Your wedding photographer is the one person you hire for your wedding who will be spending the majority of the day with you.

Your wedding day. The day that you and your fiance become Mrs. and Mr. until death do you part. The day that you have been planning for months or even years! And you’re going to hire someone to document your entire love story come together with the unity of marriage. And they’ll be there. All. Day. Long.

Aside from whether or not you really LOVE the photos you’re going to get from this photographer (which you should – you’re hiring him/her!!) this person should be able to make you genuinely smile. They should make you feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. I believe that hiring a photographer should be more than just the photos they take. It should be a combination of their talent AND personality that you base your decision on.

By loving your photographer (their good looks (photos) and their charm (personality)) I’m sure you will feel super comfortable with them being around you all day long. And who doesn’t deserve to be comfortable on their wedding day?! :-)

p.s. I don’t care if this is the third time this image has been on the blog – I just love how in LOVE Dan + Kalina are!! And their wedding is only a little over a month away! Hip, hip hooray!!

This morning my car alarm went off on it’s own. Just sitting there, in my parking lot, it started to honk.

The honks were not just any kind of honks. To me, they sounded like “Brr! It’s! So! Cold! Out! Here!”

So I took her out for a drive to warm up. And since I had to go out into the cold (I do not like being cold), I decided to make the trip worthwhile.

I brought along my Mostly Chocolates gift card that I got from Halley for my birthday (thanks, dear!!) and spent most of it in one stop. I got two of everything to share with Lance, but I have a feeling there won’t be two of everything left by the time I see him next! I have already ‘sampled’ the turtle, the caramel and the butter cream chocolates. And I’ve only been back from my outing for an hour. :-)

I’ve already told you how much I love doing engagement sessions for my couples, but now I’d like to show you. Here are my top 25 images from 2010:

Alan + Paige

Andy + Abby

Beau + Lisa

Bryce + Brittany

Nathan + Emily

Dan + Kalina

Dave + Melissa

John + Tiffany

Pat + Mackenzie

Ryan + Annalee

Ryan + Krystal

Not only did I have amazing couples in 2010, I also had awesome wedding parties! I saw so many hugs and laughs and teary-eyed speeches that I realized how special bridesmaids and groomsmen really are.

They’re the bride and groom’s best friends and closest relatives. They are the ones who make the bride and groom laugh all day long and stand as witnesses as they vow to love each other for the rest of their lives.

I want to thank all of the wedding parties I’ve worked with this year. You are the best friends to my couples and you really do add the ‘party’ to the wedding. Thanks also for going along with my different poses, having fun and pretending to laugh at my super lame jokes!

Richard + Erika – 5.21.2010 – St. Thomas More – Brookings SD

Nathan + Emily – 10.9.10 – Stephen, MN

Dave + Melissa – 7.30.2010 – Mitchell, SD

Andy + Abby – 7.10.2010 – Our Lady of the Black Hills – Piedmont, SD

Patrick + Mackenzie – 8.14.2010 – Ellsworth Air Force Base

Bryce + Brittany – 7.31.2010 – Sabin, MN

Beau + Lisa – 8.20.2010 – Washington Pavilion – Sioux Falls, SD

Ryan + Annalee – 7.24.2010 – K Bar S Lodge – Keystone, SD

Ryan + Krystal – 9.25.2010 – Buffalo Ridge Resort – Gary, SD

I have never really thought about the New Year holiday as being one of my favorite. Because really, why shouldn’t it be?

It’s the time of year when I get to make goals and lists and resolutions.

It’s the time of year when I get to organize all my papers to prepare for my meeting with my accountant.

It’s the time of year when I get to re-assess everything I’ve done to try and do better for the next year.

It’s the time of year when I get to look back and remember all the fun places I’ve been and all the great people I’ve worked with!

Without further ado, here are my top twenty-five wedding portraits of 2010!!

Richard + Erika – 5.21.2010 – St. Thomas More – Brookings SD

Dave + Kendra – 5.29.2010 – Dell Rapids, SD

Brandon + Laurie – 9.11.2010 – Buffalo Ridge Resort – Gary, SD

Aaron + Jillian – 6.26.2010 – Cathedral of St. Mary – Fargo, ND

Brian + Barb – 6.5.2010 – Huntimer, SD

Andy + Abby – 7.10.2010 – Our Lady of the Black Hills – Piedmont, SD

Ryan + Annalee – 7.24.2010 – K Bar S Lodge – Keystone, SD

Bryce + Brittany – 7.31.2010 – Sabin, MN

Patrick + Mackenzie – 8.14.2010 – Black Hills Receptions – Rapid City, SD

Beau + Lisa – 8.20.2010 – St. Michael’s – Sioux Falls, SD

John + Tiffany – 10.2.2010 – Wahpeton, ND

Nathan + Emily – 10.9.10 – Stephen, MN