Wine is in hand, Rusty is snuggled in his blankets, Harry is meeting Sally on the TV, and I cannot believe this post is here and done!! Five years, friends!! It all happened five years ago – first client booked, first engagement session, first business card printed, first tiny steps of a blog was created…I feel like I was such a baby starting out. I feel so old now and that the past five years was from another life! But here we are and I’m about to show you my absolute favorites from the years’ engagement photos. You may be able to tell that as the years went on, my style became more consistent and let’s be honest, the photo quality definitely improved. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing when we first met with Nate & Carly or Emily & Dan all those years ago. But they trusted me and they gave me the first leaps of faith in this business and I am incredibly grateful for them. They didn’t have to book a photographer with zero experience and a tiny portfolio consisting of photos of my nephew and some flowers. But they did. They gave me my head start. I still remember getting the email from Tegan after she had seen photos of Nate and Carly’s session. I remember being on the edge of my seat waiting to hear back to see if they would want to meet with me. I remember getting the phone call from Hannah’s mom, asking about photos for Sean and Hannah as a wedding gift. I remember being completely shocked and thrilled that clients who barely knew me wanted to have drinks and celebrate my graduation after their engagement session (Clayton and Kristi – xoxoo!!).

(And now I find myself still watching Harry meet Sally (they’re dancing on NYE – sigh) and tiny tears are filling my eyes. So I’ll halt for now on the emotional side of this post. Just for you and my poor eyeballs. :))

Just a disclaimer before you begin: there are some engagement sessions that have more favorites than others. Of course this is nothing personal (please don’t think that!! You’re all the bee’s knees!!) – some sessions the light was an absolute dream, or some sessions my posing was just spot on, or some sessions the outfits and the colors just all tied together so nicely, or some photos just have a really good memory behind it. For any of those reasons and more, these are the photos where I see them and think YES!!! I probably squealed when I took these photos, did a happy dance, and find my eyeballs drawn to them whenever I look through photos.

I hope you enjoy going through this visual timeline of my little business – soon I’ll post the weddings and that blog post will be quite emotional (on my part, maybe yours, but for sure mine). So I’ll save the rest of the mushy good stuff for that post and I’ll let you enjoy these beautiful people and their beautiful photos right meow! Enjoy my dearest friends!! :) xoxoxo

First session. EVER.

This is still one of my favorite sessions. The experience alone of wandering around Taylor’s Falls was such a great memory, let alone these two.

Friends from college put their faith in me, too. And now these two have a baby!! (As do many of my wonderful couples! Love seeing them all in these different stages of life.)

Loved the idea of a camping theme to their session. And I loved shooting in this park, but now it’s there no more. :(

STILL one of my all-time favorites.

And this one. I felt like I hit the jackpot after going through their photos that night. :)

Oh I love these two!! We did my dream engagement session during Christmastime in Rice Park. And then had drinks for graduation celebration. :)

Our first sunrise session!!

Another great memory, riding around on Kyle’s family farm chasing the sunset. As I keep looking through these, it still amazes me how far these couples have gone in life. So happy for them all!

My first proposal!! Also, this needs to be cleared up: this is Paul’s beautiful photo and it was the one published in The Knot!! He rarely gets credit for his work so I’m putting it out there. :) Also, another photo is being published in Minnesota Bride this fall from Tom & Dana’s wedding – his photo again. (I should have changed it to Paul Tran Photography…:))

These two trusted me with my odd idea of going to a pumpkin patch, and it’s still one of my favorite sessions. (And they’re expecting their first baby soon!! So excited for them!! :))

Even a classmate from way back in Kindergarten had me photograph his wedding!! I’m still so honored. :)

Oh my goodness. I don’t think we’ve ever had dreamier lighting. Seriously. Ever. We went waaaaaay over an hour for this session and really, can you blame me?! Ahh! Love these two!!

This was my first session after my surgery and these two were such troopers for me. They even got in the water with me (freezing by the way) and let me walk slow and take rests.  Love these two. :)

This session is a close second to Kailee and Kerby’s with that gorgeous sun. Photographers: go to Afton State Park!! Follow the sun!

WINSTON!!!!

Ahhh!!! That light! Those colors!!

Such an important day for me (and them, of course :)). I found the rolling hills I had been dying to find for years.

Our second proposal!! My flash was supposed to go off right behind them to give them a glow, but because of the below freezing temperatures the batteries died within the time I tested it to them walking out on the path (about 3 minutes). Thank goodness for twinkle lights. :)

My dream session on Summit Avenue!!!

Our second sunrise session!!

Mixed in with a coffee shop session – something I’d always wanted to do!

Oh I love these two. Seriously.

The colors!! The giggling!! Ahh!!

And the twinkle lights!! And ruby red lipstick!!

My last engagement session (which I never posted – so surprise!!!). Our wonderful friends, Diller and Kristin who are GETTING MARRIED SATURDAY!! In California!! :) :) :) xoxoxo

And that is a WRAP. Did you smile? Laugh? Feel nostalgic? Me too. :) Happy Monday, friends. xoxo