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 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!

Another couple getting married this summer – Dave + Melissa will be tying the knot in Mitchell this July!! They met in college at a dance, and although Melissa was a bit hesitant at first Dave kept pursuing her and look where it got them!! :-)

Congrats on your engagement, you two! I can’t wait to see you again in just a few months!

Just this weekend I met up with Andy + Abby to book their wedding and set up some engagement photos. Turns out Andy is on active duty and is being sent overseas this Saturday!!! He won’t be back home much before the wedding, and last night was PERFECT timing for an engagement session. Sixty to seventy degrees in March? Yes, please! Who needs California when you’ve got the Black Hills?? :-)

I posted a few sneak peek images over on my facebook fan page, but here are ALL of my favorites! These two are genuinely happy and in love and they show it off beautifully!!

I pretty much jumped for joy when Abby stepped out of the car and I saw her fabulous SHOES!!!

Andy + Abby – I hope you enjoy these next few days with each other! Safe travels Andy, and I’ll see you both in July!! :-)

You might know that I love to take photos. You also might know that I love to make lists (more list-making to come…I’m making a 101 in 1,001 list). Today’s list is my top ten favorite images from 2009. With commentary. Enjoy!

10. Eric + Jen – my first referred wedding of 2009. They got my name from a friend of a friend and they. Were. Wonderful! And quite photogenic, might I add. :-)

9. Joel + Andi are just simply adorable (and now expecting a baby, who I’m sure will also be adorable!!). When they showed up for photos and Joel was wearing a t-shirt with a penguin holding a martini, I was worried. I thought “Oh no, he doesn’t care about photos!!” Then later I realized that what is most important to them is their relationship, and that is what really shines through in this image – not the t-shirt he’s wearing. :-)

8. Simplicity. ‘Nuff said.

7. This wasn’t even one of my weddings, I was just second shooting with my friend Samantha, but I LOVE beauty mixed with grunge.

6. Chris + Amy – the phrase “Live, love, laugh” comes to mind whenever I think of them.

5. Jael + Brian – seriously, could anyone have picked a better time/location to get married?

4. Sarah and her dad, before they walked down the aisle, shared the sweetest looks.

3. Jeff + Bethany – I still can’t believe how awesome the weather was for their November 14th wedding…

2. Bill + Jacqueline – There was not one single bad photo from their portraits – they definitely knew how to rock it!

1. Josh + Tammy – my very first outdoor wedding. Priceless.

Thanks to all my wonderful clients – you made my dream of becoming a wedding photographer come true because you had faith in me. This was my first summer being a full-time, self-employed wedding photographer and I loved every minute of it! I pray that all of you are enjoying your first few months of marriage (sorry, Chris + Amy, you have to wait until June to enjoy married life) and that 2010 treats you well!!

-Laura