Sunday Ramblings...

Good Sunday morning to you! I've spent my morning deleting old photos off of my computer and reorganizing other photos, and after looking through my folders from January and February and seeing all the cold and snow - I'm sure glad it's spring!

In a little while I'm going to be headed out the door to two engagement sessions with two awesome couples! But I wanted to share with you a few things first. And in no particular order:

I won! Thanks to you all of you who took the time to vote for me in the Youngren's 19 frame challenge, I really appreciate it! This morning when I took a look at their blog it was surreal to see my name on it. These are two photographers who I have followed and admired from afar from a while, it is truly an honor to be featured by them. You can see the blog post here.

With being mentioned on the Youngren's blog, I have gained a few new followers out there. Thank you and welcome! Hopefully I can keep you entertained enough to stay! I am also on Facebook and Twitter, so please follow me. I'd love to follow you back, just leave your info in the comments! (Click on "Facebook" and "Twitter" to go to my pages)

I had an awesome engagement session last night, it was just one of those that all came together. The perfect location, the perfect light, and the most AWESOME couple! The above picture of the tulips was taken then (I think it's begging to be a motivational poster, something like "Be Different" or "You're one in a Million"), and of course, this little sneak preview below!

(A side note. During our session we saw two couples walking at us, the guys in tuxes, and the women in long dresses. One girl was wearing a beautiful white dress. I, being the wedding photographer that I am, thought they had just gotten married. I took it upon myself to wish them a "Congratulations". All four of them stared back blankly and kept walking. One of the guys muttered "That was the second one". Yes blog world, they were prom go-ers. I don't know who was more mortified, her or me! If you are out there white prom dress girl, I am sorry :) I'd be happy to take some pictures of you in that gorgeous dress for free if we ever meet!

Mental note - it is prom season. Do not tell random people congratulations. End of note.)

I hope you all have a great Sunday! Ta ta for now

Nineteen Frames Challenge

As you all know, I love to blog read and another one of my favorite photographers to follow is the Youngrens, a husband/wife team from San Diego. Recently they took a vacation and Jeff happened upon this desert beach resort (insert photographer flip out here), and realized he only had room for 19 pictures on his memory card. You can read more about his adventure here (and add them to your reader/bookmarks while you're there - you'll want to check back often!)


Anyhoo, Jeff posed a challenge to all of us photographers out there to approach a scene and only take 19 pictures... with an extra added challenge of no looking or deleting. In other words, pretend that we were shooting with film and make each frame count.

I will admit that sometimes I do get carried away with digital images - the fact that each picture is "free" and I can snap as many as I want doesn't always make me a better photographer. I know if anything, this challenge and my 365 project have taught me to slow down, observe a scene and take one or two interesting photos of a scene instead of 1,590. Because really, who needs 1,590 pictures of a leaf? :)


I had been keeping my eye out for a scene for a week or so, and was wondering where I was going to go when I happened upon this place last Saturday. I was shooting some photos for one of my groom's bands BOWSER (but more on this later), and they led me to these abandoned buildings in downtown Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (insert photographer flip out here). I knew it was perfect. Lots of old stuff. Lots of falling apart stuff. Lots of stuff in places that don't make sense.

But I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Here are my 19 photos!















So there you have it! This is a contest among other photographers - so leave me some love so they know who to pick! :)

Also, if you'd like to participate, the contest is open through Monday, so get snapping!

Winter at the UW Arboretum

Yesterday we ventured out to the UW Arboretum to take a few engagement photos for our friends Chris and Vanessa. The Arboretum is one of my favorite portrait locations, and it looks different in every season. I also love these little buildings, which have the old, rustic feeling I always seek out.

One of my favorite things to do is to venture out after I am done with a session and take a few pictures of the scenery. I end up with the best desktop wallpapers this way :)

Here are a few I snapped yesterday morning. More from Chris and Vanessa's session to come!

This shot is Brian's, but I just had to share :)

An Outing to the Duck Pond

We went with Brian and his co-workers from Epic the other night to a Madison Mallards Game. Although neither of us are a huge fan of baseball, it is hard to beat the fun atmosphere at the Duck Pond. However, one thing I immediately became a fan of was the amazing sunset light that happens during the game... I couldn't stop snapping photos! I know, I know, who goes to a baseball game for the light? As I tell my husband, photography is a disease... and it just gets worse with time :)

And of course it helps to sit behind a cutie peanut at the game :) - can't wait to shoot this little guy's photos on Sunday!

Yeah, so I went to a baseball game, and all I write about is the light and the cutie babies!

If the Motorhome is a Rockin'....

.... hey now, it's my parent's motor home... none of such talk! I was brought here by a stork! Haha. We went up two weekends ago to visit my parents and get a tour of their new motor home. This 30 foot behemoth is large enough for our whole family, now the question is "Where to Go?". We took it out for a little ride, and apparently Edie found it so cool that she did not want to get out, and stayed in long after we all got out. It was so funny! Not to mention she looked very, very tiny. Here are a few pics...

Ryan Mauer Live

Last Friday night, our friend and musician Ryan Mauer held a little live show at the Froth House in Madison. It was a quaint atmosphere, on a beautiful summer evening, made complete with a glass of wine and good company. And of course, my camera. Ryan asked me to take a few photos of him during his performance, and how could I resist! Here are a select few from the night.

And you can check out Ryan Mauer and listen to his mu-sak at http://myspace.com/ryanmauermusic

Oh, and thanks Ryan for the CD... love it!!

Edie Gets a Haircut

Our little girl got a haircut the other day, and I thought it would be fun to show a little before/after infomercial style photos of the transformation - heck, I'll even dedicated this post to the late Billy Mayes...

Before:

After:

Awe, doesn't she just look like a cutie tootie, just wanna pincha those checks, cutie wootie wittle doggie... oh you're a good girl, puppy wanna treat?! ... I mean... uhem... she looks great doesn't she!

If you're a pet owner looking for a groomer in the Madison area, check out Rufus duMonde Pet Salon. Laura the owner is great. I have no idea how she grooms our wiggly little dog who doesn't like her paws touched, but she manages and makes her look great every time! In fact it was her before and after pictures on her site that sealed the deal for me, I just had to go there! So check the site out!

Photo Shoots & Wine Tasting ... the perfect combination!

I got the privilege of meeting one really cool family yesterday for a photo shoot at Botham Vineyards in Barneveld yesterday. I had never been out there before, and it is an awesome photo location! Not to mention that when the photo shoot was over, we got to go inside and taste the wines - not a bad gig at all! Their tasting room is located inside an old barn, and they have all of these really neat details. Of course I had my camera along, so I just had to take a few pics.

And just for fun... here's a little sneak peak from their family session! More to come soon!

Best. Wedding. Entrance. Ever.

Internet, I would give my right arm (and I'm right handed) to photograph a wedding where the couple does this. Alright, that's a little extreme, maybe just a discount... but still, this is amazing. Worth your 5 minutes to watch! What I wish they would show is the transition from dance party to serious ceremony... how do you go on? Haha... props to this couple for being original, shaking it up a bit, and not afraid to make the day personalized for them. That's what it's all about right?




Props to my second shooter Chris for putting this up on Facebook!