Just a Taste

The results of cookie day are still on our kitchen table and where they need to be is under lock and key. Why? Because I keep getting up and going into the kitchen for "just one" or "a taste". Which is all fine and good if you don't get up 76,894 times during the day like me. Do they make cookie safes? We need one.

I thought maybe you all would like a taste too. (If only I could pass cookies thru the internet) Here is a sampling of the three weddings left to be blogged for 2008.

Kelly & Alex

This shot reminds me of those vignettes on Family Feud that started off the show (am I dating myself here?), and so it totally cracks me up. When I took it, I meant for it to be kind of tongue and cheek in that way.

Racheal & Jason

This was completely the bridesmaid's idea. Those guys are actually from another wedding (thanks to my friends Miranda & Adam for letting us steal them for a brief moment just minutes before the ceremony) and the girls thought it would be funny for our bride to jump in with these other guys, hence the bridesmaid's expressions. It was a funny moment, and one that wouldn't usually get a highlight so I thought it was a good taste for today.

Deb & Tony

One of the last shots we took on the beach that night, just minutes before the sun disappeared for good. It is getting harder to imagine it being warm enough for a barefoot couple with the freezing temperatures we have had here lately.

Have a great Tuesday!

Kristen & Steve | Siblings

The way that Kristen and Steve found me and my photography is a bit round-about. Kristen was doing a research project for a class on small groups in a social studies class. Her focus was on brides and grooms. In that research she came across me and my blog, and has been a fan ever since. Then she had the idea to do a shoot with her brother as a birthday gift for her mom. And so, there we were on one of the truly last nice days of fall taking photos of these two siblings. I love it when people think this far ahead and put this much effort into surprises for others. How many Moms would LOVE up-to-date photos of their kids?





Kristen is in the middle of her college experience, and Steve is just a breath away from becoming an architect. I think nothing shows where they are at this moment as people than this shot:







Thanks for a fun afternoon guys and Happy Birthday to your Mom!

Sara & Nick | Repeat Performance

Still not sure on what to call these sessions.. but for now I'm taking Claire up on "Repeat Performance". I like the idea of the name eluding to it being the last time you wear these clothes, and implying that it comes after the wedding, but I'm just not 100% on anything yet for a final choice on the name.

I love doing these sessions because there is no stress, the couple is still blissfully full of newlywed glow and we get to have a ton of fun. And, yes, the dress does survive just fine. A trip to the cleaners and no one is the wiser.

Sara and Nick rocked their session like no other. Sara was a little nervous about getting her dress dirty - but she got over it pretty fast, much to her credit. And Nick, I am convinced he was a male model in a previous life.

I'm super stoked to share these shots with you. Hold on to your seat, because there are a lot of images coming your way...





My love for this shot is endless:










Sara asked for this one:




Nick showing off his super strength:









There is still plenty of time to get a session like this in for you if you've been considering it. I have a few booked for this fall already, only one of which was one of my brides originally. And yes, you can do it without your groom. And wouldn't it be fun to do it with your bridesmaids and "trash" all the dresses? Now that is a bridesmaid's gift!

Grandpa's Camera

I think I've established before that I'm a bit old school with my personal work. I shot my thesis film entirely in an old 35mm film camera on a home-made motion control rig and cut it all on a flatbed - not the computer. I have a degree in printmaking, specializing in intaglio - a process that has been around for hundreds upon hundreds of years. I once got a grant to do a wood engraving project - remember Durer from your art history class - that would be his process. So it is no surprise that when my parents found my grandfather's old film camera I got a little excited.

My grandpa was a photographer - not as a profession, but as a very active hobby. I remember being scared of the darkroom in their basement as a little kid. They also had a bowling alley down there - so pretty cool grandparents, right? I didn't develop my interest in photography until after he passed, but I know he is pleased to see me working in it.

Anyway, we found this old camera and I'm itching to learn how to use it. I'm completely thrown by the fact that when you pop up the top and look in the viewfinder everything is backwards. I have absolutely no intention of cleaning it - at least at first. I love the patina that dirt, time and history leave on something like this, so I want to shoot some without taking that off. I'm putting this up on the blog because I have no idea where to start finding info on this camera besides a google search. If anyone out there can point me to some good resources, I would greatly appreciate it. Better yet, if anyone out there knows how to use a camera like this and has one of their own - I'd be more than happy to do a photo fieldtrip and learn from you!
And no, it's not for sale, so don't even ask.

I've taken some fun pics of the camera and all the parts that were in the box - including this super space-age flash and the cutest little telephoto lens ever. As you can see, my obsession with my 50mm lens and shooting wide open continues...

Contest Update and an evening with the Droese's

The contest is going well and there are three days left to vote in what has become a neck in neck race between two entries with one looking to make a sneak attack:
Currently Sarah & Jim (#4) are winning with 18 votes, with Harmony & Darin (#8) hot in their heels with 12 votes. And Judy and Jeremy (#1) are pulling up the back with 5 votes. (How do you like attempt at my play-by-play sports commentary?) Anyone of these people could win in the next three days - or anyone else on the list for that matter. Three days is a lot of time to get your votes in, so start thinking about who you know that you can email a vote request to - family, friends, co-workers, facebook, myspace, etc. I can't wait to see who wins!

In an effort to make a new post with some pictures in a week where I have been doing a lot of behind the scenes graphic work, I give you an evening with the Droese's. Rob is one of my oldest friends (I'll refrain from counting up the years, but let's just say it is a lot) and he and his wife Ang were my only dose of Wisconsin when we all lived in California. They have moved all over since then and have now added two lovely little girls to their family. I got the opportunity to catch up with them while they were in town visiting family over the holiday and meet little Taylor for the first time. And I got to try out my new 50mm lens (What better subjects than little kids?). We played a little Hungry Hungry Hippos, and built a puzzle -well C.J. did, Taylor just did the 3-month old cuteness thing and spit up.







Rob and Ang, I'll be dropping a disk in the mail with all the pictures.