I recently had the joy of photographing Remi and Shawn’s portrait session at Lake Rebecca Park in Hastings, and Minnesota gave us the dreamiest sunset to work with. Warm light, fall colors, and two very adorable fur babies—Hattie and Penny—made the whole evening feel extra special.

The dogs were a little squirrel! with all the new smells (if you’ve brought pups to a session before, you know exactly what I mean), but they did such a great job. We still managed to snag some really sweet shots of them, and honestly, their personalities made the session even more fun.

There’s something so special about watching love stories ripple outward — one couple connecting to another, stories intertwining over the years. Vanessa and Brandon came to me through one of my past couples, whose engagement and reception I had the honor of photographing here in Cottage Grove. It’s such a gift to see those connections come full circle!

For their session, we met at Vermillion Falls Park in Hastings, and it was pure joy from start to finish. The waterfall roared in the background, the leaves hinted at fall color, and chatter filled every moment. These two are the kind of couple who can’t help but make each other smile — the kind of connection that’s real, contagious, and rooted in deep friendship.

Vanessa and Brandon met online (he messaged her first!), and it didn’t take long for them to realize they’d found something different. One of Vanessa’s favorite early details? The fact that Brandon was already a proud cat dad. Fast forward, and now they share a home filled with four cats — possibly five soon — joking that they’re well on their way to running a “cat sanctuary.”

This past July, they chose to marry at the courthouse — a beautiful decision to start their marriage focused on what truly matters: each other, not wedding debt. Their celebration was simple, intentional, and full of love — much like them.

​As we wrapped up the session, we talked about their shared love for humor and storytelling — they even recently went to see Nate Bargatze live together. Their joy, their connection, and their genuine hearts made this session one I won’t forget.

Congratulations, Vanessa and Brandon — your joy is contagious, and I’m so excited for this next season of your story.

There’s something magical about a quiet morning in Shakopee’s Memorial Park, especially when golden hour light spills across the grass, dances off the water, and illuminates the flowers (especially baby's breath!) — wrapping everything in a warm glow. It was the perfect backdrop for celebrating Rose and Dennis as they await the arrival of their baby boy — now just a few weeks away at 33 weeks along.

Some sessions just radiate warmth—despite the weather—and this one was the perfect example. On a misty, cool June morning at Oakwood Park in Cottage Grove, I had the joy of reconnecting with Sheilah and finally meeting her husband, Joseph, and their adorable son, Kyle.
​
I first met Sheilah during a solo portrait session, when she shared that the photos would be heading across the world to her husband in Kenya. At the time, they had spent most of their marriage apart--five of their six years long-distance. But today’s session marked something new and beautiful: finally being together in the same place, celebrating six years of marriage side by side.

There’s something so precious about the quiet anticipation before baby arrives—and this misty summer morning with Agira and Stephen at Oakwood Park was just that.