Saturday, September 30, 2017

Minneapolis Engagement - Midwest Wedding Photographer


Minneapolis couple gets married in Sioux City, Iowa

Minneapolis couple gets married in Sioux City, Iowa

Minneapolis couple gets married in Sioux City, Iowa


Minneapolis couple gets married in Sioux City, Iowa



Today is a very special day for this adorable couple! Shayli and Paul are getting married in their hometown of Sioux City, Iowa and Impressions Photography will be there to capture every moment of this incredible celebration! 

We have been looking forward to capturing this day since we first met Shayli and Paul back in 2016. The couple hired us to photograph both their wedding day and their engagement pictures. For their engagement photographs we met them in Minneapolis and took advantage of a great neighborhood near where they currently live. The architecture and the landscape we found in Minneapolis definitely were a treat to work with... oh and then Shayli and Paul... both so adorable and so very in love, capturing the romance was just simple.

And now finally their wedding day is here! Our gear is all packed and we are ready to photograph and celebrate these two sweethearts! Lots of wedding pictures coming very soon. Be sure and check back and see what amazingness today brings when these two say "I do"!!







Wednesday, September 27, 2017

50 Weddings Project - Wedding Photography


Checking in from 35,000 feet! I'm in the air, sipping champagne in first class and comfortably spread out working on a super glamorous project. Ha! Just dreaming.... Cramped in coach drinking an unknown beverage that they referred to as "coffee" thumbing this blog post on my phone while my elbows are in some yoga-like pose pressed into my sides. Thought it would be a good time for a 50 Weddings Project update....Because let's be honest, if I'm not questioning why I started this project now, it's safe to say I'm committed to it!! 

If you're not familiar with the project, it was an idea I had a few years back to combine my two loves, travel and wedding photography. I'm slowly but surely making my way around the country attempting to photograph a wedding in every state. I've just checked Massachusetts off the list and I'm very excited to be heading to Texas this winter. As a Florida wedding photographer most of the weddings I have photographed have been destination weddings, so when I find myself in New England or over on the west coast I can't help but notice how completely different each region celebrates weddings. Foods, customs, decorations, even the timeline for how the day unfolds are all different. Of course with the one constant, love! So if you're planning your Illinois wedding or you are helping a friend plan for Oregon, count me in! I'm hoping to celebrate with a few more couples and add even more states to the list soon! Check out the full list of states on the Impressions Photography website, I'm only half way there, many more to go!!! 

So traveling on I go. I'll be in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Iowa and Florida over the next month (and tentatively squeezing in Philadelphia). A few layovers will have my feet in some other cities and I imagine I'll find myself in Nebraska and South Dakota at some point too because who doesn't randomly end up there from time to time (my Sioux City friends understand). I'm always happy to offer wedding consultations, engagement pictures or just to catch up while I'm on the road. Message me if you want to get together!!! Till then.... Signing off from the sky! ✈️

chicago engagemetn pictures for 50 weddings project
Chelsi & Dave - helping to check Texas off the list with their wedding this winter!

Monday, September 18, 2017

Sioux City Wedding - Iowa Photographer


backyard wedding in Sioux City
backyard wedding in Sioux City
backyard wedding in Sioux City


This intimate backyard wedding was simply the best! Heather and Jeff tied the knot at Heather's family home in Sioux City, Iowa.  They were joined by 30 close friends and family where they held an outdoor ceremony followed by an evening celebration. The setting was perfect for pictures too. The family lives on the Whispering Creek Golf Course in Sioux City. The course is stunning and offered amazing views and perfect wedding picture backdrops. The day was a bit overcast, but that worked out perfectly offering a soft romantic light for those golf course pictures.

The couple resides in Lincoln, Nebraska where Jeff owns an aquaponics greenhouse. His green thumb was evident in all of their decorations. Flowers covered every inch of the house and even Heather's wedding bouquet was created by Jeff and a surprise for Heather the morning of the wedding. It was definitely a romantic gesture and a unique element that made their day very personal. You can check out Jeff's amazing work and very interesting story of his business on his website at Grow With the Flow


backyard wedding in Sioux City

 And if you are also planning your backyard wedding in the Sioux City area or any special event, check out Impressions Photography too!  I would love to be there to celebrate your love story and to document those special memories and your wedding day!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Fort Myers Engagement Pictures - Florida Photographer

Fort Myers tropical engagement pictures

This Fort Myers engagement session had us all smiles from start to finish! We met Leanne and Elliot in the most adorable and quint little tropical garden near Leanne's family home in Fort Myers. The couple resides in Orlando, but made the trip back home for a wedding planning weekend and so we could capture these very special engagement pictures!

Fort Myers tropical engagement pictures

Fort Myers tropical engagement picturesFort Myers tropical engagement pictures

Fort Myers tropical engagement pictures


Fort Myers tropical engagement pictures

Fort Myers tropical engagement pictures

I think we spent the better part of the portrait session laughing! Elliot, who is originally from England, managed to have us all cracking up with his witty comments delivered with a charming British accent. Leanne was all smiles too. We attempted to do a few serious pictures, but that proved to be pretty much impossible!

Fort Myers tropical engagement pictures

The couple will be married in Fort Myers next year. I know their wedding day is going to be a blast to photograph. I doubt we will be doing many serious pictures.... but I'm positive they will be a ton of fun to spend the day with! Love that I get to be their wedding photographer!!!

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

After Hurricane Irma - Fort Myers, Florida



Boca Grande Wedding Church

 While it doesn't take a hurricane for me to go on about how much I love my home state of Florida, it certainly didn't hurt.... I have spent the past week preaching to everyone who will listen how incredible my beloved Florida is and especially my little corner in SWFL. Fort Myers and all of Florida have been making the news throughout the entire country as Hurricane Irma directed her wrath at my people. I skated out a few days before it made landfall and headed to my second home in Iowa. It was an incredibly emotional few days watching the storm from afar and feeling helpless. My list of concerns was endless, from all of the people who stayed behind, my friends, my family (who represent every corner of the state), my modest little home in Fort Myers that I bought when I was 24 years old and have invested my soul into, to the possibility of flooding and storm surge that could ruin a lifetime of memories packaged into that little house. Although I wavered on how eminent I felt it was, even the slimmest possibility of loss seemed overwhelming. Having lived in Florida through hurricanes Charlie and Wilma, I know all too well how devastating a hurricane can be. After Charlie I had friends who were left homeless and all of SWFL suffered through an economy that took years to rebound. Florida felt effects that went on well beyond what the national news covered.

The full extent of damage done by Irma is still unknown, however I am counting my blessings as I write this because my friends and family, as well as their homes, are all safe. My home was a trooper again and kept every shingle in place and the 50 or so trees on my property even managed to stay strong. I definitely feel like prayers were answered.

With most fears behind me and the hurricane having passed I have a very specific request for everyone who wants to offer help. If you want to help Florida, go to Florida.... I mean, not today necessarily unless you are ready to get to work. But in the coming months if not weeks, plan that trip to Florida. Hit the beaches on Sanibel Island, plan that destination wedding for Boca Grande. For over a year after Hurricane Charlie I saw a huge decline in families that were doing beach vacations and clients planning destination weddings. While SWFL had recovered, most businesses had reopened and things looked as stunning as ever, vacationers avoided the region. That had an impact on my business, Impressions Photography, and so many other local business that depend on tourism. As Hurricane Irma has now passed, the clean up efforts will move swiftly. Hotels, such as La Playa in Naples and Tween Waters on Captiva Island have already announced plans to open in the coming days. Our beaches are still stunning, our people are still among the best in the service industry and although our vegetation might be a little more sparse, Florida is still the best vacation destination there is! As I talk to people here in the Midwest, I think there is a misunderstanding about how soon we will be able to welcome tourists again. Florida will be ready quickly. The best thing you can do for Florida is to start planning and go to Florida.

And of course, giving to charities that help hurricane victims is undoubtedly something we should all do. I'm a huge supporter of UNICEF and had the pleasure of participating in their national convention earlier this year. I absolutely trust the organization to do amazingness with every dollar they receive. They will be helping with communities internationally that were effected by Irma. There are tons of other great charities that are working locally too. That financial support, especially for the harder hit areas like the Keys, along with continued tourism will have Florida back in business in no time. #FloridaStrong


boca grande churchBoca Grande Ligthhouse wedding

I included few pictures I took on Boca Grande just last week. I hear that most of the island withstood the storm and even the Gasparilla Inn which was doing some renovations while I was there looks to have stood strong. I'm photographing a wedding at the Inn in a few weeks I will definitely be reporting back on how everything looks then.

Monday, September 4, 2017

South Seas Resort Wedding - Captiva Island Photographer








Just another spectacular South Seas Island Resort wedding that I have to share! I've had the pleasure of photographing so many great weddings on Sanibel and Captiva Island and I've seen so much great destination wedding inspiration. So for those brides and grooms that are doing a little planning this Labor Day, here is some pretty from one of the best tropical destination wedding locations right here in Southwest Florida. South Seas is stunning and unique. And there are just so many great locations for wedding pictures throughout the property. I've included images from the beach, the golf course and the Kings Crown (the most pristine lawn on Captiva Island). The property is definitely a gem and worth checking out if you are planning a Florida wedding.
And of course as always, take me! I love being a part of South Seas Island Resort weddings. If you have selected this palm tree covered oasis for your day, let's chat about wedding photography! There are tons of great picture spots on the resort property, I would be happy to share my ideas for making your wedding day pictures extra special and unique!
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