Amarrah Elizabeth Photography

09/06/2026

This session was one of those where things didn’t exactly go according to plan, but you would never know it from the photos.

We had originally planned on exploring a different part of the bluffs in Eden Prairie, but when we got there, the path we wanted was closed for reconstruction. So, we made do with what we had and spent the evening running around, finding little pockets that worked, and honestly... I think it turned out exactly how it was supposed to.

Their styling was so good, they were the sweetest couple, and the whole evening just had this nostalgic feeling that I love so much in my photos.

And because apparently I like to keep things interesting, while they were off changing outfits in the middle of the session, I got overheated and 100% threw up behind a bush. 😂 I don't think they saw me. Sooo If you are my couple and just finding out about the throwing up now, haha... oopsies.

But we recovered, got back to it, and kept the session going like nothing happened.

All jokes aside, this is exactly why I love what I do. I love getting to meet people, hear their stories, and spend an evening documenting this little chapter of their lives together. Even when the plans change, the paths are closed, and your photographer is hiding behind a bush trying not to pass away. 🤎

09/02/2026

I feel like elopements aren’t talked about enough.

I think people started believing that if you want to elope somewhere beautiful, you have to travel across the country. You have to go to the PNW, Colorado, or somewhere with mountains in the background.

And while those places are absolutely beautiful, they aren’t your only options.

Even here in Minnesota, there are so many places to make your elopement feel like you. The North Shore, Blue Mounds, hidden little spots you might not even know exist yet, or honestly... leaning into the land around you. The prairie. Your family’s property. A place that already means something to the two of you.

Yes, it might take a little more work to find the right spot. But I promise you, beautiful places exist here too.

And honestly? I think that’s part of what I love about elopements. They feel so centered on the couple. There are fewer expectations, fewer people pulling you in different directions, and more room to actually be present with each other.

Because it’s so easy to get swept away in a wedding day. To spend the entire day worrying about timelines, guests, traditions, and making sure everyone else is having a good time.

An elopement gives you the space to slow down and remember what the day is actually about. And you don’t have to go far to do it.

08/31/2026

Senior pictures are usually about capturing you...who you are right now, right before one chapter ends and another one begins.

But our friends are such a huge part of who we are, too.

Last night, I got to spend the evening with these two, capturing the summer before their senior year begins. Before school starts, before senior year gets busy, and before the stress of figuring out what comes next. College, moving away, and the possibility that life could eventually take them to different places.

And while traditional senior pictures will always have their place, I love getting to capture friendship sessions like this too. Because one day, these photos will bring them back to the summer before everything changed, the moments they shared, the memories that shaped their friendship, and the version of themselves they were in this exact season of life.

Our friends shape us just as much as the places we go and the things we do. So getting to freeze that relationship in time? I think that deserves a spot in your senior photos too!

08/27/2026

I can’t imagine spending my summer nights any different 🫶🏼

08/25/2026

I feel like the majority of my senior sessions are girls, so this past week it was fun getting to photograph a few guys too.

Senior photos with guys definitely have a different approach. With girls, there are so many little details we can work with hair, dresses, accessories, and all the little things that naturally add variety to a gallery. With guys, I feel like it’s much more about keeping things simple, finding ways to bring out their personality, and making the photos feel natural without overcomplicating it.

And honestly, I know most boys aren’t exactly counting down the days until they get to take their senior pictures 😂 So a big part of my job is figuring out how to make the session feel less like, “okay, stand here and smile for me,” and more like something they can actually enjoy… at least a little. Keeping them moving, talking, and finding poses that don’t feel overly posed or awkward for them can make such a difference!

08/20/2026

Summer has been a little crazy around here Lots of seniors, lots of weddings, lots of shooting, and lots of editing… which apparently means not a whole lot of keeping up with posting 😂

But honestly, I’m not mad about it. I’ve been so busy getting to photograph so many sweet people and moments, and that feels pretty dang good.

So here’s a little proof of life + a peek at some of what I’ve been up to lately 🤎

08/14/2026

🫶🏼🫶🏼

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08/12/2026

I’ve been sitting in such a reflective place since getting home from Washington.

In high school, I had my life planned out. Not because I thought there was only one “right” way for my life to look, but because I’ve always been such a Type A person. I had a timeline. I knew what I wanted. I was going to be the first in my family to go to college and finish college. I was going to get married young, have kids young, and check off all the things I had decided I wanted for myself. I had it ALL planned.

And then life happened, and none of it went according to that timeline. And honestly? I am so incredibly thankful.

Because now I get to get on an airplane and fly across the country to photograph someone’s best day of their life. I get to step into a room full of people who love each other deeply and document a day they’ll never get back.

In a million years, I never would have pictured this being my life. And I am so, so grateful that it is.

Photography has taught me so much about love. I’ve always been a lover of love, but getting to witness it in so many different forms, with so many different people, has changed the way I see it. I’ve learned to love louder. To appreciate the people around me more. To understand just how precious it is to have photographs of the people you love, because you truly never know how much time you have with them.

There is something so incredibly special about freezing a person, a feeling, a laugh, a hug, a moment in time...and getting to keep it forever.

And this wedding felt like such a beautiful reminder of all of that.

The love at this wedding was LOUD. They were so deeply loved by everyone around them, and they loved each other just as loudly in return. Every little piece of their day felt so full of it.
And if you saw me crying during her mom’s speech… no you didn’t. 🥲

I’m just so thankful that this is what I get to call work. That my job gets to be spent documenting love, preserving memories, and sharing in some of the most important days of people’s lives. High school me had such a detailed plan for what my life would look like.

She just never could have planned something this good.

08/04/2026

This wasn't just any engagement session... it was my best friend's!!

So naturally, I wanted to find a location that felt just as special as they are. After way too much location scouting, I landed on Blue Mounds State Park. I'd never been before, but the photos looked promising, so we decided to take a chance.

On the drive there, I was almost convinced I'd picked the wrong spot. 😂 You're driving through farmland, you pull into the parking lot... and there's nothing. No cliffs. No dramatic views.

Then we started walking.

A couple minutes later, we looked over... and there they were. These incredible pink cliffs were tucked just off the trail, and if we hadn't looked over when we did, I honestly think we could've walked right past them.

The rest of the evening just kept getting better from there.

Safe to say, Blue Mounds has officially earned a spot on my list of favorite engagement session locations. 🫶

I'll be sharing more from this session (and the full story of finding this hidden gem) on the blog soon!

08/03/2026

There’s something about wedding portraits that I just LOVE.

I’m always going to be drawn to the moments that feel real. And honestly, most of those moments aren’t just caught by chance. A lot of the time, I’m giving you a little direction, getting you to interact with each other, and then letting the moment unfold from there. I want you to look at the photo later and remember how it felt, not remember exactly what I told you to do.

But then there’s the artistic side of photography that I love just as much. Sometimes I want to take that same moment and make it a little more intentional..use the light, the scenery, the composition… and create something that feels like it could be on the cover of a magazine.

I think there’s room for both.

Photos that feel like you’re stepping back into your wedding day, and photos that make you stop and think, “okay… we look GOOD.”

And getting to create both is probably one of my favorite parts of the day!

Second shot for Madison Rae Studios