Bryce and Brittany are the luckiest people in the world – and they are not afraid to tell you!! :-) They love each other so much – they couldn’t stand living long-distance anymore, he proposed after dating for 8 months and they are planning a wedding for July!!

I was first contacted by Brittany back in February and I FINALLY got to meet her and Bryce on Saturday at his parents’ farm in Minnesota. I usually like to be a little early for first-time, far-away sessions. You know, just in case I have car trouble, or my gps tells me to turn the wrong way… :-) This time I was embarrassingly early. Like an hour and fifteen minutes early. Darn time zone change!! I vow to never let this happen to me again! Bryce and Brittany were troopers and got there as soon as they could and I got time to scope out the farm and find a few spots away from the crazy-wicked wind!

Can anyone guess what kind of green this is?? :-)

Bryce + Brittany – It was SO great to finally meet you! And thanks for not making me paste Brad + Angelina over your faces! ;-)

I have been looking forward to this day all winter long – the day wedding season starts!! Also known as my summer weight-lifting program (camera bags are heavy)! :-) Richard + Erika set the bar high for this season and I am SO excited to share their beautiful Brookings wedding with you!! They got married at St. Thomas More and their reception was at the Old Sanctuary and everything was decorated soooo well!! The weather was perfect, the ceremony was a tear-jerker, and now Richard and Erika are finally MARRIED!!

I showed up and all the girls were with Erika helping her get ready and oohing and ahhing over her hair, her makeup, her dress, her glow, the sparkle in her eyes!!

Erika with her sister and mom – aren’t their smiles just so contagious?! :-)

One last look in the mirror before seeing Richard for their first look!!

Richard’s dad helping straighten his tie… “Drawdy men always look good.”

And this is why I LOVE first looks!!!!!!!! Could Richard be any more excited?!!

And then there’s the uncontrollable hugging….

… and kissing …

… and more hugging …

… and I simply adore how Richard can’t keep his eyes off Erika!!

By choosing to see each other before the ceremony, we got lots of time for photos of just the two of them!!

If you’re a fan of studio lb on facebook, you’ve seen this one:

Not a dry eye in the church…

Final blessing:

mr. + mrs. drawdy!!

What did I tell you? AMAZING details!!

the end. :-)

Richard + Erika, I hope you’re having an awesome time at the Twins game and enjoy the rest of your honeymoon!! It is so rewarding for me to photograph couples who are so in love, and you two are what every couple should aspire to be. I know these next tidbits are borrowed from Kalina and Becka, but keep doing all you do together, and keep loving each other more and more each day! You guys are so amazing and I feel so blessed to have been a part of your wedding!! Just the way you two look at each other makes my heart melt!

I am so blessed to get the clients that I do! Sometimes I feel downright spoiled. I had such a great time with Ryan + Annalee last night, I felt like I was meeting up with old friends. I made a fool out of myself, they laughed at me, we chatted about small-town living and somehow I ended up telling them my entire life story. It wasn’t until I was driving home from the session that I realized I forgot to ask how THEY met! Hello?! Isn’t that my job?! I DO remember Annalee telling me that they had been dating for three years before he proposed on top of Harney Peak!! Say it with me now, *awww*!

Hello, puppies!!!! Meet Ryan + Annalee’s family:

Ryan + Annalee – thanks for meeting me last night! I’m SO glad we jumped at the chance of perfect weather!! :-) I can’t wait for your wedding in July!

I must admit, I work with some pretty gorgeous girls at the coffee shop!! Rachel agreed to do a fun, senior portrait style, photo shoot with me yesterday – I was so excited to be taking photos that I didn’t care about the gusting wind and threatening sprinkles!! Move over yucky weather, I want to take some pretty pictures!!

Thanks again, Rachel for being my model. :-)

Class of 2011 – get excited for senior pictures because I am ready!!

She had been to the coffee shop before – I remembered her name. She asked if I played volleyball because she was looking for someone to play with or go antiquing with. I told her I would go antiquing, but I’m not very agile on the volleyball court.

We made dates, we rescheduled dates, we cancelled dates and FINALLY, on Friday, we had ice cream. And it was fabulous.

And then I made her model for me so I could try out my new lens. And practice with an old one. Isn’t she cute?

p.s. I’ve decided I LOVE backlighting.

The first three are with my 16-35mm lens.

And the next three are with my new 85mm lens!!