Remember back in the day when I used to second shoot weddings all the time? I just went along for the ride, took pictures of all things details, and taught myself all about different camera settings. It was so relaxing to not have to tell people where to stand or keep a timeline for the day. I just followed along.

I recently had the opportunity to do this again. I can’t check “second shoot for a Rapid City photographer” off my goal list because I shot with Rachel Marthaler. And she’s from Hastings, Minnesota. *sidenote… Why must I be so specific with my lists?! This would have been such a fun way to cross off a goal!!

I first met Rachel at SDSU through a basic photography class. After graduation I found out that we had some mutual friends and interests (such as running a photography business). So we sent emails back and forth “What are your favorite lenses to use?” “Loved your latest wedding you posted!” “We should second shoot for each other sometime, what’s your schedule like?”

We finally found a weekend where we both had a wedding in Sioux Falls – mine on Friday, hers on Saturday. So we both extended our weekends and helped each other out! It was great to have a second point of view at my wedding, but it was SO much fun to kick back, relax and shoot nothing but details the next day!

So here are my favorite detail and candid shots from Rachel’s wedding.

The lovely Rachel, doin’ what she does!! :-)

Grandparents make my heart melt! :-)

And I’m a huge fan of wide-angle ceremony shots!!

And what wedding post would be complete without a self-portrait!?

Rachel is SO much fun to photograph – I had a blast taking her official senior photos today (as opposed to the unofficial ones we took back in May). She’s hilarious, beautiful, super-talented, and she has a great ‘just out of the shower’ hairstyle which makes me super jealous. My hair needs some serious lessons from this girl.

I could have sat and listened to her play harp all day long. Which is why I told her not to play, because I knew I would be there all. day. long.

Rachel- I’m so proud of you that you did this serious look all on your own!!! :-)

Did I mention this girl is gorgeous?! One moment she reminds me of Cindy Crawford, the next it’s Taylor Swift.

Apparently Rachel goes through pointe shoes like nobody’s business. These aren’t even all of them!! Just seeing that many pairs of old shoes makes my toes ache!! And I love shoes!!

Rachel- Thanks so much for having me take your senior photos! And thank your parents for having a great yard to take pictures at! And thank your mom for the brownies!!

I am SOOOO excited to share Beau + Lisa’s wedding with you!! (And Lisa, I know you’re SOOOO excited for me to share them!! :-)) Lisa has been planning her wedding since she was a little girl. I know weddings are a HUGE deal for brides, but oh-my-gosh Lisa, is so adorable!! A few months ago, Lisa and I were planning out the timeline for the day and every other message between us was “I’M SO EXCITED!!!!”  I was then talking to Lisa just the day before the wedding and everything was coming together so well! She was telling me about how the reception hall was all set up, and how she kept sneaking away at her house to look at the dress hanging up in the bedroom and how she wasn’t allowed to put the dress on until the wedding! :-)

This wedding was truly a dream come true!! The ceremony was held at St. Michael’s in Sioux Falls, flowers by Gustaf’s Greenery, and reception at the Washington Pavilion‘s Great Hall Stage and everything was flawless.

Gustaf’s, you’ve done it again!! LOVE the flowers from the wedding!!! :-)

Do I not have the best brides ever?! Seriously, Lisa, this is YOUR day and you’re helping your MOH get ready?! ;-)

I believe this was the point where Lisa said “I actually get to wear my dress!! All day long!! And Beau finally gets to see it!!!”

Sooo many smiles and giggles!!! I love a bride who’s having fun getting ready! :-)

And the tears were flowin’!!

Their first look was so cute! Lisa RAN to Beau. And thankfully I had Rachel with me to get this angle:

A sidenote for future brides – ask if your makeup girl can stay through portraits! Throughout our outdoor photo session, Lisa was getting touched up to prevent any shininess and re-applying lipgloss in between smooches! :-)

Hellooooo wedding party!!

This is Beau. He can’t hold a serious face. :-)

This is Lisa. She and her girls can pull of the sassy cute REALLY well. :-)

This is Beau + Lisa. They like to kiss. :-)

Again, thanks to Rachel for this shot:

Lisa has four brothers, and I just LOVE how her dad adores his little girl!!

Their reception was at the Washington Pavilion on the Great Hall Stage…. GORGEOUS

My lovely assistant for the day, Rachel of Rachel Marthaler Photography!

And of course, me with my even lovelier couple!!

Beau + Lisa, I hope you had a fabulous mini honeymoon!! Rachel and I had SUCH a great time at your wedding and I am SO excited for you two to be married!!

Most people I know consider the weekend to start Friday evening and last through Sunday night. For me, it’s a little different.

On Sunday, I go to church and back up and convert all my photos from the weekend if I haven’t already done so the night before. Sunday evening I relax. Comparable to your Friday night.

Your Monday is my Saturday. While you are back at work, I am finally getting to take a day off. Thankfully, Lance worked his schedule out perfectly this summer so that we BOTH have Mondays as our weekends.

This ‘weekend’ (your Monday) we took a fun little trip to the badlands. We started our day with a tour of the Minuteman II missile site and launch control center. Pretty cool stuff. I had no idea there were so many missiles stationed here during the Cold War!! But then again, I really don’t know much about history. Of any kind. At all.

After our tour we took the Badlands scenic route just a few miles south of I-90. It was SUPER windy, but that didn’t stop us from going on a few scenic walks and taking a few photos:

Our shadows on the floor of the badlands!!

And our real selves at the top!! Our hair has definitely seen better days…

I wanted to tip-toe to the edge of this landing, but it was soooo windy, I was afraid a gust would come up and knock me over the edge!

And the excitement of our trip…… se it?! I didn’t at first.

A bobcat!!!!! I only brought my super wide-angle lens for this trip, so I couldn’t get a close-up of him. Instead, all I have to show is this super-grainy zoomed-in version. Lance said he was really big. Probably 40 pounds. This means nothing to me. I just smile and nod. :-)

So now, back to my ‘week’ – I’ve got a pile of emails to go through, orders to get printed, weddings to edit, packages to mail…. and no motivation to get it done. Helloooo ‘Monday!’ :-)

So I had my first ever slumber party with a client last night and it was SO MUCH FUN!!! I got to Yankton last night and had a great home-made meal followed by a sappy movie (yes, I cried, but so did Kalina, so there!! :-)) and root beer floats! This morning we got up early (but not quite at the break of dawn like Dan suggested) for their engagement photos!!

Kalina was telling her co-workers yesterday that her photographer was coming to stay with her… and she drove all the way from Rapid City!! Her co-workers thought she was pretty special. And she is. We’re pretty much BFF’s now. We met almost a year ago when they came to visit Lance and I out in Rapid City. We went to Deadwood, had supper, and Kalina and I watched Lance and Dan play some slots. A good time was had by all. Fast-forward to May when I photographed Kalina’s sister’s wedding, I got to hang out with Dan and Kalina yet again!! Needless to say, a great time was had by all.

So yeah, we’re pretty tight. ;-)

AND Dan + Kalina have an AWESOME engagement story!! Which makes me love them even more. They’ve been together nearly five years, and they went to look at rings a few months ago and came home overwhelmed and exhausted. Then there was all this wedding planning going on for Erika, so Kalina had pretty much had the idea of engagement rings on the ‘back burner.’ The night of Erika’s wedding, Kalina caught the toss bouquet. Dan was super excited, and Kalina had no idea why.

The next day, they’re getting ready for Richard + Erika’s gift opening and they go out to the garage to set things up. And Dan gets down on his knee!! He wanted her to be able to tell all of her family in person (how great is that!!) and then her DAD drives up to the garage and starts honking!! :-) Meanwhile, Kalina’s mom is inside, totally clueless, and Kalina comes in, crying, and her mom asks “what’s wrong?” and Kalina says “nothing, I’m getting MARRIED!!!!” :-D I’m assuming a lots of hugs and squealing happened, but that’s just my imagination talking.

Okay, enough trying to explain how cool my clients are…. just LOOK at them already!!

If you’re wondering, I pulled out my ‘old school’ action for some of these photos instead of just plain ol’ black and white – they’re planning an antique-y theme for their wedding, so I thought it was only fitting!! :-)

And we drove all over Mt. Marty for this next photo… I think it was worth it! :-)

P.S. Dan, nice work on picking out this ring!!

And I LOVE that they laugh together!!

Dan + Kalina – thanks again for having me over!! And for feeding me! I had such a great time hanging out with you and getting to know you better!! If you’re ever in Rapid again and need a place to stay, you have my number! I can’t wait for your wedding in February!!!