Minneapolis Winter Engagement Photography Locations

Now that Christmas has passed us by and New Years Eve is upon us engagement session is in full swing.  However, an engagement photography session smack dab in in middle of the chilly Minnesota winter may be a bit scary for most couples.  We encourage couples to get brave and embrace the winter photo session.  They are fun and they can add some variety to your photos if you have a summer wedding planned.

In Minnesota there are plenty of winter engagement options and in Minneapolis and St. Paul there are spots where you can jump inside to warm up.  Below are a few of our favorite winter engagement photos we have taken over the last year.

We photographed Bobbi and Mitch just after the holidays this past year at Rice Park in St. Paul.  The Holiday lights warm the photo with shades of yellow, red and orange.

For Alysia & Callen we started their session at the Historic Hanover Bridge then we travel to Crow Springs Park near our home in Buffalo.  Crow Springs Park is full of tall mature pine trees that added a touch of green to Alysia and Callen's photos.  Below is a ring detail photo from their session.

Not into the winter weather scene?  The Depot in Minneapolis has some indoor locations that give you an outdoor feel.  Below is a photo from Kate and Karington's session in November taken inside at the Depot.

In St. Paul we take couples to the Bus Depot in lower town in the winter months.  The Depot is full of light via some very large and ornate windows.  However make sure to watch for event at the Depot.  The area can be tough to manage around St. Patrick's Day every year, unless of course you want a mop of green leprechauns running through your photos. 

 

A well known and popular spot, the Guthrie Theater near The Stone Arch Bridge also is a warm, color full spot to duck into during your winter engagement session in Minneapolis.

Just a few pointers for your winter engagement session:

1. Dress in layers.  So you can peel when you go inside.

2.  Wear long underwear under your pants and wool socks to stay warm.

3.  Bring fun winter items like bright colored mittens, earmuffs, boots, scarfs and hats to your session.  Treat the winter session like it's a summer one and bring more than one outfit.  Even if it's two different coats.

4.  Be ready to jump into the snow and bring some winter activities like skating, sledding, and snowshoeing into your photos.

5.  Guys should bring lip balm to keep lips moist.

6.  Bring a hair brush to tame that hat hair between outfit changes.

5.  Be prepared to make a donation or pay a fee at some locations.  Some locations also require a permit that must be acquired in advanced.  Check with your location in advance.

Our $375 winter engagement photography sessions usually run about two hours with unlimited outfits.  With your session you will receive a flash drive of edited images with print release.  So you can create fun Save the Dates, invitations and art work.  For those of you not into DIY we do offer design services for save the dates, guest signature books, custom artwork and prints.

Ready to book your engagement photography session with Mark & Stacy of Phodot Photography; then give us a call at 612-685-2046 or email mark@phodot.com.

    

Unveiled Wedding Fair - Pick from the best wedding professionals in Minneapolis

If you are currently in the process of planning a wedding in Minnesota you need to make sure you stop by the Minneapolis Convention Center tomorrow November 2nd, 2014 between noon and 4:00 for Unveiled.  Unveiled is by far one of the best wedding fairs held in the state of Minnesota.  The Wedding Guys produce Unveiled and they hand pick the vendors they allow to participate in the show.  You will simply find the best of the best in wedding photographers, entertainment, DJ's, florists, bakers, catering, photo booths, bridal shops, tailors, transportation etc.  There is also a fashion show that features what's hot and trending in wedding fashion for both women and men.  

Above is the mini flyer we will be passing out at the fair tomorrow.  We will also have more in depth wedding photography information for couples who have their 2015-2016 wedding dates already set.  Believe me it's never too early to get started on your wedding planning especially if you want first pick of venues and vendors.  You don't want to have to book a wedding vendor simply because they are the only one not already booked on your date.

If you are interested in our current wedding photography package information but you can't make the wedding show tomorrow please visit our website phodot.com for more information about us and our wedding photography services.  The next Unveiled wedding fair will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on February 8th, 2015.  Visit  http://unveiledweddingevent.com to purchase tickets to the fair and bridal fashion show.

Pinstripes wedding photography Edina MN

October has become one of the most popular months for Minnesota weddings in recent years.  October 2014 was the first month we booked out this past season and the first wedding we booked for 2015 will also take place in October.  Pictured above at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina is Stephanie and Rob on their October wedding day this year.  Below are some of our favorite photos from their wedding day.    

One of our favorite dresses from this past year; Stephanie wore an Allure Dress from Posh Bridal.  The off-white dress complimented Stephanie's fair skin and light eyes.

    

Although a bit more complicated to tie Rob choose to go with a bow tie.

Above mom helps Stephanie place the veil before the ceremony.  Below Stephanie slips on a bracelet that was her grandmother's.

Weber's Westdale designed the soft yellow and green bouquet that had just a hint of purple.

Rob and Stephanie choose to wait to see one another during their wedding ceremony at St. Victoria's Catholic Church.  They also choose to have the ceremony in the historic chapel at St. Victoria's.  The smaller chapel made the perfect setting for their intimate wedding.  Below Rob watches from the new portion of the church as guests arrive and walk to the chapel.

With all the guests entering the chapel Stephanie and her family waited in the fireside room.  The intimate setting and beautiful light made for some tender moments before the ceremony.  

From the fireside room Stephanie and dad had just a short walk around the corner to the chapel and then down the aisle to Rob.

During the ceremony Stephanie and Rob made sure to take moments here and there to laugh and smile at each other.

After the blessing father announced Stephanie and Rob as Mr. and Mrs. Sass and invited them to kiss for the first time as husband and wife.

Following the ceremony after the formal photos at the altar Stephanie and Rob stepped outside for a few photos in the front courtyard.  We love a dress that flows and spins and Stephanie's dress had cars horns honking in the street as they passed.

From the church we traveled to Pinstripes in Edina for the reception.

 The guests were treated to a wedding cake from Byerly's and a groom's cake.

To keep the reception intimate an Italian dinner was served family style to the tables.  Guests enjoyed getting to know one another as they passed dishes around the table

In keeping with the fall season pumpkins instead of vases held the flowers as the center piece for the tables.  To keep with the color scheme of the wedding ghost pumpkins instead of traditional orange pumpkins were used.

Instead of dancing shoes the bride and groom laced up their bowling shoes for the reception.

With Lou Lou in hand Stephanie, Rob and their family and friends bowled the night away.

All photographs pictured were taken by Minnesota award winning photographers Mark and Stacy Milburn.  For more Phodot wedding photography information please visit phodot.com.

Victoria Minnesota wedding photographer

Above Nicole and Andy stand hand in hand just outside St. Victoria's Catholic Church in Victoria Minnesota.  Phodot Photographer Stacy Milburn captured the photo above.  The day had a bit of a fall chill, but the day was full of sunshine and blue sky.  Below Andy and Nicole each read a love note that the other has written before their reveal.  The brick pillar separated them so they could not see each other but the photographers had the ability to capture them both in the same image.     

For the reveal they traveled out back behind St. Victoria's so that Nicole and Andy could keep the moment private and their own.  Andy waited down the hill for Nicole.

Andy's reaction is amazing as he sees his bride on their wedding day for the first time.

In addition to the traditional photos of the wedding party that were taken at the altar at St. Victoria's we traveled to Excelsior for some outdoor formal and fun wedding photos near the lake.

Andy escorted Nicole's father outside for a private reveal as well.  I love Andy stayed at a distance to view the meeting.  You can see Andy in the distance in the photo below.

Nicole and her dad walk into the church on their way to meet Andy.  Below Andy waits for Nicole to join his side.

Once together Andy and Nicole relax for the ceremony and you can see the joy of the moment take them over.

The ceremony ends with a kiss and Andy and Nicole exit the church. Guests surround the couple as they leave streamers flying.

The wedding party boards the party bus and cocktails are enjoyed.  Photographer Stacy Milburn boards the bus and captures the action.  Mark travels to the reception to capture the space and decor before the guests arrive.

After a few beverages on the bus the wedding party stops at a park for a few fun photos before the wedding reception.  Photographers Mark and Stacy made sure that the day would flow and all the photos that Nicole and Andy requested would be captured by designing a photography timeline for the couple.

Andy and Nicole choose to include family and friends in their wedding party that were full of excitement and fun.

Stacy sent the wedding party back to the bus so that Nicole and Andy could have a few images of just the two of them at the lake.  Mark and Stacy like to set aside at least 45 minutes of alone time with a couple during a wedding day.  They also prefer that the time is split up so that they can capture the couple at different times and locations during the wedding day.

 After a few photos Nicole and Andy are back on the bus and on their way to the Chanhassen Event Center for their reception.  While the wedding party got ready for the grand march Nicole and Andy stayed out of site on the bus and the images below took place.

Above Nicole and Andy arrive at the Chanhassen Event Center all smiles ready for their party.  Below are a few of the details.

The wedding photography competition gets younger and younger every year.  Below Andy and Nicole share their first dance.

If you are interested in booking Mark and Stacy Milburn to photograph your wedding or event please visit phodot.com for more information.