phodotstudio

Science Museum of Minnesota Wedding Photography on Pi Day 2015

Mark and I celebrated this past Pi day (March 14th, 2015) in St. Paul photographing Jessica and Kyle’s wedding. The gorgeous almost spring day began with getting ready photos at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Jessica wore a Mori Lee gown from The Wedding Shoppe and these super cute sparkling shoes.

Kyle wore a grey suit from Joseph A. Bank. The pale greens and pastel tones complimented the beautiful and warm sunny day.

Jessica is on top of all the little details she decorated this little box for one of her ring bearers to carry during the ceremony.

Jessica and Kyle choose to see each other before the ceremony during a private reveal in the church. We gave them a bit of direction then we stood back and let them have their moment as we captured it from a distance. Their reveal allowed us time to then photograph all of the formals at the church before the ceremony so we could travel around St.Paul after the ceremony while wedding guests toured the Science Museum.

Jessica choose to remember her grandparents via incorporating family heirlooms through-out her attire. Jessica wore her grandmother’s pearls and her grandfather’s wings. The wings above were given to Jessica’s grandmother from her grandfather at their engagement to be held as a promise of his love until he could replace them with a ring. In a further demonstration of her connection to her family Jessica walked down the aisle escorted by both her father and her mother and she gave them each a great big hug before taking Kyle’s hand.

Pilgram Lutheran Church is a beautiful bright ceremony location filled with stain glass and natural light. We photographed all the family groups at the church. Following the ceremony we traveled across the Smith Ave High Bridge to photograph the bridal party with the St. Paul skyline.

From the bridge we traveled downtown to Rice Park. The sunshine and warm weather keep everyone comfortable and full of smiles. The George Latimer Central Library made a perfect backdrop for the photos.

The photo above and the photo below showcase the many faces of Jessica and Kyle’s wedding party.

The Science Museum was the perfect location for Jessica and Kyle’s Pi Day wedding reception. Between the ceremony and the reception wedding guests enjoyed exploring the Science Museum and the Space exhibit. Above Jessica and Kyle pick up their will call tickets.

Kyle and Jessica used an heirloom cake knife to cut their wedding cake passed down to them and engraved with the initials and wedding date of the couples before them.

No Pi Day celebration is complete without pie. Jessica and Kyle choose to offer their guests strawberry rhubarb, french silk, banana cream and apple pie for desert.

Jessica and Kyle danced the night away. Planning a wedding in St. Paul at the Science Museum? Visit www.phodot.com to learn more about Phodot wedding photographers Mark and Stacy Milburn and their wedding photography services.

Spring Mini Portrait Photography Sessions for $20

From March 1st through April 4th, 2015 Phodot Photography Studio in Buffalo Minnesota is offering in studio spring mini sessions for just $20. Mini sessions are 30 minutes and they include a single 8×10 print. Call 612-685-2046 today to book your session.

Mini sessions are perfect for babies and children. They are short, fun and stress free. Looking for a longer session with more options? Visit www.phodot.com for more portrait session options.

Minnesota based Phodot Photography Wins a WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award® 2015

Minneapolis, MN – January 13th, 2015 WeddingWire, the nation’s leading online wedding marketplace, named Phodot Photography as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2015 for wedding photography in Minneapolis, MN!

The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2015 recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The esteemed awards are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their professional achievements from the previous year.

While many industry award winners are selected by the host organization, the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with Phodot Photography. Award-winning vendors are distinguished for the quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received from their past clients.

“It’s always exciting to start the year by honoring the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network who represent more than two million reviews on our website,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Each of the businesses recognized are committed to quality, professionalism and all around top-notch service. We applaud wedding photographers Mark and Stay Milburn of Phodot for their impressive achievements within the wedding industry.”

As a Couples’ Choice Awards® winner, Phodot Photography is highlighted within the WeddingWire Network, which is comprised of more than 200,000 wedding professionals throughout North America and abroad.

Mark and Stacy are proud to be named as top wedding photographers in Minnesota, in the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding sites such as WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. We value all of our clients and truly appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2015.

For more information about Phodot wedding photography, please visit http://www.phodot.com/.

To learn more about the Couple’s Choice Awards®, please visit http://www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.

WeddingWire, the leading technology company serving the $100 billion wedding and events industry, is the largest online vertical marketplace connecting engaged couples with event professionals. With more than two million consumer reviews, it is the industry leader in consumer reviews. The site enables engaged couples to search, compare and book from an extensive database of more than 200,000 recently reviewed event professionals, from venues to photographers. WeddingWire provides event professionals with the technology they need to serve their clients, including a SaaS platform, which powers advertising, marketing, and CRM needs of local wedding and events businesses nationwide.

Phodot Photography announced a winner of The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame

Today the Knot revealed the 2015 Best of Weddings Hall of Fame winners and Phodot Photography is happy to announce that we made the list. The wedding industry and wedding photographers in particular have a very large turn over rate. The Knot created the Hall of Fame to help couples locate and hire the top wedding vendors in the US that demonstrate quality and customer satisfaction in a consistent nature over a extended period of time.

Whether they’re trying to find the wedding dress salon with the best service in New York, the most creative wedding photographers in Minneapolis, Miami’s top cake bakers or LA’s hottest reception sites, engaged couples across the country want the inside scoop from real brides. The Knot Wedding Network (NYSE: XOXO), which is composed of the top two wedding websites, TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com, today announces the 2015 wedding industry Hall of Fame for the all-time best wedding vendors across the United States.

Comprised of winners of the annual Best of Weddings, a by-brides-for-brides guide to the top wedding vendors in 80-plus cities across the U.S., the Hall of Fame inducts wedding vendors who have won four or more Best of Weddings awards. This honorable list of more than 330 inductees includes less than 1 percent of wedding professionals.

To view a complete list of award winning Minnesota wedding photographers and other vendors please visit the Knot Best-of-weddings Minnesota Hall of Fame winners 2015.

“For the past seven years, WeddingChannel.com Reviews has been the definitive resource for our brides, providing them with unparalleled vendor recommendations directly from the tried-and-true experiences of fellow brides,” said Carley Roney, cofounder of TheKnot.com. “We’re beyond thrilled to induct our 2015 Hall of Fame winners, crowning the best of the best across the country, based on more than 700,000 reviews from real brides.”

About XO Group Inc.

XO Group Inc. (NYSE: XOXO), is a global media and technology leader devoted to weddings, pregnancy and everything in between, providing young women with the trusted information, products and advice they need to guide them through the most transformative events of their lives. Our family of premium brands began with the #1 wedding brand, The Knot, and has grown to include WeddingChannel.com, The Nest, The Bump, TheBlush.com and Ijie.com. XO Group is recognized by the industry for being innovative in all media – from the web to social media and mobile, magazines and books, and video – and our groundbreaking social platforms have ignited passionate communities across the world. XO Group has leveraged its customer loyalty into successful businesses in online sponsorship and advertising, registry services, ecommerce and publishing. The company is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (XOXO) and is headquartered in New York City. Follow XO Group on Twitter @xogroupinc.

Minneapolis Winter Engagement Photography Locations

Now that Christmas has passed us by and New Years Eve is upon us engagement session is in full swing. However, an engagement photography session smack dab in in middle of the chilly Minnesota winter may be a bit scary for most couples. We encourage couples to get brave and embrace the winter photo session. They are fun and they can add some variety to your photos if you have a summer wedding planned.

In Minnesota there are plenty of winter engagement options and in Minneapolis and St. Paul there are spots where you can jump inside to warm up. Below are a few of our favorite winter engagement photos we have taken over the last year.

We photographed Bobbi and Mitch just after the holidays this past year at Rice Park in St. Paul. The Holiday lights warm the photo with shades of yellow, red and orange.

For Alysia & Callen we started their session at the Historic Hanover Bridge then we travel to Crow Springs Park near our home in Buffalo. Crow Springs Park is full of tall mature pine trees that added a touch of green to Alysia and Callen’s photos. Below is a ring detail photo from their session.

Not into the winter weather scene? The Depot in Minneapolis has some indoor locations that give you an outdoor feel. Below is a photo from Kate and Karington’s session in November taken inside at the Depot.

In St. Paul we take couples to the Bus Depot in lower town in the winter months. The Depot is full of light via some very large and ornate windows. However make sure to watch for event at the Depot. The area can be tough to manage around St. Patrick’s Day every year, unless of course you want a mop of green leprechauns running through your photos.

A well known and popular spot, the Guthrie Theater near The Stone Arch Bridge also is a warm, color full spot to duck into during your winter engagement session in Minneapolis.

Just a few pointers for your winter engagement session:

1. Dress in layers. So you can peel when you go inside.

2. Wear long underwear under your pants and wool socks to stay warm.

3. Bring fun winter items like bright colored mittens, earmuffs, boots, scarfs and hats to your session. Treat the winter session like it’s a summer one and bring more than one outfit. Even if it’s two different coats.

4. Be ready to jump into the snow and bring some winter activities like skating, sledding, and snowshoeing into your photos.

5. Guys should bring lip balm to keep lips moist.

6. Bring a hair brush to tame that hat hair between outfit changes.

5. Be prepared to make a donation or pay a fee at some locations. Some locations also require a permit that must be acquired in advanced. Check with your location in advance.

Our $375 winter engagement photography sessions usually run about two hours with unlimited outfits. With your session you will receive a flash drive of edited images with print release. So you can create fun Save the Dates, invitations and art work. For those of you not into DIY we do offer design services for save the dates, guest signature books, custom artwork and prints.

Ready to book your engagement photography session with Mark & Stacy of Phodot Photography; then give us a call at 612-685-2046 or email mark@phodot.com.

Unveiled Wedding Fair – Pick from the best wedding professionals in Minneapolis

If you are currently in the process of planning a wedding in Minnesota you need to make sure you stop by the Minneapolis Convention Center tomorrow November 2nd, 2014 between noon and 4:00 for Unveiled. Unveiled is by far one of the best wedding fairs held in the state of Minnesota. The Wedding Guys produce Unveiled and they hand pick the vendors they allow to participate in the show. You will simply find the best of the best in wedding photographers, entertainment, DJ’s, florists, bakers, catering, photo booths, bridal shops, tailors, transportation etc. There is also a fashion show that features what’s hot and trending in wedding fashion for both women and men.

Above is the mini flyer we will be passing out at the fair tomorrow. We will also have more in depth wedding photography information for couples who have their 2015-2016 wedding dates already set. Believe me it’s never too early to get started on your wedding planning especially if you want first pick of venues and vendors. You don’t want to have to book a wedding vendor simply because they are the only one not already booked on your date.

If you are interested in our current wedding photography package information but you can’t make the wedding show tomorrow please visit our website phodot.com for more information about us and our wedding photography services. The next Unveiled wedding fair will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on February 8th, 2015. Visit http://unveiledweddingevent.com to purchase tickets to the fair and bridal fashion show.

Pinstripes wedding photography Edina MN

October has become one of the most popular months for Minnesota weddings in recent years. October 2014 was the first month we booked out this past season and the first wedding we booked for 2015 will also take place in October. Pictured above at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina is Stephanie and Rob on their October wedding day this year. Below are some of our favorite photos from their wedding day.

One of our favorite dresses from this past year; Stephanie wore an Allure Dress from Posh Bridal. The off-white dress complimented Stephanie’s fair skin and light eyes.

Although a bit more complicated to tie Rob choose to go with a bow tie.

Above mom helps Stephanie place the veil before the ceremony. Below Stephanie slips on a bracelet that was her grandmother’s.

Weber’s Westdale designed the soft yellow and green bouquet that had just a hint of purple.

Rob and Stephanie choose to wait to see one another during their wedding ceremony at St. Victoria’s Catholic Church. They also choose to have the ceremony in the historic chapel at St. Victoria’s. The smaller chapel made the perfect setting for their intimate wedding. Below Rob watches from the new portion of the church as guests arrive and walk to the chapel.

With all the guests entering the chapel Stephanie and her family waited in the fireside room. The intimate setting and beautiful light made for some tender moments before the ceremony.

From the fireside room Stephanie and dad had just a short walk around the corner to the chapel and then down the aisle to Rob.

During the ceremony Stephanie and Rob made sure to take moments here and there to laugh and smile at each other.

After the blessing father announced Stephanie and Rob as Mr. and Mrs. Sass and invited them to kiss for the first time as husband and wife.

Following the ceremony after the formal photos at the altar Stephanie and Rob stepped outside for a few photos in the front courtyard. We love a dress that flows and spins and Stephanie’s dress had cars horns honking in the street as they passed.

From the church we traveled to Pinstripes in Edina for the reception.

The guests were treated to a wedding cake from Byerly’s and a groom’s cake.

To keep the reception intimate an Italian dinner was served family style to the tables. Guests enjoyed getting to know one another as they passed dishes around the table

In keeping with the fall season pumpkins instead of vases held the flowers as the center piece for the tables. To keep with the color scheme of the wedding ghost pumpkins instead of traditional orange pumpkins were used.

Instead of dancing shoes the bride and groom laced up their bowling shoes for the reception.

With Lou Lou in hand Stephanie, Rob and their family and friends bowled the night away.

All photographs pictured were taken by Minnesota award winning photographers Mark and Stacy Milburn. For more Phodot wedding photography information please visit phodot.com.

Victoria Minnesota wedding photographer

Above Nicole and Andy stand hand in hand just outside St. Victoria’s Catholic Church in Victoria Minnesota. Phodot Photographer Stacy Milburn captured the photo above. The day had a bit of a fall chill, but the day was full of sunshine and blue sky. Below Andy and Nicole each read a love note that the other has written before their reveal. The brick pillar separated them so they could not see each other but the photographers had the ability to capture them both in the same image.

For the reveal they traveled out back behind St. Victoria’s so that Nicole and Andy could keep the moment private and their own. Andy waited down the hill for Nicole.

Andy’s reaction is amazing as he sees his bride on their wedding day for the first time.

In addition to the traditional photos of the wedding party that were taken at the altar at St. Victoria’s we traveled to Excelsior for some outdoor formal and fun wedding photos near the lake.

Andy escorted Nicole’s father outside for a private reveal as well. I love Andy stayed at a distance to view the meeting. You can see Andy in the distance in the photo below.

Nicole and her dad walk into the church on their way to meet Andy. Below Andy waits for Nicole to join his side.

Once together Andy and Nicole relax for the ceremony and you can see the joy of the moment take them over.

The ceremony ends with a kiss and Andy and Nicole exit the church. Guests surround the couple as they leave streamers flying.

The wedding party boards the party bus and cocktails are enjoyed. Photographer Stacy Milburn boards the bus and captures the action. Mark travels to the reception to capture the space and decor before the guests arrive.

After a few beverages on the bus the wedding party stops at a park for a few fun photos before the wedding reception. Photographers Mark and Stacy made sure that the day would flow and all the photos that Nicole and Andy requested would be captured by designing a photography timeline for the couple.

Andy and Nicole choose to include family and friends in their wedding party that were full of excitement and fun.

Stacy sent the wedding party back to the bus so that Nicole and Andy could have a few images of just the two of them at the lake. Mark and Stacy like to set aside at least 45 minutes of alone time with a couple during a wedding day. They also prefer that the time is split up so that they can capture the couple at different times and locations during the wedding day.

After a few photos Nicole and Andy are back on the bus and on their way to the Chanhassen Event Center for their reception. While the wedding party got ready for the grand march Nicole and Andy stayed out of site on the bus and the images below took place.

Above Nicole and Andy arrive at the Chanhassen Event Center all smiles ready for their party. Below are a few of the details.

The wedding photography competition gets younger and younger every year. Below Andy and Nicole share their first dance.

If you are interested in booking Mark and Stacy Milburn to photograph your wedding or event please visit phodot.com for more information.

River Oaks Golf Course Cottage Grove MN wedding photographer

River Oaks Golf Course in Cottage Grove Minnesota was the backdrop for Christine and Scott’s outdoor wedding ceremony and reception on September 6th, 2014. Minnesota wedding photographer Mark Milburn and his wife Stacy captured both the candid moments and styled the formal photos through-out the day. Above Stacy posed Christine and Scott to create an almost fairy tale like moment.

Christine was so excited to get her wedding day rolling that she was the first person from her wedding party ready for the day. Christine choose bright pink and yellow flowers for her bouquet. Stacy took Christine out to the tree line on the edge of the golf coarse to take the first images of the day. The shade kept Christine cool and hidden while she waited for Scott to arrive.

Christine and Scott chose to see each other before the ceremony. Christine choose to sneak up on tap Scott on the shoulder for their reveal.

Christine wiped the tears from Scott’s check as Scott got the first look of his bride on his wedding day. Mark and Stacy love using candid photography to preserve the real emotions through-out the wedding day.

Even the treats incorporated the wedding day colors. Featured here are the pink, yellow and blue Tootsie rolls. Guests enjoyed the treats before the meal was served during the cocktail hour.

The ring bearer gave a toast that had everyone in the crowd smiling.

Adam of Ever After Sound made sure that all eyes were on Christine and Scott for their first dance and he made sure to play music that kept the crowd on the dance floor all night long. Ever After Sound also lit the ballroom surrounding Christine and Scott in beautiful blue light that echoed the blue Christine choose for the ties and vests.

Christine shared a tear filled dance with her dad. Below Scott and his mom full of smiles as they swayed to their mother-son dance.

Before departing for the night we pulled Christine and Scott outside for a few photos just before sunset. Their playful nature kept the photos fun and full of excitement.

For more information about Phodot wedding photography in Cottage Grove Minnesota and beyond visit phodot.com.

Minneapolis Golf Club Wedding Photographer

On August 30th, 2014 Kristen and Jon shared their wedding day with Phodot wedding photographers Mark and Stacy Milburn. The wedding ceremony and reception both took place at the Minneapolis Golf Club. The photos below showcase some of Mark and Stacy’s favorite moments.

Kristen, surrounded herself with friends as she got ready for the day. Kristen choose a Maggie Sottero dress that she purchased at the Wedding Shoppe. Erin Jerabek Heelan styled her hair and Sherry Fredkove took care of her very natural and beautiful looking make-up.

In creating a wedding day narrative Stacy & Mark choose to tell the story of a wedding day not only through photos of the people but also via the objects and details.

Julie Domres of Julia’s Blooms created the bright and sunny bouquets that Kristen and her bridesmaids carried.

Mark and Stacy take notice of the candid wedding photography moments throughout the day. It’s the candid moments that give the wedding story depth and a true perspective.

Guests were welcomed into the Minneapolis Golf Club with champagne and sparkling juice for the children. Not all little guests partook of the juice. Kristen and her bridesmaids also enjoyed a bit of champagne before the wedding ceremony as they hid upstairs.

Jon made his way up the aisle with his mother and father. He also made sure to give both of his parents huge hugs during the wedding ceremony.

You could see and feel the love Kristen and Jon have for each other as their ceremony began.

After the ceremony Kristen and Jon greeting all of their guests and then we dashed outside for a few photos on the golf course now that the golfers were all gone for the day.

Kristen and Jon’s wedding day was full of laughs and smiles Stacy and Mark made sure to capture all of the fun candid moments.

Pedro and Carla of Rosa’s Cake Gallery created Kristen and Jon’s beautiful and tasty wedding cake.

Melissa Varriano of Adagio DJ Entertainment played the music that kept the crowd dancing all night.

Please visit phodot.com to learn more about Phodot photographers Mark and Stacy Milburn and their wedding photography packages and services.