // What Advice Do You Have For Clients?

June 13, 2016

JACKSON FAITH

My biggest push for clients is to have the engagement session. That way they get comfortable with their photographer and the camera prior to the big day and all the added pressure. Also, having a day of coordinator so that the bride and groom do not have to worry about details and scheduling that day is super helpful to have!

THEA VOLK

There are a million ways to go about things when planning your wedding and everyone picks what best expresses them as a couple, so giving advice is not something I do often. Getting photographs that can be a lasting heirloom of your wedding day is my sole area of expertise though. So, over the years, I've come up with lots of little ways to help make that happen. The two biggest are time and light - time with the couple for portraits and access to beautiful light in a lovely location. Before the wedding, I work with couples to find these locations, which are usually around their venue, and to find the moments in their day's timeline.

MELISSA HESSE

Finding a photographer and vendors that you connect with helps create the energy you are looking to have on the wedding day. Nothing is worse than the couple running around trying to solve problems on the day of. If they have selected vendors they can trust and have everything nailed down ahead of time then couple can truly enjoy the day and stay on track with the itinerary. That also goes along with sitting down and finalizing the details with your vendors. Communication and organization is key to allow everything to run smoothly on your wedding day!

RYAN STADLER

I try to encourage couples to take whatever the day brings and make the most of it. The hard work is finished. Now, sit back and experience everything. Rain or shine, hot or cold, the good and bad. It'll fly by so enjoy it! I'll be there to document it.

MAGGIE WITTER

One big piece of advice I would give to clients is to let the day happen as it happens! Schedules and timelines are SO helpful and important but at the same time, don't get too worried if you fall behind schedule or get off track. It's so unfortunate to see a timeline stress a couple out when they should be worry free and focusing on enjoying each other and their day. It is YOUR day - enjoy it!

BRYAN BLUMENSCHEIN

Having a solid timeline and plan for the day is critical. Make sure to communicate with everyone that's involved early on. Include names and numbers of the wedding party and vendors. See Itinerary example below!

Ceremony Location: Address & Phone Number

Reception Location: Address & Phone Number

*Main Contact Phone Number

10:00- Photographers arrive for getting ready photos (Grooms house)

12:00- Arrive and settle at (Venue address)

12:30- First look

12:35- Wedding party photos

1:30- Couple's portraits

2:00- Family formals

2:45- Wedding party takes break & prep for ceremony

3:00- Guests arrive

3:30- Ceremony begins

3:45- Ceremony ends

3:45- Cocktail hour begins // Receiving Line

4:00- Newlywed moment

5:30- Dinner begins (Buffet opens)

7:00- Cake Cutting & Speeches

7:15 - Tom and Amelia first dance

7:20- Party begins!

8:30- Sunset session with newlyweds

Varsity Theater Wedding // Mr. + Mrs. Schmidt // Post by Ryan Stadler

May 19, 2016

Kelly and Chad's wedding day was centered around the support and love of their friends and family. The weather was absolutely beautiful and so was every part of their day. After a not so traditional church ceremony, the wedding party bused it to the Stone Arch Bridge for some quick photos and eventually made their way to the Varsity Theater. Kelly's dance group, "Sole to Soul" performed for the guests and helped set the mood for the night. A sparkler send-off wrapped everything up perfectly!

Ask the Team // Topic: Favorite Part About a Wedding Day

May 16, 2016

For this months blog topic we asked our team what their favorite part is about a wedding day. There are so many moments that go into the day that we wanted to know what part our team gets most excited to photograph. This is what they said:

RYAN STADLER

The anticipation, nervousness & anxiety that goes along with the early stages of the wedding day are what I love most. I can relate to the bride and groom and everyone involved. I still vividly remember my own wedding day and how my stomach felt just waiting and waiting to see my bride. As the couples photographer, I feel a similar sense of anticipation and excitement leading up to that first photo I take. I love the family interactions and range of emotions during the first few hours of the day. Usually, preparation locations are accompanied by interesting and dramatic light, which adds to the overall intensity. All of this reminds me of competing in Track & Field. Warming up. Stretching. Eventually, walking up to the starting line, waiting for the gun to go off. The actual race is an absolute blur...but, all that leads up to it is like preparation on a wedding day and its so exciting.

THEA VOLK

The first part of the day, getting ready, is one of my favorite parts. I love capturing the energy and anticipation as the day begins, like when the flowers are being delivered, the dress is hanging in the closet, and the bridesmaids are drinking mimosas. But, the First Dance can't be beat as far as romance is concerned. I often get swept up with the music, emotion, and movement of those few minutes.

BRYAN BLUMENSCHEIN

My Favorite part of the wedding day is the time immediately following the ceremony. Everyone is in great spirits, the excitement and mood is wonderful. The couple gets to relax a little and now everyone begins to party! I also really like to run away with the couple right after and grab photos with just the newlyweds!

MELISSA HESSE

The excitement and anticipation of the couple seeing each other for the first time in their wedding attire is my favorite part of a wedding day. The moments leading up to a first look creates an energy that is released when the couple finally sees each other and often times will share an emotional moment with their personal vows that no one else witnesses. After the first look it feels as if the wedding day has truly begun!

Centennial Lake Wedding // Lisa + Michael // Post by Bryan Blumenschein

May 01, 2016

Lisa and Michael met 6 years ago and instantly became best friends. They say to marry your best friend, and in this case they did! Their wedding and reception was held at Pinstripes in Edina, and right in the back yard sits Centennial Lakes which offered a beautiful landscape for their wedding photos. These two had an awesome night celebrating with their friends and family over bocce ball, bowling, and of course dancing!

Semple Mansion Wedding // Mr. + Mrs. Marriott // Post by Thea Volk

April 28, 2016

This wedding was my first one of the year and a beautiful one at that. Semple Mansion didn't disappoint, as always. I owe a big thanks to these two and their kind families for giving me so much creative freedom and making me feel like a wedding guest!

Inside the Studio // Rivets and Roses

April 20, 2016

Our studio may be small, but it is a power house! We have 4 brands under one roof including our Rivets and Roses wedding company. This studio is the glue to our team. It is where we hold meetings, deliver our work, and make shit happen!

Double Exposures // Post by Ryan Stadler

April 13, 2016

Ask the Team // Topic: Cell Phones at Weddings

April 06, 2016

For this month's blog topic we asked our team what their perspective is on cell phone use at weddings. Do the guests get a unique perspective other than what the hired photographer takes or is it a distraction?

RYAN STADLER

I'm gonna go old school on this one and say I love it when couples request part of or most of their day be tech free. As much as I love contributing to the unique hashtags throughout the day, I love it more when I get to photograph couples and their friends and families fully engaged and present throughout the day. When multiple professional photographers and videographers are hired for a wedding so much will be photographed and recorded and the results are so much better when everyone's not staring at their phones or trying to be the pro themselves. All this being said, I am never threatened or insecure about people using phones and trying to capture how they see the day. I know their intent is to help document a beautiful day and it's a way for them to personalize the event. If there is a cool Instagram account or hashtag being used I will most definitely contribute!

THEA VOLK

Last season many couples I worked with chose to ask that guests put their cell phones away during the ceremony. I think during this part of the day, couples want the distraction that phones can create to be put on hold. Their requests seemed to work, and I don't believe their guests felt negatively about it at all. One way to embrace the benefits of social media is to offer a creative hashtag to your guests. It becomes a great way to organize your friends Instagram posts from the wedding event. I think of it as an alternative to the older idea of placing disposable cameras on the reception tables. I've seen couples advertise the hashtag in the invitation or with signage at the event itself.

MAGGIE WITTER

I think social media can be such a fun way of sharing in the excitement of a wedding! I love the new wedding hashtag trend - it is always so fun to see what couples come up with for their hashtag and I think it's a great way for everyone to look back at a collection of personal photos from the couple's guests. Usually couples wait several weeks to receive their professional photos, so having those cell phone photos from their guests can be a great way to relive their day before receiving their professional photos.

With this in mind, I think it's important to draw a line with when guests are taking those photos. I know that it is so tempting for friends and family to want to get a photo on their own phone or camera during family photos or wedding party photos especially. Keep in mind that there is usually a schedule the couple and photographer are trying to follow, and stopping for guests to take cell phone pictures can eat up a lot of that time! I would encourage couples to communicate this with their family members before the wedding day. It makes photos go a lot quicker and smoother so everyone can get to the important part of the day - the ceremony and the party!

BRYAN BLUMENSCHEIN

I generally enjoy social media at weddings. I love the idea of using hashtags to track all the photos and post that the guest are posting, this makes finding things easy after the big day! I also like posting images the day of using the couples hashtags. I think social media can provide wonderful guest vantage point of the day.

MELISSA HESSE

I am all for people using phones to capture their vantage point of moments with friends and family during the reception. However, the most respectful time to put your phone or camera away is during the ceremony. The couple has spent a lot of time and money into planning their wedding, and they want you to fully experience it without the distraction of taking photos. Leave the ceremony to the photographer, for the rest of the day selfie and hashtag it up respectfully!

Audrey and Jason // Engaged // Post by Thea Volk

March 30, 2016

Thank you Audrey and Jason for a lovely afternoon. Engagement sessions like this one are always a great chance to get to know a couple even more before the wedding day. I can't wait to take more photos of them this summer at Mill City!

Coley and Cody // Engaged // Post by Jackson Faith

March 28, 2016

Amelia and Tom // Engaged // Post by Melissa Hesse

March 23, 2016

Amelia and Tom are from Minnesota, met in Minnesota, and are getting married in Minnesota, but live in Connecticut where Amelia attends grad school at Yale. The two of them flew in for their engagement session which called for a full day of exploring Saint Paul and Minneapolis, so we did just that! We found the charm of Saint Paul at the Union Depot, and the James J. Hill Reference Library. Explored parts of the North Loop in Minneapolis after getting Pizza at Black Sheep in honor of Pi Day, and found outdoor locations along the way. The two of them were such troopers for being up for all of it! Excited for them to get Married this June at Summit Manor.

Before Ceremony // Bride and Father Moments // Team Post

March 15, 2016

There is something special about the moments before the ceremony begins, and the father of the bride gives her away. We always try to stay back with the bride to capture those moments when they are saying meaningful words to each other as the wedding party paves the way for the bride.

Ask the Team // Topic: What Inspires Your Work?

March 09, 2016

For this months topic we asked our team what inspires their work. We left it open for them to answer however they feel inspiration comes to them. As artists our work is constantly changing, and growing. For that reason we were interested in what inspires each member of our team since each of us have different perspectives from where our inspiration comes from.

Thea Volk

There are so many artists that have inspired me over the course of my career. Early on, I was drawn to the street photography of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Doisinau. Their work captures fleeting moments. You can sense movement, energy, and romance in them. Though not obvious, there is also amazing composition and even behind-the-scenes art direction. I combine my interest in street photography with a love for stylized portraiture. Annie Leibowitz, Richard Avedon. So, when shooting I'm always striking a balance between capturing moments and making portraits. For wedding photography in particular though, I work so that my images feel unstructured, yet artful. I want to capture the narrative without any gimmicks. But, I also want to present a curated collection of imagery to my clients. My final product aims to have the most simple, gestural, and emotional images from the day of shooting.

Maggie Witter

On a wedding day, I am most inspired by the relationships - between the couple but also between them and their families and friends. There are so many private, beautiful moments that happen throughout the wedding day and it's pretty amazing that as a couple's photographer, I am invited to witness those moments. These moments that the couple share with the most important people in the world to them are what really makes each photo matter. These are the photos that get me the most excited on a wedding day and they are the reason I love what I do so much.

Melissa Hesse

The moment I found the connection between the work that I had been creating to the work that I wanted to create was a huge inspiring moment for me. Being a wedding photographer has opened up my world to photograph just about anything. From details, to portraits, to food, and moments fleeting by that are captured has pushed me to be inspired by all the components that go into a wedding. Your attention isn't solely focused on the couple, it is also focused on those around them and everything they put into it. Since no wedding is the same, every wedding inspires my work for the next one.

Jackson Faith

What inspires me most is a combination of things. I love the sentimental details of a wedding, the little pieces that mean more to the couple than anyone else. I also love the candid laughing moments of the day. My main goal is to capture the joy had during a wedding.

Ryan Stadler

Portrait and wedding photography is so much about other people. I have the privilege of documenting someone else's life, and this alone is very inspiring. When I photograph people I really connect with them. When they are in a great location with unique light, and the emotion of a wedding day, inspiration can really start to come to me. Inspiration comes to me especially as I keep working. It inspires me to also have peers by my side, and seeing friends and colleagues working their butts off to make great work motivates me to continue working. My photography seems to get better and grow as I continue to create.

Candid Moments // Team Post

March 07, 2016

That point in time when a couple is laughing together, or having an intimate moment can be the true highlight of any wedding day or engagement session. Most of the time the couple isn't aware of the camera, and our Rivets and Roses team has been able to capture some truly special moments between the couple.

Stylish Wedding Guests // Team Post

March 02, 2016

When it comes to "what to wear" at a wedding these guests brought out their best. From the fanciest black tie weddings to the casual backyard. All weddings allow you to play it up as much as you want! It's a reason to pull out your favorite tie, purse, or that new item you've been dying to show off. We love when a guest stands out, and our Rivets and Roses team has caught some of those perfect looks.

Ask the Team // Topic: Engagement Sessions

February 22, 2016

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LOCATIONS FOR AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION?

We asked our team where their favorite engagement session locations are, and their process when they plan with their couples. This is what they said:

THEA VOLK

Downtown St. Paul is one of my favorite backdrops for engagement photos. The cobblestone streets, quaint storefronts, and historic buildings lend a timeless quality to the portraits. Landmark Center is a great option for cold or rainy days. You can easily get permission to wander the halls and staircases and the natural light coming in makes for good shots.

Finding what the couple enjoys doing together is a great starting point for most sessions. Whether they were engaged at Cafe Lurcat or love bicycling around Lake Harriet, those places or activities that are important in their lives lend a fuller meaning to the photos.

My other favorite spots are local parks when the trees are flowering in Spring, the client's home, and Lake Hiawatha at sunset.

JACKSON FAITH

My go to is the clients favorite spot in the city - some place with a lot of meaning to them.

+ Any body of water around sunset is sure to bring out the romance.

+ One of my favorite lakes is Cedar Lake.

+ Any Local State Parks ( William O'Brien & Interstate Parks) any places with great views!

+ Often times will go to the couples favorite restaurant where they share many personal memories together.

+ My favorite part of town for an engagement session is Lowertown in St. Paul.

MELISSA HESSE

My favorite go-to engagement session spots are always where the couple spends most of their time. They seem to be more at ease in a location they are familiar with. It keeps things casual, and takes off the pressure of being in front of the camera.

When choosing other locations I love to bring the couple out for a drink. Perhaps their favorite restaurant or cafe. It's a great start to warm up, and then explore areas around that location for unique backdrops such as alley ways or hidden gems around the city.

BRYAN BLUMENSCHEIN

I enjoy shooting outdoors with natural backdrops, nothing beats being outdoors with the couple!

A few of my favorite outdoor locations are:

+ Cedar lake

+ French park (Plymouth)

+ Loring park

+ Elm Creek Park reserve(Maple Grove)

MAGGIE WITTER

Minnesota has so much to offer when it comes to photo shoot spots! There are so many gorgeous places to photograph in the twin cities alone, but my favorite spot to shoot is always somewhere that has some sort of significance to the couple I am working with. This is sometimes their home, the place they first met, their favorite coffee shop or restaurant, etc. Going somewhere that the couple is somewhat familiar with puts them at ease which makes for the best photos. Plus, it is a huge part of their story which is so fun to incorporate into engagement photos!

RYAN STADLER

I like thinking about how to make these sessions as genuine to each couple as possible. Most of the time, couples are really nervous at first, so it's great to start in familiar places for them rather than taking them to some spot I love, unless I know it fits them and its going to help in getting genuine photos.

Here's what I suggest to my couples unless they have a specific location in mind:

+ Family cabin on a lake

+ Couples condo/home

+ Immediate neighborhood

+ Cozy cafe's and coffee shops nearby

2016 Wedding Trends // Team Post

February 16, 2016

Trend Setters

Every year we see new trends hit the wedding industry, and we wanted to know what trends have stayed and what is new. This is what we found!

Sparkles! Sparkles! Sparkles!

Sparkles seem to make their way into any wedding day, and we are seeing sparkles incorporated into weddings more than ever. From the invitations to the details on a dress, and the decorations at the reception. Sparkles are taking over and we are loving it!

Mismatched

As mismatched wedding attire has been a trend in the past year we are going to see more couples pick up on this in 2016. It is such a fun way to incorporate your wedding parties true colors as they pick out something they feel comfortable in as well.

Creative Food and Drinks

Couples are sharing their personality through food and drinks just like we want them to! It's not only a conversation starter, but it's also a fun way to treat your guests to having something they won't get anywhere else. Pro tip has it that pre made drinks are easy on the budget as well!

Fresh Picked

Weddings wouldn't be the same without floral. What is in season has been getting attention more than ever. What is fresh picked to what is local couples are appreciating what is available to them at the time and season of their wedding. Flowers have been a major tradition in weddings, and as new traditions rise this is one we absolutely love!

Through the Lens

The moment guests arrive they are pulling out their phones and begin hash tagging away as they post to Facebook and Instagram. The hashtag trend is still on the rise as social media becomes a huge part of any wedding day with the couples personalized hashtag. Polaroids and film captured moments are a huge hit right now as guests are loving the immediate gratification of a photo.

Set the Mood

Lighting is the last thing any couple thinks about when they are planning a wedding, but lighting is important to the environment you have chosen. Chandeliers are setting an elegant mood while Edison light bulbs are setting a casual mood. Depending on your location these 2016 lighting trends are sure to set the mood for your guests.

Still Trending

We won't be seeing the barn weddings leave the industry anytime soon. Couples are still enjoying it just as much as the first one they laid eyes on which is why they are making it the theme for their wedding day. It's perfect for those on a budget who don't need a huge event space, and to instead rent a barn and throw a casual wedding. It's great for the outdoors type and to seclude yourself from the city with your guests.