Joining the Fold. | Beloit Hospice Photography.

Tonight I had the extreme pleasure of capturing a man's decision to become a Catholic for Beloit Regional Hospice (through the Kindred Spirits program).

It was a nice, quiet ceremony and the subject was the nicest man you could want to meet...quite funny and friendly.

If you or someone you know would like to take advantage of the free Kindred Spirits Hospice Photography program, email Type A Images @ typeaimages@gmail.com or contact your Beloit Regional Hospice representative.

Someone made a joke about his manly pink flowers. : )

How to Hire a Wedding Photographer. | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer.

This bride remembered one of the first rules of Wedding Photographer procurement: Do they own a pair of fingerless gloves? Answer: YES. This will ensure your photog looks super-awesome on wedding day. Very important. (I'd like to credit the guest who took this photo but I'm not sure who it is...so, photo by: unnamed wedding guest)

I've had a few meetings in the last couple of weeks and realized that there are a LOT of resources out there (Bridal magazines, website, blogs, etc.) giving advice on how to hire the vendors for your big day. It can get overwhelming for brides. It has to be frustrating for a poor bride (and grooms too!) to get bombarded with information, options, and wildly varying price points. So, I thought for this week's wedding related blog post, I would touch on some important things to keep in mind when looking for your wedding photographer.

1. The Early Bride Gets the Worm...er...Photographer
You may think "Hey! I've got a year! No biggie"....but photographers book early. I've had many prime dates for 2011 booked for quite some time, and we're just getting into busy season for 2010. People are booking earlier and earlier to make sure their top choices are secured. Don't be afraid to contact your favorite shooter earlier than may feel comfortable. They're used to it.

2. Determine Your Comfy Budget
Now, I told a bride this past week that I'm defnitely biased, but I think wedding photography is just as important an investment as the food or any other higher priced wedding item. It's not something I would feel comfortable "cheaping" on. That being said, budgets are a reality. We all know this. So seek photographers whose work you love (first and foremost) and whose budgets are realistic for you. Don't skimp just because someone is cheap (you'll likely be disappointed)...but if you simply cannot afford someone, don't go into a meeting thinking you can talk them down to a completely different price point. Price points are where they are because there are varying levels of quality...just like anything else. You wouldn't walk into a Mercedes dealership and ask them to sell you a car for the price of a Kia, would you? Same concept.

3. See the Proof
Now, everyone has to start somewhere...and I can tell you, I am eternally grateful to those first few clients who trusted I could cover their wedding based on a pretty skimpy portfolio.

But, it's a bit of roulette.
In most cases, ask to see an entire wedding from your prospective photog. Ask for references. Make sure they are comfortable shooting in all sorts of lighting situations, because that's the name of the game in shooting a wedding. They may be awesome with outside shots....but it's a rarity to have ALL weddings take place outside! And a lot of churches will not allow flash....make sure they are comfortable with this.

And I have to say it: Just because your cousin's wife's doula has an AWESOME DSLR camera doesn't mean they can shoot your wedding. It's a different beast all together than covering Grandma's 80th birthday party.

4. I Would Do Anything For Love.....But I Won't Selectively Color Your Bouquet
Make sure your photographer and your tastes jibe well. Don't hire someone who has a traditional aesthetic and then ask them to pull an Ascough and cover your wedding with a true photojournalistic eye. Again, you're probably not going to be happy with the results, because that's not that person's speciality. It's not a one-size-fits-all profession....so really look at someone's work before you hire them.

5. Hi, My Name is Amanda...and I Will Be Your Photographer.
Gaining in popularity is the "photographer mill" kind of approach, where you hire a large company and they "pick" your photographer for you. Many times, you won't meet this person until your wedding day.
Now, if this approach is fine with you, that's great. Many people have good luck with this way of doing things. But, I find your coverage can be much more intimate and special if you really get to KNOW your photographer. This person is going to be with you all day....you better like em!

6. Ask Questions!!
I know some of us can be a bit.....intimidating. We're high-falutin' artistes' afterall (ok...I cannot even convincingly pull that off!) ...but don't be afraid to grill us when you meet us. It's the only way to go into a transaction as an educated consumer. And any photog worth their salt will have no problem answering your questions honestly.
What you want to know:

1. Is this person insured? If you want to get REALLY nosy...are they registered with the state?? You want to work with someone ethical, a true business person. That way, you know they are emotionally and financially invested in their business...and they will be more likely to be professional and invested in you.

2. How long has this person been shooting? How many weddings have they been the primary shooter for.

3. Do they have back up equipment if something goes wrong? What if they are sick or injured? Do they have a backup photographer?

In a word, you want to make sure the person you're working with is legitimate. This protects you as the consumer.

7. It's Not Just One Day
When you hire a caterer or a band, their job is done that day. If they're terrible...that's awful, and sad for the bride and groom...but their terrible job will not continue to crop up. This is not true for photographers. Your wedding photography is something that will follow you forever. Your kids will want to see your album, their kids will want to see it....and so on and so forth. I have my great-grandparents wedding pictures in my albums....

So, remember that DVD's are great but not a long-lasting medium. Get an ALBUM. Something tangible. Something archival.
Remember that the fad styles are really great now...heck, I even like a lot of them...but you want the bulk of your pictures to be classic....to stand the test of time.
Remember that this IS truly an investment....photographs appreciate over time. They become heirlooms. You want them to be quality.

8. Be Realistic
We're photographers. Not wizards. Be realistic about your expectations. Some things I am unable to do, despite mad skills:
1. Fly
2. Be in 2 places at once.
3. Read your mind
4. Go 12 hours without eating

Communicate your desires and expectations. And maybe offer your photog a piece of cake. : )

I hope this helps some people in their search for a photog to call their own. There are SO many options out there . It helps to be an educated consumer.

And, if you're still in doubt....just give me a call ; )

Jesse's Girl. | Beloit Wedding Photographer.

I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines
Ain't that the way love supposed to be?
- "Jess(i)e's Girl" Rick Springfield

Jesse and Jennifer are one of those couples that just really enjoy one another....and their group of friends are one of those groups that is just easy to be around and fun to observe. It made my job pretty enjoyable today, despite the sweltering heat!

Jesse and Jennifer were married at the lovely St. Peter's Catholic Church in South Beloit, IL....in a full mass headed by the most charismatic and entertaining priest I have yet to run across. From the ceremony we made a quick pit stop down the street at one of MY favorite stateline haunts, The Dari Ripple....which just flat out rocks. I didn't get a chance to pick up any ice cream (with crunch coat....a necessity) but I did sneak in a cherry slushie.

After a quick stop @ Suds, we arrived at the reception....held at the very place I had my own wedding reception 4 years ago: The Country Club of Beloit. I also used to work at the Club many moons ago and it was kind of like deja vu. I almost felt like I should have been carrying a tray around instead of a camera. Very strange feeling.

The reception was topped off by local band Mr. Big Stuff who did, among other things, a rousing rendition of Zoot Suit Riot, which was just killer. Great stuff, I highly recommend checking them out!

All in all, it was an excellent day! I had a great time and I hope you enjoy the sneak peek!

Ahh the Dari Ripple....a Stateline area institution

Direction: Look as bored as possible. Result? : Perfection.

Jesse and Jennifer are world-class dippers.

A small shout-out to Jennifer's tennis playing past

Best. Entrance. Ever. (This is just the tip of the iceburg, people!)

Jennifer and her dad during one of the most entertaining father/daughter dances I've yet witnessed.

Ceremony: St. Peter's Catholic Church South Beloit, IL
Reception: Country Club of Beloit Beloit, WI
Entertainment: Mr. Big Stuff
Beauty: B. Elliott's Salon and Spa

Good Day. Sunshine. | Milwaukee Family Photographer.

I need to laugh, and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about
I feel good, in a special way
I'm in love and it's a sunny day
- The Beatles

They say good things come to those who wait....and wait...and wait some more. Well, the Gosnell family waited 3 weeks...and 2 postponed sessions due to storms...for this sunny, perfect day. Definitely worth the wait...even though we passed Brynn's birthday.

We hit up Klode Park, always a favorite spot of mine, and luckily enough it wasn't crawling with people as it usually is. The light was fabulous bouncing over the big grassy hill and Brynn was a photographer's dream: Engaged, adorable, and tolerant!

Enjoy the sneak peek...hope it was worth the wait!







I was actually shooting the picture below when I turned and Brynn was just sitting so perfectly and patiently below waiting for me to be done with her parents....it was just too precious.

Location: Klode Park Whitefish Bay, WI

Friday Fractured Thoughts. | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer.

It's been a great week of networking/friend meeting/and fun with area photogs. It's also been a week to really evaluate some business stuff and make plans for 2011.

* On Wednesday I met up with some great area photographers (portraits and weddings) for a Collages.com CLASS meeting. We got to see some amazing Collages.com album examples (I was kind of emotionally cheating on Miller's there....but I bought them some flowers so its okay)

I have to say, I came away from the meeting with some warm-fuzzies. It's so nice to meet and befriend area photographers. Yes...they're competition, but when you ignore that and become open to all you can learn from others in your industry, it's so awesome.

* Last night I went with a few photographers to the Wisconsin Bride Best Of Awards held at the Lake Windsor Golf Club, which was cool because I'm shooting there in a few weeks and I got to scope it out ahead of time. BEAUTIFUL space. And the florists and event staff went all out with the decor ( I came away with one peony...well, half a peony). Food was also noteworthy, as was the Justin Guarini look-alike passing champagne that I had to refuse. This made me sad.... I miss bubbly.

* Everything on the baby-front is going well. I actually had to go BUY a dress for the above mentioned party because nothing fits me anymore. Sad realization. We find out the sex of the baby in about a month. I'm jazzed, because finally my husband will be open to discussing name suggestions and I can start working on his acceptance of the name Gilbert.

* I have gotten an insane amount of 2011 inquiries this week. The floodgates opened and they all decided to email me at once. So, if you're planning a 2011 wedding, apparently NOW is the time to start all that booking and planning! From the way things are looking, if you wait until this fall it may be too late (was that car-salesman-y enough for ya?)


* Most of the updates on Casa Foreclosure have been completed. I now have french doors on my office to keep the rugrat away from my stuff, and my "Weed Fairy" Deena came and dug out all of the old plants from the front of the yard, it looks awesome. But I did happen upon something Beloit has in spades that Milwaukee didn't seem to: Earwigs. These are the GROSSEST, nastiest, meanest looking garden insect ever. We gook up a giant mint plant that had been overgrowing for 2 years and watched those suckers scatter like nothing I had ever witnesses. THOUSANDS of them. Folks, the ick-factor was high. Glad it was Weed Fairy Deena attacking that plant and not me!

* Coming up this week on the blog: A child sitting tonight that the weather has postponed twice, so here's hoping it goes off without a hitch. A wedding on Saturday that is actually IN Beloit. I am super excited about this! The reception is at the same location I had my own reception! Then, Sunday I am having a marathon of bridal meetings in Milwaukee and hopefully will find time to swing by the consignment shop and find something for Betty to wear for our own family session with Marmalade Skies in a few weeks.


Next week I'll be announcing a BIG summer sale....so stay tuned!


I'll leave you with our supermodel posing from last night. How funny is Pierre here? I think he was the only one of the group who didn't get that "deer in the headlights...NOW what do we do?" feeling once the camera started taking pictures! You'd like a bunch of a photographers would be full of ideas, but this getting your picture taken business is harder than it looks!

Play That Funky Music. | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer.

Ok, so I've been to a lot of weddings. And each one is different and special in its own way. But, one thing can usually be counted on: repetitive music selection.

Now, I don't blame the brides and grooms, really. Not everyone is aware that there are a bevy of choices for whatever mood may strike you. If you pick up a copy of any random bridal magazine and read THEIR suggestions, you would think no music has been created since Bryan Adams let us know that everything he did was for us!

Most important selection? First dance song. All eyes....on you...waiting to hear what you picked. You don't want Celine Dion to burst in and ruin the moment, do you? All her chest pounding fury? No!

So, driving home from Madison tonight I started to compile a list of songs I think would be AWESOME to use as first dance songs (this is what I do on drives....write blog posts in my head).

Feel free to take my suggestions.....some are completely for humor sake. And some I would probably PAY a bride and groom to hear during the first dance because it would be so awesome.



1. To Make You Feel My Love - Adele
Adele is awesome...and I've only heard this song at one wedding so far in the past two years (Tony and Lauren....see, it was totally memorable).

2. When I'm 64 - The Beatles
May be a bit hard to dance to, but sure beats "In My Life" (I'm not hatin', I used In My Life at my own wedding!)

3. Come See Me Tonight - Daniel Johnston
If you can get past the fact that he's not the best singer in the world, it's a cute quirky little love song.

4. Let My Love Open the Door - Sondre Lerche
I really love this updated version of the Pete Townsend classic. You can find it on the Dan in Real Life soundtrack....or on a mix MP3 disc of any random college freshman.

5. For Me This is Heaven - Jimmy Eat World
Because Jimmy Eat World had to be on the list.

6. Meet Me Halfway - Kenny Loggins
For a number of reasons. One - it was featured in one of the coolest movies about arm wrestling EVER (Over the Top!) Two - Kenny Loggins brightens up any party Three - It gives you total retro eighties throwback street cred without having to resort to REO Speedwagon or Survivor.

7. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get - Morrisey
Let your wife or husband know that you REALLY love them. A. LOT. FOREVER.

8. Vampire Heart - HIM
Because you know there are couples out there that are just WAY too into this whole Twilight thing.

9. In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Major cool points if the groom rocks a trench and a boombox held above his head.

10. I'll Cover You - Rent
This is such a sweet duet. I'd love to hear this at a wedding.

11. You Picked Me - A Fine Frenzy
I would love to re-do my wedding just to use this song (for the record, our first dance was to The Luckiest by Ben Folds, which has become nearly as played out as a song can get. Sad really, it's a beautiful tune)

12. If My Heart Was a House - Owl City
Ok, I tried really really really hard not to like Owl City. He seemed like such a rip-off artist and too....one-hit-wondery. But Betty is obsessed with the song "Fireflies". On the same album is this song and dag-nabbit if it isn't beautiful. It's a great song....I've got to hand it to the guy.


And while we're on the subject of wedding music, a few songs that should probably be tucked away in the vault along with Mambo #5 and Lady in Red (no offense meant...tongue in cheek of course...so try to fight the urge to send angry hate mail to me if one of these is a forever-favorite. Keep in mind I'm a Cher fan, we all have our "things")

1. Celebration - Kool and the Gang
Um...just stop. Please? If I ask nicely?

2. I Got a Feelin' - Black Eyed Peas
Now, I know this is the wedding-entrance song du jour this year, which is fine, but this song is so catchy that I do a wedding and for the next WEEK this song is stuck in my head. Even Betty knows the words by now.

3. Summer Lovin' - Grease
Only because it prompts everyone to sing that last gigantor note....that no one but Olivia Newton John can hit.

4. Butterfly Kisses - Something Carlisle (I am not going to admit to knowing who sings this)
Now, I know I know. The sentiment is there. Dads and daughters and leaving the nest and all that. Very sweet. But every last single solitary wedding in the late 90s featured this selection. It's time to let it go. Give it some butterfly kisses on its way out the door. We'll miss you.



Remember: Keep it personal to you (even if your tastes are questionable...I'm sure some people rolled their eyes at a lot of my selections at my own wedding!) Keep it fun! Throw a surprise or two at people!

Adam @ Olbrich. | Madison Family Photographer.

Today I met Adam and his family at Olbrich Gardens in Mad-city. I'm so used to shooting at the various "hot spots" around Milwaukee (7 bridges, Boerner, Klode, etc) that it was really nice to change it up a bit...and at a location a little closer to my new home.

Little Adam was a dream client...for being 1 year old. He didn't fuss, he was all about the camera, cooperative, and completely adorable and photogenic. A total natural who made my job quite easy!

Olbrich was beautiful with everything in bloom (I highly recommend taking a trip over and checking it out!)

Enjoy the sneak peek!

Locations: Olbrich Botanical Gardens Madison, WI

On This Perfect Day. | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer.

It's you... And me forever
-Hall and Oates "Sarah Smile"

Sarah and Scott really couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. The sun was shining, it wasn't too hot (well...most of the day) and wasn't too cold. They held a wonderfully intimate and gorgeous outdoor ceremony at the Schlitz Audubon Center which is one of my favorite spots to shoot in Milwaukee.

Sarah and Scott opted to see one another before the ceremony for pictures and I have to tell you, this made things SO relaxed, so easy, and made for a nice hour or so of un-interrupted picture time for the two of them. I have to highly recommend a "first look" for brides and grooms. It was great!

I was with Sarah most of the day and she was calm, collected, and looked lovely in her mother-in-law's dress (slightly altered and modernized from it's 1970s roots).

Following the ceremony we headed to the The Town Club where the tables featured tea pot decor in memory of Sarah's grandmother. It's the first time I've seen the tea-pot theme used and it was absolutely adorable!

All in all, it was a perfect day filled with good food, good friends, and good luck weather-wise. I had a great time! Enjoy the sneak peek!

Sarah loved her dress..... a LOT.

The dress was really spectacular, the pictures really do not do the work of the seamstresses justice!

Sarah was another bride who used peonies in her bouquet. Seeing peony bouquets makes me want to get married again just to do the same thing. They are so gorgeous.

Sarah mentioned her dress reminded her of Little House on the Prairie. This picture kind of reminds me of the opening credits where little Carrie Ingalls is running down the hill of wildflowers and bites it halfway down. Of course, without the falling.

The reception was teapots galore!

Ceremony: Schlitz Audubon Center
Reception: The Town Club Milwaukee, WI
DJ: Sound by Design
Wedding Coordinator: O2M Productions
Videographer: Video Sensations

Friday Fractured Thought. | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer.

Not a terrible amount of exciting things going on this week, but I'll try to make it interesting!

* DirectTV has a DOCUMENTARY channel. Do you know how fabulous this is?! I'm super psyched. I wasn't too thrilled to be leaving Time Warner. I was a fan. But, I've become a convert.

* This Gremlin Baby is making me none too happy today. I feel like total crud. Morning sickness has returned with a vengance and seems dead set on screwing up my Friday.

* We took Betty to her first theater movie today (Toy Story 3). She was SOOOO good! I was so proud of Peanut. She sat and absorbed the movie, didn't fuss much, and clapped at the end. The cutest was when hormone-riddled mommy started crying at the film and she put her arm around me and said "It's okay, Mommy".
Hear that? It's my heart breaking. My baby is not a baby anymore.

* I sent what is probably my third text message EVER today. So, bride Sarah K. , I apologize if my text speak was pretty garbled. I am not text savvy...at. all. Pretty embaressing really. The thing was only a few words long and I think it took me a good 10 mins to type it all out!

* I realized this week that I may possibly be driving a beater. It kind of sprung itself on me. My poor Saturn Vue sounds pretty ill. It's nothing that affect the driveablity, but it's making a lot of rattles and buzzing. And I have a seat that won't fold up. And my key gets stuck in the ignition and won't turn.
I love this car, but traveling so much for work and (I admit it) beating it a bit has not been kind to its 4 year old body. So, if you hear my little beater as I drive away, feel free to laugh a bit. I do.

* I chopped my hair off again. I'll probably never learn that long hair just looks pretty dreadful on me. I envy gals with long, lovely locks that can be well maintained. I am not one of them.

* Peanut and I ventured outside the other day for pictures for her birthday invites. *sniff* My little gal is going to be THREE...THREE......insert stunned face here. I can hardly believe it.