Ashley & Jonathan Album

For those who are interested in seeing one of my albums online this page is for you.  Though the images look good online, they look much better in the big 12″ x 12″ album using the metallic paper. 

Beloit Country Club Reception

Jonathan Cruz and Ashley Houston were married April 25, 2009 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Beloit.  

It was a rainy day, but fortunately the rain stopped long enough for outdoor pictures.   The first two photographs were taken during Ashley’s getting ready time. 

I had the ladies together in a group with the hope of creating an artistic photograph.  While the bridesmaids are mostly in view, Ashley is prominent.  This photo shows that it is all about her today. 

Every church setting is different and the rules change from one church to another too.  As a photographer I requently face the tension between trying to get the best shots and remaining unobrusive.  In this case I was able to sneak around to the side for this photograph and captured several shots of Jonathan and Ashley during the ceremony.  This is one of my favorite, with Ashley’s eyes looking over at Jonathan. 

 

The pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran church was very helpful, flexible and a joy to work with.  I know that pastors struggle with photographers at times, but it is really great when we can have a meeting of minds and serve the couple together. 

This was one of those special magical moments.  It looks like Ashley was looking right at me, which from time to time during the ceremony, I really do appreciate. 

Then there were those great bubbles.  This is a cool magazine-quality photograph.  If you are going to have a receiving line, I think it is an excellent idea to have bubbles for everyone.  It gives the guests something to do while they are waiting and everyone has a great time.  It also provides an excellent backdrop for shooting video and photographs.

Once we got to the Beloit Country Club the weather was tricky.  It had been raining a fair amount, so the grass was quite wet.  As we were figuring out where we would shoot the majority of the outdoor shots, I lined everyone up to get this shot.  It makes the wedding party appear as mere filler or backdrop, but that is one of the things I like to do.  It is more creative and artistically pleasing rather than having the whole group in the shot and in focus.   I shoot plenty of those group poses, too, where everyone is in focus and has good light on them. 

This was one couple from the wedding party.  I really like the couple’s smiles and they were very pleasant.

Children are wonderful to photograph in a candid pose.  Too often though they give that plastic “cheese” smile.  I love this picture, as the boy was showing tons of confidence. 

Here is another photograph with the wedding party in the background.  This shot was, of course, staged, as you can see the the spacing was set up to fit just right.  But the result is gorgeous. 

Here is the classic dip pose.  Both Jonathan and Ashley did a very nice job.

This was a pose that I did not set up.  The girls thought of this.  Ashley is showing off her ring and Jonathan is looking like he is smitten, but by what?  Is it the ring or the girl?  It does not matter; the photograph is very cute in any case. 

I really don’t mind people coming up with their own ideas, as long as they are practical and creative. 

The videographer came up with the idea for this shot.  He had Ashley and Jonathan walk away and then casually walk back.  I love this classic shot.   The casual walk is a set up that I like to include in my other engagement and wedding shoots. 

This candid shot is with them in a private joke or comment.  Still, it is a classic image.

Inside the Country Club house was this beautiful mirror.  I loved the mirror, so I used it as a place to take a number of formal photographs of the wedding party and parents. 

The country club has a lot of full-length-beautiful windows.  It was great to have plenty of natural light and a pretty background for pictures of cutting the cake. 

 

Lake Windsor Golf Club Reception

Drew Shea and Gina Campbell were married May 9, 2009 in Deerfield Lutheran Church.  The weather provided gray skys and periods of rain, but we did manage to get some gorgeous outdoor pictures.   The church has several large stain-glass windows–at the sides, back, and even in the getting-ready room. 

Though Gina was not initially excited about this first picture, it tells a story of how she felt just before getting ready for the big day.  The picture did make it into the Getting-Ready page of her album. 

Meanwhile, I am also getting pictures of the guys.  This one stands out to me.   I have had other guys do this shot, but nobody carried it off like Drew and this groomsman.   

Couples commonly light candles during the ceremony.  But this church had a door off to the side which allowed me to get side shots while not being seen by anyone else in the church.  Shooting from the side provides for a great artistic effect.  I like to shoot from every angle possible if I can, while staying out of the way of the ceremony. 

This was one of those candid shots that is just precious.  You could never stage it.  It just happens at the right moment and place.

Blowing bubbles is a very popular crowd activity.  It gives people something to do while others are going through the receiving line.  It is a universal fun thing that anyone can do, and it looks great for the photographer.  I recommend it.  You gotta love how Gina put her arm down with the flowers in her hand–just like a New York model. 

The reception took place at Lake Windsor Golf Club in Windsor, Wisconsin, just a few minutes from Madison.  It is a very pretty location both indoors and out.   The thing that made this reception so unique was that they had a bean bag tournament.  They used professional-level equipment and they had about 15 or more set ups to allow most everyone to play at the same time.  It was very interesting.  This shot is of Gina in mid stride.

The following image is of Drew’s grandmother throwing a bag while his sister is looking on.   Providing something unique or personal to a wedding is a great idea.  It is fun, and people will remember it forever.

This was one of my artsy shots.  I like it a lot and it did make a nice background image for a page in their album. 

As I said, the Windsor Golf Club is a very attractive location.   If you want beautiful pictures for your wedding, it is important to have beautiful backgrounds.  I love the glass doors in the background of this image while the couple is cutting the cake. 

Again–the windows in the background made for some very pretty photographs. 

Westport Town Hall Holiday Fair

December 6, 2009, at the Westport Town Hall (just north of Madison, WI) was a special fair for the holidays.   There were about a dozen vendors of which I was one.  I had a portable studio set up and took pictures of children, one baby and parents with their children. 

I really enjoyed meeting the other small business owners who are mostly from home schooling families.   It turns out that we did not have a lot of visitors but it was still fun because of the opportunity to meet the other vendors.  And of course all the people are very friendly and helpful. 

I did manage to take some pictures.   Below are a few of my favorite photographs from the day.  Pick out your favorite and let me know.  If you would like to make a purchase you can do so at:  www.Pictage.com/768662.  Your comments at the bottom of the page are welcome too. 

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

I remember praying intently for a nice day to shoot the outdoor pictures after the wedding.  It was October 10, 2009 and the forecast was for cold and rainy weather.  We got snow instead.  Brett, the groom, loved the fact that it snowed, and said he was disappointed that it stopped so soon.  Fortunately for the rest of us, it was just a dusting and just in the morning.   During the rest of the day there were blue skies and the sun shone brightly. 

Brett and Alyssa were married at  Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie.   Everything seemed to be going as planned, as far as I could tell.  Alyssa was starting to get worried, though, because the procession had begun but she had not yet seen her father.  As the organist played a second or third introduction to the wedding march, Dad found Alyssa and they scurried to their place to begin the walk down the aisle.  I got this shot of Dad quickly arranging Alyssa’s dress before they proceeded down the aisle.   I think it tells the story. 

Once the bride was down the aisle, everything was fine.  I think this sanctuary is beautiful.   I love the color tones, and the candelabra and flowers add a nice touch to the whole scene. 

As can be seen in this photo, it is a beautiful fall day in the gorgeous Olbrich Gardens.  What you don’t see is everyone shivering because just a few minutes ago they were wearing  jackets.  It looks like it could be a 75-degree day, but it is more like 39. 

I changed things up by first taking pictures of each of them on iPhones and then getting shots of them holding the iPhones with the other’s photo.  Here is one of my favorite pictures–it made it into Alyssa and Brett’s album. 

Though the day was cold, the wedding party kept up the enthusiasm.  They showed their love and support for the bride and groom by having fun throughout the day even though it was uncomfortably cold.   Some of the other photos show more overt enthusiasm, but I think this one is more balanced with an overall better look. 

One of the special places in Olbrich Gardens is the Japanese pagoda.   It is a wonderful structure with a stream on one side, a small fountain, interesting stairs, and a reflecting pond.  This shot just over the fountain shows some of the vivid background.   If you go to Olbrich Botanical Gardens, take the time to visit the Japanese pagoda.  For a full view of the pagoda see the next photo. 

A wide angle view of the Olbrich Gardens Japanese pagoda.

Brett and Alyssa had their reception at the Crowne Plaze on the east side of Madison.  Here we can see them enjoying their wedding cake while guests are looking on. 

At the end of the evening I was able to capture several shots of the bride and groom under this arch.  I love the various levels of depth in this photograph.  In addition to the great overall look is the feeling of authentic romance in the couple.  It is my favorite shot from the day. 

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