Alexander Weddings

Nicole and Joseph

2009-06-03T14:38:00.006-05:00

Although they aren't getting married until October, it was great getting together with Nicole and Joseph now for their engagement shoot. They're really fun and we had a good time during the shoot. I can't wait to shoot their wedding this fall.

Maria and Justin

2009-05-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

Justin and Maria were good sports. Not only were they a bit nervous about getting their photos taken, but because of the beautiful day that we were blessed with, and the fact that we met at Como, people were out in droves. So they got to be gawked a bit while we were shooting. They both took it in stride and we came up with some good shots. Looking forward to their wedding this fall.

Brooks

2009-03-29T16:10:00.000-05:00

I shot Jamie and John's wedding a few summers back and now they needed shots of their one year son, Brooks. Brooks just turned one and is now mobile! He's scooting around with the best of them giving mom and dad a run for their money. It was great getting back in touch with Jamie and John, and I hope we keep getting together for the next birthday.

Etta and Lyla

2009-03-27T16:03:00.003-05:00

I've been the official photographer for Etta and Lyla since they were born. My wife and their mom, Carrie, have been friends since high school, so I even have shots of them in the hospital only a day or so old. When more shots were needed of the girls, they gave ol' Jay a call. I set up some lights and a background for indoor shots and we were lucky to get a nice warm (50 degree) spring day, so my kids and the girls (same ages) took the opportunity to play out on the swing set.

Minneapolis South vs. Centennial

2009-03-26T11:18:00.006-05:00

This was the state Class AAAA championship featuring, in my opinion, the best team vs. the best player. No offense to the rest of the South team, but there's no question that Senior Tayler Hill was the reason they had a relatively easy road to the finals. And in the finals Hill showed why she's the highest rated player in the state, scoring a record 47 points in the championship. And the only team I think had a shot at beating the Tigers was Centennial. Watching the Cougars play, you could see they use many tools to get the job done. With Hill's 47, the Cougars got edged out 67-61.

St. Michael Albertville vs. Mpls North

2009-03-23T16:54:00.007-05:00

St. Michael Albertville was solid throughout the tournament and I had a feeling this wasn't going to be such an easy game for North as others thought. I talked with a few other people before the game and they were writing off STMA's chances. STMA didn't believe it and neither did I. STMA played hard and kept charging and in the end took home the title.

NOTE: Brittani Wiese got ROBBED!! Plain and simple. How she wasn't elected to the all tournament team was beyond me. She controlled the tempo of the game and lead her team to the title. No offense to the players who did get elected, because they were worthy as well, but by Weiss not getting awarded to the all tournament team shows that the media was blind this past weekend.

Caledonia vs Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted

2009-03-21T17:24:00.003-05:00

Caledonia vs Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted turned out to be a very good game. With Caledonia leading most of the way, HLWW hung in there and trailed only by two with a minute left. Caledonia pulled down a crucial rebound and took the win 54-50.

Ada-Borum vs. Cedar Mountain/Comfrey

2009-03-21T14:39:00.003-05:00

Ada-Borum, coming into the tournament at 29-1, showed why they are the defending champs in Class A. With a game high 27 points, Senior Guard Nicole Smart of Ada-Borum, the Cougars dominated with a 61-31 victory.

Barnum vs. Adrian

2009-03-21T12:54:00.001-05:00

Another nailbiter with The Bombers of Barnum taking the victory over Adrian.

St. Michael Albertville vs. Totino-Grace

2009-03-21T12:49:00.000-05:00

This one was fought to the end with STMA pulling out the victory.

Minneapolis North vs New Prague

2009-03-20T17:19:00.003-05:00

New Prague lost a heartbreaker when a foul in the last seconds gave them a 1-and-1 free throw. Fortunately for North, they were able to pull out a 44-43 win.

GBB - Eastview vs White Bear Lake

2009-03-18T20:18:00.000-05:00

Class AAAA Girls Basketball between Eastview and White Bear Lake. Very good game that came down to the end, Eastview prevailed to advance.

Centennial vs. Buffalo

2009-03-18T16:09:00.000-05:00

Centennial controlled most of the game but Buffalo hung in there to make it an entertaining game.

Minneapolis South vs. Blaine

2009-03-18T14:12:00.000-05:00

I wasn't able to get down to this game until halftime and it was pretty much settled by then. Blaine put up a good fight, but Taylor Hill and the rest of the South Tigers were too much for the Bengals.

April cover shoot

2009-03-17T11:23:00.003-05:00

I've shot the past three covers for Vype Magazine and this month will feature the defending girls state track champs of Eastview. Here a few shots from the shoot. I'll post a shot of the cover when it's complete.

Eden Prairie takes the Class 2A championship

2009-03-16T22:54:00.005-05:00

The Eagles of Eden Prairie dominated the Moorehead Spuds in a 3-0 victory to take home their first hockey state championship in St. Paul. With Moorehead never seeming to catch fire like the previous night, the Eagles took over the game with their physical play.

I haven't got through them all yet but here are a few shots to wet your whistle.

Special thanks to Vype Magazine for getting me the press pass and allowing me to shoot for them over the weekend. Check back for the girls and boys basketball tournaments coming up in the next few weeks.

Blaine takes third

2009-03-14T18:37:00.005-05:00

With the disappointing loss in the semi's, Blaine turns it around to take the third place title in the Class AA Boys State Hockey tournament with a win over Cretin Duram Hall in St. Paul. Behind the strong play of sophomore forward Nick Bjugstad, the Bengals scored three unanswered goals in the second period to win by the margin of 3-1.

Breck takes the A state top spot

2009-03-14T18:16:00.003-05:00

Breck has taken the Class A state Boys Hockey championship with a win over the Warriors of Warroad with the outstanding play of their goaltender, John Russell, by the score of 7-2.

Boys State Hockey Tournament

2009-03-14T00:58:00.006-05:00

So I got a press pass to shoot at the X for the state hockey tournament. It's been great, other than parking, but I've seen some great action. I just hope to capture the energy and excitement of such a great event.

Would love some comments!

Welcome Bennett William!

2009-02-16T09:19:00.004-06:00

I would like to introduce the newest member of the Alexander family, Bennett William.

He was born on February 13th, 2009 at 7:14 pm. He was 8 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21" long. He was incredibly healthy and mom made it through very well. We've made it home and through the first night. Wish us luck in the coming months.

Bloomington Jefferson vs Eagan Boys Hockey

2009-02-05T11:33:00.000-06:00

Cooper vs Hopkins Boys BB

2009-02-03T22:57:00.004-06:00

So this was a pretty big game for high school basketball. The #1 ranked Hopkins Royals were visiting the #3 ranked Cooper Hawks. Plus the two top ranked players in the state were on opposing teams. And the kicker is that both of those two players are two of Tubby Smith's big recruits and going to the University of MN next year.

So needless to say I was excited to have the opportunity to shoot this game for Vype. And it was packed, over 3,000 seats sold.

The score didn't reflect how good the game was, the Royals pulled away at the end, but overall a very good game.

These shot are right out the camera, so I'll have to go back and do some color correcting and some exposure fixes, but not bad for a guy shooting his 5th basketball game ever.

Orange Apple Photo

2009-02-02T23:39:00.001-06:00

If you haven't figured it out yet, I have an alter ego by the name of Orange Apple Photo.

It really started out as a name for my Graphic Design portfolio to help me get a real job. That site is still active as well, and I am actually getting some freelance design gigs out of it vs getting that "real" job. Anyway, it started out Orange Apple Photo and Design. But since, I've split them up to have two specific sites, one for the action sports photography and senior portraits and the other is for design.

Orange Apple Photo is starting to pay off as well. It enabled me to get some gigs shooting for the Sun newspapers and Vype Magazine (HS sports mag). It's been a lot of fun and when I get done with a shoot I upload the images to my hosting site and I've gotten some sales. Not enough to stop looking for that "real" job, but it's getting better.

Well that's the story. Take a look at my websites (links to the right) and let me know if you are in need of some action photography for a game or if your business needs some graphic work done.

Thanks and have a great day.

Maggie and Derrick

2009-02-02T15:11:00.009-06:00

Here's an engagement session of Maggie and Derrick whom I hope to book for a Sept wedding next fall. They wanted to shoot indoors (go figure with the MN weather) and Maggie found the Woodbury Central Park facility. They had to rent it out for a nominal fee, but we had exclusive access, meaning they shut it down for the shoot. It was nice not having to deal with other people in the way, but I don't think it would have been an issue either way. We did sneak outside for a few shots because the weather gave us a beautiful 30 degree day.

*UPDATE -Maggie and Derrick did indeed book us for their wedding in September. Be sure to check back to view images from their wedding day!

HS Sports

2009-01-28T16:37:00.003-06:00

Blaine vs. Osseo Boys Hockey

HS Sports

2009-01-28T16:33:00.000-06:00

Maple Grove Boys Hockey vs. Champlin

Vype Cover Shoot

2009-01-25T16:28:00.000-06:00

So shooting for Vype has some advantages, I get to shoot some covers. Here's a few shots that I did for February's issue, I'll post the final shot when I get a copy.

HS Sports - Boys BB

2009-01-16T21:31:00.001-06:00

As many of you know, I've been shooting sports for a national magazine called Vype. National in the sense that they are all across the nation, but local to the metro's high schools sports. Take a look for your free copy of the magazine at Cub foods, Rainbow, Byerly's and many others. They're usually by the apartment for rent magazines.

Here's a shoot of Osseo vs Champlin Boys BB for the magazine.

Katie and Tad

2008-12-29T21:47:00.002-06:00

Katie and Tad were married on a COLD day in late December. So cold in fact that I think one of the groomsmen still has his tongue stuck to a flagpole. They were married in a small church in Plymouth and the reception was at the Grand Hotel in DT Minneapolis. And as the name states, it's quite nice.

The day went absolutely smooth and everyone had a blast. Thanks for letting me be part of your day Katie and Tad!

A Starry Night

2008-12-28T00:08:00.000-06:00

So Katie and Tads theme was "A Starry Night" and their cake was spectacular. I don't have the name of it's creator right now, but I'll be sure to add their name to give credit where it's due when I have it.

Anderson's

2008-12-04T00:00:00.006-06:00

Here's a quick shoot of the Anderson's for their Christmas card. Will you get one?

Blaine vs. Wayzata State Championship

2008-11-29T14:56:00.007-06:00

Blaine's dream season ended Friday night with a loss to the Wayzata Trojans at the Metrodome. It seemed the Bengals just couldn't find a rhythm and Wayzata pulled away with their strong passing game and the quickness of their defense.

Congratulations to Blaine on a great season, and congratulations to Wayzata on their championship.

All images will be available for purchase in a few days. Register here to be notified when the photos are available.

TO VIEW THIS VIDEO IN HIGH DEFINITION, GO HERE. Select link right below the video.

Blaine vs. Cretin-Durham Hall Football

2008-11-16T23:42:00.006-06:00

Blaine Bengals vs. Cretin-Durham Hall Raider semi-final football game at the Metrodome on November 15, 2008.

Additional images are online at http://www.pictage.com/584045.

Nick and Colleen

2008-10-21T09:26:00.008-05:00

Nick and Colleen were blessed with a beautiful day and Colleen was stunning! Her dress and hair were beautiful and reminded everyone of a young Katherine Hepburn. I won't quote what Pip told Nick before seeing her, but he basically told him he'll like what he sees, and from what I could tell, Nick did.

The ceremony was at St. Stan's in St. Paul and the reception was at the Wabasha Street Caves. Fortunately for me, the ceremony was very brightly light, but not so much for the Caves. Let's just say, I earned my keep that night.

From what I can tell, everyone liked the video I had going at the reception, which is what you see here, but I didn't have the info to direct people to where they can view the images online. To see all of the images from Nick and Colleen's wedding go Here . Currently there are only engagement photos on there (give me a few weeks to process the wedding images and to get them uploaded), but you will be able to sign up for the guestbook. This will give you a $5 gift card for any purchases you may want and you will be notified when the photos are available.

Congratulations Nick and Colleen and thanks for letting me be part of your day.

Marc and Lindsay

2008-10-12T13:43:00.007-05:00

I was fortunate to shoot Lindsay's brother Aaron's wedding a couple years back and I was glad to be part of Lindsay's wedding as well. Lindsay and Marc live out in Seattle so most of the weddings planning was done their parents and when seeing the results, they did a great job. The church had a bank of beautiful windows right behind the alter, which makes my job tougher, but gave a beautiful view of the lake just behind. Take a look at the video below to see how much fun they had and the love they have for each other.

Congratulations, Marc and Lindsay, and thanks for letting me be part of your day!

Britni and Jeremy

2008-10-09T16:01:00.004-05:00

Britni and Jeremy were great and we were blessed with a beautiful day. Britni looked gorgeous and Jeremy was quite dapper himself. The ceremony was at the First Lutheran Church of Crystal and the reception was at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park.

The ceremony was very nice and the church was filled to the rafters with all of Britni and Jeremy's family and friends. After the ceremony, the wedding party went down to Augsburg College where the couple first met. We got some great shots in front of the Augsburg sign where they first kissed. (Ok, the original so was gone but we faked it well.)

Then we headed back to the reception where the party lasted well into the night. Overall it was a perfect day and Britni and Jeremy were great to work with. Thanks for letting me be part of your day.

So indulge me a minute, because Britni and Jeremy's wedding was unique for me. Not that it'll matter to many of you but this was a really fun wedding for me personally.

I was contacted by Jeremy when he got my name from my cousin, Julie, who cuts his hair. He and Julie grew up across the street from each other and their families are really close. So I met with Jeremy and Britni and they decided to use me as their photographer.

When we met, just out of curiosity, I asked them if they had a florist yet. Britni told me that they were planning to use a woman who used to be a neighbor of hers and she does great work. Ok, well I show up at the church and her former neighbor is my other cousin Amy. Amy had no idea that Julie or I were connected to this wedding (Julie also did Britni's hair that morning), and it was quite the surprise for all of us. PLUS, in addition to all that, Jeremy's dad and MY next door neighbor growing up, Sharon, are first cousins. So Sharon and her husband Art were also there.

So in total, with all of the connections to the bride and groom, I knew 16 people at this wedding. I can honestly say, it was a unique situation, but one that I really enjoyed. Thanks again for letting me be part of your day!

Monticello HS Homecoming

2008-10-03T22:42:00.001-05:00

I was asked to shoot the Monticello Magic vs Roger Royals high school football game for the Monticello Press newspaper. These are the images that I sold to them, so they own the rights. Some of which were put in the paper, I'm just not sure which.

Unfortunately for the Magic, the Royals spoiled the homecoming with a decisive win, but it didn't seem to ruin the night by the way the crowd was going.

Hopefully I'll be asked to shoot a few more games this fall and I'll be sure to post them here.

Senior

2008-09-18T21:53:00.003-05:00

Quick senior session in the studio and a local park. Eric wasn't too keen on shooting his senior photos, but we made it through and got some great shots in the process.

Erin and Toby

2008-09-08T16:28:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful wedding!!! The bride was stunning, the groom was good looking, I guess, and the day was perfect.

Erin and Toby got married in rural Wisconsin at a old restored barn. When we first pulled up, I wasn't sure what we were going to find, but was amazed how nice it turned out to be. The ceremony, dinner and reception were all held upstairs and with brief interludes in between. But no one hardly noticed, everyone was enjoying the day.

Thanks Erin and Toby for letting me be part of your day!

Senior

2008-08-19T09:10:00.001-05:00

Here are a two Senior sessions I did with a brother and sister duo, Adam and Beka. We went down to St. Anthony Main for both shoots. Beka was first and Adam was a few days later. Neither were too comfortable at first, but both seemed to get into it after a little coaxing.

Tim and Danielle

2008-08-02T12:07:00.000-05:00

I first met Tim and Danielle when I shot Colleen and Johns wedding a couple of summers back. It was great reconnecting with them at their engagement shoot last summer. That's when I knew this was going to be a great wedding.

On their wedding day, we started at the Semple Mansion in Minneapolis. This is where they were getting ready and where the reception would be. They were so easy to work with and we flew through the formal shots. We then headed off to the church down in Inver Grove Heights. The ceremony was great but my favorite part was seeing the wedding party squatting down trying to see the engagement video that Tim and Danielle had projected up on the wall.

After the ceremony we (obviously) stopped off at Buffalo Wild Wings and the crew had a few drinks and appetizers. Once back at the Semple, the crowd cheered as the "Starting Line-up" was introduced to start the festivities. Which by the way were very fun.

Below is the video that was running during the reception. The final proofs will be uploaded to Pictage very soon, so be sure to sign up on Tim and Danielle's Guestbook to check them all out!

Thanks again, Tim and Danielle, for letting me be part of your day!

Josh and Cristina

2008-05-28T16:58:00.000-05:00

WOW! Window's on Minnesota is a gorgeous place to have a wedding. If you haven't heard of it you should check it out. It's at the top of the IDS building in Minneapolis and it overlooks all of downtown. And Josh and Cristina couldn't have asked for a better day. You could see all of Minneapolis and well into the suburbs.

We started the day by heading down to St. Anthony Main to do some shots of just Josh and Cristina, and these photos came out great. Couldn't have asked for better. We then headed back to the Windows to do family photos overlooking downtown. The ceremony came next and due to the beautiful day, we had plenty of great light for the photos. The reception was held in a room across the hall but with the same great view. The crowd assembled was great, everyone came to have a good time and I could tell from the start Josh and Cristina's friends would not disappoint.

Thanks to Jonny for helping out with the slideshow, everyone LOVED it.

And thanks again to Josh and Cristina for letting APS be part of their day.

Cristina and Matthew

2008-05-23T14:51:00.000-05:00

Here is a beautiful wedding shot of Cristina and Matthew in Eden Prairie. We were blessed with a beautiful day and we took full advantage. The ceremony was held at Liberty Baptist and was a very nice service. We headed down to a nearby park for some photos then skipped on down to the Garden Room for the reception and were greeted by a very cool jazz trio. We got the slideshow and running and got a great response from those who saw it. Thanks to Wade for helping me get it going.

Congratulations Matt and Cristina, thanks for letting APS be part of your day!

Engagements

2008-05-22T17:52:00.000-05:00

Here's an engagement session I shot on May 18th. Jeremy and Katherine's wedding is coming up in a couple of weeks and it should be a really good time. Both Jeremy and Katherine were great to work with and I expect nothing less on their wedding day.

I'm looking forward to it.

Sarah

2008-05-08T18:36:00.007-05:00

New Senior session at St. Anthony Main. This is just a quick edit and I didn't get a chance to look at them all (way too many great shots). I'll take more time with the final proofs.

Thanks Sarah, I had fun!

Commercial Shoot

2008-05-07T17:56:00.008-05:00

A client of mine just did a big install into one of the biggest architecture firms in Minneapolis. They asked me to do some shots to show the install and to get some shots of the offices to use in their portfolio. This office was really cool and I got some great shots. Keep the assignments coming V.G.!!

Senior Portraits

2008-05-07T17:52:00.002-05:00

Just a quick Senior session done last week.

Easter 2008

2008-03-31T13:49:00.009-05:00

Just a few shots from Easter of my kids.

Recent Commercial Shoot

2008-03-20T17:23:00.007-05:00

Here's a commercial shoot I did this week for a video conferencing company that just did a big install at all of the Rochester fire departments. Nothing too exciting, just letting people know that I'm available for this type of work as well.

Modeling Portfolio

2008-03-20T16:34:00.006-05:00

Here is a shoot I did with a young model looking to expand her portfolio. There are many more shots, but here's just a few to wet your whistle.

Ring Light

2008-03-12T19:08:00.005-05:00

I promised Stacey at our PUG meeting last night that I would upload a couple photos that I took with my do-it-yourself ring light. I think it gives great light and it was definitely worth the effort to build.

New APS website

2008-02-20T09:26:00.003-06:00

So I've been working on a new website for APS. Here's where I'm at. There's a few typo's and the images may need to change, but does anyone have any input on the design?

Booking a photographer

2008-02-15T09:50:00.004-06:00

I get questions all the time about what advice would I give to brides while planning for their wedding, or tips that make the day go smoother. So I've decided to add a new section to my blog called "Tips To Brides". I don't know how often I will post on the subject, but if there is a question that comes up frequently that I think should be addressed, I put it here. After a couple months, hopefully there will be enough tips that my blog becomes a resource for anyone interested. If you have a question, please feel free to send me an email and I'll do my best to answer from a wedding professionals point of view.

With that being said...

Tip #1
Booking a photographer
Find someone you trust. There are literally hundreds of photographers in your area capable of taking great photos at your wedding. The fact is, you want that certain someone who is right for you and your wedding.

Here are the five essentials your photographer must possess:

1) The price at what you value your weddings photographs -
The price will determine where your photographer falls on the spectrum of
photographers. In general, the higher the price, the more experience and confidence your photographer will possess. Bargain bottom prices should tell you that photographer is looking for experience, and low prices will ensure them to get work. Be aware that with the lack of experience in shooting also means lack of experience processing their work. So you may overlook that they won't get every shot perfect, but expect delays and difficulties after your wedding with inexperienced vendors.

2) The proper equipment to get the job done -
Proper equipment means having professional cameras and lenses to get the job done. Multiple camera bodies, more than one lens for each situation for different looks, back up equipment - on location - in the case of an equipment failure, proper lighting equipment for all scenarios, all of which are essential in getting the job done right.

3)The ability to use their equipment in the style you desire -
A doctor may have the best scalpels on the market, but without the proper training and experience, would you want them to operating on you? Pretty pictures in a photographers portfolio is not enough, they must possess the technical skill and artistic eye with the camera to duplicate the results from their portfolio for your wedding. Ask to see an entire wedding that a photographer has shot. Most photographers have their weddings hosted online. Ask for passwords to these galleries to view an entire wedding. This will give you the opportunity to see the photographers talent beyond their portfolio.

4) The poise to manage the day and the participants within the allotted time frame -
Your photographer, once the day starts, is the conductor of your wedding orchestra. Adapting to the flow of your day takes patience and skill. Your photographer MUST remain on task to not only keep on time, but capture all of the important moments that you desire without delay.

5) The ability to deliver what they promise - Enough said.

Hope this helps. Send in your questions!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

2008-02-14T13:54:00.002-06:00

Thought I'd give you all a little something for Valentine's day.

Or better yet!

PUG meeting

2008-02-12T10:21:00.001-06:00

Last night I attended my first PUG meeting - Pictage Users Group. I've meant to stop by for their monthly meetings for awhile now but something always came up last minute.

Last night we met at a church in Excelsior to discuss lighting techniques for the processional, recessional and alter shots. Unfortunately we only got about 45 minutes of shooting in, but I did get a chance to work on a few things. Take a look at a few images.

The first two shots were just standard shots for processional. I personally stand midway up the aisle just inside the pews. I usually keep one pew between the last row of guests and myself. Last thing I want to do is knock someone in the head while switching cameras. I typically have an on camera flash with Gary Fong's Lightsphere II diffuser. This gives me good light on the subjects but tends to give a harsh shadow in some cases. Example below.

Jason from StaJa Studios

So as a result, here's a typical shot from a one light setup. Nothing wrong with the lighting of the subjects (although they look dark on the blog), but I'm still not a fan of the shadow on the back wall.
Stacy and Jason from StaJa Studios

Next up is an experiment. I've always wondered what a second light would do for the processional but didn't want to experiment with an actual event. I guess that's why we met at a church.

I set up a second light on a stand across the aisle from my position, one aisle up. I think I had it set a bit strong as the result was a bit harsh (plus I didn't have my other Gary Fong Lightsphere with me) but I definitely like the idea. You can see the shadows on the floor from the second flash but it does put some great shadows on the couple's faces plus fills the background more eliminating the harsh shadow from the on camera flash.

One thing I did notice that I didn't like was when Stacy and Jason got closer to the light, the light got way too intense leaving harsh shadows on the faces. This may be just a matter of positioning the light better or adjusting the power, but it'll take more experimenting to resolve. I'll let you know after more testing.

Also, here are a couple fun shots of those who were there.
Tasha and her bad self

Sue, Jason, Stacy and Tasha

Special shout out to everyone in attendance last night. Thanks for letting me join your group and bounce ideas around with. I know it'll make my business stronger.

Would love to hear any feedback you may have.

Thanks,
Jason

Family update

2008-02-12T10:06:00.000-06:00

Here are a few shots I took the other night. I've decided to make my kids my guinea pigs, so to speak, to test out some lighting techniques. So stay tuned, you'll see more of "those eyes".

And Regis and Kelly never called for the cutest baby contest. What are they thinking?

All boy!

Boy is her daddy in trouble!!

Sarah and Alex

2008-02-05T22:23:00.000-06:00

Sarah and Alex were married on Dec. 29th at the Basilica in Minneapolis. Obviously this is a beautiful church and I knew we were in for a treat. The reception was at the Golden Valley Country Club and they lived up to their name by putting on another great event.

And that desert bar...? Wow did that look fantastic.

Special thanks to Lisa at Camelot for second shooting with me.

Sarah and Ryan

2008-01-09T00:26:00.001-06:00

I first met Sarah and Ryan when we did an engagement session DT Minneapolis. I knew from the start this was going to be a fun wedding. The ceremony was at the Woodale Church in Eden Prairie. This is big church and the part that I love is the huge balcony that I can sneak around to get some great shots.

We stopped off at Lord Fletcher's bar on the way to the reception. It may have took the limo driver some time to find his way, but everyone seemed to have a good time regardless.

The reception was at the Lafayette Club in Minnetonka. Wow. This place is just as stunning as ever, especially with the Christmas theme going on. The hall was gorgeous and the party went off without a hitch thanks to the planning of Valerie from Event du Jour.

Thanks again, Sarah and Ryan, for letting me be part of your day!

Hello Ladies!

One of my favorite "window shots" ever!!

I love this shot.

Sharp shooter!

He's a Rocker!!

Merry Christmas!!

2007-12-19T10:26:00.000-06:00

New Christmas photos of our kids!!

What a doll!

Big belly laugh!!

Amanda and Joe

2007-12-06T15:31:00.001-06:00

I shot Amanda and Joe's engagement photos downtown this past summer. To put it nicely, Joe was not fond of the camera. We got some good shots but Joe was about as comfortable as a duck on the opener.

They didn't want to see each other before the ceremony so most of the group shots were done afterward. But we had to be out of the church by 4:45 for mass. That left us with about 30 minutes for all of the wedding party and family photos. Boy did we fly. I hope everyone understood that speed was the key word here and didn't get offended by me herding them in and out of the photos. ;)

Overall it was a great day and we got some great shots. And hopefully Mick won't get in trouble from the big guy upstairs for his portrayal of a minister!

Special thanks to Wade from Camelot for second shooting with me.

Congratulations Amanda and Joe.

My Family

2007-11-23T15:47:00.000-06:00

So, everyone is on me to get photos of my kids online. My wife, my mother, my in-laws, my friends, my wife's friends, even my day care lady. Problem is, I'm working on everyone else's photos and don't have time to put my own family's photos up.

Well, enoughs enough. Here's a few shots we got with the kids in their Thanksgiving best. And as you can see, Gavin isn't much of a fan of photos (he's tired of having the camera in his face), but he especially doesn't like to sit next to his sister.

It has begun...

More to follow, but probably not too soon! ; )

Kelsey and Luke

2007-11-21T15:50:00.000-06:00

I first met Kelsey two years ago when shooting Jamie and Aaron's wedding up at Edinburgh USA. Kelsey was one of Jamie's personal attendants. I was glad to hear that she liked their photos and wanted me to shoot her wedding as well. After all, referrals are a huge part of my business' success.

Kelsey and Luke were fantastic to work with. They didn't want to see each other prior to the wedding, which is totally fine, so we shot a bunch of photos separate before and shot the big group photos and family stuff after at a nearby park.

We had a nice day, but it was bit on the cold side for the girls. I still have the image in my mind of Jamie jogging in place out on that dock while I switched lenses.I was just waiting for her to stick a heel through the cracks and tumble to the ground. Thankfully disaster was averted.

Kelsey was a beautiful bride and the photos turned out stunning. She and Luke make a great couple and you better believe they'll make the cut to go in my portfolio.

Congratulations again, Kelsey and Luke, and I hope there's more in your group of friends that need a photographer. You guys rock and I want to keep shooting y'all!

Catherine and John

2007-11-14T11:29:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure John ever really got used to me pointing a camera at him, but to his credit, he never complained. Catherine, on the other hand, seemed to shine in the spotlight. Her smile just radiated.

Both the wedding and the reception were at the Wilds golf course in Prior Lake. We fought the wind the entire day but we got some good shots inside until it died down a bit. And despite a few minor audio technical problems, it was a very nice day.

Congratulations again, Catherine and John, and thanks for choosing me to be part of your day.

Caroline and Matt

2007-11-13T12:01:00.000-06:00

Wow! Talk about beautiful brides, Caroline was stunning. From her bright smile to her fantastic attitude, she made a beautiful bride. Oh, and Matt looked pretty good too, I guess.

I don't think I need to say too much about the day as I think the images in the video will speak for themselves, you can just see the love between these two. And be sure to watch for the black and white shot of all the bridesmaids up at the alter. Beautiful! Are any more of you getting married soon? Need a photographer?

Special thanks goes out to Melina from Camelot for 2nd shooting with me. We done good!

Congratulations again to you Matt and Caroline, and thanks for letting me be part of your day

Jason

Jessalyn and Aaron

2007-11-12T10:43:00.000-06:00

New video of Jessalyn and Aaron. I shot their engagement session earlier this summer and after a little while Aaron really started getting into it. I think it helped prepare them for the wedding day as both were totally laid back and ready to get the big day started.

We had an unseasonable HOT day in Minneapolis that day, close to 95 degrees. We got some shots outside but tried to keep the wedding party from melting as best we could.

Aaron's groomsmen were quite the motley crew but were a blast to work with. And the ladies, nothing to complain about there, they were equally fun and much better looking than the guys. No offense guys.

Congratulations again Jess and Aaron,

Jason

Chuck and Marianne

2007-10-29T17:27:00.000-05:00

I shot Chuck and Marianne's engagement session earlier this summer and I knew they going to be a fun couple to work with. Marianne's infectious smile was enough to win me over, and I'm sure it got Chuck's attention too!

We were blessed with a beautiful day even though the fall chill had started to set in. The ladies got a bit cold but they were good sports about it when we went outside for photos.

Congratulations again Chuck and Marianne. And thank you for letting me be part of your day.

Jason

Tim and Danielle

2007-10-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

New engagement session. Ok, not so new. I've been swamped lately (not to mention sick) and haven't updated the blog as often as I should.

I shot Tim and Danielle's engagement session a couple of weeks ago at the Rose Garden near Lake Harriet and at 50th and France in Edina. Both really cool places to shoot. We got the garden/park type photos plus the modern shots that I am leaning more towards these days.

Their wedding isn't until next July, but it's going to be a good one!! An old mansion in downtown Minneapolis. Plus, I shot their friends Colleen and John's wedding last summer, so I know that all of their friends are what we in the business call "Pretty People"! That's right, you know who you are!

I'm looking forward to it.

And as always, as a business that relies heavily on referrals, if you know of anyone who may need my photo services, or anyone who may know someone who does, please email or call me with their information and I will contact them directly. And because referrals are so important to my business, I will treat them with the utmost respect and courtesy.

Thanks and enjoy the video.

Jason

Brittany and Tyler

2007-09-27T17:16:00.000-05:00

Another beautiful wedding. Brittany and Tyler were married at the small chapel at the historic Fort Snelling in Minneapolis. It was a beautiful day. Warm enough for the ladies and cool enough for the guys. Perfect.

Congratulations Brit and Tyler!!

Hary and Kim

2007-09-14T11:54:00.001-05:00

Kim and Hary live in Shanghai, China, but with their close ties to Minnesota, they planned their wedding here. Needless to say, their friends and families were glad to see them and be part of their day.

Events at the Carlson Towers are always nice, and this event was no exception. We were blessed with a beautiful day and everything went off without a glitch.

We got some great shots and I'm sure Kim and Hary will have way too many to choose from. Thanks again, Kim and Hary, for letting me share in your day.

Karin and Brad

2007-09-05T08:36:00.000-05:00

This was a great wedding. Not so great weather, it rained all day, but all of the wedding party and family were fantastic. The ceremony was at St. Olaf's church in downtown Minneapolis. This is a beautiful church. It has a huge balcony that basically put me right over the top of the alter. This enabled me to get real close and get some great shots.

We stopped off at Calhoun Square on the way to the reception. The wedding party, after the ringing in their ears stopped (bum limo), had a drink at Figlio's and The Independant. Plus we got some great shots in between.

Then off to the Calhoun Beach Club. I've shot a couple weddings there and it's always beautiful. After some great toasts and a wonderful dinner, the dance fired up. And this group was ready to party!! I have way too many shots to include in this short video.

Thanks again, Karin and Brad, for letting me be part of your day.

Marianne and Chuck

2007-08-20T13:35:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is going to be a fun wedding. With Marianne's infectious smile and Chuck's willingness to try anything (right, Chuck?), we should get some fantastic shots. I'll keep you posted! Get it? Posted?

Jenny and Andy

2007-08-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Meet Jenny and Andy. They were married August 4th at St. Kates in Minneapolis. It was a rainy day so we could only get a few pictures outside when the rain stopped. No worries though, as the chapel has a gorgeous doorway with perfect lighting for photos.

Despite the rain, the day went perfectly and everyone had a wonderful time. Thanks again, Jenny and Andy, for letting me be part of your day.

The images in the video are just a handful from before the wedding. I'll post another video with more soon.

Our big scare...

2007-08-15T13:11:00.000-05:00

Last night, we're sound asleep, it's 3:45am. All of a sudden, the whole house shakes. "Big crash!" as my son would say. I jump out of bed and look out the window to see a truck backing out of our front yard. I wake my wife up, get dressed and run downstairs. As I look out the window, the truck, which had backed onto the street, was trying to drive away. I ran outside to get a license number before he got away, but the truck won't go anywhere. It's dead. The driver slowly climbs out and starts looking at his truck. I run to the back of the truck to get the license number, but later realize that I would never had remembered it, I'm still half asleep and the other half was all adrenaline. The driver starts telling me I don't need to call anyone, it's cool, no big deal. He starts walking away, but then comes back to tell me again not to call anyone.

The driver by the way is some kid in his early 20's with midlength hair, talking with either a slur or slow southern drawl. The plates are from Georgia Tech University. The truck is a smaller Chevy S-10 with a bed cover. It was a nice truck, before last night.

The damage, thankfully, was to a tree right on the corner of our house. Not the house itself, he missed the house by about 6 inches. The tree is pretty big, 60 some ft tall and about a 12 to 16 inches wide. He hit it pretty square in the front of his truck.

Right about then a cop comes flying down the road. The cop asks the kid if he's been drinking and he said, "well, sortof, I mean yeah, but no." The cop asked, "No?" The kid responded with, "I was earlier but this has nothing do with that. I was just showing off, er, screwing around and lost control". The cop decides to do a field sobriety test as it was obvious the kid was on something. The cop also had a breathalizer and the kid blew over .10. So he was arrested for a DWI.

The neighbor across the street was awake at the time of the crash. She couldn't sleep and was watching TV right by where the accident happened. She looked out right after and saw a second guy jump out of the passenger side and start yelling at the driver. "Look what you did, what did you do? God dammit, what did you do?" He then took off between the houses. I never saw him.

So the neighbor guy and I are walking around checking out the damage and I start taking pictures for insurance as the crime scene crew shows up and starts taking their own photos. This freaks my wife out a bit as the kid is still in the cop car watching me take pictures. She doesn't want either of these kids coming back because they got in trouble. But I wanted photos for the insurance company if this tree needs to come down. It's right outside my daughters window and we don't want another big storm to come through and put it through the roof.

So after about an hour, it was all over. The kid was brought to jail, the crime scene crew wrapped it up, tow truck came and got the car. My wife and I are wide awake at 5 am and laying in bed. I guess fell back asleep for a little while, and I think my wife did too, but we had to be up at 7 for work and awake kids. Gonna be a long day.

Alecia and Andy

2007-08-07T17:09:00.001-05:00

Talk about beautiful!! Everything was beautiful, the bride, the dress, the bridesmaids, the setting, and yes even you boys looked pretty darn good!!

It was hot, hot, hot. But everyone could not have be more than happy to share the day with Alecia and Andy. The event was up in the Brainerd Lakes area at the Grandview Lodge. Gorgeous.

The day started out with the formals of the wedding party. It was warm, to say the least, so I tried keeping everyone in the shade. The ladies got to enjoy the water a bit when I put them in the water for a few shots. I don't think they wanted to get out!!

The wedding went off with out a problem, other than the fact that some of the guests (and one wedding party member) weren't lucky enough to be in the shade. Immediately after the ceremony, the wedding party headed out on the lake for a pontoon ride. I managed to talk the staff of Grandview into taking me for a quick ride in the ski boat to get some shots of the festivities. Not only did I get some great shots, but also got to cool off in the process!

The reception was great too, I could tell this was a group who came to have a good time. And they didn't let me down. The dance photos will prove that.

All in all, it was a great day. Thank you Alecia and Andy for letting me be a part of it. Congratulations again.

Engagements x 3

2007-07-16T13:41:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I had three engagement sessions in a row. It was a beautiful day and I think we got some great shots of all three couples.

Amanda and Joe were first up. We met at the Hard Rock and did some wandering. They are a young couple looking to finish up school and get out in the real world. We'll that's all relative with Joe's chosen path, Computer Animation. Look for him on some award shows in a few years with an Oscar for best animation for a major motion picture.

Next up was Sarah and Ryan. I've been working with their wedding coordinator Valorie who seems to be a big help planning their wedding with them. After finally meeting and getting to know Sarah and Ryan, I think their wedding is going to be a blast. Can you say PARTY BOOTH!!

The last shoot of the day was Catherine and John. Neither of them felt too comfortable in front of the camera - at first. Then I got my hooks in 'em and they loosened up a bit. And by the time we finished, I think John is ready for that male modeling contract in Europe. Work it!!

Christina and Michael

2007-07-10T16:38:00.000-05:00

Christina and Michael wanted a smaller wedding in the outdoors. Little did they know it was going to be so hot. We all made it without anyone passing out and had a beautiful wedding in the process.

The ceremony was at the Centennial Lakes pavilion and the reception was at the Loring Pasta Bar in Dinkytown. Both sites were fantastic for photos and we got some great shots. Here are few photos and follow the link below for more.

More photos < are here. >

Engagements

2007-06-26T09:13:00.000-05:00

More engagements downtown. Karin and Brad weren't the most comfortable with the camera following their every move, but they better get use to it with their wedding only a month or so away. Actually, it only took them a little while to forget about me and they started to relax. Once they did, we got some great shots. It should be a fun wedding and I'm looking forward to it.

Jessica and Josh

2007-06-14T09:20:00.001-05:00

UPDATE: More photos to preview < here >

This was an awesome day. Jessica and Josh were so great, and their wedding party was just as fun. We had a gorgeous day and the venues were spectacular. The ceremony was at the St. Paul Cathedral. If you haven't been there, you should see it. It's breathtaking. The reception was at the Carlson Towers and they seem to always put on a great reception. This was no exception.

Overall, we got some great shots and I was glad to be part of the day.

Thanks again, Jessica and Josh!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

2007-06-06T11:15:00.000-05:00

So if I haven't returned your emails or phone calls lately, I apologize. Things have gotten a whole lot busier the past week with the arrival of our second child, Lauren Jane. She was born on May 30th and was 8 lbs. 13 oz. and 21" long. She's doing great and so is mom. People questioned who Gavin looked more like, his mom or dad. Well, no question with Lauren, SHE LOOKS LIKE HER DADDY!! And Gavin is doing great with her too. He wants to hold her all the time, but then gets bored right away and goes off to play. As long as he still gets plenty of attention, I think he'll do just fine.

Both Amy and I are tired (Amy more than me), but everyone is doing great. If you're interested in seeing more photos, let me know and I will send you a link.

Engagement

2007-06-03T16:45:00.000-05:00

Here is an engagement shoot I did for Jessalyn and Aaron. They are getting married on October 6th but wanted some shots for annoncements. They were a fun couple and we got some great shots. Aaron got into it and had many suggestions. They got over 200 good shots. I can't wait for the wedding.

Kid Model shoot

2007-05-24T13:15:00.001-05:00

Ok so I shot this about a month ago, but it's so cute I thought I'd put it online. It's for a small business selling the blankets. How cute are these kids?

Heidi and Tim

2007-05-22T10:20:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: More pages added. Follow the link below, and you may need to refresh your browser if you've visited before.

Heidi and I went to high school together. It was a complete coincidence that she chose me to shoot her wedding. She recognized the name when she booked me through Camelot but didn't think it would be me. When we talked on the phone was when we figured out the connection.

I brought along a good friend of mine, Wade, who is also a Camelot shooter. I needed back up because my wife is due with our second child any day now and I was afraid I'd have to bail during the shoot. It was a little bonus for Heidi and Tim as they got two for the price of one!

Wade and I feed off each other very well and always come up with new and fun things to try. And I think it shows in the photos. Heidi and Tim were up for pretty much anything and their wedding party was up for a good time as well. It made our jobs much easier.

I've only got 26 pages of their album done so far, and provided my wife doesn't go into labor in the next couple of days, I hope to create some more. Check back for updates.

Take a look at the link below and leave a comment at the bottom of this post. I never know if people like the albums or not. It'd be great to get some feedback.

View the album < here >

Thanks again for chosing me, Heidi and Tim.

Congratulations!

Jason

New Business Cards

2007-05-21T14:37:00.000-05:00

So I need new business cards in a bad way. People ask me for my card all the time and I only have 4x6 post cards to give them. So I've created a couple different layouts and would appreciate your feedback. Be honest. It'll be two sided, full color with a bleed.

Pick your favorite and leave me a comment in the comment section of this post. If you have suggestions, they're more than welcome too.

Thanks,
Jason

Card #1

Card #2

Card #3

More Etta

2007-05-21T13:52:00.000-05:00

Etta's mom and dad wanted some 18 month photos. And did Etta deliver. She's really easy to photograph and I caught a lot of great expressions from her. I got a few more with her buddy Gavin, but I'll save those for another post.

Jessica and Josh

2007-05-11T00:52:00.000-05:00

Not very photogenic...? Right.

Here's an engagement session I shot tonight down by the Walker Art Center. After telling me they weren't comfortable in front of the camera, they proved themselves wrong. They're getting married in June and it should be a lot of fun. And shooting at the St. Paul Cathedral should be amazing as well. I can't wait.

See you then Jessica and Josh!

Allison and Nick

2007-05-04T12:01:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: More pages have been loaded. I hope you enjoy!!

Allison and Nick were a great couple who wanted to have a lot of fun on their wedding day, and I think they did. And I have to say, there were A LOT of pretty people in attendance. We're talking beautiful women and, from what I was told by my wife, the guys were ok too. Somewhat "Jock" looking for some reason. Sadly, I've had to evaluate my group of friends and cut out a few after shooting this wedding.

See more photos < here >

Congratulations Allison and Nick!

_

95 CUSTOM HARLEY SPORTSTER

2007-05-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

Due to a second child due in May I am selling my bike. Does anyone know anyone looking?

95 Sportster 883
11,600 miles
Excellent condition
Never been put down
Great for commuting and tooling around town
Many extras: Forward controls, Large gas tank, Many Powder coated parts - hypercharger, fork guards, handlebars, controls, rear springs, battery box, etc
A ton of added Kuryakyn parts (original owner worked for Kuryakyn)

Had a 10,000 mile tune up over the winter, new gaskets and seals, timing adjusted, etc (documentation available)
A ton of extra parts included: second seat, luggage rack/backrest, travel bag, chrome fork guards, battery charger, plus more - everything I've got goes with it.

I hate to sell it because it's so fun to ride and gets a surprising amount of attention, but...

Good deal at $5250 or best offer

Call Jason at 612.644.3543

More Engagements!

2007-05-01T10:26:00.000-05:00

Again, downtown! Love it! I will be shooting Caroline and Matt's wedding this fall, but they wanted to do some save the dates with photos. We beat the rain that day and got some great shots. If their wedding party is as fun as they are, I can't wait!

Lisa and Brent

2007-04-24T17:17:00.000-05:00

Brent may not be the most talkative guy, as evident of his speech, but he and Lisa know how to have a good time. We were graced with beautiful weather and we took full advantage of it. We got a bunch of photos outside and I think they turned out great. See many more photos < here >

Congratulations Lisa and Brent!

Kim and Hary

2007-04-17T13:41:00.000-05:00

I'm shooting Kim and Hary's wedding in September. They were in town from China last week so we did some engagement photos in downtown Minneapolis. I have to say, downtown is my new favorite place for engagements. It has a vibe of it's own that really comes through in the photos. Plus all the architecture gives plenty of great angles to choose from.

Doug and Carrie

2007-04-06T09:37:00.000-05:00

This wedding was shot last weekend in Somerset, WI. It's just the first 22 pages of their album but with the holiday weekend coming up and I wanted to get as many pages up before heading out of town.

< Click here for gallery >

Congratulations Doug and Carrie!

.

Raegan

2007-04-02T18:03:00.000-05:00

Here's a newborn who was really sleepy. We got some shots when she woke up for a few minutes, but I'll go back for some more shots when she's more awake.

Congratulations Adam and Kelly!

Lucas and Jessie

2007-03-25T11:26:00.000-05:00

Jessie and Lucas,

Check out the link to some pages for your album. There's many more shots to choose from, and all pages can be edited. Take a look and let me know what you think.

< Jessie and Lucas >

Thanks again for letting me be part of your day.

Jason

New Sign

2007-03-23T13:48:00.000-05:00

Not that it will matter to anyone in cyberspace but I'm having some new signs made. They're similar to the kind used by politicians but I'll put it by some schools to drum up some High School Senior and Children portraits. Keep an eye out for them!

Brian and Caragh

2007-03-19T10:42:00.000-05:00

Here's a wedding I shot of a couple of friends. He's a woodworker so we exchanged services. He built my wife and I a HUGE wardrobe for our bedroom and a cool headboard for our bed, and in exchange I shot his wedding. It was at the Minnesota History Center in downtown St. Paul. It was a beautiful wedding and we had lots of fun with the many friends in attendence.

Congratulations again, Brian and Caragh!

Find Brian's website in my links.

Sawyer, Grayson and Daddy

2007-03-16T18:58:00.000-05:00

Here's a couple of my favorite shots from when I shot the Cox family. Saywer was having a great time on the Slip n' Slide. So was dad!

Zoolander!!

2007-03-16T18:52:00.000-05:00

Ok one more of Gavin, here he's doing his best Derick Zoolander impression.

Gavin Jack

2007-03-16T18:49:00.000-05:00

Seeing that I mentioned my son Gavin, I figured I needed to post a photo. This ones a little old but it's his first time eating cake on his birthday. One of my favorite shots from his birthday.

Etta

2007-03-16T18:14:00.000-05:00

Meet Etta, what a doll!! Etta's the best friend of my son, Gavin. My wife, Amy, and Etta's mommy, Carrie, have been friends since High School. And James, Etta's daddy, and I played in a band for 6 years. Gavin is only about a month older than Etta and guess what, their both gonna have little brothers or sisters very shortly too. They're destined to buddies for life.

Family

2007-03-16T13:26:00.000-05:00

Here is a family shoot that I took last fall. We went to a park so the youngest daughter could play but everyone got in on the act and had a good time. Ashley, you rock!!