Home, Heart, and Golden Hour: These two celebrated ten years of marriage in early August, and an entire decade later, they’re still just as crazy about each other as the day they said “I do!” I had the privilege of standing beside Rachel as one of her bridesmaids, making this anniversary session an especially meaningful, full-circle moment. When she mentioned wanting to capture this milestone, I couldn’t wait to document their love story from behind the camera and celebrate the beautiful life they’ve built together.
To the Duluth area I journeyed and we set to work planning a cozy session in their family home. The old adage of “home is where the heart is” definitely rings two for these two. Not only is it the place where Rachel grew up, but the house has been in her family for decades with her mom and other relatives being raised there too. Because it’s such a special place with a great deal of sentiment, there was no better spot to spend a day-in-the-life style session letting interactions between Rachel, Aaron, and their two doggos unfold.
Another component to this session was personalizing the outfit selections. We wanted a casual look, plus a few shots with the couple in matching Dr.Pepper shirts as part of an inside joke they share. We also took some time to get a playful session with PJs on in their bedroom. Our grand finale was more formal portraits in dressier looks that we traveled down the hill, through Canal Park, and over the lift bridge to wander Park Point beach.
I love this shot looking in on a moment with their wedding day portrait hanging on the wall!
Around brunch time, we kicked things off with the bedroom set before a quick outfit change, relocation downstairs, and a fast snapping with the Dr.Pepper themed merch. In-between, I made sure to get several stand alone pictures of their dogs, Yoshi and Zola, who were great photo assistants helping me dial in camera settings based on the room’s available lighting.
Rachel and Aaron got into their casual outfits and we took our time on the main floor of the house. Everything from intimate, cuddly moments on the sofa, to some standing portraits framed in the halls and stairways, and even a spirited wrestling session on the floor. The laughs kept coming from all of us, having fun and enjoying the moment, with the occasional softer moments woven in.
After a break for lunch (where we fit in watching a Sunday afternoon football game of course), the couple got all dolled up, and it was time for our golden hour set by the lake. We had sunny skies, but the Lake Superior wind was no joke! For most of the time, we walked through the green space which was guarded with a healthy amount of wind-breaking barriers to keep things more comfortable.
Once the sun was fading, we braved the beach and found several overly-friendly seagulls hovering overhead. I think if we had wanted to, one of us could have reached up and plucked one straight from the air. A set of particularly bold birds crashed the session while we were seated on a patch of grass. I can’t tell if they were curious, hungry, or simply dropping by to supervise us.
Rachel and Aaron kept powering through despite the heavy winds and cooler temperatures settling in. Imagine my surprise when Rachel voluntarily removed her nice heels and opted for a barefoot stroll through Lake Superiors chilly waters—brrr!
We ended up capturing so many incredible moments throughout the day, with a wonderful variety of poses, outfits, and moods. As a photographer, I loved getting to showcase both sides of their relationship—from the relaxed, playful moments spent simply enjoying each other at home, to the stunning, dressed-up portraits against the sunset. Each setting brought out a different part of their story, making the entire session feel uniquely them.
Rachel and Aaron, it’s been such a joy to be part of your love story that spans over 14 years now! From witnessing those early dating years and planning our weddings together, to celebrating your big day, and now seeing the life you’ve built a decade later. I’m so grateful to have shared in these milestones and to have captured this present chapter. Here’s to the next ten years and all the incredible memories still waiting to be made! 🍾🥂
