Jess and Jason had a wonderful, intimate, family oriented wedding the week of Thanksgiving.  I spent my time before the wedding with Jess and the ladies (and a couple fellas) of the family getting ready for the ceremony. 

It was a wonderful time with the kids and snacks and plenty of hairspray.  Jess is lucky enough to be getting a sister-in-law who is in school for hair, so she was able to style Jess as well as several other family member's hair. 






 I totally fell for her shoes-- check out that heel!


It was important to the Bride and Groom to have the whole family involved in the wedding, especially their daughter, Layla.  Jess's siblings, niece and nephew as well as their daughter were all loving the hotel suite where they got ready. 


 Jess was ably assisted by her mom in the details of her outfit.



 Mommy and daughter's shoes.  I loved how they matched, and I know that Layla loved having a new pair of shiny shoes. 



I love this image of the future MIL's fastening Jason and his father's flowers while the Bride's brother and the Groom's sister look on.  It is so expressive of how this family has come together for Jess and Jason's big day.  It was so wonderful to meet you all and to be a part of your big event!

More photos of the ceremony and the family celebration afterwards are coming soon!

My engaged friend Jess and I originally met in a mom's group that we are both not involved in any longer-- however, the fact that she and her daughter Layla (or as my son calls her, "Laya") are both wonderful ladies we have stayed connected for the past several years.Now she and her fiance Jason are getting married this month and I have the honor of photographing their wedding.

I was so happy to hear of their marriage and honored to be asked to shoot their wedding as her friend, but when I learned that they are getting married in the gorgeous James J Hill Reference Library, which won one of Wedding Wire's Bride's Choice Awards for 2011, I was excited for an entirely different reason. The quiet and cozy atmosphere will be perfect for their intimate wedding ceremony later this week.

I hope you enjoy these, and I am so excited about shooting your wedding!

 I had the honor of photographing Liam for his newborn photo session, and it is hard to believe that he is nearly a year old now.  He is pulling himself up, crawling, beginning to talk, and caused his photographer to exclaim out loud over and over at his gorgeous blue eyes.

His family and I met at the Westwood Hills for his one year/ family photo session and were lucky enough to be there before the majority of the heat and humidity. It was so easy to find photos to share here, but so difficult to pare down the choices for this session preview.  Hope you enjoy!  

Megan and I met, at least virtually through mutual membership in a  Facebook group associated with a pregnancy website, although her little miss Liberty is a year and a bit younger than my son.  A group of women from the Twin Cities area formed a group to share parenting advice as well as important things like where the best splash pads and pediatricians are in our area.  When Megan mentioned she was looking for a photographer for her daughter's one year portraits, I was eager to help her out.  And it was nice to actually know who I was looking for at a session from her profile  photo. :)

She also mentioned that as her family photographer, she seldom got to be in photos and she and her husband were last in photos together at their wedding-- a common complaint from moms.  So we decided to also include photographs of her and her husband Chris in the session.  They also brought along Megan's mom Rebecca, which is a wonderful idea for family sessions. 

Grandma-- or some other family member-- are so helpful when there are little ones at the session: diaper and clothing changes are easier, blankets and lovies are safe in their hands, and they are wonderful at getting little faces to look where you want them to.  And since there were some photos that Liberty was not involved in, it was great for her to have a break from performing for the camera.

Megan, Chris, Liberty and Nana, I hope you like your session preview!

Do you have a mother that you love more than anything? Are you a Twin Cities mom who deserves a bit of pampering for Mother’s Day this year?


Carrie Weston Photography is happy to announce an “I Love My Mommie” contest on my Facebook Fan Page. Prizes include a Classic Photo Session, which includes an hour and half of Carrie’s time and talent, location and studio options, a password-protected online viewing gallery with 35-45 edited and color corrected images to choose from, as well as a $25 print credit.

The winning mom will also receive an additional $50 print credit, free Boutique Packaging, flowers and more!

To enter you or your mother in this contest, simply “Like” Carrie Weston Photography on Facebook.com  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Carrie-Weston-Photography/122611844453428, and submit a picture of your mom in the contest folder and include a description of why you or your mom deserve to win.

Then make sure to spread the word to your friends and family to vote for you or your mom. Whoever receives the most “Likes” wins the grand prize. However, an additional prize for the contestant who receives the most comments will be awarded.

Voting is available April 1– 30th, with the winning moms being announced May 2– leaving plenty of time for the winning mom to claim her prize.

I was delighted to recently stumble across http://www.celebratingadoption.org/, a website offering similar services, and listings of photographers across the United States who are willing to donate their time and talent to you for your adoption session.

I am currently working with anticipation toward a landmark event for me.  Come Febraury I will be beginning the first of the Community Education classes I am teaching here in our little suburb of Fridley.  I was just informed that I have just four students for my "Beginning Digital Photography" course, which will be plenty for me.

I worked my way through college as a Preschool and Early Fives teacher (one of the many hats I wore at that time) and I loved teaching my little ones.  I loves seeing their little minds light up as they understood something for the first time and to see their progress throughout the year.  I was often rewarded for my efforts with a stick figure drawing of myself- or a handmade ornament at Christmastime. I doubt that my photography students will give me such earnest affirmations, and it is just a four week course, but I am very excited about the prospect of teaching again.

Coming this February and March:

Carrie Weston Photography is pleased to be offering Beginning Digital Photography and Basic Photoshop classes through Fridley Community Eduction.  Beginning Digital Photography starts on February 1st and has limited spaces available, and you have all the way till March to sign up for Basic Photoshop. 

If you are interested in learning anything about composition, the Rule of Thirds, or simply how to take your brand new shiny Christmas present out of the most basic of settings, be sure to check the class offerings out. 

I am also always welcome to suggestions for new class ideas.  I am currently creating my class schedule for the spring semester.

Free for all print orders of $75 or more, and available for just $7 an order for print orders less than $75!  Makes a perfect package for any prints you are giving as Christmas presents.  


For a limited time only when you purchase a Christmas Card Mini Session, print purchases of just $40 or more receive this gorgeous packaging free with print order.

Today I got to do one of my favorite things, have a newborn session.  It was made even more fun by the fact that, the baby was super-adorable and it was a gift session to a coworker of my husband's and his wife.  Little Liam is two months old, and so was able to stay awake for a while and give smiles, but also very kindly slept for us for a while.  It was so great to see a family so happy and to know that Liam will be growing up in a home filled with laughter and love.

It was also great to finally get to meet Erin, Liam's mom.  She and I have had very similar stories for the past few years-- moving for a husband's promotion and relocating without knowing anyone here in MN.  Hopefully we'll get to see you again soon!


Erin, this is one of my favorite photos I have taken, ever.  Your little one is just gorgeous!