I was "gently" reminded by a friend the other day that I was behind in my blogging.....again. lol. ok ok.
so, what has Chelsea Morning Photography been up to?

THIS (Liz)

And
THIS (2009 Mankato PowWow)

And
THIS (Andy and Danielle's wedding)

And
THIS (April)

It's been a really busy month as you can see! I have an exciting October coming up, as I'll be showing all month at Bliss Java in Mankato (Corner of Liberty and Front). My official opening reception is the evening of October 8th, but feel free to stop by any time during the month to view my work. Not only will I be showcasing some of my portfolio work, but will also be displaying some photos taken of residents at CADA (commitee against domestic abuse). Three very brave women shared their stories with me and allowed me to photograph them. Please take the time to read their stories and hopefully donate to CADA as they help so many women get out of abusive relationships and give them a safe haven.

summer's end

It was a beautiful labor day weekend in Minnesota. The weekend always seems to be a double edged sword though, as we enjoy the three days of warm sun, but knowing that the weekend signifies the unofficial end to summer and it's heated days. Nevertheless, it's my favorite weekend of the year.
Jason and I were married on Sunday of labor day weekend in 2001, so naturally I think it's the best weekend for a wedding. Jenny and Andonis were married this weekend at a beautiful site in Stillwater, MN, with their reception following at Rush Creek in Maplewood. The gardens, the sun and the bride were all perfect. Thank you to a great couple for sharing their special day!

Wedding in Sibley Park

It was a questionable weather day for Mike and Mary's outdoor wedding. The clouds couldn't make up their mind and with every 10 passing minutes, there was a a different sky. It was lovely and sunny though when the bride pulled up to make her entrance at Sibley Park, and with the exception of a few misty raindrops, the ceremony went off without a hitch!

Thanks for having me be a part of your day!

urban exploring

My good friend Kersten and I love spending an afternoon now and again exploring our area, the parts you don't normally see---the underbelly if you will. It's the part with the most character though, and usually provide great photography backdrops. While we were out the other day, I took a few shots of Kersten. She's gotten used to being my guinea pig.

sometimes two heads are better then one

My friend and fellow photographer, David Van Amber asked if I'd be his second shooter yesterday for the wedding of Kristen and John. I've always enjoyed shooting together with another photographer, and often have a second shooter or assistant photographer with me on shoots as well. David and I have different approaches and styles, which is even better, because it's a great mix of things and we play off each other well. When he was in doing formals of the guys in the church, I stole the girls for some outdoor shots, and then the guys when it was the girls turn in the church. After the ceremony we followed their party bus and I jumped out when we got to Como Park, while David stayed with the van, avoiding a parking ticket. When the party bus pulled into a sports bar though, I relaxed in the sun for a few minutes while David captured the shots and cheers. Sometimes it's nice to have a team.

I've been asked before if it's hard to be friends with your "competition." Although technically, yes, David is my competition, and both of us have lost jobs to the other before, I think we see each other more as fellow artists and are constantly talking about ideas together or new technology or even marketing ideas. I value the knowledge of every photographer friend I have. We also refer jobs to each other, if we're booked or it's not in our style area, it's nice to have a circle of photographer friends and associates to turn clients to.

Back to the wedding though....Another really fun couple made for another really fun day. Thanks!

Take 2

I got together with Fish Frye again yesterday, the band, not the food. Although they really liked their first photo shoot, I offered to do an additional shoot so we could explore a couple different locations, especially on a day where weather was on our side.
First we headed to the alley between the Mankato parking ramp and the Mankato Place Mall (part of the barmuda triangle).

Joe had a good idea to go over to the Kato Ballroom. The Kato has been around for over 50 years, and in its hay day put on shows from some of the classics, including Louis Armstrong, Buddy Holly, Chubby Checker, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, just to name a few. I mentioned how great it would be if we could actually go on top of the building by the sign, and before you knew it, we were banging on the door to see if anyone was around. Luckily, Joe knew the manager, and he gladly gave us a ladder and the go ahead. It was beyond fun being up there, and now I'm trying to think of new excuses to do so soon!