Good Morning, friends!

Holy heavens, do I ever miss blogging! It’s going to happen again. Eventually. This forever lingers on the back burners of my mind.

“You should really be blogging more.”

“Geez Bailey, why haven’t you posted more wedding & engagement awesomesauce lately?”

“Why are you taking slightly-over-a-day to respond to emails instead of your usual 12 hours or less?”

Don’t worry. None of these questions are coming from friends. Or even clients. Nope, they’re all coming from inside my perfectionist little pea brain.

So right now, I’m trying to cultivate more patience with myself. And keep reminding that inner voice that, “HEY! You are planning a pretty awesome wedding. And it’s happening in less than three weeks. And you guys are not about traditional. Everything is intentional, authentic, perfectly fitting for you two. It’s not a cookie cutter affair. So everything takes more time, more energy, more love. You’re going to be exhausted. And you need to be patient with yourself.”

One thing my soul truly needs: more therapy time with my camera. More earth. More nature. More this:

In other news, it has been bustling over at the flower shop with Mother’s Day, prom, and big milestones (we were voted runner-up for MN’s Best Flower Shop). Although I’m only pouring my heart into flowers a few days a week, it has been so busy-busy!

A couple of weeks ago, the wedding season kicked off with Shayne & Ryan’s gorgeous wedding-in-the-woods. As I steadily work through their images, I find myself giddy with excitement!

In this season, I already see a shift. A shift in my art, my skill, my approach. This work is lighting my heart ON FIRE!

Even if your head is clouded with doubt, remember: you CAN create the images you dream of! It takes work & purposeful change, but you can do it! Here is one image of Shayne & her maids that totally has my heart.

In other random news, we bought a car this weekend! Perfect timing, right? With a wedding just around the corner…ha! It had to happen, though. Poor dear Turquoise Jeep has been strugglin’. Big time. But we’ll miss his vibrant quirks. Sorta.

To my dear couples, and brides in particular: Reality check. It does get crazy. Engaged people are some of the busiest folks I know: planning a wedding, working a job (or two or three), finishing school, maybe owning a business, managing the feelings of fam & friends, and just figuring life out. Being tugged in a million directions, with no real control over the little things.

A note to you (& to self!): Don’t sweat the small details. Let ‘em roll like water off a duck’s back. Be totally in it for the ride, but don’t expect to steer the whole time.

And most of all? Savor every moment.

Image by Gina Zeidler (our inspiring wedding photographer).

XOXO,

When I meet a couple who just “gets it” — there’s something magic afoot. They experience my work & my style & get that giddy feeling like this-is-the-one. They appreciate my love for nature, creative close-ups, & natural (albeit goofball) interactions. They are totally on-board to get silly, love each other up, & create gorgeous images together.

We have this natural chemistry, & we both know that it’s a match. My favorite part: I also get that same warm & fuzzy feeling like this-is-the-one. That’s the best!

How do I find such giant-hearted couples? I am indeed the lucky one.

You will not find a more chillaxed, awesome couple than Ann & Kyle. They are easy-going, adventurous & so warm in spirit. I can’t wait for their big day in October!

For the moment, tag along for their beautiful engagement session. Gorgeous trails & woods courtesy of Hartley Nature Center here in Duluth!

XOXO,

A First Look moment.

“What the hey is that?” you say? Well, my dear. It’s a moment, or series of moments, in which you & your betrothed see one another for the first time on your wedding day. In a gorgeous, intimate setting. Just the two of you. Like it was meant to be.

As a wedding photographer, my heart is all about beautiful imagery, connecting with my couples, and making their big days awesome. During our initial coffee date, I always take time to address the First Look. This post expands on a few of the things I tell every couple.

So how, exactly, will a First Look moment rock your world?

1. It gives you time to shake those jitters out.

“I remember walking up to him and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is it!’” says 2012 bride Audrey. “I was super excited to have our private moment with just us.”

2. Capturing that First Look moment results in some of the most gorgeous, emotional images in the bunch.

Everything from tears to giggles to speechlessness. It’s all real & authentic, and that’s why I love the resulting images so much.

“The first look allowed us have a private moment together before all of the commotion of the day started,” says 2012 bride Jenna.

During this time, I typically shoot with a longer lens so that I can keep my distance & allow you to just be in the moment together.

3. You’ll be free to enjoy the social hour following your ceremony.

Your guests will be happier, & your event will have a nice, natural flow to it. If you’ve ever been a guest at a wedding, you know all about the lag time that occurs when all of the photographs need capturing between ceremony & reception time. Show your guests you love ‘em by keeping those in-between photos to a minimum! You’ll keep your guests (plus you & your wedding party) happy!

Bride Audrey reflects, “We loved having our first look, since we planned on doing (all of our) photos before the ceremony. It gave us the time to just be together & enjoy what the day was going to hold.” Amen, sister!

4. Having a First Look moment in no way (& I repeat: in no way) takes away from the significance of seeing one another down the aisle.

This is so important. In fact, having already seen one another actually enhances the aisle moment. You’ve shaken out those jitters, taken a few deep breaths, giggled & snuggled your way into chillaxed, lovey-dovey mode. You can be fully present & just soak in the atmosphere: that space full of the folks you cherish most.

5. You get to spend more time hanging out with your best friend on your wedding day.

And isn’t that kinda the point? Holla!

Here are a few words from 2012 bride Jenna on their First Look: “We chose to do a first look moment because we wanted the first time we saw each other on our wedding day to be special & the timing of events did not allow for us to see each other for the first time walking down the aisle (And frankly, I didn’t want to wait until 5 o’clock to see my sweetie in our wedding day!).”

Bailey’s Bride-to-Be Insight

As a bride-to-be, my heart totally aligns with dedicating time for a First Look on the wedding day. My fiancé & I are doing the same for our wedding this June! And although we cherish our wedding party members, we still request that they hang back until it’s time for group photos. No peeking, even! We consider the First Look to be a sacred moment for us & our photographer.

How I Roll My First Looks

Prior to your day, we’ll have a timeline established down to the minute. I always build in plenty of cushion time for the First Look, and will scout the area for a perfect, beautifully-lit First Look location.

Soon after the bride is dressed & ready, I will sneak away & fetch the groom. We’ll find our way to the spot, & I’ll chat him through what’s going to happen. His little-kid-on-Christmas-morning energy is always infectious.

If waiting to see one another is a non-negotiable, and you’ve already learned about everything a First Look moment has to offer, then awesome! Make the decision that speaks to your heart, & know that an awesome sauce photographer will be able to capture the images you need — no matter what.

XOXO,

 I am a story teller. A believer. A never-give-up-er.

Five years ago, I met a boy from England while working at summer camp. What began as a summer romance has turned into forever.

I believe that true love can overcome oceans of distance. I believe in saying “I love you” every single day. I believe you’re never too old or too busy to hold hands (fingers laced, not hands cupped). I believe that tickle fights should be a part of every couple’s fitness regimen.

And I am peached as punch to call myself a 2013 bride alongside you other wonderful ladies.

I am in beautiful company.

XOXO,

When I first met with Chris & Greg in a cozy coffeehouse last November, it took only moments for me to feel the zsa-zsa-zsu. It’s that special version of butterflies I get when I meet a couple I am truly meant to work with. 

Their idea of a good time involves a kegerator (engineered by the mechanically-gifted Greg, of course) full of their own special home brew. They’re about hikes in the north woods, kickin’ it with their animals, & enjoying their new life together in the upper midwest. 

Chris & Greg grew up in southern California & moved to the tundra in 2012 — let me say, I was delighted by their tolerance to our brisk engagement session temps! (Of course, I always bring a stockpile of these to every winter session.)

After a dreamy, white wintry adventure together on Wisconsin Point (one of my fave places to shoot, period), we ventured to The Thirsty Pagan in Superior for some winter warmers. Stay tuned for a mini blog post of those images in the coming days!

For now, enjoy some sweet, sweet north woods lovin’. Seriously in love with these images, you guys. Less than nine months to go!

XOXO,

Last weekend, I had the privilege of photographing the annual Father Daughter Dance at Greysolon Ballroom by Black Woods. These little ladies & their papas were such a blast to photograph!

Imagine bejeweled tiaras, faux fur coats, sweet Shirley Temples, & all things little-girly.

Daughters from infancy all the way through adulthood came out for an evening of special Dad-only time.

The dads got their boogie on, while their little ladies showed them the latest dance grooves. What a fabulous evening!

Click on the image below to view images from the Father Daughter Dance at Greysolon Ballroom by Black Woods on Friday, January 25, 2013. 

This year, Greysolon Ballroom hosted three nights of Father Daughter Dances.

If you’re looking for images from Friday, January 11, please visit Sternberg Studios Photography here.

If you’re looking for images from Friday, January 18, please visit JaneCane Photography here.

Share with friends & family, order prints of your favorites, & enjoy!

XOXO,