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

An Engagement Session

These pictures and video were taken at the Henry Villas Park (near the zoo) in Madison, Wisconsin.  Its one of my favorite locations for outdoor photographs.  There are two bodies of water and some very cool bridges which make great background features.   The bridge in the first image has some interesting-looking brick, and all the greenery makes an attractive background.

Xu 1 An Engagement Session 

I love this park.   It has many photogenic features, including the trees and the green pads in the lake.  Having a nice temperature with a few clouds in the sky helped, too.

Xu 2 An Engagement Session

The couple is Xu and Enfu.  I was told that Xu is pronounced like “shoe,” which is probably an English approximation, but it worked for me.  I really enjoyed working with them. They trusted me and were willing to do some unusual things.  I brought a Frisbee and jump rope, which they were happy to use.

Xu 3 An Engagement Session

Xu 4 An Engagement Session

It was fun having them do the bump.  They were very willing, and in one photograph (below) you can see Enfu high in the air.  

Xu 5 An Engagement Session

It was all fun and they were good sports about it.  Check out those lilly pads in the water.

Xu 6 An Engagement Session

by James Bendewald, Madison Wisconsin