I have always loved to capture things around me through photos. It wasn't until out of college that I found a true love for wedding photography and all the glorious chaos that comes with a wedding day. Not only having the opportunity to make beautiful art with bride and groom portraits but serve a bride and groom on their wedding day to hopefully make it better any way I could has been life changing for me. I photograph weddings with other photographers since I have started in wedding photography. When I first started I was with a very talent photographer who was hands off when it came to wedding days. They came, photographed, let the day happen, and left on their contracted time. In 2017 I reached out to Gina, a wedding photographer in the twin cities whose work I admired, asking to shoot weddings with her. It wasn't until that I saw with my own eyes what true service could look like on a wedding day from a photographer. It was/is an ALL IN kind of love through works shown that really clicked with my heart and my brain, and I really grew from the experience in what a wedding experience can look be.
When you do something you love it just for the sake of loving it, it doesn't really feel like work; that is how it felt for a long time. Serving couples and their families during such a joyous time has been life giving to me.
I am now in my 12th seasons of weddings and photography and the last couple of years have brought a new shade of purpose for my photography that is a little heavier on my heart that was just unexpected. I have now had some of those amazing couples and family members pass away. And seeing my photos at their funerals and celebrations of life has opened a whole new understanding for me that what I do has meaning outside of just the one day. It is no surprise I think everyone should have their photos done because when they are gone those are all you will have left with the memories. Its heartbreaking seeing them on their happiest days when the family is experiencing them on one of their worst. But they have their loved ones smiles to hold on to when they are gone. My heart breaks for the little ones who will grow up not knowing their mom, but I really pray they feel served having photos documenting their moms funeral when they get older.
Over and over again the last couple of years it has been revealed to me that my photos are not just a service to the couple for now, but to the whole family for the rest of their lives. I hope it remains to be a blessing and a gift throughout their lives.
So I just want to say thank you to anyone who entrusts me to document and share this portion of your life. It has been SUCH a privilege to be a small part of your life and capture as you are right now so you have something tangible in the good times and the bad times.
