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.

Reserve your Anthologie winter photo session today!

It’s time to play in the snow, the mud or the rain, because whenever Mother Nature throws us a curveball, great photos are sure to be made.

Anthologie’s “Let it Snow” winter photo promotion is back and better than ever, now with three ways to save.

Perfect for documenting trips to the tree farm, family traditions or just because, Anthologie has a “Let it Snow” winter photo collection sure to fit your holiday picture needs. Contact us today using the contact form on this website to reserve your session. Use coupon code SNOW10 in the “how did you hear about us” field to receive this special pricing.

Details

• All sessions also include edits and enhancements of your best images

• All sessions also include an online proofing gallery active for 30 days from posting

• Session fees are due at the time of scheduling in order to reserve your date. A credit will be kept for you on file should you need to reschedule.

• There are no travel fees for photo sessions within the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs

• Sessions must be completed by Dec. 11, 2010, to ensure on-time delivery of holiday cards

• Still have questions, contact us today

Saying goodbye through photos

One of the many aspects of my job that I love is the relationships I get to build with my clients, and the fact that many of them become friends. Such is the case with Maureen, a wedding client whose larger-than-life image dominated my storefront window at my past Northfield studio, whose nuptial photos graced my business cards for more than a year and whose presence was recently made at my wife’s baby shower (she’s obviously become a friend).

Once that relationship is established and trust is earned, I, as a photographer, get the great pleasure of getting to take part in some truly amazing life moments. Maureen contacted me awhile back saying that the difficult economic environment had forced her to make an even more difficult decision, that to give up her horse and cherished friend, Hannah. Before she did so, she wanted to honor their relationship through pictures, and requested that I create the images. I was honored, excited and a bit apprehensive. After all, it promised to be an emotional event.

What I didn’t realize until moments after our session was complete was that Hannah was moving to her new (and positively Rockwellian) home immediately and that I was actually about to see the last goodbye. While I witnessed the event, some things are simply best left in memory and not immortalized in photos. Hannah was visibly stirred by the situation and seemed to have a keen awareness for what was taking place. Instead, we have radiant images to celebrate the bond between a woman and her equine friend.

Devising the perfect game plan for a proposal

It was love that sent Matt Jackson on his biggest life journey. Not love for a woman, but love for a game — hockey.

Matt was a standout on the Apple Valley, MN varsity hockey team and advanced to the collegiate level before a snowmobile accident sidelined his aspirations of going pro. It was during his time on Eagles high school team, however, that would change his life. It was then that he first crossed paths with Lori Taormina, the squad’s team manager.

While the two never spent much time together, they obviously made an impression on one another. Years after their brief high school encounters, Matt and Lori easily noticed each other while socializing with friends at an area sports bar. A connection was made, and the two quickly started dating.

Two years later, Matt had purchased an engagement ring, had asked Lori’s father for her hand in marriage, and was already plotting the perfect proposal.

Matt had treated Lori to a full-day spa treatment at the Oasis Salon in Lakeville while he was off deer hunting in Southern Minnesota. Well, at least that’s what Lori was led to believe. Matt had actually postponed his trip a bit to surprise Lori as she neared the end of her day of pampering. The salon had requested me to produce photos for marketing materials so I would be on hand during all the action. Plus, we needed a model for the brochures — that’s where Lori came in.

As Lori luxuriated in each phase of the treatment — hair, make-up, massage, manicure and spa pedicure — she had no idea Matt was anxiously counting down the minutes until he’d be cued to make his entrance. Matt stacked the deck and brought along champagne with personalized flutes, chocolates and strawberries, and a sushi platter on top of the stunning ring he had selected.

Finally, Matt’s moment came and he was able to catch Lori completely off guard as she relaxed with a glass of wine during her pedicure. A traditionalist, Matt got down on one knee and asked Lori to marry him. In between tears of excitement and joy, she said yes.

Congratulations, Matt and Lori!!

Anthologie “Warmth of Fall”  | Reserve a session, get free books

Temperatures will soon plummet. Before your morning commute calls for dispensing a gallon of washer fluid over an icy windshield (as if that will help), it’s time to get out and enjoy the beautiful autumn air.

There’s no better way to celebrate this time of year than with a photo session with you and your loved ones. Trips to your family’s favorite apple orchard, an afternoon meandering through a pumpkin patch, or simply just because, there’s plenty of opportunities to create a lasting fall memory. And now, Anthologie is making it even easier to ensure these moments won’t be forgotten.

Reserve any regular-priced photo session through Oct. 31, 2010, and we’ll provide you with three mini “Brag Books” for you to look back on these memories for generations to come.

Complete photo collections for a one-hour session of on-location photography are $150 and include:

• expert edits and enhancements of your best images

• a password-protected web photo gallery for convenient online ordering and photo sharing

• complimentary downloads of your best images at web resolution

• ownership of your digital negatives printable to 4×6 inches

Use the contact form on this website and reserve your session today!

Drew Donlin could teach us all a few lessons. The Wayzata, MN high school senior is learned in the ways of time management and integrity.

On top of the full-time of job of being a high school student navigating the world of college applications and campus visits, Drew has found time to remain highly involved with extra curricular activities and his church.

Drew is a multi-sport athlete playing baseball and running track in spring and quarterbacking the Wayzata Trojans football team in the fall. He is also class president, is an officer of his school’s National Honor Society and he was voted Attorney General for Minnesota’s Youth In Government program.

Faith is also central to Drew’s life and he is an active member of Woodridge Church in Medina, MN. In fact, Drew recently completed a mission trip to the Dominican Republic where he helped to build homes and to lead sports ministry programs.

Please view some of the senior pictures I made of Drew (below) at one of his favorite hang-out spots, Wayzata Beach, on Lake Minnetonka. Additional images can be found HERE.

Anthologie announces a project fit for any man cave

There’s only so many BBQ accessory kits, boring DVDs and socket sets one man can take — oh, that new Lithium-Ion Sawzall would be just fine though … hint, hint! That’s why in honor of Father’s Day 2010, Anthologie is announcing a special promotion just for dads, especially for the ones that really don’t need a gift or are just too darn picky. You can just hear Tim Allen grunting and demanding “more power,” can’t you?

For any regular session booked today through Father’s Day (which is June 21, by the way), we will also include 3 brag books: one for dad, one for the kids, one for … hmm, a jealous neighbor. These mini books are the perfect way to show off your favorite dad’s best talent. We will spend one hour photographing your dad in his wood shop, in the garage, heck — on the computer, wherever it is that your father really shines!

Your images will then be expertly edited and presented to you in a password-protected website for online ordering and photo sharing. Finally, a photo story about dad’s special hobby will be designed and published just for you. Best of all, these little books come in some pretty manly cover materials, including the aviator leather (pictured above). Did I mention that they’re also included in the cost of your photo session?

And if dad doesn’t have a passion for bird houses, tying flies or rebuilding transmissions that’s fine, too. We are happy to extend this promotion to photographs of some of his other favorite pastimes, like his kids, his dog or his lawn!

Included in the Manly Collection:
• one hour on-location, custom photography
• edits and enhancements of your best images
• online gallery, active for 30 days
• image disc with ownership rights of your photos printable to 4×6
inches
• (3) identical, 3×3 brag books with photo story design

Price: $150

Call 952-232-5830 or use the contact form on this website to reserve your session today!

The not-so-fine print:
• All sessions must be reserved by June 20, 2010
• Session times are available through Oct. 31, 2010
• All sessions must be paid in full at the time of making your
reservations
•We do not offer refunds, but are happy to apply your booking fee towards another session if you are unable to make it to your session date

As is often the case with our “No Foolin’” promotion — set to coincide with changing seasons — we found ourselves questioning whether or not the kids could withstand 30-miles-per-hour wind gusts, and if short sleeves were a good idea.

Despite the chilly conditions (ha!) and a bit of wintry precipitation (did I mention it was May), the Bruces decided the show must go on — both kids were nearing their birthdays and the family wanted their latest photo experience to pay homage to their summer tradition of boating along the river. Their determination paid off in the images, and I think the kids showed that they can be more resilient than adults when confronted with a cold front.

Thanks guys. You proved “No Foolin’” can mean “no excuses,” too.

In addition, two different graduate collections include archival books, including our signature Graduate – Anthologie, which allows for photography on two separate dates, a feature story that captures your personality and a 30-page, leather-bound book.

Click HERE to download the 2011 Anthologie graduate flyer. Specific details of the 2011 graduate collections are in the post below.

Graduate Premiere Collection

• 2 to 3 hours location photography

• unlimited wardrobe changes (as time permits)

• edits and enhancements of your best images

• web hosting of your best images to a password-protected

gallery for convenient online ordering and photo
sharing

gallery remains active for 60 days

• personalized, hardcover wallet photo box (pictured above)

• 48 wallet photographs (up to 6 unique poses)

• (1) 8×10 photo

• (2) 5×7 photos

• ownership of digital negatives printable to 4×6

• downloads of all images at web resolution

$250

Graduate Feature Collection

All the amenities of the Premiere Collection are included in
the Graduate Premiere. However, a 20-page, hardcover coffeetable book
has been added to enhance this collection. This book, featuring
lay-flat pages, displays your favorite photos while providing space for
signatures and personal messages from friends to help you to remember
this key moment in time. Please flip through below to experience the
design of the Graduate Feature book.

$450

Graduate Anthologie Collection

All the amenities of the Premiere Collection are also
included in the Graduate Anthologie. However, this collection has
significant upgrades, including:

• An additional 1 hour of photography coverage at a
different event date (sports photos, drama club, hanging out with
friends)

• A 30-page, legacy quality book with a leather cover and
foil stamping

• A feature story written about you and your high school
experiences

• Scans and captions preserving your personal memorabilia

Please flip through below to experience the design of the
Graduate Anthologie book.

$650