Sooo planning a wedding is a big undertaking and I want to help.
Below are some favorite vendors I have or want to work with! They all do tremendous work and am always impressed by each of them! This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a good starting point for you to work with as you plan you wedding day.
A D V E N T U R E ;
the exploration of unknown territory
Well --
You are probably stuck at your fulltime job, with not a lot of time to travel, why not use a photography session as an excuse to explore a new place with your fiancé??
A lot of couples go to the Stone Arch Bridge, or someplace like that, and don’t get me wrong, I love the Stone Arch Bridge!! But there are a lot of the same photo with different people. Why not go somewhere different, where no one has taken photos before?? With beautiful views and amazing landscapes?
Again, just take the time to enjoy life and make your photography session a little vacation. Even if it is just for a few days! Go to the Boundry Waters, or the North Shore, or the mountains, or the beach (please take me to the beach in winter!!)
Everyone needs less stress in their lives. Have some fun and play hookie for a bit. Stop thinking about deadlines and to-do lists and have a great time with your fiancé and get it documented through photos :)
+ Madeline Island, WI
+ Palisade Head, MN
+ Split Rock, MN
+ Duluth, MN
+ Chicago, IL
+ Hamptons
+ Napa Valley
+ Banff, Alberta
+ Cannon Beach, OR
+ Yosemite Valley
+ Washington lavender fields in spring
Since middle school I have always been behind a camera. I’d beg my mom to use her film camera and go on walks to take photos. Eventually, my amazing and generous parents gave me a Nikon D40 for Christmas my sophomore year of high school. I took photos of landscapes on my family’s summer vacations, and shot my willing friends (and honestly, what high school girl isn’t willing to add more photo to her Facebook page). Senior year rolled around and a few of my friends asked me to take their senior photos. They turned out great and I had such a fun time.
This was one of the first moments I decided I wanted to be a photographer. I continued getting better and took photography classes at school as elective credits. I even got the chance to take photography classes in Italy during my study abroad experience. Amazing is an understatement.
It wasn’t until I was in graduate school for environmental science that I started, at the time, Hannah Hoglund Photography. I asked my engaged friends if they would hire me to film or photograph their weddings. Most said no, or they already had photographers and videographers, but a few said heck yeah! So, I started off charging very little for my inexperienced eyes and ended up with beautiful photos and videos for my friends.
I learned soo much from those first few weddings and it only fueled my passion for creating beautiful photos and video and also making my clients happy. Happiness is contagious and I think deep down that’s why I love being a wedding photographer. Selfishly, I love shooting people in love because at the end of the day I come home with the biggest smile on my face. Sore feet, but the biggest smile! It is so uplifting and inspiring to see my beautiful clients having fun and engaging with their partners. I frequently come home to my husband and give him a huge hug. SO MUCH LOVE!!
Being a wedding photographer has taught me to always cherish the little moments, communication is key, and love always wins :) Three years later, I launched Hannah Ampe Photography and I can honestly say, as much as I have learned, I still have so much more to go!
If I am ever your wedding photographer, I will usually tear up at the ceremony, especially if you write your own vows, frequently tell a terrible joke while shooting, and always always capture your love and the moments that make your heart skip a beat. My end goal is to always make my clients feel special and give you spectacular photos that you can cherish forever.
So that’s my story. My journey hasn’t been simple, but doing what I love everyday is always a blessing :)
