This URL will remain active as our legacy archive but will no longer be updated so be sure to change your RSS feed or bookmark to http://www.photomilestones.com.

And since we love posts with photos, how about a look at our new logo – we love it!

In addition to the new launch, we will be running our annual Spring Sale. We’ll share more details about the sale this week, but I will tell you, however, that the sale will run next week and next week only.

And to continue the excitement, I will leave you with a picture of Dave (in his party shirt) with our buddy Kory Wallen of Shawna Noel Photography. It was taken this past weekend during an annual photographer get-together at our studio… and don’t worry, we plan to share plenty of photos from the event in the coming weeks.

While we are going to pretty mum on the topic, we will tease you with a sneak peek of one of the many changes coming. Simply pick up the newest copy of Area Woman (February-March) at your local Fargo-Moorhead grocery store. As far as when you can expect to see the new changes? We’ll just say soon. Very, very soon.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

But seriously, her hard work and amazing talent has brought her recognition from judges that are some of the top photojournalists in America yet again. Isn’t this the type of photographer you’d want to trust capturing your wedding day?

Fifth Place – Groom Getting Ready

The judges said, “I haven’t got a clue what is happening in this photo but the beauty of a great photo is that we don’t need to know because the image has a voice of its own. That’s how moments work.”

Ninth Place – Reflections

How’s this comment from one of the judges? “Here’s a first. I’ve judged tens of thousands of top level wedding photos from some of the best photographers on the planet but I can’t remember ever seeing this scene. But, the onus is on the moment. Thus, not only is this photo unique (at least to my experience) it also includes the bride and groom. Mostly I like the ’seeing’ of this scene combined with its wonderful execution by the photographer.”

Eighteenth Place – Departure

The Reflections photo and this Departure photo are both from Tahnee and Greg’s July wedding.

Britta placed in last year’s contest and now a photo of Dave’s won first place in the Bride and Groom category for 2010. The photo of super-couple Laura and Reid is one of only 10 images to be published in the current issue of BRIDES Magazine or online at Brides.com. The contest was open to Wedding Photojournalist Association photographers around the globe and the first-place images were selected from over 3,200 entries.

First Place – Bride and Groom

“In the middle of a chaotic day, the couple found the time to steal a few seconds for themselves. The sweet kiss on the end of her nose, her lace veil, his wedding ring—they tell the story of the day in a single close-up. A dramatic snapshot like this works best in black-and-white.”

It’s an honor to represent North Dakota and the entire upper midwest with our award winning work. Other winners of the annual contest spanned the globe from New York to Milan and Moscow.

We’re so lucky to be able to do what we do. We get to hang out with awesome people, they give us great moments like this and we get to tell their stories. Who wouldn’t love it?

Thanks to all our fantastic clients that help make us a worldwide top-10 WPJA studio!

Page 256!

While a class is new for Milestones, it’s not new for me (Dave). I’ve been a photography instructor at Minnesota State University Moorhead for many years and I’ve won many regional, national and international awards. Before I was an educator I was a professional newspaper photojournalist documenting life in the Upper Midwest and now Britta Trygstad and I are part of one of the most award-winning wedding photojournalism studios in the world.

Now about the class! This class is for the new photographer with a DSLR who is intimidated by or wants to learn more about how their camera and lens works, how to properly measure exposure so you can be free of the automatic mode and how to better compose images.

Topics we’ll cover include:

• Cameras and lenses
• Shutter speed
• Aperture
• ISO
• Exposure
• Composition basics
• Digital issues and techniques
• Basic Photoshop

Class will be held on four consecutive Monday evenings so you apply what you’ve learned in each session over the following week and bring fresh work back for critique. Having your work reviewed each week will vastly improve your skills. And don’t be afraid! I’m not here to talk down to you, I’m here to talk with you to give you the confidence to take chances and make photographs you’ll be proud of.

What won’t we do? This class isn’t for somebody who wants to learn how to take photos just like Milestones Photography. Instead, my goal is to teach you to be a better photographer so you can find your own visual voice. Your perspective is unique and you should express it!

Beginning Class
Mondays – October 18, 25, November 1, 8
7 – 9pm
Milestones Photography
405 West Main Ave. Suite 5C
West Fargo

Price: $290
Payment must be made in full prior to the first scheduled class to reserve seat. Reservations made on a first-come basis. No cancellations or refunds.

What do you need?
A DSLR camera (no point and shoots) and a home computer with at least basic photo editing software (Picassa or iPhoto but Photoshop is even better.)

Want to know more or reserve a spot?
Get in touch with us through our contact page, call 701-371-7363 or register online.

Here’s a little background on the contest: The WPJA consists of over 1,800 wedding photojournalists from around the world and not just any photographer can get it, you must apply and be accepted. Their were over 10,000 images entered in the latest contest which the judges narrowed to 140 place winners in seven categories. The contest was judged by some of the most well-known and award-winning photojournalists and editors in the country.

Among those 140 place winners from 10,000 images by 1,800 photographers Britta and Dave had four place winners. I’ve mentioned it before but I’ll say it again: We’re really proud that we’re able to make these international, award-winning images right here in North Dakota and Minnesota. No mountains, no 500-year-old cathedrals and no tropical locations – just great clients that allow us to make great images.

Our hard work places us in the top 10 in the world for the number of WPJA awards we’ve earned, imagine what we can do on your wedding day!

Dave placed in the top 10 of the Getting Ready category with this image of a bridesmaid relaxing before Kelly and Tom’s wedding.

As I mentioned, Britta rocked the Kids (Being Kids) category by having three images place in the top 20. This image of a ring bearer from Sara and Rick’s wedding snapping a photo placed seventh.

Two places behind at ninth is this photo of Jeanmarie trying to give a ring bearer a kiss before her wedding to Preston.

Rain didn’t stop Ame and Sean’s wedding at all and it made for a great image of these boys attempting to catch rain drops.

How international is the contest? Photographers from England, Poland, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil, Australia and many more countries had photos place. We love that our North Dakota wedding photos do so well against the rest of the world. More proof about how great our region is!

Britta placed in the Emotion category for this photograph of Tahnee hugging a friend at her reception earlier this summer. Yet again Britta captures one of those fleeting moments that makes a wedding day so special.

Dave placed 10th for his photo of Sara and Alec posing in a comic book store in downtown Fargo. It’s a great photo because we’re all in on the joke – the viewer gets to enjoy the graphic elements while Sara and Alec love the American Gothic aspect.