Sarah’s Senior Portraits & Allison & Joe’s Engagement Session

For Sair’s senior portraits we were going to do them in the afternoon on a Sunday but then it looked like the weather wasn’t going to be cooperating so we changed it to Saturday morning.  And then I thought…..wouldn’t it be cool to do sunrise portraits over Lake Michigan?  Afterall, the sunrise over Lake Michigan can be spectacular but I don’t know very many teens who are up to getting up early enough to be ready for portraits at 6AM:).  I asked & to my delight she was up for it!  Then there was some concern about wether or not we would even have a sunrise since the forcast wasn’t looking too good.  When I got up, no stars were in the sky by me but to my delight Sair’s mom called me & said she had stars so it was on!  And we did have a sunrise & it wasn’t too long after that when the clouds came rolling in.  Sair loves politics so we had to incorporate that love into her session too & I think they turned out very well!! Hope you enjoy her slide show.

In the afternoon it was time to drive over to Fond Du Lac for Allison & Joe’s engagement session.  We hit the old Fond Du Lac depot first before we headed over to Lake Park.  I loved it when Allison pulled out a Packer jersey & a Steelers jersey. I hope you enjoy their mini-slide show.

I’m Back!

So it’s been a long time since I have blogged & alot has happened since then. First, I’m no longer in Georgia & have moved back to my home town in Wisconsin. Second, I’m a grandma now to a beautiful little girl; Skylar.

I hope to keep up some blogging here & to start talking a little more too about photography. Just a thought….a client was asking me about time of day & trying to work their wedding schedule around the best time of day to get pictures. This is great….I would love every wedding to have their portrait time when conditions are ideal BUT….It is my job as a professional photographer to do portraits in less than ideal conditions. Professional photographers should know how to manipulate the conditions to give their clients the best photographs wether it be high noon or the “golden hour”. Not every wedding can have portrait times at that ideal time of day & yes, would I like to avoid portraits when the sun is directly above in the sky? Of course but I can also do portraits during that time too. Now you won’t find me scheduling engagement sessions during that time or bridal portraits during that time but on your wedding day if that’s when they need to be then that’s when they’ll be & I can still produce the portraits that are beautiful. That’s my job & that is why you hire a professional.

On that note; hope winter is over & I’m looking forward to spring!

In Memory For Father’s Day

I’ve been meaning to blog about this for awhile now…since November.  I know how important the imagery I capture is to every single bride & groom I work for…it’s soooo important.  But every once and awhile, something happens that…oh, it’s like a slap upside the head….that emphasizes the importance of what I do.

Meet Brittany & her dad.  Brittany was married back in October and about a month after her wedding her father passed away.   The importance of the above pictures & the candid images  jumped 100% & I remember getting off the phone with her & thinking that I was the last person to photograph her & her dad & her entire family together…..wow…. I’m sorry, but that was very humbling &  sad.  So tomorrow will be Brittany’s first father’s day since he passed, and I pray that she will be able to find peace, remember these happy times, & feel her father’s love enveloping her.

Give your dad’s a big hug on Father’s Day & don’t forget to say how much you love them….I’ll make sure my kids do:)

Now A Member of WPJA & other ramblings…

I applied to this organization without the expectation of being accepted. You see unlike many other professional photographer organizations, WPJA has very strict guidelines to be accepted into their organization. As a matter of fact, less than 5% of photographers who apply are actually accepted!! When I received an email back stating I was accepted….to be honest I was suprised but my husband wasn’t (gotta love him).

You can actually find me listed in the Georgia listing & (drum roll please) the Wisconsin listing. Yes, I will travel to Wisconsin when one of my packages are booked without an additional charge. Why you say? Well, first…my family is up there and as you may have noticed in a previous blog my grandmother passed away so traveling to Wisconsin to photograph a wedding is another avenue for me to go up & visit my family. Second…is it totally out that my family may relocate…hmmm….it’s something that is being considered. So what would that mean to my Georgia clients?  Business as usual…if we enter into a contract, irregardless of where I am living, your contract will be kept in force with no additional charges.  Besides my oldest will be attending college at West Georgia University so I will continue to offer services to Georgia (can’t get rid of me that easily).

Just to wrap this up…I’m honored to now be a part of WPJA & look for more postings soon about weddings, senior portraits, & my daughter’s graduation!

In Memory Of My Grandma

My grandma passed away the end of April at the age of 93.  She lived a long life…I know.  She moved in with my family in Wisconsin from Pennsylvania when I was 4 years old.  I vaguely remember her home in Johnstown but I do remember having fun there.  She sacrificed her life to keep our family together & she was a very strong woman & independent.  Our heads butted more than a few times when I was a teen & I know I get my own strong will from her.  My grandma though would do anything for us because I know she wanted a better life for us than she had.  She lost 2 husbands, a son, & grandson & worked as a custodian at a bank before she moved in with us.  Towards the end, she needed help to do basic things & I know how much that irritated her!  She passed in what had become her home & I will miss her.