Ring Shots

So a few things are really good for my creativity during the winter; wine and time! I mean wine probably isn't the best thing to have around my expensive gear, but I'm a professional.

Anyways, while I am impatiently patiently waiting for the wedding pictures to be posted by our amazing photographer, I decided to bust out my own gear! So I took pictures with my skirt, bouquet and this wonderful blue bench that lives in my living room between sessions. 

Don't mind this not having a watermark.. whoops! 

So I don't have a macro lens so I make due with the gear I do have for detail shots. Someday I'll get all the lenses I want, and lighting gear.. pretty much I'll own some sweet gear instead of a house, I'll live in a tunnel. 

So here's some shots to tide you over until I get pictures back from my photographer and can make you all tear up with sweetness, or laugh because we are incredibly awkward. 

PS: this is my first post as an MRS, woohoo!!! 

Details: 

Canon 70D

18-55mm lens | ISO 800 | 1/60-1/125 | F 5.6

-Acacia 

January Goals - So Far

Hi, remember me, the girl who decided on monthly goals? 

Check in time... 

January Goals:

- Unplug during social times 

I gotta say that this has been a lot easier without Facebook on my phone. I'm not saying I'm perfect, but I've made a bigger effort to be present with friends and family.. I also get annoyed at people on their phones now. 

- Workout at least 2-3 days a week

Can I skip this one?! I went to the gym maybe once.. it's the 21st and I can say that the biggest reason I haven't been working out is that I have an inconsistent schedule and an ovary that's been being a jerk. Aside from that, I have made healthier choices by trying to cut down on caffeine. 

- Read 30 days of my Savor devotional 

Shauna Niequist, you are an amazing lady! I can't tell you how thankful I am that I broke down and bought this devotional! I am spending some time with Jesus before I get ready for work, it's been amazing for me and my relationship with God. 

- Accomplish two goals I've set for photography

Done, son. I got logos, pricing, website AND I almost didn't work the entire month. I can't turn down a cute library themed engagement session. 

- Wake up early everyday 

I wake up at 06:35 everyday, I plan to wakeup at 6 next month and then eventually go to 5/515. I don't want to wake up much earlier than that because I'm sometimes not getting to bed till 10/1130 at night. Thankfully I'm not too hard on myself with this goal, things happen and with an inconsistent schedule (hopefully will be changing soon) it's been a lot harder than I thought. 

So here it is, I have 10 more days to keep at this and February is gonna bring some FUN stuff so stay tuned! 

Hello Snow | Engagement Session

A few months ago I met with Brandon + Maggie for a pre-wedding consultation and during our meeting I could tell that Maggie and myself were kindred spirits. Not only are we both bubbly, outgoing and totally hilarious (uh duh) but she's also from Arizona and we could relate on so many levels!

We talked for a few months about what kind of engagement session she was looking for and when we sat down to sign the contract she said "I WANT SNOW!" and, as luck would have it, it snowed the day before her session AND it wasn't windy. This is absolute insanity because ND is known for 2 things:

1. Cold

2. Wind

So to have perfect conditions for her dream engagement session was pretty much written in the stars! We had originally planned to shoot out in Hatton by an old red barn, but Maggie was able to talk to a local shop owner and had permission to use their cattle farm! I don't think anyone besides Eric and people who've been in the car with me knows how much I love cows. I moo at them, no matter how many times we've passed the same cow and when I got to pet one? OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! Eric said I looked like a 2 year old with a kitten. So to be able to shoot on a farm with cows, tractors, horses, trees and a mini pony? Oh my little kid heart was ecstatic! 

Plus Brandon had this genius idea below:

How funny, right? I'm glad that they wanted snowy engagement pictures! 

Please feel free to pin, share and of course follow my work on Facebook! 

Photography services available in: Grand Forks, Fargo and East Grand Forks areas. Available for travel. 

Wedding Wednesday | HELLO!

This is my first link-up for Wedding Wednesday, but definitely not my last! I should probably preface this with that I've been not-so-secretly planning my dream wedding on Pinterest for the last year. Let the crazy year of wedding planning begin! 

So this is a cute picture, I happen to do photography and happened to have conned this man into a kissing picture. #score. 

First things first I am a planner. I make lists, so I went out to find the perfect planner that didn't cost a fortune. Thankfully TJ Maxx has my back in this department and I found this gorgeous 2016 planner for a fraction of the cost a day designer would cost. Best part? It's got both Whitney English AND Emily Ley esc styles involved! 

I can't complain about the quote on the front either, 2016 is gonna be the bees knees! 

The Date: 10-8-16

Second thing we figured out was the date. In our small circle of family and friends there was one or two things we had to keep in mind for picking our date: 

1. Eric's mom's birthday 

2. Harvest

Unfortunately the first date I thought would work was his moms birthday and I immediately changed it.. Harvest is either going to be just beginning or getting ready to begin on our date and since its close to home for all our farming family I think we'll be okay! 

Last thing I figured out, aside from where was the colors. I used to be all about the summer wedding, and then I realized that fall/winter held so much more for me from the fact that it was fall when I met Eric, and technically fall when we started dating, and the color schemes work better for me too. So without much further ado, our colors! 

I can't wait to share more with you guys as the planning process continues. Next week will be a glimpse into ceremony/reception ideas and decor! 

Linking up with To Travel & Beyond

Wild + Free | Photography

Since getting into nannying I have had a lot more time to do sessions that are more for me and my business style and less for getting in that one or two sessions to make ends meet. About a week ago I went out to East Grand Forks with my friend Laura to do a mini-styled session with the flower head wreaths I made. This session made me incredibly excited because it turned out fantastically! I can only hope the other sessions I have planned will be just as wonderful. 

Pembina Gorge | ND Adventures

This last winter when Eric and I first started dating I was incredibly home sick. My heart was dying from the amount of flat ground I'd seen in the last year and a half that it was hard to not dream of packing up and leaving all together. 

Thankfully, I have an amazing boyfriend who knows this, just by looking at me, and takes charge into getting me what I need; rolling hills and a change in scenery. After he took me to the Pembina Gorge, I made him promise to bring me back each season so that I can do a time lapse series.

So this weekend was the perfect time since we were already up that way for the Tetrault Woods hike and this time we were extra lucky because his mom and Wanda were with us! As you can see, the spring vs. winter is vastly different, but so beautiful in it's own way. 

Of course, how could I get away from such a wonderful place without conning that handsome man into a selfie with me? I also got him to take a picture of me at the edge, you know my dad's favorite place I go when hiking? Yeaaaaah!

Also, check out this gorgeous picture of a wild lilac. It's amazing to see these bushes that were so huge and barren a few months ago blooming with life. Again, if interested in a print, please don't hesitate to contact me! bellehiverphotography@gmail.com

Tetrault Woods | Walhalla, ND

A few weeks ago Diane, Eric's mom, invited us along on a nature hike in the Tetrault Woods  which I was extremely excited for because it's been about 2 years since I went on an actual hike!

First off, we had a really awesome hike/nature guide Helen -in the picture above- who knew so much about the area, more than both Diane and Eric combined, that she made it fun and interesting. Plus the fact is that she's out here doing this because she likes to and is retired made it that much more fun! 

I have a few nature images below, these have been scaled down and if you'd like a full size print, let me know!

Wild ginger root, I'm glad that I now know how to identify and can make myself ginger tea! 

I had a great time learning, exploring and being shown a prettier part of North Dakota than I'd ever thought possible. Seriously, I'll be writing about that later. If you ever get the chance to come to ND, do it! There are some pretty amazing things that the Northern Plains offer and you'll be bummed to not see it all. 

"You Got This"

Ever meet someone who completely changes how you view.. everyone? I mean, I already met Eric and he's completely changed my view on what love is, and should be. 

Then I met his mom. 

Can we just say holy crap cause that's pretty much only thing I can think when I think of Diane. I'll be 100% honest, I had no idea that a mother could/should love as much as she loves her family. It's truly amazing. Not only has she been an amazing mom, like both her boys are enamored by this wonderful lady, but she's also made a life change that has resulted in some pretty amazing things. 

This last weekend Diane ran the Fargo 5k. This is after an amazing year long challenge to herself to lose weight and become a healthier person overall.. she did it and is a huge inspiration to myself and others. I had made a pretty sweet sign that said "You got this!" and, of course, Eric one up'd me by writing "Love you mom" on his. Such a goody-goody ;) 

Eric's dad Hans decided to surprise Diane at the Fargo 5k and as usual I had my camera with me (ps, anyone else laugh at the little girls confused face??) 

30+ years of marriage and these two are as in love as they day they said "I Do" 

These are the moments that I love and how I've figured out that the attainability of someone to love you unconditionally is real.  Way to go, Diane! 

Auntie, the photographer.

So as a lot of you know I went back home to Arizona in November and for the first time in forever my niece and nephew were exposed to their aunt the photographer. My eldest sister is a fantastic nature photographer, but when it comes to people.. she kind of sucks. Don't start thinking that I don't suck at things too.. I can't shoot nature. Win/win? Maybe. 
Anyways, I was able to drag my sister, mom and the kids out to the desert on my last morning in AZ for a little family session. Now they were all "cold" to which I responded "you don't know what cold is!" and I got the roll of the eyes from Ms. Aidy -13- and my nephew Pat. I realized while doing this session that I have completely been blessed with some gorgeous family, and I'm a little bummed that I hadn't been around while they were growing up. These are the first and only professional images my family has had since I was 9 months old.

See what I mean by gorgeous?! 

Nane (mom) and her grand kids. I cannot believe how tall these kids are. They are almost at my 5'5.5" frame and I'm a good 12+ years older than them. 

I happen to believe my nephew is quite the stud muffin, despite his growls for having to smirk for me. 

Now here's a little side by side of my niece with her mom and my niece with me. She is definitely 12 years younger, but some how we wound up with very similar faces! I won't complain, she's my beauty bug and I am totally biased. It was awesome to shoot in Arizona for he first time since 2006 and I look forward to going back someday to do portraits for my niece when she's a senior *tears* and my nephew.