Fantastic Vendors!

Hello all, everyone knows how important your wedding day vendors are. Today, I wanted to share with you a couple vendors I have recently visited.
I photographed a wedding at the Wayzata Community Church and at the Chambers Hotel downtown Minneapolis. Both had impeccable style and accommodations!
The wedding coordinator at Wayzata Community Church is John Estrem. It is his goal to make this a wonderful day for the bride and groom by taking care of all the technical details. He will see that the procedures and rules established by the church are observed, and ensure the church's integrity. All matters of decorum and etiquette can be discussed with him. He has the responsibility to state and interpret the church's policies and procedures to photographers, florists, and any others involved with your wedding. 


The Chambers Hotel was absolutely fantastic! It is located in one of Minneapolis' most alluring neighborhoods. And designed for those who are inspired by contemporary art and cuisine. The hotel features over 200 pieces of original contemporary art work. Le Meridien Chambers has partnered with Walker Art Center Minneapolis. 

A couple of wedding coordinators who helped things run smoothly at the Chambers Hotel were Rachelle Mazumdar & Madeline Johnson with Style Architects. I found it quite helpful that both coordinators had itineraries so myself and all the other vendors were all on the same page. 

I would like to thank the vendors mentioned above for working together, you have all been great! And I look forward to future encounters!

The Chamber's Ice Bar, very unique!

Wayzata Community Church was very accommodating to this couple's special service with the candles lit by each guest for their unity fire pit!

The Chambers exceptional Service and exquisite style!

Gorgeous setting at The Chambers!

Wayzata Community Church

Style Architects

Benjamin's 6 month photos

     Happy Sunday everyone, if you're like me you've been enjoying the warm weather. The rain and birds chirping only make me yearn more for spring/summer, or "stroller weather" as I now call it!

     Today I am keeping my blog simple and personal. I am holding true to my previous blog, "The Importance of Capturing the Stages of you Baby's Life" and I am sharing some of my son's 6 month photos.
   
     I am late on sharing these photos as he will be 7 months tomorrow already!!!! However, these were taken a month ago. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!

'B' for Benjamin

Mommy's little poser :)

6 months, oh how the time flies!!

I love his sweet and innocent face in this one!

Ben & Daddy

As much as I take the photos(as most moms do) I really make an effort to get in some! For Ben someday.

Who can resist baby buns?!?!

My silly smile :)

Thank you for reading today's post! I hope you have a wonderful week!
Your friend and photographer,

Emily Tysdal

Tips for a Successful Engagement Session

Tips for a Successful engagement Session ~ 

Engagement season is upon us and engagement sessions are a fantastic way for us all to get to know each other as well as for you to get comfortable in front of the camera. You don’t want your first time in front of our big ol’ lenses to be on your wedding day. That day is stressful enough. If you’re at all camera shy or don’t think you take good pictures, an engagement session is essential. I will show you how to pose (or non-pose) and relax on camera.

In the meantime I thought it would be good to share some tips to make your engagement photos look great.

1. Location

This couple got engaged in Minneapolis, what a perfect setting!

There’s no doubt that location plays an important role when it comes to engagement photos. The most important thing is that you choose a location that is very significant to you and your partner.  It could be the place you first met her (him), or where you give him the first kiss… any other place that is very important to the both of you.  This will allow you to relax a little more.

2. What to Wear
Simply, look hot!  The more personality you put into your attire, the more personality will show up in your photos.  Exploit who you are in the extreme.   Don’t be afraid to dress up.

I love how dressed up this couple got! With the tux & white dress, this made for a very cute "save-the-date"!

3. Props                                                                                                                                              Bring to the photo session something along that express who you are as a couple never hurts.  Your dog, books, hats, or whatever you share with your honey are all things that will add to your photos.

This couple brought their dogs, what a great prop! 

4. Time of Day
A lot of people also ask me when the best time to shoot is.  Although I can shoot any time of the day, the best time is late in the day when the sun gets lower in the sky.  The light gets softer and more golden.  Besides aren’t evenings more romantic?

The sun is at the perfect height in the sky. We waited until the end of the day just before the sun went down....in the winter you know that's early!

5. Get Comfy
One of the most important things you can do is get comfortable in front of the camera.  A lot of people have never been photographed before, and the thought of someone firing away with a big camera in their face is terrifying.  Although I’ll do everything I can to put you at ease, the simplest way to relax is to focus on your loved one, not me.  Forget me.

I love the sweet peak up at he camera from the groom.

I love how relaxed this couple is and how much fun they are having!

****Fun Suggestion I always make: choose a season different from your wedding to do your engagement session. This way if you display your photos at your wedding reception, it's fun to see the snow photos at your summer wedding or the fall colors during the spring wedding.

This couple had a fall engagement session and a summer wedding :)

I guarantee if you do the things above, and immerse yourself in the moment with your loved one, you’ll end up with some beautiful pictures, and an experience that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. 

I look forward to our engagement session!!