ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVES

Lyndale Park Peace Garden Engagement Photography | Jaime + Jordon

Lyndale Peace Garden Engagement Photography

“Plans have changed. We won’t be getting married in Minnesota after all. We’re moving!”

A few weeks prior I had received an initial inquiry from Jaime asking more about my wedding and engagement photography. When I did not hear back from her for a few weeks, I figured she must have moved on, but then the email several weeks later from her explained the silence. They were moving very suddenly out of state for a job transfer, so we went from discussing wedding photography to engagement photography, and how fast could we get it done!

Minneapolis Engagement Photography

We decided to work on Lyndale Peace Garden engagement photos, which is always a spectacular location. Since they lived very nearby, and got engaged right in the park, it was the perfect spot! We spiced it up a bit by photographing first thing in the morning. With a fresh rain and low clouds giving way to a bright morning sun and perfect late summer temps, the park was even more amazing!

Thank You!

Congratulations on your engagement, Jaime and Jordon! I had so much fun working at the Lyndale Peace Garden as your engagement photographer. I wish you the best of luck settling into your new home and starting your new life together!

If you’re planning for Lyndale Peace Garden engagement or prewedding photography, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

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

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!

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!

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!

Centennial Lakes Park Engagement Photography | Amanda + Dan

By Joanna Carina

Centennial Lakes Park Engagement Photography

Amanda and Dan were engaged in December of 2013. They were excited to have their Centennial Lakes Park engagement photos taken at the same location and time of year that they were engaged.

Minneapolis Engagement Photography

We went to Centennial Lakes Park because that is where Dan proposed to Amanda. More specifically, he asked her right on the beautiful bridge overlooking the lakes! It was a pretty blustery January day for our visit. We couldn’t complain too much, as the two days prior to our session saw another polar vortex closing the schools in Minnesota. That was the third time this year! It was a “balmy” 24 degree day, but the wind really made it bitter. Amanda and Dan were champs though — they were great at throwing off their coats when the time was right to get our photos, they stood on the bridge amid the freezing wind, and they even laid on the ice, all in the name of capturing great photos! Here are just a few of their images to share.

Thank You!

Thanks for working with me as your engagement photographer, Amanda and Dan. I loved creating your Centennial Lakes Park engagement photos. I’m so excited for your big day in August, and I’m pretty sure there will be no sign of a polar vortex!

If you’re planning for Centennial Lakes Park engagement photography or prewedding session, contact me soon!

ETA: Check out Amanda + Dan’s gorgeous Olympic Hills Golf Club wedding photos here!