Free Portrait Mini-Shoot for Wedding Clients

James Studio Contact Card Free Portrait Mini Shoot for Wedding Clients

If you are engaged to be married, have not yet booked a photographer and you admire the James Studio pictures then you are eligable to receive a FREE portrait session along with the best image as a file to keep and print.   This offer ends on February 10, 2012.  That file will be entered in a contest on Facebook.  The couple whose picture gets the most “likes” by 9 pm February 10, 2012 will win either a $250 print credit through James Studio or a $100 gift card from the store of choice. 

You can contact me by using the CONTACT PAGE or call Jim at 608.233.5556 to set up an appointment for your free portrait session.   Appointments can be made during weekends, evenings (accept Wednesday evenings) and days.   So send an email or call and make your date.   In the end you will get a free professional portrait to keep and print.  Additional pictures are $39 each. 

A few of the portraits from the shoot are below. 

CK 2 Free Portrait Mini Shoot for Wedding Clients

MD 7 Free Portrait Mini Shoot for Wedding Clients

SB 2 Free Portrait Mini Shoot for Wedding Clients

To see more portraits from the shoot go to Facebook, search for James Studio.  Give a “Like” to James Studio then you can give a “Like” to your favorite picture so far.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

The following are a few of the pictures taken of a large family gathering at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in the Commons Room. 

 Welch 1 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

I shot several families, including this one. 

Welch 2 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

There was lots of goofing around. 

Welch 4 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

The following lady wanted a picture with just her and her brothers. 

Welch 5 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

There were cute couples there too like this one. 

Welch 3 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

Some pictures were formal. 

Welch 6 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

Some pictures were more crazyish. 

Welch 7 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

I told this couple that they seem very comfortable with each other.  She said, “yes, that is because we like each other.”

Welch 8 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

I love this picture with the barn wood frame and box. 

Welch extra 1 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

These items were removed from a special blanket and made into a hanging art piece.

Welch extra 2 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

Under the card is a copy of a baby book that provides a fasinating story of the early years of the mother whose life was celebrated at this event.

Welch extra 3 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

Another generation is born.

Welch extra 4 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

Memorial flowers

Welch extra 6 Olbrich Botanical Gardens Commons Room

Contact James Studio if you are having a large family event.

Love Story Video

Erin and Allen told their love story on video so everyone at the reception could hear it first hand.  Below is an shorter version with a royalty free song so you could enjoy it too. 

 

Tomah WI Wedding — Erin Shie & Allen Horn

Erin and Allen were married November 12, 2011 in Tomah, Wisconsin.   The following are a few pictures from their wedding. 

Erin with her beautiful dress.  The gorgeous sanctuary of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church  is in the background.  See their web site here: http://stpaultomah.org/

Erin Allen 1 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 Groom and best man posing for the photographer.

Erin Allen 2 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 This was their best effort at the combined effort of muscleman pose.

Erin Allen 3 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 I love to get the wedding dress tie-the-backup-shot from a high squewed angle.  I love this shot. 

Erin Allen 4 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 Erin was great the whole day.  She was having fun.

Erin Allen 5 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 Here is one of the pictures of the first look in the sanctuary. 

Erin Allen 6 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 A nice shot of the bride and groom after they had some time to talk with each other.

Erin Allen 7 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 I use a studio strobe and another off camera light to get this nicely lit image of the wedding party. 

Erin Allen 8 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 I was using my fisheye lens for a variety of shots from the balcony. 

Erin Allen 9 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 This candid shot was during the ring exchange. 

Erin Allen 10 Tomah WI Wedding    Erin Shie & Allen Horn

 

 

Holiday Photo Special

James Studio is introducing a  holiday portrait special for $39.   Watch the video below and then click HERE to learn more. 

 

HS Senior Session — Vilas Park

Ken attends West High School and is an ace vocalist.  He told me that he will be attending a university that is known for training professional vocalists.  I am certain he will do very well. 

The first three pictures were taken across from James Studio, on the tracks on the other side of University Ave.   Though it was an overcast day the clouds still look interesting.

HS Senior Shoot Vilas Park 1 HS Senior Session    Vilas Park

Ken has some very photogenic features.   This is the more serious look of Ken.

HS Senior Shoot Vilas Park 2 HS Senior Session    Vilas Park

Next we went to Vilas Park.  I love this drive over bridge in the background.

HS Senior Shoot Vilas Park 3 HS Senior Session    Vilas Park

For the grunge look I had Ken on this tank.   Nothing says grunge quite like a rusty old  fuel tank. 

HS Senior Shoot Vilas Park 4 HS Senior Session    Vilas Park

 The walk over bridge was a great back drop for this close up. 

 HS Senior Shoot Vilas Park 5 HS Senior Session    Vilas Park

I love the angle on the following photo and all the great colors in the background.  This is my favorite picture from the session. 

HS Senior Shoot Vilas Park 6 HS Senior Session    Vilas Park

Possibly you or someone you know is looking for a professional senior portrait photographer.   James Studio offers flat fees for 1 or 2 hour sessions and they include the pictures on a DVD.  Go HERE to learn more of the details.

Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding — Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

It was another beautiful day in Wisconsin on September 10, 2011.  The temperature was warm, about 85 degrees but for Eric and Nikki things went by like a fresh cool breeze. 

This picture below shows Eric getting his shirt buttoned with his brother, the best man, in the background.   

Cambridge WI Wedding Eric Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

Nikki’s beautiful dress was photographed in a tree.  I used an electrical wire slung around a tree limb to provide the right height for the dress.  

In this photo not only do your see a nice close up of the dress’s intricate design you can also see the James Studio custom hanger.  It makes sense to have a beautiful hanger to help show off the dress.  Cheap hangers look out of place and just don’t do justice for photographing of the dress. 

Cambridge WI Wedding 2 Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

Nikki looks radiant in her dress.  She was a happy bride and easy to work with. 

Cambridge WI Wedding 3 Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

They elected to do the first look which we did in the sanctuary.  Shea, my assistant, focused on Eric as he was coming in while I focused on Nikki and her reactions.   Nikki and Eric were really moved emotionally as they focused on each other for the first time in the day.   After they regained composer I had them get together for some staged romantic shots.

 Cambridge WI Wedding 4 Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

I appreciate good detail shots.  Holding hands, hugs and kisses.  The closeups tell a story too. 

Cambridge WI Wedding 5 Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

I love the color blue and I love a blue sky that matches blue eyes and happy smiles.  

Nikki is with her flower girl in the photo.  That is a corn field in the background. 

Cambridge WI Wedding 6 Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

The bridesmaids are showing some leg.  Or is it tattoos they are showing off?

Cambridge WI Wedding 7 Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

 Below is a picture of Eric with his mother.

Cambridge WI Wedding Eric Lighter Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

 The flower girl and the ring bearer seemed to be very much into the moment.   Unfortunately, the girl forgot to throw out her flowers from the basket.   The adult participants seemed to thouroughly enjoy the moment.  I heard people say, “they were sooo cute.” 

Cambridge WI Wedding kids Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

With friends and family looking on, Nikki was beautiful as she came down the aisle with her father. 

Cambridge WI Wedding Nikki Aisle Cambridge Wisconsin Wedding    Nikki Smithback & Eric Omit

 More pictures will be coming soon.  

If you are looking for a photographer for your wedding give Jim a call at 233-5556.

UW Arboretum Family Portrait Session

Mallory just had her first birthday, so it was definitely time for some family photos.  We decided to do the shoot at the UW Arboretum behind the visitor center.  It has many varieties of wild flowers and grasses for background.  We went to a nice shady area and took a number of photos. 

Mallory is expressing her personality here. She has lots of expression for instances at a time.  In this photo she is about to remove the bow from her hair.  Maybe she will keep it in for the next shoot. 

Mallory 1 UW Arboretum Family Portrait Session

I love her blue eyes as shown in this picture.  Anne and Andy are posed perfectly and perfectly happy (and proud parents) watching Mallory trot around the grassy area of the Arboretum.

Using my studio strobe with the Paul C. Buff Vagabond battery pack I was able to get soft light on Mallory (though she was in a shaded area) while producing large beautiful catchlights in her eyes.

Mallory 2 UW Arboretum Family Portrait Session

Mallory no longer needs the hand support of her parents and she quickly let everyone know about it.  She did not want to be tied down; she wanted to run!  But this picture of her parents holding her hands will be framed and made into a classic James Studio portrait.

Mallory 3 UW Arboretum Family Portrait Session

 If you have a family and would like to get some wonderful outdoor pictures at a very reasonable rate.  Check out the Portrait Prices page and give me a call at 233-5556. 

 

 

Brande & Jake — Windsor Country Club Wedding

Jake Smetana and Brande Jocobson’s were married at the Windsor Country Club August 13, 2011.   I love the pictures I was able to get here.   The trees and grass make a wonderful backdrop for outdoor wedding photos.  The bridesmaids dress colors and flowers all work well in this environment. 

This video is a highlights of the day.   

 

 

If you would like to check out all the pictures you can see them on line at Pictage HERE.  The pictures are arranged in categories and you can set up your own selection of favorites.   This is also the place to have prints made. 

 

I always look for a nice shaded area so my subjects are not squinting and I use my wonderful Paul C. Buff White Lightning off camera studio strobe with the portable Vagabond battery providing all the juice I need to get great pictures.   This first picture provides a layered look with Brade primarily in focus and next the bridesmaids and then the trees. 

Lake Windsor 2 Brande & Jake    Windsor Country Club Wedding

 Here the bridesmaids are much more casual.  The black and white provides a different look than my usual intense colors. 

Lake Windsor Brande & Jake    Windsor Country Club Wedding

Lake Windsor 3 Brande & Jake    Windsor Country Club Wedding

I purposely cropped this picture to make it look like a panoramic.  The key is the focus on the subjects with their flowers. 

Lake Windsor 4 Brande & Jake    Windsor Country Club Wedding

I love this shot with the focus on Brande’s deep brown eyes.  The bridesmaids look lovely as they gradually go out of fucus. 

Lake Windsor 5 Brande & Jake    Windsor Country Club Wedding

 Here Brande is obviously on a golf couse as you see the flag in the background.  It would be easy enough to remove the flag in Photoshop but I kind of like it there. 

Lake Windsor 6 Brande & Jake    Windsor Country Club Wedding

 The following picture is of Brands’s bouquet behind her back.  It is a good closeup of both the flowers and the beautiful detail in her dress. 

Lake Windsor 8 Brande & Jake    Windsor Country Club Wedding