Gina and Mark: Engagement Session!

Gina and I went to high school together, and we were able to stay in contact via the lovely facebook. When she updated her relationship status a few years back, and she posted photos of this new man in her life, I could see they were very happy together. In fact, I hadn't even met him, but I thought they looked so perfect together that perhaps he was indeed "The One."

Turns out, Mark was "The One!" I was thrilled when Gina booked me to do their wedding, which will be in November 2009. I met Mark for the first time when we did our engagement session, and just like in the photos, I could see that they were perfect for each other.

We took these photos near Lake Harriet and by the bridge that connects Lake Harriet to Lake Calhoun.




(This one makes me giggle:))














Congrats again, Gina and Mark! I can't wait to take part in your big day!

Just becuase I love him.

Spartacus:






Have a good weekend, everyone!

Babies!

I miss seeing babies everyday like I got to do when I worked with First Day Photo! I worked with them for two great years and we estimated that I photographed around 1000 babies. Isn't that insane?? That's a lot of babehs! When I first started the job, I knew nothing about newborns... I learned a ton in those two years! It also trained me real well in capturing the moment when it happens because you can't ask a baby, "Could you do that again for me? That cute face?" So I developed a very quick eye and shutter finger thanks to those little ones! I got to see Jessica and Brad (the owners... my former bosses and good friends!)a week ago. I hadn't seen them in months. We stayed up talking until WAY early in the morning!

I had the pleasure of photographing two babies this winter-- both babies from couples whose weddings I photographed! Both couples are going to be fanTASTIC parents. Truly!

I had a blast with Rebecca and Benjamin....


This is Rebecca, 3 months old!





And this is Benjamin, 2 weeks old!







I have a lot of friends who are about to have babies right now(or just had one!), and I am so excited for them all! As for Aaron and I, we plan on waiting awhile still, but look forward to that time! Babies and kids are tons of fun. As long as we don't get a little spitfire like I was when I was little, I think we'll be safe(ha:)). And as long as we keep them away from Uncle Jonathan, they'll be safe too. He says he is going to teach our kids that blue is red, and yellow is green.... but not if they have kids FIRST... then I will teach HIS kids that.. muah hahaha! >:D He's getting married this May, and we are excited for the wedding!

If you would like baby photos, please let me know! I don't do a lot of baby sessions during the year because I'm busy with weddings, but I love doing them and welcome the chance to do them! :)

NEW!!!! VIDEOS ON MY WEBSITE!

We have uploaded my new videos to my website!!!

I would love for you to check them out!

I feel they are a great way for my prospective clients (as well as my friends and
family!) to see what it is that I actually DO on a wedding day! To see how I work
with my clients, and to see what my clients say about me!

Go here:
www.gingermurrayphotography.com
Then go to the "LOVE" Section.
Then to "The Difference (Watch videos)."

There are 4 videos total.


A huge superthanks to Ben at Myrick Visual He was the director, videographer,
and a ton of other stuff-- the guy who did a TON of work on these!.. oh yeah,
and he's one of my best friends... but I'm not sure he sells friendship as a
service of Myrick Visual). I will be indebted to him for life, most likely.

**Also, Big thanks to**
Ameen-- our incredible sound guy who knows more about doing
sound than I know about anything, really.

Lindsay & Andy, Amanda & Ryan W., and Terese & Ryan K!!!
You all rock. I am so blessed with amazing clients!

We also obtained the proper licenses and permissions for all of the music used in the videos(which is very important to me).
Thank you to Sara and Troy Groves for the Master License for Sara's gorgeous song, "Add to the Beauty"--
which is at the end of the 1st video. The song could not have been a more perfect fit!
Also, thanks to Jorge for the song at the beginning of the 1st vid-- it was exactly what we were looking for.



This is Ben....


This is me and Mao. I got to see her everytime I'd come over to Ben's to discuss
the videos. I love Mau. (She belongs to one of Ben's roommates.)


This is how Ben often feels about Mau:


Ben and I also discussed Yoga and balance. This is Ben showing me how to do it.
(This is also Ben looking like he has a partial stem.)


My attempts...

...Failed.




What else is new???
I am currently working on my brand so that it reflects who I am today
versus who I was when I started as a photographer nearly 3 years ago. I will let you
know when that is all finished, too;) It is quite the creative process, that's for sure!

Photographer friends

I love making new friends. I truly do!

In March of 2008, Steph and I went to the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers
International) convention/seminar/tradeshow in Vegas. Before we went to Vegas, we
wanted to find a roommate to share hotel expenses. We emailed back and forth with
Callie Crass, a photographer from Wisconsin, and made hotel arrangements. We had not
met Callie before, but she sounded nice enough, so we were excited to have her as a
roommate!

The second she arrived to the hotel room, I knew I would love her. She is SUCH a
great person, and really ended up being the absolute best roommate ever. Steph and I
felt like we knew her for ages. We could talk about photography, and ANYTHING else, really.

Well, none of us went to WPPI in February this year, so we hadn't seen each other in
a year. We knew that we had wanted to all hang out again at some point. A couple
weeks ago, Callie emailed Steph and I and said she would drive to Minneapolis to see
us!

So yesterday, Callie and I talked from 1:15pm until 5:30pm at Panera, and then we
headed to meet Steph at 6pm-- and we all talked until 8:30pm! I really wish Callie
lived closer!! But Steph and I plan to drive out to see her in the fall-- which
seems like SUCH a long time away! But I know with the wedding season approaching,
the time will go by quickly. Especially for Callie... who has 32 weddings booked for
this year!!!! Holy smokes, right?? She is so inspiring:)

Thanks for driving all the way out, Callie! Can't wait to see you again;)





(At TGIF's, it was only logical that we order Margaritas, because we went to
Margaritaville in Vegas 3 times, haha! It was super convenient for us to eat there,
so that's where we always went, ha:))



While we were eating there, our friend and fellow photographer Erin Benner sent us a
text to tell us she found out the sex of her baby who's due this summer....
"It's a Girl!"


Oh man... with as many photographer friends as Erin has, she will never by short of
having enough baby photos when this little girl comes!!! Congrats again, Erin and Matt!!

Exciting week ahead!!

I just bought a new camera last week-- so it's on it's way in the mail to me!!!!
I am thrilled, people. THRILLED. It's the 5dMarkII. I will of course share some
images as soon as I take some with the new cam!!


Also this week, I will be announcing the launch of my promo videos!!!!
Stay tuned;)


I also have something planned for every single evening this week-- Monday I'll be
meeting up witha photographer friend at her gym so we can burn some calories
together. Tuesday I'll be meeting up with potential clients(I love meetings!! :-D),
Wednesday is a super full day-- it begins with a 7:30AM photo shoot, and ends with a
dinner with my aunt. Thursday I'm meeting up with Steph and Callie. Callie was our
roommate at WPPI in 2008, and we are so excited to meet up with her-- she is driving
all the way in from Wisconsin. Friday, Aaron has off (He usually has every other
Monday off, but he couldn't last week, or this coming Monday.) Saturday, I'll be
hanging out with my friends Sarah, Corrie and Steph(again...!:)) -- a bridesmaids
get together. Sarah and her fiance Dan were over here on Friday night, and we made
dinner together, played Mario Party, and watched some Flight of the Conchords. Good
times!!

I'll also try to share some recent engagement photos with you all!

Matt and Jennie: Engaged!!

Here is the engagement session I said I'd post!!! :)

Love these two! We braved the cold, and had a ton of fun. I'm sure their July wedding will hold much promise for warmer weather (which, as Minnesotans, we are very much looking forward to!).













(really crazy story.... my dad's company actually designed the screens that are used for the look of this building! They typically do screens/filters for water, but lately, the company is getting more requests for screens to use for architectural design.).










You see that balcony of the blue building in the background? That's the Guthrie... and, where we started the photoshoot! Look back at the first pic in the post! :)