My name is Emily.

I love people in love.

I cry at every wedding.

I own a striped umbrella. Everyone should.

I love my pug. His name is Edward.

I dream of having a house with enough closet hooks for my scarves and hats.

Laughing is great.

I believe there is nothing better than a day with the people you love.

And I absolutely love to take photos.


And this is my blog. Expect to see people in love, expect to laugh and read, and expect to see what I love and why I love it! Welcome to my blog. I am glad you are here.

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06.25.09
SHAYNA + JOEL ARE MARRIED!!!!!!

Hold on folks, because this is going to be a long one! :) I had the amazing privilege of being a part of Shayna and Joel's special day while they exchanged vows and partied the night away last weekend. I was honored and...well.....SO EXCITED for these two because they gosh darn-it deserve every second of their happiness. It is these kinds of weddings that I wish my camera had sound and could record all the giggles, leaps of joy, tears, special moments and shouts of excitement that happens on wedding days; and that is *exactly* how Shayna and Joel's day was.

These two have an increadible story that is unbelievably inspiring with a downright contagious love for each other! The story of how they met, fell in love, and are now starting their future together will make you cry, laugh, and kiss your own spouse when you are done! Folks, it is THESE weddings that I fall in love with! :)

Now...onto some photos.........
I was able to spend not just a few hours, but the ENTIRE day with the wedding party and wouldn't have wanted anything less! So, I met the ladies at the salon! :)
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I think that both Katie and I were tearie eyed when they got to see each other for the first time...
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And then off to some "them" time away from the hustle and bustle. Shayna and Joel got married downtown Minneapolis at Augustana Lutheran Church so we were able to hop the streets for awhile for their time together.
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MY FAVE!!!! :)
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Don't you love the accessories that the girls wore??? *wink wink*
Apparently they were some thrift store finds that the ladies thought would be a fine addition to their ensemble! :)
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They also had a SMOKIN HOT, old, red car to jet away in after their vows!
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Both toasts at the reception were down-right hilarious from Shayna's sister and Joel's older brother.
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The coolest thing of the day, however, was when Shayna and Joel got up to thank everyone after dinner and toasts---the shared their story, why they are head over heels for one another and how thankful they were for their families. There was not a dry eye in the house, including the bride and groom, and I can say that it was one of the most captivating speeches by a bride and groom I have ever heard! :)
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And then the PAARRRTAAAAAYY started with the Roy Rogers Band kickin it off! They are phenomenal and if you need a band for your wedding, honestly, contact them---they played FREE BIRD for the 2nd song. How funny is that??
(a request from the bride and groom of course)
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Shayna and Joel, I sure was thrilled to be a part of your big day. Honestly. You guys rock and I CAN NOT wait to see what the future holds for you two love birds! :)
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Katie says:

Emily, you are hands down the most FUN photographer in the world to work with. You made us feel at ease and we had soooo much fun with you all day. These pictures are GORGEOUS!!! I cannot wait to see the rest of them!!!!!

(06.25.09 @ 11:54AM)
Cindy says:

You are one of the most incredible phtographers I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! Looking forward to seeing the 'other' 2500 photos..lol!

(06.25.09 @ 7:05PM)
Amy says:

That pic of Shay and Deanna on the dance floor is so perfect. If I had to sum up their relationship in a photo frame, that's what it would look like. Well done!

(06.25.09 @ 10:55PM)
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06.24.09
Despite the down-pouring raininess of cats and dogs that happened on Matt and Sue's big day a few weeks ago they had an extremely beautiful wedding!! Surrounded by their closest family and friends Matt and Sue tied the knot at Our Lady of Peace church and followed it with a wildly hoppin' reception in a beautiful ballroom near the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis! 

We had a blast running around with umbrellas all day and you could tell that nothing was stopping these 2 love birds! :)

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I absolutely *ADORE* this series between Sue and her Dad right before they walked down the isle! They had the cutest relationship and from the looks on their faces you can tell this is a very important moment for both of them.....
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The reception was *a blast* for everyone! The toasts were great and full of fun stories and hilarious advice for the newlyweds! AND the best part was that THE DWEEBS came to entertain everyone for the night....
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Some of the girls ended up with some of the glasses from stage and wore them around all night! Aren't they cute!?!?!?
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I wish you all the best Matt and Sue and I hope that your honeymoon was PERFECT! :)
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Laura Ivanova says:

Wow, that series between the bride and her father is priceless. I love moments like that and you captured it beautifully!

(06.25.09 @ 12:08AM)
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06.11.09
Julia was welcomed home by her Mommy and Daddy a few weeks ago and I got the privilege of meeting her for the first time this past weekend. I arrived and she was snoring away in her perfectly pink polka-dotted room (which I *adore* by the way). I walked in and gasped at how beautiful this little girl was! :)

Julia's skin is perfectly smooth, her eyes are amazing, her hair is plentiful and she is the apple of her Mommy and Daddy's eye. They adore her so much and it was so sweet to watch them as they cuddled her, kissed her, sang to her and just enjoyed their new little family member!

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And I had to get a shot of her *amazing* little girl room. Don't you just LOVE IT!?????
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Anonymous says:

Love the pics & Julia! She's beautiful and your pics are amazing.
(of course I am biased about Julia...she's my niece:)!

(06.12.09 @ 10:46AM)
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Over the past few years I have become quite fond of the Franta family and their 3 adorable kids! Wendy, Nick and the 3 kiddos have the kind of family that I *dream* to have someday---they admire their kids, they laugh with their kids, go on adventures with their kids and they oh-so-much LOOOVE their kids!

To say that I can believe that it has been a year since I got the wonderful news announcing the birth of their youngest little tike, Buchanon, would be a lie! Time sure flies (and I am not even a parent yet! HA!) Buchanon is an amazing little boy with fat rolls everywhere, a smile that can capture anyone from across the room and 2 olders siblings that *ADORE* him!

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I absolutely *LOVE* (with a captial "L") the outfits that Wendy has for the kids everytime I arrive. Doesn't Buchanon look like the next CEO of some giant firm in the cities??? Someday when his photo is hanging high in a gold frame above a marble fireplace in a big-shot office, I will send him a framed photo of this to put next to it! :)
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And now onto Buchanon's weekend, golfing attire!! :)
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Our morning together sure tuckered the little guy out because he was zonked when we were done!
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I don't know what I am going to do without being able to stop at the Franta's house every 3 months now since Buchanon is already a whole YEAR OLD! I guess that means you guys are going to have to have another baby!!! (WINK WINK) :)
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How much do I *adore* the Hines family??? Well...A LOT!!!!! They are one of the most spunky, fun, radically great familes ever!

Bre, who will be 5 in September, tells the funnies jokes (all involving buggars in case you are wondering), loves to wear pink, calls her Daddy "baby butt" (which I think is just HILARIOUS) and has the prettiest little almost-5-year-old-smile!! We had a great time wondering around through the tall grassy field....

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This next photo just cracks me up......it is the "I am mad at you, but you said something funny so now I am trying not to laugh AND still mad at you" face. Anyone who has been around kids should immediately bring to mind a similar situation with a little tike.....
HA!
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Bre decided that it was her turn to take some photos of Mommy and Daddy----TAAA DAAA!! What a great portrait! :) (she was pretty thrilled with the result!)
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Can't you just see how hilarious her BUGGAR jokes are in this one?? Lynfield thinks they are just the funniest (although I am SURE he has heard them one thousand times before!)
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What little girl doesn't *love* to Hoola-Hoop on a nice, hot, summer day?
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A family that can make silly faces together shares one *perfectly* special bond!!! :)
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Bre was so thrilled to be done with photo-time so that she could go on an adventure to get her highly anticipated training wheels for her brand new, pink, princess bike! I hope that you have many long bike rides to many ice cream parlors this summer! :)
I love you Hines family!!!!!


OH---and for those of you eyeing-up that beautiful pink chair....I have to say that I found it at a flea market and reupholstered it last week. How awsome is that chair? You will definately be seeing more of that to come through the summer!!  I must show it off beacuse I am *oh-so-proud*!
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maren says:

grreat photos! love the chair(s) too :)

(06. 9.09 @ 1:08PM)
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06. 8.09
Time sure flies because this little baby is already 6 MONTHS OLD! It seemed like I just met her for the first time and now she is sitting up, goo-ing, smiling and LOVING every second of being outside. I can totally see her being the little princess fairy running after butterflies once she can walk! :)

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And does she just look the cutest in this little pink tutu???
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Her eyes are this beautiful shade of brownish-hazel that are big, bold and beautiful!
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Shelby, I wish you many days of playing in the grass and coo-ing at your Mommy this summer. I can't wait to see you this fall!!! :)
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Lisa Olson says:

OMG!! I am always amazed at how you can capture all her quirks and personality!! I can't wait to see them all!!!!

(06. 9.09 @ 6:28AM)
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