Outfit inspiration

I’ll admit - when I’ve had my own photos taken, I ALSO go into a slight panic over what to wear. Choosing what to wear for a photoshoot isn’t always an easy decision! My advice to clients is first and foremost, I want you to feel like YOU for your photos. Don’t go buy something that you would never wear on a regular day, just because you saw it on Pinterest.

Okay, okay - but what’s your actual advice?

There are just a few simple things to keep in mind when coordinating outfits!

  • Coordinating, rather than matching, is the key

  • Consider incorporating different textures, rather than mixing and matching patterns (a chunky sweater, or a satin skirt, can add variety when mixed with another person in a more standard cotton shirt or button up)

  • Avoid graphics or logos - unless this is an intentional choice, these can really distract the eye in a photo

  • A pop of color can add some fun! But be careful - really vibrant colors can easily affect skin tones in photographs. If you love color, considering a deeper color, or a muted tone, rather than something highly saturated can be a safer choice!

There are a million ways to look great. Truly.

Here are some examples of some ~real life people~ from past sessions I’ve done!
Looking fabulous, in a variety of ways! Categorized!

light neutrals ~

dark neutrals ~

earth tones ~

blue tones ~

pastels ~

pop of color ~

Summer wedding at Pinewood Weddings and Events

Located just an hour north of Minneapolis, Pinewood is the perfect venue for any couple looking for that woodsy, up-north feel without leaving the metro area. While surrounded by nature, the building itself has a modern, crisp design. Nestled into 10 acres of tall, towering pines in Cambridge, MN - the space truly makes a beautiful backdrop for a wedding in any season!

Pinewood Wedding and Events in Cambridge Minnesota

Features & Amenities

Designed by folks who have a background in wedding photography, the venue has everything you need all in one convenient location - and looks good while doing it!

  • Indoor and outdoor ceremony sites (capacity up to 225)
    Don’t let weather stress you out! They have space inside and outside for a ceremony to take place.

  • 2 getting ready rooms
    Everyone in one handy location! No figuring out travel time from point A to point B, or sending a photographer across town to get photos of the other half of the wedding party. This makes the morning run smoothly and the day becomes easy-breezy!

  • Great light all day
    Lots of venues have some spaces with great light - but ALL the spaces have great light at Pinewood!

  • Indoor/outdoor bar
    Makes a perfect transition from cocktail hour on the patio to dinner inside.

  • Lobby lounge and fireplace
    A great spot for a welcome table and your guest book! Also a comfy spot for your dad or grandma to hang while they wait for photos, and a quiet spot for guests to chat as the music gets louder in the other room.

  • Endless beautiful spots inside and outside - no secondary locations needed for wedding photos!
    Truly a photographer’s dream. No crazy logistics of travel, just gorgeous backdrops everywhere you turn.

Wedding Prep

Like true wedding professionals, they’ve even given you a head start when it comes to providing lodging for your guests! The nearest hotel is just under 4 miles away, at the Cambridge Grand Stay, but they’ve put together a whole list of local hotels and airbnbs on their website here.

They also have a page dedicated to vendors that they recommend, if you are still on the hunt for your perfect florist, or videographer!

Abby and Gary couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful August day for their wedding at Pinewood! Surrounded by their loved ones, with the sun shining, they tied the knot under the towering pines.

Family was at the forefront of this special day - the bride’s brother designed the invite suite and custom matchbooks, they held a Chinese tea ceremony, and Abby made a surprise entrance in her mom’s wedding dress for the dance!

Venue:
Pinewood Weddings and Events
33262 Palm St NW
Cambridge, MN 55008

Other vendors:
Dress: Anthropologie Weddings
Shoes: Forever Soles
Suit: Atmosfere
Florals: Florals by Claire
HMUA: Maggie J Makeup
DJ: Instant Request DJ
Planner: Juniper And Jean

How to incorporate a fun location or activity to your engagement session

If you’re reading this - CONGRATS!! That likely means you are recently engaged and are brainstorming fun ideas for your engagement shoot. 🥳💍

There are so many ways to celebrate this time in your life - some folks simply want some nice photos of themselves with their partner. Nothing wild, just something pretty. And there’s nothing wrong with that! You can never have too many pretty photos of when you’re young and in-love, especially since most of our photo collections are just a phone full of poorly-lit selfies.

Detail image of woman's engagement ring in Minneapolis, Minnesota

But I like to encourage couples to have a little fun with their engagement session! The wedding photos to come will be beautiful, no doubt. But these - these photos will show the real YOU. The you you both are right now, on a weeknight. The vibe and style you had at this point in time.

In today’s world, where images are in surplus and everything is ‘content’, it can be tricky to think of a new idea. But the idea doesn’t have to be completely new, as long as it feels special to you! The goal is to create a session that feels perfect for your relationship.

There are a couple good starting points to help brainstorm what might bring that unique spin to your engagement shoot:

1. What location is special to you?

Tying in a location that is special to you and your partner is a great place to start! This could be any range of places - from a restaurant or bar, to a park, a theater, or maybe even your own home!

 

~ Chris and Sam chose to start their engagement session with cocktails at WA Frost, a local St. Paul restaurant. Not only was this the location of their first date, but this was the exact table they sat at! 🥂 To top it off - they brought maximum style points with Sam in a dusty pink suit coat that matched the pink design in Chris’ sequins dress.

 
 
Couple wearing pink cheers cocktails at WA Frost in Saint Paul, Minnesota
 
Man and woman eat burgers at Matt's Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota

~Leeja and Charlie’s goal for their engagement session, first and foremost, was to enjoy a couple Juicy Lucy burgers at Minneapolis-staple Matt’s Bar. Fun, casual, and perfectly them - they didn’t want to take things too seriously, and also give a nod to a legendary MN dive bar.

 

~ Beside this being one of this couple’s favorite date spots, Wylie proposed to Lindsey at this very place - the Minneapolis Institute of Art (or MIA, if you’re local). The couple met in college through the theater program, so art plays a huge role in their lives and in their relationship.

*Don’t forget to look into whether your desired location requires a permit to shoot there! Many museums will require one, and you’ll need to call at least a few weeks in advance. But these locations are always beautiful and always worth it!

 

~ Katie and Greg’s whole wedding vibe was St. Paul centered! They planned to get married in a St. Paul city park and hold their reception at a local brewery. So, of course, it only made sense for their engagement session to be at their favorite swanky little local bar - the Emerald Lounge. Plus, if you’ve got some nerves going into a photoshoot - kicking it off with an old fashioned is never a bad idea! 🥃

Man and woman sit with cocktails in green booth at Emerald Lounge in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Two men embrace at the Landmark Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota where they danced in high school
 

~ Though they wouldn’t end up dating until many years later - Michael and Will both attended a performing arts high school located within the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul! A place that tied them together long before they ever dreamed of being married.

If you want to shoot at a location that is a place of business (ie restaurant, bar) - it’s best practice to call and check in ahead with them! They are usually very accommodating, often sharing tips on when might be the best time to come in and shoot (sometimes even allowing you to come in outside of their open hours).

So be sure to make a plan with your photographer on contacting your location ahead of shoot-time!

If you can’t think of a specific location that feels perfect, don’t stress! The next thing to think about is:

2. What is something you love to DO together?

What activity brings joy to you and your partner? A photoshoot doesn’t have to be all smiling and looking at the camera - we love a little action and movement! Add a little fun to the session!

Male and female couple hold hands near campfire as they sip cocktails at picnic
 

~ Abby and Gary knew that they wanted to incorporate their love for the outdoors and camping in their session! So we packed up a picnic (complete with cocktails and charcuterie), a cribbage board, and built ourselves a campfire! 🔥 What’s more Minnesotan than that??

 

~ Maria and Ben are lovers of all things games. Board games, deck-building games, you name it. So it only made sense to shoot their engagement session at the local arcade Can Can Wonderland. 🕹️ Complete with classic arcade games, pinball machines, and mini-golf - it’s the perfect location for any game-lover!

Man and woman laugh playing pinball arcade game in Minnesota
Woman smiles at camera while fiancé looks adoringly at her a pizza shop
 

~ Eating pizza and playing board games is a go-to for Nicole and Reggie! So we found the cutest pizza shop in the Twin Cities (rip Fire & Nice…) - they got a cute lunch date out of the deal, and I just got to document it! 🍕

 
 
 

~ Late-night hangs at a diner was one of Quynh and Vikram’s favorite things to do while attending college in Minneapolis. So what better way to celebrate their engagement than sharing a milkshake and a basket of fries at the Nicollet Diner! 🍟🍦

 
Woman feeds man fry at Minneapolis diner
 
Man and woman run up steps reading 'All the world's a stage' at Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis

~ Ever the lovers of live theater - Sarah and McLean chose the Guthrie Theater to be the home for their engagement session. To make things more perfect, the stairs at this local theater were adorned with the Shakespeare quote “All the world’s a stage”.

Moral of the story - your engagement photos can be more than just snapshots outside in a picturesque location.

This is the start of the rest of your life together, make decisions that inspire and excite you. ✨

 

maternity sessions - your way

Let’s talk maternity photos! You might be asking - “What kind of maternity session should I do?” or “What style of maternity shoot is right for me?”

There are so many ways to do it, and it’s my goal as a photographer to make you feel as though we’ve captured this time in a way that’s just as special and unique as the experience itself.

Whether you want to do it solo, or with a partner or your family - it’s your body that’s growing and changing so how you want to document it is entirely up to you. 💕

Here are some options, along with some images from previous sessions, to consider:

in-home -

cozy, intimate

an in-home maternity session has more of a vulnerability to it. these sessions don’t require much as far as outfits, or styling, but really focus on the body and documenting the magic that your body is doing. there is a calm and a tenderness to these sessions.

lifestyle

in-home maternity can also be brighter and feel more like a lifestyle documentation of you in your home! on your own, or with your partner, it can document the space you’ll be bringing your new baby into.

in-studio -

bold, editorial

what your body is doing at this time is magic - so why not treat it like the art it is! an in-studio maternity session can boldly showcase the beauty of your growing babe.

relaxed, lifestyle

an in-studio maternity session can also feel more home-y. maybe you already plan on doing an in-home newborn session and want a different location. this can be your home away from home to capture these months of prepping for your new little one!

outside -

whether it’s somewhere special to you, or simply somewhere pretty

an outdoor maternity session can be as much of an adventure as you want it to be. maybe there’s a place you like to hike that you want to incorporate into this experience, or maybe you’re just a water-baby yourself and feel at home next to a lake. in minnesota, especially, there are no shortage of beautiful outdoor locations to shoot at.

fun options? yes please! -

make it a vibe! let’s go to the fair, let’s lounge by the pool, let’s dress up!

every choice is a good choice - just pick whatever feels most true to you 🌼

in-home newborn - baby R

This session felt like the universe coming together just right where it was supposed to! This couple found me through Lucia (god bless Yess Yoga 🙏🏼), then come to find out we know so many of the same people from the town I grew up! On top of it, they are wonderful creative folk who were just such a breeze to be with while we captured this moment in their lives.

Check out this mama’s music here!

in-home newborn - baby E

Each new in-home session I do - becomes my favorite session I’ve done. 😅

Honestly I love these sessions so much. They feel so natural and tender. And although they feel like chaos in the moment (the dad at the end of this session sighed and went “well that went horribly” - spoiler alert: it didn’t), these are the priceless times to capture.

mindful therapies - occupational therapy

Mindful Therapies launched this week!

Mandy offers occupational therapy, as well as yoga services, to the Twin Cities! Mandy has a calm confidence that will put anyone who works with her at ease 🤲🏼

I was grateful to have the opportunity to shoot some photos with her while she embarks on this journey 🌱

Boss babes doing boss things 💪🏼

www.mindfultherapiesmn.com

anxiously awaiting +2

This family is absolutely one of my favorites (am I allowed to have favorites??).

When we did this session at the end of the summer they were patiently awaiting the arrival of two (!!) babies. They have so much love and I know it’s only growing exponentially. (Spoiler alert - this mama is a SUPERHERO and she ended up carrying both babies full term and delivered ON their due date 😱)