MN Landscape Arboretum Engagement Photos | Vishana + Brian

MN Landscape Arboretum Engagement Session

Vishana + Brian were excited to have engagement photos taken. They hadn’t done anything like this before, so were a bit nervous too. They settled on the MN Landscape Arboretum for their ideal location because it is so full of natural beauty, and it seemed like the perfect spot for their portraits. They certainly chose one of the most beautiful locations in the Twin Cities! And of course, the Arb is one of my favorite locations to work too, so naturally I was so excited too!

Arboretum Engagement Portraits

The weather during our Arb photo session was absolutely perfect – a warm, sunny, late summer day. Most plants and trees were still looking gorgeous, so we had plenty of ideal locations to visit. Even the mosquitoes and humidity were pretty light that day! Vishana + Brian especially loved the waterfalls and ponds. As most people often are, they were a bit nervous at first, but quickly got the “hang” of it, and had an awesome time! Vishana even got to model her beautiful custom “Mrs Parsaud” jacket, complete with beautiful pearl detail.

Thank You!

Vishana + Brian, thank you so much for working with me as your engagement photographer! I had so much fun working with you for your beautiful photos. And I am so excited for your big event next summer!

Be sure to take a look at an additional MN Landscape Arboretum engagement session, another MN Landscape Arboretum engagement session, a winter Landscape Arboretum engagement session, another Arboretum engagement session, and even an Arboretum engagement session featuring a couple’s dog too!

If you are considering Minnesota Landscape Arboretum engagement photos, contact me soon!

Take a look at their slideshow too!

Como Park Conservatory Engagement Photos | Katie + Jared

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Como Park Engagement Session

Jared + Katie were excited to have an engagement photo session the summer before their big day in 2021. They wanted photos to treasure as well as photos for their Save-the-Date cards. We talked over options, and they loved the idea of Como Park and Conservatory for its gorgeous green space as well as being the site of one of their first dates. I will admit I am biased toward Como Park, as I got married there myself! 🙂

Como Conservatory Engagement Portraits

The day came for their engagement session, and lucky for us, the closure of the Conservatory (due to the pandemic) meant that we had most of the park to ourselves. We spent lots of time around the Conservatory, Frog Pond, pergola, gardens, benches and green space all around. We even had time to visit Como Park’s new Lily Pond feature with its bridges, flowers, pergola, pond and fountains. It is such a beautiful park. We worked together for about 1-1/2 hours and had an awesome time!

Thank You!

Katie + Jared, thank you so much for working with me as your engagement photographer! I had so much fun working with you for your beautiful engagement photos. And I am so excited for your big day next year!

Be sure to take a look at a spring Como Conservatory engagement session, a winter Como Conservatory engagement session, another spring Como Conservatory engagement session, another winter Como Conservatory engagement session, and even a Como Town Amusement Park engagement session I photographed too!

If you are considering Como Park and/or Conservatory engagement photos, contact me soon!

Minneapolis Engagement Studio Photography | Troy + Juliana

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MN Studio Engagement Photography

I met Troy through mutual friends many years ago. I was thrilled when he started dating Juliana – it was so clear that they became head-over-heels in love! When they announced they were getting married, I was even more thrilled! Naturally, I was excited to work with them at my St Paul studio for their engagement photography session.

St Paul Engagement Photography

The day came and they jumped right in and were so excited for their session. They had planned to get dressed up, have their photoshoot, and then go out to dinner for a date night. In fact, they said they had so much fun that the session almost felt as though it was part of the date too!

They visited my St Paul studio at a later time for their Cinematic Presentation + Design Consultation. They were thrilled with their final selections and now have a number of digital files for their own use. We even designed a gorgeous custom wall art collection so they could see their love on the wall each day of their lives.

Thank You!

Thank you, Troy + Jules, for choosing to work with me as your fine art studio engagement photographer. I had so much fun working with you two, and I am so happy that you love your photographs!

If you’d like to work together for your engagement photography, contact me soon!

Make sure to take a look at some of my other engagement photo sessions too: Marcie + Dave, Katharine + Zach, Wittne + Scott, Sarah + Eric, Alison + Steve, Sarah + Ezra, Anna + Adam

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!

St Olaf College Engagement Photos | Sarah + Ezra

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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 Minneapolis wedding 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!

Como Conservatory Engagement Photos | Brittany + Danny

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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 Minneapolis engagement photography. Since it was winter, they loved the idea of working at Como Conservatory.

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 Minneapolis 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!

Be sure to take a look at some of my other spring Como Conservatory engagement photos, indoor winter Como Conservatory engagement photos, outdoor 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 Brittany + Danny’s beautiful Como Park Conservatory engagement photos here too!

Engagement Photo Ideas | Minneapolis Photographer Carina Photographics

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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 a Minneapolis 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 Photos | Liz + Zack

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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 Minneapolis engagement photographer too. Best wishes for continued happiness in your lives together!

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

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

Como Park Conservatory Engagement Photography | Carissa + Ryan

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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 in the gorgeous Como Conservatory oasis 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 Minneapolis engagement photographer, and I cannot wait for your big day!

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

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

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

St Paul Public Library Engagement + Family Photos | Kelly, Joe and Ayla

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St Paul Public Library Engagement Photos

Kelly and Joe might hold a record among all of my wedding couples. Most amount of years together prior to getting married. They finally decided to make it official. Their big day will be in the fall of this year. Instead of a simple engagement session, they wanted to incorporate their daughter Ayla and make it a hybrid engagement session AND family session. Such a great idea!

They decided on a Downtown St Paul Public Library Engagement and Family Session. (It’s also called the George Latimer Central Library.) Kelly chose it for her love of books, and Joe chose it for his love of classic architecture. It was the perfect spot! And even though it had been a rainy day, the rain stopped long enough for us to get a few images of them outside the library.

St Paul Engagement Photography

We spent time photographing Kelly + Joe alone, Ayla alone, and the three of them together. It was so fun being immersed in the stacks and rows of thousands of books. The structure of the historic building itself was stunning. There were so many rooms and areas to work in! We were unable to make it everywhere before the library closed for the day.

Image Viewing and Ordering

Once they reviewed their images, they chose to order an heirloom canvas wall art tryptic of some favorites: one image of Ayla, one image of Kelly + Joe, and one of all three of them together. I cannot wait to see the final artwork!

Thank You!

Kelly, Joe and Ayla, it was so much fun working on your St Paul Public Library Engagement + Minneapolis Family Photography! I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. I’m so excited to work with you as your Minneapolis engagement photographer. Best of luck with your wedding planning!

If you’re planning for library engagement or prewedding photography or family photography, contact me soon. I’d love to talk about working together!

ETA: Take a look at Kelly + Joe’s Theodore Wirth Chalet Wedding Photos too!

Downtown St Paul Public Library Photo Session