Blog - Umbrella Studios

Military wedding photography

by admin | Sep 12, 2016 | weddings | 0 Comments

It is always a pleasure to photograph a military wedding. This wedding was even more special because both the bride and groom were service members. The majority of their wedding party were also in the military. I love doing military wedding photography, and this was an amazing experience.

We went to so many amazing locations for K and N’s wedding. We began at the Crowne Plaza Northstar, went to the Stone Arch Bridge, Mill City Ruins, The Guthrie, and then back again for the ceremony at the Sky Garden.

The couple also made sure to include their infant daughter in the event. She was so sweet! I felt truly lucky to be a part of this special day. Thank you for having me be a part of your day!

Karissa and Nate’s military wedding in Minneapolis, MN

Como Zoo wedding

by admin | Sep 6, 2016 | weddings | 0 Comments

I have been fortunate enough to know this couple for years, and was delighted to have the opportunity to photograph their Como zoo wedding.

The mother of the bride made not only the bride’s dress, but the bridesmaids dresses too. It’s always fun to see a bride in a dress with some color! The purple in the wedding dress was a beautiful touch.

This Como Zoo wedding was a a little different in that it took place in the Japanese Garden. Also, the couple elected to have a hand fasting ceremony. The whole thing was short but so very sweet.

The couple enjoys traditional Irish celi and courtly dancing so this was incorporated into their reception! It was an absolute delight to watch all the traditional dancing and seeing people learn the new steps.

This was definitely a unique wedding all around and I am thrilled to have been a part of it. Congratulations K and D!

Kirsten and Damon’s summer wedding at Como with celi dance reception in St. Paul, MN

Logan one year old portraits

by admin | Aug 2, 2016 | Babies, Children, Families | 0 Comments

It’s time for Logan’s one year old portraits! We did these in the Minneapolis studio and he was all smiles! So glad to be a part of this little guy’s life!

Logan’s 1 year portraits

Guthrie theater engagement

by admin | Jul 26, 2016 | Engagements | 0 Comments

This Guthrie theater engagement session was so much fun! I absolutely adored working with A and J. Their love story spans years and continents. During a portion of this engagement, one of the grooms played a song on his phone so they had something to dance to! I left this engagement session so excited to photograph their wedding I could hardly stand myself!

Arthur and James’s summer engagement at The Guthrie

Bright summer wedding with a groom in a wheelchair

by admin | Jul 20, 2016 | weddings | 0 Comments

When sitting down to write this post, it’s difficult to know where to begin. This couple was very special. K and K have been through a lot in their time together. They’ve overcome things that other people would never even imagine. Through it all, their love has grown stronger. It was evident in the way they looked at each other, the way the spoke about each other and in every movement.

The groom had hoped to be using his long legs by the time the wedding came around but recovery is hard work. The groom used his wheelchair for most of the wedding. A pair of white swans flew overhead during the ceremony! He did use his short legs for their first dance though. The whole event was so moving, I lost my composure more than once. This was not my first wedding with a groom in a wheelchair, and it does present unique challenges but I was so glad to hear from the couple and their families that they were happy with my coverage.

The couple were also very passionate about their rescue dogs. They included all three of their pups in the ceremony. The three of them had the cutest bow ties! We actually found out at the wedding that the mother of the bride volunteers with the same rescue group that I do! Sometimes we’re all six degrees of separation in animal rescue.

This wedding was unique in one of the most meaningful ways. The enduring spirit of love and devotion permeated everything. I felt absolutely blessed to have been a part of this wedding. It was very difficult to compost this post and in fact, I’ve had it shelved now for months because I had a hard time doing it justice. It’s come to a time where I feel as though I have to let it out into the world, as is. I hope a small fraction of the power of the event comes through.

Kimberly and Kyle’s summer wedding at Majestic Oaks in Andover, MN

Lake Minnetonka wedding

by admin | Jul 11, 2016 | weddings | 0 Comments

This intimate Lake Minnetonka wedding was filled with beautiful nautical details. The couple. their daughter and their dogs were an absolute delight to work with. The entire wedding party was so fun and more than happy to ham it up for the camera. The couple also helped me show that a little rain on your wedding day, might not be such a bad thing! I was absolutely thrilled to have a couple willing to go take pictures in the rain!

Gigi and Matt’s nautical wedding on Lake Minnetonka

Engagement session in Fridley

by admin | Jun 27, 2016 | Engagements | 0 Comments

This sun drenched engagement session in Fridley, MN was so much fun despite the oppressive heat. Springbrook Nature Center is one of my favorite places to work and this was no exception! C and T were great sports and brought their rescue dog to participate in the photo session! I love it when people bring all members of the family. Even though they can be challenging to work with, they always bring a little extra joy.

Carly and Todd’s summer engagement at Springbrook Nature Center

Elegant gay wedding in Eden Prairie, MN

by admin | Jun 20, 2016 | weddings | 0 Comments

This elegant gay wedding in Eden Prairie, MN was absolutely exquisite, from the setting decorations to the details. The grooms at this gay wedding wore matching suits and even had matching rings! T and B were a delight to work with and we all had a wonderful time. One of my favorite things about this wedding has to be the ice sculpture of the couple’s dog. These are my kind of people! Congratulations T and B! Thank you for having me be a part of your day.

Travis and Brian’s summer wedding at Bearpath in Eden Prairie, MN

Buddhist inspired lesbian wedding in Hastings, MN

by admin | Jun 13, 2016 | weddings | 0 Comments

This Buddhist inspired, lesbian wedding was filled with personal touches. Everything reflected the nature focused personalities of the brides. The wedding was small with a fantastic group of friends who celebrated and danced the night away!

The couple made adorable Lego boutonnieres. They were all different and so very fun! The Lego theme was carried over to their cake topper as well! A friend of the couple made them a pair of chairs for the occasion that were absolutely lovely. Instead of a traditional guest book, they had a beautiful piece of reclaimed wood for people to sign.

J and M elected to do a back to back reveal for their first look. Neither of them knew what the other would be wearing so it was a really fun way to do it! During their ceremony, J and M watered a beautiful bonsai tree together in lieu of a unity candle or sand ceremony. It was perfect for them. One of the brides gave her new wife a motorcycle as a wedding gift! She was so surprised! As the night wound down, the bonfire began and people started roasting smores. It was a fantastic event from beginning to end.

Thank you for having me be a part of your day!

Jessica and Meghan’s Buddhist wedding at scenic Spring Lake Park Reserve

Centennial Lakes Park engagement pictures

by admin | Jun 6, 2016 | Engagements | 0 Comments

Centennial Lakes Park is always a popular location for an engagement session. It offers a lot of diverse options for posing and backgrounds and is absolutely gorgeous. For their engagement pictures, A and Z chose to have a casual look and a more formal look. We got to see the lilacs and an adorable family of ducks! The colors they chose worked really well with each other and for their location. Absolutely love these Centennial Lakes Park engagement pictures! It was fun working with such a warm and relaxed couple. I had a great time!