There are moments in my life where I suddenly feel as though I’m trapped inside American Beauty. Moments when I look outside my window and I’m caught breathless and forced to stop and see. In those moments I’m taken aback by all the beauty in the world – the beauty that is so often left unseen – and I marvel in it. I breathe it deep and close my eyes as it fills each cell with its magic. In the next instant I blink my eyes back open, turn off my hazards, and drive back onto the road. My day resumes the tenor of casual nonchalance, the phone rings, and I’m snapped back into tedium. But on rare occasions, I find a way to hold on a little longer to the fleeting beauty that is everything in life. When I’m really lucky, the stars align, a fog rolls in, and I find a...
derrek + jenn + the day stella met the boy she’s going to marry
This family is my family. These insanely awesome people are forever imprinted on my heart and are the kind of friends that everyone should have. Loving. Honest. Hilarious. Derrek + Jenn are incredible creatives and they make beautiful photographs. Derrek is likely the best wedding cinematographer around (he shot our Vow Renewal), and although he lives in Florida I recommend him to every single one of my couples. They came to Minnesota in September to shoot a wedding, and we spent a few fleeting days laughing, ugly cat sweater shopping, cards against humanity playing, shooting, dreaming, and sushi eating. Our time was together was far too short, but I am thankful for their visit, their friendship, and the fact that they live in a warm climate, a winter is upon us and February might just be a perfect time to make a trip south…...
four boys, two girls, three families, one incredible studio mini session.
Last weekend three incredible families braved downtown St. Paul traffic (on a busy Farmer’s Market morning) to come to my first ever studio mini sessions. The outcome (and the experience) was absolutely wonderful. I cannot wait to do it again. Here are a few of my favorites from that beautiful morning:...
a mamiya, a campground, and a lesson in film photography.
I’ve been shooting film for about a year now – but not really. My use of film (except instant/polaroid) has been spotty at best. Sparse. Sporadic. I have a Nikon film camera that I’ve used on a few occasions – and I’ve gone through boxes of polaroid film. But I haven’t been shooting it *enough.* A few weeks ago I went to a tent sale at a local camera outfitter in search of a Contax 645 or a Hasselblad, and found instead a vintage Mamiya C330 Pro. I fell almost instantly in love and took her home in the hopes that together we could make a bit of 6″ square magic. That same evening I ventured into the woods of Wisconsin with the wombfruits for a weekend of camping, crafting and mild mom-centric debauchery. I armed myself with mosquito repellent, red wine, and four rolls of film. The following are...