Would you believe it if we shared that the first thing these two said during their dreamy winter engagement photos once we had slipped and slid our way through the ice and climbed the rocks at Taylors Falls Interstate Park to this spot was, “We have no idea how to pose for photos.” Yup. I promise, it’s what they said! We quickly assured them that that’snormal and that’s why we’re here! In fact, it’s so normal that we’ve worked hard to create simple posing that by the end of the session and even after the session, they can pose themselves and even probably describe them to someone else.

Wow, oh wow, oh wow. As I sit here and have a chance to look back at every wedding day, engagement session, family portraits, anniversary photos, mini sessions, maternity portraits, lifestyle sessions, newborn portraits, senior portraits, and more, all I can say is wow. 2018 was such a blessing. You blessed us! So many special announcements, new steps and chapters in life, and stopping to document life are seen below. You trusted us and invited us to walk alongside of you in these precious moments -- allowing us to live vicariously through you and celebrate the best parts of life with you. So below, you'll find some of our favorite photos as wedding and portrait photographers that highlight many more photos and moments not shown, each freezing memories to be looked back on for a lifetime.

The details, all the beautiful details. We were shooting details in the Rush Creek Golf Club entryway when in walked Nathan's mother and their adorable niece -- the flower girl. She was the cutest little flower girl we've seen and had the most precious of details to match. Getting to watch her spin around like Cinderella in a gown throughout the day always brought a smile to our faces. These beautiful details continued out throughout the entire day, but their day wasn't defined by the details: it was emphasized by them. These two cared so much for creating the best experience for their friends and family, so they went to any means necessary to encourage their closest loved ones to relax and enjoy the day. They had the coolest wedding ceremony program we've seen -- sharing not only unique details about their relationships but where their love ones were traveling from. Thankfully, Nathan and Cali weren't the only ones to put their guests first as Rush Creek Golf Club graciously decorated their beautiful grounds for Christmas a little early, enabling them to have the romantic winter wedding day they were hoping for. 

​“Just wait,” Alex said after Ariel asked if they would get going soon. They were sitting on a bench at Afton State Park and Alex was working up the courage to propose to Ariel. She had remarked about how peaceful of a spot it was so he knew this was the perfect moment as they loved to hike together. He had finally worked up the courage, popped down on one knee and was about to put on the ring when an older woman walked by and took her sweet time enjoying all the flowers so once they were alone again, he put the ring on Ariel’s finger and made it official. We laughed that during a candid portrait set in their engagement session at Afton State Park, a gentleman walked right through their photo instead of walking around them – interrupting the moment like the older lady had all over again. Speaking of their engagement session, we laughed so hard and had so much fun with these two! We can’t wait for their wedding next year!

The guests were hanging on every word. The bride’s dad held the microphone loosely as he shared story after story and detail after detail about the lovely couple before him – you would think that he was mostly sharing his pride for his beautiful daughter but at the end of his speech, he took a sudden turn and talked about the family the bride, Andrea, was marrying into. “They’re such a perfect match family-wise and we are so blessed,” he said and soon, the groom, Charles, was in tears, his mother was on tips of tears smiling in the direction of her son, and the bridesmaids were asking each other for tissues. We are always up for destination weddings and the chance to enjoy a road trip or travel so when Charles and Andrea reached out to us about being their wedding photographers, we were all in! Heading to photograph their beautiful wedding day at Usher's Ferry in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was amazing -- and what was even better is that it was about 20 degrees warmer there then in our hometown of Cottage Grove, Minnesota. 

We're currently on the road traveling in rainy weather to tomorrow's wedding but couldn't hold this fun engagement session to ourselves any longer! Meet Rachael and Andrew. These two showed us one of their summer date night traditions by taking us to Vino in the Valley for their engagement session. We can see why they love it -- especially in all of the gorgeous fall weather and colors!

When I asked Kristina where she would like to shoot her and Adam’s mini portrait session in Hastings, her first response was LeDuc Historic Estates because one of her favorite sessions we did was a 60thwedding anniversary session there. (It’s one of my favorites, too, Kristina!)