Aleecia & Paul's Wedding

I've been slacking on updating this blog because I have been so busy editing!
I wasn't feeling well for a couple days, so I didn't get much done.. but
I've been workin super hard to get all the editing I have done!
A quick upload, and then back to work!

Here are a few pics from Aleecia & Paul's wedding.
Aleecia and Paul sent out a mass facebook message/group invite to
submit 4-6 photos in a contest to be their wedding photographers.
(We had a mutual friend, but didn't know them personally.)
They wanted two photographers.
This was pretty early in the year and Steph and I were pretty much just
starting to get our business together, so we were excited for this opportunity!
We both emailed them a few pics (I was SO nervous about which photos I would put in! "How do I describe my style in 4-6 photos??" I was really stressed about it! haha!
I had no idea what or who I was up against.

They emailed us both, individually, to tell us (before the deadline
was even up) that they had already made up their minds and they
wanted us. We were COMPLETELY flattered and excited (I think it was the...
4th wedding we ever booked?)! And we were relieved that we would get to shoot with each other, and not a total stranger:)

With plenty of weddings under our belt for the summer, we shot this wedding...
and it was SO wonderful and beautiful... and they are just so in love, and SO completely sweet and nice... I could go on and on!

Steph is editing the other half of the pics. Here are some I edited
(shot by both Steph and I):






(Oh my gosh, I got so choked up when Aleecia starting crying and laughing! She was so excited that the day had finally come! Her friends were truly happy for her...)

























(Steph took this... It's SO beautiful!!)




Gotta get back to editing!
And, tomorrow we'll be shooting a wedding in the snow! Wish us luck!

Carl & Amy's Engagement Portraits

It was a SUPER humid day when we took these... But it was well worth it. Just look at
the gorgeous fall colors we had that weekend!
And look at how hot Carl and Amy look! (And I don't mean temperature wise... although
we were all rather warm temperature-wise too!)

Editing Plans, Travel Plans, Spending Plans, Christmas Plans, Stress Plans, Etc.

I have many many things to edit before the end of this month. I'm doing pretty well so far.

I'm trying to decide if I should join the WPPI this year....

One good reason is so I can go to Las Vegas for the big event.
Aaron and I were talking about POSSIBLY going there anyway.
We've played with the idea... but I don't know...
I know it'd be worth it....but...I'd have to fly there...
and then there's the hotel expenses...

It's just that i have so much to buy in the next few months!

5d
50mm 1.2
Lighting equipment
A new website
Lightroom (using the free Trial right now and it's awesome!)
Another flash
Maybeeee some sort of credit card service?
An accountant

And then there's this whole Christmas season coming up...
Oh man.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas. But honestly, it has
always stressed me out. (I do NOT mean this in
a snotty way.. I am not a snotty person:))...
I have a lot of friends. I've always wanted to get them
great gifts. It always stresses me out to find those perfect
gifts. And I usually end up crying at least once over the
holiday season because there's so much to do and buy and
work to get done-- and it's just SO overwhelming!

Plus, I hate Minnesota winters. The WPPI won't come to MN
because it's cold (I'm sure that's the reason;)).

Wow!! I sound like a big whiner!!

Here's the deal.

I'm going shopping on Friday (Yes, I am one of those crazy
Black Friday shoppers... and I LOVE it!!), and I've
set a budget. I am going to have a good time, and this year,
I will aim to NOT get stressed out.

However, this will be my first Christmas with a full
load of editing to do, since it is still my first full year in
business...

BUT I am going to try to enjoy the season this year.
Even if it is ridiculously cold.

Things to look forward to:
*Thanksgiving! I LOVE food!
*Aaron and I are having a New Year's party. I usually have a couple
parties a year... sometimes a July 4th party, sometimes a Halloween Party
(Hellooo... I did grow up going to school in the Halloween Capitol of the World. It's true.)
...But this year it was too busy to have any until New Year's! So we're going to make it a good one.
*A new year of big happenings in the business
*A mini vacay with the hubby in January to a bed and breakfast, and a day of skiing.

*... and Vegas is still to be discussed.


Thoughts?

Amanda & Ryan's Wedding

I have not been very good about posting wedding photos!
So I'll try to do some catch up blogging in the next
couple weeks! Because I actually DO shoot weddings! :)
At the end of the year, I'll have shot 20 weddings.
I think that's pretty good for my first full year in the business.
(While also working at First Day Photo!)

Amanda and I had a class together at Bethel U. She and
Ryan met there as well (happens to the best of us:)).
Amanda has been a wonderful person to work with-- she's
done a lot of work for me like developing my logo, PDF pricing
sheets, and just helping me with my branding! She has done a fantastic
job so far. She is SO talented and always understands exactly what I'm looking for!
Here's what my business card looks like:





Here are a few shots from Amanda and Ryan's wedding...A VERY hot day in August!
(These aren't in the full-resolution, just FYI!)




(That angle I first saw from David Jay's website... So I'm not taking credit for it. It is pretty, isn't it?)






Steph had a blast shooting the boys...




Going to meet her groom!











Amanda and her two beautiful sisters:





Praying before the ceremony...




Fun at the reception:







(You guys know which song this is, I bet...:))





Noise makers and cheering!!
It was the most exciting, fast-paced "send off" ever!