the love of a mother

I had the wonderful privilege of taking photos of Miss Cassandra TeLae and her beautiful boys earlier this year in March while I still lived in Minnesota. This March day greeted us with lovely sunshine and warmer than usual temperatures. Cassandra also happens to be a dear friend, for whom I am so grateful. She shines so brightly in all that she does. She is a wonderful mother, and incredible encouragement and loving person to so many. You and your boys are amazing people, Cassandra, and I am so grateful to know you!

“There is no greater heaven the heart of a loving mother” 
― Bangambiki HabyarimanaThe Great Pearl of Wisdom

Tal & Neela's wedding

I'm so excited to show you picture's from Tal and Neela's wedding! Their wedding was on the 19th of July in a gorgeous garden on a simply amazing Minnesotan summer afternoon and evening. I was so excited to photograph their wedding! They put the most beautiful details and organic pieces into their wedding! Their wedding had the most incredible elements of love and family and friendship crafted into every corner. And the garden setting! Wow! I honestly do not know if I have ever seen a more beautiful backyard garden... so perfect for a weddings setting!

These two carry about their presence such an ease of love and affection. It is a delight to simply be with them, and I am was honored to photograph their wedding!

Enjoy their lovely photos below! I hope you can feel the love I felt in simply being there to be a part of everything. Here are my favorites and some highlights from the wedding!

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the darling Maggie Mae

Back in December last year, Maggie Mae and I found a small studio and shot some new headshots for her. We were trying for a few different looks, and had so much fun in the studio! She is seriously such an sweet and fun and amazing woman! You should definitely check out her website here! She is an amazing woman and I am privileged to know her! Maggie, I can't wait to see where you go!

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Hope, California, October 2013

This may be one of the longest blog posts I have had yet! This was certainly one of my favorite photos shoots I have done! So many incredible photos that it makes it really hard to choose. And I actually did not post all of the shots we took!

Hope is amazing. She has been staying with her family out in California. This past October when I was out West, we coordinated a time when we were both free, and went and played all afternoon by AND IN the ocean!

Seriously, SO MUCH FUN! There are lots of pictures below, but enjoy! I love doing these types of shoots where we plan out some ideas of things we intend to do beforehand!

Ah sigh... That western sunset and rocky shores of the west coast. I took a couple scenic photos... thought later that I maybe should have taken more... but that's okay! Some beauty is remembered best in the mind. Enjoy!

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Do you see my shadow???? haha! 

Do you see my shadow???? haha! 

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Laura, After the Storm

Last summer, on 21 June, Minneapolis and the surround area saw a massive storm. Trees were downed, and parts of the city completely lost power for days. It took weeks to get the trees cleaned up and removed because so many massive trees fell down.

For a while previous, I had been thinking how much fun it would be to do photos in the middle of the pouring rain. My neighbor in my current apartment building (who was also a friend previous to when we had moved into the apartment as neighbors) thought this was a fabulous idea. 

While the rain and wind pounded against our windows and we kept asking one another if we were brave enough to go out and do this in this storm, we planned out the outfit and what we would do.

We left to go get waterproof mascara... I am laughing at this right now, thinking about that crazy night... Laura driving. The rain was coming down so hard that had we not been wearing raincoats, we would have been instantly soaked. Our first stop for mascara proved unsuccessful, as we found that a majority of Minneapolis had completely lost power, due probably to the downed trees we dodged. (Not kidding! Thankfully, no trees in the motion of falling!) We found a store with power, bought mascara...

And then, true to the style of a Midwest storm, the storm stopped. Almost instantly. But everything was soaked, and the gutters were pouring with water. The air was so wet it almost felt like it was still raining at times. So we went to one of our favorite little streets in Minneapolis... a place we like to say is our "little bit of Europe in Minneapolis." I am sure you know the place if you have been there. ;)

This shoot was so much fun! I love that my friends are willing to be a part of my sometimes crazy ideas. ;)

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Self Portraits, 10 August 2013

In August this last year, I went to bed early on a Friday night and got up early the next morning to catch one of my favorite types of light... morning light. Doing self portraits are also a great way to teach oneself, as we tend to be hyper-critical of what we like or don't like about ourselves.

These were not my first self portraits I had ever taken, but it had been quite a while since I had last taken planned out self portraits. It was a lot of fun, and it felt like I was taking what I wanted in life and actualizing it. Perhaps that is a strange way to put it. But for now, here's some photos of me from this last summer. At the very least, perhaps the summertime warmth brings a sigh of relief to you as it does to me. 

What are your first steps toward the things you want in life?It starts with you!

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