Wedding Date: August 22nd 2008
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Aaron and Katie have become close friends of my fiance and I over the months of planning. Both are very creative in their own right: Katie, a fabulous graphic designer and Aaron, well, dreams of being a rock star someday. On this day, I got to make him feel like one while Katie became his biggest fan. We spent the afternoon exploring the far riverbanks of St. Paul, chasing away bums along the way to finding some will kept architecture secrets. I laughed and cried with them all day long and finished the night with a blue-lit ballroom. The perfect ending to a love I so admire. I adore you two! 

Wedding Date: August 31st 2008
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These two planned out a garden wedding every woman dreams of! Caitlin gets the award for most creative bridesmaid dresses, as the patterns blended perfectly into the gardens along Lake Minnetonka. A cool ice cream cone was just what the doctor ordered as we paused to catch our breath. I felt like I left good friends behind at the end of the night and so cherished being a part of this day. Congrats you two!

Wedding Date: August 30th 2008
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Brandis and Paris dreamed up an edgy yet sophisticated day filled with all their favorite people in the entire world. I got to be included as one of them! The creative challenge was that they chose the refined settings of Bearpath Country Club, however saw themselves more urban and industrial in style. In the morning I set out to find rust, grit and a mechanical vibe not found in Eden Prairie. Neighboring Shakopee and the grain mills worked perfectly! Thank you both for being so trusting and playful...you are the best! 

Wedding Date: November 11th 2008
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Today Andrew Vick was featured on the KTSP show, Twin Cities Live, to discuss how to take a better holiday photo. Here are the tips he gave:

Preparation

·      Tones:  Select attire that is in the same tonal families (cool tones, jewel tones, earth tones are all great examples) Only exception would be all white, or all black

·      Wearing solid colors is best; try to avoid busy patterns or horizontal stripes

Composition

·      Back to Back:  Position subjects back to back: Not only does this create a slimming effect, but also highlights the relationship between the individuals in the photo. Start with the individuals who started the family at the core, and add in family members around them (kids and grandkids can definitely sit on laps)

·      Choose an appropriate setting for your photo, avoiding reflective fireplaces and windows. Get creative!

Taking the Shot

·      Red Eye:  Most cameras have a red eye reduction setting which should be turned on (you can warn the group that there may be a “pre-flash” before the picture is taken, and to remain still)

·      Make it fun by having a big family group hug

·      Horray!: Use a word to bring people’s faces to life. Last time on the show, we made references to using one of my favorite words, “horray,” which is a great celebratory word.  A great tip is to really get the little ones involved in yelling “horray” as loud as they can; it even brings out the toughest smiles in all family members

·      Close ups:  Taking photos close up is better- don’t be shy! Focus on capturing faces rather than full bodies, because that’s all people want to see on their fridge!

Finishing Touches

·      Use a professional lab; the extra few cents spent on each image makes skin tone look more natural and colors true to life. We all spend hundreds of dollars on the latest digital camera; to maximize your investment, using a great photo paper and company is important

Closing Tip! 

 ·      Pick another Holiday!:  If this time of year is too stressful with family coming to town or the turkey in the oven to try and capture a family photo, use another holiday to send out your photo such as New Years, or Valentines Day. Don’t let your winning shot get lost in the clutter on someone’s fridge! 

We will also be posting the video footage from his appearance shortly so make sure to watch for it so you can see Andrew discuss these topics plus a secret bonus topic...you won't want to miss it!

www.twincitieslive.com

Wedding Date: August 17th 2008
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When I got the call from Joan Nilsen of Ambiente that she had a wonderfully enthusiastic and sweet bride from the south wanting to get married in Minneapolis, my ears perked up. Meeting Bettye was like catching up with an old college friend. Her stories were hilarious but yet this sweet charm that she wanted to encase the day was very apparent. It is a rare bride that asks you to be her bouncer/ paparazzi for her bachelorette party, but what a crazy blast it was! (As you can guess, many of these photos probably are suitable only for Bettye's eyes, oh my!) When her day was done, she had herself quite a catch in Gil, a true teddy bear of a groom and just the perfect match for this princess from the south.

Wedding Date: August 9th 2008
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 This wedding was a classic example of what it would be like to marry your best friend. I have never seen a couple so absolutely in love with each other and their friends, and somehow along the way they have become great friends of mine too. These two are definitely not afraid of the spotlight, in fact the brighter the better. The only thing you had to be careful of as a friend of theirs was not to steal that light from them for too long. Tears flowed freely all day and evening, all from laughter and perhaps the most impressive best man stand-up I have ever heard. Wow you two, I can't wait to journey life together. And Dave, we will work on that golf swing.

Wedding Date: August 16th 2008
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If my mom helped plan my wedding, I might just pull my hair out. If my mother was Dorothy, Regan's mom, I might just raise my hands and do a jig at the idea! Wow, what a flawless weekend of events this couple planned out. The rehearsal started the weekend off with an impressive bang hosted by Solera in downtown Minneapolis featuring salsa lessons for all attending. This gave all the out of state guests a fun introduction to life here in Minnesota...well at least the downtown scene. The big day came and Interlachen Country Club provied the perfect venue for both the ceremony and reception, complete with a live band! It was hard to leave the party at the end of the night; a night to remember.

Wedding Date: August 2nd 2008
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 Life is a dance. These two prove this statement true in every facet of their lives. Julie, a professional ballerina and Hiro, a ballerina critic, fell in love while working for the Premier Ballet Company in Europe. While she toured, he was based in Japan, thus their dating life consisted of weekend adventures all over Europe. They chose to celebrate their love and marriage here in Edina to honor her family. Guests flew in from around the world to celebrate and Interlachen was a buzz with accents and a culture collision unlike anything I have ever witnessed. Personally, I have grown to adore this couple and my spirit celebrated every heartbeat with them on this day. Our love for culture and the life in people have bonded us for life; blessings to you Julie and Hiro! 

Wedding Date: July 25th 2008
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 Every once in a while, a wedding party just can't stop giggling and laughing during the wedding day. As a photographer, you become like a kid on a carousel and just go along for the ride. As the day spun and the music played, it was obvious to everyone that this couple was meant for each other. Their heart for service is what struck me the most, both for their families but also a heart for the less fortunate abroad through their training and giftedness in medicine. Needless to say, Nick and Molly will remain friends of mine for a long time to come. I have been blessed and encouraged because they found each other.

Wedding Date: July 19th 2008
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 These two made for wonderful art! Katie and Mike are such a classy and fun couple whose friends had us rolling all day. Having their first meeting in the Minnesota icon Walker Sculpture Gardens set the stage for a high-energy day day filled with many familiar faces and creative moments. If you have never been to the Windows at IDS, show up some Saturday night and play wedding crashers...the venue is breathtaking with its views! Needless to say the room buzzed all night long. Thank you for your friendship, Katie and Mike, and I am glad we are on this journey together.