About Joanna Carina of Carina Photographics

About Joanna Carina

Mill Ruins Park Senior Pictures | Tatiana

Minneapolis Senior Photography

Today I am highlighting Tatiana’s beautiful Minneapolis senior picture session. Tatiana’s mom Teri contacted me requesting a session with Tatiana. They had found my work online and decided to contact me, and I was thrilled! Senior sessions are so much fun, and I was excited to work with them!

Mill Ruins Park Senior Session

Tatiana wanted to hold her senior portrait session at Mill Ruins Park in downtown Minneapolis, along the riverfront. I love that beautiful park! She gravitated toward the park because it was a favorite location of her father, who had passed away just a couple of years ago. Holding her portrait session here was such a perfect homage to her dad.

The day arrived and it was sunny, although a bit on the cold side. We were all dressed in our warm layers and coats, while Tatiana wore her cute dresses and sandals. She persevered and it seemed the cold barely bothered her at all! We wandered through the grounds of the park as Tatiana rotated through three outfit changes and we stopped at numerous locations. We even had time to take a break before sunset to warm up in our cars for a few minutes too.

Viewing + Ordering Session

Teri + Tatiana loved the final images. They settled on ordering an Heirloom Print Box featuring a handmade copper-foiled glass box with heirloom matted 8×10 prints. These boxes are so unique and gorgeous! I am so excited to finally see the final box.

Thank You!

Thank you, Teri + Tatiana, for choosing to work with me as your Minneapolis senior photographer. I had so much fun working with you both, and I am thrilled that you love your images. And Tatiana, best of luck with your future endeavors!

If you’d like to work together for your senior photo session, contact me soon!

Also, make sure to take a look at some of my other Minneapolis senior portrait photography sessions too:
Brenda
Holly
Maia
Molly
Maya
Taylor
Annie
Lauren
Maggie
Kate
Claire

Mill City Museum, Guthrie Theater + Gold Medal Park Engagement Photos | Wittne + Scott

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Mill City Museum Engagement Session

Wittne + Scott were in the midst of planning for their upcoming fall 2019 wedding. Being that we were in our typical early spring, they wanted to have an engagement session that had options for both indoor and outdoor photos. They loved the look of the gorgeous Mill City Museum, so we chose to work there. I had so much fun with their Mill City Museum engagement photos!

The day arrived and we were so excited. The weather had been unseasonably warm, and it was going to be a beautiful sunny day, so we were so excited that we could work in both locations! We spent the first half of our time in the beautiful Mill City Museum. We had lots of fun and laughs as we meandered around the weekday afternoon quiet of the historic building. Once we had our fill, we decided to head to the back of the museum, facing the Mississippi River.

We started at the back of the Mill City Museum, then detoured over to the back of the Guthrie Theater for some classic photos of the two of them by the large blue back wall. These locations are always stunning!

Gold Medal Park Engagement Photos

After we finished up with the architectural building photos, Wittne + Scott were excited to spend a bit of time at Gold Medal Park for some views over the city and river. We headed to the top of the hill at the park’s center for some beautiful photos with the trees and with the city skyline. Such a fun day!

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Wittne + Scott, for working with me as your Minneapolis engagement photographer. I am so happy for you both, and can’t wait for your wedding day coming up later this year!

BONUS: Take a look at another spring Mill City Museum engagement session and winter Mill City Museum engagement photos too!

Take a look at Wittne + Scott’s slideshow too!

Luxury Wedding Photo Album | David + Elizabeth

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Luxury Wedding Photo Album

Today I’m excited to share my latest wedding photo album! Elizabeth + David were married last fall at the gorgeous Como Conservatory Sunken Garden. Be sure to take a look at their beautiful wedding photos too.

Premium Wedding Photo Album

After the wedding, David + Elizabeth wanted a custom Graphistudio wedding album. These gorgeous albums are handmade in Italy. Together, we designed a wedding photo album that perfectly reflected their day.

We started with their album box. They chose a dark anthracite gray, wood-patterned Maple material. Their names and date were foiled on the top, surrounded by a graphic circle of plants, in elegant gold. Inside, the box features a photo of their wedding rings on a gorgeous Conservatory bromeliad flower. The box was finished with a crisp white satin ribbon.

The album features a gorgeous crystal-clear cover with a photo of Elizabeth + David in the spectacular evening light, stone, greenery and flowers of the Sunken Garden. The album is bound with elegant, classic black Italian leather. The pages are printed on metallic professional photo paper and bound into a patented lay-flat binding system. The pages are then finished with a satin coating to protect against fingerprints, dirt and oils.

Thank You!

Elizabeth + David loved their album! It is such a wonderful heirloom for them to share with family and friends. They can enjoy it time and again over the years, and pass it down for generations. Congratulations, David + Elizabeth. I loved working with the two of you as your Minneapolis wedding photographer, and I wish you the best in your lives together!

Take a look at some of my other heirloom album options too:
Signature Albums
Premium Albums

I’ve got these and other wedding photo album samples to view. I’d love to meet you at my Minneapolis wedding photography studio to show you them to you. Contact me soon!

Como Conservatory Engagement Photos | Sarah + Eric

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Como Conservatory Engagement Session

Sarah + Eric live in Chicago. They are planning for their Mill City Museum in Minneapolis later this summer, and were in town to work on planning and details for their big day. So we made time for their Minneapolis engagement photography while they were here too. Since it was winter, and a bitterly cold time of year at that, they loved the idea of working at the Como Conservatory.

St Paul Engagement Photography

We started first thing on a busy weekday morning. Sarah + Eric wanted a few photos with their puppy Sage, so we started off outdoors. Sage was so adorable, and was a perfect model, especially considering it was below zero that morning!

After Sage headed home with Sarah’s dad, the three of us ran indoors to the warm, humid Conservatory. The Sunken Garden featured the bright, fun colors of the spring flower show. Bonus: the light that morning was amazing! The filtered sun was perfect – not too harsh or dull. The gorgeous water, greenery, bright flowers and wonderfully humid air really made us feel like we were in the tropics. We worked in the Sunken Garden, Palm Dome and North Garden before our hour was up. When we were finished, we had a short turnaround until Sarah + Eric came to my studio to see their final photos as they were only in town for a couple of days. They loved their photos!

Thank You!

Thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your Minneapolis engagement photographer, Sarah + Eric. I loved working with you both (and Sage too!) I can’t wait to photograph your wedding later this summer!

Be sure to take a look at some of my other spring Como Conservatory engagement photos, winter Como Conservatory engagement photos, and even Como Town engagement photos too!

If you are interested in having a Como Conservatory engagement session, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

Take a look at more of Sarah + Eric’s beautiful Como Park Conservatory engagement photos here too!

How to Care for Your Digital Photographs | Carina Photographics

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Caring for Your Digital Photographs

Today I want to discuss something that is an extremely important part of your wedding or portrait session: how to properly store your digital photographs! As a Minnesota wedding and portrait photographer, when I deliver heirloom artwork to my clients, I give instructions for caring for their artwork to withstand the test of time. Digital photographs also need proper storage handling in order to ensure their long life.

There are several options to consider for storing your digital photographs. Ideally you want to create several copies of your images in multiple locations. Here are a few options:
– USB flash drive
– Online cloud storage (ie: Dropbox, Google Drive, Flickr, etc)
– On your laptop or desktop computer
– In an off-site location, in addition to your on-site location (ex: on another USB flash drive, laptop or desktop)

Best Way to Care for Your Digital Photographs

In a perfect world, you should consider creating a copy of your digital photographs that meets each of the criteria above. So for example, you would recieve one copy from me on a USB flash drive. Then you would make a copy on your laptop or desktop computer. Then you would make another copy on your cloud online storage. And then you would make a final copy (either on another USB flash drive, or else directly onto another laptop or desktop computer) to store at your job or a close relative’s house. In this way, you would have at least 3-4 copies of your digital photographs. This would greatly reduce the chances of having your images permanently lost or destroyed. And of course, if any of these copies become lost or destroyed, you would then need to create a new copy to replace those lost backups. That way you will always maintain 3-4 copies of your photographs.

I hope this article helps you safely store your beautiful digital photographs for generations to come! If you have any questions about this or other advice, feel free to contact me soon.

Looking for More Advice and Opinions? Check out some of my other help articles:
Top 10 Things to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Wedding Day Photography Tips
To Look or Not to Look? Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day
Should You Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?

Dog Wedding, Engagement + Portrait Ideas | Carina Photographics

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Dog Wedding Ideas

Getting married is one of the biggest events of your life. It would only be natural that you’d want to include the most important members of your family. That can mean including your beloved dog(s) too! Of course, some of our sweet pups might be a bit of a handful and such an event may be too overwhelming for them. However, there is definitely a way to include your sweet doggies if you so desire. Today I’m going to give a few dog wedding ideas, as well as some dog engagement and portrait session ideas too!

Dog Engagement Sessions

Your dog(s) can easily be included right off the bat, beginning with your engagement session. I’ve worked with clients at dog parks and even stopped by their home to snap a few quick photos with their sweet doggies before or after our main session. I usually include a few dog squeaky toys in my gear bag to ensure their utmost attention to the camera when needed. We often just grab a few photos of you together, then move on to couple photos while your pup(s) heads off with family or a friend.

Dog Wedding Ceremonies

Some people want to involve their doggies in their actual wedding ceremony. It can be so sweet to see your canine(s) dressed up in their best bowties and flowers while being led down the aisle by a friend or relative. Another alternative (if you don’t want them in the actual ceremony) is to have someone stop by the reception for a quick few photos of you together. We can make anything work!

Dog Portrait Sessions

And of course, we can always include your doggo(s) in any type of portrait session you may want as well. You can bring your pup to your maternity session or portrait session. Or if we are photographing in your home (for example, in a newborn session) we will be sure to capture a few photographs of all of you together in your full family photos.

I hope these tips were helpful in your plans to include your dog wedding or portrait photography! If you’d like to talk more about working together for portraits with your doggies, contact me soon! I’d love to discuss how we could work together.

Mill City Museum + Guthrie Theater Engagement Photos | Alison + Steve

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Mill City Museum Engagement Session

Alison + Steve are in the midst of planning for their upcoming fall 2019 wedding. Because it’s the middle of our chilly Minnesota winter, they wanted to have an engagement session in a location with both indoor and outdoor options, so opted for the gorgeous Mill City Museum. I had so much fun with their Mill City Museum engagement photos!

As is pretty normal for most couples, getting in front of the camera for the first time is never easy. They were a bit nervous starting out, but once they got the hang of it, they were having fun during their session too! We met up during a weekday afternoon while the Mill City Museum was pretty quiet. We had lots of time to wander around, hanging out in the museum’s nooks and crannies and beautiful lobby setting. I particularly love the beautiful light near the back of the museum, the courtyard views, and the light around the stairway and basement. The Mill City Museum has such beautiful architecture and history from Minneapolis’ beginnings. After we spent plenty of time indoors, we opted to head outside for a few photos outside the museum, facing the Mississippi River. It was definitely a typical chilly Minnesota winter day!

Guthrie Theater Engagement Photos

Once we got a bit too cold for more outdoor fun, we headed over to the Guthrie Theater. We started out in the yellow room near the top of the Guthrie. Such a spectacular view of Minneapolis! Once we were done warming up, we headed outside to the back of the theater for a few photos by the beautiful blue siding and green shrubs. Another building with spectacular architecture!

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Alison + Steve, for working with me as your Minneapolis engagement photographer. I am so happy for the two of you, and so excited for your wedding day coming up this fall!

BONUS: Take a look at another spring Mill City Museum engagement session and another winter Mill City Museum engagement photos too!

Take a look at their slideshow too!

Semple Mansion Wedding Photos | Anna + Adam

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Semple Mansion Wedding

Anna + Adam grew up in Minnesota and eventually moved to Chicago. When they decided to get married, they knew they wanted to go back home to MN for the festivities. It made for some long-distance planning, but nothing they couldn’t handle with their families still living in the area. They planned for a winter wedding, and their Semple Mansion wedding was a gorgeous end-of-the-year festivity!

The day began with preparations as the Semple Mansion. Anna was in the gorgeous bridal suite and Adam in the elegant basement lounge. Once their prepping was complete, we photographed Anna + Adam together for their first look and portraits. Next up were wedding party and family portraits. We then headed off to Hamline Church in St Paul for the big event!

Hamline Church Wedding Ceremony

Their wedding ceremony was held at Hamline Church, a gorgeous vintage church in St Paul. It is filled with beautiful stained glass windows, stonework and lighting. Their ceremony was filled with laughter and tears of joy as they joined their lives together.

Semple Mansion Wedding Reception

After their ceremony, we all headed back to Semple Mansion for their wedding reception. First up was the cocktail hour held on the main floor of the beautiful Semple Mansion. Guests enjoyed music and appetizers until Anna + Adam made their grand entrance. They then heralded everyone upstairs to the ballroom for dinner.

After dinner, Anna + Adam kicked off the festivities with a waltz and swing dance. After dancing with their parents, everyone flooded the dance floor and had a blast. Later in the evening, Anna + Adam were ushered away with a wild streamer popper send-off.

Thank You!

Anna + Adam, thank you so much for including me in your beautiful day as your Minneapolis wedding photographer! I am so honored to be able to work with you, and so happy for the two of you as you begin your new lives together.

If you are planning a Semple Mansion wedding, or any other mansion wedding, contact me soon! I’d love to discuss how we could work together.

BONUS: Take a look at Anna + Adam’s Stillwater MN engagement photography session too!

Check out Anna + Adam’s slideshow for more!

VENDORS
Ceremony Venue: Hamline Church
Reception Venue: Semple Mansion
Wedding Dress: Macy’s
Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal
Hair Stylist: TriBeCa Salon
Makeup: Your Look by Cathy Mylan
Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank
Wedding Rings: James Allen
Officiant: Paul Calvin
Florist: Donato’s Direct
Catering: Brie Cater
Wedding Cake/Desserts: Cakes by Nancy
DJ: Instant Request
Stationery: Minted

MN Wedding Photo Album | Karen + Harrison

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Luxury Wedding Photo Album

Today I’m excited to share my latest wedding photo album! Karen + Harrison were married on a beautiful August day in 2017. Their wedding was held in the gorgeous, vintage Van Dusen Mansion in Minneapolis. Take a look at their beautiful wedding photos too.

Premium Wedding Photo Album

After the wedding, Karen + Harrison wanted a custom Graphistudio wedding album. These gorgeous albums are handmade in Italy. Together, we designed a wedding photo album that perfectly reflected their day.

We started with their album box. They chose a crisp white silky, wood-patterned Maple material. Their names and date were foiled on the top in elegant rose gold. Inside, the box features a photo of their invitations and rings from their wedding day. The box was finished with a silvery satin ribbon.

The album features an elegant crystal-clear cover with an evening photo of Karen + Harrison in front of the warmly-lit Van Dusen Mansion. The album is bound with dark blue Italian leather to reflect the color of the evening sky. The pages are printed on professional photo paper and bound into a patented lay-flat binding system. The pages are then finished with a satin coating to protect against fingerprints, dirt and oils.

Thank You!

Karen + Harrison loved their album! It is such a wonderful heirloom for them to share with family and friends. They can enjoy it time and again over the years, and pass it down for generations. Congratulations, Karen + Harrison. I loved working with the two of you as your Minneapolis wedding photographer, and I wish you the best in your lives together!

Take a look at some of my other heirloom album options too:
Signature Albums
Premium Albums

I’ve got these and other wedding photo album samples to view. I’d love to meet you at my Minneapolis wedding photography studio to show you them to you. Contact me soon!

Como Conservatory Wedding Photos | Elizabeth + David

By Joanna Carina 4 Comments

Como Conservatory Wedding

Elizabeth + David were married at the beautiful Como Conservatory in St Paul MN on clear mid-November day. They wanted to keep their celebration small and intimate, with only their closest friends and family in attendance.

We started their beautiful Como Conservatory wedding day in the late afternoon. We began with their First Look in the Sunken Garden itself. It was so sweet to see David tearing up when he saw Elizabeth for the first time! We then spent some time taking photos of the two of them alone in the Sunken Garden and Palm Dome. We then followed up with family photos as the sun was setting. Once we finished, it was time for them to prepare for their ceremony.

Como Conservatory Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony itself was stunning. It took place in the Sunken surrounded by a pond and numerous blooming flowers and greenery. The sun had set by then so the Conservatory was dramatically lit by the beautiful star lanterns. They were serenaded with singing and piano by their friends, and the officiant was a friend of theirs as well, so the ceremony was perfectly personal for them.

Following their ceremony, the guests headed over to the Ordway Garden to begin the cocktail hour. Elizabeth + David had a few minutes for photos of them alone inside the Sunken Garden. It’s such a stunning venue!

Como Conservatory Wedding Reception

After their final few portraits, they headed in to the reception to mingle with family and friends. They held their cake cutting right away, thanked their guests for attending, and finished the night with an amazing buffet from Lancer.

Thank You!

Elizabeth + David, thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your Minneapolis wedding photographer. I loved getting to know you and seeing your cute family together. I wish you the best in your new lives!

Are you considering a Como Park Conservatory wedding? Contact me soon to see if we’d be a great fit together!

Be sure to take a look at some of my Como Conservatory fall wedding photos, Como Conservatory winter wedding photos and Como Conservatory summer wedding photos too!

Also take a look at the slideshow of images from Elizabeth + David’s big day:

VENDORS
Venue: Como Park Conservatory
Wedding Dress: Brides of France
Hair/Makeup: 139 Hair by Heidi
Wedding Rings: Wayzata Jewelers and Family Heirloom
Officiant: Tresca Allsman
Florist: Florea Floral
Catering: Lancer
Cake: Buttercream

Minneapolis + St Paul wedding, engagement and portrait photography | Custom wedding albums + artwork design

About Joanna Carina of Carina Photographics

About Joanna Carina

Minneapolis Senior Photography

Mill Ruins Park Senior Session

Viewing + Ordering Session

Thank You!

Mill City Museum Engagement Session

Gold Medal Park Engagement Photos

Thank You!

Luxury Wedding Photo Album

Premium Wedding Photo Album

Thank You!

Como Conservatory Engagement Session

St Paul Engagement Photography

Thank You!

Best Way to Care for Your Digital Photographs

Dog Wedding Ideas

Dog Engagement Sessions

Dog Wedding Ceremonies

Dog Portrait Sessions

Mill City Museum Engagement Session

Guthrie Theater Engagement Photos

Thank You!

Semple Mansion Wedding

Hamline Church Wedding Ceremony

Semple Mansion Wedding Reception

Thank You!

Luxury Wedding Photo Album

Premium Wedding Photo Album

Thank You!

Como Conservatory Wedding

Como Conservatory Wedding Ceremony

Como Conservatory Wedding Reception

Thank You!

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CARINA PHOTOGRAPHICS

MINNEAPOLIS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS