Grand Forks Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Winter Wedding at The Gorecki Alumni Center with Alexa and Cody

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Winter Wedding at The Gorecki Alumni Center with Alexa and Cody

Alexa & Cody planned their wedding for December 22 and though we were having a very warm winter with no snow, they were both crossing their fingers for a beautiful snow-filled wedding day. With a bit of luck, we DID get some snow about a week before their wedding day AND the temperatures were actually in the high 20s ABOVE zero (which is odd for us in late December).

We also had some dense morning fog which actually helped give our pre-ceremony photos more of a “winter wonderland” type of feel! Oh…did I mention that Alexa & Cody wanted most of their photos outside in the snow??!! They were such a fun & laid-back couple and we alternated shooting some photos and then warming up in our warm running vehicles.

The ceremony was set for mid-day and was a brief, but beautiful, exchange of vows filled with precious moments in front of the couple’s family and friends. Alexa & Cody shared their first kiss as husband and wife and walked back down the aisle to begin their new lives together!

The reception was amazing filled with the best food from Ground Round and treats by Hugo’s Bakery! Everyone celebrated with a fantastic meal, shared speeches, toasts, and fun stories and then sent the couple off early as they were set to fly out that evening for their short “mini-moon”.

I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my 2023 wedding season and to usher in Christmas and the New Year!

I had so much fun with Alexa, Cody, and their closest family and friends and I was so honored to be the one trusted to capture their wedding day memories!

Venue: The Gorecki Alumni Center

Officiant: Shayne Daku

Catering: Ground Round

Cake: Hugo’s Bakery

Photography: Shawn Morrissey Photography

If you’d like more information on the Gorecki Alumni Center, please check out my GORECKI ALUMNI CENTER PAGE!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2024 & 2025 Weddings!

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Summer Wedding at Naastad Acres with Heidi and Dillan

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Summer Wedding at Naastad Acres with Heidi and Dillan

I was excited as I headed to my favorite wedding venue, Naastad Acres, on July 13th because I knew it was gonna be an amazing day! I had worked with Heidi & Dillan last year for their engagement photos and I had a blast with them so I was really looking forward to being such a huge part of their wedding day.

The day started out a bit toasty with temps in the mid 90’s but that didn’t stop anyone from making sure this was the best day ever! Heidi staged a first look with the groomsmen which was really just a front so she could “ICE” them! The guys all had to bend a knee and chug a can in the blazing sun as the bride laughed.

We hid Dillan in a shaded row of trees while he waited for Heidi and they shared an emotional first look! The rest of the wedding party photos were a breeze as everyone was so fun and easy to work with.

The ceremony was filled with heartfelt emotions and unique moments like a branding ceremony, an original song performed by one of the bride’s close family members, and a guitar solo and song performed by one of the bride’s guitar students.

As the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife, they were swept away for a ride around the gorgeous property by a horse-drawn carriage from Point Paradise Stables!

Then there was a celebration of the couple in true Naasatd Acres fashion with great food from the Ground Round, music, dancing, and of course…a fireworks display rivaling any 4th of July celebration!

I had so much fun with Heidi, Dillan, and their closest family and friends and I was so honored to be the one trusted to capture their wedding day memories!

Venue: Naastad Acres

Dress: HoneyBee Bridal

Officiant: Bride’s Mother

Horses & Carriage: Point Paradise Stables

Catering: Ground Round

Cake: Grand Forks North End Dairy Queen

Photography: Shawn Morrissey Photography

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2025 & 2026 Weddings!

Ashley & James | Beautiful Outdoor Engagement Session at Turtle River State Park | Grand Forks Wedding Photographer

Ashley & James | Beautiful Outdoor Engagement Session at Turtle River State Park | Grand Forks Wedding Photographer

Earlier in the Summer, I held a contest on my social media for a giveaway of one of my Engagement Session Experiences for FREE to 2 lucky couples. The dozens of entries I had come in were narrowed down to a handful of Finalists by the required conditions and rules of the giveaway. From that small number of finalists, Ashly & Jame’s story stood out to me and after an initial zoom chat…they were chosen as 1 of the winners.

We planned for a fun outdoor session in the nature of Turtle River State Park. We couldn’t have been any luckier with the evening we got either. It was sunny, calm, and in the low 80’s. The only thing that kept it from being perfect was the constant swarm of ladybugs that followed us for the first half of our shoot!

All three of us were in the water at some point and I seriously thought I’d be the one that fell all the way in…but all went well and we were able to get some awesome shots! We also were blessed with a wonderful sunset as we hiked up a hill to get a few last shots.

I love working with adventurous couples like Ashly and James and I had so much fun on our shoot with them!

I’m honored and excited to be shooting their upcoming 2024 wedding and I know it’s gonna be a blast!

If you’re engaged and searching for a photographer who specializes in working with awesome couples to preserve their “once-in-a-lifetime” memories and create their very first family heirloom…then contact me and tell me about yourself!

Jessica and Casandra | Beautiful Duluth Fall Engagement Session at Banning State Park | Duluth Wedding Photographer

Jessica and Casandra | Beautiful Duluth Fall Engagement Session at Banning State Park | Duluth Wedding Photographer

Earlier in the Summer, I held a contest on my social media for a giveaway of one of my Engagement Session Experiences for FREE to 2 lucky couples. The dozens of entries I had come in were narrowed down to a handful of Finalists by the required conditions and rules of the giveaway. From that small number of finalists, Jessica & Casandra’s story connected with me on many levels and after an initial zoom chat…they were chosen as 1 of the winners.

We planned and set a date for me to drive over to Banning State Park (which is about a 4.5 hour drive for me) and came up with a super fun gameplan. On the day of our scheduled shoot, however, we were thrown a curveball that it would be raining most of the day. After chatting…we decided to go ahead and still have me drive down for the shoot.

We got started a bit late AND the cloud cover made it get darker sooner than we’d planned so we had to alter our plans and focus on the shots we REALLY wanted. It WAS raining most of the time but the trees gave us great coverage. I had a blast walking around in the forest with Jessica & Casandra (it reminded me of growing up in Michigan and being in the woods every day).

We found a beautiful spot at the base of a waterfall and the couple was adventurous and willing to climb on rocks, get in the water, and whatever else it took to get some epic photos!

Lack of time aside…We lucked out and seriously couldn’t have asked for a better evening for a photoshoot! Since it was raining out, we pretty much had the entire park to ourselves!

We literally used every ounce of light we had and ended up hiking a mile or so back to our vehicles in the pitch-black darkness through the forest. I loved it!

Jessica & Casandra were so much fun to work with that after chatting, we’ve decided to work together again for their 2024 wedding in the Duluth area! I can’t wait to see the shots we get on their special wedding day!

If you’re engaged and searching for a photographer who specializes in working with awesome couples to preserve their “once-in-a-lifetime” memories and create their very first family heirloom…then contact me and tell me about yourself!

Naastad Acres Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Outdoor August Wedding In Hatton, ND With Sande And Jeff

Naastad Acres Wedding Photographer - Elegant Outdoor Summer Wedding In Hatton, ND With Sande And Jeff

I met Sande and Jeff for drinks at The SPUD Jr to chat about their big day and quickly realized what an awesome couple they were and how excited I’d be to photograph their wedding. Planning their wedding was so fun…they live in Colorado so most of our planning was via zoom…but they were always super cool to chat with and I enjoyed every minute.

When their wedding day arrived…it was such a perfect day out for a wedding! Their wedding would take place out at Naastad Acres in Hatton, ND and I always joke with the venue owners that whenever I photograph a wedding at their lovely venue…it’s ALWAYS 95 degrees out with 200% humidity!! But the day of Sande & Jeff’s wedding was sunny and in the high 70’s! Can’t ask for much better!

Everyone involved in the wedding, from the bridal party to family or friends, were all fantastic to work with and most of the afternoon flew by as we were able to capture some amazing moments.

The ceremony was beautiful and filled with laughter and special moments. Sande & Jeff walked back down the isle as newlyweds and were smiling ear to ear as their family & friends cheered them on!

The reception and dance were action packed as I worked up a small sweat playing the FREEZE FRAME game as we had to take photos with Sande & Jeff at each table of guests all within the span of 1 song! Harmon Entertainment kept the place moving the rest of the evening and I was even able to steal the couple away for some epic sunset/nighttime photos!

Naastad Acres finished the night with a BANG as they put on a spectacular fireworks show in honor of the newlyweds!

I had so much fun with Sande, Jeff, and their closest family and friends and I was so honored to be the one trusted to capture their wedding day memories!

Venue: Naastad Acres

Officiant: Rich Hagen

Dress: David's Bridal - Columbus, OH

Men’s Wear: Halberstadt's West Acres

Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie.com

DJ: Harmon Entertainment - Cody Christian

Catering: Ground Round

Floral: Jalen Nicole Floral

Cake: Love in the Oven Bakery

Photography: Shawn Morrissey Photography

Videography: Harmon Entertainment - Devonte Figueroa

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2024 & 2025 Weddings!

Naastad Acres Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Late Summer Wedding In Hatton, ND With Eden And Daniel

Naastad Acres Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Late Summer Wedding In Hatton, ND With Eden And Daniel

It was a beautiful mid-September day out at Naastad Acres in Hatton…the perfect kind of day for a wedding! This particular wedding day belonged to Eden & Daniel. I got the chance to meet and work with the couple last Fall for their engagement session which also took place at Naastad Acres. It was a super chilly afternoon but I had a ton of fun with them and we captured some awesome engagement photos. I knew we’d have a blast on their wedding day!

Their wedding day was just that…a blast! We had perfect weather and Naastad Acres is filled with so many fantastic locations for photos so the day pretty much flew by!

As the ceremony began, Eden & Daniel’s closest friends and family watched as “Rev D” entertained and conducted the service. Eden even prepared a song to sing which blew everyone away! The couple then exchanged rings, vows, and a first kiss and walked back down the isle as husband and wife to the cheers of everyone in attendance.

Then it was time to celebrate…which is ALWAYS a fun time at Naastad Acres! The music was great, the food was delicious, and Eden & Daniel’s day could not have gone any better!

Congrats to the new couple! Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your wedding day memories!

Venue: Naastad Acres

Officiant: Dustin Elliot “Rev D”

Dress: Kristen's Bridal

Men’s Wear: Men's Wearhouse

Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey

DJ: Harmon Entertainment - Brenna

Catering: Ground Round

Floral: Wy's Floral

Cake: Gigi's Cupcakes

Photography: Shawn Morrissey Photography

Videography: Harmon Entertainment - Chris & Brita

Shawn Morrissey Photography

Watch Eden & Daniel’s Highlight Film by Shawn Morrissey Photography

(Be sure to click the SETTINGS (Gear) Icon and Select HD)

---

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2024 & 2025 Weddings!

Payton and Harold | Elegant Duluth Summer Wedding At Enger Park | Duluth Wedding Photographer

Payton and Harold | Elegant Duluth Summer Wedding At Enger Park | Duluth Wedding Photographer

I was lucky enough to meet Payton & Harold about a month before their wedding! We were able to squeeze in a super fun engagement session in July where we hit some of Duluth’s most beautiful hotspots and get some epic photos. I had such a blast that I was excited for the wedding (which I wouldn’t have long to wait for).

The day of the wedding was as close to perfect as you could ask for. Clear blue skies and a mild 76 degrees. The pre-ceremony photos were a breeze as I got to meet and work with Payton & Harold’s friends and family for most of the late morning.

The ceremony had the beautiful Lake Superior and Duluth’s Canal Park as it’s backdrop. With a slight breeze in the air, the couple exchanged vow, rings, and their first kiss as husband and wife as they walked back down the isle to cheers.

The reception had us crossing state lines into Superior, WI to the newlyweds own backyard (literally). Payton and Harold celebrated the night away with their closest family and friends to great food and music and as I was leaving, I couldn’t help but think of my own wedding day which took place in the exact same location as Payton & Harold’s and hoping the couple has as much luck and good fortune as I have had!

Congrats to Payton & Harold and thank you so much for trusting me to capture and preserve the moments of your beauitful wedding day!

If you’re engaged and searching for a photographer who specializes in working with awesome couples to preserve their “once-in-a-lifetime” memories and create their very first family heirloom…then contact me and tell me about yourself!

Payton and Harold | Elegant Duluth Summer Engagement Session | Duluth Wedding Photographer

Payton & Harald | Duluth Summer Engagement Session at Enger Park| Duluth Wedding Photographer

Earlier in the Spring, I held a contest on my social media for a giveaway of one of my Engagement Session Experiences for FREE to a lucky couple. The dozens of entries I had come in were narrowed down to a handful of Finalists by the required conditions and rules of the giveaway. From that small number of finalists, Payton & Harold’s story connected with me on many levels and after an initial zoom chat…they were chosen as winners.

One of the things about their story that stood out to me was that they were set to get married at Enger Park in Duluth, MN which is the exact same place that my wife Sherry and I were married in 2014! It’s such an amazing place with a beautiful view of Duluth’s Canal Park and Lake Superior as a backdrop. One of the other things that drew me to Payton & Harold was the fact that they were willing to be adventurous and wanted to work with me to get some epic shots.

We planned and set a date for me to drive over to Duluth (which is about a 4.5 hour drive for me) and came up with a super fun gameplan. On the day of our scheduled shoot, however, we were thrown a curveball and ALMOST didn’t get to have our session. 20 minutes into my trip, my truck blew a tire and of course the jack supplied with my truck to change the tire was faulty and my spare was basically flat too! After a 2 hour wait and $160 later…I was back on the road and made it to our shoot with about 20 minutes to spare.

We lucked out and seriously couldn’t have asked for a better evening for a photoshoot! It was 78 degrees with no wind at all and a crystal clear sky! We had an amazing time hitting some of Duluth’s most beautiful notable spots from Enger Park/tower, Quarry Park, & Point Park Beach.

We timed everything perfectly and had one of the most epic sunsets on the beach I’ve had for a photoshoot yet!

Payton & Harold were so much fun to work with that after chatting, we’ve decided to work together again for their fast approaching August 5th wedding in Duluth! I can’t wait to see the shots we get on their wedding day!

If you or someone you know is interested in my Engagement session giveaway contests…be sure and follow my INSTAGRAM for details and announcements!

If you’re engaged and searching for a photographer who specializes in working with awesome couples to preserve their “once-in-a-lifetime” memories and create their very first family heirloom…then contact me and tell me about yourself!

Intimate Urban Downtown Grand Forks Elopement | Grand Forks Wedding Photographer

Intimate Downtown Grand Forks Elopement At Sky’s Restaurant | Grand Forks Wedding Photographer

Bailey and Payton reached out to me in January asking about engagement photos. We immediately started planning for our session and hoping for a break in the frigid arctic temperatures we were having so we could get some fun outdoor images in the snow.

We finally got some temps in the upper 20’s in Mid February, so we set our session date for the 10th. After meeting downtown, we began and quickly found out that the slight breeze was making it quite colder than we were hoping so we had fun alternating between outdoor photos and going inside to warm up. I had so much fun getting to know Bailey and Payton as we ventured all around the downtown area and got some awesome shots as we warmed up inside The Urban Stampede and The Spud Jr.

While chatting with them over a drink at The Spud Jr, I asked about when and where their upcoming wedding would be. They told me it was actually that evening at Sky’s restaurant (In about 2 hrs)!! After that little surprise, we discussed it and I was thrilled I was gonna be able to photograph their intimate little elopement!

It is the first time since I’ve been photographing weddings that I shoot engagement photos AND the wedding on the same day!

We took a little break and I later met them downtown in their private event room at the beautiful Sky’s Restaurant. Their elopement ceremony was short and sweet as they exchanged vows, rings, and a first kiss as husband and wife in front of their families.

It was quite an adventurous afternoon and I’m so happy to have been a part of it. It was an honor meeting Bailey, Payton, and their families.

Congrats to the new couple! Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your wedding day memories!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2023 & 2024 Weddings!

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Summer Wedding At University Of North Dakota

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Summer Wedding At The University Of North Dakota

I met MaryAnn & Natisha through a groom I was working with who happened to be a coworker of MaryAnn’s. After meeting with the couple, I could tell we had a lot in common and working with them would be a total blast!

We actually had a separate double Bridal session about a month before the wedding where we had total freedom to capture stunning couple portraits without the time constraints and normal stressors of the actual wedding day. Even though it was 98 degrees during our double bridal session, we had so much fun and got some great shots.

We’re so glad we planned that bridal session because soon after (and before the wedding) Natisha broke her arm!!! Ouch. She was supposed to have it in a full cast for the wedding day but she was a trooper and told the doctors to hold off on the cast until after the wedding! Even with a broken arm on her wedding day, she was open to anything and we worked hard to get amazing photos while keeping her as comfortable as possible. It was one of the more memorable wedding day portrait shoots I’ve done.

The ceremony at The Gorecki was beautiful as family and friends got to witness Natisha & MaryAnn exchange vows, rings, and a first kiss as a married couple.

The guests then enjoyed social hour while the space was transformed into a beautiful reception space with amazing details spread throughout. Once the reception began, it was a non stop celebration! There was incredible food, drinks, music, dancing, and lots of laughter as everyone commemorated the newlyweds!

Congrats to the new couple! Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your wedding day memories!

For more info on The Gorecki Alumni Center…be sure to check out my Gorecki & Hopper Danley Page HERE!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2023 & 2024 Weddings!

Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Summer Wedding In Moorhead, MN

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Summer Wedding In Moorhead, MN

I first met with Heidi & Lexi at Rustic Oaks during an Open House event in 2019 at the beautiful rustic venue. I quickly knew that they would be an ideal couple to work with. We had tons of fun on their engagement session at Rustic Oaks and captured some wonderful memories. The wedding couldn’t come soon enough.

But then…the Pandemic burst in and threw the entire world into chaos! Just like all the other 2020 couples, Heidi & Lexi weren’t sure if they could have their ceremony in August. As the date approached and some of the venue restrictions in the state opened up, we decided to go ahead with their ceremony as planned.

After it raining most of the morning, the weather cleared up and we had a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding!

The ceremony was beautiful with lots of fine details spread about the space as family and friends got to witness Heidi & Lexi exchange vows, rings, and a first kiss as a married couple.

Guests then piled into the stunning reception hall at Rustic Oaks and the afterparty kicked off with a bang as Harmon Entertainment kept the place swinging! There was incredible food, drinks, music, dancing, and lots of laughter as everyone celebrated the newlyweds!

Congrats to the new couple! Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your wedding day memories!

For more info on RUSTIC OAKS…be sure to check out my RUSTIC OAKS PAGE HERE!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2023 & 2024 Weddings!

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Rustic Fall Wedding in Davenport, ND

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Rustic Fall Wedding In Davenport, ND

I first met Shelby & RJ when I drove down to Fargo to shoot an engagement session with them. It was a super hot day out but I had a blast with them as we trekked around the countryside and captured some amazing shots! I knew right away that their wedding day was going to be special and a ton of fun!

Their late October wedding was set at The Pines right outside Fargo in Davenport, ND. The Pines is a truly amazing venue and we couldn’t have asked for better weather in late October for an outdoor ceremony. There were plenty of pre-ceremony special moments such as a groomsmen gift opening, a couple of emotional “first looks” and tons of laughter between all of the family and friends.

The ceremony was beautiful with lots of fine details spread about the space as family and friends got to witness Shelby & RJ exchange vows, rings, and a first kiss as husband and wife all in the late afternoon setting sun.

Guests then piled into the stunning reception hall at The PINES and the afterparty kicked off with a bang! There was incredible food, drinks, music, dancing, and lots of laughter as everyone celebrated the new husband and wife!

I had such a great time and this was the best way possible to end my 2022 wedding season! It was such an honor working with Shelby, RJ, and their families on their special day!

Congrats to the new couple! Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your wedding day memories!

Venue: THE PINES

Dress: Your Day By Nicole

Florist: Shotwell Floral & Greenhouse

Photographer: Shawn Morrissey Photography

Men’s Attire: Halberstadt's West Acres

Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes

DJ: Complete Weddings + Events Kayla

Caterer: Chefs Table Catering

Watch Shelby & RJ’s Wedding Highlight Video!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2023 & 2024 Weddings!

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful October Wedding In Moorhead, MN

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful October Wedding In Moorhead, MN

I met Kelsey and Chris when they were part of the bridal party for another couple of mine whose wedding was in 2019. I was thrilled to hear of their own engagement and super excited that they asked me to be their wedding photographer!

They couldn’t have picked a better date for their big day! We had beautiful Fall weather with just a slight breeze which was awesome because October weather can be all over the place. Kelsey and Chris’s day took place at the stunning RiverHaven Events Center in Moorhead, MN which was amazing both inside and out!

It is surrounded by trees, a winding river, and plenty of nature. In fact, during our wedding party photoshoot, we had to move aside as a flock of wild turkeys spread out in a wide line and pecked their way across the field right towards us.

The ceremony was beautiful and brief, taking place in front of a giant panoramic set of windows showcasing all the Fall colors of the trees outside. When it was over, Kelsey and Chris were husband and wife and the newlyweds celebrated with all of their family and friends on an amazing Autumn evening.

I had such an awesome time working with Kelsey and Chris and chatting with their family and friends all day. I’m so lucky and honored to have been a part of their big day!

Congrats to the new couple! Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your wedding day memories!

Venue: RiverHaven Events Center

Dress: LeeAnn’s Bridal

Florist: Ling’s Moments

Photographer: Shawn Morrissey Photography

Men’s Attire: LeeAnne’s Bridal

Cake: Gigi’s cupcakes

DJ: Harmon Entertainment DJ service, MC Brandon Forde

Caterer: Urban Foods Catering

Watch Kelsey & Chris’s Wedding Highlight Video!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2023 & 2024 Weddings!

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Rustic Summer Wedding In Hatton, ND

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Rustic Summer Wedding In Hatton, ND

I literally can’t remember when I first met Tayla and Connor…it was definitely BEFORE all of the pandemic craziness. I quickly knew that they would be so much fun to work with and we started their wedding planning journey. But then, due to COVID, we had to postpone and reschedule their wedding another year!

Well, that year was worth the wait! Their wedding day finally came and you couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day! Their day took place at NAASTAD ACRES in Hatton, ND (my absolute favorite venue to work at).

It was a toasty 90 degrees out all day, but the morning was filled with friends and family laughing and building memories together. Everyone was so awesome to work with and I had tons of fun conversations as the morning just flew by!

The ceremony was beautiful in the bright sun with no wind at all. The couple exchanged vows, rings, kissed, and walked back down the isle as husband and wife to cheers and tears of happiness.

Now…if anyone knows how to throw a party…it’s Naastad Acres and Harmon Entertainment! The reception and dance were nonstop fun and action as Tayla & Connor’s family and friends put in their best efforts to celebrate the newlyweds. To cap off their whirlwind of a special day, the couple got to watch a fantastic display of fireworks in their honor!

What a wonderful day for such an amazing couple. I’m so glad that Tayla & Connor stuck with me through the craziness of the past 2 years and we were all able to share their special day together! I feel so lucky and honored to have been the one to work with them these past two years!

Congrats to the new couple! Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your wedding day memories!

Venue: Naastad Acres

Dress: Your Day By Nicole-Fargo

Florist: Hugo’s-East Grand Forks

Photographer: Shawn Morrissey Photography 2nd Photographer: Alica Hogan Uhlir

Men’s Attire: Tip Top Tux

Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes-Fargo Hugo’s-East Grand Forks

DJ: Harmon Entertainment DJ service, MC Pete Johnson

Caterer: Ground Round

Watch Tayla & Connor’s Wedding Highlight Video!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2023 & 2024 Weddings!

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Summer Wedding At St. Mary's Church, Grand Forks, ND

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Summer Wedding At St. Mary's Church, Grand Forks, ND

I’ve had such an awesome time working with Ruby and Matt over the last year. We met over coffee and I quickly realized that they were a couple I would have a blast working with! Our Spring was so crazy with rain, flooding, and even a late May blizzard…that getting their engagement session planned proved challenging. We finally just went out on a chilly, windy, overcast day and shot some photos. I had so much fun with them and the photos turned out amazing! That’s when I knew that their wedding day was gonna be unforgettable!

The crazy weather seemed to follow us all the way to their wedding day as the forecast was supposed to be 99 degrees with a heat index of 107!!! Luckily, like 75% of the time, the weathermen were WAY off. The temp only reached into the low 80’s which made outdoor photos tons more comfortable and fun. We did have to deal with a slight breeze of 30 mph…but we made due!

The entire wedding party was so laid back and super easy to work with and we shared lots of laughs throughout the day! I really enjoyed chatting with members from both sides of the family and I could see where both Ruby and Matt got their fun outgoing personalities.

Once the ceremony rolled around…the laughs continued, but were accompanied by tears of joy, special moments, rings and vows being exchanged, and a first kiss as husband and wife!

The reception was packed and all of Ruby and Matt’s family and friend’s celebrated the newlyweds in grand fashion! What an action packed day!

It’s always so cool to be there to see how all of our months of planning finally come together and I get to witness another family being created!

Congrats to the new couple! Thanks so much for choosing me to capture your wedding day memories!

Venue: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Grand Forks, ND

Dress: Alan Evans Bridal

Florist: Wy’s Floral

Photographer: Shawn Morrissey Photography

Men’s Attire: Halberstadt’s at West Acres

Hair:

Cake: Deb Solem

DJ: Blu Light Productions

Watch Ruby & Matt’s Wedding Highlight Video!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2023 & 2024 Weddings!

Select 2022 dates available!

Top 5 Tips For Flawless Wedding Day Family Portraits - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Top 5 Tips For Flawless Wedding Day Family Portraits - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Your wedding day is fast approaching and you’ve been waiting for this day your entire life. It’s safe to say that you probably want everything to go perfectly. There are so many things to consider when planning the perfect wedding day that no matter how much you try to cover all the bases…there are some things that you will miss (or may not have even considered).

Over my 16 seasons as a professional wedding photographer, the one thing that I’ve found that can derail a wedding day timeline/plan faster than you can say “I DO” is the FORMAL FAMILY PORTRAITS.

Let’s face it…in any part of everyday life, if you have 5 people in a group and you give them instructions to meet at a specific location, at a specific time, and complete a specific task…someone will always be late or show up to the wrong location or not pull their weight completing the task. So on your wedding day, trying to get 30-50 people together at one location at a specific time and expect that they will ALL cooperate…is really setting yourself up for a major disappointment!

During family photos, a key person may not be on time. Another may have snuck off to grab a bite to eat and no one can find them or get a hold of them. Someone may have forgot their tie at the hotel and disappeared to go get it. The bride may have a stain on her dress and it takes 20 minutes to get her calmed down. I’ve truly seen it all happen and no part of the wedding day photos is more difficult.

But there’s good news! You can anticipate these problems and put measures in your planning to stop these time-sucking disasters from happening so your wedding day family photos will go off without a hitch and look amazing!

So pay close attention to these tips!

1) PICK TEAM CAPTAINS

Your photographer may have a list of all of your family members’ names, but with the chaos and fast pace of the day, they will never have time to memorize everyone’s names and faces. To insure a smooth family portrait session…before the wedding day, assign a family member from each side and appoint them TEAM CAPTAIN.

On the wedding day, the roll of the team captain for each side will be to gather all family members when it’s their turn for photos and call each member by name when he/she is needed for each set of photos. This way, the photographer focus on posing the group and getting awesome photos instead of wasting time trying to figure out who is who and where they are. This is a HUGE time saver!

2) PRE-GAME PLAN

The groom’s supper/rehearsal dinner (the night before the wedding) is the perfect opportunity for you to give your families a plan of action for family photos the next day. Assign your TEAM CAPTAINS (from tip 1 above) and tell them their responsibilities.

If your family photos are scheduled to begin at 1pm…Lie to your family and tell them they begin at 12:30. It’s better to have everyone there dressed, ready to go, and have to wait a bit than have 1 or 2 people show up late when they are needed. Go over all of this stuff right after dinner but BEFORE people start leaving.

3) OUTDOORS vs. INDOORS

Whenever possible, I try to capture the family portraits outside. This isn’t always possible due to weather or the wedding couple’s wishes…but there are many key advantages to photographing the families outdoors.

More room. Sometimes there’s just not enough room inside the church or venue to get a large family photo.

Natural light- there’s WAY better (more flattering) light outside than inside a dim church or venue. PLUS…if the photographer has to use off-camera lights inside the church, it’s just one more thing they have to spend time on and worry about. Shooting outside is quicker and easier for ANY photographer.

More natural looking photos-inside a church or venue, the photos can often feel stuffy and stiff. Photos taken outside just have a more natural feel to them and you can get multiple looks from different locations as apposed to every single image being in front of the alter.

4) WHY SO SERIOUS??

One thing that helps family photos look 1000 times better is if the family ACTUALLY looks like they enjoy being close to each other. Loosen up…it’s supposed to be a fun joyous occasion.

Instead of posing everyone in stiff traditional poses with hands at the side (or clasped in front) and standing side by side…opt for more loose casual posing. Arms around each other…hands on hips (ladies)…kisses on cheeks…hugs…etc…

These more candid style poses really help show the love between family members and the results are far better (more impactful) images.

5) HIRE AN EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Let’s face it…even if you implement ALL of the tips above…if you don’t have an experience pro there to capture all of these moments, your family photos (or wedding photos in general) won’t turn out how you hope they will. Plus if something DOES go wrong, you’ll need a pro with experience to quickly resolve and issues that arise.

You’ve dreamed of this day your entire life, spent months planning it, and spent thousands of dollars on your dress, venues, food, entertainment, decorations, favors, clothes, and much more. All of that stuff is temporary and won’t last past your wedding day. Your wedding photography, however, is the ONE THING that you’ll have for the rest of your lives…so be sure to invest in an experienced professional wedding photographer who will know how to best preserve this special day for you! REMEMBER…ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS! If you have a “FRIEND WITH A CAMERA” or an “Up-and-coming” photographer shoot your wedding and aren’t happy with your photos, you can’t just do it all over again. INVEST in a pro who specializes in weddings…having that “piece-of-mind” on your wedding day is PRICELESS!!!

There you have it! Don’t leave this important moment on your wedding day to chance and luck! Use these 5 TIPS to get awesome family photos with minimal time and stress on your big day! Planned correctly (and with the right photographer)…you can get these images done while having tons of fun with your families so you can enjoy the rest of your wedding day with huge smiles and laughs.

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

Top 5 Tips To Capture Amazing Sunset Photos On Your Wedding Day - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Top 5 Tips To Capture Amazing Sunset Photos On Your Wedding Day - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Your wedding day is coming up fast and you’re looking forward to spending the most important day of your lives with your family and friends! You’ve been scouring Pintrest and Google for months looking at wedding photos to get inspiration and ideas for your big day and you absolutely LOVE the idea of capturing sunset portraits on YOUR wedding day.

Whether you’ve found the perfect wedding photographer for your big day, or are still searching for one…capturing beautiful sunset photos on your wedding night is no easy feat…so you’ll not only want a photographer who knows how to technically capture these photos, but who also knows the planning involved to get them. In most cases, it’s MUCH MORE than “Let’s go outside now and stand in front of the sunset and get some amazing shots”.

To help you formulate the perfect wedding day sunset portrait GAME PLAN, I’ve come up with these 5 tips that will get you some awesome shots while not slowing the pace of your reception and keeping your guests waiting.

Here we go!

1) TIMING IS KEY

This may seem super obvious, but to plan for perfect sunset photos…you need to know the exact time the sun will set on your wedding day. Don’t wait till last minute to do this. You can check sunset times on your wedding date months in advance by simply Googling sunset times for your city (Example: “Seattle Sunset Times”). Then just go to the calendar date of your wedding and it will tell you the precise time the sun will set. Now…you’ll want to schedule your sunset photos about 30 mins prior to the sunset time for the absolute best outcome. (EXAMPLE: If sunset time is 8:37 pm…schedule your sunset pics for 8:07 pm).

2) COORDINATE WITH DJ/BAND

Now you know the time you’ll need to leave the reception to take your sunset pics…DO NOT just think you can simply try to leave at the appropriate time. First of all, you don’t just want to disappear and leave your guests and DJ/Band looking for you when it’s time for your speeches or first dances. Secondly, you won’t be able to make it far without 20 guests stopping to chat with you on the way out.

That’s why you need to coordinate your plan to capture sunset photos with your DJ or Band. Most DJ’s/Bands formulate a timeline of events during your wedding reception to insure a smooth stress-free evening for you and your guests. Disappearing for 20 minutes without letting them know beforehand can screw up their entire timeline and leave them (and your guests) frustrated. Meet with them before the wedding day and tell them about your plans to escape the reception to take sunset photos. Let them know the exact times you’ll need so they can work it into their timeline.

3) SCOUT THE LOCATION

If you want amazing sunset photos, you need to do as much planning ahead as possible. You don’t want to wait until your wedding night, get outside right before sunset, and there’s nowhere around your venue to capture the sunset in your photos. Don’t leave this once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity to chance! Ask your photographer (or you can do this as well) to go to your wedding venue on a night about a week before the wedding right around your designated sunset time to look around and see where the best possible locations will be to capture your photos on the night of your wedding.

Doing this will not only give the photographer a great idea of the lighting condition the night of your wedding, but also where to best place you and your partner. If there are no favorable locations on the venue’s property, maybe your photographer can find one within a short walking/driving distance and add it to your plan.

The key here is to do your homework beforehand to ensure the best outcome with the least amount of surprises and stress on your wedding night!

4) DISTRACT GUESTS

Remember when you coordinated your plans with your DJ/Band in TIP #2 above???? Now is when you’ll see WHY we did that!!! If you need to leave the reception for 15 minutes precisely at 8:07 pm…without a plan, you’ll find that as you make your way to the exit through the crowd of guests you’ll be stopped by literally every person you make eye contact with! They’ll want to congratulate you, hug you, or just chat your ear off for 5 minutes. It can take you 40 minutes to make it to an exit without a plan and that will ruin your chance for sunset pics.

Having previously coordinated with your DJ/Band, they can now make an announcement at the appropriate time that the Newlyweds will now be going to take some sunset photos and to let them escape without mobbing them. The DJ/Band can then entertain the guests with fun activity or few songs that engage the crowd to keep them busy until your return. Good ideas are the Hokie Pokie, Chicken Dance, Electric Slide…or a few songs just for the kids!

5) FRESHEN UP

You’ve planned, scouted, coordinated, and escaped the crowd! Now before you head out and take your sunset photos…take a minute to freshen up. Chances are, it’s mid-reception and you’ve already begun to unwind. You’ve ditched your heels for flats, let your hair down, and your make-up may be worn off. Your new groom may have ditched his jacket, loosened his tie, and rolled up his shirt sleeves.

Before taking your sunset pic, you’ll want to touch up your make up just a bit, unbustle your gown, and put your heels back on. Your groom will want to straighten his tie and put his jacket back on. These small fixes will pay huge rewards when you see your final photos!

There you have it! Don’t leave this important moment on your wedding day to chance and luck! Use these 5 TIPS to get awesome sunset photos with minimal time and stress on your big day! Planned correctly (and with the right photographer)…you can get these images done and get back to your party in under 10 minutes! Get the amazing photos you want AND spend the most time possible with your family and friends!

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

HOW TO ROCK YOUR WEDDING VENUE TOUR- Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

HOW TO ROCK YOUR WEDDING VENUE TOUR- Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

One of the most exciting parts of wedding planning (now that the proposal has finally happened!) is choosing the perfect wedding venue for your dream wedding day! Let’s assume that you already have spent hours online viewing websites of countless venues and have narrowed them down to a handful of favorites. Beautiful churches, scenic outdoor landscapes, rustic spaces with modern touches…there are so many choices!! How do you finally choose the right one?? Well, the only way you get a TRUE feel for the venue is by visiting the venue in person and taking a tour.  

The Ultimate Guide to Your Wedding Venue Tour

5 Things to Look For In a Wedding Venue:

• Cleanliness

• Friendly, organized staff

• Clear, concise answers to your questions

• Amenities - Does it have everything you’ll need on your wedding day: Parking, Restrooms, Getting ready space, heat/AC, etc…?

• The guest experience – How did it make you feel? How you felt is probably how your guests will feel.

3 Things to Consider During Your Venue Tour:

• Most importantly, can you two picture yourselves getting married here?

• Can you see yourself working with the wedding planning team?

• Does this venue fit within our budget?

Questions to Ask During The Tour:

• How long do we get the space on our wedding day?

• Is there a dressing room on site? (Or will you have to arrange a different place to get ready the morning of your wedding?)

• Who would be your point-of-contact through the planning process?

• Do they have in-house caterers or a list of preferred vendors, or can we choose our own?

• Is there anything you’ll have to provide on your own?

• Are there any restrictions? (Like noise ordinance, curfew, parking)

Other Helpful Tips To Make The Most Of Your Tour:

• You should only bring the ‘decision-makers’ to your tour. It’s fun to bring along all your closest friends, but choosing your venue is an important decision…it’s best to only have yourself, your fiancé, your parents, and/or any financial contributors at the tour.

• You should make a list of questions to ask during the tour. During the tour, you may be excited, full of emotions, and may get distracted with all the ideas swirling around in your head while viewing the space. You may easily forget any questions you may have had and regret not asking them. Come with a list!

• Ask if the person giving the tour can be the same person who will be your point of contact after your book (should you decide to book). This way you can get a feel for the person you will be working with the entire journey from booking the venue to your wedding day. Is this person easy to get along with? Do they answer all of your questions clearly? Do they seem to care about your vision? You definitely want to meet who you will be working with before you book.

The only REAL way to choose the perfect venue for YOUR wedding is to visit it! Take in all of the sights, sounds, smells, and FEEL the vibe. You’ll have that “gut feeling” when you walk into that perfect venue and that’s something you should definitely pay attention to! So take these tips, go visit your favorites, and get started on this crazy adventure of planning your wedding!

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY SURVIVAL KIT - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY SURVIVAL KIT - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Your wedding is right around the corner and you are probably still right smack-dab in the middle of the planning process. Working to create a wedding day timeline is a very smart idea and hiring a wedding planner to do all of that for you is also worth it’s weight in gold…but the truth is…no matter how rock solid your wedding day timeline is…THINGS WILL GO WRONG!

A wedding day’s timeline (no matter how rock solid) all depends upon dozens (if not hundreds) of people all working together in perfect harmony with no mistakes. No matter if these people are family, friends, or hired professionals…some of them will make mistakes during your wedding day. A groomsman may get lost and show up late for photos. A florist may forget to drop off the boutineers. Your Mom may forget to grab that special item that you tasked her with bringing. Whatever it is, if you assign 100 people with tasks that all need to be completed perfectly on a strict timeline…not all will come through.

Planning for these mistakes happening will help relieve stress and keep your wedding day running on track. Enter the Bride’s Wedding Day Survival Kit! This survival kit is something you can work with your Maid/Matron of Honor on and create for you to have on hand the day of your wedding to help combat any hurdles the day throws your way. There are many items on this list and you may not need all of them…it’s up to you to choose the ones that are most likely to be useful for your specific wedding day. Purchase a bright bag, purse, satchel that is easily seen to put all the items in and put someone in charge of knowing where it is at all times.

So here are the items to arm your survival kit with:

1. Water

2. Flip-flops, flats – Weddings involve a lot of walking, wearing your 4″ heels everywhere will make your feet miserable really quick!

3. Sewing Kit

4. Nail File

5. Blotting papers

6. Sunscreen

7. Tide to Go Pen

8. Tide to Go Stain Eraser

9. Scissors

10. Lint Roller

11. Straws – don’t let the bride mess up her lipstick

12. Baby powder – Hot summers, crowded receptions and pesky nerves lead to sweat

13. Q-Tips

14. Face Mist – One spritz of a high-quality face mist or makeup setter can do wonders

15. First Aid Kit – even just a few band-aids are helpful

16. Mints – Have your maid of honor hand you a couple before you walk down the aisle for minty fresh vows and first kiss

17. Non-Drowsy Allergy Pills – Allergies happen. Especially at outdoor weddings

18. Bobby Pins – Black and/or brown to match hair colors

19. Granola Bars – Stay hydrated and well snacked

20. Dental Flossers – thanks to #19 above, you now have granola stuff wedged in there

21. Clear Nail Polish – Classic trick for runs in nylons and tights

22. Lotion

23. Chapstick

24. Aleve/Advil/Tylenol – you get the picture.

25. Hand Wipes

26. Earring Backs

27. Eye Drops

28. Safety Pins

29. Tissues – have your maid of honor handy with these

30. Deodorant

31. Dryer Sheets-For outdoor weddings…A few dryer sheets hidden in your bouquet or stuffed in your dress can ward off misquitos.

32. Hand Sanitizer

33. Mouthwash – Leave your bridal suite as fresh as can be

34. Bug Spray

35. Antacids

36. Small umbrella

So there you have it! You are now armed with the perfect kit to help you survive potential wedding day disasters. To make life easier…you can purchase a prepackaged Survival kit from Amazon that has a majority of these items. However you choose to purchase your kit…it IS essential that you have a plan for when things happen that can drastically alter your wedding day timeline! Get rid of the stress of worrying about things going wrong and be confident on your wedding day that you can handle any emergency!

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

THE ULTIMATE POSING GUIDE FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOS - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

THE ULTIMATE POSING GUIDE FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOS - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Congratulations…You just got engaged!!! Take some time and soak in all the excitement. When you’re ready, you’ll start the search for the perfect photographer to capture your engagement photos and the precious moments of your wedding day. If you’re like most couples, you may be a bit anxious when it comes to being in front of the camera. You may have thoughts swirling around in your head like, “I’m awkward in front of a camera”, “I never know how to stand or what to do with my hands”, or even “My fiance and I are camera shy…how will we get great photos that we’ll both love?”

All of these are completely normal thoughts and the most common question I get before engagement sessions is, “We really don’t know what to do…will you be able to give us some pointers and show us how we should pose?”

Hi…I’m internationally published, award-winning wedding photographer Shawn Morrissey and I’ve been photographing wedding couples for over 15 years! During that time, I’ve created a VERY SIMPLE method of posing my couples to get images that come across dramatic, timeless, and at the same time very natural.

My simple system of posing has been narrowed down to 4 basic foundation poses…that’s it! Each one has variations and each variation can be photographed from different angles and distances to create hundreds of completely unique photographs!

So…if you are wanting to feel confident and relaxed during your engagement & wedding day photos, study this guide and even PRACTICE with your fiance.

LET’S GET STARTED!

THE ULTIMATE POSING GUIDE

As I stated before…this guide is based on 4 VERY SIMPLE poses:

• Open

• Closed (7th Grade Dance Pose)

• 45 Degrees (the V pose)

• Groom Behind Bride

3 of the 4 poses are based on what I call “HINGE POSING” which I will explain. Also…each one of these poses can be used both siting or standing…super close together, or with space in between…and each pose can be photographed close up, mid range, or wide to create a dozen unique looks from a single pose. This system is meant to be simple so you can gain confidence quickly and enjoy your session.

1) OPEN POSE- Stand side by side to your partner both looking forward with your shoulders slightly touching. Imagine you are each covers of a book that is opened to the middle and your shoulders are hinged together in the middle. This is called “OPEN POSE” and simulates an open book. A very simple concept. This pose can be used with the couple very close together or the couple is holding hands (creating the hinge) with some distance between them. It can be done standing or sitting. The couple can both look at the camera or each other. And more variations can be created by tweeking how you pose the hands or how each person stands. Very basic…but it’s the foundation for the HINGE POSES.

Here are some examples of the OPEN POSE:

2) CLOSED POSE

So…you are still that open book hinged in the middle. Now imagine that you are closing the book and the 2 covers are now completely facing each other…this is called “CLOSED POSE”…or what I like to call “7th GRADE DANCE POSE”…(because it’s basically how you looked when you would dance at school dances). Kidding aside, it’s a powerful pose and can create TONS of intimacy. The more places the two bodies touch (touch points)…the more intimacy the pose creates. Touch points of the legs, waste, and heads can create lots of intimacy and having hands touching faces can maximize it!

Here are some examples and variations of CLOSED POSE:

3) 45 DEGREES or THE “V”

Still hinged at the center…we will now open the couple up to half way between being a completely open book and a completely closed book so your bodies are slightly angled towards each other forming a small V opening towards the camera. This pose creates the most natural feel and can be used with the couple wedged close together or with a bit of space to create drama. The couple can look at camera, each other, or even off in the distance. This one is excellent both sitting or standing.

Here are some examples and variations of the 45 DEREES POSE:

4) GROOM BEHIND BRIDE

OK…the last 3 poses were based on my HINGE posing system…this pose is not. It’s a super simple pose and is basically self explanatory…but I’ll go over it because it IS a very effective pose. I call it GROOM BEHIND BRIDE but this pose does work well with same sex couples too…but one partner must be a bit taller than the other for maximum effectiveness. Basically, you put the groom behind the bride and create some touch points. My personal favorite is to have the bride look at the camera while the groom is either looking at the bride or kissing her cheek or forehead…This creates a very dramatic and intimate moment. This pose can be done sitting or standing and can look amazing from all different angles.

Here are some examples and variations:

HANDS and FEET

You’ve learned the 4 basic poses but many couples still may ask…”what should I do with my hands?”…or “How should I stand?” There are so many variations you can do with hands and stances, but here are the absolute basics when in doubt. For the bride…you can always put one hand on your hip and “pop” that hip out a bit for dramatic effect. If your other hand is free (not holding a bouquet or your partner’s hand), simple play with your hair, earring, or necklace. You can also cradle both arms or even play with your veil. For the groom…always stand up straight, with shoulders back, and feet a little wider apart than shoulder length. The groom’s free hand can go in his pants pocket or clasp his suit edges near the chest area.

Here are some examples of Hands and Stances:

There you have it!!!! Those are the 4 basic poses I use to create most of my images. I try and keep it as simple as possible so my couples quickly gain confidence and have fun during their photo session or wedding day AND come out looking like models in their images! There are so many variations of each pose that a good photographer can use these 4 simple poses to create a gallery of tons of unique images that will blow the couple away!

Your engagement AND wedding photos will be such a HUGE part of your wedding day story and feeling confident and relaxed is one of the keys to create amazing timeless images that you’ll love for the rest of your lives.

There are many other keys that go into creating amazing award worthy images of your engagement and wedding such as planning, wardrobe, hair & make up, location, etc…

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407