Ryan and Jessica are getting married!  I have known Ryan since we were we little kids (I’ll bypass any embarrassing stories) and I can’t believe he’s old enough to be getting married (I know that makes me sound old).  But seriously, I am so excited for these two.   And I love their dog.  :)  Aren’t they cute?

I  always said my favorite things to photograph were people.  But over the past couple years, I have come to realize that while I do love photographing people, ultimately, I love photographing RELATIONSHIPS between people.  I love being able to catch something for people to see that normally they can only feel.  Aaaand this also applies to people and their pets.  I am a dog lover.  You all know that.  So when Jessica and Justin contacted me to do photos of them with their dog Harper, I had a huge smile on my face.  Then when they told me he had cancer and potentially only a short time left, the tears rolled.  Jessica and Justin: thank you for trusting me to photograph your family and your Harper during this special and very difficult time in your lives.  I hope these photos help you see the love you feel for Harper and the love he feels for you.  To view their slideshow, please click here.         

Look at these cuties.  They’re getting hitched next September so we did some engagement photos this fall…on the windiest day ever!  Congratulations, you two!  Can’t wait to celebrate with you next year!

Curly Girl has this card that says, “Good dogs are with us for a little while to teach us how to love like it’s our job…because it is.”  I love that and you KNOW how much I love dogs.  Both Sam and Puck are rescue dogs and they both are SO SWEET.  I LOVE photographing dogs and their humans.  And don’t worry, we made conversation for them in doggie voices the whole time…      

I currently am working on making a promo video and what I really mean by that is Dave is working on making me a promo video!  Anyway, for the video, I asked begged Amy + Matt if they would be models for me.  :)  They were sweet and agreed to it.  Along with putting up with extreme heat, bugs, and tall itchy weeds.  TROOPERS.  Aren’t they cute?  Well, today is Amy’s birthday!  So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Amy!  And thanks to the both of you!  :)

And a few action shots:  :)

As long as I have known Justin, I have heard about Neal.  From what I can understand of their inside jokes and stories, they have been friends since their days in little league.  And when I say friends, I might as well mean brothers.  These guys don’t get to see each other much anymore but it doesn’t matter, they always pick up right where they left off.  And Jessica.  She is the sweetest thing ever.  Oh yeah, and she’s gorgeous.

I know I’ve said it before but I think perhaps the only thing greater than being happy yourself, is seeing those you love happy.  You can see it in the way he looks at her, the way she looks at him.  You can see it in their laughs, their smiles, their hugs, their kisses.  It’s contagious and we love it.  Congratulations on your engagement, Neal and Jessica!  We are so happy for you, we love you, and we are so excited to celebrate with you at your wedding next year!

Click here for their slideshow.  :)

I know what you are thinking, but I swear I did not hire J.Crew models for this shoot.  They are just that cute.  Bobby and Ellen chose to do their engagement session at Bobby’s family’s cabin near Chatfield, MN.  I love it when couples choose locations that are meaningful to them and it didn’t hurt that it was absolutely  gorgeous there.  Congratulations on your engagement, Bobby and Ellen and happy wedding planning!

To view their slideshow, click here!

When I say blizzard, I mean blizzard.  This was the first one of the year and it was cold, soggy, snowy and windy.  The perfect combo for engagement photos.

HA.

But I’m not sure anything could dampen Brianne and Aaron’s spirits because they are getting married!  In Fargo.  In July.  No snow.  And that is happy!  Especially the no snow part.

I’ve decided that perhaps the only thing greater than being happy yourself, is seeing those you love happy.  And though I didn’t think it was possible for Brianne to be happier that she was when I was her roommate, indeed Aaron has made her happier than that.  And fine, I’ll admit it, he’s a good guy.

A big, huge, congratulations to you!  I loved photographing you at this exciting time in your lives.  Thanks for braving the winter elements, though I’m not surprised since your initials are BA.  :)   xoxo.

Elspeth is the reason why I want need to buy black boots.  Aren’t hers adorable?

And her boots aren’t the only thing that is adorable.  Just look at these two together.

I know it’s redundant to say that I love my job because of the awesome people I get to work with but, it’s true.  These two reminded me again why I love love.  And why I love photographing love.  So I’ll just say it again.  I love my job! Elspeth and Adam, thanks for being fun! I’m so excited for your wedding this January!

Lana and Patrick are so cute together!  They came to Rochester from Iowa for their engagement session and we had fun shooting in the sun and then the rain and then the sun again!  I’m so excited for your wedding in July!