Photography Blog - Carina Photographics

Como Park Wedding Photographer | Nickie + Tony

Como Park Lily Pond Wedding

I arrived for Tony + Nickie’s wedding day early, as I always do, and soon met up with Tony at the Lily Pond (where we had decided to hold their first look) at Como Park. Tony was a little nervous, but still very excited for the big event. Since I had never met them in person before, Tony made sure to let me know that “Nickie will be the one with green hair.” Sure enough, she arrived a few minutes later and she was hard to miss – dressed in her gorgeous flowing gown, stunning flowers and petite sparkling crown, she had the cutest green hair I had ever seen! I walked her over to meet up with Tony, and we began their first look. We had planned to capture their initial portraits at Como Park’s adorable Lily Pond area, complete with beautiful pond, fountains, bridges, gardens, a white pergola, and even a “reverse waterfall”. They were so happy and had such a great time! Once their portraits were complete, it was on to the North Garden for a few more portraits and finally their ceremony.

North Garden Como Park Wedding

Nickie’s father presided over the wedding ceremony, which was also attended by a number of their relatives and close friends. They even had a hand-fastening ceremony right over the water feature of the North Garden. The whole event was so beautiful!

After their ceremony, they celebrated the night away at their reception dinner next door in the Conservatory’s Ordway Garden.

Thank You!

Nickie + Tony, thank you so much for working with me for your wedding photography! I had so much fun working with you and your families, and I’m so happy for you both as you begin your new lives together.

If you are considering a Como Conservatory wedding, contact me soon!

VENDORS
Wedding Venue: Como Park Conservatory North Garden
Reception Venue: Como Park Conservatory Ordway Garden
Bridalwear: Bridal Aisle Boutique
Florist: Flowers Plus
Catering: Lancer Catering

Muriel Sahlin Arboretum Wedding Photos | Lauren + Luke

By Joanna Carina

Muriel Sahlin Arboretum Wedding

Lauren + Luke chose to work with me for their wedding photography at Roseville Central Park’s Muriel Sahlin Arboretum. I’ll admit, despite living just a few miles away, I had never seen the Roseville Arboretum before now. I was very pleasantly surprised with the gorgeous venue full of gardens, fountains and trails through the woods. Luke + Lauren had decorated the covered ceremony area with wisteria flowers and it was absolutely stunning! The Arboretum also had an adorable little cottage for the wedding team to assemble, which was so helpful too. Lauren + Luke held their first look and portraits beforehand, and then it was on to the ceremony!

Lauren + Luke’s wedding was absolutely stunning and everyone was so happy for them. They had a lovely receiving line and time for group portraits afterward, and then we all headed off to Como Park for their reception.

Como Conservatory Covered Porch Reception

Lauren + Luke’s wedding reception was held at Como Park’s Covered Porch (part of the Como Conservatory complex), starting with cocktail hour and then dinner. Afterward they had a cake cutting and dancing, and everyone had a blast.

Thank You!

Lauren + Luke, thank you so much for working with me for your wedding photography! I had so much fun working with you and your families.

If you are considering a Muriel Sahlin Arboretum wedding and/or a Como Conservatory wedding reception, contact me soon!

BONUS: Take a look at other Arboretum wedding photos I’ve captured, including an autumn MN Landscape Arboretum wedding, a summer Landscape Arboretum reception, another autumn MN Landscape Arboretum wedding, another summer Minnesota Landscape Arboretum wedding, a winter Landscape Arboretum wedding, and another autumn Landscape Arboretum wedding too.

VENDORS
Wedding Venue: Muriel Sahlin Arboretum, Roseville Central Park
Reception Venue: Como Park Conservatory Covered Porch
Bridalwear: RSVP Bride
Groomswear: Judd Frost Clothiers
Wedding Jewelry: Diamond Rensu
Wedding Coordinator: Reden Weddings & Events
Catering: Lancer Catering
HMUA: SM Hair & Makeup
Rentals: The Seatery
Wedding Cake: Buttercream
Transportation: Aspen Limosine Services
DJ: Midwest Sound DJ Entertainment

Senior Boy Photography Minneapolis | Peder

By Joanna Carina

Senior Photography MN

I was excited to work with Peder for his senior photos. They had access to an amazing location for Peder’s senior portraits: the “secret garden” at Sonny’s Ice Cream Cafe in Minneapolis! We arrived and I was blown away – it was so gorgeous! An adorable little patio filled with plants and flowers and sweet little tables for people to enjoy their ice cream. It felt as though we were in an old European village. Even the architecture of the buildings around the patio gave that vibe. Spectacular!

Minneapolis Senior Photography

We spent less than an hour to capture lots of great portraits of Peder. We photographed him with both a casual outfit as well as his letter jacket.

Once back at my studio, Peder and his family chose a number of their favorite portraits to have created as a beautiful wall art triptych. I cannot wait to see their beautiful canvases in person!

Thank You!

Thank you, Peder + family, for working with me for Peder’s senior portrait session. I had so much fun working with you, and I am thrilled that you love your photos!

Make sure to take a look at some of the other senior guy portraits I have photographed too, including Hidden Falls senior pictures, a Sunfish Lake photoshoot, a Master’s graduate session, a trans senior boy photoshoot, soccer player senior photos, a Vandalia Tower senior photo session, a Mill Ruins Park senior portrait session, Como Park senior photos, and Hidden Falls Park senior photos.

If you’d like to hire me for your senior photography, contact me soon!

Mill Ruins Park Senior Guy Photos | Max

By Joanna Carina

Senior Photography Minneapolis

Max’s mom Amanda gave me a call one day to inquire about my senior photography. Once they chose to work with me, Max picked Mill Ruins Park in Minneapolis for his location – one of my favorite parks in the Twin Cities!

Mill Ruins Park Senior Photography

We met up on a beautiful autumn day at Mill Ruins Park. It was surprisingly empty for a popular park, and I felt as though we had the whole park to ourselves. We were even treated to sightings of the woodchuck that lives among the rocks while we were there. (The animal-lover in me adored it and I had to grab a few photos of it too!) We spent about an hour and had plenty of time to capture awesome senior photos of Max. He was a champ and great “model” too!

Once back at my studio, Max and his family chose a number of their favorite portraits to have created as fine art, heirloom prints. I cannot wait to see them in person!

Thank You!

Thank you, Max + family, for working with me for Max’s senior portraits. I had so much fun working with you, and I am thrilled that you love your photos!

Make sure to take a look at some of the other senior guy portraits I have photographed too, including Hidden Falls senior pictures, a Sunfish Lake photoshoot, a Master’s graduate session, trans senior boy photoshoot, soccer player senior photos, a Vandalia Tower senior photo session, garden senior portraits, Como Park senior photos, and Hidden Falls Park senior photos.

If you’d like to hire me as your senior photographer, contact me soon!

Family Portrait Home Photography | Hindes-Quast Family

By Joanna Carina

Family Portrait Photographers

Kate and John hired me to photograph their upcoming wedding. They were both previously married with two children each. So they were going to be joining their families together and wanted to fill their home with portraits of the new group. When it came down to locations for their portrait session, they loved the idea of working at their home in Lakeville.

At-Home Blended Family Photos

Their session arrived and we all had so much fun! We captured them along and in groups around their home, both in their front porch as well as back yard, and then capped it all off with the group on their central stairway. They were getting so silly as they were excited to go out and celebrate the fun with late night ice cream!

After their session, they came out to my studio to choose their favorite photos and artwork. They ended up with an Heirloom Portrait Box of photos and will be scattering them around their home to see themselves together each day.

Thank You!

Thank you, Hindes-Quast family, for working with me for your family portraits. I had so much fun working with you, and I am so happy that you love your artwork!

If you’d like to work together for your own family and child photography, give me a call or send me an email soon!

BONUS: Be sure to check out some other family portrait sessions I’ve photographed too, including other Como Park St Paul family photography, more Como Park Twin Cities family photos, even more Como Park MN family photos, additional Minnesota family portraits, more Minneapolis family photography, other Como Park family photos, a Como Park family session, a Minneapolis family picture session, a Minneapolis studio family photoshoot, another studio family picture session, a mother-son portrait session, a family with teens photoshoot, a family and toddler session, another studio family session, an LGBTQ family photoshoot, a MN Landscape Arboretum family photoshoot, and a studio mother-daughter session.

Long Lake Park Senior Photographer | Grace

By Joanna Carina

Senior Photographers

Katy contacted me one day looking for a photographer for her daughter Grace’s senior portraits. They considered a number of location options after we talked, and they settled on Long Lake Regional Park which was near their home. When they arrived, the whole family was there (including their dog Zurie!) so we could grab a few quick family photos prior to Grace’s session since they hadn’t had photos taken in awhile. Everyone had a great time – even Zurie!

Long Lake Regional Park Senior Photos

Once the rest of the family left, Katy, Grace and I walked throughout Long Lake Park for her senior portraits. Grace had so much fun, and she was a champ following directions so her session went off without a hitch. Grace was prepared with a few different outfit options and we had time for several.

Once back at my studio, Grace and her family chose a wall canvas of her favorite portrait to match photos as she was growing up, as well as an Heirloom Portrait Box filled with their favorite photos from the session (including family photos and prints of Grace and Zurie together.)

Thank You!

Thank you, Cool family, for working with me for Grace’s senior portraits. I had so much fun working with you, and I am thrilled that you love your artwork!

Make sure to take a look at some other senior portrait sessions I have photographed too, including Como Park senior pictures, more Como Park senior photos, Stillwater Boom Site senior photos, a best friends senior session, a Minnehaha Falls senior session, a Hidden Falls Regional Park senior session, another Hidden Falls Park senior session, best friends senior pictures, Willow River Falls senior photos, Stillwater senior portraits, Como Park senior session, Guthrie Theater senior photos, Mill Ruins Park senior pictures, Maple Grove Arboretum senior photos, Cathedral Hill senior portraits, Lyndale Peace Park senior pictures, Silver Lake senior pics, Father Hennepin Bluffs Park senior portraits, North Loop senior session, Cathedral Hill senior photos, Loring Park senior session, Long Lake Regional Park senior pictures, Loring Park senior photos, Stone Arch Bridge senior pictures, and Mill City Museum senior photos.

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

Sacred Thread Ceremony Photographer | Mohan Family

By Joanna Carina

Upanayanam Photographer MN

Archana and her family hired me to capture photos of their son’s Upanayanam (Sacred Thread ceremony) at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota in Maple Grove. The day arrived and I was raring to go – I always love seeing the beauty and splendor of Hindu and Indian ceremonies! We started outdoors capturing photos of the family members that had assembled for the big day. Then afterward it was on to the big event inside the temple.

Hindu Temple Upanayanam Ceremony

The ceremony took place on the stage in the Temple under their beautifully designed mandap. There were flowers and brightly colored drapes everywhere. And seeing everyone’s beautiful saris and Indian dress was so much fun! My finger barely had time to rest as I captured the entire ceremony as well as the family and friends that had gathered to watch. And little Advaith was such a champ – he seemed to be having a great time, full of smiles and laughs as he kept up with the ceremonial events happening around him. A beautiful banana leaf lunch was served after the ceremony for family and friends to spend time together and celebrate the big day. The entire family stayed for the fun well into the evening.

Thank You!

Thank you, Mohan family, for working with me for Advaith’s Sacred Thread Ceremony. I had so much fun working with you at the big event, and I am thrilled that you love your photos!

If you’d like to work together for your child’s Sacred Thread Ceremony, give me a call or send me an email soon!

BONUS: Be sure to take a look at other Indian + Hindu events I have photographed including Vishana + Brian’s beautiful Vishnu Mandir wedding, Madina + Omkar’s backyard Hindu wedding and spectacular St Paul Hotel wedding reception, and Rachel + Nishant’s Hindu Temple of Minnesota wedding too.

Studio Extended Family Photography | Raimova Family

By Joanna Carina

Studio Family Photographer

Lola contacted me in July. I had last worked with their family for portraits of them last year when they just had their sixth child, and now he was one year old and they wanted updates. Not to mention, both her mother were in town as well as her grandmother, so they wanted portraits of them all together. I was so excited to work with them again and see their little peanut growing up!

Extended Family Photoshoot

Lola and her family visited me a few weeks later with the whole family in tow. Their little peanut was very cooperative for photos, as well as the rest of the kiddos and family, and they all had a great time. After the session they stayed to choose their favorite photos and decide on their favorite artwork for the current session. Last year they chose a portrait box and wall artwork. This year they updated one of the canvases with the updated photo of their little guy, and also chose an album for all the new photos.

Thank You!

Thank you, Raimova family, for working with me for your extended family portraits. I had so much fun working with you, and I am thrilled that you love your album and wall art!

If you’d like to work together for your own extended family photography, give me a call or send me an email soon!

BONUS: Make sure to take a look at other extended family sessions I have photographed too, including Como Park extended family photos, another Como extended family session, an Apple Valley extended family photoshoot, Centennial Lakes extended family photoshoot, another studio extended family portrait session, and a Hmong extended family traditional dress portrait session.

Chinese Tea Ceremony Wedding Photos | Weiman + Spencer

By Joanna Carina

Como Chinese Tea Ceremony Wedding Photos

Weiman + Spencer were living out-of-state while planning their wedding day Chinese Tea Ceremony. I was so happy they chose me for their wedding photography. Their wedding event was held in St Paul’s Como Conservatory Sunken Garden. (I even love the Conservatory so much, I got married there myself!) They planned their event based on a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony, and I was so excited!

Como Conservatory Wedding Photography

The day began with some photos of the two of them together around the grounds of Como Park. We then photographed them with their families prior to the ceremony. Once that was finished, we were able to head into the Sunken Garden for the big event.

Their wedding was officiated by one of their good friends. They incorporated the Tea Ceremony elements, honoring and thanking their families in the process. When all was finished, they had a few more minutes for Conservatory photos before heading off to their celebratory dinner, and then heading back to Washington to begin their new lives together.

Thank You!

Weiman + Spencer, thank you so much for working with me for your beautiful wedding photography! I had so much fun on your big day, and I wish you a lifetime of happiness!

If you are considering a Chinese Tea Ceremony or Como Conservatory wedding, contact me soon!

BONUS: Take a look at other Como Conservatory weddings I photographed too, including Como Japanese Garden wedding photography, Sunken Garden wedding photographs, a North Garden wedding, a Sunken Garden wedding, a Covered Porch reception, another Covered Porch reception, another Sunken Garden wedding, another Sunken Garden wedding, a summertime Sunken Garden wedding, another Sunken Garden wedding, an evening Sunken Garden wedding, a morning Sunken Garden wedding, another Sunken Garden wedding, a winter Como Sunken Garden wedding, and another North Garden wedding too!

Rogers Lake Park Engagement Photos | James + Sam

By Joanna Carina

Rogers Lake Park Engagement Photography

James + Sam had chosen to work with me for their wedding photography, coming up in 2024. They were also really excited to include engagement photos beforehand. They chose to work at Rogers Lake Park in Mendota Heights MN. The park is where James had proposed to Samantha the year before. James even told me the story of his proposal, saying he was so nervous to ask Sam, and had bagged out of a few proposal options prior to finally asking her at this park. They especially wanted to photograph around the willow tree in the park, as that was where James finally proposed.

The day arrived with perfect weather. We opted for a morning photoshoot, so the park was totally empty. We were able to wander around, enjoying the trails, dock and water’s edge. We even photographed them on the skate park ramps and benches scattered around the park. They had so much fun, and agreed (as most clients do) that it really does get easier to be photographed once you try it out. They loved their photos, and now feel much more comfortable going into the photography on their big day. I’d call that a success!

Thank You!

James + Sam, thank you so much for working with me for your engagement photography! I had so much fun working with you two. And I’m so excited for your big day in 2024!

If you are considering Minneapolis engagement, proposal or anniversary photos, contact me soon!

BONUS: Be sure to take a look at some other engagement sessions I photographed, including a waterfall engagement session, a spring engagement session, a winter engagement session, another spring engagement session, a Como Conservatory engagement session, a summer engagement session, another summer engagement session, an anniversary portrait session, and even a Como Town Amusement Park engagement session!