Vest Family: sneak peeks

^Wisconsin welcomes the Vest Family from Kansas City!

Meet the Vest family who hail from Kansas City. Last week Holly called asking if I had any openings the Friday after Thanksgiving for some extended family shots. Typically I keep my calendar clear around the holidays, but it is so hard to turn down people who have family visiting from a distance! So I hoped in my car and headed over the river and through the woods to the Vest Family household.

Thank you for having me over guys. Your family was wonderfully warm and inviting to me and I loved that everyone was completely into having their photo taken! Enjoy some of the sneak peeks...

^All the grandkids...

^Welcome to Wisconsin!

^Mom and daughter are so adorable together!

^visiting from Kansas City

^Cousins!

^First thing Sophia asked me when I came in the door - "Wanna see my playroom?" Smiles! : )

I'd love to say a big THANKS to Miss Maria of Miss Maria's preschool (their facebook page here) for referring the Vest family to us! We do so very little advertising only because we have such great friends and clients who keep talking about us!

So Very Thankful

With Thanksgiving approaching tomorrow, I thought I would share some of the things that I am thankful for:

My girls

My girls are happy and healthy. They inspire me everyday in more ways then they will ever know.

My husband

^Yup, that's my husband, Mike! He's fun, kooky, outgoing, artistic, and if I don't say so myself, pretty darn good looking ;o) But another thing I am thankful for the most is his heart.

My career

I am so thankful I get to do what I want to do in life. What else could be better but capturing and witnessing beautiful moments in time! I love my job :O)

All of you!

I am thankful to all of you that we have met and soon to meet. We have the coolest clients ever and I am grateful for every opportunity!

I've also networked with some really great people that have helped enhance our business with information and ideas. Looking forward to seeing many of you next month!

Of course there is much much more, but this is a great start :O) We'd like to wish you all a Happy Turkey Day and safe travels!

Michaud: Family Session

^Check out the Michaud Family Tree.

Mary was referred to us by one of our favorite wedding couples from this season Zac & Kristin. She was looking for some fun family shots as well as a few headshots for herself as she is a highly talented artist!

The whole family was awesome! Everyone was very open to idea's such as climbing tree's and piling into a Fiat convertable. I always enjoy doing what I do because of people like the Michaud family. Thank you guys for inviting me over to capture some moments in time. Now, enjoy some sneak peeks!


^Thankfully I didn't have to demonstrate how to get in the box. I don't think I'd fit!

^The lovable furry family member Ruby!

^Candid shots rock!

^Sometimes I do a random hold the camera over my head and press the button technique. Most of the time it doesn't work, but when it does, it brings awesome!

^Mom & Dad did not hesitate when I asked if they wanted to climb into the tree.

^Dad was super-excited to bring the car out into the cold to bring it into some photos - and yes, it is a two seater. : )

^a sample of one of the many head shots we took.

Jon & Sacia: Engagement Session

^Sacia [say-sha] & Jon [j-on]

Even though it was in the mid-30's, Sacia & Jon were heating it up for the camera!

When I first met these two, they claimed they would most likely need guidance on posing and coming up with idea's; It turns out that was not the case here. Rule #4: Typically I start my engagement sessions without giving much guidance, just to see what the couple can come up with. This way they come across as more comfortable in the photos and it helps make them more their own rather than me telling them where to go or how to bend their thumb. Sacia & Jon definately owned this shoot as they kept coming up with fantastic idea's and spots.

Unfortunately Nicole wasn't able to make the first meeting or the engagement shoot itself. So after the shoot, I went home to pick up Nicole, Aubs and Ella and we ended up meeting up with Sacia & Jon for dinner. It is so very important to us that the people we shoot get a chance to meet with both of us. I always say, your photographer is going to be there by your side for one of the biggest days of your lives, so it is best to want to get to know them! : )

Thank you Sacia & Jon for bringing the smiles & idea's! Nicole and I are looking forward to your big day! Enjoy some sneaks...

^does this shot seem a little wavey? Hmmmm... : )

^This was definately a candid shot, but I love it as it shows off a lot of their happy/silly personality

After spending an hour in nature with frigid temperatures, Sacia came up with the idea of going to the Al Ringling Theatre in Baraboo where she used to dance. We ended up meeting the owner who gladly let us in and assisted us in more ways than we expected! He helped showed us the hot spots for photos, turned on spot lights to help light up the stage, and even played some Charlie Brown on the piano while we shot. It truely was magical and inspirational!

If you don't know, Al Ringling Theatre is an historic theatre which is going under a long restoration back to it's early 1900's look and feel. If you haven't been there before, go. They are still a working movie theatre. I garauntee that you will be awed by it's beauty and history. And feel free to help donate to finish the restoration! I cannot wait until they finish!

Starting a Family Tradition - Great Wolf

^Point'n'Shoot family shot @ Great Wolf Lodge

There are two things I've realized while holding a point'n'shoot camera out with one arm to take a family shot. 1) I have the best family ever with the most amazing wife and photography partner and two wonderful girls who bring smiles to my face every day; and 2) I need to work on that double chin of mine!

Nicole, Aubrey, Ella and I have decided to start a family tradition. Every year after the shooting portion of our wedding season is over, we head up to the Dells for a one night getaway. Most of our weeks (especially the summer wedding season) are filled with work and activities that pretty much keep us grounded locally to the Wisconsin area. The last out of state vacation we actually had was Vegas right before Aubrey was born. This will change as Ella and Aubs get a bit older. We already have plans for Vegas this coming February and also DisneyWorld in 2012. But this new one night getaway tradition will be just for our girls - to let them know mom and dad will be spending more weekends taking their pictures. : )

^They had story time at Great Wolf every night where kids come down in their pajama's and listen to a book, then get to say hi to their Wolf Mascot. Aubs was super-excited to give this guy a big hug!

^There is something magical about touristy fun hotel rooms. This night it was the magic of sleep for everyone. We didn't wake up till 9am! (first time in years for me)

^Aubs enjoying the Clock Tower show that goes on before story time in the lobby. Something about mechanical animals singing and dancing to bring a smile to a childs face, then a smile to mine as I see her so happy!

No Caveties

^Aubs first visit to the dentist in over a year.

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Last week Friday we took a trip to the Children's Dental clinic for aubrey's first appointment since she was 1. The week before, Nicole had done a 'learn about teeth' week during child care to help get her excited about it. I think between that and the super dental assistant letting aubs play with all the dentistry tools right away made the whole thing go super-smooth. Aubs was a rock star and loved getting her pink toothbrush and bath toy at the end.

Keeping it Personal

^Ella all snuggled up when she was at the hospital after being born.

A lot of photographers typically use their blog to show off their work, and they should as it is a great way for people to see their most recent work. Seldom however do you see anything about their personal lives. Usually because work is work and personal is none of anyone's business.

Nicole and I have always mixed business and personal on our bLog. I think we do that because in our head no one except our family and close friends really pay attention to it. But after reading a Jasmine Star bLog post today, I realized why we have been so lucky in finding such fun and wonderful people to photograph. It is because we mix the business with personal.

Let's face it, there are a lot of great photographers out there. But just taking great photos is only a portion of what really matters on the wedding day or family shoot. Being able to get along and enjoy your photographer is the other half of it. You are going to want someone who can make you smile naturally, laugh hysterically, and trust them to help guide you through the day.

This is the number one thing almost all of the people we have photographed have complimented us on. All the smiles you see in our work are natural ones caused by me telling a bad joke, standing on one leg, or me smiling back at them. A grandmother at our last wedding said 'I haven't ever had that much fun having my picture taken before.'. Compliments like that where family members go out of their way to tell you that they enjoyed how you did your job is a great feeling.

I think it all starts with the blog and the sharing our personal lives. It gives people a chance to get to know who we are as people and as photographers. And yes, we really are that down to earth, friendly and goofy. If you don't believe us, just ask any of the people we have photographed before. : )

As always, every blog post looks best with photos. Here are some never before seen shots from when our second daughter Ella was born just a little over two months ago (wow how time flies!)...

^Aubs loved playing with the curtain to our room.

^Ella, getting ready to leave the hospital for the first time.

^I chased aubs around the maternity ward trying to take her picture. I have about 20 more like this one. : )

^Aubrey has the potential to be a doctor or nurse. If she does, then I will say it all started when her little sister was born and the nurse's let her use their equipment.

Crowley Family Sneak Peeks

^Meet the Crowley Family

I was invited to the Crowley home to capture some fun family shots - and fun family shots we did! We went nearby their home to a covered bridge, found an old rusty tractor and hung out on the front porch. Thank you Crowley's for inviting me out to capture the smiles... Enjoy the sneaks...