Woo Hoo, we are successful in getting around to Bits and Bites two weeks in a row!  Blogging baby steps I guess.

1) Meet Chelsea - Although far from a bit, we would like to introduce Chelsea to everyone.  Some of you have already met Chelsea, but for those of you who haven't, she has been working with us for the summer and we are looking forward her to becoming more involved within the studio.  Starting soon, she will be taking on family portrait sessions (she is particularly great with kids), so inquire about booking soon!  To be clear, this does not mean Stacey will not be available for your portraits, we are just expanding our offerings.  So without further delay, (cue up best Ed McMahon voice) heeeeeeere's Chelsea.  We will let Chelsea formally introduce herself later in the week, but in the meantime, here is a quick preview.




We are so excited to have her with us. It's been a super fun and successful summer so far and we can't wait to see what accomplishments she will achieve behind the camera:)  Please give her a shout out on the blog and make her feel welcome!


2) Vision Awards - Wish us luck this coming Thursday, as we have been nominated for a Vision Award in the category of Planner's Choice - My Favorite Vendor.  The Vision Awards are put on by Meetings: Minnesota's Hospitality Journal and will be taking place at  the Chambers Hotel.


3) The Reason Why - Why are we wedding photographers?  Is it for the late nights editing in front of a computer screen or the waking up in the middle of the night breaking out in a cold sweat because you had another wedding nightmare (we are talking real nightmares of the dream variety, not the stories that sound too wacky to be true).  I'm guessing you are all shaking your head thinking no.  You would be correct!  In a case where a picture truly speaks a thousand words, THIS IS WHY WE ARE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS!

If you look closely, you will notice a tear running down Megan's cheek, as her and Derek saw one another for the first time.  Needless to say, we were reminded that it would be hard to find a greater privilege and more rewarding job than to document these special moments in people's lives!
 

4) A Special Request - We are starting to realize that when you are in this business long enough, you see and hear a lot of things that touch you one way or another.  We got a call this past week from the mother of the bride for a wedding we were scheduled to have in a couple of weeks.  She was calling to let us know that unfortunately the wedding wasn't going to take place as planned.  We were disappointed, but our disappointment soon turned to concern, as she explained why.  Our bride, Annie, had just suffered a brain aneurysm and she is only in her early to mid 20's.  The good news is that she made it to the hospital and through the surgery, but is in ICU at this moment.  We were heartbroken to hear this sad news for two families that were so excited about the upcoming wedding.  We ask anyone who is reading this to please keep Annie, her fiance Chad, and both families in your thoughts and prayers as they try to help Annie recover and get back on her feet.  Needless to say, there is nothing we would be happier to capture than Annie walking down the aisle at some point in the very near future!


5) Enjoy Life - If Annie's story doesn't make you pause and think, please do!  Stacey and I have seen and been apart of a lot this summer.  Between my trip to Tanzania, the loss of our dear brother-in-law, and another summer of wonderful couples, we have had life really put into perspective for us!  No one knows how long we will be around, and life can change in the blink of an eye.  We hope you all wake up to people you love surrounding you and look forward to the exciting day ahead.  Life is too short and unpredictable to not enjoy every bit of it!


6) The Tasty Bite - There is a reason that Jimmy Buffett wrote "Cheesburger in Paradise"!  The cheeseburger really is about as simple and satisfying as it gets!  Plus it doesn't get much more classic than the version in his lyrics:

"I like mine with lettuce and tomato
Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes
Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer
Well good God Almighty which way do I steer"

However, sometimes you may want to put a little twist on this American Classic, and go for a different vibe.  Want a nice glass of red wine with that burger?  If so, give this a try:

Take your burger and season with a little Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper (plenty of pepper).  While your burger is on the grill for about 5-6 minutes each side over medium high heat, cut up some onions and mushrooms and saute them for about three minutes.  Remove the onions and mushrooms and pour some of the wine you will be enjoying into the pan and reduce to about one half to one third of the original amount.  At this point, add a small amount of heavy cream to the wine to help thicken it up and smooth out some of that tang.  Add your onions and mushrooms back to the sauce and keep warm.  Put your burger on a nice steakhouse bun, cover with some of the onions, mushrooms, and wine sauce, and top it off with some bleu cheese!  This tastes great with some sweet potato fries and a nice crisp salad.  If you are not up for cooking, the Burger Bar Americain at Salut Bar Americain in Edina was the original inspiration for today's tasty bite, and I highly recommend giving it a try.

Looking for a flavorful, yet inexpensive wine to pair with this delicious burger?  Consider trying the Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Washington State 2006.  It has plenty of fruit and stands up well to the beef and cheese within the burger.

We hope you enjoyed this installment of Bits and Bites.  Bon Appetit and Enjoy!

* P.S.  The Jimmy Buffett reference was for Stacey, my Parrot Head wife :)