The Blog

If you’re struggling to find a beautiful, luxurious wedding venue for your special day in Minnesota- look no further! These are my absolute top 10 favorite luxurious wedding venues in Minnesota!

Stunning Wedding Venues in Minnesota 2025

Italy Destination Wedding

If you’re considering getting married at the Oak Glen Golf Club in Stillwater, look no further! This venue is absolutely beautiful! I had the honor of photographing Jordan and Isabella’s wedding there and I cannot recommend this place enough!

Oak Glen Golf Club Wedding in Stillwater

Beautiful outdoor summer wedding ceremony in Stillwater, Minnesota between two willow trees with a lake in the background

Looking for the best engagement photo locations in Minneapolis? Look no further! I’ve created this guide to show you some of the best spots in and around Minneapolis where I take all my couples who are recently engaged! If that’s you, congratulations on your engagement! What an exciting time! I’m Heidi- A professional wedding and elopement photographer based in Minneapolis! Let’s dive right in!

Best Engagement Photo Locations In Minneapolis

Guy and girl holding each other during their engagement session overlooking the Minneapolis skyline at Boom Island Park

It can be hard to know whether or not you’re booking a professional wedding photographer and not just a hobbyist! The reason this is true is because you don’t technically need any degree or certification to become a photographer! Any person with a camera nowadays call themselves a photographer…and sure.. they are. But how do you know if they’re a professional who knows what they’re doing? How do you know if you’re getting your money’s worth? I’ve created this guide to help you know if you’re booking a professional wedding photographer or not. Let’s dive right in!

How to Know if You’re Booking a Professional Wedding Photographer

Professional wedding photography of a bride and her bridesmaids walking across the Stillwater bridge in Minnesota as the sun is setting

So you’re wondering how on earth do you choose the right elopement photographer for your awesome adventure? The struggle can be real! Seriously! With elopements becoming so popular after covid and thousands of people with a camera claiming to be an elopement photographer, it’s hard to be sure you’re getting what you pay for! That’s why I’ve created this guide to help you choose the right elopement photographer for your epic elopement adventure! Not just ANY elopement photographer, but the right one for you! let’s get started!

How to Choose the Right Elopement Photographer

Arizona Elopement couple on Devil's Bridge in Sedona.

Dear future Bride, if you want some super helpful tips for your wedding day from a professional wedding photographer who’s seen it all, this is for you! A wedding photographer is your absolute best friend when it comes to wedding tips! They often act as the wedding planner, emergency go-to, wedding co-ordinator, hype person and so much more! So your first tip right off the bat – Trust your wedding photographer! They know what’s up! So let’s dive right in to my top tips for brides from a professional wedding photographer! (That’s me by the way, I’m Heidi- Nice to meet you! 🙂 )

Top Tips for Brides from a Professional Wedding Photographer

Beautiful, simple wedding day details, including wedding heels, white flowers and rings

If you’re wondering how to host your very first styled shoot to expand your portfolio and have an extra flow of income, this is the guide for you! Hi, I’m Heidi Straus, a professional wedding and destination photographer based in Minnesota, originally from South Africa! I’m here to help guide you through hosting your very first styled shoot and many more after that! I’ve hosted over 20 styled shoots in the past 3 years and 4 Safari Retreats in South Africa. It is one of my greatest passions and I love networking with others in the industry!

How to Host Your First Styled Shoot

Bridesmaids standing next to the bride in their colorful spring mismatched bridesmaids dresses, holding their colorful spring bouquets next to their sides

If you’re wondering whether or not you should do a first look on your wedding day, this is for you! There’s a reason the first look has become so popular. As a professional wedding photographer who has photographed many different weddings with, and without, first looks – Here’s why I highly recommend adding a first look with your partner!

First Look on Your Wedding Day- Yes or No?

Groom holding his Bride's hand as he reads her private vows from his vow book in a field

Interested in Eloping in South Africa but not sure how? I’m from South Africa and I’ve created this helpful guide to show you exactly what you need to elope and exactly how to do it!

How to Elope in South Africa

South Africa Elopement at Tugela Falls

If you want to know how to elope in Glacier National Park in the beautiful mountains of Montana, you’ve come to the right place! Montana is probably one of my absolute favorite places for elopements! In this guide, I will show you exactly how to elope in this gorgeous place!

How to Elope in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park elopement couple standing in the water at Lake MacDonald with the Mountains in the background