E + N | Minneapolis St Paul Engagement Photography

December 29, 2009
See more posts in Engagements, Lifestyle, My Heart

You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.  ~Dr. Seuss

These two are perfect for each other. You can just tell by the way they hold each other.

Plus they have cute pups and were willing to sit in the snow by my icicle wall * (read more about this below)! Love this couple and these images.

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*Ok, I just had to share a couple more images of this amazing icicle display. We were totally on our way to our second location and I passed this wall and hit the breaks hard on my car. We made a quick U turn and took advantage of this amazing texture. Seriously, this is the part of my job that I LOVE. Finding a texture, building, backdrop, detail that wouldn’t normally be noticed and I am instantly inspired. I seriously was giddy like a little kid opening a toy at Christmas. I knew exactly what I wanted to shoot here and I totally love how the images turned out. I am so grateful to have a new set of eyes that find things beautiful that most would just pass by. Here are some more images of this, in my eyes, beautiful Icicle wall. Aren’t the mix of blues and texture amazing!

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Lil’ Pricks | Life

December 29, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle, My Heart

“Love is like a tending to a rose: You’ll get a couple of pricks and cuts along the way, but in the end your efforts are bound to grow something beautiful.”

Do what you LOVE! Don’t sweat the small stuff or the little pricks along the way. (and believe me, I need to hear this message, especially today)

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Home Run Baby | Tidbits

December 27, 2009
See more posts in My Heart

“If your not falling, your not pushing hard enough” –Jeff Holt Making things Happen Intensive 2010

“Choose to be remarkable, Choose to be great” -Lara Casey Making things Happen Intensive 2010 (FYI. It’s Lara’s birthday today, stop by her twitter and leave some love)

Chasing your dreams isn’t always going to be easy. It is hard to come back from these powerful workshops, where you experience such a high, that you feel on top of the world. But then real life and the nitty gritty of everyday eats at you. I wrote about this after I came home from my mentor session with Sarah & Chris Rhoads.

Although, today I faced a small snafu situation different than I ever have before. I could have freaked out and hyperventilated, screamed, and let in the negativity. Yet, I chose to make the best out of the situation, stayed positive and truly believed in my heart of hearts that it would work out. And guess what, IT DID. It wasn’t super easy and was quite uncomfortable, but I still focused on looking forward and being positive. It will get easier, I know it.  So yes, today in my book I hit a Home Run. Celebrate your Home Run moments.

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Page from | The Bounce Back Book | Will share more from this little book soon…

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Facing Your Fears | Making Things Happen

December 26, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle, My Heart

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

First off, Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones. While I was searching for a great Christmas verse to share, I found this one above. It really spoke to me and about my experience this week. One of the biggest parts of Making Things Happen 2010 Intensive for me was the detail on facing your fears. First, identifing what they are. Many times fears hide in deep dark places that we shove them into to avoid. To get real clarity? Literally write them down on paper and make them physical. Seriously, what are the top 5 fears that are holding you back?

For me, seeing my fears staring back at me on that piece of paper, made them tangible. They weren’t these big scary things that I had exagerated in my mind. By making my fears a physical/tangible, I was able to look at each one and ask myself  “Ok, so what is the worst that can happen?”  I really went through each fear and found out that the worst possible scenarios, were not even that bad. At the end of everyone of them, I had my health, my family, and was still chasing my dream. This was quite an empowering moment for me.

So today, I challenge you to identify your fears and make them tangible by writing them down. This is the first step. Really, I dare you.  You may be suprised at what you find out.

Also, if your looking to hear a success story about facing fears, Lara Casey just wrote up Jeff Holt. Jeff was an amazing inspiration at the MTH2o10 Watercolor experience. His story truly spoke to me and his passion and just pure excitement in his voice was such a treat to be around. He is living his dream and its so stinkin’ inspiring. Watch out world, “Holt” is here to rock you. Read the post here.

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Really. I am Making Things Happen | Watercolor | Life

December 23, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle, My Heart

Screaming, dancing, jumping up and down with an uncontrollable amount of giggles barely describes the excitement I feel about my experience in Watercolor at the Making Things Happen Intensive. First off a huge thank you to the amazing Lara CaseyJeff Holt and Kyle Barnes. These three are amazingly passionate and giving people. I would not be where I am at this moment with out them sharing their lives, stories, and hearts with me. Much love to all of you and yours, from your blue handed Minnesota friend:)

After seeing Emily Ley’s video blog on her #MTH2010 experience, I was so inspired to do one of my own. So here it is, my first video blog ever. No preparation, no make-up, no cleaning-up, and me on practically no sleep. I was a little hesitant about it (like super ridiculously nervous), but its me. I added almost a header and a footer to my original video to sum it up and add somethings I wanted to mention(as well as fix my hair and adding a scarf 🙂 ), but  about this experience coming up very soon.  I just had to capture my pure excitement with this video, look for a TON more about my lessons learned, my take-aweays and nitty gritty about the experience soon. With no further adue, drumroll please…..

If you haven’t done it yet you need to read this life changing blog post on how to get fired up and make things happen. This is a global message and can apply to anyone, seriously anywhere in their life. DO IT and follow the steps. If reading and doing the steps truly speaks to you or touches you in anyway, Sign up here! Go to one of the intensives and your life will be changed. (FYI Minneapolis Location registration is coming soon)

Lastly, a photo to make you jealous of how amazingly beautiful the Watercolor resort experience was, need a vacation? Go here.

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Making Things Happen 2010 | Business | Excitement

December 21, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle

Heading out to experience the amazing Making Things Happen 2010 with the amazing Lara Casey. Do you remember this post where I spoke about meeting Lara. “I would just love to meet Lara in person, give her a huge hug thanking her and then talk for hours about life” 🙂 The next week Lara announced her MTH2010 Intensive tour, she was giving away a spot to those who commented on why they needed to go. I commented and I along with 11 others won. Woot!

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Since reading her awesome post I haven’t been able to sit still. I have so much passion, excitement, imagination, determination to really make things happen. Looking forward to rebranding, focusing and updating for 2010. I am so excited for Making Things Happen at WaterColor Inn.

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Annie | Irondale Senior Photographer | Graduation Photography

December 20, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle, My Heart

Have I told you lately how much I love shooting seniors! I was seriously giddy throughout this whole shoot. Eeeeeek! (Ok, my mini spaz over) I was so excited to see Annie when she arrived at the studio. Over the years I have taught Annie basketball lessons, its been so fun to see her grow and now she is finally a senior. She has become such a young lil’ woman, it makes me feel old just looking at her.

This girl has such a sense of style. Every outfit that she brought out I was like “umm…can I borrow that?” JK. Annie always has had a hilarious and contagious laugh. She had requested her pictures to be in the snow, definitely an out of the ordinary request for a senior session, yet perfect for Annie.  Her upbeat yet down to earth personality truly shines through in these photos. Look for more of this girl later this month.

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Nothing is better than bringing along your best friend to your photo shoot to help you smile and capture your utter goofiness. 🙂

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

New Tune | Music | Life

December 20, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle, My Heart

I heard this song on the  SYTYCD and I love it. I seriously can’t get enough. I wish it wasn’t only 1:21 seconds long. Check out more of Oona’s music go here.

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

E + S | Winter Engagement Photography | Engagement Photographer

December 20, 2009
See more posts in Engagements, Lifestyle, My Heart

Remember this photo? Erin & Scott met me in Minneapolis for their winter engagement session. Scott is a busy guy and this was one of the only weekends he could fly into town. It worked out perfect and we spent the chilly day around the city soaking up the sun and laughing. I love the smiles and expressions that these two send back and forth, its truly memorizing. Erin’s laugh is contagious and Scott’s sense of humor make these two quite a pair.  We ended the session at a local uptown coffee shop, perfect way to warm up after session. I highly recommend it!

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

O Twins | Eastview Senior High Photographer | Graduation Photography

December 20, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle

I have been frantically putting in orders here before the holiday and I totally forgot I never blogged these beautiful twin sisters. Yes, I did say twins. They don’t look much alike in my book, they both have their distinct style. In their pre-session questionarres the listed that two of their favorite movies were the Hangover and the Notebook, two of my favorite movies. We spend the warm November day chatting about movies, our favorite tv shows and what these girls like to do for fun. It was a blast!

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We walked by this letter O, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for sisterly hug shot here.

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Running | Life

December 16, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle, My Heart

I have spent the last 30 or so hours running around like a crazy person on maybe 2 hours of sleep. Running to and from the hospital, to work, to the airport. To make a long story short my husband had emergency appendectomy late Monday evening and we are now home and he is definitely sore, but doing well and resting. Thank you to everyone who has sent prayers and thoughts our way, it really has really helped me through the rough moments. I also appreciate your patience with my delay in returning phone calls and emails.

Welp, now I am going to finally hop into bed and get some much needed sleep. For now, I am going to leave you with a this cute pup. Say hello to Noah.

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

It’s beginning… | Minneapolis St. Paul Engagement Photographer

December 12, 2009
See more posts in Engagements, Lifestyle, My Heart

to look (and feel) a lot like Christmas. Just wanted to share a sneak of an awesome winter engagement session coming soon. Happy Weekend!

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Meredith + Eric | Colorado Lifestyle Photographer | Cans for Comments

December 11, 2009
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***Tonight at midnight ends the Cans for comments mission…we are currently at 142 cans.  We are almost at my goal of 150 comments which = 150 cans of food to feed local families. I thank everyone who has commented so far. We are so close… comment it up on this last post. ***

Meredith and Eric welcomed us into their home while we visited  Aspen, Colorado this fall. I played basketball with Meredith in high school and it had been forever since I had seen her. It was so great to catch up and spend time with these guys in their element.  The second day of the trip Meredith mentioned that we should drive up to Maroon Bells. We when drove up and took a peek and I was seriously in awe. Like literally, my mouth dropped as we walked up to the lake below the Bells. We took pictures there for awhile, but just scenery wasn’t enough for me. While I love nature and landscape photos and they are growing on me actually. I still have an extreme desire to photograph people. I was so excited to go back to the Bells with this adorable couple.

Meredith brought her adorable gloves that became quick prop in our photoshoot. I could shoot here everyday, the driftwood, trees, mountains, grass. I have heard this place is ridiculously colorful in the spring. I think I might have to go back to check it out. What do you think?

Lastly, I had such a great time seeing Matt face while we drove through the mountains from Denver to Aspen. Matt has never been to Colorado, and was just amazed by the mountains. It was so fun to see that he really enjoys the state as much as I do. I have another post cooking of this awesome hike we took, it is just simply gorgeous out there. Enjoy!

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Mya Moo | Puppy Love | Cans for Comments

December 11, 2009
See more posts in My Heart

***Cans for comments update…we are currently at 75 cans. I am going to extend the deadline till this Friday, December 11th. So, lets comment the heck out of my next couple of posts and feed those who are in need. My goal is to hit 150 comments which = 150 cans of food to feed local families. I know we can do it! Remember you can comment on each new post. ***

I am going to let you in on a little secret….I am one of those dog moms. The ones who dress her dog up in cute scarfs and sweaters, who cries every time we go out of town and leave her and the momma who babies her dog. This should be laughable to anyone who grew up with me, especially my immediate family. Seriously, I swore off getting a dog. I had too many negative experiences with the ones that grew up in my house, I wouldn’t have it.  I thought I was off scot free when I married a man who was allergic to cats and dogs. Little did I know that measly a couple months later we would find out he was only still allergic to cats and now the husband was ever motivated to get a dog. Well, a week after Christmas 2008 he convinced me to just come “look”. Ladies and Gentlemen, you cannot drive 2 hrs and play with the cutest puppy ever and just look. I repeat you cannot just “look”

This is why its is totally hilarious that I am that dog mom. Mya has found a soft spot in my heart and her cuddly self reassures me everyday that she is a keeper. Well not everyday (like the 5am I-am-going-to-bark-until-you-wake up calls) but yes I love her to pieces.

Mya is a Morkie. This week she had her year check-up and she is slated full grown at a whopping 5.6 pds. Last week, I took my pup over to my ever amazing friend Sarah of SarahBethPhotography. Let me tell you a little about my kick booty awesome friend Sarah. She is a ridiculously talented pet photographer, most recently eating up the cover of Minnesota Monthly and even has her pup and photo in People magazine. Her style is so fresh and so modern for pet photography. You might ask why I wouldn’t just take photos of my own dog? I would rather leave it up to the expert. Sarah is not only an amazing photographer, but she is so great with pups. Mya is a bit of a toughie sometimes being she is a bit crazy, but Sarah just hung out and played with her and captured these amazing moments. To check out more of Mya go here.

And if you are drooling over these photos like I am. Schedule a session with Sarah. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Also, a great holiday gift 🙂

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me

Missing Colorado | Anytime | Cans for Comments

December 10, 2009
See more posts in Lifestyle, My Heart, Weddings

Sweet and simple, missing the beautiful state of Colorado. I just want to breathe in that fresh mountain air. I hope to get back there in 2010. Keep up the cans for comments only 2 more days! We are at 68 cans.

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Gina is a Minneapolis based wedding and lifestyle photographer that loves bringing the LIFE out of people & capturing that energy on camera. Contact Me