The Kooiman Family

It's no secret, I love to blog stalk - and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I have hundreds of blogs in my daily reader, and if you've started one, I'm pretty sure I read it. Some are super famous - like Jasmine Star or the Pioneer Woman. Others are on their way, and some do not crave the fame. I feel like I have a whole world of virtual friends out there, except we've never met. I've often wondered if I stumbled across one of my favorite photographers or bloggers in a coffe shop what I would do - (besides stare at them from across the room, hopefully with my mouth closed!). I feel like they are my bff's, and I even talk to Brian about things they say or do, just like I've known them forever, except they don't know me!

This is not the case with one of my favorite blogs to read of my friend Sarah Kooiman. I always skip down to her posts on my Reader to see what's going on in her corner of the world with her two adorable little boys, Isaiah and Micah. Her humor, outlook, and honesty about life is insipring. But don't take my word for it, hop on over to her blog and check it out! Tell her I sent you :)

This is the fourth time I have taken photos for Sarah and her family, and these are by far my favorties. Be warned that Micah's cheeks are irresitable, and you're just going to want to tickle that little belly! Oh, and Isaiah in that hat! Oh my word, so adorable. Without further ado, the pictures!




I would like "one million dollars".... and a bottle....

New favorite:




When I was going through and editing these, I kept thinking I had found my favorite picture of Micah, but they just kept getting better and better!









Brian stops to show Isaiah his picture - I love his little hand on his back!

Two more of us in action!

Thanks Sarah for letting me get another chance to capture your beautiful family! And thanks for all the shameless plugs of my business over the past few days - I owe you! :)

Do you blog? Put the link in my comments below, I'd love to stalk, er I mean follow you!

BRAVA Magazine Cover Finalist!

When I heard that BRAVA, a local women's magazine was having a March wedding photo cover contest, I thought - what the heck why not enter? I've always had the philosophy that you can't win if you don't try, so I submitted my ten best photos from this past wedding season. Although I wasn't the winner (Creative Look, coincidentally our wedding photographers!) took the prize - I was one of the six finalists!

I am extremely flattered knowing all of the other great photographers in the area, and how many photos the editorial staff must have sifted through! To see my name with some of the area's greatest is beyond awesome. Be-awesome if you will.



My Photo is in the bottom right corner, taken at Brian and Jana's wedding this past summer. It is fitting that BRAVA chose this image as they were one of my favorite couples and weddings from the 2009 season :)

To see the finalists on BRAVA's website mosey on over to here.

Gina & Luke are Engaged! Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake

Riding in the car on the way to the Osthoff Resort last Saturday I was a little nervous. I meet almost all of my clients for an initial meeting to go over all the details and see if we're good fits for each other. Gina and I had talked exclusively over email, so I had never met her or her fiancee Luke face-to-face. Waiting in lobby of the Resort, we had no idea who we were looking for and I was getting more and more anxious... what if we don't click, they think I'm weird, or even worse our personalities clash?

Eh, I had nothing to worry about. These two are so easy going, fun, and up for anything (even snowbanks in high heels!) that we had such a great time together! What was unique for me about this engagement session is that we were at the same venue where the wedding will take place this August. We got to scope out some locations together, look at the reception hall, and dream of warmer weather all during our session! The Osthoff Resort is a beautiful location, and I simply can't imagine how awesome their wedding is going to be! I am already swooning at the lakeside location, and all of the yummy warm summer light we will have. Hurry up and get here August!

Plus, these are two of the best clients a girl could have. Seriously, I have met some of the coolest people throughout my years in photography, and these two rank up there with the best. After releasing the images to them in their online galleries I immediately got back two sincere, kind emails about how they appreciate my work - emails like that make my day! Luke is a member of a local band, and hopefully we'll be able to connect for a project a little later on this summer featuring him and some of his fellow band members. So stay tuned!

Alright, I feel like I have chatted long enough, so onto the pictures! Take a look firsthand at what a cool couple this is :)

Brian's Shot:

Bri's shots:

Thanks again guys, Brian and I had a great time with you! We are so excited for your wedding in August!

Here's a few of us "In Action" (I always feel like I should do my karate chop and sound effect after I say that!)

Ahhh! It's cousin It! Oh, never mind, it's just Brian's hand. When he's using the fish eye lens he likes to use the "no look" techinque. He actually has perfected it quite well!

See - these two are the best - in high heels in a snowbank!

Photo Friday! 365 Photo Project

Here we are once again finding ourselves at Friday. Funny how that happens huh?

Brian and I are getting really antsy as we are leaving for Mexico next Friday. Just one more week until nice warm temps and sandy beaches.... ahhh. I wish I could pack you all in my suitcase, but I'm afraid it already gets the heavy sticker without extra humans inside :)

Anyhoo, here's what I've been up to the past week:

2.27.10

I met Gina & Luke at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake for their engagement session. Their wedding will be there this summer, and it was so exciting to see and hear about their wedding plans! They warned me that they were not photogenic, but you'll have to see what you think!

2.28.10

For those of you who didn't grow up in the Sheboygan area, let me introduce you to Hard Rolls. These are necessary at any grill out one might have, as Brian's parents did in Sheboygan Falls this Sunday. They are really good for your burgers, but supposedly these are to be used for your brats as well. This really confuses a non-Sheboyganite like myself, and I always wonder where the hot dog buns are....

3.1.10

To be honest, this is the first official day I completely forgot about taking a picture. It was one of those things that I didn't realize until Tuesday morning. But luckily, I did update facebook with this iPhone pic, saying I don't know who likes Mondays less, Brian or Edie!

3.2.10

Since our vacation is coming up, I really would like to get a handle on the Canon 5D Mark II's video function. Since my dog is my most loyal and handy subject I was trying it out on her. I took this picture while shooting video. Technology is so cool.

Here's my little video I made, all put together. Thanks in advance for indulging me in my obsession with photographing my dog!

The Life of Edie from Jenn Van Wyk on Vimeo.

3.3.10

The moon meets the morning sunrise. Reminds me of the Moons over Miami dish at Dennys.... mmmm.....

3.4.10

The weather was in the upper 30's tonight, so warm that we just had to take a walk. I found this little bird house on the way.