Samantha and Adam

Sunday was a busy day with two engagement sessions, and both couples getting a guest/signature book made with images from their session. This is a wonderful option that the majority of couples whose weddings I'm doing are choosing. Samantha and Adam were the first couple of the day.

Samantha attended the Owatonna Wedding Expo last January, and won my door prize drawing of a guest book and engagement session. Although she and her fiance, Adam, have a photographer booked for their August wedding, an engagement session wasn't part of their package, so this turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for them.

We met out at Bray Park, under very cloudy skies and humid conditions. Clouds = good, but humidity...well...just plain yuk! Add to that the fact the ground was literally spongy-wet, so once again, the majority of images were taken with Samantha and Adam standing or walking. We got several nice images - plenty for their guest book, and I grew to understand their respect and appreciation for the outdoors (they picked up litter as we walked around). 

Samantha and Adam

I was telling Samantha and Adam that Madison Lake is known for walleye. They love to fish, and wouldn't you figure...a fish jumped as we took this picture. You can see the ripple in the upper right corner.

Rachael and Josh

Rachael and Josh were married on Saturday. I knew this couple was special from the moment they returned their contract for my services. On it, Rachael put a post-it note with two words, "CAN'T WAIT!"

Meticulous in her organizational skills, the day was carefully planned with precise times for hair, dressing, pictures, the ceremony, the send off from the church, the grand march at the reception, and dinner. Anything that well-planned simply has to have a wrench thrown into the works, and that wrench came from Mother Nature, who decided, twenty minutes prior to the ceremony, that severe storms were called for, so the storm warning sirens blew in LeSueur, and the minister had everyone seek shelter.

And after the ceremony, a wrench was needed for the bus that was supposed to take the wedding party from LeSueur to Mankato. For whatever reason, the only gear that engaged was reverse. But the problem was solved, and, you guessed it; the party bus arrived at the reception site at 6:15, right on schedule!

From a photographic standpoint, the cloud cover and heavy air created a scrumptious, soft light for our outdoor pictures at Sibley Park. Many thanks go out to fellow photographers, my daughter Stephanie Williams (You've Been Framed Photography), and Diane Schrader (Schrader Art and Photography) for their help and skills. I can't wait to see their photos, and know Rachael and Josh will love them!

Carmen from AmeriCinn's Conference Center in Mankato was AWESOME!! She was onsite for most of the evening seeing to everyone's needs, and genuinely concerned when she heard about the bad weather in LeSueur. Weggy's catered a delicious meal of stuffed chicken breast and pork tenderloins. DJ Bob Iddings of Silver Sounds and Lights did a fantastic job engaging the crowd. I left at 11 PM, and the party hadn't begun to wind down.

Rachael and Josh, you're such a sweet couple, and your families are fantastic, too. I so enjoyed working with you, and am grateful to have had the opportunity to photograph your engagement session and wedding. I'll be busy with the blog this week because of the number of sessions I have lined up, but will try to post more photos from your wedding. I'm especially excited to get photos from Stephanie and Diane, and will post some of theirs as well! In the mean time, here are a few images from yesterday.

This photo should be entitled, "Anticipation." Rachael approaches Josh, who is waiting for his first glimpse of his bride.

No direction was needed for these two. They're so natural together.

Sharing a first kiss as husband and wife.

Rachael and Josh's dads filled hundreds of balloons for a post-ceremony send off. Notice how the skies cleared.

Melissa and Eric

Long time no post! Lots has been happening, and I'm way behind on work. (Now there's a news flash!) Today between a rain-delayed start, and a rain-break during, I met at Sibley Park with Eric and Melissa, who will be married in September, and we did their engagement pictures. Their dog, Rascal, came along, too, along with Michelle, Melissa's sister. And after our rain break, my daughter, Stephanie, joined us too. She assisted and made a few images as well.

I had the pleasure of working with Melissa's sister, Mandy, and her husband, Justin, in 2006 for their engagement session, and on 7-7-7 for their wedding.

Sibley Park was, understandably muddy, but beautiful nonetheless. It offers so many varied photo opportunities. No wonder it's a favorite location for photographers. We began the day this morning close to noon under heavy overcast skies, and ended close to four with windy sunshine and mild temps...and soggy ground :)

Thanks for being such good sports, Melissa and Eric; and thanks for puppysitting, Michelle; and thanks for helping out and for Mother's Day lunch, Stephanie!

I love the early spring colors and buds popping all over!

I don't know when this arbor/gate was constructed, but it's a wonderful location for an engagement picture with its heart-shaped fretwork.

Taken with a fisheye lens, I laid in my back and shot almost straight up.

This image was made by Stephanie with my fisheye lens. I played with it in Lightroom and PS, adding a filter to enhance details. 

Little Rascal has to be on a leash, otherwise he covers a whole lot of ground :)

Melissa's sister suggested this shot, and I love it!

On my way home I drove past an eagle's nest with hopes of seeing the pair, and was lucky to see what appears to be one very large hatchling - better than half the size of the adult - probably closer to two thirds the size of the mature adults.

This one is carrying what appears to be a clump of grass.

I was near the nest for close to a half hour, and this one stayed perched at this spot the whole time. It's about 1/4 mile (as the eagle flies) from the nest, so I got this shot as I left.

They're difficult to see, but the adult "parent" is on the left, and the "baby" is on the right.