Thank You Ray Santana!

So check this out. Miami photographer extraordinaire, Ray Santana, was hosting a contest on his blog to win a Boda Dry Bag, and guess what, I won.


This bag sounds really awesome. I will post more and give all the cool details when I receive the bag, but I was too excited to completely wait until then.

Thanks again Ray!

A little fashion and shop talk

Hey everyone,

I came across this image and wanted to use it as a chance to inform people on some of the long standing "rules" of photography. To me, this image is a great example of balance between space, depth, and light. For some of you photographers this may be old news, but for some of you, it may be interesting. One of the basic rules of composition in photography is called the rule of thirds. The philosophy is that often an image looks best when it falls on the grid created by splitting the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. It is a common design technique and frequently makes for a more interesting image. Another common way to create intrigue in an image is to have layers which help create depth. Things in the foreground and background which help give a sense of place. What I really like about this image is that it includes both. I have created the grid, so you can see what I am talking about.



If you look, the subject falls on the vertical grid and the edge of the model in the bottom right, and the model in the upper left, help add dimension. Another thing that works really well is the balance of light and dark. Your eye instantly goes to the light of the models since the background is so dark.

At any rate, I hope this was informative but not boring. I wanted to take the opportunity to give some insight into why I think this is a cool image. P.S. models and beautiful gowns help!

Elegance

Here is another shot I liked from the TCBA show I posted about yesterday. This elegant arrangement was put together by Stems and Vines. They had some beautiful bouquets and this gorgeous setting displayed.

Twin Cities Bridal Show - Wedding Fair

Hey everyone, Stacey and I would like to thank all of you who stopped by our booth at the Twin Cities Bridal Association - Wedding Fair. We had a great time meeting everyone and would love to sit down and talk to you more in person.

While at the show, I thought I would grab a few shots. I will post more later, but here are a couple from the fashion show. Runway is something new for us, but it was a good time. Plus the gowns were gorgeous.

Mestads sponsored the Couture Runway Show for the event. I will try and find the designer of the gown during the course of the week.



This gown was sponsored by Bridal Accents Couture. The gown was by Platinum for Priscilla of Boston.


I will try and post more as the week goes on.

Hope you had a great weekend.

Had A Bad Day???

Sometimes working together can get a little rough!

j/k, we have a blast. Or at least when this is not happening.

Winter Glorious Winter

What a fantastic wedding we got the chance to shoot in December! Meg and Randy are such a great couple, and have such a fun personality. We were introduced to them via a reference from our friend (and very talented photographer) Sara Rubinstein. After talking with Meg a few times on the phone, we knew we were going to have a fun time.

The day started by meeting our friend (and photographer extraordinaire) Sue Austin, at Meg and Randy's house. We got some great shots at the house while Meg was getting ready and when Randy saw his new bride for the first time.
It was great to see how excited he was when he saw Meg.


From here we went to Valley Grove, for the wedding. It was truly amazing to see this classic white country church with snow all around. What a sight!

Take a guess at which of these cute flower girls is not used to Minnesota winters?

It was a real treat meeting Randy's grandmother who is 100 years old, and still lives on her own. It must be unbelievable to listen to the stories she has to tell. Talking to Randy, you can really tell the respect he has for her.

Right before the ceremony, Meg and Randy went for a ride on the Bobsled, pulled by these beautiful draft horses.

The happy couple coming down the aisle. I just love their expressions.


At this point, we went to Carlton College for the reception. It was held in the great hall which reminded me of the one portrayed in Harry Potter. The food was excellent and they did a great job. Check out how Meg incorporated the season into her flowers. It really gave it that winter holiday feel.

And check out this cake! The two of them really enjoy the outdoors, and they did such a fun job incorporating that into the day.

During dinner, Meg's dad gave a very nice and eloquent toast.


To finish the night, they had a surprise for the guests - FIREWORKS!!! We were told it made for quite a few stories in this small town. But after meeting the two of them, I wouldn't expect much else :)


We would like to thank you guys for allowing us to be a part of your special day. We truly are blessed to be entrusted with your memories. Be sure to check out the slideshow for additional highlights from the day.