Z + A Carlson Wedding, Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge, Bemidji Town & Country Club | MN Wedding Photographer

Z + A had an absolutely beautiful day for their wedding. With a quick passing thunderstorm, the showers brought a beautiful rainbow out to encourage them to wait out the sprinkles and say their I Do’s just they way they had planned them! They were married under the pergola at Ruttger’s as the sun glistened around them. Then we all rode across Lake Bemidji on the pontoon, for a fabulous bridal party excursion before the reception. They arrived in the sunset glow to their reception at Bemidji Town & Country Club. It was decorated splendidly and everything tied together so lovingly with their themes of love and togetherness.  DQ Dilly bars topped the dinner off and the dance (led by Jamie with Extreme DJ and Karaoke Bemidji) rocked away all night!

AKP CarlsonWED

AKP CarlsonWED

Here is a sneak peek at this super fun day for the Carlsons!

AKP CarlsonWED

AKP CarlsonWED

#OhHappyDayZandA was the tag for the new Mr. & Mrs. <3

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CONGRATULATIONS, to this dear couple!
I am so grateful I was able to be there for such a sweet wedding day.

Books Books Books! Book Themed Wedding Decorations in Bemidji, MN. | Amy Kate Photography, Bemidji MN Wedding Photographer

Mr. & Mrs. chose some terribly precious decorations for their wedding day, special to them. Books! What a lovely theme to set up with. From the “petals” the flower girls tossed down being heart-shaped cutouts from Harry Potter, the hollowed out book to the cake being a stack of novels… This was a Literature-filled occasion. Being one who makes friends with the librarian before anyone else, I can relate. Here are a few of the detailed photographs of the books throughout the day. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. I hope you don’t start crying as much as I do every time I look at these two, privately sharing their personal vows with each other before the ceremony. GaaaahhH!!!! Thankfully, the bride found some His & Her Vows books, so they wrote them out and they can now be cherished forever. AKP Horner Books Details- AKP Horner Books Details--31 AKP Horner Books Details--30 AKP Horner Books Details--29 AKP Horner Books Details--28 AKP Horner Books Details--27 AKP Horner Books Details--26 AKP Horner Books Details--25 AKP Horner Books Details--24 AKP Horner Books Details--23 AKP Horner Books Details--22 AKP Horner Books Details--21 AKP Horner Books Details--20 AKP Horner Books Details--19 AKP Horner Books Details--18 AKP Horner Books Details--17 AKP Horner Books Details--16 AKP Horner Books Details--15 AKP Horner Books Details--14 AKP Horner Books Details--13 AKP Horner Books Details--12 AKP Horner Books Details--11 AKP Horner Books Details--10 AKP Horner Books Details--9 AKP Horner Books Details--8 AKP Horner Books Details--7 AKP Horner Books Details--6 AKP Horner Books Details--5 AKP Horner Books Details--4 AKP Horner Books Details--3 AKP Horner Books Details--2

Family Photos on the farm with a gorgeous red barn, water and fields | Park Rapids, MN Family and Children Photographer

Photographing this family for the fourth time! They are the sweetest! I am so blessed that they hired me a few years ago to do their family photos. It was mom, dad, and three kids. At the very end of that first session, they told me they were expecting baby # 4! WAHOO! How exciting! Well, Then I came back and did family portraits, newborn portraits, and was able to capture them in their lake home before they moved out of state, and we have spent time photographing them at Itasca State Park at the Mississippi River Headwaters. Now, they came all they way back to Minnesota this summer just to let me get their photos 🙂 Well, okay, they wanted to visit family, too… But, I’ll pretend it was just to see me and let me see how precious newborn Ember has grown into a full-blown, walking and prancing little toddler girl!

 

I love getting to know families and their stories through what the parents and the kids say during our session and this family is the rule! They’re a beautiful family, and I hope I get to keep capturing their growth and changes whenever they’re “back home!”

AKP Prutzman 2015 --2 AKP Prutzman 2015 --6 AKP Prutzman 2015 --43 AKP Prutzman 2015 --46 AKP Prutzman 2015 --54 AKP Prutzman 2015 --56 AKP Prutzman 2015 --65 AKP Prutzman 2015 --72 AKP Prutzman 2015 --80 AKP Prutzman 2015 --68 AKP Prutzman 2015 --75 AKP Prutzman 2015 --99And then, the mother’s sister and her kids were there, so I snapped some cute ones of them, as well!

 

Linnea < SENIOR CLASS OF 2016 > | Sr year graduation photos

Since I loved these so much, and I am dying to share them with Linnea, here is a sneak peek at our lovely session for this new Senior. We took the photos at her favorite place: camp! Sjölunden (Swedish: sjö: lake, lund: grove) is the Swedish camp site associated with Concordia Language Villages and is located at the Concordia site at Turtle River Lake, near Bemidji, Minnesota.  {puhlease consider sending your kids to camp, and even more: consider a Concordia Language Village!}

AKP Linnea Sr-

AKP Helquist Wedding- AKP Linnea Sr--2 AKP Linnea Sr--3 AKP Linnea Sr--4 AKP Linnea Sr--5 AKP Linnea Sr--6 AKP Linnea Sr--7 AKP Linnea Sr--8 AKP Linnea Sr--9 AKP Linnea Sr--10 AKP Linnea Sr--11

Family at Home & Itasca State Park Session | Nevis, Park Rapids, MN Family Photographer

Before this sweet family packed up to move across the country, they wanted to get in one last session with me to document their life here at the Lake, and in Northern Minnesota. We took photos at their home and then drove over to the Mississippi River Headwaters at Itasca State Park. WOW, how I love capturing special times like this. I’ve done a few other sessions for this family, and each time I just have a blast. They’re so fun! These kids!!! I love them!

Family Photos, Copyright Amy Kastenbauer, dba Amy Kate Photography

Family Photos, Copyright Amy Kastenbauer, dba Amy Kate Photography Family Photos, Copyright Amy Kastenbauer, dba Amy Kate PhotographyFamily Photos, Copyright Amy Kastenbauer, dba Amy Kate Photography Family Photos, Copyright Amy Kastenbauer, dba Amy Kate Photography

Family Photos, Copyright Amy Kastenbauer, dba Amy Kate Photography

As Always, this family did a fabulous job with their clothes, and are a Fabulous Summer What-to-Wear Example to follow for Newborn Children and Family Sessions!

Newborn Boy W | Becida, Lake George, Bemidji, MN Newborn Photographer

This little dude was a surprise, and a wonderful one, at that! He has three older sisters, and is a sweet sweet bundle of blessings for everyone! I have the privilege to share photos that I’ve been putting together for some small business owners. You have to check out Jen’s Tangled Threads  and Hippity Hoppity Hats!   They have facebook and etsy pages. AKP JTT Cwl Blnkt 2

The Blanket, Cowl/Baby Nest/ and Hockey set came from Jen’s Tangled Threads : https://www.etsy.com/shop/JensTangledThreadsAKP JTT Cwl Blnkt Hockey AKP JTT Cwl Blnkt AKP JTT hockey AKP WH Newborn 4wks- Logo 015 AKP WH Newborn 4wks-185   AKP WH Newborn 4wks-327 AKP WH Newborn 4wks-329 AKP WH Newborn 4wks-logo 073 AKP WH Newborn 4wks-Logo 294 AKP WH Newborn 4wks-logo 331

 

Blue Bonnet & Diaper Cover, Hat with Buttons & Pant Set from Hippity Hoppity Hats : https://www.etsy.com/shop/HippityHoppityHats?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Handmade Beaded Baby Moccasins | MN Newborn Photographer Canadian/Oklahoma boy born in Montana

I don’t remember if I ever mentioned that I loooooove baby feet. Well. I do. Baby feet are the softest, gushiest, squishiest little bits.
Now, I love them even more! This little man’s grandma made him (and his older brother, when he was a newborn) beaded moccasins. I forgot to ask if they are in a traditional Cree pattern, or what they are beaded in… but they are completely loveable.

As was this little baby, Z.AKP Ballard Newborn Logo-005 AKP Ballard Newborn Logo-004 AKP Ballard Newborn Logo-003 AKP Ballard Newborn Logo-002 AKP Ballard Newborn Logo-001

Meet ZaZa

AKP Ballard Newborn Logo

What to Wear: Summer | Leech Lake Walker, MN Family Photographer | Blue Green Black White Yellow Navy Tourquoise Khaki Jeans

Here is an example of a large family group photo session. This is an extended family group, including Grandparents, Their two children & spouses, and Their children. So, it was a fun shoot, complete with reenacting an old family pontoon photo when the grandkids where just tykes. This family had two of the five cousins going into their senior year, so we combined a couple of Senior Sessions in with the big family pictures. It was a blast! I love their outfit changes. They started with everyone in a white polo, and gradually added different shirts and pants. There were Khaki, Blue Jeans, teal or tourquoise shirts, robin’s egg blue skinny jeans, shorts, pants, yellow, green, stripes, solids, lacey cream tank tops, layers, barefoot, sandals, and all sorts of family combinations going on. It was splendid. AKP Lanie Senior-002 AKP Lanie Senior-013 AKP Lanie Senior-041 AKP Lanie Senior-086 AKP Lanie Senior-095

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