A gift for you! We're sharing the love for our anniversary

Time sure does fly when you're having fun. We're excited to share that Anthologie officially turned 5 years old today! We're celebrating with a gift for you. As a token of our gratitude for your years of support, we're offering a 16x20 wall portrait for every family or documentary photography session throughout the month of February.

With February being the month of love, we're asking: Who is in your heart?

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and you don't want to be caught without something sweet for those you love, right? Well, we have the perfect way to show your love year round! This year, every family photo session or documentary photo project in February will include a 16x20 wall portrait (an $80 value) as our gift to you.

We know that love is a powerful emotion, but one that doesn't always have to be about romance. Your love for your niece, your grandfather or your family pet can be every bit as important as the bond between spouses. So, this month why not celebrate the relationship you have with those in your heart?

When your photo session is finished you can rest assured that those special moments won't be lost in the ether or relegated to a life in a hard drive. Instead those memories will make a BIG statement in your home. We will print your favorite image on the finest photographic papers around and present it to you to proudly display for years to come.

To get this wonderful gift for your sweetie simply follow these instructions:

• Contact us {952-232-5830 or info (at) theanthologie.com} to discuss your photo project
• Make sure your photo session takes place by Feb. 28, 2014
• All regularly priced family and documentary photo sessions are eligible
• After your photos are presented online just tell us your favorite
• That's it! We'll print the wall portrait for you and you look like a hero

Please feel free to share this post with others you think will enjoy it. Thanks so much for viewing!

Love in Bloom

Engagement: Steph and Wes

Wes has been working at the Montgomery Orchard since he was a teenager, so it was a no-brainer when it came to picking a location for engagement photos with Steph, his bride to be.

With those years of experience, Wes also knew when it would typically be the peak moment to capture all those rows of apple trees in full bloom. However, with an unusually cool Minnesota spring, much of the orchard was behind schedule this year.

When it came time to create engagement pictures the apple trees were far from being at their showiest. However, the orchard's vast stand of plum trees was in full bloom and helped to set the scene (and perfume the air) for a dreamy photo session.

Steph and Wes will be married at the orchard in September, when the landscape will be ripe for even better pictures.

Let it Snow Returns!

Reserve your Anthologie winter photo session today!

It's time to play in the snow, the mud or the rain, because whenever Mother Nature throws us a curveball, great photos are sure to be made.

Anthologie's "Let it Snow" winter photo promotion is back and better than ever, now with three ways to save.

Perfect for documenting trips to the tree farm, family traditions or just because, Anthologie has a "Let it Snow" winter photo collection sure to fit your holiday picture needs. Contact us today using the contact form on this website to reserve your session. Use coupon code SNOW10 in the "how did you hear about us" field to receive this special pricing.

Details

• All sessions also include edits and enhancements of your best images

• All sessions also include an online proofing gallery active for 30 days from posting

• Session fees are due at the time of scheduling in order to reserve your date. A credit will be kept for you on file should you need to reschedule.

• There are no travel fees for photo sessions within the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs

• Sessions must be completed by Dec. 11, 2010, to ensure on-time delivery of holiday cards

• Still have questions, contact us today

Bittersweet

Saying goodbye through photos

One of the many aspects of my job that I love is the relationships I get to build with my clients, and the fact that many of them become friends. Such is the case with Maureen, a wedding client whose larger-than-life image dominated my storefront window at my past Northfield studio, whose nuptial photos graced my business cards for more than a year and whose presence was recently made at my wife's baby shower (she's obviously become a friend).

Once that relationship is established and trust is earned, I, as a photographer, get the great pleasure of getting to take part in some truly amazing life moments. Maureen contacted me awhile back saying that the difficult economic environment had forced her to make an even more difficult decision, that to give up her horse and cherished friend, Hannah. Before she did so, she wanted to honor their relationship through pictures, and requested that I create the images. I was honored, excited and a bit apprehensive. After all, it promised to be an emotional event.

What I didn't realize until moments after our session was complete was that Hannah was moving to her new (and positively Rockwellian) home immediately and that I was actually about to see the last goodbye. While I witnessed the event, some things are simply best left in memory and not immortalized in photos. Hannah was visibly stirred by the situation and seemed to have a keen awareness for what was taking place. Instead, we have radiant images to celebrate the bond between a woman and her equine friend.

Scoring points

Devising the perfect game plan for a proposal

It was love that sent Matt Jackson on his biggest life journey. Not love for a woman, but love for a game — hockey.

Matt was a standout on the Apple Valley, MN varsity hockey team and advanced to the collegiate level before a snowmobile accident sidelined his aspirations of going pro. It was during his time on Eagles high school team, however, that would change his life. It was then that he first crossed paths with Lori Taormina, the squad's team manager.

While the two never spent much time together, they obviously made an impression on one another. Years after their brief high school encounters, Matt and Lori easily noticed each other while socializing with friends at an area sports bar. A connection was made, and the two quickly started dating.

Two years later, Matt had purchased an engagement ring, had asked Lori's father for her hand in marriage, and was already plotting the perfect proposal.

Matt had treated Lori to a full-day spa treatment at the Oasis Salon in Lakeville while he was off deer hunting in Southern Minnesota. Well, at least that's what Lori was led to believe. Matt had actually postponed his trip a bit to surprise Lori as she neared the end of her day of pampering. The salon had requested me to produce photos for marketing materials so I would be on hand during all the action. Plus, we needed a model for the brochures — that's where Lori came in.

As Lori luxuriated in each phase of the treatment — hair, make-up, massage, manicure and spa pedicure — she had no idea Matt was anxiously counting down the minutes until he'd be cued to make his entrance. Matt stacked the deck and brought along champagne with personalized flutes, chocolates and strawberries, and a sushi platter on top of the stunning ring he had selected.

Finally, Matt's moment came and he was able to catch Lori completely off guard as she relaxed with a glass of wine during her pedicure. A traditionalist, Matt got down on one knee and asked Lori to marry him. In between tears of excitement and joy, she said yes.

Congratulations, Matt and Lori!!