The Grand Cafe (Post by Thea)

Today, I want to feature one of my favorite restaurants in Minneapolis, The Grand Cafe. Annika and I braved the cold weather late this morning for Eggs en Cocotte, Carmel Apple French Toast, and fresh orange juice. As always, the table setting was irresistibly quaint and the atmosphere comfortable. And, in case you didn't know, they host weddings. I can only imagine an intimate and cool reception here. Hope you enjoy these pictures that I managed between bites.  

winter in the kitchen {by leslie}

Man, I don't know about you guys, but this winter is starting to bring me down! At first, I fought it by keeping up my fun, winter activities (shoots in the fresh snow! snowball fights! reading by the fire!), but by now I'm more in "survival mode." This means I'm cooking up a storm (and working on my food photography at the same time). Below are a few of the things I've been eating lately.

Just think how exciting summer will be with fresh veggies and salads! I cannot wait.

Minneapolis Talent Photographer {post by natalie}

This is one of my beautiful soon-to-be-brides! Lisa wanted to update her photos for her website & Facebook pages with some fresh new imagery & I was more than game! Besides weddings a lot of the sessions I photograph are of newborns & children & what I like to call "Talent Sessions". I mean, let's face it, in some way shape or form, we are all talented. Some people can draw, others can act & then there are those of you who sell real estate really well! I'm not sure about her ability to draw or act but Lisa sells real estate really well! This was also a fun way for Lisa & I to get to know each other a little better before the big day! Here is just a sneak peek of a few of the images from her session! Enjoy!

Wedding consultations | Let’s chat about chatting! {post by natalie}

{I’ve been thinking about that opening line for a while now!} So lets pretend we’ve chatted over email about the date you are getting married, where, how over the top or intimate the wedding will be, you love my work & totally want to hire me…what’s the next step? Getting together to go over all the details of the wedding day! Usually when a couple hires me it is still pretty early in the planning process, maybe you don’t even have the ceremony or reception locations booked yet??…but I still like to get together over a cup of coffee or at the studio to go over all the plans you have in your head for the big day. Why? Well, to be honest, I’ve photographed a lot of weddings {not hundreds of weddings, but a lot compared to someone who has photographed a few} & I have seen a lot of things that work well & a lot of things that don’t work well. For instance, debating if you should see each other before the wedding? I would ask you what season are you getting married in & if you are set on a specific time for the wedding…why would I ask you these things? In the winter we lose daylight fast so if you aren’t going to see each other before the wedding & you are planning a 6pm ceremony, then some of the Wedding Party & Family photos will have to be photographed when it is dark outside, in a short period of time most likely over happy hour & prior to dinner…are you ok with that or did you envision your Wedding Party & Family photos in pretty, soft, sunny light outdoors, or did you envision mingling during happy hour with your guests? All things to consider when planning your wedding day!

After this initial meeting I like to put together an editable tentative timeline for my clients that outlines the events of the day. This is something I always pass along for you to use as you start to narrow down the details & work out the logistics of your wedding day! Then, about a month before the wedding, we get together again! By this time the details have all been worked out & we really get into the nitty-gritty of the day…who is going to be where & when, what I am photographing when & how…we fine tune the schedule so we are all set walking into your wedding day! I love photographing weddings…but I also really enjoy the collaborative process of making sure your timeline for the day is going to allow you to get all the photos you want & enjoy your wedding day to its fullest!

Valentine's Day (Post by Thea)

Indulge those you love this week. Have a wonderful and happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Lately (Post by Thea)

From a warm vacation in Arizona to waking up at 4am on the coldest day of the year for a working trip to Chicago, it has been a busy few weeks. To top it off, amongst the lunches, playdates, and client meetings, my daughter, Annika has become a complete, conversational, little person. Time goes by...

the big easy {by leslie}

Last week I was lucky enough to escape the Minnesota cold for a few days and head down to New Orleans. It was my first time there, and man could I get fat in a city like that. Between the beignets, praline bacon, po' boy sandwiches and fried chocolate pecan pie (omg, so good), it was a cholesterol-raising trip for sure. And since I've returned, I've been dining on chicken broth, smoothies and broiled fish in an attempt to regulate my bloodstream. One of my favorite moments was when it dipped down to 32 degrees and the locals at the bar were all discussing how they could keep their yard chickens warm in such weather. They decided to move space heaters out into the yard. Ha!

Anyway! I thought you might want to see the photos. One note: If you see xxx on a grave, it's a voodoo king or queen's tomb and the xs represent favors asked or granted. Fascinating. Enjoy!

alethea + jarl, married {by leslie}

A few weeks back I was lucky enough to shoot an intimate wedding on a cold winter day inside of a cozy home packed full of friends and family. Oh  man, do I love the small, casual wedding! Alethea and Jarl traveled all the way from their London home to get married surrounded by the ones they love, and it was so great to be a part of their special day!

Also! Special thanks to the wonderful Jackson for second shooting this one with me.

Leah and Brian // New Year's Eve (Post by Thea)

Leah and Brian have a truly amazing story. When I first met them, I also met their daughter Samantha, a playful and wise little girl. Through a touching series of events, Leah adopted Samantha after growing close to Brian, Samantha's father, some years back. The three have an impenetrable bond but they keep their family and friends close as well. Though their wedding day was epically cold, they threw a delightful party at the McNamara Alumni Center. It included 40 children who were treated to a special reception all their own, complete with movies, activities, and glow sticks. This inclusiveness plus the faith and culture of a traditional Jewish wedding made the day one of a kind.

alex + donny engaged {by leslie}

Shooting an engagement session this holiday season is both thrilling (because OMG I love the snow!) and terrifying (because OMG IT IS SO DANG COLD OUTSIDE!). Part of this challenge lies in finding a location that will allow for lovely images both inside and out, and luckily for us the Como Zoo and Conservatory did just that. The other part that is important? Couples that are totally low key and who just want to have a good time and enjoy the shoot. Holy cow, these were those people. We had so much fun catching the end of the day's light and playing in the snow -- even if it was about 2 degrees outside. I am so excited for the wedding this summer!

elizabeth and mike, engaged {by leslie}

Finally! I got to shoot an engagement session in the snow! Not just with snow on the ground, but full of flakes coming down from the sky! It was lovely. And the adorable couple didn't hurt any, either. I had so much fun meeting Elizabeth and Mike for the first time in person (they live on the East Coast) and photographing their engagement session the weekend before Christmas. Not only were they kind and gracious, but they were totally willing to lose their coats and run out in the snowfall for a few shots. I love it when couples come to play!

Annika's Holiday Portrait (Post by Thea)

Lately, I've photographed many families for their annual holiday portrait. Last week, after a shoot with a little boy in the studio, I managed to get Annika in her holiday dress and her hair brushed so that I could snap a few portraits. As with most toddlers, we had just under 5 minutes before things unravelled. Here is Annika, not quite 2 years old. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday, especially the newlyweds and newly-engaged!

Kaitlin and Mike // Married (post by Desiree)

Take style and class mixed with the right amount of awesome and you get Kaitlin and Mike. Naturally these two were both totally relaxed and enjoying their big day despite the rain showers in November.  It still made for a beautiful wedding at St. Kates Chapel. After meeting these two during their engagement session I knew their wedding was going to be sooooo much fun and they did not disappoint.  One beautiful bride in her stunning gown, one dapper groom, love, friends, family...it was perfect.

naughty or nice {by leslie}

Since winter is almost here, and weddings are starting to wind down for a few months, I thought I'd share some outtakes from a recent dog shoot I worked on. I do a lot of personal sessions for people, but on this particular day I set up a traveling studio at a local doggy daycare and shot holiday images of the pups for their owners (to use as gifts or with their holiday cards). As you can imagine, not all dogs are enthusiastic about santa beards and reindeer antlers. Here are a few of the outtakes:

To see some of the shots that turned out as planned, you can look here. Enjoy!

Melissa & Laura | Married {post by natalie}

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not normally at a loss for words! I've been trying to wrap my head around everything that this day meant to Melissa & Laura...somehow capture that in words & spill it all over this page for you to soak in...oh how I wish you all could have been there for every wonderful moment! From the nervousness of getting ready to the anticipation of that first look...& then to that moment, standing before their friends & family, legally committing themselves to one another...ohhh! & the party!!! This was such.a.beautiful.perfect.day. So, instead of trying to spell it out, I'll just let you re-live it with me in the imagery...congratulations Melissa & Laura! Enjoy!

Jennie and Tom // Sep. 21, 2013 (Post by Thea)

Narrowing this post down to a set of images was not an easy task. There were just too many awesome moments to choose from. Jennie and Tom's wedding was an old-fashioned meets modern affair in St. Paul early this Fall. There were gold and glittery details, wispy and monochromatic bridesmaids dress... DIY touches in every corner, then a sky-high reception at the carousel on the 22nd floor of downtown St. Paul's Crown Plaza. I would do this day again. It was just that fun. Congratulations to Jennie and Tom!

Family Style Back Yard Brides Dinner {post by natalie}

When I showed up to the Brides Dinner & saw the cans of Contadina Tomato Puree I just knew these were going to be my kind of people! This backyard Brides Dinner was simply perfect. From the family style set up & checkered table cloths to the twinkling lights & the puppy's tux...yes, the puppy's tux...Melissa & Laura couldn't of had a better night with their family & friends! While I was there I had the opportunity to sneak Melissa & Laura away for a bit...goodness how I love the excited nervousness of a couple as they start to realize that tomorrow, TOMORROW they will be married! And how truly exciting that we live in a state where Melissa & Laura would be able to make their commitment to one another legal! Very proud to be a Minnesotan on this particular night...enjoy!

the pacific northwest {by leslie}

I have a confession... I just got back from a glorious vacation. I am always torn about taking a big trip in October because it's such a high time for weddings, family portraits and high school seniors. But October is the month of my own wedding anniversary (14 years next week!) and the month of my husband's birthday. So I take the time away from work to focus on my guy and what's important. This year, we went to the Pacific Northwest, and what an awesome decision that was! We began in Seattle and then drove down the coast to a gorgeous cottage in Gearhart, Oregon. Hey brides! This would make a fantastic honeymoon spot. I'm just sayin'. We took all kinds of day trips down the coast (watched surfers, visited aquariums, hiked in the woods, visited cheese factories) and then we spent another day exploring nearby wine country (tastings, tastings and more tastings). I cannot suggest this trip enough. And if that doesn't convince you, maybe you should check out the photos...

See what I mean?

Sneak Peak: Jennie and Tom (Post by Thea)

Jennie and Tom's wedding day was romantic, fun, and beautifully planned.  Full post on the way!

Beyond Boundries (post by Desiree)

I wanted to push my creative boundaries and try something new. So I went out into the the woods and did the opposite of what I normally do during a photo shoot.  I liked it!