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

Winter at the Zoo

I had had never been to the Zoo in the winter time before, so in preparation for Karen & Erik's engagement shoot this morning I arrived at the zoo a little early to check it out.  I've been there quite a few times in the summer (it really is a spot to see in Madison) and I wasn't sure what I'd find!  When I pulled up I was surprised to see so many cars in the parking lot, as a bunch of families with bundled up kids waddled through the main gates.  It was evident that everyone was out to enjoy the "warmer" weather today - it is amazing what 35 can feel like after all of those below zero days.  And to my surprise a lot of the animals were out too. Like many times when I'm out and about in this city, it just affirms what a great community it is to live in.  And how we all somehow make it through these brutal winters, and can come on out on a cold Saturday morning and enjoy the Zoo together.  It was a beautiful Madisonian moment.  

Alright, enough of the sappy and on to the pictures!  After I was done shooting with Karen and Erik, I stuck around for a little bit and caught some photos of the animals.  

 

I loved these penguins all hanging out by the door, and when I got it off the camera and onto my computer, I just had to put it in black and white because it looked like they were wearing little tuxes.   They just needed some martinis and cigars and they would have looked like I was witnessing the Rat Pack!

In all of the times I've been to the Zoo, I've never been fortunate enough to see the lions.   And boy are they beautiful!  As I was taking these, I was really wishing the fence would be gone so I could REALLY get some good pictures.  But then I remembered, these aren't stuffed animals, they are the King of the Jungle!  In fact when I was walking around with Karen and Erik we could hear them roaring!

He was totally looking at me while I was taking pictures, he must be used to the paparazzi! 

And it was no surprise that the Polar Bears were out!  These guys were swimming and splashing and having a grand old time in the cold!

And now..... a sneak peek!  Here's a sneak peek of one of the many great shots I got of Karen and Erik.  They are such a great couple, I really enjoyed getting to know them this morning.  And brave too!  On the first photo they took their coats off outside and were ready to roll!   This one was taken in the Bird House which felt like a tropical getaway compared to the snow and cold outside.  Stay tuned for more photos from their shoot a little later.

Ta ta for now... gotta go get ready for our Super Bowl party tomorrow.... and if you live in the Madison area... go to the Zoo!  jvw

New Identity!

If you've been following me for a little while you know that I have had nothing short of an "Identity Crisis" while developing my business. Well, I think I've changed my look for the last time in a while! It's been a struggle for me because I think of a new idea everyday... and well... ideas are cheap! I was digging the blue grungy logo I had, but if you knew me, I'm not really a blue grungy type of person and it was clashing all with the wedding themed photos. (I know, when I told my husband this he just rolled his eyes...) So here it is in all of it's glory, a polka dotty modern sort of look... and believe you me I love the polka dots! In fact I was just in Target the other day (don't even get me started about my love for Target), and I was looking at all of the storage bins they had, and low and behold there was one with Polka Dots and I had a mini freak-out... anyway I digress.... the new logo!


Tada! As you can see as well, I have updated my header on the blog here and if you go over to my website you will see the change in the mini logo as well. I'm also SUPER excited about ordering some new CD holders, labels, business cards, and thank you cards. I will show pics as soon as I get them in! Pardon my dust and my old blue labels on the past posts, soon all will match.


In other updates I've been doing some behind the scenes things such as cleaning the 5,000 or so photos off of my laptop, catching this blog up from last year (I think I'm still missing half of my clients, it's not personal!), organizing my gear and getting ready for the warmer weather. Things have been slower over January, seeing as the temps have been below zero mostly (not ideal portrait weather), and everyone is getting over their Holiday Cookie buzz. I am SUPER excited for this Saturday I get to shoot an engagement session at the Zoo, so cross your fingers with me that the temps will stay in the forecasted 30's! Look for sneek peeks on the blog the begining of next week. We're also hosting a rockin' Super de Duper Bowl Party this weekend, and I just know I'll have to bust the camera out.

I'm looking forward to it getting warmer and get pictures of all your gorgeous smiles out there!

Peace for now

jvw

New Client Referral Program!

I am so excited to announce my new Client Referral Program!

I am appreciative of all my clients when they choose me to capture those special memories.To show my thanks, I have created a "Referral Program". This rewards not only my new clients, but also clients past. Here's how it works; for every person you refer to me and books a photo shoot:

You Receive:

A $25 print credit or a $25 credit toward the cost of a future photo shoot

For the Person you Refer:

$25 print credit for use on their upcoming photo shoot

Just be sure that the person you refer let's me know that it was you who sent them my way! Thanks to everyone for your continued support and business!

A Balmy 6 degrees! Bring out the Swim Suits!

I hope you're bundled in somewhere warm as I write this post! I just took a look at the weather and it's a balmy 6 degrees!  Although it may seem cold it is a great improvement from a few days ago when it was -45 degrees with the windchill!  It was so cold, my car wouldn't start on Thursday after a day outside (don't worry hubby & co-workers to the rescue!).   The one thing that the cold weather does mean (and very close to the only thing I enjoy!) is some beautiful sunsets.  I couldn't help but take a few pictures on Friday night.

Here's Edie, wondering why in the world I got to go outside and take pictures while she had to stay inside (apparently she didn't understand what "30 below 0" is dangerous for animals means)....

I took this picture of myself in the reflection of the glass.

Such pretty colors!  

Our little girl...

I just have to take a moment a be a proud "mom". One year ago today we brought home our little Yorkie Edie, and our lives have never been the same! I must admit that having a puppy is more work than I'd ever thought it would be, however like most things in life, the hardest things are the most rewarding. So in honor of this special holiday in our little family I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pics from the last year. She is after all my most faithful subject!

This photo is from the first day we brought her home! I think that's been the only day she's been mellow since!

Edie keeping up on her emails...

Edie looking out at the landscape after getting 10 inches of snow... "Where am I supposed to go potty?"Enjoying some time in the sunshine....

This is probably one of my favorites of her... it just conveys the excitement and complete concentration she has when riding in the car!This is Edie at her favorite spot in the new house... the front window. I think she's guarding me against some scary leaves here! Man those blowing ones are dangerous!
Thanks for bearing with the bragging mom : )

Bunbury Portraits

When I'm not doing photography, I work for Bunbury & Associates Realtors in Madison. However, some days the two meet, and I get to have portrait day! I always love the opportunity to capture our agents personalities, and get to know them a little better. Plus, we even threw in a "Sold" sign for a little fun!

First up was Kay, she is a new agent in our Middleton Office and we're so glad to have her!

Next is Beth Goethel from our Baraboo Office, hopefully she'll be putting those Sold signs all over her lake properties soon!

Now there is a time and a place for the studio portrait, but I took a little break from the flash and opened up the windows and shot just with the available light. I love the results!

And last but not least, one of our newer agents Andy Symanski. Although new to our company, he is not new to the business, and he is a great addition !