The { M } Family’s Portraits

Getting a big group together for family photos, makes for the most special images.  It is always difficult to combine schedules and choose a location, but when you make it happen the result is a group of photos that can be treasured as a family timepiece.

We just recently photographed new baby Ryan as he came into this world to the most loving family; now we have had the opportunity to gather together with not only his mom, dad, brother and sister, but also is grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle and cousin.  Everyone was in high spirits as they arrived for the session - laughing and joking and preparing to join together as a group.  It could not be more obvious that we were only days from the Christmas holiday!

Last year, we brought my family together for an afternoon of group photos similar to these and I cannot explain how much I treasure the photo that hangs on my wall from that session.  It is everyone I love standing side-by-side; something to remind me of the special times we share and all the memories we have built together. <3

{ Rachel + John = ENGAGED ! }

This engagement session was a particular joy to us not just because it was in Door County (where I’m from) and done in fall (my favorite time of year), but because Rachel is one of my closest friends. Rachel and I became friends 15 years ago, and though we went to separate colleges and fate moved her out to the southwest, each time we talk it’s as though no time has passed. While living in Arizona she met John; together love was easy - natural, relaxed and meant-to-be. Their relationship was tested when he was stationed (though the Air Force) in Korea. But they made it work, even falling asleep next to each other over Skype. <3 They knew they had found the one person out there meant for them, and being smart people, they wouldn’t be silly enough to let that go. Rachel and John flew in for their engagement session and to plan other details for their wedding that will take place in Door County this summer. We had a perfect fall day for photos - bright colors, cloudy sky - a photographer’s dream. The entire afternoon was relaxed and playful - a wonderful chance to catch up with good friends and make photos that told their love story. Congratulations, Rachel and John; we are really looking forward to your wedding day!

Winter Sweetpea’s Promotional Photoshoot

It’s that time again! Our seasonal promotional photoshoot for Sweetpea’s Clothier in De Pere. We had such a blast with this session!  Usually we don’t do Sweetpea’s photoshoots with just a boy model, but around Christmastime there are so many amazing outfits to turn tiny tots into mini sharp-dressed-men.

Elliot did a great job posing for us and was certainly our most excited model so far.  In the first outfit he is wearing a shirt by Tooby Doo, pants by Tea, (amazing) high-tops by Old Soles, and a jacket by American Widgeon.  The furry friend that matches his jacket is by Jellycat.  In his second outfit he is wearing a sweater and hat by Axel & Hudson, and pants by Appaman.  All of these goodies and more are available at Sweetpeas in De Pere.  They have six shopping days left until Christmas and no shortage of options, so now is a great time to stop in.

Mara Turns Three!

Seeing our clients and their children each year as they grow is a wonderful thing. They come in a few inches taller, so much more talkative and with new skills and interests. Mara has come to us for pictures each year since her first Birthday and such is the case for her sessions. She is always smiley and playful - warming up after just a few minutes - and she is always SO good. She loves to show us her new outfits and shoes, try out our stools and chairs, and even in moments of stubbornness, she will suddenly spin around and flash us that bright, happy smile.  That is 100% Mara! Thanks for coming to visit us and letting us capture the beginning of your third year.  Happy Birthday, Mara!

Personal Post: Pieper’s First Birthday!

With such a busy fall season we haven’t had much of a chance to share with you the things happening in our personal lives. Over the next month, I’m hoping to catch up a bit on our blogging and share a few special milestones and little peeks into what we have going on outside of our photography business. Future highlights include our anniversary train trip to Albuquerque and progress on home renovation, but right now, I wanted to share a few photos from the little Birthday party we threw for our puppy Pieper.  :)

Pieper’s Birthday was October 22nd and we celebrated the first weekend of November. I made a few fall desserts for us humans to enjoy including pumpkin mousse and salted maple sugar cookies with cider glaze (thank you Martha Stewart). We also baked a tiny layer cake for Pieper made from whole grain flour, shredded carrots, peanut butter, applesauce, and various baking tidbits and frosted it with yogurt and cream cheese. I was certain the little Birthday hat I made her wouldn’t last a minute, but the moment she saw the cake, it didn’t matter - I could have put her in a scuba suit for all she cared.  She dove into the cake with gusto - a dog possessed.  The entire time she had this expression on her face that said ‘I better eat as much as I can before someone catches me and I get yelled at.’

Later on, with a belly full of cake we took her to the dog park to play with her puppy friends and hand out some homemade doggy biscuits.  Overall, she had a great Birthday with her favorite people.  Happy First Birthday, Pieper!

Treehaus Studio Branding Photoshoot

Working with other creatives is a passion of ours. We get the opportunity to toss ideas about with people who get just as excited as we do. Such was the case with Amanda Campbell and Marcia Schabel of Treehaus Studio here in Green Bay. When Amanda sent over the mood board to express the branding of their new venture, I loved the whole idea of it: earthy, grounded, natural. From here we got to develop the style of our session - something that could feel cozy like a favorite sweater and boots or a night around a campfire, but that could still show their clean, professional approach.  Needless to say, the entire session was everything we love doing.

Treehaus Studio is a local graphic design company owned by two women who were born to be designers - it’s just in the way they think.  They do web and print design as well as branding and social media: everything we business owners need.  They are everywhere, so check them out on their website, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest to get a taste of what they’re all about.

www.treehausstudio.com
www.facebook.com/treehausstudio

Welcome, New Baby Ryan!

Tomorrow is a day of Thanksgiving - a day to count our blessings, and nothing can quite get you in the mood for that as well as a newborn baby. Tiny toes, tiny fingers and a sweet little sleeping smile... there is just nothing like it. :)  Baby Ryan was a little older for his session than most of our newborns, but because he was an early arrival, it was just like photographing a week old baby. He was flexible, tiny and spent his entire session in a deep slumber.

 It is amazing to me how much he already looks like mom and dad; he spared no time in telling everyone that he is a part of the family.  Baby Ryan is lucky enough to come into this world with a brother and sister so excited to have him.  He arrived just in time to celebrate all the holidays with them and to be passed around the family so everyone can soak up the warmth and remember when their babies were that small.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and congratulations to the {L} Family!

{ Clarissa + Adam = ENGAGED ! }

I can’t even express what a sweet couple Clarissa and Adam are.  They both have a great sense of humor, a close relationship with their families, and there is this playfulness about their exchange that is immediately apparent when you meet them.  Clarissa and Adam met three years ago as coworkers.  At first they didn’t like each other, but then they became friends (even so close that she was giving him relationship advice regarding other girls) and then a couple.  Together they like to play bingo, chase around their doggy Bella, and spend time outside.  For their engagement session we combined the two sides of their families: the location was Adam’s family farm, and the super fun yellow truck we involved was recently restored by Clarissa’s grandfather.  The day itself was gorgeous - cloud cover and a hazy fog gently subduing the fall colors.  This made for such a wonderful day of shooting for us, giving us the opportunity to create soft, intimate photos for the couple.  Clarissa and Adam will be getting married next fall, the same weekend Ben and I said our vows three years prior (gotta love a fall bride!)

The { T } Family’s Fall Portraits

There is something so wonderful about outdoor family sessions in the fall.  It is as though the day becomes less about standing and smiling, and more about playing in the leaves and exploring a new place with little ones.  Evan and Jocelyn were just as sweet as could be for their session.  Evan was all energy, wanting to decide exactly where we were going and taking us there himself.  Jocelyn was sweet and cuddly and tough - we couldn’t believe how well she did with the chilly weather.  We created a collection of family photos as well as mommy and me and daddy and me photos and a few of the kiddos by themselves.  Near the end Evan was running out of steam and was ready to be held and warmed up by daddy and baby girl was falling asleep in mommy’s arms.  It was great getting to see this family again and getting to know the cute little tots who made them a family!

{ Jackie + Chris = MARRIED ! }

Jackie and Chris’s wedding was all classic romance - from the fitted lace gown and blusher veil, to the lovely gold bands and bouquets of white carnations. Everything about it felt honest, romantic and timeless.  When we first met last year, Jackie told me it was destined to rain on her wedding day, and she was certainly right.  The reasoning for this is that her husband, Chris, is a weatherman, and it would only be the most perfect joke of nature to give them a day full of rain.  Well, Jackie was right; not only did it rain but it stormed and thundered and caused the power to cut in and out during their ceremony.  Through all of this, however, they both kept their good humor and nothing could wipe the smiles of excitement and joy from their faces.

The weather made our job a little more difficult, but it also rewarded us with dreamy fog while they were getting ready, and stunning bright greens, oranges and yellows for the formal portraits. Rain has a way of drawing color out in the environment - making everything brighter and richer.  All rainy day brides might be brought good luck, but rainy day October brides are also brought intense color and a chance for some beautiful pictures. ;)  We loved being a part of every minute of your day, congratulations, Jackie and Chris!

{ Jamie + Nick = ENGAGED! }

It’s wonderful to find kindred spirits in our clients - people who love things that we love. So when I heard that Jamie and Nick love to spend their summers camping together, I was already have daydreams of firelight and creamy hot coffee. Jamie and Nick went to middle school and high school together and even grew up down the road from one another. Their romance started early on, and eight years later he proposed to her on her Birthday, moments before leaving for dinner with their families. What a lovely way to celebrate. :) Jamie and Nick love fall the way we do; they will be getting married next October in Door County and wanted to have engagement photos taken the same time of year. It was a chilly afternoon at the park, so by the time we got to camping pictures, we were all ready for a crackling fire.  It took the three of us, Nick, Ben and I, at least twenty minutes and half a leaf blower manual to get a real fire going, but it was worth it for gorgeous light and some dreamy camping photos. Congratulations, Jamie and Nick!

{ Jessie + Jerry = ENGAGED! }

Jessie and Jerry are highschool sweethearts - they are the couple who saw life’s challenges and changes only as a way to strengthen their relationship.  Meeting them, you would have no idea that they have been dating for seven years; you would assume they met a few months ago and were just at the beginning of a new romance.  For Jessie and Jerry we wanted to create photos that showed this sweetness and gentleness of their relationship.  We started off at Lambeau Field which is where they had their very first “official date”: a Packer game at age 15.  (A cute little side-note: both of their mothers were along for that date!) ;)  After Lambeau we had a little playtime with their adorable and energetic puppies Bruce and Leroy, then moved on to some classic autumn romance pictures.  Fall is our favorite time of year and it was such a pleasure to be out with Jessie and Jerry celebrating crunchy leaves, cute boots, and of course, the engagement of two wonderful people!

Waiting for Baby { L }

It’s so wonderful for us when clients whose weddings we have shot come back to us years later as they start their families.  Such is the case with Katrina and Dennis.  We photographed their stunning wedding in 2011, and now, two years later we got to celebrate with them as they waited for little baby Ryan.  Katrina and Dennis chose to do outdoor maternity, which we love because it creates images that look relaxed and natural (plus who can resist October color in Wisconsin!)  Maternity is such a special session because it celebrates the beginning of something new, and all the wonderful preparations loving families make while waiting for their new babies to arrive.  Baby Ryan made his debut early so we have already gotten to meet the little guy and can’t wait to share those photos with you as well.

The { K } Family’s Fall Portraits

Fall family photos get to be such a blast because it isn’t just about dressing nice and standing together; it’s about running in the leaves - tossing them high in the air and snuggling with those we love to keep warm.  It is wonderful working with the {K} Family; they are always excited to try new ideas with us.  For fall we decided to do family photos with a little lifestyle infusion - capture the personalities of these little ones just the way they are.  Carter cracks us up with his big laughs and desire to be right at the center of whatever we are doing.  Morgan is bright and watchful - keeping an eye on what her big brother is up to, and giggling sweetly for just a few words said in her direction.  Watching those two kiddos together, it just makes you guess at all the wonderful trouble Carter is going to lead them into as they grow older.  They are sure to have some amazing adventures!

Isaac Turns 18 Months!

There is something special about Isaac that I absolutely love.  He is a people watcher - those bright blue eyes are always checking out what is going on around him.  He loves to laugh and play and run, but all the while he is watching.  It makes me guess at what he is thinking and all the wonderful things he is learning.  We’ve gotten to watch Isaac grow every few months for the last year and a half; we’ve gotten to see the new skills he’s developed and all the ways he has changed. (My personal favorite is the cute little gap baby teeth!)  It can be such a blessing to be a part of a baby’s life, documenting each little change as they grow up.  We get to notice all the transformations and create memories that allow mommies and daddies to hold onto them forever, and I think that’s pretty special.

The { H } Family’s Fall Portraits

Meeting with the {H} Family for their fall portraits made for a relaxing autumn afternoon.  We had a good time getting to know the entire family and talking about all the sports the boys are interested in, including basketball which Sam is lucky enough to have his father coach.  We found out halloween costume ideas, favorite jerseys, and got to listen to them tease each other about who has how many crushes.  Despite Ben’s insistence, Sam claims he is a one-woman-man. ;)  The weather was gorgeous and the sunlight hit that perfect golden hue we love so much.  Such a lovely day for family photos!

{ Michelle + Patrick = MARRIED ! }

I cannot say enough about how gorgeous Michelle and Patrick’s wedding was!  We met Michelle at her parents' home in Green Bay where she was about to get dressed in the most stunning gown with the best bunch of bridesmaids swarming around to help, teasing her to lighten the mood, and serving up a little bubbly to celebrate.  Michelle wore her grandmother’s ring and vintage earrings to compliment it.

With Michelle done up and ceremony-ready we drove to a local park to meet Patrick for the first look.  Here we got to see the most humbling expression on his face when he saw his bride-to-be - beyond priceless.  Everything about Michelle and Patrick’s day had this genuine and free-spirited feeling to it; there was nothing but joy expressed from every guest and every family member (including the sweetest daddy ever, waiting to walk his baby girl down the isle).

As the ceremony ended, we did a few photos at Heritage Hill, before heading over to Green Bay’s main attraction for some fun photos showing how excited everyone was to be celebrating with the newly married couple.  It was a pleasure being a part of your day; congratulations and a toast to many years, Michelle and Patrick!

Jonathon Turns 18 Months !

Jonathon has always been playful and outgoing; we knew this about him at six months and he has proven it to us at every session since then.  This was his first outdoor photo session and it fit his personality so well - gave him a chance to run around, play with mommy, and give us those trademark sneaky smiles.  We love photos that are a mix of lifestyle and posed, and give us a chance to set up for some impromptu moments and expressions.  This was the perfect opportunity!  Seeing Jonathon is always wonderful and we can’t wait to find out what he has in store for us next.  Congratulations, Jonathon; you are getting to be such a big little man!

Lindsey’s Senior Portraits!

We love getting to see all the cool outfits our seniors come up with for the day of their session.  Lindsey’s blue, lace dress was my absolute favorite and her prom dress was so fun -  a vivid pink with many layers of ruffled organza!  We had perfect weather and golden light for Lindsey’s session and had the opportunity to shoot at two very different locations to create a variety of images.  Lindsey was very fun to work with - relaxed in front of the camera - and we got to hear all about last year’s prom and this year’s homecoming plans.  She sounds like she has a great senior year ahead of her and lots of good times planned along the way.  Congratulations, Lindsey, and good luck in the future!

{ Rachel + Ken = MARRIED ! }

Rachel and Ken’s wedding was beyond amazing.  I found myself talking about it with other clients, friends and family for weeks afterward which tells you that it was our very favorite kind - simple, playful, intimate and elegant.  The ceremony took place at the Gates of Heaven in James Madison Park - a beautiful little venue.  The officiant spoke about marriage in a way I have never heard someone speak before - he said that every day since the day this couple met they have made little promises to stand by one another, to be there when they are needed, and to love one another.  Those little promises, the officiant stated, were the vows of their marriage, and that day was just an official stamp to celebrate all they had promised one another.

The couple had just two people in their wedding party and the six of us plus the immediate family headed up the road to a little community garden to take some formal photos and enjoy the beautiful weather.  The mood was relaxed and joyous - so much laughter.  The reception was picnic-themed with luxurious blankets and pillows, long tables covered in white linen, burlap and tiny vases filled with locally-grown flowers.  The food was delicious comfort food - perfect for a picnic: macaroni and cheese, chicken, cheese curds, baby red potato salad and Door County cherry pie.  Every part of the day felt natural and every person there seemed so incredibly happy to be able to celebrate with the new Mr. and Mrs. Rachel and Ken Geller.  Congratulations; and cheers to many happy years together!

Notes:
We had the pleasure of working with some wonderful people at Rachel and Ken’s wedding and would like to say a special thank you to Sarah Sarbacker at Cherry Blossom Events who was a pleasure to work with.  Also a thank you to the other vendors:

Catering: Brocach www.brocach.com
Florist: Daffodil Parker www.dafodilparker.com
Rentals: Event Essentials www.eventessentials.com
Event Planner: Cherry Blossom Events www.cherrybevents.com

Fall Sweetpeas Promotional Photoshoot

Our fall model, Eden, did a great job for us, even toughing out a break for rain right in the middle of our shoot.  She was full of expression and so excited to be a part of our promotional session.  Eden is wearing a dress and gray leggings by Tea as well as accessories (gold belt and rhinestone headband) from Sweetpeas.  The super-cute fall jacket is by Dino Bebe and the sparkly sequin shirt every little girl dreams of is by Kate Mack.  Hairpieces and all outfits available at Sweetpeas in De Pere.  Perfect outfits to get everyone excited for crisp leaves, time outdoors with family, warm scarves and pumpkin spice lattes!  Sweetpeas has excellent turnover for each season, so be sure to stop in and see what they have in store for fall, and select outfits for your next photo session!  Happy Fall, Everyone!

www.lovesweetpeas.com

Brianna’s Senior Portraits!

We traveled to one of our favorite photo locations for Brianna’s senior portrait session.  When we arrived, she had a full entourage in tow, which may have been good thinking on her part since carrying her prom dress alone was a two person job. ;)  We had the perfect amount of cloud cover and got a few photos in with Brianna and her mom, as well as Brianna and the cutest little dog Cricket before the skies opened up with a torrential downpour.  We waited it out for a bit, but ended up having to reschedule for a few days later.  Having two separate days gave us a great opportunity for a variety of light, as well as more of a chance to get to know Brianna who is looking forward to her first year on the track and field team and making future college plans.  Enjoy your senior year, Brianna!

{ Ashley + Eric = MARRIED! }

I cannot stress the simple beauty of Ashley and Eric’s Wedding this August.  Everything was just right - little pops of color and romantic details without going into opulence.  Her dress was an a-line with a colored sash and no train.  The clean design of it was so gorgeous and flattering and the vintage buckle at the waist was a perfect highlight point.  The other thing that made it wonderful was her bridal party who were incredibly in-tune with Ashley’s every need and so excited for the union.  The bridesmaids and bride even busted out a choreographed dance as a surprise to everyone at the reception... and these girls... they knew how to move!  Everything was exactly what a bride could hope for: simple, fun, beautiful and romantic.  Congratulations Ashley and Eric, we wish you many years of happiness!

Maryssa’s Senior Portraits!

We love senior sessions! They offer us so much creative freedom and the opportunity to meet some really awesome people like Maryssa!  We had perfect weather for Maryssa’s senior session a few weeks ago - the fields were getting to that wild summer bloom and the evening sun gave everything a warm glow.  Maryssa brought along her two dogs, golf gear, and (simply amazing) prom dress for her session which gave us a lot of fun stuff to work with.  The prom dress is this elegant blue-gray color with a viney floral overlay that was perfect for the wild, untamed bottom of a waterfall we were shooting in.  Together we got to make some stunning images that will be unlike what everyone else is handing out this year.  Best luck in your last year, Maryssa!

Camilla and Maggi’s Mommy and Me Session

One of the most magical sessions we get to be a part of are mommy and me sessions.  All too often, mommy is the one stuck behind the camera on family outings and at big events.  She is there for every little thing her baby needs but there are always so few photos of the two of them together.  I remember going through our old family albums and realizing the only photo of my mom and brother when he was a tot had half her head cut off  - a result of daddy behind the camera ;) .  Having mommy and me photos are a special document of the bond between you and your little one and a timepiece for them to have for years to come.  There is just nothing like mommy love. <3

Maggi set up her session with her daughter Camilla in the back of their home, which sits right on the edge of the bay.  We got to meet her little girl, who was shy and reserved watching our every move until she decided we weren’t too scary... then it was playtime!  It was a blast spending the afternoon with them in such a beautiful area.  They chose perfect outfits for their setting and we loved getting to create these special images.

{ Rachel + Ken = ENGAGED ! }

Rachel and Ken had their engagement session just a few short weeks before their wedding day.  They did this because the engagement photos were something they wanted just for them - an intimate portrait of exactly who they are together.  This is what is at the heart of engagement sessions - creating something just for the two of you to cherish.  The couple met at Epic, a company in Madison, when they both started working there at the same time.  She had moved to Wisconsin from Indiana, and he had come all the way from Georgia.  When they clicked, it was almost immediate.  He proposed to her 18 months later on their way out of a favorite breakfast joint, the Hubbard Avenue Diner in the cute little town of Middleton.  This is where we had their engagement session, bumming around the little town they love so much.

Rachel and Ken got married August 10th in beautiful James Madison Park; wedding photos to follow shortly. :)

Welcome, New Baby Madelyn!

There is nothing so precious as a newborn baby, and such is the case with new baby Madelyn!  At two weeks she was just over five pounds so we had to be patient and wait until she was big enough for some of the beautiful clothes that mommy picked out for her.  Some people are just born to be parents - they have that nurturing spirit and are just waiting for the day when their little one arrives.  Madelyn was lucky enough to be adopted by two such people.  She is perfect with her big brown eyes and little pink lips and the three of them are just so happy that this little girl was destined to be a part of their family.  Congratulations {S} family on your little girl!

Gabe Turns One Year!

Never have I seen a little one as happy and excited as Gabe.  He is just a naturally cheerful kid, smiley and energetic - it was such a pleasure getting to know him and his mother for one year photos.  When they arrived, I couldn’t believe how adorable his outfit was with the little cuffed dress shirt and bright Avengers tie - he is the cutest, tiniest comic book geek we’ve ever seen.  Gabe loved doing cake smash photos and was not shy about digging in.  Sometimes we need to assist our birthday boys in getting messy, but Gabe didn’t need any help; he did it all on his own! Happy First Birthday, Gabe!