T-Rex's Big Debut

Amidst the darkness and uncertainty that the world is facing right now, it can be hard to stay positive.

Tonight, why not take a little break from it all to meet Mr. Theodore Rex, otherwise known as T-Rex or Teddy.

Looking at Teddy’s precious little ears, his tiny little fingers and toes, it’s sure to bring a smile to your face.

This baby boy loves food, soft blankies, and his big sister Rosalind. Ros has immediately taken to her big sister roles and couldn’t be happier - I mean, look at that smile!

Thank you Feeney family, for brightening my day when I got to see you and meet Theodore in studio, but also for bringing a little ray of sunshine to brighten some very dark and dreary days for all of us. I’m so excited to see all the wonderful things the future has in store for Teddy!

Take care and stay healthy everyone!

#HappilyElliottAfter in Paradise

On a very dark and snowy morning in February, I packed all of my equipment and boarded a plane to escape Minnesota and meet Misty and Jamie in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

This wedding kicked off a year of traveling weddings for me and the crew and we couldn’t be more excited.

I met Misty in 2015 (holy moly Misty - it’s been 5 YEARS!) when we began working together in my corporate life. Misty and I have traveled some amazing places all around the globe together, so it was a no brainer when she asked me to travel with her again to capture her destination wedding in Mexico.

So I headed to the Hard Rock Resort where Misty and Jamie gathered their closest friends and family to celebrate the love they’ve found in each other.

Can you dream of a better way to marry your best friend than to spend a week in the sunshine and celebrating with your favorite people and doing your favorite things? I think not!

Misty got to spend some time following one of her more daring passions (scuba diving), while Jamie and his buds hit the golf course to enjoy the tropical views.

When the wedding day came around, the whole party had a healthy tan and had officially hit relaxation mode.

Misty took a couple hours of solitude before the preparations began to handwrite her vows to Jamie in the comfort of her room and a nice cup of coffee.

I spent much of the morning with the ladies as they popped open bottles of champagne and enjoyed each other’s company while getting pampered and prepared.

Not only were Jamie and Misty thrilled to be marrying each other, but they each brought two children into their newly formed family of 6, cleverly named the “Elliarsens” (Elliotts + Larsens).

So much thought and detail was put into every part of their wedding week, including a very special gift (and extremely sweet moment) that Misty gave Jamie’s daughter, Lauren.

The weather all week was phenomenal, but if you take a close look at these ceremony photos you may spot the “good luck shower “on the horizon that showed up just in time for Misty and Jamie’s ceremony.

It wasn’t long before everyone present was grabbing their chairs and scrambling inside to avoid getting soaked.

“A knot that becomes wet is extremely hard to untie – therefore, when you “tie the knot” on a rainy day, your marriage is just as impossible to unravel!”

After a quick interruption and change of scenery courtesy of Mother Nature, the ceremony was underway again. The service highlighted not only the union between Misty and Jamie, but also honored each of their beautiful children and the unique and priceless contributions each one brings to the family.

Seeing the love this family shares for one another truly makes my heart melt and I still tear up thinking back on some of these precious moments and words shared.

Before dinner began, the LC Photography crew spent some time exploring the beaches around the resort with the newlyweds. Thinking back now to how wonderful that sun felt in the middle of February makes me so anxious for the summer sun and all its glorious Vitamin D to come back to MN.

Misty and Jamie kicked off dinner and the dance party with their first dance. The two embraced while bubbles floated in the tropical air - it was an incredibly magical moment.

The celebration continued well into the night with dancing, singing, and a LOT more dancing.

It was such a blessing to have the opportunity to capture this special week for two incredible people and all of their wonderful family and friends.

Misty and Jamie - the amount of happiness and love you give one other is an inspiration. Congratulations to you and the entire family, I adore you all!

Soren's 1 Year Smash

You won’t regret taking a moment to check out this little honey bee’s post today.

Soren the calm, cool, collected little dude I’ve had to honor of knowing since he first arrived here on Earth has turned 1, and we had a great in-studio session to celebrate.

Soren’s mom is a creative wonder when creating photo opportunities for her sweet lil man. The entire family showed up ready to rock with a homemade beehive cake and lots of fun toys - including a awesome tent -for him to play with.

True to his gentle and sweet nature, Soren wasn’t keen on the idea of destroying the cake his mom made with such care. He was far more interested in getting his dad’s attention for hugs, or playing with some of his new toys.

When we finally did convince Soren to dig into his beautiful cake, he was all smiles…. and crumbs too! Even his favorite Bunny got in on some of the cake action.

What a blessing this little boy is to his parents and everyone who meets him.

I’ve been so lucky to help capture his first year of life and canNOT wait to see what a wonderful little man he’ll grow to be.

Paulson Family

I love winter photo sessions. Even more, I love winter photo sessions with families that love each other.

The Paulson family is not often all in the same place at one time, so to celebrate being together we threw together a photo session on the beautiful Luce Line near Wayzata.

There is was so much love radiating between all of these lovely people, it made it very easy to capture all the warm fuzzies floating in the brisk winter air.

I’m so blessed to have families like this to call my clients and to be able to enjoy the beauty of the Minnesota winters trekking out in the snow with them.

What a great way to round out 2019 - thanks for the winter wonderland session Paulson family!

Mr. & Mrs. Goff - Fall-ing in Love @ Hidden Haven

Ok, so I am VERY behind on blog posts. As you’ll notice in the pictures below - the ground was still visible and green for Rich and Michelle’s beautiful fall wedding. Much different from the below zero tundra outside our windows now.

I met this couple earlier this year as they were pulling together plans for their special day at the Hidden Haven golf club. I could immediately tell how excited they were to make this commitment to one another, and it soon became clear that the photos of the day held an even more special meaning to Michelle than most.

There is something about Rich and Michelle - maybe it’s their contagious giddiness and love for each other or their genuinely kind hearts they share with the world- but there was something that made me feel a little extra protective of their wedding to make sure everything would go just as planned.

Michelle wanted to wait until she walked down the aisle for RIch to see her in her dress the first time. She asked explicitly during the planning process for me to capture his face when he saw her, and I understand why! The pure joy on both their faces throughout the ceremony and rest of the day was an honor to witness.

After enjoying some of the last nice weather the Minnesotan fall had to offer, the entire party headed inside to eat, drink, and be merry.

Cheers to Rich and Michelle! Congratulations on your beautiful day and the beautiful life you’re building together.

XO,

Laura

Janelle & Nathaniel - Engaged!!

What better way is there to warm up on a chilly fall day than snuggles with the person you love?

The morning I met Janelle and Nathaniel for their engagement photos I was just getting over the flu and a little nervous about my ability to adequately connect with these two to make them more comfortable in front of the camera. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. I’ve never met a couple so giddy to just be around each other!

I had the distinct feeling that it wouldn’t have made much of a difference to Janelle and Nathaniel if I were there or not, they would have had just as good of a time romping around and giggling at the tree farm simply because they were together.

I’m looking forward to spending more time with these two in the summer of 2020 when they officially tie the knot near downtown St. Paul. Congrats Janelle and Nathaniel!

“You don’t marry the person you can live with … you marry the person you can’t live without.”

– Unknown

Fall Family Frenzy

Between a corporate job change, a busy wedding photography month, business travel, and the flu - it’s been a wild fall season. Thankfully in all the madness I’ve still been able to meet with all my family clients to get their photos before the Christmas card season. Unfortunately however, the shortage of time has resulted in me falling dreadfully behind in blog posts.

As I came to the sad realization that I’d never be able to catch up on individual posts for each family, the best solution was a highlight post of all my favorites from this Fall Family Season.

To start, during one of the first very cold snaps - The Demos family session @ The Guthrie theater. You may recall all the beautiful fall colors from our session last year when Addie Mae stole the show. This year we took a little more moody approach using the dark and rich colors inside the nice warm theater and Addie Mae and Dominic both had fun running the halls of the theater exploring all the hidden treasures it has to offer.

Next was the Pangarakis family including the newest and furriest addition to the family - Lizzy! Lizzy loves her family, but especially her boys. I mean, just look at that smile!

I was so happy to take a walk through Plymouth Creek Park with these 5 and enjoy good conversation and beautiful fall colors. And though we all appreciated the warmer evening for photos, this family is all about the snow and cold coming soon to kick off their next Hockey season!

Later in the month of October I got to see catch up with the lovely Seagren family and hear all about what the past year has brought for them. I couldn’t believe my eyes at how much both Maeve and Sylvie have grown since I saw them last. Maeve is a legitimate little lady now and Sylvie is growing taller and sassier than ever! They told me all about their plans for halloween (Maeve = cowgirl, Sylvie = princess) and caught me up on their favorite things about school.

The Morin clan came next. Even though it was our first photography session together, Becky and I are good running pals and have enjoyed many runs together around Theodore Wirth lake over our lunch breaks.

The highlight of this session was getting to know Miss Hannah. Hannah is truly the light of Becky and Josh’s world and she shines so brightly. As can be expected, she wasn’t so sure about meeting me for the first time, but she eventually warmed up to me and shared a few of those beautiful smiles!

It was actually snowing very heavily as I headed west one Saturday morning to the Kramer family household. We had scheduled an in-home session and it was a perfect day for it, blustery and cold. It made for a cozy time spent with this family and celebrating their newest addition, Lola.

Snuggles on the bed and in their porch were the perfect vibe for this blustery late fall day.

As the temperatures continued to drop, I headed in to the studio for a couple of sessions with the little ones. First up was the Borree family, dear friends/family of mine. I’ve been dying to take pictures of Emmett since he was born 6 months ago and it did not disappoint.

Even though this handsome little dude was coming down with a nasty ear infection, he was still one of the happiest kids alive. He has a belly roll laugh that canNOT be beat. Mom and Dad are awful cute too :)

Later that day in the studio I got to meet the Summitt family that was visiting all the way from Texas. I was so honored they took time out of their visit with family to spend some time with me and get their portraits taken. Cora was not please at all to have her Saturday morning with her grandparents interrupted with photos, but we eventually unlocked the key to her smiling - snuggles with her brother and a little rubber ducky!

Last but definitely not least in the highlight reel is the Brumbaugh family, featuring Mr. Soren in the cutest fashion you ever did see.

Soren was in full explore mode with the fall leaves and happy as a clam to be out in the crisp fall air. If looking at photos of Soren’s big smile doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what else would! Soren has always been a super calm and happy boy and this day was no exception.

As I walked around Moir park with Stephanie, Aaron, and Soren - we reflect on how just over a year ago I met just the two of them in Minnehaha falls before Soren arrived. It reminded me of just how blessed I am to have all my wonderful clients and especially the opportunity to watch all your beautiful families grow and thrive.

Lucy's 6 Month Session (with Special Guests)

This darling lil’ lady is 6 months old already. This milestone month for Lucy is a treat for me because she gets another dedicated Lucy photo session!

I just can’t get enough of this smiley little girl and her big sister Cora. They always are a stitch and leave me smiling after our sessions together.

Lucy brought a big development to share at her session as well, she’s officially a pro at rolling over! She’s growing fast and developing the most beautiful personality - full of sweetness, giggles, and lots of patience for her rowdy big sister.

After we had our dedicated time together, Lucy’s Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins joined the party to get some photos of the whole family together! Although her cousins weren’t very happy about it at first, we ended up having a great time running around Silverwood park in the autumn leaves.

The Lifecycle of a Family Session with the Sage Family

If you have young kids, family photos may seem like a stressful endeavor. It can be exhausting trying to coordinate nap times, snack times, and outfits that look good but don’t induce tantrums. And that’s all on the hope and prayer that it’s a good weather day, and everyone is feeling cooperative.

It can seem daunting, but the most important thing for family sessions is not perfection, but merely showing up and being your beautiful selves. I’ll take it from there…

This was my first session with the Sage family, so naturally Aniyah and Alijah weren’t so sure about me. We started our time together with some pretty serious faces, but stranger danger is no stranger to me! Over the course of an hour together, and a quick snack break, the smiles appeared more and more.

My number one goal for my family clients is to make the kids feel comfortable, the parents feel relaxed, and for EVERYONE to have fun.

The unpredictable nature of family sessions is exactly what makes them my favorite kind of sessions. Family sessions almost never goes as planned, so the best thing to do is roll with the punches and improvise!

While you may not always get what you thought was the “perfect” family picture, the pictures will be perfectly you and a wonderful moment to reflect back on after the kids have grown.

Miranda's Senior Portraits @ the Farm

I rounded out September sessions with Miranda’s senior portrait session at the farm where I grew up in Zimmerman. While we would have preferred to have more fall colors, who could resist the opportunity to take photos while petting horses and watching chickens run around the yard?

Miranda is sweet as pie and perfectly comfortable around the farm. She is even an experienced horse handler and bareback rider!

Miranda has an incredibly bright future ahead of her, filled to the brim with exciting plans. Her eyes light up when she talks about playing softball, a sport she is passionate about.

It was such a pleasure to take a walk around the farm with Miranda and her mom to get to know them more. I’m so happy and excited for all the wonderful things to come in her future!

Congratulations and best wishes Miranda!

Cecelia is 2!...

… and SPUNKY! This sweet little thing is a carbon copy of her mom and tough to keep up with!

Some of her favorite things are her baby Margaret doll, jumping on beds, her blocks, the books in her room, and lots of snuggles with her Mom and Dad!

It’s crazy how fast time goes by, but believe it or not I was taking photos of Cecelia days after she was born just two years ago.

Cece took me on a tour of her house during our session, showing me her favorite places. We started in mom and dad’s room, then she showed me how well she can walk down stairs.

Next, we moved on to the backyard where she showed me how well she blows bubbles and her Nana even came over to help her!

Then after a quick wardrobe change we headed inside to play with her blocks - I think we may have a young architect on our hands here folks!

Before I knew it, it was time to leave and I said my goodbyes to Cece and her family. This little ray of light just continues to shine brighter and brighter every time I see her and I can’t wait to see what year # 3 brings her way!

Mile High Love - Jack & Ali are Engaged!

At the very end of September, I made the short flight to Denver Colorado to meet with Jack and Ali for a two part engagement session.

Part one included a tour around LoDo Denver, visiting some of the iconic sites the Mile High City has to offer. Part two followed a couple days later up in the mountains near Kenosha Pass, taking full advantage of the peaked fall colors the rockies had to offer us.

Our first stop and meeting place was Union Station, a bustling transportation hub in the middle of downtown Denver. Union Station is only a few blocks away from Jack’s workplace - the company that introduced us just under a year ago!

In November of last year I met Jack for a work event at a wind energy farm a few hours east of Denver in Kansas. It was a miserably cold week out on the construction site, but I remember that Jack came armed with fresh Zucchini bread that he and his (then) girlfriend made for the crew. Talk about sweet first impressions!

It was on that trip that Jack revealed to me and our coworkers that his intention was to ask Ali to marry him in the coming month and make an honest woman out of her.

Fast forward a few months and I get the honor of taking engagement photos for these two in an absolutely breathtaking set of locations. After asking Jack to twirl and kiss Ali outside Union Station, we headed down to get some dunking shots under the Millennium Bridge and then some snuggles in Commons Park.

Two days later, I woke up at the crack of dawn after a refreshing weekend in Breckenridge to drive and meet Jack, Ali, and their dog Rosie at Kenosha Pass. When I first met Ali over Skype she expressed her love for the Aspen trees in Colorado and wanted to makes sure we captured them in their engagement photos. I’ll be honest, I was SUPER nervous about this because fall colors are such a finicky thing to coordinate travel with but it all worked out perfectly!

Even though it was chilly, we enjoyed the best morning light as a reward for our early wakeup call. Rosie entertained us all with her endless supply of ball-fetching energy and acrobatics.

As the sun continued to rise above the mountains, I found myself getting extremely sad that our session and my trip to Colorado was coming to an end. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to travel and create beautiful images for such wonderful people like Jack and Ali - plus, the puppy snuggles are an even better added bonus!

It will be a long winter counting down until the next time I get to see these three. Stay tuned to the blog for highlights from their June 2020 wedding in Indiana!

Congratulations Jack & Ali!!!

Amrutha & Sam - Love on the Rise @ French Meadow Bakery

When you think of wedding venues to scope out after getting engaged, I’d make a safe bet that a bakery isn’t the first place that comes to mind. However, after Amrutha and Sam’s wedding last month, I’d recommend adding French Meadow Bakery your list.

Not only are you guaranteed amazing food (and mind-blowing cake), the intimate and warm atmosphere of this place has made it one of my favorite venues yet.

Amrutha and Sam are both transplants to Minnesota, which resulted in loved ones from all corners of the world flying in to celebrate their union with them.

Their vows were unscripted and straight from the heart. Not only did they make us all laugh, but cry as well.

Shortly after exchanging vows, the party adjourned to the dining room for food, drink, and dancing.

I often feel a special bond with my wedding clients, it’s an incredible opportunity and honor to capture such a special and intimate chapter in their lives. With Amrutha and Sam, I feel even closer than most because of the loving and genuine people they are. It’s as though we’ve been friends for quite some time already.

I’m so excited to see where life’s adventures take these two, and to see their love for one another continue to grow. Congratulations Amrutha and Sam!

Mr. & Mrs. Furlow - Stillwater Riverboat Wedding

Friday the 13th might be a spooky day for some people, but for Anna and Bernard it was a magical day spent cruising the St. Croix River with their closest family and friends.

Before guests arrived and boarded for the evening, Anna and Bernard had their first look on the docks at the Port of Stillwater. Anna looked like a real-life Disney princess and Bernard’s reaction to seeing her for the first time was priceless…

The weather was drizzly and cool most of the day which ultimately resulted in an indoor ceremony. However, a few short minutes after the nuptials started the clouds parted and the sun filled up the nautical room with warm and beautiful rays of light, making a picture perfect setting for these two to exchange vows.

Instead of the traditional unity ceremony, Anna and Bernard exchanged handwritten letters to one another in their custom made wine box, only to be opened on their 1st wedding anniversary with the intention of writing letters to one another every year following.

After they “put a ring on it”, dinner, speeches, and dancing followed on the lower deck.

Even though this union is fairly new, the connections between Anna and Bernard’s families run deep. I was so touched to witness and capture what Anna refers to as the “bromance” Bernard shares with her father. Additionally, all three of Bernard’s daughters were present and warmly welcomed Anna with open arms into their family. There are just not enough good things can be said about this couple and the family they’ve created together.

After dinner and a slew of heart-warming, tear-jerking speeches these two proceeded to party the night away with their loved ones. In the coming weeks they’ll jet off to Italy for a well-deserved break and honeymoon together.

Wishing the happiest of ever afters to the prettiest princess bride in the land and her Prince Charming. Congrats Anna and Bernard!

Brynlee Mae - Newborn Session

On September 6, 2019 Brynlee Mae entered the world to meet her expectant parents, Kendra and Brad.

Brynlee and I met for an in-home session shortly after her arrival. She spent the majority of our time together working on her power nap. The napping worked out swell for me to have time to capture all her tiny little adorable details - fingers, feet, tiny little ears and look at that full head of hair!

She did manage to wake up long enough to show me her beautiful eyes for a moment though!

This sweet girl stayed calm and sleepy until our session was nearly over. Only then did she start to become impatient with me and my camera.

Welcome to the world sweet Brynlee Mae, I’m so honored to meet you and capture your first days here.

Brian & Anna Lucia - Hitched @ Rubies & Rust

On one of the more fall like days of this month, Anna and Brian gathered all of their family and friends at the quaint Belle Plaine barn venue, Rubies & Rust.

Although the day was a bit dreary and cold, the love within the barn was enough to keep everyone nice and toasty warm.

Anna and Brian had previously made their union legal at a small courthouse ceremony prior to the arrival of their sweet babe, Neal. In addition to reciting their vows to one another, the bride and groom catered in a simple meal and live folk music for guests to dance to and enjoy.

Neal got to participate in his mom and dad’s special day via his little red wagon and he couldn’t stop smiling!

Anna prepared a special surprise at the end of the afternoon, singing her edition of “Home” by Edward Sharpe, rounding out the perfect day celebrating the love between Brian, Anna, and Neal.

Wishing only the best to this little family as they continue their journey together. Congratulations Anna and Brian!

Ella's Senior Photos on Minnehaha Creek

I had the amazing opportunity a week or so ago to take a walk with Ella alongside Minnehaha Creek to take her senior photos.

We had so much fun enjoying one of the last warm summer nights and the golden sun that came with it.

Quite possibly the sweetest girl alive, she laughed at all my lame jokes and made me feel like I may actually be funny! She told me all about her summer, enjoying time on Lake Minnetonka and what she was looking forward in the school year ahead of her. She also told me about her plans for college and how she’ll like end up out of state.

Ella was joined by her support posse and comedic relief, her mom and her Auntie. The three of them made me laugh and smile so much that by the time I left for home, my face hurt.

I love spending time with seniors. They are on the brink of this huge new chapter in their life and glowing with excitement. Ella was no exception, this coming year and following have so many good things in store for her and her family.

Congrats Ella! Wishing you all the best in your senior year!

Rory & Kelly - Love on the greens

It’s not often that you meet two people as genuine as Rory and Kelly. I’ve been meeting with these two over the course of the summer to help plan their wedding day and scope their photography needs as the plan came together. Each time we met I could see more and more of the deep partnership these two have as they navigated the murky and overwhelming waters of wedding planning. Admirably, these two mastered planning a beautiful and intimate event that reflected both of their authentic selves.

Rory and Kelly’s day was filled with close friends and family who showed up to support both their future partnership together as well as all the hard work they put in to get there. It was one of those perfect summer days - clear blue skies, sizzling hot, and good company all around.

The wedding was set at Rush Creek Golf Course which provided an epic backdrop for their guests as the couple exchanged vows. Short and sweet (thanks to the heat), their ceremony reflected back on how these two met, the growth they’ve achieved together, and the bright future ahead of them and their family.

After the ceremony, we all headed back indoors to enjoy the A/C with dinner and drinks to celebrate the new nuptials. I’m so happy for these two and so excited for them to start their new life together.

Congratulations Rory and Kelly, wishing you the best for all of life’s new adventures ahead of you.

Miss Madeleine Adele is One!

Nothing beats a good “then & now” post, especially when I get to write about someone I love!!

If you’re a blog follower, you may recognize the sweet girl below from Maddie’s newborn session a year ago - I marvel at how tiny her little fingers were!

Just last weekend I had the honor to be part of Madeleine’s one year birthday celebration. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since I took the photos above.

She started off the day with her own dedicated photo-shoot followed by a backyard party with friends, family, and her favorite food- FRUIT.

True to her age, Maddie is quickly learning (and using) the power she has to communicate with the world through her facial expressions and crying. The results are intense and swift mood changes that are quite impressive!!

Apart from being hilarious, this stage in her development is so fun for me as a photographer because you can start to see hints of what adult Madeleine will look like as she cycles through her moods and expressions.

Mads came prepared with some of her favorite people and things to feature in her photos - She brought her ball and other toys, her dog Coconut, and her favorite people in the whole world - her Mom and Dad (Grandpa too)! Our session was brief so afterward she could head home for a power nap before her party guests arrived.

I consider myself incredibly blessed to know and love this sweet girl and her family. The world has been a much brighter place since she arrived a year ago and I’m so looking forward to seeing how she grows in the years to come.

Happy Birthday sweet Madeleine!!

Aspen's Senior Photos @ The Farm

Senior photo sessions are some of the most fun, carefree sessions I have, and Aspen is no exception. This girl is SUCH a blast!!

Not only was Aspen super cool with the last minute 6am wake up on a Saturday, but also amazingly chill about getting down and dirty at the farm for her senior photos.

Recently, my parent’s farm in Zimmerman has become an available venue for photos and Aspen is the first to try it out. Her mom, Nancy, partners closely with my dad’s general contracting business and they brainstormed using the farm as the perfect backdrop for Aspen’s photos.

Nancy and I had been trying to plan this session for weeks only to get canceled by inclimate weather. Those pesky MN storms!

With only a day or two notice, we decided this was going to be the day.

Because the trees open up toward the East on the farm, morning light is the best. With this in mind, Aspen, her mom, and her little sister all hiked up to Zimmerman- coffee in hand- to hang out with me and my parents for the morning.

Not only did we have a blast taking some gorgeous photos of Aspen, but the whole gang got to meet all the animals on the farm as well - including all the mosquitos and bugs that come with horses and chickens! Aspen is a trooper though and I am so incredibly happy with how her photos turned out, bugs aside. We even got to sneak a couple shots with one of the horses and some with her little sister, Magdalene!

Cheers to you and your senior year Aspen. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to capture this time in your life for you. You’re a beautiful spirit inside and out and I’m so excited to see what life has in store for your future!