Paul and Amanda: Engagement

Last weekend was Paul and Amanda's engagement session. (As busy as I have been I am a little behind with staying up to date on posts... trying to play catch up as time allows. =)) The three of us met on a quite chilly morning at the Mill City ruins. Man do I love this location! So many great spots and textures and colors at every turn. To make it even more perfect in particular for them, there was an unexpected chalk heart with their initials on one of the walls-- it was fate to use this spot! Paul and Amanda came prepared for the session: 100% in love. They wanted to make sure that their photos were natural and not too posed which turned out to be quite as easy as these two had zero problem getting snuggly, making one another laugh and pretending like I wasn't there. =) 

Paul and Amanda will wed next summer and I couldn't be happier for the two of them! We all braved the slightly more than crisp air and managed to get some spectacular, and adorable, images. Enjoy! 

    

Emily & Steve: Engagement Session

I have thought long and hard what I would write in this post. Do I get sentimental? Do I keep it professional? Do I illustrate the day like I normally do with a little history of the couple? What can a girl write about her best friend getting married?! Today I, finally (hehe), had the honor and delight of photographing one of my best friends in the whole wide world, Emily and her new fiance, Steve. Putting aside the fact that I got to spend the day with two of my favorite people (yes, Steve you are one of my favs) I also got to capture the love between these two lovebirds. A fantastic Saturday indeed. 

So, a little history. Emily and Steve live in Winona, MN which is also where they met. Emily left us behind in St. Paul way back when in 2003 to go to college. A few years down the road Steve and  Emily worked at the same place; catching glimpses of one another and then finally setting up a date. The rest, as they say, is history. Since the happy couple lives in Winona we thought it fitting to meet halfway in Red Wing, MN for part of their session. We explored a bit and used the old town's charm as the backdrop for their photos. Scooting on up to St. Paul mid-day to get a little taste of the "city life" where Emily grew up and then this winter we will capture the other half of this couple with a session in Winona. Coming full circle. 

These two will get married this coming spring and I have been ever so lucky to help Emily with lots of the details. I feel very honored to be apart of their planning, a bridesmaid on their wedding day and today, their photographer. Emily is my dear, dear friend and has been since about third or fourth grade , neither of us really know when. So, here comes a little sentiment. You've been warned.... This amazing woman is my best friend, she is my sister and I truly cannot think of a single amazing memory that she wasn't a part of in my life. We have been able to grow up together, struggle with each other, support one another, fight and forgive one another. She stood by my side as my maid of honor last year and helped make my day utterly perfect and I now I get to support her as she becomes an old married woman and hopefully make her day just as perfect. We will without a doubt in my mind, get to be a part of each other's lives until little-old-lady-hood. 

So, I have all of these amazing memories with Emily. Now comes Steve. Although we don't have almost 20 years of memories and friendship, I still have some pretty great ones! There is something to say about a man who knows how lucky he is when he has an amazing woman and Steve is one of those guys. After many, many text messages regarding the pending proposal I got quite a bit of insight into this guy and let me tell you, he loves this girl. He has on more than one occasion proved himself to me, and I don't give out approval easily! I think what gets me every time, is that during our series of texts about the upcoming proposal Steve told me "Yeah, she's my best friend too." (I still have that text so it's verbatim!) Even putting today aside, I have seen Steve look at Emily with such love, passion and awe. I know that they will have a life full of laughter and love! 

Back to business! Today was perfect! Of course I can't skip my usual comment on the weather because my goodness it was awesome! I have attempted to narrow down my favorites and I know this couple (or maybe just Em) is very antsy to see what we got today! Love you both! Enjoy the images!



p.s. LOTS of kissing below.... 

Eric & Emily: Engagement

This evening's light was wonderful! I had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful couple's engagement session and it was so fun! Granted, this is partially due to having some fun with the bright-setting-sun but also because these two love birds are dear friends of mine. Memory lane brings us way back on this one... if I recollect correctly, I have known the Groom-To-Be for nearly fifteen years. Besides the fact that times flies and I feel OLD trailing back that far in my mind, it was an absolute honor to be able to photograph Eric with his lovely Bride-To-Be, Emily. (who of course I have known for quite some time as well :) )


We strolled, drove really, around St. Paul tonight going to locations that we all knew about to get just some of the gorgeous aspects of this city, and to capture the love of course between these two! Starting at St. Kate's gorgeous campus, then making our way up to the Summit Hill area, stopped at a community garden, back into the Crocus Hill cobblestone roads and across the high bridge to get a skyline view of the city and the setting sun. Eric and Emily were very relaxed in front of the camera, which of course is always awesome! I loved capturing Emily's spontaneous giggles and Eric's adorning eyes at his fiancee. You can't feel anything but elated around these two! 


I can't wait for their wedding this winter! I really LOVE so many of tonight's shots, I will I could put them all up... but for now I instead have a select few of my favorites. Enjoy!






p.s. Check out that ring! 

   

 

 

 

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