Trailblazers | Beloit Family Photographer

Brandi and Jason (here with their extended family) are brave, brave souls. They were one of my first weddings.....EVER. (You can see the wedding here ) Seems like ages and lots of weddings ago. They must have liked the outcome...because Brandi invited me back to capture their family portraits this morning.

They just celebrated 2 years of marriage...AND Brandi is expecting twins!!

I met with Brandi, Jason, daughter Rachel and their extended family for a group family shoot at Brandi's parents house...which is surrounded by lovely wooded trails and a neat old log cabin type building, which we made good use of. It was a fun family shoot (even the dogs joined in at one point). Enjoy the sneak peek guys!! : )

Thanks for being "trailblazers"!

Location: Private family home

For a Million Years | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

When the evening shadows and the stars appear

And there is no one there to dry your tears

I could hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love

- Adele

(And yes, before all the music geeks get all over my case...I REALIZE Adele is not the original artist of this song. I would argue she is, however, one of the BEST : ) )

Wedding #2 for this weekend was held at the lovely Milwaukee Athletic Club, which I just love. It offers a lot of nooks and crannies to shoot around, as well as some pretty killer food....yay all around!

Emily and Kyle are some of the nicest, most genuine, sweetest people you could ever hope to meet...and their enthusiasm for one another is completely infectious. Yesterday was a bit chilly...a bit windy...and it did rain a bit, but nothing seemed to phase Emily, who took it all in stride (even when attempting to sit in her mermaid gown caused a bit of a rip pre-ceremony.....no problem! Pin it up and let's go!)

It's always nice to be around people who are in a celebratory mood and completely in love. Makes for a nice day of work (even though I was a bit run down from a cold...as were a few of my photog friends also working yesterday, so I hope everyone had an equally great wedding day despite the sniffles!)

Emily and Kyle, it was truly a pleasure to be a part of your day and capture it "for a million years". I hope you enjoy this sneak peek!

How stinkin' cute is Harrison, the ring bearer (just don't call him Harry!)

Taking a cue from the Brandon Perron Workshop and heading into the parking garage.

Ceremony and Reception: Milwaukee Athletic Club

Videographer: Video Sensations

DJ: Broadway

Heirloom Books and the Feel of Fall | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

- Rascal Flatts

Nadine and Terry couldn't have picked a more "autumnal" (that is a word, right?) day for their nuptials. Their wedding kicked off October, which I just love, and the leaves surrounding the Polish Center of Wisconsin were ablaze in orange, red, and brown. LOVE.

The intimate ceremony was held in the grand hall of the Polish Center, which is one of my favorite places to shoot. The light streaming in from the big windows casts such a beautiful, warm glow on the everyone in the room...especially in late afternoon.

The ceremony included a hand-fasting and a necklace presentation to Terry's daughter Morgan. Cue the tears for this mom....it was SO sweet.

The reception (held in the same spot) was warm, inviting, and full of friendly faces and close family. I love the small, cozy weddings like this.

Terry also brought a few heirloom Bibles to use with their ring shots which were just right up my alley (give me something old and full of family history and I'm all giddy).

It was a wonderful way to kick off fall for this photographer, and I hope Nadine and Terry had a wonderful night with new family, old friends, old books, and new memories made.

Enjoy the sneak peek!

Not a dry eye in the place. Presenting a necklace to Terry's daughter, Morgan. Sigh.....love it.

Have you ever seen a more gorgeous face? How beautiful is Morgan?

Austin's not too shabby either! : ) What a cutie!

Old Bibles, a little bit of flora, and some rings.

Nadine did a special dance with her mom @ the reception.

Ceremony and Reception: Polish Center of Wisconsin

Officiant: Rev. Jeffrey D. Best

Friday Fractured Thought | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

Well...I knew it was coming. I've been struck down with the first cold of the season. Funny thing is, this time LAST year I got a massive flu...same time I had to shoot a Friday wedding AND Saturday wedding AND portrait sittings on the Sunday. My schedule knows this stuff is coming and decides to throw a cold in the mix on purpose.

- Oh. my. GAWD...Dexter. How awesome was the Dexter premiere?! What shocks me is that there are still some people out there who haven't seen this show. Your lives are lacking! Get on it!

- This Tuesday, the husband and I are going to see Jimmy Eat World in Milwaukee. TOTALLY psyched! Their new album is fabulous. I was super-pregnant LAST time I saw them, too...this time plans include waiting outside of the venue to get a shot with Jim Adkins....my super-crush.

- I spent the majority of my week at the Brandon Perron workshop (see review below) and got to spend some extra time getting my feet wet with some off-camera flash. This has always been a bit of a thorn in my side, but I think I'm getting more comfortable with it and I can't wait to unleash it on some unsuspecting brides and grooms.

- Last week I got my new linen-paper guestbook album sample in the mail and it is beautiful. It's going along with some package changes/tweaks I'm making. It's very "minimalist" but absolutely timeless and lovely. I really like it (and I know you will too!)

- I've been in touch with a graphic designer pal of mine and we're in the VERY infant stages of planning Type A Images' new website (WOO HOO!). Very excited about what's to come.

- Ahem...mini-sessions. Folks...seriously, I'm completely booked for regular sessions in October so this is a great way to get those Christmas card pictures taken and not have to go to the Picture People or something equally scary. Shoot me an email, I still have 7 spots open. And I'm not going to shut up about it until they're full so you might as well just get it over with. : )

- Speaking of "booked", I'm about 1/2 full for 2011 weddings, so if he "put a ring on it", so-to-speak, hit me up and let's talk.

- So sad about Tony Curtis : (

- So, if you're kind of out of the Twitter-sphere loop, you may have missed the big "wedding photography" related announcement this week that uber-famous "photographer to the stars" Denis Reggie is partnering with kind of scary "photographer mill" Bella. Far be it for me to begrudge the guy's need or desire to make some money, but this pairing just seems off. It's kind of like if Gwar decided to partner with Celine Dion for a duets album. Just doesn't fit. It will be interesting to see what transpires.

Coming up soon on the blog: I have a wedding this evening and tomorrow, as well as a family session and a birthday party session on Sunday, so it may be just major blog action for the next few days as I roll out the sneak-peeks (and sneak in some time to actually sleep at some point).

Next week I get to travel down to the Chicago area and meet my friend's new baby, Nevin, and photograph her. SUPER jazzed for that as well.

And here, for your moment-o-Betty, we have my kid's puzzle building skills caught on "film". She did that puzzle all by her lonesome (I was too busy laying on the couch complaining about my stuffy nose). My kid rocks. Last night, as we were getting ready to put her to bed, she asked us to say goodnight in "Chimese" (that's Betty speak for Chinese). Nick Jr. is making my kid tri-lingual. Who says TV is bad? : )

Not the BEST pic of the kid...but what do you want? I'm a bit under the weather!