Lake Superior Photography
Joannie & I have have been hosting our annual “North Shore Weekend” one weekend a year every year since 1996.
You might be asking us where the whole Lake Superior photography idea came from?
Well, back in 1996, we were heading “Up North” to take our own family portrait at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. One of our engaged couples, Dan & Juli called us earlier that week and asked if we had any ideas for a unique place to do their engagement portraits. I told them that we were heading to Lake Superior that weekend and if they wanted to, they could join us up at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. They said “sure!”
Dan and Juli’s session was so much fun! Their Lake Superior photography session was easy going and relaxed and the resulting images turned out great! They also had fun hanging out with our two daughters, Jenny & Michelle, too.
Dan & Juli even stayed around after their engagement session and pressed the shutter release for me. That way, I didn’t have to use the self-timer on my Hasselblad for our family portrait. That family portrait is still proudly displayed in our home.
Shortly afterward, we decided that this should be an annual event, and so our annual “North Shore Weekend” was born.
Hannah & her best friend Brianna.
Also called “Portraits on the North Shore,” we have done almost every type of Lake Superior portrait photography you can imagine. Engagement, family, high school seniors, and kids portraits as well as one bridal session way back in 1998.
The Beauty Of Lake Superior
For the past few years, we’ve done “dueling portrait sessions!” Starting in Duluth, MN, we photograph two portrait sessions at the same time. Usually, it’s an engagement portrait and senior picture session. While one is changing clothes, we’ll create portraits of the other at one of many cool North Shore locations.
From Duluth, we work our way up the shoreline, stopping at several “secret” locations on our way to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Doing two portrait sessions at the same time allows us to make just one trip from Duluth, MN to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. But we can service two portrait clients at the same time. A huge travel and time saver!
Location, Location, Location
So far, we’ve had senior picture stops at several Duluth locations, including the Glensheen Mansion. There are also have a couple of nice engagement photo locations we enjoy in Two Harbors, MN. We always stop at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park for family photographs with the famous lighthouse in the background.
We also have created both engagement photos and senior portraits in Silver Bay, MN, and engagement photos and senior pictures in Beaver Bay, MN too. There’s also a secret spot (I actually don’t know its name) that we’ve been creating family photos at for several years as well.
The Helgemoe family portrait 2016.
When is the “North Shore Weekend” you ask? Well, after trying various dates in August and September, we have found that August is always the best month. Kids are still home from school so families can participate and the weather is generally much more dependable (and warmer) than September.
So every year once there is only one weekend left open in August on our wedding schedule, that’s the date for that year’s “North Shore Weekend!”
The dates for our 2020 “North Shore Weekend” will be announced in early 2021.
Interested in joining us “up north” next year? Please call the studio at 763-785-1177 to find out more information about next year’s fun photo memories!
We’ll see ya “Up North”!