Oh how I adore Jessie and Adam! They are catholic wedding photographers based out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin who run their business together as Northbound Photography. They are near and dear to my heart because back in 2016 they traveled into the Twin Cities to photograph my brother’s wedding! Now, I got the honor of taking photos of them!

It was fun to hear their vision for brand photos. Images that felt like them. Photos that celebrated their life, their catholic faith, and their family. One thing that stood out to me was how integrated their work and family life really is. Jessie homeschools their five kids during the day and brings her laptop with her to get work done while the kids do theirs. She is proof that you don’t need a formal home office and can embrace sending emails from the kitchen counter, the couch, the floor… truly wherever life is happening.

As we started working together, it became clear that their work isn’t just about photography. It really is an extension of their vocation. Their sacramental Catholic marriage, homeschooling their kids, and nurturing family life all weave into how they run their business. We caught moments of answering emails with little ones nearby, laughing together between frames, and balancing the joyful chaos of family life with the calling of entrepreneurship. I love how they’re building a business that fits into family life rather than the other way around.

The planning & process behind the photoshoot

It is easy for Jessie and Adam to take photos of each other, but it is a lot harder to get professional photos together. So I prioritized making sure we had a variety of photos where the two of them were side by side in frame. In our collaboration we agreed that the majority of the photoshoot should NOT be looking at the camera so that the images have a more natural, authentic feel so that their prospective clients become immersed into their everyday lives through their brand photos. We wanted their clients to see what it was like to work with Jessie and Adam on a real wedding day: photos of them in their wedding vendor attire, styling flat lay details, packing their camera gear into their bag, holding their cameras in hand, and more. And what they look like at home when their cameras are packed away.

Between three outfits, we were able to balance the personal and the professional. Who they are at home and how they show up on a wedding day.

There were a handful of props that they brought along to the session that perfectly showcase the experience they provide to the wedding couples who book them. Once the contract is signed, the client receives a stunning magazine-style welcome guide in the mail that is packed full of tips, advice, and resources for the couple’s engagement session and for planning their wedding day in an intentional way. It is important to Jessie and Adam that their couple’s don’t leave their cherished wedding photos on a hard drive to collect digital dust, so instead each couple receives an exquisite wedding album as their first heirloom to have and to pass along to future generations. We snapped several photos the albums so that Jessie and Adam can show the different size options and help their couples choose between linen or leather album cover styles.

The Takeaway

What I loved most about this shoot is how it told the story of a family and a business that are inseparable. Northbound Photo isn’t just about beautiful images (though they certainly deliver those)! It’s about living out their faith and values through the way they serve their clients and love their family. And now, they have a fresh library of images that reflect exactly that.