Abbie and Eric were a couple who's wedding we shot this last fall.  As we were nearing the wedding, they were trying to come up with ideas for their engagement session.  Considering it was going to be on a beautiful fall day, we thought how fun would it be to go apple picking!  Being the fun sports they are, Abbie and Eric were totally game. 

Before wedding photography was even a gleam in my eye, I grew up just up the bluff from the river in a small town SW of Minneapolis called Carver.  When I was a kid I always remembered the signs from a nearby apple orchard.  We had done a wedding there and gone as a family a few times.  Needless to say, Stacey and I thought Minnesota Harvest would be a perfect place to go.

We ended up with gorgeous weather and the whole place essentially to ourselves.  We got some really fun pictures, not to mention a couple bags of apples (which Stacey made delicious homemade pies with).  At any rate, after looking at these pics, I am beginning to understand why Adam and Eve picked the apple!

To top the day off we went with Abbie and Eric for pizza afterward and ended up running into almost my entire family by coincidence.  It was pretty funny considering it was right after I just got done telling them I grew up nearby.  I still wonder if they believe it was by chance and not planned :). 

Every once in a while, after photographing weddings long enough, we have the opportunity to work with someone who truly stands out as a master of his/her craft.  Someone not only great at what they do, but someone you want to get to know.  That was the case the first time we worked with Bill Hermann of Bill Hermann Entertainment!  Bill can simply be summed up as full of life, energy, and passion for what he does!  Although, I could say a lot more, I think we will let Bill speak for himself.  I encourage you to take a moment for episode two of "Behind The Veil" featuring Bill Hermann.

 

Behind The Veil: Eps. 2 - Bill Hermann from Staja Studios on Vimeo.

 

If you would like to contact Bill, here is his information:

Bill's Website
Email Bill
Bills Telephone Number: 952-440-1617

As wedding photographers, we are naturally enthusiasts of the visual arts.  "Visual Arts" may mean something different for everyone.  Today, I want to talk about it in relation to tv!  For Stacey, that would definitely be reality tv.  For me, I'm still more of a sitcom/drama fan.  However, there has been one show that Stacey and I can both agree on, and that is "Off The Map".  I know there might be some people who like the show, but for us, this definitely falls in the LUMP IT category!  We all have heard the term "jump the shark", but usually it doesn't apply to the first two episodes.  The situational content while trying to be dramatic is just plain bad!  In some ways we found it so bad that we had to keep watching to see if it could get worse.
On the other hand, I am giving an early LIKE IT for a different new show called "The Cape".  While I reserve total judgement for later, and think there is some room for overall improvement, I really enjoy the concept.  It has that comic book feel in graphics and text intros, yet follows the filming of a regular show.  One of the biggest things that I like is the interplay between the Hero, "The Cape"/Vince Faraday, and The Villain, "Chess"/Peter Flemming.  In addition, I like that they show "The Cape's" weaknesses and miscues, plus he's not all flashy with gadgets.  Lastly, they do a great job of showing the gray side of a lot of the characters.  Not everyone is good or bad. 
 At any rate, let us know what you think of either show, we would love to hear your thoughts!

I have some very exciting news to share!  As our clients have started their lives together, some of them have started families.  We have wanted to stay a part of their lives and capture these new special moments.  In addition, Stacey has had the itch to expand her focus beyond weddings.  With that in mind, we are thrilled to share the beginning of Life Stories Photography.  Although we have been pulling everything together for awhile, Stacey officially launched the blog today!  The focus of Life Stories will be on families, children, and high school seniors.  Although I will be involved behind the scenes, Stacey will definitely be the face of Life Stories.  Please don't worry, this doesn't mean she will no longer be a part of Staja Studios.  She will still be actively involved! 

As I mentioned, the first official step was launching the blog!  She has some really great ideas for it, and I'm personally excited to see them come to life.  If you or someone you know is looking for portraiture with a lifestyle twist, I encourage you to check the new blog out.  If nothing else, please swing by and leave a comment wishing Stacey the best on the new venture.  While you are at it, we would love it if you "liked" Life Stories on Facebook!

Hey Everyone, I am so excited writing this post, as it has been a long time coming!  Stacey and I along with the unbelievable help of our newest Staja Team member, Ryan S. Johnson, have been working very hard on some new projects.  Although we love to write, we thought we would record a video message for the new announcements!

Staja Studios: Introducing Staja Cinema and "Behind The Veil" from Staja Studios on Vimeo.

With that as an introduction, please take a peek at our first episode of "Behind The Veil" with Lacie Swartzendruber of Pearls and Lace!

Behind The Veil - Pearls & Lace from Staja Studios on Vimeo.

We hope you enjoyed this first episode and be sure to check back for more, as we are busy getting new episodes ready for you.  We would love it if you would help spread the word to anyone getting married who you think might be interested in a new type of resource!

In closing, we would like to thank all our wonderful clients, family, and friends who have supported us and Staja Studios!  We truly wouldn't be here if it weren't for you!