Star for a day

Two-year-old Stella knows how to party

Children have always been one of my favorite subjects to photograph, even more so now that I'm a father. The importance of documenting milestones for little ones has become even more apparent to me now. So when some of my good clients contacted me to photograph their daughter's second birthday party, I couldn't wait. Not only would I get to work with so many familiar faces, but now I'd be seeing this tradition with new eyes — those of a parent.

While scanning the home and yard for opportunities to capture peak moments of the day it occurred to me just how quickly time passes. There were so many young couples and babies there, many of whom I remembered from Stella's first birthday party, only now they were much, much bigger (the kids, that is).

Stella was very particular about her party this year, right down to picking the color scheme, the menu, the decorations and, of course, the bounce house for she and her friends to play in throughout the afternoon. You can see from the images how much personality she already has! I wonder what she's dreaming up for next year?

Do you have a birthday party, family reunion or other big event planned? Sit back, relax and enjoy the party and let Anthologie worry about collecting all the memories from the day. Contact us today to learn more.

Traveling Side by Side

Engagement Gallery: Amy & Corey

Amy and Corey are seasoned travelers despite their young age. The couple has enjoyed many vacations abroad, but their relationship has also traveled great distances since it began when the two were in high school.

After graduating from college, Corey was offered an opportunity to help expand his company's presence in Latin America, and the two were off to their new home in Mexico City. The couple then had the duty of planning a Minnesota wedding from South of the Border!

On a return visit home to Minnesota, I was able to photograph Amy and Corey at Excelsior Bay, a place where the couple would spend time when they were dating in high school. It was great to see how much love the couple shares for one another, and I think that really shows in the images.

Trash to Treasure

The wedding was over. My wife and I had returned from our blissful honeymoon. And yet, we were left with a dilemma: what to do with all of this wedding stuff?

You know - the flowers, the centerpieces, all the little personal touches we worked so hard to make special. Well, now that the wedding's done, we can't just throw them away, right?

If you're like me, you held on to the stuff knowing someday you'd think of something to do with them — anything but putting them in a glass shadow box (it makes me think of funerals).

Sometimes you have to wait a long time for inspiration to come along. For me, it was seven years! That's when I met jewelry designer Heather Lawrenz of Lawrenz Jewelry. She makes amazing beads, charms and intricate pieces of art all out of stuff most people would throw away. You wouldn't believe how beautiful she can make a discarded bottle cap or a spent A1 steak sauce bottle look.

After seeing her work and getting to know Heather, she mentioned to me that she can make a piece of jewelry out of old photographs — the wheels started turning. If she could take a three-dimensional object and turn it into a charm the possibilities were endless.

Finally, I knew what to do with all those boxes of wedding dodads taking up valuable shelf space in my basement.

With Heather's talents, I could have her preserve those memories in an exciting new way. I turned my box of "stuff" over to her and let Heather work her magic. (Of course, I photographed everything first, just in case I wanted to look at it later). Within minutes, Heather was taking pieces of the materials and constructing tiny compositions.

It was great to see the way Heather thinks and not to give her too much direction. I knew I could trust her to do her thing and the results would be spectacular. What I didn't expect were some of the happy accidents along the way, like when Heather realized the newspapers stuffed around the dried wedding bouquets to protect the delicate flowers were from the newspaper I worked at during the time of our wedding. In fact, the newspapers had some photos that stick out in my mind since they were from meaningful assignments.

"I'm going to use that as a background for one of these charms," Heather said.

I couldn't believe it — fishwrap to some, colorful interest to Heather, a significant memory for me — and now it would all be preserved on this hip piece of jewelry for my wife to wear every day.

And the best part, my wife and I could finally part with all that wedding clutter. Meaningful, yes, but clutter still the same.

If you want to have one of these ah-ha moments, definitely visit Lawrenz Jewelry.

Perfect in every way

Newborn Gallery: Asher

Having become a dad for the first time only six months ago, I was interested to see if my paternal instincts would come into play while photographing another baby boy. I think it may be too early to tell, but I can say for certain, proud papa Brandt received a little more time in my viewfinder than he would have before as I sought opportunities to capture him bonding with his family's latest addition, Asher.

When families are blessed with new life, I work with them, in their home, in their newborn's most familiar environment, not only focusing on the creating images of the baby's portrait, but of how the entire family reacts to his arrival.

It was wonderful to see the excitement of Asher's big sister Reeve as she found someone new to read stories to, and with whom she'll soon play. And Amy's and Brandt's love for their son was plain for anyone to see. It's amazing to bear witness as these families grow and strengthen their bonds. I can't wait to see what Asher will do next.

Happy Father's Day, Brandt!

Love in Bloom

Engagement: Steph and Wes

Wes has been working at the Montgomery Orchard since he was a teenager, so it was a no-brainer when it came to picking a location for engagement photos with Steph, his bride to be.

With those years of experience, Wes also knew when it would typically be the peak moment to capture all those rows of apple trees in full bloom. However, with an unusually cool Minnesota spring, much of the orchard was behind schedule this year.

When it came time to create engagement pictures the apple trees were far from being at their showiest. However, the orchard's vast stand of plum trees was in full bloom and helped to set the scene (and perfume the air) for a dreamy photo session.

Steph and Wes will be married at the orchard in September, when the landscape will be ripe for even better pictures.