North Dakota Wedding Photographer

Love, Unexpectedly

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If you’re on my website and follow me on social media, Sam is a familiar face. We met back in October 2023 for a Halloween editorial. We became friends because Sam is a great person, and was always up for modeling. Back then, she was a single gal, with romantic dreams of finding someone to share cute glances at. The woman of her dreams with possible kids. Unknowingly, that woman was friends with someone who happened to live within miles of her.

Bre was visiting her best friend in Fargo. Both Sam and Bre were on dating sites, and happened to swipe right on each other. Bre lived in Southern Minnesota at the time. However, things moved as quickly as love does, and Sam’s home felt more full. Three boys, many plants, and few dogs later, they were a family.

Sam and Bre got married on a beautiful October Friday in Southern Minnesota. The way they fixed each other’s hair and made sure each other was doing well was adorable. Bre met that caring person. Sam met that person she can share cute glances at…forever.

Here are just a few of the many favorites from their day.

Fall Wedding Photoshoot

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For some couples, big weddings are a must-have. For others, small weddings are amazing. You don’t have to fit into a wedding ‘type’ for the wedding planning box. You can elope. Get married wherever you’d like. Courthouse, on an island, backyard, a restaurant or your home. For Jessica and Sam, it was courthouse one day and then a celebration with close friends and family later. We planned on wedding portraits to be done on the later.

On a beautiful October day, we could not have planned a better location, time and weather for their photoshoot. There is something extra special when everything aligns. Through the golden glow of the sunset through the fall trees, their photographs had an added romantic glow to them. I loved that Jessica waited to show Sam the dress until that day. While they walked through the trails of the Minnesota park, I’d say all the prep was worth while.

I could go on how much I loved editing their photographs also, but I’ll just let them speak for themselves.

Singing through the moments

On the last day of summer, it just happened to be one of the windiest. As Midwestern’s, we talk about the weather because it’s our way of filling in the awkward moments when the wind is blowing hair around our faces. Much like hair being our face, some of us also do not like being in the spotlight. A wedding day can be a whole day of being in the spotlight. When Shandi and Tom had time alone, either on the dance floor or posing, Shandi would sing (either well or in humor) to ease to awkwardness of being in the spotlight. Her ‘robot,’ as she affectionately referred to Tom, and her smiled and laughed like it was ‘their way’ to ease awkward situations. When you meet someone that just ‘makes sense’ in your life, there are many ways you find peace in each other. If singing awkwardly with your other half is what makes you two laugh, keep singing.

One Night in Las Vegas

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What seems like a dream and a lifetime ago, last March I went to Las Vegas to gain more education and meeting other photographers. While there, I did a few photoshoots. On one of the last nights I was there, there was a ‘beach house’ themed boudoir photoshoot night with models and other photographers. I loved it so much that, even though I forgot some of my lighting equipment, that there will be two blogs about it. This one will feature MJ Stock. MJ is a professional model who also owns a gym. She has such a joyous spirit. Some photographs are a bit more risqué and I cannot post them here.

Lakeside wedding

What would your way of making your wedding unique to you two? For Jessie and Brody, it was books at tables for people to take home, blue sunglasses with their names, drinking a glass of beer during the ceremony (their version of a ‘sand ceremony’), and spending time with their guests.

The Texas couple decided to have a beautiful lakeside wedding in Minnesota so their Midwest family could come. The couple included all of their family in the wedding, and close friends to have fun with. We easily came up with fun ideas for posing. Sometimes, large wedding parties have a tough time with posing. Every single person easily got understood how to pose with little coaching.

Some other fun aspects of their wedding were the caterer made pizza on-site (Wood Fire Pizza and Catering based out of Detroit Lakes, MN), and there was a resident cat that got plenty of attention from everyone.

I could go on about their wedding, but I’m happy that their day went well and that I got to photograph it. Keep on dancing!