Santa Barbra Engagement | Alexa Anderson + Matthew Kazmierczak

As many of you know, last week I had the amazing opportunity to spend several days in Santa Barbra to expand my knowledge about photography and running a business. This particular lifestyle "engagement" session just melted my heart. The models are dancers, and moved so gracefully in front of the camera (ahem- ever watch the show So You Think You Can Dance?… Yup, thought they looked familiar, right!?). Included in this post are some of my favorite images from the trip. The light was soft and the colors were muted because the sun had just dipped below the coast line. After this shoot, I told Tony- I could move here. I could take pictures here the rest of my life and never get bored. That California coast and sunshine is so enticing. I think I am a true California girl at heart!

My Other Tonie

Having two Tony's in your life can be a confusing thing! Which is why I call one of them "Beets". Everyone asks HOW?! How did you guys come up with the name BEETS?! And what does that even mean? Let me tell ya.

No, in this case it is not a herbaceous plant widely cultivated as a source of food for humans. Beet's is an "abbreviation" for BT. And "BT" stands for Brain Twin. We finish each others sentences, we understand each other through our typos, we pound on the keyboard when we get excited, we think the same thoughts, have similar ideas, and are downright the same person in two completely different shells, with two completely different artistic views. Tonie and I might be brain twins, but we could NOT be more different when you look at us and our photography businesses.

She wears black leather. I wear flowy pastels.
She takes rad, moody, dark pictues. I take light, airy, soft ones.
She is short (sorry beets!) and brunette. I am tall and blonde.
She shoots Nikon. I shoot Canon.
Her branding is modern and bold. Mine is soft and earthy.

I love our friendship, and am so inspired by her on a daily basis. Always readily available at the click of a button, and through the web cameras on our computers. Besties from 1,700 miles away. I am so happy God put her in my life, and don't know what I would do without her sometimes!

Here's to my beautiful Beets!

And of course, I have to share with you! We got these "Besties" phone cases on the first day of our trip to Santa Barbra. Urban Outfitters. $4.99. How can you pass up a deal like that?

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Paige + Reid | Minneapolis Engagement Photography

Happy (late) Valentines day! We will celebrate it again right now, since I did this adorable engagement shoot for Paige and Reid on Valentines day- the perfect day to capture how happy these two are together!

The rose petals that we incorporated into the shoot were the same rose petals that Reid scattered across the floor amongst lit candles that spelt out the words "Marry me?" when he proposed to Paige. Talk about romantic! Hearing proposal stories is by far my favorite part of engagement sessions!

I'm excited to capture the love these two share when they tie the knot in December. It will be here before we know it!

I love it when we try to do serious faces and it's so hard for the couple to keep it together. The laughs they share afterwards are always perfect.

PS:  I hope you two enjoyed your Cheesecake Factory date that I HIGHLY recommended. (yum.)

Ashleigh | In-home maternity session

When Ashleigh told me that she wanted to include her kiddos in her maternity session, I was overjoyed! I love the interaction between them all- snuggling on mom and dad's bed, giggling, showing me their bellies, and giving the baby belly kisses.

It all feels so natural. A day in the life. A story. Anticipation. Love. Happiness. 

This is why I love what I do- capturing other peoples stories makes me so happy!

Personal | Becker Rebrand

As most of you know, in less than 4 short months, I will be standing in front of a small intimate crowd, with a distressed dresser as an alter, a floral archway above my head, in a pretty little white dress as I say "I do" to the man of my dreams. It's a moment we all dream about- and I am one of the lucky ones that gets to confess that the reality of it is way better than anything I could have ever dreamt up!

Before my fiance, Tony, and I say our vows and officially tie the knot, I have been getting asked a lot of questions that I am ecstatic to answer:

Are you going to keep your last name?
Will you still be Kate HARVEY Photography?!
But everyone KNOWS you as Kate Harvey Photography….
Do you have to change your website!?
Aren't you afraid that people won't be able to find you?..

I am excited to announce that I look at this marriage as an opportunity to grow and build my business on a new foundation. A new chapter in a well written book by God's grace. On May 24th, the day of our wedding- the second I say "I do" and that marriage license is signed…. I will officially be Kate Becker Photography!

On a chilly November day, Bethany Platter and I met for the first time at Rustica Bakery in South Minneapolis. We sipped on coffee, dreamt out loud, "talked through all the crappy ideas" (as bethany told me), broke down walls, brainstormed, and shared the best ideas in order to make this rebrand happen. Bethany said that our hearts were beating as one during our coffee date and I know we were totally on the same wave-length!

She understood me. I could say the craziest thing that was on my mind because I knew she would be able to take it and run with it. I love-- correction-- I am OBSESSED with collaborating with fellow creatives. In the two short weeks prior to meeting with Bethany, I had met with two of her friends as well- Perry and Mariah, who are both inspiring and creative individuals who have their hearts set in changing this world. Each time we wrapped up a meeting, I left with the biggest grin on my face, and my heart was full of joy and creative inspiration. And shortly, as time passed, our "business meetings" became "coffee dates". And we were no longer clients of each other, we were friends. THAT's the way businesses should work, folks! And this is why I LOVE the creative field that I work in- surrounded by people who inspire, and want to be inspired by others.

I believe that God places people in your life for a reason- And each of these individuals will never know how much they impacted me in the fall of 2013.

Bethany has been an absolutely JOY to work with in the rebranding process of my business. Please be sure to check out the rest of her work here … AND make sure to keep your eyes peeled over on Kate Harvey Photography and Duende's Facebook for fun updates on the rebrand and when the new site/logo/brand will be released!