Catherine and Chris were our first ever Sunday wedding.  They were married on Labor Day weekend 2010 at Green Lake Bible camp in Spicer, MN and the weather was finally starting to cool off.  The day started with a “train” challenge.  The train of the dress was proving to be a bit complicated but made for fun photos as every bridesmaid and woman present put their heads together to figure it out!  The D-R-A-M-A is from the sermon.  Catherine’s Dad gave the sermon and described an acronym about marriage.  At the end of the sermon, he stated that if we hadn’t put it together yet, the letters spelled “DRAMA” and it’s relation to marriage.  It was the most clever sermon I’ve heard and fun and lighthearted coming from Dad!  Congratulations Catherine and Chris!

Posted: Thursday, October 27th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
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What photographer is not going to have a great day when their bride walks in proclaiming “My Dream Team is here!”?  Yes, it was a good day.  Heidi and Jimmy were married on a beautiful day in September 2010.  There was so much attention to detail and some of my favorite colors decorated the day.  The bride had fantastic personality (which shines in photos!) right down to her awesome orange shoes. I give Heidi and Jimmy both big kudos for enduring the relentless mosquitoes throughout all day long.  As Heidi said during the evening “I’m taking one for the team.  Mosquito bites are temporary but photos are forever”.  Now THAT is a fantastic bride and groom!

*Side Note- Peter, the other half of the Dream Team, recently asked me the motivation behind blogging weddings from 2010.  I told him it was my way of honoring those couples who trusted us to capture a day that was so important to them and that I intend to honor every couple.  So, regardless of how much time I let slip by between blogs, every couple deserves to be recognized.

Both Heidi and Jimmy are very thoughtful people.  Jimmy wrote Heidi a letter that he presented at their first look.

One of my most favorite photos of the day….

The flower girl stealing the show…

Let the fun begin!  They truly made it a “party bus”!

Something funny happened on the way to the reception.  The bus was stopped by an interesting looking couple parked in the middle of the road with their old Chevy truck.  They hopped on board the bus and stole the bride and groom right before our eyes!  Of course, they happened to be long-time family friends.  This is one of the most unique events that have happened at a wedding and great fun for us all.  I love how Heidi and Jimmy just went with the flow and enjoyed every minute!

Jimmy loves pie.  This pie was courtesy of his aunt.

Posted: Sunday, October 16th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
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Although we shoot quite a few weddings in the St. Cloud area, we also travel.  Jackie and Jason were married in the Twin Cities area on a gorgeous August afternoon.  They were recommended to us through a mutual friend and co-worker (thank you Tricia!).  We actually photograph most of our weddings through recommendations from friends and former brides and grooms.  Our motto is the best advertising is through word of mouth.

Jackie and Jason are Harley enthusiasts and a very fun couple.  They have been the only couple this far that has had a fast song for their first dance (which showed a lot of personality!) and knew how to rock the dance floor.  Congrats Jackie and Jason!

Posted: Sunday, October 9th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
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Even after all of this time, so many things stand out about Holly and Nicks wedding day.  The day started with their meeting in Munsinger Gardens in St. Cloud, MN.  Holly’s father had passed away and Nick thoughtfully gave Holly a locket with her fathers picture inside (tears!).  They also had one of the largest number of attendants that we’ve photographed.  This made for a lot of fun photos.  And one of the highlights of the day for me was Bella, their Chiuaua.  I was in love with Bella at first sight!

Posted: Thursday, September 29th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
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Yes, it has been many, many months since I have blogged.  As I have said before, I am not the worlds best blogger.  But the need to blog the wonderful couples and their extraordinary days keep coming back to me.  I plan in the near future to have a “blogging blitz” where I will update the 2010 weddings every few days and then highlight this seasons weddings.  One thing about having not blogged for so long is that I, and you, will get to see how far we’ve come with our style and what we do behind and in front of the camera.  So, without further ado, this blog is dedicated to Becca and Barney.  A fun, energetic couple who’s easy going spirits made this a special treat for us!

The above photo and the following two photos are the story behind Becca’s baby blanket.  Becca’s aunt always teased her that she loved her baby blanket so much that she would get married with it.  So Becca attached it under her dress and surprised her aunt!

The theme for the wedding was John Deere (and John Deere green).  There was such attention to detail.  Right down to her sash and sunglasses!

They’re ride from the church to the reception was a trailer ride complete with hay, laughing and a photo stop on a random gravel road.  I love gravel roads.  If you find the right one, you can be there for an hour with no one driving by!

Keeping with the John Deere theme, they had an old childhood tractor that guests had to drive if they wanted them to kiss.  Many guests rode the tractor.  Yes, including me.  After much chanting. (Photo not included )

Posted: Friday, September 16th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
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Emily and James are extraordinary people and make for an extraordinary couple.  They have that Hollywood kind of love.  If you spend just five minutes with them you can tell they “spark”.  They’re playful with each other, thoughtful, energetic, and madly, deeply in love.  Their day really was a fairytale and they truly never stopped smiling.  You could feel the love all around not just between Emily and James but with friends and family too.  This is why the first three are the special moments between Emily and her mom when Emily was having her veil put in.  You can tell from the photos how happy her mother was for her.

At the park…

Emily and James were so natural in front of the camera.  We merely sat them in the grass and they did the rest…

Fun at the park…

This next series of photos demonstrates what I mean by their never-ending smiles.  How can one not love this?

Their first dance…

And, I can’t help but share these last four photos of two guests living it up on the dance floor…

In need of a short break…

And then right back at it again…

Posted: Sunday, January 23rd, 2011 at 10:02 pm
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Charity and Joe were married this past July on a beautiful day right outside of the St. Cloud area.  Rain threatening early, cleared for the pre-wedding photos at a county park, a brief rain shower on our way back to the park and then a beautiful evening.  The evening was so gorgeous and that is the focus of many of the photos below.  The first is a stunning photo of Charity where the sun peaked just right and light was bouncing everywhere!  I love using natural light and am so glad this is a major part of how we do what we do.

One of the beautiful flower girls…

Ok, this ring bearer was a-dorable (if you can’t tell).  I was told in our consultation meeting with Charity and Joe that he would do anything for candy.  So, what do I do?  Yep, I bring candy.  I also brought candy for the flower girls but I didn’t get everyone the same thing (one would think that, as a parent, I would know better).  He was so kind that he traded his with a flower girl who wanted what he had.  So sweet.  Then, at the dance, he grabbed me and pulled me out on the dance floor.  I was completely touched and happy to put on my dancing shoes!

Charity’s sister went to great lengths to make sure her reception was just right.  Her sister made these cards with a variety of sayings that were at each table.  I thought it was a great touch.

I love this photo of the cake because of the light and depth of field.

Ok, this last photo is really just for me.  I am still at a mystery as to what is inside the red package.  It was wrapped like a tall, skinny house (it had a peak) with the little steps going up to the peak.  I see Joe quite a bit but I always forget to ask him what was in it.  Any guesses?

Posted: Thursday, January 20th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
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Katie and Brian were married this past July.  A very hot, sunny July day.  Or maybe that was because we had such a fun time playing football at St. John’s University!  I have to admit, when Katie told me she wanted pictures of them on the footballl field at SJU I thought that meant posed photos (they met a Johnnie-Tommie football game).  So when we talked on the football field that they wanted to play football, I thought “I’m in!”.  A wonderful gentlemen with his two children lent us his football and the game began.  It is one of the most memorable and fun moments for me this past year.  Wonderful people and lasting, fun memories!

Yes, that is Katie running at full speed in her wedding dress!

Both Katie and Brian are extremely photogenic.  This series of photos captures a formal session we did before the ceremony and an evening session before the dance.

If I could choose one photo from the ceremony to share (and only one) this is without a doubt, THE one.  Can you guess what was happening in this scene?

And who can forget the details…

In this shot Katie and Brian are enjoying a movie we made for them telling the story of their relationship….

And, lastly, three shots of their dance…..

I would like to thank Mulligans in Sartell, MN for their beautiful scenery, great food and wonderful staff.  I highly recommend brides and grooms look into their location.  The surroundings and people are excellent!

Stay tuned for Charity and Joe who also were married in July (one day before May 2011 I will be caught up with blogging)!

Posted: Saturday, January 15th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
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I’m back!  Whew- that was a long break! When a photographer is in the thick of the season, its hard to remember to blog.  But, it’s January and it is time to play catch up!  CK Photography had 19 weddings in 2010 and we shot right up until Christmas time.  We have been so blessed to share our love of photography with so many couples and have loved every opportunity to create (actually capture) the special stories of each wedding day.  Ashley and Dave were married on June 19th and it was located in the St. Cloud and Sartell, MN area.  The weather offered us a number of opportunities to take advantage of the outdoors and the church was amazing in it’s vastness.  Ashley and Dave were fun and I fondly recall how affectionate and loving Dave was with his most beautiful bride.

At their first meeting…

Uploading a Photo to FaceBook…

I love how she’s holding the train…

St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud, MN

This look during the ceremony is so touching…

The Bridal Party at Blackberry Ridge in Sartell, MN

I couldn’t resist this Flower Girl’s cute smile!

I would be lying if I said that I didn’t look forward to cake…

The Bride and Groom have three children.  One of their boys willingly helped us with this shot of the rings…

The first dance…

Posted: Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
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Sonya and Dave chose us as their wedding photographer for their June 19th wedding after their co-workers encouraged them to get in touch with us (thank you Cindy and Chris!).  We had a good time getting to know them and designing a custom designed slide show for their wedding reception (if you are a future bride and groom, be sure to ask us about our slide shows and movies!).  Their wedding day called for being flexible since it began to rain just as we were starting our formal photography time.  We took advantage of a covered entry way and natural lighting from large open windows in the gathering area of the church (Seven Dolars Church in Avon, MN is gorgeous!).  You can see from the first three shots how we used natural light in front of windows to create great portraits!  Sonya and Dave were flexible and we went outdoors when the rain let up.

We loved the detail that went into their day and how they used their engagement photos to decorate their dinner and guest book tables.  I get giddy when I see how couples use their portraits.  Thanks for a fun day Sonya and Dave!

I love this shot!  The red brick of the church really helps this portrait pop!

In this photo, the wind caught Sonya’s dress just as I clicked the shutter button.  I love the way it filled out her train!

This bridal party photograph used a combination of window and on-camera flash.  I liked being able to have some people sit and stand in this shot.

Wedding reception details…

Thank you to our new macro lens for helping us get this great shot of the rings!

I love how much fun they were having when we went outside in the evening for a few final portraits.  I love it when couples are playful and just enjoying the moment!

Posted: Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
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