A few weeks ago I went to spend a day in Chicago with Ruth & George. I met these two at their home as they were preparing for a picnic, from there we went to a park, popped some champagne and hung out for a few hours.  

When Katie and Josh contacted me to shoot their wedding, I knew I wanted to be there to document it for when I asked them what they were most looking forward to on their wedding day, their answer was "whiffle ball and a bonfire" - it was then that I knew these two needed to be in front of my lens and I am so glad they were. This day was beautiful from the minute I pulled up to On Twin Lakes until a drove out after sunset. There were so many moments from this day that pop into my head and make me smile -- like when Katie and Josh both gave each other love letters to read before the first look and it was the same card and how Katie made their save the dates, wedding invitations and cut out beautiful pieces of paper and strung them all over the beautiful venue. These two live in Portland and I only had the opportunity to meet Katie once for coffee but walking into their wedding, I felt like I got to know them so much better. Katie and Josh started dating 10 years ago when they were both students at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Katie decided to sell a football ticket, and put up a sign with her number on it. Josh was the one who called, and they met in the lobby of their dorm for the exchange. Katie then ran back up to her room and told her roommate about the cute boy she had just met. She then forgot his name and for months referred to him secretly as 'ticket boy' until finally through AOL Instant messenger, Josh introduced himself and asked Katie on our first date. Katie told me was swept away by his romantic choice of fine dining, Chipotle. Then  10 years later they came back to Wisconsin to exchange vows, play whiffle ball and dance with all of their friends and family.

A few weeks ago I got a call from Rob, an old high school friend, letting me know he was getting married on Monday, June 29th followed by a wedding in Colombia and the following Saturday. I made it work for me to document it for I wanted to meet his lovely bride and be apart of their celebration here in Wisconsin. Minutes before the ceremony was to begin it looked like rain was coming, they decided to risk it and the rain stayed away until we were off taking photographs, but that didn't stop their smiles on this lovely Monday.

I had the pleasure of spending a sunset with Bob & Erin in front of my camera again, you may remember them from last years shoot where they put on their wedding clothes and did a session with me since they didn't have a photographer at their elopement ceremony. Now these two are expecting a new family member next month and they wanted this documented, so we met back at our spot, fought the bugs and had some fun.

Although Nicky and Tim live in Chicago, they decided to get married in the backyard of Nicky's family cabin - a beautiful home on the Wisconsin river. This day was perfect - starting the early day with mimosas, floral arranging and up-dos, followed by exploring the woods surrounding the property with Nicky & Tim and their wedding party - a late afternoon (and sunny) ceremony followed by a cocktail hour with an archery tournament (this was a first, and this was the best), ending with a wonderful dinner, and an epic dance party. I have had the privilege of knowing Nicky since middle school, reconnecting last year for a mutual friends wedding allowed me to meet and get to know Tim better and the two of them as a couple. When they came to me to ask if I could document their day, I was so excited. Being at the venue for a vacation last summer, I knew it was going to be a beautiful day in a place that holds importance to both Nicky and Tim.

A few weeks back Samantha and Ryan had the perfect day for a wedding - a wonderful sunny Saturday filled with loved ones from all over this world, an afternoon together at Wingra park and a Children's Museum rooftop ceremony that brought everyone (including me) to tears. The love these two have for each other is beautiful, spending time with them on their sailboat for their engagement session last month was my first glimpse of them together and hearing their vows was such a beautiful moment, and by far my favorite part of the day.  

You two are lovely, I am so happy to have been apart of your celebration! 

Years ago Sammy moved to the Milwaukee area to join the photography team at Kohl's Studio where Melissa was already a stylist, they started out as coworkers, soon became best friends but then one dinner date cooking Kung pao chicken together led to an amazing love. These two own a house outside of Milwaukee and made it their own with an incredible kitchen and a every girls dream closet.  

On Thursday, June 18th these two met at Klode Park on the shores of Lake Michigan with their immediate family members and exchanged vows in 25 MPH winds -- an epic, wonderful and intimate ceremony and I am so thankful to have been apart of it. On Saturday, June 20th we all got together again with their extended family for an amazing meal and celebration.  

I met Josh and Beth a few years ago at a wedding I was photographing, Beth was pregnant with Oscar and when he arrived they contacted me and I went to their home to document their new little guy. Now Oscar is 5, hilarious and it was quite fun spending the afternoon over at their beautiful home documenting a day in the life of the Peterson family.  

  I met Ericka my first week of moving to Madison and my first day of college, we quickly grew close and did many photography projects during school and continued to work together from time to time after we graduated. So when Ericka messaged me about her plans to get married, and that she was about to have a baby boy (named Riff who is perfect) and she wanted me to document her wedding, I was so very excited. This was a true DIY wedding, a wedding based on community - everyone having a part in it -- Ericka's mother made her dress, the food and the ceremony was in the backyard of Ericka's parents, and the home where Ericka grew up. A beautiful ceremony where at the end of it, Ericka and Jake planted a tree at the very spot they both said 'I do' .  The reception was in a friends barn filled with projects Ericka and Jake did together to make their wedding be about their life together. Jake and Ericka put together a playlist that made the party last all night and it was a wonderful day to witness and be apart of.

T  

Back in 2013 I photographed Katie & Trent's wedding at the wonderful venue Whistling Straits in Sheboygan (blog link here) and a few weeks ago I went to see them at their home and meet their awesome son, Luther and document their life. Luther has just turned one and he is such a happy kid, he really made it easy for me.

I love when I get an email from a past wedding client with the exciting news that they are having a baby and want to schedule a family session with me. I love that I get to continue documenting their life events and meeting their children. I photographed Susannah & Alex's wedding back in 2012 and a few weeks ago I was reunited and had the chance to meet their beautiful daughter, Serena.

  I feel strongly about the the importance of human connection and my photography - I feel if you have a difficult time connecting with the person holding the camera, you will see it in the image, in the face and the body language. I want the people in front of my lens to forget about the camera and just hang out with me. With Mathias and Kiley this came easy, for we have a friendship to fall on, so when we decided to make this session about hanging out, building a fire, drinking some beer and in-between and during all that documenting the process, allowing moments to happen naturally instead of forced. I am so excited for these two, their love is ridiculous -- the first few times I hung out with these two together, I felt like they were never not be each others side, and to me, that is the best way to be with your partner.

You two have already started your life together, you have started this great adventure years ago and now you two are going to celebrate such a wonderful love.

  After a long week who doesn't want to hop on a sailboat with cocktail mixing, a group of friends and a photographer-- a few weeks back I joined Sam & Ryan on their sailboat and spent a Friday nights sunset drinking Bourbon and documenting their life in the weekends away from computers, cell phones and alarm clocks and it was pretty magical.

A few weeks back Lauren, Jonathan and I met in Paoli, WI to spend some time together as well as capture their silliness and love. Lauren and Jonathan have been together for 5 years now, a few years back they purchased a foreclosure home and have been making it theirs together ever since. These two are wonderful, they make each other laugh, they support each other and they are really fun to hang out with.

A rainy and foggy Sunday afternoon forced Sammy, Melissa and I's shoot to be indoors, luckily these two own a beautiful home right outside of Milwaukee. We poured some Whiskey, took sometime to get to know each other and I documented them in their space. These two will be getting married in a month, a small gathering on the beach followed by a reception with family - I am so looking forward to spending a few more days with these two in front of my camera!  

Matthew and Abby Rajala live on the East Side of Madison, they have a lovely poodle named Frankie and they have a 6 month old named Henrik. A few Sundays ago I went over to the Rajala's to spend the afternoon documenting their lives, from nap time to bed time I hung out with them and allowed them to live their life in front of my camera to tell a story of how they spend their days together.

A few months back I went and spent an afternoon with Michelle & Carey in their home and neighborhood in Milwaukee.  We listened to records, shared a drink and then went for a walk in a nearby park while sharing stories about their travels and life together. Michelle and Carey will be getting married and celebrating their friendship and love in Madison, Wi on October 17th and it is going to be fantastic.

I love winter weddings, I love photographing them and I love attending them. Winter to me means hibernation, book reading and all day in pajamas - but a wedding forces you to get all dolled up, put on the red lips and dust off your dancing shoes and Chris and Jen did just that with all of their friends and family a few weeks back on January 24th. Chris and Jen had a beautiful ceremony at the Capitol followed by a wonderful meal and epic dance party at The Madison Club. I had a wonderful time documenting this perfect day with help from my dear friend Jentri Colello.

A few weeks ago we had our first warm & sunny winter day -- warmth, oh how I love that in Wisconsin warm in the winter is when it's over 35 degrees, but after a week of below zero, it really does feel like a heat wave. I spent this Wisconsin heat wave getting to know Maddie & Bret in their beautiful home and walking around Tenney Park and catching the sunset on the lake; a perfect afternoon. These lovely two will be getting married in August here in Madison and I am excited I get to be apart of that celebration.

A few weeks ago Luke and I took to the road and drove to the warmth of New Orleans for a few days for a little vacation. Often times when I am on vacation I find myself working still, photography is my job and also my hobby & passion so I find it difficult to put my camera down, so for this trip I decided to leave my digital cameras and computer behind and just take what I learned on - my little canon that I shot my first 5 weddings on with a 50mm and 3 rolls of film - I took only the good shots, I framed up, focused and decided in that moment if what I saw in the  view finder was worth the space of the roll of film. I took under 100 images, here are some of my favorites  - I still have one roll to develop but I couldn't wait to share.