Category Archives: Engagement

Minneapolis Engagement Session | Kandel Photography | Jake & Leah

Jake and Leah first contacted me last October when I was in Texas on vacation. I was so thankful for wifi spots on that trip! Since they live a fair distance from Fargo we had a skype chat when I got home,  and boy was that fun! Just as good as meeting at Starbucks only I didn’t have to drive and my dog got to join in the conversation. ; )

We decided to do their engagement session in Minneapolis when I planned to be in town visiting my brother, which worked out perfectly! The weather even worked with us. February can be so unpredictable, but it was actually warm -ish. Relatively speaking. If you compare it to other years.  Ok, so we were numb with cold by the time we were done but it was worth it!


Thanks for the laughter and braving the cold with me!! I can’t wait until June for your wedding!!

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer | Facebook Page

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Kristina and Brian | Fargo Engagement Session

Kristina and I met last summer at Randa and Tyler’s wedding. She was a bridesmaid and we just clicked right from the start. So when she was looking for her own wedding photographer it was awesome that she picked me! What a compliment!

The wedding isn’t until next September but Kristina told me she wanted some engagement photos in the snow, so we decided to do a mini winter session and a longer session in the summer. Well  October, November and December went by without any snow!! So weird. She kept posting on my FB page “Any snow yet?” and I’d have to write back, “not yet!” – for MN this is totally bizarre. lol!

Finally we got enough snow to cover the grass and planned our mini session.  They happened to be coming to Fargo anyway so it was perfect! A bright sunny day, beautiful. Then the clouds rolled in. Ok white skies aren’t the prettiest but still not bad. Literally as Kristina and Brian drive up it started to snow! So perfect for her vision of winter photos!! It was like we ordered it.

Totally fun 15 minute session! I’m excited for our longer engagement session this summer, and your wedding this fall!

P.S. sorry about the soaking wet clothes after your session. The hazards of sitting in the snow!

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photography | Facebook Page

 

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Darin and Jill | Fargo Engagement photography

This time of year I’ve been doing mini-engagement sessions for couples who have weddings in June. They need a save the date image, or a photo for the newspaper, but the weather only lets us do about 15 minutes before noses and ears get red, and my camera batteries slow down in the cold.  So we do a mini session now, and a longer session to get to know each other closer to the wedding date. It’s actually kind of fun to do mini sessions because we build into the next session climaxing at the wedding!  By that time everyone is comfortable with each other, and confident in front of the lens. Win-win!

Jill and Darin were going to do their mini session downtown, but as I was driving to the location it started to rain – hard enough for my windshield wipers to be on the medium setting! Oh, snap. So I called them and we switched locations to the church where they were filling in paperwork.  Thankfully in the 15 minutes it took me to drive there the rain stopped so we ended up being able to grab some fabulous outdoor images near the church!

 

 

 

For only having 15 minutes I thought we did rather well!

See you guys later this spring!

Kandel Photography | Fargo wedding photographer | Facebook Page 

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Moorhead Engagement Photo Shoot | Kelsey + Jordan | Kandel Photography

What can I say, Jordan and Kelsey made my job so much fun last Tuesday evening!! Gorgeous people, easy laughter, and delicious light. What more could a photographer want? Nothing!

See what I mean:  too gorgeous for words!! Thanks guys! I can’t wait for your wedding day next year. It’ll be here before we know it!

Kandel Photography | Fargo + Minneapolis Photographer | Facebook Page

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Editing and becoming a curator

Love this: ” You don’t make a great museum by putting all the art in the world into a single room. That’s a warehouse. What makes a museum great is the stuff that’s not on the walls. Someone says no. … There’s an editing process … it’s the stuff you leave out that matters. So constantly look for things to remove, simplify, and streamline. Be a curator.” – Jason Fried and David Hansson in the book Rework

I try to do that in my editing process as well. Not every photograph I take at a wedding is worth looking at (it’s painful to admit). Maybe I shot the ground by accident, or someone sneezed mid snap, or uncle bob leans into the frame, or maybe I just trip over my feet as I’m backing up and jiggle the camera. But there is definitely a culling process after the wedding is over, picking out the best images, the great shots, the most emotional, or funny. Trust me, you still get way too many photos, but the point is you get the best.

I aim to be the curator of your wedding photography.

I always did want to be a curator …

And now on to a few fun e-session photos because a post isn’t a post without a photo.

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer | Facebook Page

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Fargo Engagement Session |Alicia + Ross | Kandel Photography

Nothing I can say about these photos cuz I love them all! Alicia and Ross were so comfortable and let their true selves shine through… which makes my job magical. So I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. ; )

I think the next one is my favorite. But how can I choose!?!

 


Thanks guys for an amazing evening of romance and laughter!

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photography | Facebook Page

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Fargo Engagement Shoot | Alicia and Ross | Teaser

Yesterday was probably the most perfect lighting I’ve had in a long time. The cloud cover was perfect for soft romantic light downtown, allowing me to go to walls that are normally too bright in harsh light. And then the clouds literally swept away just as we reached the park giving us golden rays in the grass. Photographers just live for moments like this!

Ad in a couple who are laughing, enjoying themselves and relaxed.

Oh. The. Perfection!!

I’m so excited to dive into the editing and find more gorgeousness to share!

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer | Facebook Page

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Justin + Carrie | Fargo Engagement Photo shoot | Teaser

 Teaser from a gorgeous couple!

 

 

I’m finally catching up on my wedding editing so hopefully next week will be blog week. ; )  Can’t wait to share more!!

 

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer | Facebook Page

 

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Ann + Andreas

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Carl + Amanda | Engagement Session

When Carl approached me about doing their engagement session in Minneapolis I was excited to be able to say, “I’m actually going down there the weekend of the 21st!” Afterwards I wasn’t so sure I should have been so enthusiastic, lots of details like where are we going to do photos in a place I’ve never been, and the thought of driving through rush hour traffic by myself… scary. But I told myself “It’ll be an adventure!” It turned out to be one of my favorite sessions so far this year!!! Finding new locations, exploring, driving around together, I felt that it  re-energised my creativity and I got to really know the couple (one of the main reasons for an engagement shoot is to become comfortable as a team before the wedding day!). I’m so glad it worked out!

I’m really proud of myself for FINALLY figuring out how to get the sky & the couple both perfect. It’s something I’ve wanted to try for a long time and just haven’t had the right setting to try it. Usually the sun is too bright (it needs to be evening sunset), or the buildings are blocking the sky so it doesn’t matter if I use this technique. Anyway, all that just to say I’m thrilled to know I can actually DO what I’ve learned in my tutorials over the last two years! ; )

One of my favorite photos:

What a jackpot of a wall. I wish Fargo had a wall like this to use for wedding, senior, and engagement photography! But I’ll be happy with my one chance at it!

I am so surprised by these photos because in ‘real life’ the skyline seems so huge and looming, but in the photos it’s really small!! Strange.

Again, love the laughter!!

 

Thanks Carl + Amanda!!! It was a fantastic evening!!

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Kari + John | full version

My favorite thing about working with John + Kari was how creative they let me be! Plus they were way too easy to work with (spoiling me!). Which makes for pretty special photos!

We started in the barn, where the cat decided to join us. I just love how he adds a touch of random real life to the photo!

And these amazing trees with the sun shining through leading the eyes right down to the couple. Amazing.

The couple out of focus behind the grass makes this photo feel like the couple is in their own world.

 Thankfully those storm clouds in the distance were blowing AWAY not towards us.:)

The tone of this one reminds me of the Forrest in S. Carolina and Florida, sort of mossy.

But there’s no doubt that we are in the red river valley! Beets, soy, wheat, gravel roads. I love how close the countryside is to Fargo / Moorhead!

I love it when couples are so comfortable with me that they start swing dancing moves, and aren’t afraid to show a little passion!

Summer sun. Wind. Love.

I’m going to be out of the studio until July 12, so if you need to contact me please e-mail! Once this week is over I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time working on updating my website, shooting more, and updating facebook/twitter/blog more too!

Fun times ahead | better look out

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Kari + John | Teaser

They say the third time’s the charm  …  it  took us three tries  to actually get this engagement session going! The weather was being very uncooperative, even on this beautiful evening the wind was wild and the mosquitoes fierce. But I hardly noticed, Kari + John were too much fun to photograph!  I’m only going to put up one photo today. (I know, I know, I just heard you all groan, but it’s not fair to show all the photos to the world before Kari + John see them!). 

So enjoy the teaser:

 

And come back for more soon!!

Fargo Wedding Photography

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‘mini’ engagement shoot

I met R +T  two days before the wedding for coffee  in downtown Fargo. We hadn’t  had a chance to meet before so I suggested we snap a few photos (of course).

 I really enjoy the engagement sessions because not only do I get to know the couple personally, but it helps us to be comfortable with each other the day of the wedding! I get to know how the couple responds in front of the lens, and they get to know how I work behind it! Being comfortable and knowing what to expect is a  HUGE help on an already nerve-wracking-emotional day.

For only having a few minutes together I thought the images were pretty great (hey I can brag on my own blog right?)! 

Keep tuned: Wedding photos coming soon…

 

Fargo Wedding Photography

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Spring has Sprung

 

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush” ~ Doug Larson

In honor of the fact that the last snow in my back yard FINALLY melted, I’m posting some spring pics from last year!!

This location is probably familiar to most people in Fargo/Moorhead … Concordia College!The beautiful campus sports a gorgeous pond and fountain that are perfect for romantic shots. I just love the engagement pics I took there last year; the different shades of green on the trees, the moss, and the bright blue top K wore that day. Perfection!

A specail moment caught adds romance to the already stellar scenery… 

  

Not only is the pond fun for romantics, but seniors love it too! The country feel in the middle of the city makes it easy to get a wide variety of looks within a few blocks. Fargo / Moorhead rock!

 Happy spring everyone! Let the photo shoots begin.

 

Fargo Wedding Photography

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Woot, Woot!! All Aboard!

Next stop in our Fargo search for wedding, engagement and senior locations:  the Trains!

Located at the Historic Train Depot downtown these trains are simple FUN. They always bring out the playful side of people!

 

Brilliant RED pops (!)  in the photographs.  

 

The Blue cars and their fabulous wheels shout URBAN FLAIR!

 

Action Shot of me at work:

Seniors love the caboose too! 

Doesn’t it make you want to take a train ride!!

 

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Pack your bags; we’re going to the train depot!

The second location I’m going to cover is a well known local landmark!

Built in 1898 the Train Depot was the first building in Fargo to enter the National Register of Historic Places. It is now part of the Fargo Public Park District, and a favorite location for may wedding photographers!! Ironically it has this sign over the door:

I love taking photos here because it is a constantly changing, exciting and fun place. The seasons bring very different looks.

Summer brings bright, warm light off of the red bricks. And the vibrant gardens surrounding the depot make it a lush and cheerful place!

Fall brings more warm tones. Even the trees across the street bring in more color!

In the  spring before the gardens are planted the Depot has a unique vintage feel. The overhanging roof make it ideal for photographs even with spring showers!

Can I say Perfect Location!!!

 

And one last shot of my Brother and his wife. Just because I love them!!

Next week … the TRAINS at the depot!

 

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