Ashley & Casey | Weddings

Ashley & Casey were married at the Monona Terrace in downtown Madison Wisconsin last summer. They were married on the rooftop and their reception followed in the Grand Terrace and in a ballroom.

The view during the ceremony was stunning! The chuppah was on the lakeside of the rooftop terrace, so all the guests were able to see the couple against the view of the lake.

During the reception, we sneaked back up to the roof top for a few more images at dusk.

The room was beautiful! And the dancing was a blast! They did a traditional Jewish dance, Hora, that got more of the guests up and enjoying the start of the evening.

Ashley and Casey's album is complete, and I'll be sharing some of those images soon!

Emily & Eric | Album

I had posted about our new albums that we added to our line-up before the big bridal show in Madison (and I'm showing it again here). I was showing off the beautiful cover, which I *LOVE*, so now I'm showing some of the page layouts inside:

If you want to see more, call us to set up a time to meet! We would love to chat about your wedding details with you. :)

Clothing "Do" and "Don't"

Combining colors for a family portrait takes a bit of deliberate effort. You want to make sure that everyone coordinates, yet shows their own style. The key to making it look good and on purpose is to use the same colors multiple times within the family outfits.

Using one color and varying the shades is easy. Choosing blues, and having your family wear different shades and styles works. But when you pull in another color, like the red sweater, below, the person in that red sweater suddenly becomes the focus of the portrait. When you have a beautiful close-up of everyone together, this family's outfits scream "Look at Mom, look at Mom!" Now, if that is what you are going for, great. But, most families want everyone in the portrait to be noticed. This becomes an even bigger problem when we work with smaller groupings within the family.

A better way to combine colors is to have multiple people in the family use those colors. In this example, pinks and browns are repeated throughout the outfits, both separately and together. When doing smaller groupings, such as the kids alone, parents with kids and parents alone, the extra effort in planning the clothing will really pay off.

If you are still in doubt, stick with one color and work with the different shades of that color. If you have any questions, let me know!

Emily & Eric | Wedding

Emily and Eric were married in Madison, Wisconsin, at St. Thomas Aquinas. Their reception followed at the Pyle Center, on the UW campus. Being a school teacher, Emily was able to have a fellow art teacher make their Thank You sign. We incorporated that into their Thank You cards after the wedding. It was a fun way to show off wedding images with their notes to family and friends.

We featured Emily and Eric's wedding in a new album style that we just started offering. I'll post a few of the layouts from that album soon!

Maria & Matthew | Family

These are a few of the two-page spreads from their family album:

We were delighted to photograph Maria and Matthew's blended family. It was fun to capture the different combinations of family groupings and to show the new relationships within their family. They had such a hard time choosing from all of the great images that after we figured out the wall portrait arrangements for the different rooms in their home, we also did an album, so they could show off and enjoy all of their favorites.

Lisa & Zach | Engagement

Lisa and Zach are getting married in July 2012. While they make their home on the east coast, they are planning a Madison wedding. On one of their trips home, we were able to squeeze in their engagement session. The UW Arboretum was the perfect backdrop for the day. Lisa and Zach were such a fun couple to work with and we are really looking forward to capturing the wedding day, as well!

Bridal Show Advice

Are you recently engaged? Are you still planning your wedding? Are you attending a bridal show this month?

This is definitely the time of year that there are plenty of bridal shows to choose from! While bridal shows may vary in size, all will offer you the opportunity to see and meet with a variety of wedding professional in one place at one time. While some shows may be small and intimate, others may be huge and a bit overwhelming.

I have a couple pieces of advice for you to "make the most" of any show that you attend:

1. Know what you need.

Figure out in advance if you will be tasting cakes or looking for photographers. While you can, and should, try to walk through the whole show, if you don't have a game plan, you may find that you get too tired or distracted to find the wedding professionals you went to the show to find.

2A. Take good notes.

Imagine arriving at the bridal show with 200 wedding professionals showcasing their services and wares and you have the good luck of finding the best cake baker in the whole state. "But," you think, "maybe I should go peek and have a quick taste of the other cakes, just to be sure." After a few more tastes, your tongue is sugared-out and you forgot who your favorite baker was, let alone where their booth is located and now you fear you will have to settle for blah ordinary wedding cake! Taking good notes could have saved you.

When you find a wedding professional that you love, write it down, either on the literature they hand out, on their business card, or on the show program. Taking a few notes on why you love them will also help you remember who they are after you leave the show. Don't rely on your memory; you will have too many other things to see and do.

2B. Bring a fine-tip Sharpie.

Having a pen handy is helpful, and a lot of shows will even give you one for free, but having a fine-tip Sharpie is even better. Some wedding professionals will have a glossy brochure or a glossy business card which is difficult to write on with a pen. Your Sharpie will write on almost anything, so it is perfect for your bridal show note-taking.

If you are looking for shows to attend, come visit two that we will be at:

Wedding Planner & Guide

January 14 & 15, 2012

Alliant Energy Center, Madison WI

We have been in this show since 2002!

Spielman's Event Services Bridal Open House

January 28, 2012

Spielman's, Cedar Rapids IA

We are looking forward to our second year in this show!

New Albums!

It's that time of year again- when we update our album offerings! And just in time for the bridal shows. If you will be attending, please stop by to check them out!

We are excited to add a new album style to our line-up. This is a beautiful album that will complement our Artistic albums.

We also have a new wedding to show off in one of our Contemporary albums. This is a fun wedding that we affectionately call "the button wedding" because all the bouquets were made from buttons and they used buttons as a theme.

We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend at the Wedding Planner & Guide bridal show in Madison, WI!

Clothes for Christmas

I admit it. I coordinate my kids' outfits for Christmas so they will look good for photographs. Do you need ideas for cute clothes for the holidays? Check out these great options!

How To Dress Your Family

Buying clothes should be easy. You just go into a store, try on a few things in your size, decide what you like and check out.

It is NEVER that easy.

Then you add buying clothes for your WHOLE family. Plus you want them to look good together. You may find one or two great outfits for yourself or a couple of the kids, but then it gets complicated. Let the headaches begin.

As I had planned my family's portrait session in October, it really hit home how much it helps to see other families with their complete outfits. As you select clothes, you really have to keep in mind how all the outfits with work with each other. Any colors that you introduce have to be used more than once (but limit it to two) and any patterns have to be balanced- competing patterns can ruin all your efforts!

When in doubt- stick to solids, pick one color and vary the shades and styles, and keep the bottoms the same.

Mariah & Stephen | Wedding

Mariah and Stephen were married in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin this fall. Outdoor weddings in the midwest can be tricky to plan, knowing you might need an alternate location, in case it rains. (But they say rain on the wedding day is good luck, so that should be okay!) Mariah and Stephen had a beautiful day, with just a bit of rain after their ceremony. Aside from needing to do a few family portraits inside, we were able to capture the rest of the day outside with the fabulous fall colors.

These are a few pages from their wedding album that Mariah picked up today- just in time to show off at Christmas!

Family Session | Madison

Our fall was busy with weddings and family sessions. We had great weather for a lot of them. And having a beautiful location like downtown Madison and the lake doesn't hurt. Here is one to show off: Nikole and Mike's family. They even sacrificed Green Bay Packers kick off for this session. Luckily, we know the Packers won, so it all turned out okay.

Alecia & Jon | Wedding

Alecia just picked up her finished wedding album from her August wedding. This was such a fun wedding! Alecia and Jon were such an easy-going couple and they really were relaxed and able to enjoy the day. Right after her wedding, I had asked Alecia what her favorite part of the day was. Her answer was watching the guests arrive for the ceremony while she waiting in her hiding place. She was pretty sure that Jon's favorite part was shoving cake in her mouth.

Alecia used buttons as her theme. Her button bouquets, inspired by etsy, were whimsical and fresh. The button details spilled over into the reception: on name cards, as decorations and even on the cupcakes. They were "cute as a button"!

Pinks and Browns | Styles for Family Sessions

Are you still looking for outfits for your family portraits? Why not try pinks and browns together for your family's fall session? The warm earth-tones with the surprising vibrant pinks will be sure to look great for any outdoor session location!

Check out Gap, Old Navy and Piperlime for styles.

Why I love fall...

I used to think that spring was my favorite time of year. The warm weather after a winter of muck, the fresh green buds that promise a lush backyard, sweet dots of colorful delicate blooms and the chance to finally open windows to reconnect with the outside.

But I have learned that the promise of spring is often over-hyped and under-delivered. Winter clings on too long to fully enjoy the short season of spring.

Fall, on the other hand, starts to wink at us before the kids even go back to school and tries to hint that this could be a long relationship. The cool days court us, encouraging us to think of sweaters and pumpkins. Before we know it, the vibrant maples dazzle us with colors that rival spring, but in a more warm, cozy way. The last days of gentle, warm sunlight as you crunch through crisp brown leaves on the sidewalk almost convince you that winter couldn't possibly be around the corner. And for that, I love fall.

Big Rig Gig

Big Rig Gig, by Madison Parks- Saturday, September 17th, 9am- noon, FREE admission.

Kids love big vehicles. My young ones get very excited seeing a fire truck or cement truck, and of course construction sites are heaven for them. On September 17th, Madison Parks is putting all of their biggest and most fun on display! Dump trucks, fire engines, tractors, construction vehicles of all kinds.... So many different big rigs that kids of any age will love this event! They will be allowed to get a close-up look as they climb on and explore all their favorites. Go early to avoid the horns for you have a little one that doesn't love loud sounds, as 9am-9:45am will be the "no horn" zone.

Fall Session Special

Schedule Fall Family portrait sessions NOW!

Schedule your family session on one of our Select Dates,

and enjoy a great Madison location with

NO SESSION FEES

($150 savings)

Call 608-280-8845 now to reserve your time:

Sunday, September 25 -

Capitol/downtown Madison

Sunday, October 9 -

Rustic Madison park/"Sofa Session"

Sunday, October 16 -

Rustic Madison park/"Sofa Session"

Saturday, October 22 -

Capitol/downtown Madison

A retainer of $250 (fully applied to your portrait order) locks in your portrait date and time. Regular portrait pricing applies to orders. Pricing Guide PDF is available upon request. Regular session fees apply to all other session dates and locations. Please call with any questions and to chat about your session options.

Some Portrait Clothing Help!

Picking out clothes for a whole family is hard enough, but when you want them to coordinate, the task can be overwhelming. Let me offer some advice: First, the style of clothing should reflect your family style, as well as where you plan to showcase the images. If your idea of relaxing is to just loosen your tie, and your portrait will be hung above your baby grand piano in the formal living room, your clothing should reflect that. However, if your everyday style is more causal, the clothing you choose should express that style. Pick a color or two. When you have a small family, 2-3 people, it's best to stick with one color and vary the shades of that color. When you have a larger family, it adds some interest to incorporate another color, though it is not necessary to do this. When using two colors, make sure at least two people use each of the colors to make the choice look deliberate and planned. Solids work best. Busy patterns and logos can be distracting. They may also give the image a "dated" look when those fashions go out of style. Remember the details. Sock and shoes will show- they should coordinate with the outfit. Plan your hair style- don't try a new one just for your session. Make-up and nail polish- natural colors and freshly done. Accessorize- some great jewelry will give your outfit a polished look. Above all, it's important for everyone to look their best in fresh clothes, and to feel comfortable. You want to love your outfit so you are ready to smile!

Accessorize Your Inner Diva!

I just made my first shopping trip to Charming CHARLIE and LOVE it. I love accessories, and Charming CHARLIE has no shortage of choices.

Charming CHARLIE opened a new store at West Towne Mall in Madison about one month ago. This is a store dedicated to jewelry, handbags and shoes. And the prices are easy enough to keep your inner diva happy while allowing you to change your accessories as often as you change your mind.

When you walk in, you can see that the store looks very organized even with the eclectic variety of styles. They keep it easy to shop by organizing everything by color. So, say you find that perfect blue dress that is calling for a great necklace or fun ring: you can find that perfect piece easily by heading to the blue jewelry section. Then you get to browse until you find just the right style.

This store would be a lot of fun for a bride planning her wedding. Just imagine all the ways that she could accessorize those bridesmaids dresses! And how fun would it be for the bride to add splashes of color to her own dress!! Forget being a bridezilla and be a brideDIVA!

Wisconsin Fun Spots

Wisconsin is full of interesting, and sometimes quirky, places. We've visited the usually spots, such as the Circus World Museum and the National Mustard Museum. But, I love going to spots that may be a little off the beaten path, too.

Sometimes, a sign can pull you in. The billboard signs around Mineral Point claim that Crazy Frank's is "selling stuff for peanuts." How can you pass that up? Chris doesn't share my need to stop at Crazy Frank's- he always reminds me that we didn't bring any peanuts. But those signs intrigued me and I really had to stop to check it out. And the deals are great!

Another billboard that we missed many, many times directs you to a historic Wisconsin spot: Little Norway in Blue Mounds. Little Norway is an early Norwegian settler's homestead, from the mid 19th century, that is located in the foothills of the Blue Mounds (not far from the Cave of the Mounds). We were given a wonderful tour by the fourth generation owner, Scott, who is a very knowledgeable man who happened to be the great-nephew of the family that has owned the property since the 1920's. His claims of just being the guy who mows the lawn didn't fool anyone. We learned the history of the beautiful homestead, as well as many of the antiques in the buildings. We were pretty happy that we made the trip, because the area, in the rolling hills with 6 natural springs, is gorgeous. And, where else can you find troll temporary tattoos?

Local spots in Wisconsin can be quite fun. It's just a matter of looking for them.