Hello
I’m mandee
I’m a wedding photographer who loves capturing all the BIG moments in life with an eye for all the small
My love for photography started long before I ever picked up a camera. I’ve always been drawn to the way a single image can hold emotion, freeze time, and tell stories that span generations. I remember seeing an old photo of my great-grandma—she came to America on the slow boat from Germany and settled in northern Minnesota. There she was, standing on a rural farm, wearing a fur coat and a brooch—elegant and out of place in the hicks and sticks. But in that moment, I felt connected. I understood where I came from. That image told me more than words ever could.
That’s the kind of storytelling I’m here for. I create art for those who value legacy and beauty—who want their future great-grandchildren to feel something when they look at a photograph, the way I did with my great-grandma Hatweidge.
With every click of the shutter, I aim to freeze not just smiles or laughter but the feelings behind them—the joy, the love, the tender moments you'll cherish forever.
For me, photography isn't just a profession; it's an art—a way to encapsulate the beauty of life's fleeting moments that make you feel the feels and remember the smells of little bawled babies and boutiques of all your favorite flowers. That is what I am here for… I am not a picture taker… I am a memory maker.
MY STORY
I wasn’t always a photographer, but I always knew I wanted to connect with people through art.
Imagination has always been my closest companion. As a child, I'd lose myself outside in northern Minnesota between the long summer days capturing caterpillar to see the cycle myself of one turning into butterflied in the gardens my mom let me curate and then the sparkles of the snow drifts and ice houses fishing with my grandma. These moments spun stories and tales that danced in my mind like movies I saw on the tv I had to turn with my fingers. The good ol days. The sight of my dad’s smile that I got all the weeds in the garden even though I ate all the peas was priceless. I can still smell those gardens and see those sunsets over the cornfields with an occasional hot air ballon slowly drifting over during the hottest days of the year.
Those childhood memories paved my path to becoming a lover of storytelling . Crafting stories filled with wonder and heart was my calling. Daily life of my childhood play in my mind like sweet movies. Life is love and love is life… it’s a story that I love to tell and more importantly capture.
But one wonderful day like fifteen years ago, I said to my darling friend that I would like to take pictures with her… and then images from my very first session with were nationally published. I realized that I don’t take pictures… I tell stories.
It was then that I discovered a new canvas for my storytelling—the art of photography. The notion of freezing those intimate and fleeting moments resonated deeply.
Transitioning from crafting beautiful gardens and paintings of watercolor and or oil to preserving tales of love felt like a natural evolution. Now, I'm Mandee —the author of love stories that play in my mind turned into a photographer, ready to weave your unique love story into timeless frames. With every photograph, I aim to capture not just moments but the essence of your story—a narrative that speaks volumes without words and is frozen in time for generations to come.
So, let's embark on this journey together. Let's create a tale of your love, woven delicately through the lens. It's about crafting your unique narrative, frame by frame, a story to cherish for a lifetime. I am here for families, couples and bride and grooms that say “I do” … truly when you choose me for the moments you want to remember forever … it means the world to me and is part of the movie of life in my mind.
XO, MJ
15+
years of experience
100%
client satisfaction rate
110%
in on telling your story
Let’s play
