ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVES

Como Conservatory Engagement Photography | Sarah + Eric

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 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 having Como Conservatory engagement photos.

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 engagement photographer, Sarah + Eric. I loved working with you both (and Sage too!) I can’t wait to photograph your wedding later this summer!

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

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

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

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

By Joanna Carina

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 during their beautiful engagement session!

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 engagement photographer. I am so happy for the two of you, and so excited for your wedding day coming up this fall!

BONUS 1: Take a look at another spring Mill City Museum engagement session, a spring Mill City Museum + Gold Medal Park engagement session, and another winter Mill City Museum engagement photos too!

BONUS 2: Check out a beautiful Mill City Museum wedding with Guthrie Theater portraits that I captured too!

Take a look at their slideshow too!

St Olaf College Engagement Photography | Sarah + Ezra

By Joanna Carina

St Olaf College

Sarah + Ezra met several years ago while attending St Olaf College in Northfield MN. They now live half a country apart for jobs and school, and won’t be moving back to Minnesota until next summer. While they were in town visiting family and planning their wedding, they were excited for the opportunity to photograph their engagement session. Naturally, they gravitated toward the alma mater where they met. Luckily, the rainy fall weather held off long enough for us to have their beautiful St Olaf College engagement session!

St Olaf Engagement Session

We headed down to Northfield on a day with patchy rain. Since they were only in town together very rarely, we had to work no matter what the weather. Luckily, we timed it just right and photographed the two of them in some of their favorite spots on campus between rain clouds. We visited the running fields, a quiet bench overlooking a pond, a few of the gorgeous old buildings, the quad between buildings, a few walking paths, gardens and trails, and even on a spot overlooking downtown Northfield. The umbrellas came out at one point during a slight drizzle, but the rain left as soon as it had appeared. Sarah + Ezra loved visiting their old stomping grounds. A perfect fit while they are in the midst of planning for their big day. We had so much fun!

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Sarah + Ezra, for working with me as your engagement photographer! I had so much fun working with you for your beautiful St Olaf engagement photos, and I am so excited for your wedding next year!

If you are considering St Olaf College engagement photos, contact me soon to see if we’d be a good fit together!

BONUS 1: Check out Sarah + Ezra’s gorgeous Semple Mansion wedding photos too!

BONUS 2: Take a look at a beautiful St Olaf College wedding I photographed too!

Take a look at their awesome slide show too!

Stillwater MN Engagement Photography | Anna + Adam

By Joanna Carina

Stillwater Engagement Photography

Anna + Adam were former residents of Minnesota before moving to their current home of Chicago. They planned to get married back in MN to be near family and friends. When they thought about where in MN they wanted to take their engagement photos, the beautiful Twin Cities suburb of Stillwater came to mind. It’s such a cute, quaint town set amongst the trees along the St Croix river. When they mentioned to me their interest in having Stillwater engagement photography, I was so excited! I love Stillwater too, and I would finally have the chance to work at a location I had always hoped to visit: the St Croix Boom Site.

St Croix River

We started their mid-fall prewedding session at Pioneer Park. The park is on a high bluff that has a spectacular view over the gorgeous river and architecture of Stillwater. It’s surrounded by beautiful old Victorian homes, quaint streets and brick buildings.

After we spent some time there, we headed over to the St Croix Boom Site for a walk below the bluffs, cliffs and caves down by the water’s edge. Our options for walking around there were slightly reduced as the river flooding had not yet fully subsided. It’s been a rainy summer and fall for us!

After the fun at the Boom Site, we headed in to downtown Stillwater to work around the river walk and vintage buildings. Again, the actual river walk was still under water, but we were still able to catch a few photos of them nearby.

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Anna + Adam, for choosing to work with me as your engagement photographer! I loved working with you for your beautiful Stillwater engagement photos. I am so excited for your winter Hamline Church and Semple Mansion wedding!

Make sure to take a look at my Stillwater wedding photography and Pioneer Park wedding photography too!

ETA: Check out Anna + Adam’s gorgeous Semple Mansion wedding photos too!

Considering a Stillwater wedding or engagement session? Contact me soon to see if we would be a great fit together!

Check out their slideshow for more fun images from Anna + Adam’s Stillwater engagement session!

Mill City Museum Engagement Photography | Danielle + Emmanuel

By Joanna Carina

Beautiful Mill City Museum Engagement Photos

Danielle + Emmanuel wanted a Mill City Museum engagement photography session to capture some beautiful images of the two of them to celebrate their engagement. Their wedding will be held in the Dominican Republic, so it was perfect to have their engagement photos held in Minneapolis, where they live. Being that it was winter, they were hoping for a nice (and warm!) indoor space. They loved the idea of the modern, rustic elegance of the Mill City Museum.

Minneapolis Engagement Session

We visited the Mill City Museum on a quiet weekday afternoon. A few spots in the museum were closed for the winter (such as the beautiful rustic courtyard and train depot), but the rest of the museum was open to us. Danielle + Emmanuel quickly got into the groove of having a photographer direct them around and capture their every move. While the museum is small, there are a ton of nooks, angles and views that make for great photo backdrops. Even though it was winter, the weather was a bit warm that day. We not only got to spend a fair amount of time working throughout the museum, but we also were able to head outdoors to the back side of the museum. Even though it was a little chilly, the two of them were easily able to spend time together without coats.

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Danielle + Emmanuel, for choosing to work with me as your engagement photographer. I had a great time getting to know you and seeing your love for one another. I wish you the best of luck on your amazing Dominican Republic wedding! (And best of luck with finishing school too Danielle!)

BONUS 1: Take a look at Alison + Steve’s Mill City Museum engagement photos, Wittne + Scott’s Mill City + Gold Medal Park engagement photos, and Katie + Bob’s Mill City Museum engagement session too! If you are interested in having a Mill City Museum engagement session, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

BONUS 2: Check out a beautiful Mill City Museum wedding with Guthrie Theater portraits that I captured too!

Take a look at more of Danielle + Emmanuel’s beautiful Mill City Museum engagement photos here too!

Como Conservatory Engagement Photography | Brittany + Danny

By Joanna Carina

Beautiful Como Conservatory Engagement Session

Brittany + Danny are engaged and planning for their wedding next year. The only tough part about their situation? Danny lives in Minneapolis, while Brittany lives in Seattle! Brittany is planning to move here with Danny this summer. Brittany was in town recently for a few job interviews. So we made time for their engagement photography. Since it was winter, they loved the idea of having Como Conservatory prewedding photos.

St Paul Engagement Session

We started first thing on a busy weekend morning. The light was pretty cooperative that day. I love diffused clouds and filtered sun. The beautiful water features, flowers and trees under the glass conservatory are so stunning when we have such beautiful light! The gorgeous water, greenery, and wonderfully humid air really makes you feel like you are in the tropics. It seems to be the furthest thing from Minnesota. That makes it even more awesome, especially with our cold winters!

By the time we were finished, the two of them were pros at acting naturally in front of the camera. I know it’s a challenge when starting any photo session. Once they got in their groove, I could have spent all day with them! When we were finished, we had a short turnaround until they came to see their final photos. (Brittany had to leave town to go back home in just a few days.) They decided to order an engagement photo album. I can’t wait to see it in person when it’s delivered from Graphistudio in Italy!

Thank You!

Thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your engagement photographer, Brittany + Danny. I loved getting to work with you both (and Gloria too!) I wish you the best on your wedding – whichever location you decide upon. And congrats on your new job here in Minneapolis, Brittany!

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

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

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

Engagement Photo Ideas | Minneapolis Photographer Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina

Awesome Engagement Photo Ideas

One common question I receive from my couples is how to plan their engagement sessions. They are often unsure where to go or what to do. Today I’m going to talk more about engagement photo ideas. I’ve got options that will help spark ideas to plan your own engagement session.

Personalize Your Engagement Session

My biggest piece of advice is to select locations or activities that are meaningful to you. This will almost always result in better images. When considering options, think about how you like to spend time together. Also think about activities and locations you both enjoy. If you select something important to you both, then you are well on your way to creating a memorable experience. Engagement sessions last around 1-2 hours, depending on the location and activity. When outdoors, we generally work in the last two hours before sunset. When indoors, we can work almost any time.

Some location and activity ideas include:
> A favorite park
> A beer brewery or winery
> An art museum
> The college campus where you met
> Riding a rented trolley, canoe or boat
> A fair or carnival with rides
> A destination or public garden
> A picnic in a park or by a river
> A barn
> A bowling alley
> An antique store
> Ice or roller skating
> A playground
> A baseball field

How to Use Your Engagement Photos

An engagement session is your chance to practice in front of a camera. The photos we capture are perfect for Save-the-Date announcements, Guest Books, Engagement Albums or Gift Prints. They are often cherished by couples simply because they showcase the two of you spending time together. You are often enjoying an activity without wedding day formality. Couples can really have fun with their engagement photography!

As an engagement photographer, I am available to give advice for engagement sessions. Contact me if you have any questions, or if you’d like to work together for your engagement session.

Also, read on for more information about working with me for your Engagement Photography.

Como Town Amusement Park Engagement Photography | Liz + Zack

By Joanna Carina

Fun Como Town Amusement Park Photos

I was recently cleaning out some photo archives, and I happened upon these images from Liz + Zack’s Como Town Amusement Park engagement session. This was one of the first engagement sessions I ever photographed. We had such an awesome time! Liz + Zack’s wedding was designed to imitate a county fair, complete with midway games, cotton candy and other treats, etc. They wanted to use a similar theme for their engagement session. We thought of Como Town, with its rides, games and food booths. They also wanted to bring balloons and suckers and create some fun images. So that’s exactly what we did! This session happened before I had a website or even a blog, so I never had the chance to post these!

Como Town Engagement Session

We started out our session with a ride on the Como Town Carousel. Following that, we headed over to enjoy the Tilt-a-Whirl. We then stopped for some mini doughnuts and headed over to the giant swings. They ended up watching the swings while enjoying the doughnuts.

Once we finished having fun at the Como Town Amusement Park, we then headed over to Como Park itself with our balloons and suckers. We had some fun getting creative!

Liz + Zack, thanks so much for working with me for your awesome Como Town Amusement Park Engagement Session. It was so much fun using such unique themes, props and ideas! I was so honored that you hired me as your engagement photographer too. Best wishes for continued happiness in your lives together!

Contact me soon if you’d like to discuss working together for your engagement or wedding photography!

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

Como Park Conservatory Engagement Photography | Carissa + Ryan

By Joanna Carina

Beautiful Como Conservatory Engagement Photos

Carissa + Ryan were planning their James J Hill Center wedding in a few months. They wanted to take advantage of an engagement session when they were visiting town. (They live in Seattle.) While we could have considered outdoor winter photo options, they really loved the idea of trying an indoor tropical garden experience with a Como Conservatory engagement session. They had never been there, but loved the photos I showed, so they were excited to give it a try!

St Paul Engagement Session

The day we arrived was bitterly cold. Being indoors for beautiful Como Conservatory prewedding photos is always so amazing! We started working in the beautiful Sunken Garden, filled with pink poinsettias and other beauties of the winter flower show. Carissa + Ryan were such naturals! They had such fun talking and laughing while I photographed them wandering around the beautiful scenery, sitting on the steps or benches, and just enjoying their time together.

From the Sunken Garden, we moved on to the North Garden. There we enjoyed a few glimpses of the gold fish in the fish pond, and wandering down the stone paths. Then lastly we headed over to the Fern Room to wrap up our session.

Final Engagement Photos

When the time came for their Viewing and Ordering Session, they were so happy with their final images. They ended up choosing an engagement guest book. That is an album of all their favorite images laid out with more white space around the images for guests to sign. Can’t wait to get the final book delivered back from Italy!

Carissa + Ryan, thank you so much for working with me for your awesome engagement session! I loved working with you as your engagement photographer, and I cannot wait for your big day!

If you’re planning for Como Conservatory engagement photography or prewedding photography, contact me soon!

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

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

Stone Arch Bridge Engagement Photography | Lindsey + Bernie

By Joanna Carina

Stone Arch Bridge Engagement Photography

Lindsey + Bernie thought for awhile about having engagement photography. When we discussed ideas, they spoke about how much they loved the Stone Arch Bridge area. I showed them some images from my previous sessions on the Stone Arch Bridge and Father Hennepin Bluff Park, and they loved it! So they decided to have a Father Hennepin Bluff Park engagement session. They were excited for the beautiful views both above and below the Stone Arch Bridge. They were so excited to walk over on bridge and see the grand view of downtown Minneapolis too.

Father Hennepin Bluff Park Engagement Photos

The day of their Minneapolis engagement photography was beautiful. Even the mosquitoes were dwindling in numbers as the summer had been coming to an end. There were so many beautiful areas to choose from. It is always so fun to work there. Complete with river views, Stone Arch Bridge views, quaint wooden bridges, a rustic stone stairway, pathways through the trees and vintage buildings peeking out from above the treetops. I’m not sure which spot is my favorite. I don’t think I could pick just one!

Lindsey + Bernie also loved the look of my infrared photography. I included my infrared camera frequently in their session. I love the unique, dreamy quality that infrared photos have. (It causes all green, natural elements to appear white. So no, that’s not snow, it’s just the way infrared photography looks!)

Thank You!

Lindsey + Bernie, thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your engagement photographer as well as your wedding photographer. I am so happy for you both as you join your lives together! I’m glad that you enjoyed your prewedding photography, and I am so excited for your big day!

If you are planning a Stone Arch Bridge or Father Hennepin Bluff Park engagement session, contact me soon! I’d love to discuss how we could work together.

UPDATE: Take a look at the blog post about Lindsey + Bernie’s beautiful wedding day at theMinneapolis Depot and Basilica!