Have you heard that it’s important in life to have relationships like a compass? If you haven’t, I promise I’m not crazy and let me explain what I mean. To explain it very briefly, we need to have relationships of people ahead of us in life that we can look up to, behind us in life that we can pour into, and those in the same stage of life that we can walk alongside with. Ultimately, each of these relationships we pour into and are challenged to grow as well. One such “same stage of life” compass relationship that we have is with the Wong family. Now you see the title above that says Tharp is the last name of this group, and you’re not wrong, Lori is originally from the Tharp family. Her awesome parents, Colleen & Kim, live on a farm in Hastings and her brother, Jason, also lives nearby. Lori met an amazing man named Stephen while in college, got married, and moved back into the Twin Cities area 6 years ago. They now have four beautiful kids. Getting to photograph their family the past few years has been an honor and now getting to also photograph her brother and her parents? Even more so!
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I’m not sure about you, but when I look back on my childhood, time with grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins were some of the best moments. There’s something about the family gathering together that allows life to slow down, the sun to seem all the more golden, and love to flow more easily. The best way to relive these moments? Talking with family about them all again – especially while looking at photos of those days, and for me growing up with my Bondy side of the family, there was always one iconic photo that we looked back on. Was it a perfect photo where everyone was looking? Honestly, can’t tell you, but it’s one taken behind my grandparent’s house with all the kids on this cement block hanging out together, cheesin’ at the camera. So to think that after taking the Newby extended family photos and getting to take a few photos to capture the cousin only moments, I might have captured one such moment? That’s a blessing!
What is it about kids that keep growing each year?! Ha! I know, but all jokes aside. Wow, time flies by. We first had the privilege of photographing the Ogren family back when no-longer-so-little Jeremiah here was a newborn. Yup, picture a newborn baby in not the greatest lighting and with a person who was just entering into the photography world. Oh my have we learned so much since that day, but the trust and privilege that Bethany and Jeff gave me all those years ago and continue to give me in documenting their family portraits means more than I can say.
Intimate Backyard Vow Renewal & Anniversary Portraits in Cottage Grove, MN // Lezlie + Tom7/29/2021 A vow renewal ceremony or wedding vow reaffirmation ceremony is defined by Wikipedia as “a ceremony in which a married couple renew or reaffirm their marriage vows.” It sounds pretty straight forward, but I think every married couple would say that each and every day, continuing to love and cherish one another in all circumstances can get challenging. I remember getting engaged and having so many older couples telling us that marriage is really hard, and you won’t always be in the happy-go-lucky stage. While I get what they were saying, it was quite a downer for a bride-to-be. Yes, there are hard times, and yet, there is nothing better than seeing a couple grow past the first year or two of marriage and still see them saying, “I choose you.” Tom and Lezlie are one of these couples that show joy and continued commitment ten years into marriage. They chose to surround themselves with those closest to them and once again privately yet publicly say, “I choose you.”
This group of people right here are so fun to hang out with and take their family photos! And four generations?! Yes, please! It’s always a great time to connect with the McDonald/Teal family. I first met them all at our church and have had the pleasure of photographing them when the Teal family unit was only 3 and now they’re 5! It’s amazing how quickly life changes and time passes by, but the love of a family overcomes, grows, and yet stays the same love.
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Connect with us!ABOUT USHey! We're Mark & Lindsay Wiggins, husband and wife Minnesota photographers. Click here to find out more about us.
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