Photography Blog - Carina Photographics

Pioneer Park + Rivertown Inn Wedding Photography | Brian + Liz

Pioneer Park Wedding Photography

Brian and Liz worked with me as their wedding photographer for their Pioneer Park and Rivertown Inn wedding photos in Stillwater MN. Pioneer Park is a spectacular location that overlooks the St Croix River and town of Stillwater.

Rivertown Inn Wedding Photography

They began their day with preparations at the Agatha Christie Room at the Rivertown Inn. Rivertown Inn is a gorgeous B&B on a hill in Stillwater, and the rooms are amazing in their detail and display. We held many of their portraits on the grounds of the Inn, as well as some family portraits. We then headed over to Pioneer Park for their wedding ceremony. Such perfect weather and gorgeous view overlooking Stillwater and the St Croix River.

After their wedding ceremony, we headed down to the St Croix Riverboats for a paddleboat dinner and reception cruise that traveled along the St Croix River. The cruise gave beautiful scenery to their guests, including a spectacular sunset over the river.

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Brian and Liz, for allowing me to be a part of one of the biggest days of your lives. I loved working on your Pioneer Park + Rivertown Inn wedding photos. I am so happy for you both, and wish you an amazing and adventurous life together!

If you are planning a Stillwater or Riverboat Wedding, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

Take a look at another of my Stillwater weddings! And take a look at my Stillwater engagement photography too!

Olympic Hills Golf Club Wedding Photography | Amanda + Dan

By Joanna Carina

Olympic Hills Golf Club Wedding Photography

Amanda + Dan hired me to create their Olympic Hills Golf Club wedding photos in Eden Prairie MN. The day couldn’t have had more perfect weather. The Golf Club held their outdoor ceremony in front of a small pond near the clubhouse surrounded by amazing gardens, trees and scenery. We were also able to take some time to travel over to the nearby Staring Lake Park to take some of the bridal party photos there too. Such a fun day!

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Amanda + Dan, for working with me as your wedding photographer. I also loved working with you as your engagement photographer. I wish you a long and happy life together!

If you are planning an Olympic Hills Golf Club wedding, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

BONUS: Be sure to check out some other golf club weddings I have photographed around the Twin Cities, including a Troy Burne Golf Club wedding, Mendakota Country Club wedding, a Bearpath Golf Club wedding, a Columbia Manor wedding, and a TPC Twin Cities wedding!

Watch their highlight video for more images here:

Big Wood Brewery Engagement Photography | Alice + Chris

By Joanna Carina

Big Wood Brewery Engagement Photography

“We’d like to take our engagement photos at a brewery.”

“A brewery???? How AWESOME!!!!”

So went the exchange between myself and Alice + Chris when I asked if they had any location ideas for their engagement photos. I was so excited. Big Wood Brewery engagement photos? What a dream! Chris is a beer distributor, so it definitely fit them and their love of beer.

Minneapolis Engagement Photography

We had an amazing time photographing at the Big Wood Brewery in White Bear Lake MN. The people there were so kind, and the location itself was beautifully crafted. The name Big Wood was taken from the fact that they used a wide variety of different reclaimed woods to build up their space. The bar was from a fallen tree, all tables were slices of wood, the walls were reclaimed barn wood, and the doors were absolute works of wooden art (you can see a few in the photos below.)

Thank You!

Thanks again, Alice + Chris, for hiring me as your engagement photographer. It was a joy to spend time with you for your Big Wood Brewery engagement photos. I loved getting to know you more and seeing your deep connection to each other. I am so excited to photograph your wedding in October!

If you’re planning for a Big Wood Brewery (or other brewery) engagement or prewedding session, contact me soon!

BONUS 1: Check out Alice + Chris’ beautiful Kellermans Event Center wedding photos too!

BONUS 2: Check out another beer brewery engagement session I photographed too!

Round Lake Eden Prairie Engagement Photography | Safiyyah + Rory

By Joanna Carina

Minneapolis Engagement Photography

What a gorgeous day for an engagement photo session! Safiyyah and Rory recently moved into the neighborhood and live only a few blocks from Round Lake in Eden Prairie MN. It seemed to be a natural fit to spend our time in one of their favorite spots during their engagement session. They even recently got a new puppy Maddox, so they’ll be getting to know the park much better in the near future.

Their session was so fun! We spent over an hour hiking around the lake on a lazy trail, and found beautiful natural spots among the trees, flowers and grasses to photograph them together. There were several benches to relax and take a break (and take some cute photos too!) We even had time to capture a few infrared portraits of them (the black-and-white photos below) for some fun variety!

Thank You!

Safiyyah and Rory, I’m so happy for you both! Your warmth, laughter and obvious love for each other was so charming. I can’t wait to see your wedding day. Thanks so much for including me as your engagement photographer!

If you’re considering local park engagement photography or prewedding session, contact me soon!

ETA: Take a look at Safiyyah + Rory’s gorgeous Aria Minneapolis wedding photos too!

Our Lady of Victory Chapel at St Catherine University Wedding Photography | John + Annie

By Joanna Carina

Our Lady of Victory Chapel Wedding Photography

I’m particularly happy about this wedding from earlier in July, because it features my brother-in-law John and his long-time girlfriend, Annie! I was SO happy when I found out they were engaged, and then when they asked me to be their wedding photographer it was like icing on the cake. John and Annie moved to Seattle several years ago, so we miss seeing them often, but it was great that they still decided to come back to Minneapolis to get married. Annie is an alumnus of St Catherine University, so they were allowed to use the gorgeous Our Lady of Victory Chapel for the ceremony – a stunning 90-year-old chapel modeled after a similar location in Provence, France. We were able to spend a lot of time together before the ceremony in a beautiful garden, as well as by the lake right outside the front of the church, before getting in a few photos at the chapel itself right before the ceremony.

Congratulations John + Annie! We are so happy for you!

If you need photography for your Our Lady of Victory Chapel wedding, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

Lyndale Park Peace Garden Engagement Photography | Stacy + Alex

By Joanna Carina

Lyndale Park Peace Garden Engagement Photography

Stacy + Alex had decided that the perfect location for their engagement photos was near Lake Harriet because they both grew up in the nearby neighborhoods. We had several ideas and dates to try, but each time something was working against us! First there was a huge storm which cancelled our plans for the Lake Harriet Trolley. Then President Obama made a last-minute visit, which not only closed the Trolley again, but blocked off the entire area around Lake Harriet too! Argh!

Minneapolis Engagement Photography

We eventually decided to meet for Lyndale Park Peace Garden engagement photos. It’s one of the most beautiful parks in Minneapolis! The Lyndale Park Peace Garden is a spectacular Japanese-style garden. It has a bridge and waterfall, trees and pathways, and so much more. Even while we were taking their engagement photos, we were praying that the clouds floating overhead would not rain. Our early summer MN weather has been crazy this year, but we were determined to make it work!

Thank You!

Stacy + Alex, thank you so much for working with me as your engagement photographer. Did I mention you are SO cute together. I always love spending time laughing up a storm! It was so fun working at the Lyndale Park Peace Garden with you!

If you’re planning for Lyndale Park Peace Garden engagement or prewedding session, contact me too!

ETA: Take a look at Stacy + Alex’s Columbia Manor wedding photos here!

BONUS: Take a look at a Peace Garden wedding, as well as another Peace Garden engagement session that I photographed too!

Six Tips to Help Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline | Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina

Wedding Day Timeline Planning Tips

It seems like something so complicated: plan the timeline of your entire wedding day, even though you’ve never planned a wedding before in your life! Thankfully, there are some tips that you can keep in mind to help you plan out and organize the time needed for the events on your big day. Here are a few:

1. Allocate more time than you think you need for all events

The makeup artist took longer than expected. The dress had wrinkles and needed to be steamed prior to wearing. The limo was delayed by road construction. The florist didn’t arrive on time with the bouquets. The dinner took an hour longer than the catering company anticipated. If something were ever to be delayed, chances are it would happen on your wedding day. So make sure to plan in more time than you think you need to accomplish everything. That way, you can probably accomplish all of your events without adding additional stress.

2. Delegate, delegate, delegate!

Prior to your big day, make sure to delegate any tasks that must happen on the day itself. Things like paying any vendors, organizing posed photo subjects, and announcements, can be delegated to members of your wedding party or family. This will help things run much more smoothly and quickly.

3. Leave plenty of time for your first look or couple portraits

Many times people don’t give much thought to these photos, as they are more concerned with figuring out the family portraits. However, the portraits of the bride and groom alone often end up being the most cherished photos of the day. These are the ones you gift to parents, relatives and friends, as well as hang on your own wall. Make sure to plan at least half an hour for your portraits, and more if you are able.

4. Be at the ceremony location a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the ceremony

You’ll want to be finished with all hair, makeup, photos and travel well before the ceremony starts. It is safest to plan on being ready at the location 30 minutes, and sometimes one hour, prior to the ceremony. This way you are prepared in case something runs too long. At the very least you have time to breathe and relax before the big moment!

5. Plan 3-4 minutes per photo grouping

When planning out how much time you will need to take formal photos, a good rule of thumb is to add 3-4 minutes per photo. That is assuming all participants in the photos are ready when needed! And don’t forget to make sure everyone needed for the photos is aware of where they need to be prior to your day. (I’m personally guilty of that one – sorry Laura!)

6. Arrange for most reception activities to happen early

Make sure to plan the cake cutting, first dance, parent dances, bouquet toss, and any other special events early in the evening. Often times, many relatives and friends won’t want to stay too long after dinner. This way you will ensure that most people are still available to watch the fun!

Wedding Day Timeline Planning Tips

If you can keep these six wedding day timeline planning tips in mind while organizing your day, you will be much more likely to keep your day running smoothly – helping to alleviate any unneeded stress on one of the biggest days of your life.

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer for your big day, contact me soon to discuss how we would work together!

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

Mill City Museum + Mill Ruins Park Senior Photography | Claire

By Joanna Carina

Mill Ruins Park Senior Photography

I’ll admit – she was brave. It was another cold, blustery day in Minneapolis, but Claire WANTED to have her senior photos at Mill Ruins Park because she loved the images she had seen of that beautiful location. And I warned her – it was going to be cold! But she was brave, as well as prepared. We started out at the Mill City Museum to warm up a bit, then headed over to the park. We worked for well over an hour in the freezing wind, but Claire was still cheerful, laughing, and making jokes with her mom and me the whole time.

Mill City Museum Senior Photography

Once she froze enough, we headed over to the Mill City Museum to warm up and finish her senior session there. So much easier to photograph when you’re warm lol! Congratulations on your high school graduation, Claire – and I hope you enjoyed your senior prom as well!

If you’re considering senior picture photography, contact me soon to discuss how we would work together!

Make sure to take a look at some of my other senior portrait sessions I photographed too: Willow River Falls, Como Park, Hidden Falls Regional Park, Stillwater, Como Park, Guthrie Theater, Mill Ruins Park, Maple Grove Arboretum, Cathedral Hill, Lyndale Peace Park, Silver Lake, Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, North Loop, Cathedral Hill, Loring Park, Long Lake Regional Park, Loring Park, and Stone Arch Bridge.

Como Conservatory Maternity Photography | Angel + Aaron

By Joanna Carina

Como Conservatory Maternity Photography

I have been sooooo excited for my good friends Angel and Aaron – they are going to be parents soon! I was so excited when they asked me to photograph their Como Conservatory maternity photos. It was March – another cold, gray day in Minnesota. Angel and Aaron were now living in California, and were planning to visit Minnesota for a week. They wanted their session in a place that was greengreengreen. Where could we go? The only place I knew that would be gorgeous this time of year – Como Park Conservatory! I have a special place in my heart for this location since it is also where my husband and I got married years ago. I am so excited to photograph a wedding there soon too!

Minneapolis Maternity Photography

We got there bright and early and jumped into the lush, green, floral grounds. What an awesome place! We were able to spend a full hour photographing in numerous locations throughout the building, and we got tons of beautiful images. Congratulations, Angel and Aaron – I’m so happy you chose to work with me as your maternity photographer, and I can’t wait to meet your sweet little peanut!

If you’re planning for Como Park maternity photography, contact me soon to discuss working together!

Take a look at another of my blog posts featuring a Como Park maternity session here!

Mill City Museum + Mill Ruins Park Engagement Photography | Katie + Bob

By Joanna Carina

Mill Ruins Park Engagement Photography

“Looks great you guys! OK, just one more second….” ~Click~ “Alright, I got it!”

“OK, NOW we need to go inside!” Bob had decided that he’d had enough of the blustery, icy wind that was numbing his ears and hands. He and his fiance, Katie, had planned on photographing their engagement session in Mill Ruins Park, however, the Minnesota winter of 2014 quickly changed their minds. Luckily, we had just started only a few minutes prior, so changed to working on Mill City Museum engagement photos, where we had previously decided we could finish our session if Mill Ruins Park turned out to be too cold. And it definitely was! (After I-don’t-know-how-many Polar Vortexes this winter, we had all pretty much tired of trying to suffer through any more.)

Mill City Museum Engagement Photography

After warming up for a few minutes following our freezing walk around the corner to the museum, we were able to jump right back into the swing of things, and got some amazing photos of the two of them. Luckily, we were visiting the museum during the later half of a weekday, so there were not many members of the public to contend with. We were able to spend lots of time there having fun around the beautiful venue.

Thank You!

Congratulations Katie and Bob! Thank you for hiring me as your engagement photographer. I had so much fun on your Mill Ruins Park and Mill City Museum engagement photos. And I’m so excited to photograph your wedding later this year!

If you’re planning for Mill City Museum or Mill Ruins Park engagement photography or prewedding session, contact me soon!

ETA: Check out Katie + Bob’s beautiful Cottage Vineyard & Winery wedding photos too!

ETA: Be sure to take a look at Alison + Steve’s Mill City Museum engagement session and Danielle + Emmanuel’s Mill City Museum engagement photos too!

Pioneer Park Wedding Photography

Rivertown Inn Wedding Photography

Thank You!

Olympic Hills Golf Club Wedding Photography

Thank You!

Big Wood Brewery Engagement Photography

Minneapolis Engagement Photography

Thank You!

Minneapolis Engagement Photography

Thank You!

Our Lady of Victory Chapel Wedding Photography

Lyndale Park Peace Garden Engagement Photography

Minneapolis Engagement Photography

Thank You!

Wedding Day Timeline Planning Tips

1. Allocate more time than you think you need for all events

2. Delegate, delegate, delegate!

3. Leave plenty of time for your first look or couple portraits

4. Be at the ceremony location a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the ceremony

5. Plan 3-4 minutes per photo grouping

6. Arrange for most reception activities to happen early

Wedding Day Timeline Planning Tips

Mill Ruins Park Senior Photography

Mill City Museum Senior Photography

Como Conservatory Maternity Photography

Minneapolis Maternity Photography

Mill Ruins Park Engagement Photography

Mill City Museum Engagement Photography

Thank You!

NAVIGATE

CARINA PHOTOGRAPHICS

FAMILY, SENIOR, ENGAGEMENT + WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY