Stacie & Brad — Memorial Union Engagement Shoot

It is always such a privilege when a couple put their trust in me to shoot their engagement and wedding photos. It is a lot of responsibility but it’s also a lot of fun — being creative and seeing what comes out of it. Every couple is different and together we work out a mixture of pictures that are unique to that couple. Brad and Stacie are no exception in this regard.

We went to the Memorial Union of the University of Wisconsin to shoot their engagement pictures. Though it was a little windy, it turned out to be a beautiful spring day. There were tons of people enjoying the sights and sounds. Brad and Stacie fit into the local scene perfectly as they enjoyed each other. We had a few laughs and conversations with a few people around us as Brad and Stacie were posing and following my directions.

Check out the following video and pictures to get a feel for how the engagement shoot went.  If you have a high speed connection to the internet be sure to click on the HD icon for a better image of the video. 

James Studio Photography

I was shooting from inside the cafeteria to get this shot.   Communication through the windows was not so easy but they knew what to do. 

BS 2 1 Stacie & Brad    Memorial Union Engagement Shoot

The shoot was vivid with colors everywhere.  This shot looks out from the terrace to the lake with sailboats in the background.

BS 2 Stacie & Brad    Memorial Union Engagement Shoot

This is a composition of two images brought together to make a better complete image.  I love Stacie’s crossed legs in this shot. 

BS 3 Stacie & Brad    Memorial Union Engagement Shoot

The Memorial Union has three of these huge chairs which are quite suitable to engagement pictures. 

BS 4 Stacie & Brad    Memorial Union Engagement Shoot

BS 5 Stacie & Brad    Memorial Union Engagement Shoot

Just down the path from the Madison Memorial Union are these sailboats for rent.  Or in this case very conveniently located for photography. 

BS 6 Stacie & Brad    Memorial Union Engagement Shoot

They look pretty comfortable in this spot.  It is a lovely picture. 

BS 7 Stacie & Brad    Memorial Union Engagement Shoot

Love is in the Air

It is Spring, 2011 and love is in the air–again.  I’m old enough to remember the Beatles appearing in February, 1964 on the Ed Sullivan show.  Girls in the audience were screaming their heads off, making it feel like sheer energy. What happened to such times? It was fun. The British Invasion hit the US and we all became rock ‘n roll Beatles fans. In those days we played our music on scratchy albums and played them over and over again.  (If you want to get a great feel for the times, watch the movie with Tom Hanks called, That Thing You Do.)  

family 2 Love is in the Air

Music is a funny thing.  It reflects our mood and it can create our mood.  We’re finicky about our music, and people are more diverse in their musical interests than ever before.  But sometimes a lot of people agree that one group, artist, or song is worth our attention.  Suddenly they become a star.

family 3 Love is in the Air

14 years after the Beatles came onto the scene, Australian John Paul Young had a few local hits. Then in 1978 he came out with “Love is in the Air” and it became a worldwide hit. His YouTube biography says, “John Paul Young attributed the song’s success to the direction of George Young, who had told him to make the song casual by singing it as if it were a conversation.” I think it is a great love song. If you are in love, maybe you will appreciate it, too. It has had over 6 millions hits on YouTube so a few other people seem to like it too.  Check out the song here:

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC0kIzM1Fo

“Love is in the air” is a concept that makes us feel good. We all have the need to feel loved. But what can we rely on? What makes a loving relationship last? Libraries of books have been written on the subject, and I’m not going to solve the world’s problems here. But I would like to make one small suggestion. As you move along in your relationship, take the time to think through and ask your friend/fiancée questions. Be interested in their world and don’t stop being interested. If you could use help with good questions do an internet search on the topic of “questions for lasting relationships”. 

family 4 Love is in the Air

The following questions are gleaned from RelationshipQuestions.Net.    Pick a few questions to ask your friend/fiancée.

When was the first time you became aware of me?
Do you remember the first thing we said to one another?
What was your first impression of me? Did you ever dislike me?
What’s your favorite memory of me?
What do you like best about me?
What is your favorite way of spending time with me?
How would you describe yourself?
What is something you did as a teen that you parents never learned about?
Who was the first person you kissed? What were the circumstances?
What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had? What’s the most recent dream you can remember?
What is your first childhood memory?
What was the happiest moment of your life?
What was your most embarrassing moment? How did you respond?
Who has been the most important person in your life?

James Studio specializes in photography and videography. Give Jim a call at 608 233-5556 or contact me through the Contact Page

family 5 Love is in the Air

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 Love is in the Air

Paulina and Reck

Paulina and Reck are going to Florida for their wedding but hired me to shoot their engagement pictures.  It is a beautiful day in May that took us to Vilas Park in Madison for this shoot.   Vilas park is one of my favorite places to shoot engagement pictures.  If you have a high speech connection to the internet, click on the HD icon to get a better image when playing the video. 

Paulina and Reck

I love the trees in the park as well as the really cool walk-over bridges.   Here Paulina is the center of attention.  In real life she is a pediatrician while Reck is a computer guy. 

Paulina Reck 1 Paulina and Reck

With the couple down close to the water and me up near the bridge I got this piggy-back-ride shot of them together. 

Paulina Reck 2 Paulina and Reck

The walk-over bridge is in the background here.  I love to shoot in the shade which allows couples to smile without squinting. 

Paulina Reck 3 Paulina and Reck

The next few shots are of Reck and Paulina while on the bridge. 

Paulina Reck 4 Paulina and Reck

Paulina Reck 5 Paulina and Reck

I love this jump shot.  Great timing makes for a wonderful photo. 

Paulina Reck Jump 1 Paulina and Reck

The bridge in the background is a drive over bridge.  It is gorgeous as part of the background image. 

Paulina Reck 7 Paulina and Reck

Like most couples, Reck and Paulina have a favorite team.  They are from Arizona so it fits that they are Cardinal fans.   The background in the following images has changed.   We moved from Vilas Park to the Arboretum’s Duck Pond. 

Paulina Reck 8 Paulina and Reck

Paulina Reck 9 Paulina and Reck

Paulina Reck 10 Paulina and Reck

Paulina Reck 11 Paulina and Reck

The following is one of my favorite pictures from the shoot.  I love Paulina’s expression and body position in the midst of walking across the big rocks.

Paulina Reck 12 Paulina and Reck

Bruce & Terri — Madison Engagement Pictures

Bruce Flynn & Terri Unterholzner were married January 15, 2011.   In December, we went to my favorite barn to get these engagement pictures.    Yes, it was cold and there was plenty of snow outside but inside the barn it was OK.  It was still cold but manageable for a December engagement shoot in Wisconsin. 

Terri and Bruce are a fun couple to be around.  I think you will see some of that in the following pictures.

BT Engagement 1 Bruce & Terri    Madison Engagement Pictures

BT Engagement 3 Bruce & Terri    Madison Engagement Pictures

BT Engagement 4 Bruce & Terri    Madison Engagement Pictures

BT Engagement 5 Bruce & Terri    Madison Engagement Pictures

BT Engagement 6 Bruce & Terri    Madison Engagement Pictures

BT Engagement 7 Bruce & Terri    Madison Engagement Pictures

BT Engagement 8 Bruce & Terri    Madison Engagement Pictures

Are you dating?
 Bruce & Terri    Madison Engagement Pictures

Gina & Drew — Madison Engagement Photos

Gina Campbell and Drew Shae were married May 9, 2009.   A few months before the wedding we went out on a spring engagement shoot in the Madison area. 

We started in the engagement studio.  When we have two hours to shoot this is a great place to start.  It gets everybody warmed up before the real fun begins. 

Gina Drew 3 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos

Next we went to the Glenway Golf Course to get these shots.   The trees are very cool. 

Gina Drew 5 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos

Gina Drew 6 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos

Gina Drew 1 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos

On a bright sunny day the blue sky makes for an attractive background. 

Gina Drew 7 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos

We went to Hoyt Park to get these pictures.   There is a shelter at the park with the brown brick that looks great in photographs. 

Gina Drew 9 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos

Gina has a very nice expression here and Drew is enjoying the moment. 

Gina Drew 2 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos

Then with UW jerseys on we got these shots. 

Gina Drew 10 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos

Gina Drew 11 Gina & Drew    Madison Engagement Photos