Shelley Paulson Photography Blog
  • January25th

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    Minnesotans like to talk about the weather, and I’m no exception. Boy, did we Minnesotans have a lot to talk about this summer and fall! Some days, I feel like I should have minored in meteorology, because I am pretty much at the mercy of weather from May to November every year.

    The week of this session, was one of those times when I was particularly tuned into the forecast. We were scheduled for Thursday, but it was supposed to be crazy windy, and I am not a fan of working with hair or horses in high wind. So the morning of the session, I called Christine, and asked if we could move it up a day. It was a scramble for her and her beautiful family to get the horses and themselves ready, but were all so glad we did – we had one of the nicest days of the entire year for this session and the next day was terrible. It pays to be flexible!

    Aside from the beautiful subjects, perfect weather and beautiful light, the farm where the Tanks board their horses was ablaze in autumn color. I was one happy photographer!

    One of my favorite things about this session is a friendship that has started between Christine and I. We work out at the same gym and have enjoyed working out together and long coffee chats for several months now. She keeps me motivated and I’m so grateful to finally have a friend who lives in my community and with whom I have so much in common. :)

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    Chris’ daughter Peyton and her horse Red have a very sweet bond. This is a one person horse and it’s clear that person is Peyton is that person.

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    This cute moment between Morgan and Cervesa made us all laugh!

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    My favorite part is Morgan’s smile!

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    Jon makes a great cowboy. :)

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    I love Cervesa’s palomino coloring.

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    Red is a descendant of “Secretariat”.

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  • January12th

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    This adorable couple are getting married this Saturday! We have just a teensy bit of snow on the ground now, and are hopeful for just a little bit more white to make their winter wedding dream come true. I mean, who would have guessed that on January 14th, in Minnesota, there’s wouldn’t be snow on the ground? ;)

    Nate and Liza are high school sweethearts and it shows. They have a warmth and comfort level with each other that made my job easy. He is a Minnesota Twins Minor League player and she is an events and publicity coordinator for a marketing firm. These two are going places and the strength of their relationship will ensure they go there hand-in-hand. I am super excited to be a part of their wedding in just two days!

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    I have a ‘thing’ for crinkled nose laughter!

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  • January10th

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    I think my first conversation with Kristen went something like this:

    Kristen: I’m getting married on October 1, 2011 at a coffee shop. It’s the Dunn Bros in Eden Prairie that is in an old, historic home – the Smith Douglas More House. We’re going to make a lot of the decor ourselves and just really want to have a nice, relaxed day with friends and family.

    Shelley: You had me at coffee shop.

    If you know me on a personal level at all, you know I have a passion for coffee. I love coffee. Coffee shops. Coffee mugs. I use my Tassimo coffee maker every day and love to make lattes and use a variety of flavored syrups (sugar free, of course) to create different flavors. So the idea of a wedding at a coffee shop made me giddy. The Smith Douglas More House is a beautiful, intimate venue and while they are new to hosting weddings, Kristen told me they were great to work with.

    Kristen and Ryan and both photographers. Kristen is an assistant to one of my friends in the industry, and also photographs weddings. Ryan is a commercial photographer. I am always really honored, and a tad bit nervous, when photographers hire me to document their wedding day. I feel a little extra pressure to do a good job. But once I got going, I felt that Kristen and Ryan had more than met their goal of having a nice, relaxed day, and I enjoyed it immensely.

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    It’s interesting, this is the second time that I had a bride stand by a window for a few portraits, and she broke down in tears. The first was Phil and Becky’s Wedding on the Shores of St. Andrew. If I were to guess why this happens, it might be because it’s the first time the bride has a few moments, after getting into her gown, to soak in the reality of what is about to happen. Either way, I keep clicking, both times through tears.

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    Lots of tissues were needed this day. :)

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    Sweet time of prayer before the ceremony. I made my shots, then left them for a little time alone.

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    This little flower girl was so enthusiastic, she ran down the aisle!

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    Dad was teary too!

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    For their unity ceremony, Ryan and Kristen took a three stranded cord and braided it together. “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

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    Mmmm, lots of different kinds of cupcakes. :)

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    This was their guestbook, it was a piece of art made of blocks of wood that they had people sign. Someone had a question about it, so Kristen sent me this info:
    “Ryan made it from scrap pieces of wood and stained, sanded, and glued each one. It is now hanging as a wall mural at our place. If they are interested in doing one I am sure Ryan could give some advice on what kind of stain and finish to use so people can write on it without it bleeding into the wood.”

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    Lefty! Just like me! We write upside down to get the slant right. :)

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    At the end, there might have been some celebratory cigar smoking.

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