What a great weekend

This past weekend Laura and I attended our friend’s Jessop & Jen’s wedding in Saint Peter, Mn.  We were doing double duty as not only were we attending as guests but we also were their official photographers.  I really enjoy photographing people I know so well because you already have that immediate connection with them and its just so much easier to get into the flow of the day.

Friday night we went down and attended the groom’s dinner at Jen’s grandmother’s house, ate way to much food, played some bocce ball, got to meet a lot of the family and just had a nice relaxing evening.

Saturday we were up and running following along with the bride and groom documenting their day.  They were wed on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus.  The day started out gloomy but absolutely turned out to be a gorgeous day.  After the ceremony we traveled to Mankato for the reception.  Laura always complains that she is so jealous of everyone who gets to dance during weddings while we are taking photos.  It was nice to be able to put down the cameras a bit earlier than normal and get out on the dance floor our self.  I’m sure I thoroughly embarrassed myself not to mention I can only imagine those in attendance who didn’t realize we were more than just the photographers!

Sunday we slept in and then met up with most of our friends to take in one of the largest breakfast buffets I have ever seen.  It was literally forty feet of food.  Inside jokes: Sneezeoops and Seafood Lasagna!

To Jessop and Jen thanks for such a great weekend.  The two of you were absolutely stunning and I can’t wait to get caught up with all our other weddings so I can start editing yours.  For now a teaser!

Wed: Colleen & Curt

While tornadoes tragically ravaged many areas of the Twin Cities, Colleen and Curt were able to sneak their perfect wedding day in almost rain-free.  Laura and I split up to start the day, with Laura joining the guys at Colleen and Curt’s house and myself heading to their hotel suite to spend time with the gals.

Once everyone was ready we headed over to the house to have a first moment together.  Have I ever mentioned how excited I get when a couple lets me know that they want to see each other before the wedding? Composing their own moment on their own terms really allows a couple to relax because there is just that much more time to have fun with each other on this special day, and from our perspective, more time to have fun creating photographic moments.

Curt and Colleen opted to drive along Minnehaha Parkway, stopping at some key spots they’d walked their dog, Brutus, in the past year. We concluded at Crema Cafe for a late lunch and photos, and made it to St. Anthony Main Event Center in time for family portraits and some down time before the ceremony. Curt’s mom was able to acquire wholesale flowers, and the wedding party helped put together bouquets of tulips and gerberas.

Curt in his totally rocking pinstripes


Colleen looking very vogue in her hotel suite.


Horse Drawn carriage by The Hitching Company



It’s amazing how many cool places there are to shoot. This awesome little bridge was just down the street from their house.
Brutus their boxer is a big softy
Colleen’s mom’s cupcakes. I think she might have to make these into a side business!

Congrats you two!

Riding: Murphy Hanrahan

 Laura and I just couldn’t get enough of the Murphy Hanrahan trails this weekend so we went again! We joined Pete, MikeyB, Kris, Josh, and then Jessop, John, and Jason for a lap after work.  I forgot what packing 20 pounds of camera gear on your back can do to your balance!  All in all it was an awesome ride, the temperature was just right and as the sun hit the magic hour things were just absolutely beautiful out there.  Thanks for the ride guys and thanks for the post ride beer!


Testing out self portraits using my Bogen Magic Arm.


Kris rounds the corner heading up a climb.

MikeB shows us how it is done on the split rock.

Laura takes over camera duties so I can give it a shot.

Baltimore Josh rocks and rolls.

Obey!

Laura shows us its not just the guys who can do it.

Pete out in the prairie in that golden sun.

Fourth Of July weekend BBQ-ing

What a fabulous holiday weekend.  The weather was gorgeous, Laura and I rode our bikes everyday, and we were able to spend time with family and friends.  It was a weekend of barbecuing for us as we had my parents over on Friday for shish kabobs  and then on Saturday we were over to the Palmers for more BBQ, games, and a surprise pop-over by my brother down from Duluth.