You may have been noticing a few blog posts and Facebook updates at the wee hours in the morning. You may have noticed some photos from new places and quite a few coming from a little Scandinavian country especially! It's because I'm living in NORWAY! :) I'm maximizing my passion for travel and I love taking photos all over the world! I'll have to thank my mother for instilling in me this desire to travel and the need to constantly be wanting to see new and exciting things. I'm what many would call a "Vagabond," which also describes my photographic style. This truly does shine through in all aspects of my life, just ask those who know me personally...they'd probably agree! I had lived in Norway before and was drawn back in September, just at the tail end of the wedding season in Minnesota, and I'm now living in a town called Stavanger. (Pronounced sort of like: Sta - vaughn - er) I'm here with my super amazing boyfriend, Yrjan, who I've known since college and met while working together as photographers at the University of North Dakota. (Go UND/SIOUX) Yes, I have a difficult time pronouncing his name....still. Slowly, I'm learning to speak Norwegian and luckily my Minnesotan/Norwegian heritage helps me fit in just fine with the Norwegian people. What a learning experience it has been so far!
(Stavanger is known for Preikestolen, or 'Pulpit Rock'...that's me teetering on the edge of a cliff above a fjord)
(Left: Yrjan and I atop a mountain called Dalsnuten, with the city of Stavanger behind us! Right: A much warmer place)
I'm so fortunate to be able to experience these new things everyday, like looking out my window to watch boats sailing by, seeing the stunning view of the mountains, watching the hustle and bustle of Norwegians wearing wool knitted sweaters downtown, catching cheap Ryan Air flights to other European countries, and hearing 4 different languages simply by going to the market for a loaf of bread. I'm so glad we're in an age where flights are abundant and we have many ways to communicate and see each other. Most of my family is now spread out with siblings living in Minnesota, Colorado, sometimes Israel, South America, or Germany....keeping in contact is a MUST and I LOVE iPhones free FaceTime and Skype. I've been meeting new clients and friends on Skype meetings so please, give me a call anytime. :)
(I LOVE Skype. Here I'm video chatting with my twin sister, Kelly! Who's Who?!...Take a guess.)
I've been meeting with vendors here who travel globally and sharing with them what Rivets and Roses is all about. (Stay tuned for a Vendor Love post!) It's quite a different wedding market here and it's been interesting learning all about it. Traveling inspires me and I feel like it's a fast track in making me a better photographer! I can't wait to work with more amazing people and create inspiring photo shoots. I'm currently taking wedding bookings in Minnesota and Europe....book me here!
(Below: I can't believe it...but this is the view from my living room window. OMG is right.)
(Did you know Edvard Munch was Norwegian?) In lieu of the season...I've decided to share below this holiday reindeer special with you all.)
If you'd love to see more feel free to follow me on Instagram! There is sure to be tons more photos of Norwegians on skis and wool knitted sweaters! Oh, and Happy Holidays!