Melissa Oholendt | Minnesota Wedding & Lifestyle Photography

I went to a midnight showing of Hunger Games. Matt and I downed a container of blackberries in 5 minutes. (Seriously.) I read books. I ate a graham cracker less s’more from my amazing friends at Cocoa & Fig at the fabulous Cadence Cornelius’s studio opening. I drank wine with friends. I walked around my neighborhood. I drank coffee. Lots of it. I had a staring contest with my dog. I watched the season premiere of Mad Men. And so wished I could have lived in the 60′s. Without all that woman’s oppression stuff.

Heart.

If you want to follow me on Instagram (and you SO DO), search for “melissaoholendt”. I’d love to connect on there!

Right? I know. Life is hard photographing models-slash-actors-slash-wonderful-people.

Shawn Maguire.

I cannot say enough good things about the wonderful (and beautiful!) Tara Bailie with A Day in Provence. I originally met Tara during the planning stages of the Jane Austen / J. Crew Editorial Shoot and had the opportunity to work with her again this last year at Anna & Chad’s fabulous Campus Club Wedding and let me tell you, the woman has seriously amazing skillz with a z.

Every photographer I know raves about her, every bride who meets with her loves her and her stunning work truly does speak for itself. If you are a Melissa Oholendt Photography bride (or any bride for that matter) still on the hunt for the perfect whimsical florist with a European touch? Do your sanity a favor and set up a consultation with Tara.

And be prepared to fall in love with her. Because you will.

I celebrated a birthday. I had brunch. I wore sparkly sandals. Multiple times. I re-read the Hunger Games. I honored St. Pat with wine & Brasa. Um, multiple times. I got a pedicure. I visited J.Crew. Just once. I went to see my friend Alex Masters open for Dave Barnes. I cuddled with the dog. Lots.

It was a great week.

You know how when you meet someone for the first time and immediately all you want to do is be friends with them?

Creepy? Nope.

From the minute I pulled up into the parking lot and Bethany happy-waved at me from the passenger side of Levi’s car, I knew I would just adore them. They both got out of the car and gave me a hug because after all these months of emailing, it was basically like we already knew each other, right? This. THIS is  just a sliver of what photography gives me. The happiness of spending a Saturday morning with a gorgeous couple, getting to know them even just a little bit. The elation of walking away from a session knowing that not only did I capture their love and personalities but also made two new friends. I don’t know that I could have articulated how important those pieces of happiness and elation are in my life until I became a photographer and now it’s something I can’t imagine how I could have ever lived without.

Bethany & Levi. You rock. Really. xo

It was an exciting winter in my world.

I just about fell over when I picked up the latest Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Weddings Issue and saw that they had published two of my engagement photos in their “Engagements We Love” feature. Published in not one but TWO fabulous wedding magazines in 2012 has pretty much made my entire life complete in multiple ways.

Thank you Mpls.St.Paul Magazine! (And I love you too.)

Oh, hey there, overly neglected blog reader. How are you doing today? Yeah? That’s great.

So, if you didn’t notice, I’m back. (Hi.) Also noticeable? The last day I blogged the high temperature was 34 degrees. (Shame.) That’s ok. I needed a break and I’m almost certain you did too so really? You’re welcome.

Jokes.

While I may have disappeared from this blog for 2 weeks, I most certainly have been busy on all other forms of social media. You will notice my Facebook Business page is filled with posts, as is my Twitter feed; but my new social media favorite that climbed to the top quicker than you can say J.Crew Final Sale is the (free for you) app Instagram. Now, admittedly, I was a late bloomer; I dug my feet in and refused to sign up because WHO NEEDS ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLET?

Oh. Yup. Me.

I won’t even lie to you. My Facebook Business page may have a day of silence occasionally but by gosh, if I don’t Instagram a photo of my dog a day, we have a problem. So like any overzealous got-to-get-back-into-it blog author missioned to bring it all full circle (and offer less neglect to my trusty blog readers), I’m instituting a new series on the MOho blog. Instagram Thursday.

I totally heard your gasp of love and adoration from here.

Every Thursday I’ll be posting a (curated) collection of my Instagram photos from the previous week just for your amusement. You may start to notice that I do 3 things exceedingly often (and well) = wear stripes, eat food and take pictures of Gunnar. But Instagram makes them look FUN and not at all borderline obsessive. (Right?)

So without further ado (and let’s be honest, you don’t come here for my writing) I give you the first installment of Instagram Thursday.

If you want to follow me on Instagram (and you SO DO), search for “melissaoholendt”. I’d love to see you on there!