Black Beach Couples Session

There’s truly nothing that compares to the experience of being a photographer on Minnesota’s North Shore. From documenting weddings and engagement shoots to spontaneous couple sessions, the opportunity to capture love amidst the stunning beauty of this region brings me immense joy. A particular session over the July 4th weekend stands out as a dream come true, filled with moments and images that exceeded all expectations.

Riley and Autumn, a delightful couple overflowing with love, joy, and laughter, always bring an abundance of energy and the most adorable outfits to every photoshoot. Their commitment to crafting beautiful moments and incredible memories is truly inspiring. I am continuously grateful for having such amazing couples who wholeheartedly embrace the magic of each session.

Putting our heads together and collaborating on selecting outfits that not only make my couples feel confident and stunning but also capture their unique personalities in front of my camera is a top priority for me. It brings me great joy when you share the same dedication to this process. The attention to detail extends to scouting incredible locations, ensuring the perfect timing for that magical light, and curating an unforgettable experience for you both. This is why I devoted extensive time to crafting a comprehensive session guide that encompasses everything from outfit coordination and color schemes to ideal locations and more!

For your session, it's crucial to choose outfits that make you feel comfortable and confident. Opt for solid colors or subtle patterns to avoid distracting from the main focus—you. Consider coordinating with your partner or family members without matching completely. Layers can add visual interest and allow for easy outfit changes. Remember that classic looks tend to age better in photographs compared to trendy styles. Ultimately, choose outfits that reflect your personal style and make you feel your best.

As your dedicated photographer ready to capture your moments, whether it's amidst the serene North Shore landscapes, in the vibrant cityscape of Minneapolis, or any other location of your choice, your satisfaction remains my top priority. Autumn recently reached out, expressing her enthusiasm for collaborating on outfit selections. Eager to fulfill her vision, I promptly shared a few concepts, which she effortlessly transformed into reality. Envisioning a beachy ensemble for Autumn and a casual yet chic look for Riley, I casually proposed a few more ideas. Little did I know, Autumn would surprise us with an array of four impeccably stylish outfits during our brief two-hour shoot, elevating the session to sheer perfection.

Love is often portrayed as serious and intense, but it also has a joyful and playful side. When two people are in love, they have the freedom to let loose, be silly, and have fun together. Whether it's sharing inside jokes, going on adventurous dates, or simply enjoying each other's company, love can be a source of lightheartedness and laughter. Having fun with your partner strengthens the bond between you, creating cherished memories that keep the relationship exciting and fulfilling. Embracing the fun aspect of love adds a sense of lightness and joy to the connection, making it even more special and enduring. The fact that these two brought so much joy and laughter to their session made such a huge impact on our time together. My photography style is so closely tied to my couple’s personalities, no matter who you are.

Riley and Autumn were an absolute delight to photograph. Their adventurous spirit shone through as they twirled on the Black Beach, dashed through the sand, and shared joyful giggles throughout the session. In a surprising twist, they even embraced the icy waters of Lake Superior, with Riley cheerfully sharing the benefits of the cold plunge before diving right in. “It’s good for your metabolism and skin,” he reminded us.

Autumn chuckled as she remarked, "My skin better look damn perfect tomorrow morning." We shared a light-hearted moment, bantering about it, while stepping deeper into the water, slowly feeling the cold seep into our toes. It really wasn’t so bad once you lost the feeling in your feet and legs.

No matter how scorching the weather becomes, the water at this beach stubbornly refuses to warm up. Nevertheless, we refused to be deterred by this inconvenience. As the saying goes, 'Anything for the shot.' Truth be told, the effort was truly rewarding. Despite our legs turning numb and stiff, the resulting shots were absolutely breathtaking. The entire session was so amazing, I completely lost track of time. Initially, we had scheduled just an hour for the photoshoot. However, when I quickly glanced at my phone as we were concluding, I was startled to discover that more than an hour had elapsed, and we were nearing the two-hour mark.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, signaling the end of our photo session, I made sure to capture a few final shots of Riley and Autumn, embracing against the soft, golden light. Autumn and I scanned through the 1000+ photos I had taken in these last two hours and jumped up and down for joy. With a sense of true happiness, I packed up my equipment while reminiscing about the heartfelt moments we had shared throughout the day. As we said our goodbyes, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the privilege of documenting such a special couple. Driving home, my heart was so full of contentment and gratitude for the beautiful memories created that day.

Take a look at some of the incredible photos we captured on this truly beautiful day.

North Shore Engagement Session

If you're familiar with Minnesota's North Shore, you understand that the weather in that area is about as predictable as the mountains (hint, it's not predictable.) Storms, 70 mph winds, and rain kept us at bay and forced us to reschedule these photos. Finally, after months, May 25th was only a couple days away. And it looked like it was supposed to be a FREAKING GORGEOUS day. I was kicking my feet and giggling just thinking about shooting on the North Shore; it's literally every wedding photographer's dream.

Maddi sent me a text. The weather was indicating there could be rain all day, strong winds, and yet again, a ruined photoshoot. After some talk back and forth about our options, I said, "You know what? Let's just do it. It's just rain. Odds are, the weather will make a turn for the nicer again, by the time the day rolls around."

Somehow, I ended up being right. The entire day was filled with glorious sunshine and 70° weather and we were PUMPED. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, only a couple hours before, the weather made another sudden turn for the worse, forcing us to move the engagement session earlier than we were hoping for. Once again, however, upon arriving, the sun made an appearance and shone behind the clouds, making for the most glorious lighting, albeit, slightly chilly for those of us in short sleeves.

Mike and Maddi ran barefoot through the beaches of the North Shore, climbed rocks by the lake, and honestly, between the elevation and how giddily in love they are, it looked like they could've been walking on clouds. Between subtle hand touches, secret smiles, and lots of laughter, we created pure art. I was in constant awe of Mike and Maddi’s ability in front of my camera. Often times, couples find themselves in front of a camera and get instantly uncomfortable and nervous, which is totally understandable! It almost seemed, however, that I wasn’t even there. They were so entirely focused on the other, everything they did was so natural and beautiful, which I think is the reason we created the wonderful photos that we did. It’s never fun to be stiff or awkward and sometimes you’re able to feel that through the photos, afterwards. With the comfortability and ease of these two lovers on the North Shore, dreamy photos were easy to capture.

Afterwards, we traveled to Palisade Head, which boasts the most stunning cliffs, near Duluth, Minnesota. Mike and Maddi absolutely slayed with their outfit choices and my jaw, quite honestly, is permanently located on the floor because WOW. Talk about a spicy couple, radiating happiness, and love, who really understood the freaking assignment.

I balanced my camera gear in one hand as we hiked uphill and scaled some pretty treacherous looking cliffs. Of all days, of course, I forgot my nifty dual camera harness from Coiro, that would have solved all my camera balancing problems. Maddi was an absolute gem, carefully holding my camera for me if I needed an extra hand climbing a particular spot. After almost two hours of dreamy photos, hiking, gentle kisses, and a lot of fun, we made our way back to our vehicles, pumped up and full of energy.

Lo and behold, it began pouring almost immediately after we departed (damn North Shore.)

In exactly one year and one day from when this post gets published, Mike and Maddi will be getting MARRIED!!! I am counting down the days until these two wonderful souls become one and begin their life as, man and wife. Sometimes I wonder how I'm so lucky to have the most amazing couples hire me for the biggest day of their life. These two are going to be the most jaw dropping bride and groom y'all have ever seen and I'm SO honored to be able to capture it all!!

Enjoy some highlights from their session!!