I Got My Photos Taken By A Stranger & This Is What I Learned | Castle Rock, Sedona

Marcus and I had planned our trip out West to AZ for Christmas with his family! It was a well needed vacation and long story short I ended up getting my heart set on Marcus & I getting our photos taken while we were there on a day that was just us two. We decided on Castle Rock in Sedona Arizona. It looked instagram worthy enough to give a try! As a photographer who asks people to do this all the time this is what I found out from my experience:

1) Short Notice. The original photographer we were going to be working with backed down last minute so it was 2 to 3 weeks before the day we wanted to shoot when I started looking for photographers in Phoenix/Sedona to capture the look I really wanted for Marcus and I. I was scrolling on Instagram for ...I'll admit hours searching for the right one. It being right in between holidays I got rejection email after rejection email from at least 7-8 different photographers before finding one that was open and available the day we needed. The rejection was real! I felt so bad for my brides who have to go through this type of thing!

2) Trying to find something to wear is a pain. I never really felt the weight of worrying of what to wear to a photoshoot until this moment. I have tried giving my brides helpful tips and things to do and just encouraging them to feel themselves. When it came to finding outfits for my shoot. I was SO nervous because I just wanted to look like a stinking magic fairy! Not quiet but I wanted it to look amazing, which was harder on my nerves. I knew we would be hiking so I wanted to get something casual and easy to hike in. That was the first outfit. I had a dress I got for our Anniversary Dinner which I thought was magical; that dress I was super excited about. ( lulu's maroon Maxi dress that made me feel like a princess )

Dressing Marcus was easy. I ended up getting a sweater for the shoot and a blue leather jacket for the dress. But the anxiety of finding the clothes that was JUST RIGHT was REAL!

Girls, I feel you.

3) Nervous first date vibes before the shoot. I have not been on a first date in a long time. I have gladly been happily taken with Marcus for many years. BUT in my own business I meet with couple all the time on coffee dates and I always refer to them as first dates. We are just getting to know each other and the same kind of worry crept in to our photo session. I didn’t know if we would like the photographer or if it would be just awkward the whole time. It had me more nervous because I just wanted it to go well and end up with photos I loved?! That is a rational request right? SO the whole day of hours leading up to our shoot I was nervous.

4) It is like being on a date with your other half. My favorite part of the shoot was just joking around with Marcus, while our photographer Abby took photos. I was really surprised how much I actually enjoyed all the nervous being taken away because I had only eyes for Marcus. He just made this time together in a new place feel fun.

5) I'm out of shape it it was worth it. Holy Moly I was most excited for the photos at the TOP of Castle Rock. In our emails our photographer said there would be a bit of a hike, which I thought would be easy peasy! NOPE ! Marcus and I just proved how out of shape we were as we hiked a very steep rock to the top. I felt so bad for dragging the poor photographer down by a lot but I am glad we did it. No matter how huffy puffy we were. The top of Castle Rock was just breathe taking. We were able to spend a very windy time up there and enjoy the sunset. The Lord provided such a beautiful sunset for us it made all the hiking worth it.

6) The waiting game is strong. So after we made it back down the giant rock, our photographer gave us a time frame of 1 to 2 weeks to get our photos back. ……… I heard that I promise. I will be 100% honest in saying I checked my email about 5 -6 times a day for 2 weeks. Was it very productive? No. Was I being very impatient? Yes, yes I was. Waiting was SO hard. It made me understand how important little things I do in my business to try to lessen this blow for wait time for my couples!

7) Finally getting your photos. I followed my own rules and waited to look at them with Marcus. We sat in our bed and went through them on the tablet. Some of the photos were exactly what I was hoping we would get. I love seeing Marcus smiling face and having a new background on my phone and posting all over the place. Over all I am really glad we were able to have this experience together.

I finally feel like I understand a good much better what my couples go through when they are in the process of book me. It gave my a complete different perspective being on the other side of the camera lens!

All Photos on this personal post were shot by Abby Quaranta Photography

Van Dusen Mansion Wedding Photography | Carlee & Brian | Minneapolis Wedding Photographer

One of my favorite locations from last summer was at the Van dusen Mansion in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I had the pleasure of shooting with Gina Zeidler for Carlee and Brian wedding day!

The day was sunny and shining reflecting the attitudes and joy of this bride and groom! The girls got ready in the upper rooms of this stunning victorian style mansion, while the boys relaxed downstairs with the tv running and the pool table entertaining. The bride sent us down to deliver her gift to her groom and oh my goodness it was more of 18 gifts. I loved what Carlee did, all the gifts that she gave him were a nod to one moment or the other in their relationship, giving brian a walk down memory lane right before his walk down the aisle. So ROMANTIC! With all the finishing touches and slipped into her Kate Spade Shoes she had her first first look with the man she grew up loving, her dad. He just entranced with her bridal beauty and it was so precious to witness them seeing each other for the first time that day.

From there we ventured down stairs and out to the front to have a second first look with her groom. When he turned they were adorably giddy and just captivated by each other. From there we jumped on the party bus to do some more photos downtown Minneapolis. The views with the minneapolis bridge in the background are some of my favorites from the day.

When we got back Carlee had one more surprise up her sleeve, She added an attached ballgown to her dress.

The ceremony took place in the courtyard outside while surrounded by friends and family.

After the I do's was followed by party all night and a cigar bar for all!

Please enjoy Carlee and brian's beautiful Van Dusen Mansion wedding.

Interstate State Park Engagement Photography | Becca & Scott | Taylor Falls Engagement Photographer

Do you know Becca & Scott? We had done a session a couple of years ago which is still to-date the coldest shoot I have ever done. We laughed about it this past weekend at their ENGAGEMENT SESSION. I could not have been more excited to re-shoot these high school sweethearts years later. The meet in high school and stuck it through, something that not many do.
Scott told me he was going to pop the question when he visited Becca for Thanksgiving. For her last semester in college Becca could not be more done! Scott had a plan, after work take Becca to a beautiful waterfall and make his girl his fiance in one simple question! Easy Peasy right? Well, since Becca was not in on the plan she made other plans. Not seeing any need to rush, she made some time to have Scott meet her work family.

Since the plan was to prose at sunset in front of a waterfall ( can you get more romantic than that?) it was a little darker than Scott anticipated so they drove past his desired location and it took a couple of trys before finding it again. As Scott was desperately looking for the right turn to the said waterfall, Becca connected the dots and started to make suggestions of pretty spots along the way.

They finally made it and Scott started to lay his heart out to Becca; he was in the middle of his proposal when Becca asked if he was gonna get down on his knee! He assured her that he was going to but he was going to finish first. Well he got through it and down on one knee and asked his best friend to marry him. She of course said YES and couldn't look at anything else but her new shiny friend sitting on her hand all the way back.

They will be continuing to choose each other next year for their late summer wedding! SO EXCITED! Please enjoy a small preview of their engagement session last weekend. Didn't they rock it?!