February Showers bring March flowers?

Even though I have lived in Wisconsin my entire life, I am still surprised at how much our weather can change within a given week! Last Saturday we had 6 inches of snow here in Madison, and today we have down pouring ran and thunderstorms! We even lost power here today for a few brief seconds. This confuses us Wisconsinites. Thunder in February? We can handle the snow and the below zero temperatures, but this rain is throwing us all off!

After I got home today there was just a little bit of light left in the sky and I couldn't help but notice how the streetlights were dancing in the rain drops on our windows. The colors were just so vibrant I couldn't resist. I realized I have just taken pictures for the heck of it in a while, so I grabbed my camera and shot away!

It is so fascinating to me how the rain collects in perfect patterns in the window screens...

So who knows what the weather will be tomorrow! I guess that is the excitement of living in our great state!

New Online Gallery!

I am so excited to announce the launch of my new online gallery! This new one is so snazzy and gives your photos great presentation for all of your family and friends. An online gallery is part of every photo package that I offer. It not only acts as a brag site for all of your family and friends, but it also allows you to order prints and other photo extras from the comfort of your own home.

Here are a few screen shots from the gallery, but nothing is like trying it yourself! Click here to see an actual gallery!

When you click on the photos, you get a nice close up image. This is where you can add photos to your cart to order prints from later.


Thanks to Brian and Ann Marie for being my poster children! You'll see a little bit more of them in a few days. I just ordered my first sample album using photos from their engagement session and I can not wait to get it in the mail! I will be sure to share how great it looks with the blog world, so check back for more info on the albums later this week.

If you're a photographer out their I'd highly recommend Creative Motion Designs, they are a fantastic web hosting/design company. Check them out at www.creativemotiondesigns.com.

Looks like we're bracing for another snow "storm" these next few days in Wisconsin... wasn't it just teasing us with spring a few weeks ago? Stay warm Wisconsin!

jvw

Brian & Ann Marie are Engaged!

I have known Brian and Ann Marie for about a half a year now. We are both are a part of the same Young Married/Engaged Couples Life Group through our church Blackhawk. We get together once a week, talk, eat, and just share life. This group has been a blessing in my life, and it has been great to get to know all of the couples! So, when Ann Marie asked me to do their engagement photos, I was ecstatic. I mean, come on, they look great to begin with, so I knew that we were going to get some awesome photos! They are having a summer destination wedding (ooo that sounds so nice right now - a warm sunny place!), and I know that these two are going to have a great life together, no matter what gets thrown their way. : )

Ok, on to the photos! We started out downtown in this AWESOME little alley. The alley also happens to be right behind Ann Marie's office, so she got a kick out of using it in her photos. But these old brick alley ways make the best spots for pictures!





I love how the wind added some extra glamour to this shot! I literally jumped up and down when I saw this one come off the camera! Everyone come see how good they look! (Sorry, I've had a lot of coffee this morning)


We then moved on to the capitol!





Although it was unseasonably warm, in the low 50's, it still was quite chilly in the shade - but these guys were troopers! Brian & Ann Marie decided to go warm up in the sun for a moment, and caught this photo.





Thanks guys for a great afternoon! I had a great time working with the two of you, and I hope you enjoy your photos!

jvw

New Marketing Materials!

I have just received my new marketing materials in the mail, and I am ecstatic!   I thought I'd share a few photos.

Here is the inside of my new CD cases.  After each session each client will receive their DVD with all of their images inside this cute case.

Here is a close up of the outside: 

I also got some new business cards with my new snazzy logo 

Another addition are these great photo labels that are custom made for each of my clients! This one is from Brian & Ann Marie's engagement session on Saturday.

Have I told you I like polka dots?  : )  

jvw

Erik & Karen are Engaged!

I met Karen and Erik on a warm for January sort of morning at the Vilas Zoo.  These two met through a mutual friend two years ago and have been head over heels since!  They just got engaged in December, and will have a May 9th, 2009 wedding, which I am ecstatic to shoot.   As you will see, they were a great couple, so easy going and even willing to take their coats off OUTSIDE.  That's a big deal here in the Midwest : )  

Without further ado... the photos!

After being outside for a while we decided to head on in to the Bird House, which felt like a tropical paradise compared to outside!  Not to mention that it looked like one too!

I love this one, it's like we're "catching" them kissing... tee hee...

We can't forget about the bling!

I think I got true smiles out of them at this point because we were in front of the penguin exhibit, and we couldn't get the penguins to come over.  I'm pretty sure there was talk here about who brought the sardines for bait...

A little love by the penguins...

Thanks guys for a great morning!  I really enjoyed getting to meet the both of you, and can't wait for your wedding! 

jvw

25 Random Things...

Alright, so this is flying around Facebook like hot cakes, so I thought I'd participate and share with the blog world. Drum roll please.... 25 random things about me:

1. I like Ketchup. A lot. I put it on things that most normal people wouldn't put it on like carrots, or on steaks that cost over $50. This has gone on all my life. At one point when I was little my dad banned me from ketchup and told me McDonalds was out because I'd make such a mess. I remember going to McDonalds wondering if they would have ketchup or not that day.

2. I've just started wearing high heels in the last two years. Being a 6 foot tall girl, I never wanted to be taller, until I just said awe what the heck and embraced my height. So yes, I know I make you feel short.

3. I have a "craft closet" in our house filled with a whole bunch of crafting supplies. I love going to the craft store - it's aisles upon aisles of ideas and project just waiting to be created. oooo!

4. My favorite TV show is Ace of Cakes. I love how they take cake and turn it into master pieces.

5. I met my husband at UW in Economics 101. I know it doesn't sound very romantic, but I guess you could say I demanded his supply! Plus if it wasn't for his tutoring I don't think I would have passed.

6. When I shop I am a toucher. I have to walk up to everything and give it a good feel. This evokes lots of chuckles from Brian. When I'm in some place where touching is not a good idea (like an art gallery), I have to hold my hands together in front of me to refrain from touching things.

7. I grew up listening to public radio - "What'd Ya Know" "Garrison Keillor" and "Riders in the Sky" were our regular shows. I still love to listen to them, and read a lot of Garrison Keillor.

8. I like themes. If I can plan a party or coordinate something so that it all has a theme, I am very happy.

9. My second toe is longer than my big toe.

10. I have a Canon camera. I'm not really sure why I chose a Canon (I mean it was a good value at a good price), however when I see anyone with a "professional" camera that is not a Canon I act all snotty with my nose in the air like "Ooooo they have a Nikon"... although I have no actual reason why I like one brand over another.

11. Baring unseen circumstances, I will always drive a Honda Element. I love my little plastic panel, ugly box, toaster-esque of a vehicle.

10. One of my pet peeves is when you see someone walking on the side of road and they are putting themselves in danger, and there are perfectly good side walks either side of the road. Use the sidewalks people!

11. I changed my major 5 times in college. I blame this mostly on wanting to do something "harder" than art, but really that's where my passions and interests are.

12. Someday I would like to rekindle my relationship with my trumpet.

13. I have a deep love affair with Chicken Wings. I can't explain it. Something about the BBQness and the ability to dip them in sauce makes them one of the best things on earth. I have requested to go to BW3's for Valentine's Day.

14. My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. I think it's the red, white, and blue theme. Plus everyone gets together and celebrates the same thing, and who doesn't like cook out and fireworks!? I like sappy things like that. Which leads to.....

15. I am a sap. I like to watch sappy things, read sappy books, take pictures of sappy occasions, talk about things in sappy ways, etc, etc. Erin has nicknamed me the Vomit Queen because of this.

16. I want to become more of a card sender. I used to be really good at this, and then fell off the band wagon. I'm trying to make it a point to send more cards, even if it's just for silly things. In general I want to take better care of the relationships in my life.

17. I am fortunate to be married to my best friend, have my mom as my best "girl" friend, and have a loving a supportive family (and a great family in-law). Without this awesome support system I don't know where I'd be. They make me want to have a family of my own so that we can all spend time together. (See I told you I'm sappy!)

18. I hate Haunted Houses. Pretty much put me in a dark room and tell me someone is going to tickle me and I'm scared enough! I don't need all the blood and gore on top of it!

19. I have an "escape" plan made up just in case there was ever a robber in our house. I would hide in closet behind the ironing board until I could make a run for it. (I didn't say that I had a good plan...)

20. I believe that the spell checker on Microsoft Word has made me a horrible speller. More often then not, if you spell a word wrong it automatically corrects it, so you never know what words you are spelling wrong. That's why I'm grateful for our Mac... it has spell check across every application. (This makes me look more smart)

21. I really don't like calling people on the phone. Especially to strangers. More often then not if I have your email and your phone, I will send you an email. If I must call a stranger I usually have to write out what I'm going to say ahead of time because I get nervous.

22. I love the summer. Although I don't think I'd move to a year round warm place, all this cold weather makes me appreciate the warmer temps all that much more.

23. I've been accused that my future children will make my friends future children jealous because they will have perfectly scrapbooked lives and unique themed parties. Only time will tell!

24. I check out CD's from the library and burn them to my computer, and have no moral problem with this. They must know this is going to happen!

25. I once rode in the back of a police van, with a police officer driving, while not wearing a seat belt, on the way to detox. This was all apart of house fellow training at the number one party school!

thanks for reading! jvw