About this vendor
Midwest LifeShots Photography is a professional wedding photography company based in Rochester, MN. Their team of creative visionaries aims to provide couples with photographs of the highest quality so that they can relive their special day for years to come.
Scott and Jen Elder never hired a photographer to document their own wedding, and it is a decision that they regret to this day. They founded Midwest LifeShots Photography to ensure that other couples don't have to live with this same regret. Their team has grown to include some of the best photographers across the Midwest. Due to this, they can travel to weddings across the country so that no one has to miss out on fantastic wedding photos.
Midwest LifeShots Photography offers a wide array of wedding photography services for every budget. You can hire a photographer for just a few hours or opt for an all-day package. Two photographers will arrive on-site at your wedding so that they can capture as much as possible. Their goal is to capture authentic emotion in stunning detail. After the wedding, they'll edit and finalize the photos and share a high-resolution gallery with you so that you can have incredible memories to look back on for years to come.
Details
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
- Boudoir
- Engagement
Photo & Video
- Digital Files
- Photo
- Printed Enlargements
- Printed Proofs
- Second Shooter Available
- Social Media Sharing
Photo & Video Styles
- Artistic
- Classic
- Lifestyle
- Modern
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Wedding
Awards and Affiliations
9-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2022.2021.2020.+6 more.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
Popular with couples like you
Check out our featured vendors.
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.0128 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
We absolutely loved working with Midwest Lifeshots for our wedding! From our very first meeting, Scott was so friendly, welcoming, and reassuring. He made the entire process—from o...
ur initial meetings and scheduling to being our main point of contact—feel so easy and stress-free. We always felt like we were in great hands.
We had the pleasure of working with Renae for our engagement photos, and it was honestly the perfect way to get comfortable in front of the camera and get to know her before the wedding. She made us feel so comfortable, and we had so much fun with her! It made having her there on our wedding day feel like we were spending time with someone we already knew and trusted.
On our wedding day, Renae and Kadence were incredible. They were so calm, supportive, and reassuring throughout the entire day, which meant so much to us. They made taking photos feel fun and effortless, and we genuinely had such a blast spending time with them. They captured all of the important moments while still letting us be fully present and enjoy our day.
And our photos… we LOVE them! They are absolutely beautiful and feel so authentically us. They perfectly captured the emotions, happiness, and little moments that made our wedding day so special. Every time we look through our photos, we are transported right back to that day. The quality of the photos and products we received is also exceptional—we are so impressed with everything!
We are incredibly grateful to Scott, Renae, Kadence, and the entire Midwest Lifeshots team for making such an important part of our wedding experience so wonderful. We couldn't have asked for a better photography team and would absolutely recommend Midwest Lifeshots to any couple looking for talented, professional, kind, and genuinely fun people to capture their wedding day!
Midwest Lifeshots is INCREDIBLE! They made everything easy throughout the planning process and truly made our wedding day stress-free and run so smoothly. Jen and Scott are not onl...
y the most talented in the business, but they truly care and simple put, are good people. We hit the jackpot with having them photograph our big day, thank you will never be enough!!
Our photographers were absolutely incredible and the whole process was made very easy from the entire team from booking to receiving our photos. They were some of the biggest hype ...
people that we had on our wedding day, they made the whole day so special and caught so many special moments I forgot in the craziness of the day. They also captured so many details of the day Highly recommend going with them, if you’re in the Midwest region.
We are beyond thrilled with our experience with Midwest Life Shots! From the moment we met them, we knew we were in great hands. They took the time to understand our vision, made u...
s feel completely comfortable in front of the camera, and captured every special moment beautifully.
The photos are absolutely stunning—every emotion, every detail, and every unforgettable memory was perfectly preserved. They have an incredible eye for lighting, composition, and those candid, magical moments that truly tell the story of our day.
Not only are they incredibly talented, but they are also professional, kind, and so much fun to work with! Our wedding wouldn’t have been the same without them, and we will cherish these photos forever. If you’re looking for a photographer who goes above and beyond, Midwest Life Shots is the one. Highly, highly recommend! ❤️📸✨
Absolutely thrilled with our experience working with Midwest LifeShots Photography! From the moment we met, they were professional, friendly, and truly passionate about capturing e...
very special moment of our big day. The photos are beyond stunning – each shot feels like a work of art, and they perfectly tell the story of our wedding. Could not be more happy!!
We wanted to get wedding pictures perfect and they had one moment to do it - and they did it. You won't regret any shoot with them. From the start of our planning, when we first s...
poke with them, their communication was prompt, polite, and showed their depth of experience and love for taking the best shot possible to ensure we look good and the moment was stress-less. And we laughed a lot. I wouldn't have wasted my hard-earned money if we didn't feel confident. They exceeded our expectations. The fact that they showed up with smiles and the correct gear meant the world to us on our special day (as a photographer/videographer myself). It's clear they treat their employees well too, people want to work at MWLS. More reason to support their family business. The positive energy translated into amazing photos that we will cherish forever. Money well spent on Midwest LifeShots Photography. Plus, Jenn is awesome.
The best!
So glad I booked Midwest Lifeshots Photography for my wedding day. They were awesome to work with, sent fun mail, and eased every worry I had. I did 1/2 my wedding pla...
nning in another state and they assured me everything would be fine! We got so many compliments from guests at our wedding on how great their team was and how amazing the photographers were. They got along great with our guests and captured every important moment of our day. Could not be happier with how our pictures turned out. Will be booking again for different events :)
From the moment we booked Midwest LifeShots Photography, we knew we were in good hands. Their communication was incredibly helpful, with the team always remaining on the ball and p...
atient as we worked through the details of our wedding day. On the day itself, they were an amazing presence, ensuring we had everything we wanted - from creative, high-quality photos that captured the love between my husband and I, to helping us stay on track so the day went seamlessly. The team's talent and experience truly shone through in the crisp, stunning photos we received. We are so grateful to Midwest LifeShots Photography for helping to make our wedding day perfect.
EXCELLENT! 100% will be working with them again. Scott, Renee, and Olivia were so much fun to work with, communicative, and kind. Our sneak peek pictures are beautiful and I can’t ...
wait to see more!!
We used MLSP for our wedding, and I could not have asked for a better experience! Scott was so friendly and charismatic and we knew right away that they were the right fit for us. ...
He helped settle all of the nerves we had about being professionally photographed. Renae and Olivia bared the cold with us and photographed our engagement shoot and wedding in freezing conditions. Olivia even lent me her winter boots so we could trudge through the snow to capture the most stunning winter wedding photos!
We were blown away by the entire MLSP team from start to finish. They were very helpful in the planning process and gave us tools to create a timeline that was perfect for us. On wedding day, Renae and Olivia were very friendly and made everyone feel comfortable and at ease. We were fortunate enough to get our full gallery of photos back from editing only 2 weeks after our wedding, and I could not be more happy with the results! They truly captured our day beautifully and I will cherish the photos forever!
Our wedding was planned as being all outdoors, the rain had other plans but Meredith and Julia were so patient when we wanted to see if the rain would subside so we could get marri...
ed outside, on top of the hill like we planned. They made taking pictures so fun for the whole wedding party.
Throughout every moment of wedding planning this team was there to give advice and help give great ideas and suggestions. Always so responsive which is so reassuring. And the day o...
f, it almost felt like having guides to help us get through the day. They were so prepared and professional and made it so easy to just relax and enjoy the day while they captured every wonderful and important moment and detail. Especially things I never thought of but am so glad I have those memories forever in our photos.
Our photos are absolutely STUNNING! Scott and Jen went above and beyond to make our wedding day a huge success and were able to capture it perfectly! They are flexible, organized, ...
easy to work with, and extremely enjoyable to be around! They had us laughing, crying, and smiling from ear to ear all night. Even my husband who is not a fan of photos commented that Scott and Jen made it a fun and easy experience and our photos showed just that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!! If you are looking for a wedding photographer - Midwest Lifeshots is your answer! You will not regret choosing these amazing photographers!
Highly recommend this company for wedding photography and really any photography needed! Absolutely loved working with the team from start to finish - their personal touches throug...
hout the process really make them a standout company! We were grateful that our package included an engagement session (because we wouldn't have done one otherwise) - it really helped us to be more comfortable with photos on our big day. We also loved that we had two photographers on our wedding day for an unlimited timeframe - much less stressful!
They were amazing to work with. Super fun people who delivered amazing wedding photographs and captured our day perfectly.
Wonderful photographers. They did a wonderful job capturing my groom and I's personalities, but also making sure the pictures were just gorgeous. I will also add that we got marrie...
d in Austin, MN which doesn't have the most photogenic spots- however that was clearly not a problem for midwest. Our wedding was about three months ago and I STILL look at our wedding pictures in awe.
So many family members have complimented us on the beautiful pictures. We are so grateful!
Scott and Jen are AMAZING. Both my husband and I were completely blown away by how professional, friendly, and welcoming they were. After our first consult with them we immediately...
knew they were special and booked them for our wedding a few hours later. Their customer service is phenomenal and they truly go above and beyond to meet the needs of their clients. Scott and Jen were so supportive, understanding, and flexible when we had to postpone our wedding due to COVID. By time our wedding finally rolled around, they helped us make the most of it - there was zero stress for wedding day photos, and we had such a fun, amazing day thanks to Jen and Scott. If you are looking for photographers that love what they do, want the best for their clients, and are all-around PHENOMENAL people, Scott, Jen, and Midwest LifeShots are your people!
Scott and Jen are nothing less than amazing. They took the time to get to know us and really captured who we are as a couple for our engagement snd wedding photos. They are creati...
ve, hilarious and made us laugh the whole time we were taking photos. Totally worth the money as you they brought the expertise and professionalism to the whole experience. 1 million out of 10 I would recommend!!
Scott and the entire Midwest LifeShots team was amazing to work with. My husband and I have nothing but great things to say about them! From the amazing, down to earth, professiona...
l team they are, to their flexibility through the Covid madness, the quality of their photos, and their responsiveness to all of the crazy questions you come up with as bride and groom, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a photographer. They made our wedding days so special, and we can't wait for them to capture so many more life events in our future. Thank you Midwest LifeShots Team for being the amazing people you are!
My husband and I had Meredith as our main photographer for our wedding and engagement shoot. We are beyond happy with our photos! We were the firsts to get married in our friend ...
group and all my friends want to use Midwest LifeShots when it is their time to say "I do!"
Having them shoot our wedding was just one less thing to worry about and they got all the little and big details that I worked so hard on. love love love!
Amazing. Brilliant. Easy going. Flexible. Talented. Thorough. All words that best describe Scott, Jen and our experience with Midwest LifeShots. Jen and Scott are THE ULTIMATE #dre...
amteam!
Their energy and passion is absolutely contagious! Which made for some of the BEST candid photos with ear-to-ear smiles!
It’s only right that I also RAVE about how collaborative Scott and Jen were with our other videographer (with whom they met him day of) and our wedding planner – making for an even more successful special day!
We look forward to working with Scott, Jen and the incredibly talented Midwest LifeShots team to capture more of life’s special moments!
P.S – would DEFINETLY recommend hiring Midwest LifeShots for engagement pictures, too. It was so wonderful getting to know Jen in person ahead of our big day.
We cannot say enough good things about Midwest Lifeshots! They helped us every step of the way and in a pandemic none the less. Scott and Jen were truly amazing to work with and we...
couldn’t be happier with our wedding photos. We love them!! We highly recommend booking Midwest Lifeshots for your wedding!!
I cannot say enough amazing things about Midwest Lifeshots! We picked a winner for sure! Even now, months after the wedding, we feel like part of a family! Never once felt like a t...
ransaction. Scott and Jen were our photographers and they made every moment so special and fun!
First, they are soooo responsive and helpful. They answered all of our questions and put our minds at ease often!
Our engagement shoot was absolutely a blast! It was freezing in Mn and snowy with ice everywhere. Scott kept us moving and had an impeccable eye for detail that translated to amazing winter engagement photos! Oh and they get sneak peaks back quickly which was so exciting and appreciated.
Our wedding was truly a magical day even for Covid pandemic times. Scott and Jen arrived and got right to work, but had a blast while at it. They felt like family by end of the night. They got so many beautiful shots and listened to all our ideas and concerns. They got through everything we asked for and then some like a well oiled machine (but lots of fun)! They worked so well with our other vendors and everyone had a chance to get their look or shot! They work so well and never in the way of guests viewing which was another bonus. Honestly, Midwest lifeshots is truly the best in business and it shows!
We got our pictures in a very timely manner and love every single one! We continue to work with them to this day and plan to use them for all our family pictures going forward! I highly recommend investing in the best- Midwest Lifeshots!
To us, the most essential wedding vendor is the photographer. Someone who captures the entire day with clear, natural, beautiful, real-color photos to help us relive our special da...
y. Midwest LifeShots met all of our expectations and then some! Beyond the beautiful 800+ pictures we received from our wedding, working with Scott and Jen was a pleasure! They are very easy to talk too, feel comfortable around, and are responsive whenever needed. Our family also loved them, Scott and Jen were like family friends! We had the best experience with Midwest LifeShots, they are worth it!!
We absolutely recommend this team for photography! We never once worried about the photography aspect of our day because we knew they would do whatever was needed to get us great p...
hotos. We are in love with every single picture taken. On top of the wonderful skills, their personalities are amazing! The customer service we received by them was above all. We never felt like “just another client”, we were all that mattered that day. We are forever grateful for Midwest LifeShots!
After my first phone call with Scott, I knew I struck gold. His personality instantly made me feel like he was my newfound friend. He constantly put me at ease answering all of my ...
questions at all times of the day/night up until the day before our wedding.
Meredith, Renae and Sam were the team members assigned to photograph our wedding and cannot say enough good things about them all.
We first spoke with Meredith who developed our timeline for the big day so we could ensure everyone was in the right place at the right time. She also made sure we'd have time at the cocktail hr to thank our guests which was important to us and also make sure we got our pictures taken at the golden hour which were by far my most favorite pictures of all.
They all made taking photographs incredibly easy, had so many great ideas for the location and readily corrected our positions/out of place hair or whatever it may be to ensure we looked our best in the pictures.
Meredith even went of her way to sew on the top front button of my husband's suit that had fallen off after the ceremony to make sure it wouldn't affect anything.
But what really meant the most to us was that the team had printed and framed a photograph to place on the gift table. The day itself flies by so quickly and that picture helped us focus and reflect back on that moment that happened just an hour or so before and fall in love with the day all over again.
I've been recommending them to everyone and can't wait for the day to work with them again!
Highly highly recommend Midwest LifeShots Photography. We loved working with Scott, Jen, and team. Scott and Jen were so easy to work with to get our dream wedding pictures that w...
e wanted. They are full of ideas if not knowing where you want to take engagement pictures. My husband and I will be using Midwest LifeShots Photography in the future!
There are a million photography companies and we could not be happier that we found Midwest Lifeshots Photography to capture our special day. They are so welcoming and genuinely ca...
re about their clients. From the beginning, the communication was great and we did not have to worry about them during the wedding planning process. They asked a lot of question about the details, style of our wedding, and what we wanted to see in the photos. On the day of the wedding they were so much fun to be around with making everyone laugh and smile.... We even got a few compliments from our guest on how great our photographers were to be around. Our photos turned out so great and they went above and beyond our expectations. They captured all of the details, small moments, every emotion, and all of the memories we will cherish forever.
Midwest LifeShots Photography is an absolutely amazing company that we would recommend to every couple out there! The amount of time they spent working with us from the moment we g...
ot engaged to even after our wedding day was over really made us feel like they genuinely cared. And they do! Our wedding day was a dream come true and they played a huge role in making it that way. We now have a gallery of photos that we will cherish for a lifetime!
They have gone above and beyond for us in so many ways. They are such a fun and energetic group that made our day that much more enjoyable. I would recommend them to anyone in a he...
artbeat. Thank you so much!!!!
Literally the most fun team you will work with. Not only do they stay in touch with you from the moment you book them (sending texts to check in, emails helping you with planning, ...
Skype dates and even gifts in the mail!) but they make your day so effortless and smooth in every aspect! They kept me happy and light even though we had rain on our special day and they captured every moment that I wanted and more. Could not recommend them enough!!
I could not have asked for nor imagined a more talented and genuine team of photographers. As the groom I had assumed that all photographers would be the same. However, I am more t...
han happy to admit I was wrong. After looking at our photos from our wedding day, I was speechless. Midwest LifeShots Photography captured the best moments of the day. They got photos of the little things that we would have forgotten without them. They set up each shot to make sure the angle and lighting were perfect. Each photo was thought out and beautifully done, and our final cuts were so much better than I ever imagined. Both candid and staged shots turned out natural and somehow expressed the emotions of the day.
The team at Midwest LifeShots Photography was professional, but more importantly they were personable; they got to know us, our wedding party, and our families. They asked us if we had any special requests, and they delivered on each and every one. They even stayed a little later to photo some special family traditions.
Our expectations were more than exceeded. I could not recommend this group more!
The entire team at Midwest LifeShots was incredible to work with. My husband and I felt so comfortable, complimented, and relaxed around them! They were funny, punctual, creative, ...
experienced, prepared, and genuinely kind. They helped with posing in both engagement and wedding pictures, as well as let us share our own ideas. They took time to get to know us. They truly made us feel like we were their ONLY customer--my husband and I appreciated that. They were SO easy to work with. We would highly recommend the team at Midwest LifeShots Photography!
Midwest Lifeshots captured some AMAZING photos on our wedding day. We really enjoyed working with them!!! They are true professionals and the pictures were beautiful. They are cris...
p, natural, timeless. We felt comfortable, they made us laugh and we felt like we could really trust them. We highly recommend working with Scott & Jen! :)
Our engagement sessions was my first time working with a professional photographer. Scott made us feel so comfortable, and had the best suggestions. He was hilarious, and so easy t...
o get along with. The photos turned out wonderful, and we look forward to spending out wedding day, and many more special occasions with them!
WOW! with Midwest LifeShots Photography, I had a better experience than I could have ever dreamed of, my husband and I felt so cared for, it felt like we were the only client they ...
were working with. When taking the pictures they didn't just capture the posed moments, but also the candid moments (which are a personal favorite!) I can not rave about these guys enough!! I have sent all of my friends and coworkers that I have talked to to Midwest LifeShots. If you want to be WOW'd in the best way possible, these are the Photographers for you!! ❤️
Best decision EVER to go with Midwest LifeShots, not only do they do amazing photography, but their personalities really make the day, they make you comfortable and their attention...
to detail is impeccable. They also helped in planning the flow of the day, which is so appreciated since they have done this so many times! They kept us on task and made our day (and our photos) absolutely perfect! Above and beyond for sure!!
I can't say enough great things about them! My husband does not like getting pictures taken at all but they helped both of us have a lot of fun before and after the ceremony and th...
e pictures are beautiful as a result.
Working with Scott and Jen was a D.R.E.A.M. As an Event Planner, I work closely with the photographers-especially at weddings. The success of the day is dependent upon staying on ...
schedule and of all pieces of the puzzle working together smoothly. Scott and Jen at Midwest Lifeshots were so easy to work with. Their professionalism, creative eye, and the FUN they brought to the day was incredible! I highly recommend them...you will thank yourself many times over!
My husband and I could not be more ecstatic with all of the pictures (engagement and wedding) Scott and Jen took. They made taking pictures easy and painless, even including forma...
l pictures. They were extremely organized and kept great communication, well before the big day and the day of. My husband and I cannot express enough gratitude and appreciation for what they have done for us. We will be working with Scott and Jen in the future for all of our photography needs! They are AMAZING!
The best photographers hands down! Scott, Jen, and their team are so talented and are incredible people. They go above and beyond with gift cards, care packages, and by working wit...
h you (not just simply for you) to make sure that your best day ever is perfectly captured. For us, out of their generosity, sent us a beautifully framed photo of one of our guests who passed away shortly after our wedding. They are genuine from the first meeting and continue to be until even after their job is done. Their photos and their hearts are beautiful and they are sure to make you laugh the entire time. We are so thankful for everything they have done for us!
The best photographers and the best people! Scott, Jen, and their team are amazing at what they do and are kind, caring, and hilarious real people. We never once felt like we were ...
just another client, but like they had our back and they genuinely cared about us and our day. Our photos are amazing and we wouldn’t trade our experience with them for anything.
My experience with Midwest LifeShots Photography was absolutely fantastic. Scott and Jen are very easy to work with and will do whatever they can to make your wedding day or engage...
ment photo shoots very special and memorable. We had a rather large wedding party and some young children (including a two year old ring bearer) involved in the day and our photographers were amazing at keeping everything moving along smoothly while accommodating any requests along the way. In addition, they were even willing to travel to our wedding which was another big help! I would highly recommend Midwest LifeShots to anyone with an upcoming wedding, and I am very happy that my wife and I had the opportunity to work with them.
Great photos, great customer service, and above all, they are great people! Scott and Jen were so easy and fun to work with! They truly helped make our day memorable, and we WILL b...
e going back to them again in the future!
The best photography team-hands down. We have gotten endless comments about our engagement/wedding pictures and we owe them all the credit. They put in great deal of time and effor...
t into knowing us as a couple to make sure they captured our true personalities in each picture. They were so much more than our photographers and even after our wedding, continue to follow up with us. They will be our photographers for life!
Midwest LifeShots was simply perfect. I can say we truly had fun with both our engagement and wedding day photos. Their personalities put us at ease and helped us feel very comfort...
able, which in turn, made our photos look incredibly natural and "us". From little surprises for us to making us laugh; from being punctual to being organized and having a vision, I couldn't think of recommending anyone else to work with. Zero complaints!
Midwest LifeShots Photography helped make our wedding day perfect! They were there throughout the planning process every step of the way and on the day of they were incredible. Our...
pictures turned out amazing and they were able to capture everything I asked for and more! I wouldn't choose anyone else to photograph the best day of ever!
Jen and Scott and their team was amazing to work with! From the first photo shoot of our engagement to our wedding day! Every photo looks so natural as they made us feel like there...
family, making us laugh often. On our wedding day they took us to ice cream and just went above and beyond! Highly recommend!
When my wife and I began looking for all of our vendors and venues for our wedding, we always looked at 5-10 different options. We wanted to know what was out there and what would ...
make our wedding day stand out and be special.
When we met with Scott it was different. We left the meeting and I said I think we found our photographer. We talked about it on our drive, the pros and cons. Why having a Rochester based photographer going to a St. Cloud wedding seemed crazy, but we decided that even though it might sound like a hassle it would be worth it.
Not only was it easy and hassle-free, it was a blast. We had so much fun working with them! We also got our Engagement photos with them. (Which was a great package deal.) It was professional and fun during every meeting we had with them.
Our Wedding Day was the best day of our lives, and they were a huge part of making it fun and special. Even with 95 degree heat we never got grumpy being out in the sun (a HUGE feat for me.) They kept things light and moving with smiles on all our faces.
The photos came back amazing. I still look at them and it takes me right back to that day. Those moments. Such a treasure to have them so respectfully and lovingly taken care of by true professionals and great people.
11/10 would recommend Midwest LifeShots Photography to anyone with an upcoming wedding! Scott and Jen were absolutely amazing to work with! Maybe it was their love of Disney that m...
ade us certain that we had the right photographers for us! They were so easy to be around for our entire day that we almost forgot that they were to take our photos! They were able to capture so many special moments of our day and we are so happy to have those photos to reminisce on!
Contact
2932 Shadow Dr SE, Rochester, MN | Rochester & Twin Cities
- Wedding Vendors/
- Wedding Photographers/
- Minnesota Wedding Photographers/
- Rochester Wedding Photographers/