KB Image Photography

2009-01-04T18:01:00.001-08:00

New Year, New Blog!

Ah, it's that time of the year where photographers begin to tackle their "to do" list that grows over the summer while we are busy with weddings. And with that, I am launching a new blog! A bit more "friendly" in scope and I'm no longer dependent on an outside source like Blogger. So with that dear friends and readers (Mom, you too) update your readers, RSS Feeds and carrier pigeons to the following URL

www.kbimageblog.com

I'm still moving in and setting up furniture so please excuse the mess while I navigate through the new site's features.

This blog will continue to be live, but will not feature any further content. All of the posts and archives have been moved to their new home, so bookmark it and come visit!

2008-12-29T21:23:00.000-08:00

Sneak Peek...Julie and Travis December 27 2008

2008-12-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

Facebook Photos!

I have to admit after a lot of resisting on my part I have fully become addicted to Facebook. One of the things I like best about it is getting to "see" my clients that I haven't met face to face yet since they live out of state and, of course, looking through everyone's photos. And I'm tickled when people put their wedding pictures on their Facebook pages for everyone to see. I had a recent client email me recently telling me that while she would like to put more pictures from her wedding on Facebook but that "It takes forever for them to upload".

Here's a simple explanation to that problem. The files that you get from your wedding coverage are huuuuuuuuge files. They are intended for printing out to a photo, not for web use. The photos you see on the web are actually low resolution so they don't take up as much space on web servers. That's why when you try to print out a photo from the web it looks pixilated and icky. When you try and upload those huge files to Facebook, it has to render them to smaller files; hence the long upload time.

If you would like web sized versions of your wedding photos so you can put them on Facebook or your own blogs with ease, I am happy to provide that for you. I won't put my logo or anything like that on them because that's just not how I roll, but you could, oh...do something nice like rant and rave about how great I am and link to my website :) THAT is how I roll, shameless self promotion.

If you'd like a low res copy of your files just email me an I'll pop a disk in the mail for you.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

Jared and Kelli's Wedding Featured in Milwaukee Magazine

I think I've had the latest Milwaukee Magazine sitting on my counter for about two weeks, so imagine my surprise while slurping my Tomato Soup with my kids for lunch on a blustery day I came across this article! I knew Milwaukee Mag was doing a piece on them because they asked me for the pictures, but I had kind of forgotten about it. When I came across the article I said "Hey, I know them!" and then "Hey, I took those pictures!" My kids think I am dork and were spectacularly unimpressed. In their minds, me learning to play Rock Band would be a much more marketable skill.

2008-12-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

Emily and Chad's E-sign in book!

I just mailed out Emily and Chad's engagement sign in book and I thought I'd show you all a few pages!

An engagement sign in book is used at your wedding for your guests to sign in and leave you a message. This creates a keepsake for you rather than just a bland sign in book. The book contains pictures from you engagement session arranged with some negative space so there is plenty of room for notes and names.

I blogged about Emily and Chad's session HERE, and what is fun about their book is they added fun facts about themselves in the photos. I'm betting Emily and Chad's friends and family will really get a kick out of this book!

The book has flexible pages very similar to a yearbook and a hard cover. If you are interested in adding this to your package or purchasing it ala carte, here's the info:

E-session alone $250
Sign in book alone $250
Session and book (discounted!) $400

2008-12-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

Some recent in home portrait sessions

2008-12-11T09:01:00.000-08:00

A different kind of bridal show!

Hate those huge bridal fairs that herd you through like cattle? Me too...which is why I don't do them anymore. If you are looking for ideas and vendors, please come by the Bridal Show and Tell.

Come check out the not so conventional wedding expo at the Milwaukee County Zoo’s Peck Center. Where we offer a more relaxed, fun and informative environment to help brides get ready for their big day.

We have standard booths available to various vendors, such as florists, caterers, Spas, Make-up Artists, bridal shops, DJ’s. You name it they will be there. Vendors are also offered to give 30 minute interactive workshops to inform brides about those endless questions they may have about that infamous day.

The O2M Wedding Show & Tell will offer various types of live music as well as a fashion show. You not only have the opportunity to meet different vendors, but see and hear their work first hand.

This is a fun and interactive way to do some non-stop shopping for the newly engaged in a stress-free environment. Walk away with more then a pamphlet or brochure. Fashion show, vacation giveaway, Show & Tells and much more.

Tickets: $5 in advance or $7 at the door

2008-12-08T18:54:00.000-08:00

Meredith and Andrew, November 29 2008

Wedding and Reception: Union League Club, Chicago

This is my third wedding that I have had the privilege to photograph for this awesome family. The wedding was beautiful, Meredith was radiant and I have the best job in the world that I get to see families celebrating again and again. Congratulations Meredith and Andrew, much luck and love in your life together in New York.

Click here for the link to the slideshow with music, or click out of your reader if you cannot view it on the blog!

2008-12-04T21:57:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh-Laska!

Common questions asked of me about Alaska

Why are you going there in November?! Wedding photographers don't live life like the rest of the world. We work on week ends when everyone else is off and we have to travel when we don't have a wedding. Generally that is in the months that there are not as many weddings. Case in point, I shot 9 weddings in August and 1 in November. So we get while the gettin' is good, so to speak.

Where did you go? Well this is an interesting question. I went...to the Matanuska Valley, more specifically Palmer and Wasilla. Yes, that Wasilla.

Did you see Sarah Palin? No. And strangely enough, this trip was planned before she got the nod for potential VP. So I learned very quickly to say that I was going to be staying "Just outside Anchorage" because it was the number one question people asked me. I cannot even imagine how annoying it was to live there during that time. And for the record, I saw her house which is a non-descript brown two story. I'm told she is often spotted at the local Wal Mart.

Was it cold? The temperature was just about the same as it was here. The difference was mostly that the sun did not fully rise until 10AM and it was dark around 4PM, just like here. And since I was on vacation I slept until 9AM pretty much every day, so who cares!

Did you see Moose? I did, on the first day there. I did not have my camera ready and I was too enthralled to try and dig it out. He was cute, and my friend Missy said he was "just a little guy" but he looked ginormous to me.

What did you like best? Well, besides having time to spend with my awesome friend and her family I loved how rugged it was there. I loved seeing mountains all the time. They have a very different mindset there, much less materialistic than it is here. They lament when a new "box store" such as Target moves in because it usurps mom and pop shops, yet getting anything shipped there is either very expensive or cannot even be shipped. It's like a very small town in a VERY big state. I will tell you honestly that if not for the mountains Anchorage looked a lot like Racine to me and that is the largest city in Alaska.

Funny things I learned Cars are called "Rigs". And if you have ever made fun of people who drive SUV's you understand that in this place, they actually make sense. The roads have grooves in them from tire chains. There is literally one road in and out of Anchorage, and it's fourlanes and if it snows or avalances then you don't go anywhere. When I was driving to Girdwood with Missy I said "Wow, this is pretty remote" and she said "Not really. There is a road here. Anything with a road is not really considered remote"

Going outside This is a phrase used if you go to the "lower 48". Such as the statement that was uttered to Missy by a waitress who knew her "You look like you have a bit of color. Did you go outside?"

Reindeer Sausage
Tastes like Kielbasa

2008-12-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

Erin and Andy

Wedding : Zion Episcopal Oconomowoc
Reception: Milwaukee Athletic Club

Thanks to Erin and Andy for being patient while I was out of town! I loved working with Erin and Andy from start to finish, and I pretty much wanted to be adopted by their family by the time I was done shooting their wedding. What a fun crowd, what an awesome wedding. Congratulations to you both!

View their wedding slide show with music by clicking here. Or enjoy it on the blog!

2008-11-25T19:36:00.000-08:00

Photographers!!! Are you open 9-19-09?

As of today I have received 37 inquiries for 9-19-09. If you're a local photog and have this date open, please email me so I can pass your name on. It seems that everyone I have referred is also booked.

Updates from the beautiful state of Alaska to come, I am uploading the pictures now!

2008-11-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

Alaska!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow I start my great Alaskan adventure! It may seem a bit odd that I am going to Alaska during the coldest darkest days there, but hey...I can't exactly travel in June like normal people can! I'm going to visit my good friend Missy, also known as "The Picture Lady" so we can hang out, eat moose and drink martinis. I'll be gone until the 30th, so please forgive if my responses to phone calls and emails are delayed. I'll be updating the blog as I can with some awesome pictures...I hope. I'm not much of a landscape photographer. Be well, and Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

Sneak Peek! Erin and Andy, October 18 2008

2008-11-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

Giving back

For many years I have been aware of an organization called "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" a program that photographers join. I've typed and re-typed what this means, but perhaps it's best quoted from their website

There is another aspect of pregnancy and birth. There is an unexpected place in this journey where some families may find themselves. When a baby dies, a world is turned upside down. There is confusion, sadness, fear, and uncertainty that cannot be explained. There is sorrow where there should have been joy. During this time, it might be impossible for families to know what they might need in order to heal in the future.

This is the place where the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation gently provides a helping hand and a healing heart. For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives.

When I first started considering this, I have to admit, I dismissed it because I just thought I could not do it. I spend my life documenting the happiest days of people's lives, why would I want to photograph such a tragedy? I have kids, I reasoned. I might cry, I reasoned. I might...feel bad, I reasoned. But for the last year it's niggled at me, that I wasn't brave enough to do it. I recently was going through some photographs of my oldest son and came across a photo of my friend Eli. At the time, I lived in Florida and Eli and I had met at one of those "first time mommy" groups. Eli was the one who got pregnant with twins when her son Trent was about 3 months old. We marveled that while the rest of us were trying to reconcile never getting any sleep that Eli would soon have 3 kids under the age of one. Shortly before she was due to give birth, she found out one of the twins had died in uetero.

I was 27 years old, and that was the first "person" I knew who died. I had never been to a funeral. The idea of losing an infant was beyond my comprehension. I went to visit Eli in the hospital before shortly after she gave birth to the little girl who survived. While in the hospital, she asked me if I wanted to see the photo the nurses had taken of the twin who had passed...God help me, I wish I remembered her name for sure, but I think it was Sarah. I said that I did, and I looked at the photo and for me, it was a kind of closure. After I looked at it Eli grabbed my hand and said "You're the first person who has seen it. You're the first person who has wanted to see it. I haven't looked yet, but I will."

I thought of that, and logged on to their website and applied for acceptance. I got word today that I have been accepted and for the first time, I don't feel bad about that. I can't say that if I am called doing this type of photography will be easy. I might not have the heart for it. I hope I do.

If you're a photographer, please consider this worthy organization. I believe that photos are the greatest legacy we can leave.

2008-11-16T15:05:00.000-08:00

Liz and Phil, October 4 2008

I met Liz and Phil in Chicago over the summer for an engagement session that turned into a entire evening. I had so much fun hanging out with them that by dinner time we caught a bite to eat and then went outside for some night time shots. I got to meet their kitties, see their cool apartment so by the time their wedding rolled around it felt like photographing old friends. The Osthoff is one of my favorite venues in the area, I love the views of the Lake and the porch where they hold cocktail hours. This was the first time I got to photograph the wedding ceremony on the grounds and once again, the weather was perfect. Liz was radiant, Phil was debonair and funny as ever, and the entire day was a joy to photograph. Congratulations Liz and Phil!

Wedding and Reception at The Osthoff Resort

You can view their wedding slide show with music by clicking here

Or enjoy it here on the blog, click out of your reader if using one.

2008-11-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

Jennie and Bill, September 27 2008

Wedding: Brookfield Reformed Church
Reception: Coast

Jennie and Bill had probably the most stress free wedding this year. I don't know if it was just that they had all the people around him and their day was exactly as they wanted it, but there was not a moment where things felt rushed; something I can tell you is very rare at a wedding Everything just flowed, people were laughing, Bill was crying (His best man noted in his speech that Bill cried during "Ratatooie") and everyone was celebrating and dancing. This was obviously a union that pleased so many people, and Jennie and Bill seemed to truly enjoy their day. I certainly enjoyed photographing their wedding, I felt like I hardly worked!

You can view their wedding slide show with music by clicking here

Or just enjoy it here on the blog

2008-11-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

Tall Poppies Jewelry Liquidation!

Many of you who met me in my home studio before I moved may not know that I have a studio space in Walkers Point that I share with Poppy, a very talented jewelry maker. In addition to custom bridal jewelry she does really lovely artwear pieces and she is having a liquidation sale this week end! Here's the information on the sale, stop by and do some early holiday shopping! If you're in the market for bridesmaid necklaces,earrings or a special piece for yourself on your wedding day, bring in your ideas and colors and talk to Poppy!

Website : www.tallpoppiesjewelry.com

2008-11-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

Wordle

www.wordle.net

Warning...it's addictive!

2008-11-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

Holiday Cards 2008!

This year I'm offering two different styles of Holiday Cards, 5x7 folding cards and the popular slimline series. Here are the styles offered.

Folding Cards

These cards are 5x7 in size printed on a lovely heavy cardstock, envelopes included. Prices are as follows

25: $85
50: $160
100:$295

The Slimline series offer these designs

These are 4x8 printed on photo paper and include envelopes. Prices are as follows:

25: $40
50: $75
100: $140

Shipping is $10 for the cards. Order early for early delivery! Orders placed after December 7 cannot be guaranteed for holiday delivery.

2008-11-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

Lauren and Jay's Engagement Session

2008-11-04T13:44:00.000-08:00

Dawn and Brent, September 20 2008

When Dawn called me for the first time to inquire about her wedding, I think we talked for an hour. She's just one of those people that you can't help but love instantly. I've found that many of my clients are like that, and I'm not sure where I get all you lovely people, but I am convinced I have the best clients on the planet. So travel I did to lovely Thorp Wisconsin to Dawn and Brent's wedding. She had warned me "It's not going to be fancy, I'm not one of those kinds of girls. But there is going to be lots of love and wine, and beer and pies". She knew she could get me with the pies, she did! The love and laughter went on all day. I literally met Brent seconds before the ceremony, right after I look the photo below of him making the "Loser" sign to one of his friends. That's when I knew I'd like him as much as Dawn. They are an awesome couple and I am so happy to have been chosen to photograph their wedding.

Oh, and their wedding was at the gorgeous Munson Bridge Winery. They just started doing weddings and I am telling you it's a beautiful venue with endless photo ops.

You can view their wedding slide show with music by clicking here

Or enjoy it here on the blog!

2008-11-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

VOTE!!!!

Whatever your convictions or beliefs, I urge you to get out today on this most unbelievably beautiful Wisconsin day and VOTE.

A friend sent me this cute video. Enjoy!

2008-11-01T09:24:00.001-07:00

Stacey and Brendon, Sept 19 2008

I met Stacey 4 years ago and I was thrilled when she emailed me to see if I was available for her wedding when she finally found "the one". Strangely enough, if she had called a few days earlier I would not have been. But fate has a way of working these things out and I had gotten a call from Maryam and Arash telling me they needed to move their Sept 19 date to Sept 5, would that be okay? And it was.. I think that is kismet, karma...whatever you want to call it. They had a simple intimate ceremony and we busted outside for family portraits just as the sun was setting.

Thanks Stacey and Brendon, and many years of happiness!

Wedding and Reception at: Silver Spring Country Club

View their wedding slide show with music by clicking here

Or enjoy it here on the blog, you'll have to click out of your reader if using one.

2008-10-31T20:09:00.000-07:00

Attn Sports Fans

I know many of you will be shocked to hear this...but I am not a sports fan. Despite living in a state with one of the most rabid football fans on earth, I just don't care about sports. There, I said it. I don't care about the Green Bay Packers. I don't wish them ill will, I hope they win, but....I just don't care. I'll watch a game if there is beer and snacks involved, and I have actually been to a Packer game. I went mostly so I could cozy up to the sport shooters on the sidelines to gawk at their lenses. "Hey, is that a 500mm or are you just happy to see me?"

Here are some now semi-famous quotes uttered by me when at a sporting event; In the early 90's I went to a Brewer Game. I noted to my friends "Isn't that odd?? All those umpires are named Al?" The Umpires had their names on their hats...and it turned out it meant American League Who knew?

The Packer Game doosy came when I went with my friend Christal. Christal thinks she IS a Packer. She is one of those people who calls the Packers "We". "We play at noon" and "We lost today". I have repeatedly advised her that she is not on the team, but she doesn't believe me. Anyway, I went to the game with a 70-200 lens so I could take pictures of Brett Farve for her. She pointed him out to me and told me his number, and I set off to work. At one point I turned to her and said "Well, number 4 can't be very good. He's hardly ever on the field"

And yes, there was beer involved for both of these quotes, but I can assure you it would have happened with out it.

So since God has a funny sense of humor, he sent me...two boys. And despite my vigilant signing them up for music lessons, art lessons, acting lessons and even gymnastics...they are sports fans. They play sports. They LOVE the Packers and the Brewers. And because I don't want to give them one more thing to hash out in therapy in the years to come, I go to their sporting events. Here's the truth...Soccer is the devil and I'll never get back those years I spent on a cold, rainy field in a soccer mom chair. It's wrong wrong wrong...but the day they both were done with soccer was one of the happiest days of my life. Basketball I don't mind since I kind of understand it because I was obsessed with a boy named Steve in high school and I learned it so I would seem cool. (It didn't work). Volleyball is not bad at all, but I have found that I suck mightily at photographing it. And Caleb has found his niche with Cross Country, which is the PERFECT sport for sports hating moms everywhere. You drop them off, cheer at the start line, read a book, cheer when they come over the finish. Perfect!

Here are some shots of the last of the Cross Country meets and Volleyball. What you will undoubtedly notice is that while my kids look like brothers, the gene pool split cleanly 50/50 with them. Caleb is the spitting image of his dad, tall, lanky and lean, while Joey got blessed with my genes. Or, as he more aptly put it when he was 7 "Caleb looks like Dad and I look like you because we like bacon"

I love this one..."The agony of defeat".. Joey is #45

Caleb. And the hair I get to take nearly 100% credit for :)

2008-10-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

WedComp

Yesterday I blogged about how important I think entering photo contest are for photographers. And I got a few emails (and you know who you are! :) ) from photographers who are newer in the biz (and by that I mean in the last 5 years...I'm an old dog at this point going on 13 years doing this) asking me specifics about photo competition. The resounding fear from each email was that "I don't know what to enter".

Online contest are different from in person photo critiques, but they are a great way to get your feet wet and to get an idea of what to enter. First, I recommend that you spend some time looking through contests that are over to see what the winners look like. In some cases, you will see comments from the judges as to what they liked, and what they didn't. Sometimes not. This is where there are some similarities to "real time" judging. I can't even tell you how many times I've sat in a darkened room with 3 or 4 judges scrutinizing a print I labored over only to stoically enter their scores without a word, while my world came crumbling down when they delivered a score of 60, 65...70. Which in photographic terms means, you are not a hack, but this ain't no merit print. To "merit" you must get a score over 80. And very often when that happens, the judges are talking, and arguing and you get some really good (and sometimes harsh) feedback on the print.

Here are the 12 elements of a GOOD photograph that judges are looking for.

(source...PPA.com. And if you are a photographer and not a member, shame on you. Go register now)

1. Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder, or another intense emotion.
2. Creativity is the external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message, or thought.
3. Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.
4. Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.
5. Print Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.
6. Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.
7. Lighting—the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is man made or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.
8. Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.
9. Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.
10. Technical Excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color all speak to the qualities of the physical print.
11. Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, film choice, paper selection, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.
12. Story-Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.

I budget $500 per year for photo contests...sometimes more. If this sounds like a lot...it's not. Back in "the day" you could spend nearly $100 to have one print made for photo critique. Now you can enter electronically and the fees are minimal, usually around $10 per image.

The next photo contest up at bat is Wedcomp and when I saw the list of judges I was totally stoked. Does anyone stay "stoked" anymore? Just wondering. Anyway, these are some seriously talented heavy-hitters in the wedding photography industry and if they say your stuff is good then you have a ticket to ride my friend. Check their portfolios

Rachel LaCour Neisen

Cliff Mautner

Zack Arias

Jennifer Bebb

So I encourage you to do it. First, go through all your images you think are the best you have. Then begin eliminating them according to the guidelines above. Don't ask your clients, or your spouse, or your best friend if they think the image is good. Remove the rah rah cheerleaders from your life and really focus (ha!) on the elements of the photo. Ask other photographers. I'm always happy to look at other people's work and let them know if I think a photograph is a good contest entry. And no, I won't refund your money if you don't win :)

I will tell you this, the most common mistake I see are photographers who are entering pictures that they think are great that are commonplace. I'm being honest here: weddings have many of the same elements week after week. For our clients, they are not commonplace because it's them getting their gown on for the first time so those images are precious to them. But if you enter a photo of a bride peeking out of her dress when she is putting it on it damn well better be a totally new and interesting angle the judges have never seen before week after week as they are shooting weddings. You have to make them say "That is a great shot, I wish I had taken it"

I'm stepping off my soapbox now and I'm going to go purchase some contest credits for wedcomp.

Who's gonna join me?

2008-10-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

Jennifer and Collin

2008-10-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

Diego!

3 years ago I photographed his Mom and Dad's wedding and I remember saying to them "You two are gonna make some beautiful babies" I was right....meet Diego, 9 months old and totally adorable.

2008-10-28T10:32:00.001-07:00

ISPWP Photo Contest Results!

Woot! I'm #19! The results are in for the second quarter ISPWP photo contest and I'm pretty darn pleased that 17 of the 20 images I entered placed and gave me an overall ranking of #19.

Why do I enter photo contests? Well for a few reasons. Wedding photography in particular is a tricky sort of photography to get real-world feed back on. And if you are a photographer, chances are (hopefully) that your clients love your work, your family and friends think you are brilliant and for the most part you are told that your work is fabulous. It's pretty hard for someone to tell you a photo sucks if it is a photo of a loved one, they just don't see it. So for me it's really important that I get critical feedback from my peers and colleagues regarding composure, exposure and key elements that make a photo great. Not just good, or cute, or "pretty".

Time spent in photo critique will rip your soul out and teach you more than you can image. It's something I'll continue to do year after year, not just for the accolades and the chance to pimp myself out as "award winning" but because it pushes me to be creative while working often in the same venues week after week.

Before every wedding or session I give myself a challenge. Some of my recent ones that I can recall have been

1. Shoot more with the 85 today (Not a lens I love, so I wanted to see if I wasn't giving it a chance. I do have a predilection to have "pet" lenses)

2. Shoot sun flare balanced with flash outside. (This worked! Check out Kyle and Amanda's e-photos)

3. After the safe processional shot, shoot panning with a low shutter speed balanced with flash to show movement and blur(It didn't work...but it might next time! And I'll keep trying it until I get it)

You get the idea :) And now, here are the winners from ISPWP!

Here's an example where panning with movement did work...tech info 1/15 f2.8

These next two were another challenge: Shoot natural light only (with the aid of the DJ's lights), on a boat, at night with no ambient light. These two images are the results of that, but holy cow did I get sea sick getting them! It seems having a camera up to your face while holding your breath to account for low shutter speeds did not agree with me. I had to sit down for a minute after these images, but it was worth it!

2008-10-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

Amanda and Kyle's Engagement Session

2008-10-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

Chad and Lucy

These are my favorite portrait sessions to do with kids...unscripted, no huge expectations for the perfect smile. When you just let them have fun, you get the smiles!

2008-10-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

Amy and Derek's Engagement Session

2008-10-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

Jared and Kelli, September 13 2008

Wedding: St Matthew's Wauwatosa
Reception: The Wisconsin Club

The morning of Jared and Kelli's wedding I looked outside and said a few choice words under my breath. It was raining...and raining...and...raining. I was prepared...6 big black golf umbrellas were loaded into my rockin' Tangerine Honda. My phone rang a few hours before the wedding and a nervous Jared asked me what the rain plan was going to be, and I told him what plan b would be in case of non-stop rain. But then I assured him "But it's going to stop". Jared laughed and said "Ooohkay, Kim". You see, it wasn't a gentle fall rain, it was one of those gray, driving, just not pretty any way you sell it kind of rains.

This year has been one of the most glorious weather wedding seasons that I have had in many years. And I just couldn't really stomach the idea of Jared and Kelli not having outdoor photos. So I said a few prayers, a few chants, and did a rain dance....and...it stopped. IT STOPPED. I don't know who was more thrilled, Jared and Kelli, or me. We got almost all of the photos we wanted in before it started up again, and luckily the few family photos we had were finished at The Wisconsin Club, which is a gorgeous venue.

Congratulations Jared and Kelli!!

Enjoy their wedding slide show with music here

Or just enjoy it here on the blog.

2008-10-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

Aw, SNAP!

For all my blog stalking photographer friends! I bought this shirt today, it's available TODAY ONLY at Tee Fury

It's kinda dorky, which is why I like it all the more.

2008-10-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

Marin and Sam, Sept 6 2008

When I showed up at the beautiful home that Marin and Sam were to be married at in Merrimac, I met Marin in the driveway. Never have met her before, she introduced herself and then whispered to me good humorously "This wedding stuff...it's INSANE... and those people in there (gestures to the house) they are NUTS" and I smiled at her and said "Welcome to every Saturday of my life"

It's pretty normal that when I show up during the getting ready that things are crazy. And it's by far my most favorite part of the day. It's when the culmination of a lot of months of planning all comes to a head and the emotions are highest. And as it always does, things turned out great.

Props to the awesome wedding coordinator Jayme Galanos from Beyond Elegant Events for putting together the event. This was the first time I had worked with Jayme and we had a blast together, our personalities definitely sync. I'm looking forward to working with her more and talking about our dogs on Facebook.

Also, I just must mention that I loved that Sam's mom was a crier during the Mother/Son dance. Having boys myself I just loved the way she looked at him during the dance. I've captured hundreds of weepy dads giving away their little girls, but it struck me while photographing Sam and his mom that I don't often have the chance to photograph the mother/son bond. It was kinda awesome.

Congratulations Marin and Sam! You can see the wedding slideshow with music here

Or enjoy it on the blog.

2008-10-16T21:11:00.000-07:00

The backlash has already started

Within mere minutes of the posting of my Croc love, I received this IM from my Friend Susan Stripling well known photographer and lover of all things Fashion. She was Carrie on Sex and the City before there was a Carrie.

susanstripling (11:04:38 PM): HOLD ON A GOD***** SECOND
susanstripling (11:04:43 PM): KIMBERLEY ANDERSON
susanstripling (11:04:52 PM): WHAT THE MOTHER******* ****ALL IS ON YOUR ****ING FEET?

I've known Susan since she was a mere newbie shooting on a freaking Hasselblad. I've watched her climb the photographic ladder of success, richly deserved. I've held her hair back while she was sick in Vegas, I've shopped with her and convinced her that she should totally buy those boots that could have fed a family of 4 for a week, and I've traveled to exotic locales with her. She knows I am from MILWAUKEE.

Her Facebook update now reads

There is nothing quite like the pain of watching a formerly rational friend buy a pair of Crocs and proclaim them "jammies for the feet!"

The girl has 1556 friends and she is macking on pink Crocs from a 40-something chick from the Midwest?? Then she sends me this picture

I love you Susie. Really.

But they are like Lifetime Movie Jammies for your Feet. Swear.

2008-10-16T19:56:00.001-07:00

I am a sell out.

It's a plot. An evil, evil plot. I'll be honest, I am no Fashionista. Other than being able to spot a Vera Wang or Monique Lhuillier wedding gown from 100 yards I have no affinity towards fashionable things. Left to my own devices, I would wear jammies 24/7. When forced to put on real clothes, I prefer black t shirts and yoga pants, which one friend noted were really the same as jammies, but that is SO not true. You can go to the grocery story in yoga pants, but if you go in jammies people look at you funny. Therefore, they are real clothes.

Anyway, while in Chicago, we came across a Crocs store opening up. Now, I have seen these curious things and heard the accolades, but really...they are kinda...ugly. But the second I put them on it was like PUTTING JAMMIES ON YOUR FEET. I am not even kidding you. I got the ones with the fuzzy inside. You can see the fuzzy right under the bottom of my black Yoga Pants.

2008-10-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Watching the news tonight I saw a segment on a a fellow out in Washington State who upon leaving a bio tech firm invested his retirement on 7 chimps who had been used for medical testing for 30 years to give them a better life. For some reason this just really got to me...that here in the middle of all this economic crisis someone still cares enough to provide shelter for animals and has dedicated their life to it.

Read about the Chimps here

Now I am going to go be a Chimpanzees Facebook friend....

2008-10-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Birthday Week is over

With a heavy heart and great sadness, I am reporting that birthday week is over, and it's time to get back to work. It was...marvelous. I was going to do a blog post with pictures, but it seems my dear friend David E Jackson from Appleton saved me the trouble so go here:

Dave's Blog

and check out the awesome photos from our rooftop party in Chicago. I'd write more, but I gotta finish up Marin and Sam's wedding...thanks for hanging in there, guys! Your wedding will be on line by the end of the week :)

2008-10-11T22:23:00.000-07:00

My kid has mad skillz

A few months ago Caleb went on a trip with school to the Boundry Waters in Canada and had a blast. I'm not sure what all went on, but all I had to hear was that there was going to be a lot of sleeping outside with bears, no showering and rowing of canoes all day to tune out, write a check and wish him well. As my kids are fond of saying, my idea of roughing it is a 3 star hotel. That's not totally true...back in the day I did my share of camping out. But what children don't get that behind every successful camping trip is a really tired mother who planned the list, bought the groceries, hauled the groceries, packed the clothes, packed the emergency kit, cooked the food, washed the dishes, kissed the blisters, made sure that there was the perfect marshmallow to chocolate ratio for the perfect smore, took the groceries and dishes home, washed the smoky tick laden clothes and the collapsed in a heap wondering how exactly this qualified as "Getting away from it all". So as you can imagine, writing a check out for someone else to do this so my children have good formative years is, as they say on the commercial: priceless.

So sue me...my idea of getting away from it all is a remote all inclusive beach in Fiji with the kids home with a suitable parental figurehead. And to further answer your question, no...I did not cry when they went to Kindergarten. I lobbied for a half barrel in the school parking lot on that day. I love my children madly, but I know that our time away from each other makes us love each other more. It's just how we roll. I know this by the fact that Caleb texts me in Vegas demanding a cut of my winnings because he read about it on Facebook because he beat his cross country time and I told him he could have a t shirt or a cut. Smart kid, that one.

So when I sent him off to be willy nilly eaten by bears in Canada, I sent him with some waterproof film cameras. And when I gave him to him I said loudly, as if he were deaf "These are FILM cameras. Do you know what FILM is? Good. That means that when you take picture, you CANNOT DELETE IT. That means that on this roll, there are 27 EXPOSURES. Do you know what exposures are? It means you only get 27. No more, no less. Do you understand?"

He brought the cameras home, I threw them in the "Get to in sometime after 2020" pile. And shortly thereafter, we went to Myrtle Beach SC and I took the cameras with us to finish up the few exposures on the roll. Then they sat...and sat and sat...until last week I dragged them in for processing.

When I went to look at the shots he took a few things hit me. First...my kid is a HOTTIE. I am not kidding you, he is totally cute. And that a few of the shots he took (featured here) are really, really good. I've suspected for some time that Caleb "sees light" like I always have. And maybe I am reaching, but these shots are straight out of the camera and well composed and the lighting on them is delicious. Maybe he didn't know he was doing it and these are happy accidents. Who knows. But if I brag about him then I might make up for the fact that as he walked into school for the first time I didn't damage his soul by being the mother who skipped away with glee rather than sobbing on the playground. I might have muttered "I'm freeeee, I'm freeee" under my breath, but you cannot prove it.

2008-10-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

For rest and relaxation, go to Vegas?

I'm back home for about 15 hours before I head out to Chicago! I went to Vegas for my birthday with some friends for a few days. Ah Vegas, how I love thee. I know that for most people Vegas is one of those love/hate kind of places and I am firmly in the love camp. I am not a huge gambler, despite the fact that I have only once come home having spent all the gambling money I allocated. I am one of those unusually lucky people, mostly because I am so clueless about what I am doing. The running joke with my friends is that the first time I was there I found out that I really liked betting on the horses in the sports book. But I kind of didn't understand the logistics of it all and spent an entire afternoon betting on the wrong horse on the wrong track in the wrong race and winning anyway. Vegas hates people like me.

I love Vegas because of the awesome people watching, the fact that it never shuts down and the food. And also, probably now that I think of it because it's a complete and utter shut down from reality for me. In Vegas, you cannot do laundry, take kids to cross country meets or pick burrs out of your dogs ears. You cannot do dishes, worry about estimated tax payments and if you should be a S-Corp or a LLC, or edit a wedding. Well, that's kind of not true, I did edit on the plane on the way there and back to assuage my guilt for taking a few days off. And there was a very funny moment at the pool when I feel asleep and when I woke up the first thing I saw was a bride walking past me and I literally screamed in terror, thinking I had fallen asleep at a wedding. I caught some serious shit for that from my friends, let me tell you.

Other than winning $600 at the craps table (more on that later) all I did in Vegas was...sleep. I slept in, I slept by the pool, then I took a nap after being at the pool, went out to eat, gambled a bit and then I went to bed at 10 two of the three nights I was there. To be fair, the other night I went to bed at 6AM so I am not a total slacker loser. And it was glorious.

The night of the aforementioned craps win I was just about ready to call it a night, because you know it was almost midnight. My friends are much more hard-core than me, mostly playing blackjack. I've tried to play blackjack, but a few things make it difficult for me. There is A LOT of math. A LOT. And unless the math corresponds to apertures and shutter speeds, I am really not the sharpest tool in the shed. Combine that with free drinks and the fact that I tend to chat too much...well, blackjack is just not a good fit for me. I tend to frustrate the other players at the table by not understanding something I previously understood 10 minutes before and I get confused when the dealer takes my chips. So mostly, I stick to video poker at the bar and let me tell you why, gentle blog reader. When you sit at the bar, you drink TOP SHELF. Yes, that's right. None of that crappy watered down rail. You can sit there, talk to the bartender, tip them well and drink Grey Goose to your hearts content. That advice right there should make you happy you hired me the next time you are in Sin City.

So anyway...I was ready to go home when my friend Karen reminded me I would teach her to play craps. Teach is a term I use loosely, since I know very little about craps, which is a pretty complex game. But the thing about craps is it is mostly a game of luck, which works well with my very left brained artist temperament. So I was showing her what I know, which is not much. But enough to get by, and I was doing okay, but Karen got frustrated and dropped out. Then, the dice turned to me. You see in craps you take turn shooting the dice until you "crap out" by rolling a 7. And the longer you roll, the more money you make for yourself and the table. Well, as soon as I took a hold of the dice my friend Murphy said "If you want to win some money, get in now, Kim has some crazy kind of luck". And for the next 55 minutes, I rolled those dice. I was the belle of the ball and I am pretty sure every guy there wanted to marry me, or at least right that moment. And when you start winning people money they tell you where to put your chips. When I crapped out I was up $600 and I said my goodbyes to my many MANY admirers and cashed in my chips, because you gotta know when to hold em....

And then I went to bed and slept until noon :)

Tomorrow, on to Chicago to meet up with some of my most favoritist photographers in the WORLD for our collective birthdays (There are an abundance of Libras in my life, for which I am most grateful, we speak the same language)and to talk photography and shoot silly pictures of each other.

I'd show you some incriminating photos from Vegas, but I took NOT A SINGLE photo there. I was too busy sleeping....

2008-10-06T18:40:00.001-07:00

Maryam and Arash, September 5 2008

Wedding: Villa Terrace
Reception: Milwaukee Hilton

I was so excited to work with Maryam and Arash for my very first Persian wedding. Held at the gorgeous Villa Terrace on a day that can only be described as breathtaking. The colors and the symbolism of the day were fascinating to me and I loved the intimacy of the ceremony and the "audience participation" :) Then the bridal party and I went to the Milwaukee Market for a sushi break and then off to the reception for some awesome Persian dancing. What a great day, I was so glad to be a part of it!

Here's the wedding slide show set to music

Or just enjoy it here on the blog

2008-10-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

Fall Portrait Special!

The weather has turned colder and thoughts turn to..Holiday Cards. Yeah, I know I can't believe it's that time either. Get a jump start on your holiday cards by scheduling your portrait session this fall!

SPECIAL MINI SESSION PRICING!!

What's a mini session? A 20 minute session on location taking advantage of our beautiful fall colors. For the month of October KB Images is offering mini sessions on the following dates:

Sunday Oct 19
Friday October 24
Saturday October 25
Sunday October 26

Outdoor sessions are available at the following locations:
The campus of Mt Mary College in Wauwatosa or
Whitnall Park., Greenfield

(more dates available if you have week day availability, please inquire)

What's the Deal?

$149 session fee includes 25 custom super cute don't look like anyone elses' holiday cards of your choice (see below!). Photos will be hosted on line for 30 days on a private on-line site. You may purchase enlargements from your site for holiday gift giving.

Bring your kids, bring your pets!

Click here for FAQ's on the session

To schedule your session

email me at kim@kbimagephoto.com

Or phone at 414.447.1408.

2008-10-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

Zach and Crystalyn, August 30 2008

Wedding: St Mary's Hales Corners
Reception: Intercontinental Milwaukee

You gotta be a special kinda crazy to have a reception downtown during Harley Fest, right? When Zach and Crystalyn planned their wedding they didn't realize that they would be joined by about 50, 000 motorcycles, but the day turned out stellar anyway. The Harley people could not have been nicer, it was me who nearly got kicked out of The Intercontinental with my big idea for the bridal party picture (see below).

This is the one that got me in a weeeee bit of trouble with the folks at the Intercontinetal

View their wedding slideshow with music here

Or enjoy it here on the blog

2008-10-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Thought provoking video of the day

2008-10-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Random Photos That I love

Today my oldest Caleb brought home two things from school to look over. Drivers Education Forms and the forms to order a Class Ring. I don't know why these two things suddenly hit home for me; maybe because I remember the delicious anticipation of getting my class ring like it was yesterday. And that I got my drivers license on Groundhogs Day 1983. Suddenly, it just all seemed real to me, that he is growing up. Growing up...heh..that's pretty funny seeing that he is 6'3.

I suddenly found myself thinking of this photo. It was taken on Caleb's first day of second grade and Joey's first day of 4K. This photo was hand printed by me in photo school on delicious black and white fiber paper and I love it so. I love everything about it because of all the things I remember so well about their childhoods...Caleb's obsession with Lion King, Joey and his Hot Wheels addiction, the Buzz Lightyear lunch box, the totally cute wedge hair cuts that someday they will hate me for, how they used to be tow heads and how Caleb has his arm slung protectively around his little brother.

They really do grow up in a freaking blink of an eye. But when I look at this photo I remember so much about them at this age. This, my friends, is the beauty of a photograph.

2008-10-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Random things that I love

I've blogged before of my love of etsy a place where artist can sell handmade items. It's the first place I go when I am looking for a gift. One of my favorite things is jewelry. I tend to love the bizzare and obscure, and when I travel instead of buying t shirts I buy a piece of jewelry from a local artist.

While browsing around I found these adorable, very affordable Scrabble Tile Pendants by Homestudio . I got the camera one to wear when I shoot, the flowers just cuz I tend to think of myself as a displaced 70's hippy, and the poppy one for my friend Poppy who collects, well, poppy things! I'm planning on buying a bunch for friends and using them to attach to holiday gifts.

2008-09-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

2009 Brides and Grooms!!

Photographik.org is a website that I advertise on, and they are having quite a give away. You can submit your engagement story to them, and the lucky winner will be given $1500 off the wedding package of their choice! So if you or someone you know is getting married in 2009, send in your story!

2008-09-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Nicole and Greg, August 23, 2008

Wedding: First United Methodist Baraboo WI

Reception: Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells

When I met Greg and Nicole and little Tristan last year I loved them immediately. Just the most down to earth fun and really genuine people...you know the type. Like you just want to drink beer with them when you meet them. Well, not Tristan...not yet :)

Their wedding reception was at the Kalahari in the Dells! Water parks and wedding receptions! I was amazed at the size of the room they offer, the food was fantastic and the staff was top notch. If you have a large guest list this is really a good venue for you to consider, the place is huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge.

Greg and Nicole, I had a blast with you guys from start to finish...from the time we met to your rockin' engagement session in the rain right through your wedding. I don't even need to wish you luck because you two got the love goin' on.

To watch the wedding slide show with the music, click here out of your reader

Or just enjoy it here on the blog

2008-09-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

Julie and Travis' Free Hugs

What an awesome day to walk around UW Madison it was this past week end to do Julie and Travis' e-session. As we were walking around the mall all of a sudden there was this girl who was giving out free hugs. As Julie said "Who doesn't like free hugs?" I captured this series which is unbelievably cute

And here's a slide show of the whole session. They totally rocked it!

2008-09-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

Giving back the blog love.....

Sending my bloggity love to the peeps at Elizabeth Anne Designs who have me listed in their vendor section, thanks so much for including me! I know you can't get enough good wedding blogs to stalk, and this is a nicely done one. Easy to navigate with some really cute DYI ideas on there too. Blogs like this one really are the best way to get some great ideas for your wedding as well as articles that are actually written for today's bride and groom, not the stuffy checklists from the 60's that some bridal magazines and websites seem to still have not gotten the memo on. Check them out!

2008-09-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

My dream camera is coming....

I am admittedly a gadget girl. I love technology, as much as I sometimes hate technology because it confounds me. And though I do tend to replace my main camera once every 18 months or so it's most because of wear and tear issues. I replace it with the successor to that camera and then my main becomes my back up, my back up becomes my secondary back up and my thirdly back up gets sold or relegated to a happy family member :) For the most part, the "latest and greatest" has a few features that I find pleasing...a brighter LCD screen, full frame capabilities (meaning my fisheye is actually a fisheye and not just a wide angle...the first generation of digital SLR's had a crop factor to contend with) and generally they just get something more ergonomically correct so the camera feels better.

But this camera I am so excited about I am wiggling in my seat every time I read a review. It's called the Canon 5D Mark 11 and so far the reviews have been astounding. I'll post some links here for the geek inclined :)

Link to the kick ass video capabilities

Link to a review by a pair of terrific photographers, Steve and Jen Bebb

Now, yes it has video capability and from this untrained eye, pretty damn good capability at that. I have NO aspirations to become a videographer, it's not my medium. But the ability for live view to see in real time correct exposure, white balance and ISO performance? Heaven.

Even more amazing is the wickedly high ISO...meaning the ability to shoot in dark situations that never before would have been possible. Believe me when I say for weddings this is one of the most important things to me. I don't ever shoot with anything but prime glass 2.8 or lower, but even then our dark Wisconsin venues can present problems.

I'm on the waiting list, it's expected to start shipping in November. I've never wanted to give someone $2,700 for a camera body more :)

2008-09-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

Karen and Darren, August 22 2008

Wedding: St Sebastians, Milwaukee

Reception: Hilton Milwaukee City Center

Karen was one of the most unruffled brides I have ever had. She had been sick the week before the wedding and still was a bit under the weather, but she didn't let it bother her a bit. When the wedding was ready to start and still no flowers had arrived? She shrugged and said "Oh well. I can get married without flowers" I LOVE THAT ATTITUDE. It's not the stuff...it's the marriage. I think sometimes in the whirlwind of wedding planning that gets forgotten. Congratulations!

Since I got so bogged down I didn't even do a sneak peek for Karen and Darren here's some pictures and a slide show. To view with music, click on this link Or click out of your reader to enjoy it on the blog!

2008-09-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Danielle's Senior Photos

2008-09-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

Abel's Senior Photos

2008-09-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

Random Photos that I love

In August of 2005 my friend Jane and I went to visit my sister in Denver. My sister only lived in Denver for a few years, and I've never quite forgiven her for leaving. She lived in Atlanta for quite a few years, got a job in Denver and enjoyed her time there. But eventually she got a job back in Atlanta and moved back. She liked Denver..but had more friends in Atlanta and even though she won't admit it much, she is a southern girl at heart, unlike me. I like Atlanta...I really do. But my love affair with Denver was so strong that I still complain to her whenever I can that I cannot believe she left Denver.

I had never been to the "Left coast" until 2003. In fact, until that time the furthest west I had been was La Crosse. And YES, it was for Oktoberfest, what is your point? I went to Seattle and was immediately smitten. I truly feel every time I am on that coast that some how the cosmic universe screwed up and that is where I was SUPPOSED to live. This was further confirmed over the years when I was able to travel to Portland Oregon, Vancouver BC and Pasadena California.

The reason I was so drawn to Denver was that it feels like Milwaukee with better light and Mountains. The houses even look the same. There are more people wearing Crocs and walking their dogs, but the over all feel of Denver to me is like a more granola micro brew version of Milwaukee.

So, anyway. Jane and I went to visit my sister, three single gals hanging out in Denver. But by far, our most favorite day was the day we went to Rocky Mountain National Park. It was one of those moments in time I will never forget. Cruising up the Mountain in my sister's Mustang Convertible blasting John Denver while Jane sobbed in the back seat. Jane is a hard core John Denver fan and going up a mountain on a picture perfect day while "Rocky Mountain High" plays...well, you really cannot blame her for crying. That perfect day and his perfect Irish Tenor wafting over the mountains....I shed a tear or two myself.

The views from that park are not to be believed and though I have not traveled nearly as much in this country as I would like I really feel like no matter where I would go this would still be one of my top ten places to visit. The magnitude of the vistas are astounding. The abundance of wildlife is awe-inspiring. I hardly attempted to take pictures which sounds lame, but the simple fact is that unless you are Ansel Adams you could not even begin to show photographically the awesome-ness of this park.

This is one photo I totally love from the trip. First, because the view is awesome. And second, because Jane and I agree that somehow the angle compliments us both, and we look awesome :) Maybe the mountain air takes off 20 pounds?

Every time Jane calls me this photo pops up on my iphone, and John sings to me

"It's Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
Friends around the campfire and everybody's high
Rocky mountain high, Colorado"

Today...I wish I was in Colorado.

2008-09-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

Renee and Matt, August 16 2008

Wedding at St John's Lutheran, Wauwatosa

Reception at The Delafield Hotel, Delafield.

When I first met Renee and her mom, Renee was clear that she didn't want any posed pictures of herself since she's not a fan of being in pictures. Strangely enough, I get that as I'm not a fan of being in them, either and many of my clients feel the same way. Her mom looked pained when Renee said that and Renee joked that she could just cut a picture of Renee out of a group shot. So sure enough, on the day when I got Renee's checklist, she had marked off that she didn't need a photo of herself alone. You know, the traditional bridal portrait. And in truth, I am totally cool with that, it's was her day and if she's happy with group shots and such then I'm happy.

But during the outdoor photos, Renee was standing in this gorgeous light under a weeping willow waiting while I took photos of the guys, and when I turned around and saw her framed in that light, I HAD to take a photo of her. Just her. I asked first, I did. But I had to. I'm a mom, and if Renee was my daughter I would want a photo like that along with the more spontaneous moments. Thanks for indulging me, Renee!

Click here for the wedding slide show with music

Or just enjoy it here on the blog.

2008-09-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

Projected Workflow!

You know that old adage that if you write it down you are more likely to get it done? Well, I'm taking it a step further and putting it right here on the ole blog, because then I have to be accountable to all 6 of you who read this blog faithfully :)

This year has been by far my busiest in the 13 years that I have been shooting. For that a big nod to the guy upstairs and crossing fingers and toes, knocking on wood.... And for the first time in 13 years I find myself actually getting close to deadlines. Now, I am not exactly very anal retentive in real life, but when it comes to my biz, that's a whole nother animal for me. I've always put deadlines in my contract that I thought were crazy long, giving me padding for the unexpected illness or other major life event; 6 weeks for weddings, a week for portraits. But over the years I generally had weddings up in three weeks or less and portraits within a few days. Now I find myself running at the week for portraits and 4-5 weeks for weddings. I keep taking deep cleansing breaths and telling myself this is OKAY...but I have to admit it does stress me out. Probably me more so than my clients, who are the coolest people in the world. Not that I am biased or anything.

In a way, it's been a good kick in the pants for me to take a look at my work flow and consider (GASP!) hiring some help to do "monkey work" like mailing print orders, uploading stuff to Facebook, the lab...some simple album design. So that's going to be in the works for the slower winter months.

So with that, gentle blog reader, here is my schedule for the next few weeks. If I've already shot your wedding here's where you will find when you can expect to see your photos. When I say "Week of" I mean...sometime during that week. I can't say when, but I can promise you it will be that week. God willing, even earlier...but for sure that week unless I am abducted by aliens.

Abel's Senior Photos: By Monday Sept 15
8-16-08 Renee and Matt: This week!
Danielle's Senior Photos: By August 18
8-22-08 Karen and Darren: The week of Sept 15
8-23-08 Nicole and Greg: The week of Sept 22
8-30-08 Crystalynn and Zack The week of Sept29
9-05-06 Maryam and Arash: Week of Oct6
9-06-08 Marin and Sam: Week of Oct 13

That's it for now!

2008-09-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

Photographic inspiration of the day

This was my good read of the day, from Joe Mcnally's blog.

I’ve shot a lot more bad pictures than I’ll ever shoot good ones. I’m quite comfortable admitting this. I have always been compelled by my time behind the camera, my love of actually shooting, no matter if I win, lose, or draw. And boy do I lose a bunch of the time. Every shooter does. The ones who tell you they are always knockin’ on heaven’s door when they take a camera in hand are bullshittin’ ya blind.

We all shoot bad stuff, good stuff, in between stuff. It’s the stuff of the photographic life. Failure is part of it. No shame there. If we knock it back all the time, or feel like we do so, then we’re not trying. As I always say, if the feeling of been there, done that, nothin’ new here, I’ve seen it all, let’s move along overtakes us, then its time to hang the cameras up. Then we can go inside and become editors!

2008-09-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

Erin, Adam and Romeo

My clients know I am such a sucker for dogs that a statement like "If you come to Chicago, you can meet our bulldog" is like candy to me, and Erin and Adam knew it! It was a lot of fun traipsing around Chicago and getting to meet the very charming and handsome Romeo. His owners are not too bad looking, either.

In general I am not a big fan of the new trend of textures and funked out actions used on photos. I'm just too old school and believe that in many cases they are used to enhance a photo that wasn't that great in the first place. If you polish a turd, it's still a turd. But once in awhile I try one out and prove myself wrong. I like the look on this one. I know I am going to catch hell for this from my photo buddies. She sold out!!! :)

2008-09-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

A shameless plug for votes

So someone out there (thank you someone!!!) voted for me to be on the WISN "A-List" for Photographers. So I went and filled out the profile and there I am. Just sitting there, waiting for votes. What does this mean if I am voted in? I have no idea :) But hey, it can't hurt! So if you have a moment and are so inclined, please go vote for me! And to whomever nominated me, please call or email to let me know so I can give you a special gift :)

Here's the link to vote!

Testing a new slideshow for seniors!

2008-09-08T14:26:00.001-07:00

2008-09-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

Janice and Kris, August 9, 2008

Wedding and Reception at the fabulous Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

What a fantastic couple, what a glorious day. Kris and Janice chose the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art for their wedding day and had friends and family from all over the country come to Madison where Wisconsin showed it's finest colors with perfect weather, fantastic food by the staff of MOCA (Tiny slider hamburgers for dinner!!! So awesome) and people so happy they shown almost as brightly as Kris and Janice did. Kris' dad did the service, and my favorite part was when he spoke about how Kris and Janice's journey from on again off again dating to finally marrying... and how when Kris and Janice were broken up how their family still invited Janice to family gatherings because she was so much a part of them, and that since Kris and Janice had stayed friends so it was unthinkable to not invite Janice. He even remarked that he wondered how he would someday explain to Kris's children with another woman who Janice was at family gatherings....

What a great celebration of two people and two families that were obviously meant to be together. I'm so happy to have documented it for you.

The full slide show with the music can be accessed here (click out of your reader)

Kris and Janice

Or just enjoy it here on the blog

2008-09-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

Random Photos of Places I love

This photo has been my screensaver for proabably three years now. It was taken in Carmel-By-the-Sea California. I could hardly believe such a beautiful place existed when I was there. The views, the weather...no wonder people in California don't worry about "falling into the sea" because, really who cares if you get to live in a place like this for awhile? Also, someday I want to live somewhere with a hyphenated name because that is just too cool.

Today, I wish I was at Carmel-By-The-Sea

2008-08-31T22:58:00.000-07:00

8.16.08 Renee and Matt Sneak Peek

I don't normally caption photos on the blog...but this one just strikes me as so perfectly Renee and Matt.

This truly is one of my most favorite photos so far this year. I love the juxtaposition of Renee with her parents dancing and her obvious glee. Renee would be the first to admit that she does NOT love the limelight and getting pictures taken was right up there with dental hygiene. So getting this shot is what I live for.

2008-08-31T20:59:00.000-07:00

Ian's Senior Photos

What a cool guy...what an awesome session. Thanks for coming out Ian!

2008-08-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

Random Photos That I Love

About 4 years ago as a birthday gift, some friends of mine got me a "psychic reading". Mostly as a joke, but also because I do have an interest in that, if only to explain my quirky nature as being just another trait that Libra's have. During the course of the reading, she asked me if I had grandparents in Florida or Arizona. (I know, I know, it's pretty likely that if you have grandparents that's where they are at some point, not a huge stretch) I said I did, in Tucson. And she said "You should go see your grandmother soon, she is very ill"

At that point I probably had not seen my grandparents in 5 years or more. I knew my grandmother had been ill with a few things in the past year, but at that point she was healthy as far as I knew. So I gave a call to my grandparents to check in, and it was then my grandfather mentioned he really missed seeing me and offered to fly me down for a few days for a visit. November in Tucson sounded mighty good, so I went.

I had a good time with them, as good as you can have with 80 year olds that go to bed by 8PM but I learned some charming things about them. That my grandfather had been in a factory explosion before I was born that was quite serious, and he had to be in a body cast for most of a year after that. Even MORE interesting is that during that time, my grandmother became pregnant with my Aunt Barbara :) I watched them bicker good naturedly over things like what to listen on the radio, and saw my grandmother hide the chocolate bars from my grandfather who has a wicked sweet tooth. And I watched how affectionate they were with each other, even after 30 some years of marriage.

I also discovered that my grandfather was my grandmothers THIRD marriage. Oh boy, there is some family dirt right there!

Both of them seemed in good spirits and it was a great visit. I took this shot on my last day there. Two weeks later, I received a call that my grandmother had died.

I sent this photo to my grandfather after he died, and he told me that he looked at it once, it made him cry, and he still cannot look at it but he wants to be buried with it.

Photograph the ones you love.

2008-08-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

Chad and Emily's Engagement Session

The first time I met Chad and Emily was for their engagement session; they live in River Falls and came down to Milwaukee. I found Chad's sense of humor charming and I could tell they had been together a long time based on the good natured way Emily rolled her eyes at his jokes:

"What kind of socks does a Pirate wear?"

"Arrrrrrrrrrr-gyle"

I admit it, I laughed.

So while I was editing their session I thought...I need to know more about these two. I sense some funny stuff that I don't know about them. And I really do like to get to know my clients as well as I can before the wedding, it creates trust and makes for a better photo experience. So I emailed Emily for some dirt and info on her and Chad and added them into their engagement photos. Read on!

2008-08-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Sara and Chad, 8.08.08

Wedding: St Joseph's Wauwatosa
Reception: The Edelweiss Cruise Line

What an awesome couple, what a gorgeous day! I've had a few wedding cruises on the Edelweiss, but this one topped them all for the weather. Excuse the pun, but it was a total picture perfect evening...low humidity, gorgeous temps, and the sky line of Milwaukee all around us. Chad's family is from Louisiana and were raving about our wonderful city and the lovely weather when it was very hot and humid back home. I reminded them that 4 months ago we had a major snow storm and that Milwaukee is a deceptive mistress; when she is good she is so very, very good but when she is bad she is horrid. I don't think I convinced them, and that's okay. Congratulations to both of you!

The full slide show with music can be viewed here

2008-08-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

Random Photos that make me happy/sad

My good friend Lynn, (whom I call Grueny) Facebooked me today to tell me that Elizabeth, her daughter is driving. This is really not even entirely possible since I haven't accepted the fact that Lynn's sister is older than 5, even though she has children of her own. Do the math, people. If Lynn's sister is only 5, how can Lynn have a daughter that drives??!! I really think she has been living in Central Wisconsin too long and she is addled and confused, I hear they put stuff in the cheese up there.

I remember when Elizabeth was born driving way too fast down country roads in the wilds of Marshfield Wisconsin to meet her. Pregnant myself with Caleb I could not wait to meet Elizabeth. Now she is driving....and just a few months after her, Caleb will be too.

I don't see Lynn as often as I would like. I don't call or email as often as I should.We live only 3 hours away and we have different lives now, but when we see each other we still laugh like we did in 1980.

And every time we email each other, we tell each other how fat we still are. But the next time I see Lynn, I will make sure we get a photo together because of a post just a few down from this "Photograph the ones you love". Did I mention you should read that post? Grueny, jou and I will photograph our fat for posterity.

And with that, I leave you with yet another photo I love...Caleb was about two when I took this.

I took him to his physical for school last week. He's 6'2 now and running cross country for Wauwatosa East. He'll be driving in the fall, along with Elizabeth.

I just hope neither of them gets this bumper sticker for a long, long time.

2008-08-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

Random Photos that make me happy...

It's that time of the year again...5 weddings, 4 seniors, 2 engagement sessions and 3 albums in the queue turn a girl's eye towards...February.

Yes, February. NO ONE gets married in February. Well, 2009 boasts Valentine's Day on a Saturday so I may book that day out to some uber-romantic couple. But in general, I haven't had a February wedding in years.

February is when I travel...besides weddings, my kids and my dogs, I love to travel most of all.

So for today this is my random photo that makes me happy; Red Rock Canyon in Nevada. It's 30 minutes from the strip and a lifetime away. It's an oasis in the desert from the ping-pong of slot machines and a must see trip if you have time. While I was in Vegas for a WPPI, (a big photographer convention) a friend and I slipped away from the seminar nonsense and spent an afternoon hiking around this pretty place.

So today...I wish I was in Red Rock

2008-08-27T19:35:00.001-07:00

Going, going gone......

I've got just a few 2008 dates open!

October 24/25

November 7/8

November 22

December 5/6

December 12/13

Contact the studio for special rates and packages for these dates!

2008-08-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Read this blog post...really.

Zack Arias is a friend of mine and one of the best photographers on the planet. For any photographers out there reading this, do not pass go but GO to his One Light Workshop, or buy his One Light DVD. It will change the way you photograph, and I am not kidding.

Today I read his latest blog post. I'm still choked up over it. "Photograph the ones you love"

http://www.zarias.com/?p=236

Go. Read. And even if you aren't a photographer, turn your camera on someone you love this week and take a picture of them.

2008-08-25T23:24:00.001-07:00

Wedding Etiquette, Midwestern manners and what to feed your photographer/vendors

I've been asked this question a lot lately and I thought it might be good fodder for a-late-night-I-cannot-sleep after-too-many-bad-Lifetime-Movies evening. In the wedding checklist I sent a few weeks before the wedding if you are having me shoot for the entire day (8 hours or more) I ask if a meal will be provided. Now...there are many schools of thought on this. This being the Midwest and our predilection for over feeding any one we can at any given moment I've found most of my clients are falling all over themselves to make sure I get a meal. For that, I am most humbly grateful.I really am. I love that you send me your invitations with the cute card that asks what I want for dinner and if I am attending.

I swear to you that the evil Kim wants to put on the card "Sorry, can't make it. PSYCH!" Is that wrong?

But alas, I never do, I check the appropriate option (which for me is always the veggie option if available or the chicken or fish option). I'm gonna come clean here folks.....I don't like beef. Like...at all. Like if you serve me a filet, I cannot even pretend to like it. For me, it's that one food that...well, you know. For you it might be spinach, or rutabaga or liver...you just can't fake it. So when I'm presented with a slab of dead cow, I never ever make a fuss but I do offer it to the nearest beefy guy at the table which makes him my new best friend while feeling crazy guilty for making my clients pay good cash money for something I will not eat. Seriously, I would be happier grazing the leftover chicken nuggets from the kids platters around the room;I've just not figured out a way to make that look good.

Anyway, let me be really really clear. I totally LOVE and appreciate you including me in your meal. I KNOW the cost of a plate is at the major hotels in the area. And that being said, I am NEVER...EVER.... offended if there is an option for a vendor meal. I truly, truly, do NOT CARE. It's not a night out for me, it's simply fuel to keep me going. I am WAY more interested in making compelling images for you than eating a fine meal. If I want a fine meal, I am going to do it in a venue that does not play "Celebration" and "We are Family" in their musical selection in course of an evening. No offense, just sayin'.

So talk to your venue, talk to me and don't be embarrassed to ask questions. I get these questions all the time.

Just wait until your mom asks you if I can make her ass look smaller in the photos, now THAT is embarrassing.

P.S. I totally can make her ass look smaller. I'm a chick, I get it.

2008-08-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Alyssa's Senior Photos

2008-08-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

I need fans......

So, I've succumbed. I held out on the blog thing until last year, and now clearly I am addicted to it. I admit it, I love the blog, even though I am pretty sure only my mom reads it. Hi mom! How do I know this? She emails me saying things like " I found out about this on your blog"....damn. Busted. Email me in February mom...sorry that I never call or write, and yes your grandchildren are alive last time I checked. Check the blog for updates...love ya! P.S...remember that my sister is so much worse than me :)
and at least I procured grandchildren for you while all she gave you is that freak ass muppet dog she has.

And now...Facebook. I joined it out of curiosity and because it was a good way to track the girls my 15 year old was interested in. To be honest, very few of my "contemporaries" meaning my close friends are on it. I did a search for graduates from my high school ( WOOT!! Give it up for the class of UGHS 1984) and found TWO people, one who is already my friend.

I am not sure if I should feel cool that I actually understand this stuff at the age of 41 or sad that I understand this stuff at the age of 41.

I take solace in the fact that I briefly joined "Twitter" and found it to be the stupidest thing ever. Really, do you want to know what I am doing every second of the day? I prefer that you all think of me as some rockstar photographer shooting the near celebrities of our city and the coolest weddings in Wisconsin while effortlessly winning multiple awards for my compelling images when the reality is that 80% of the time I am cleaning cat puke up off my floor in between late night editing sessions. Imagine this update on Twitter "KB Image Photography is cleaning up cat puke...this one looks like tuna!" So Twitter went bye bye for me real quickly. I love my clients and want to be there for them, but there are just some things you need to keep personal.

So anyway...Facebook. I have two pages, a personal page and my business page. For my personal page do a search for Kimberley Bednarski Anderson and for the business page do a search for KB Image Photography. My business site is where I will upload photos and such that are related to weddings and portriats. On my business site you can become my "Fan" and for every one of you that does so I will send you a free 8x10 of your choice from your wedding or engagement photos. That is how much I love you :)

For my personal page, you will not get squat in the way of stuff, but you will be privy to such information as pictures of my dogs and cats, what I am having for dinner, and of course the always popular "dating in your 40's" where I sometimes highlight my latest and greatest failed date which will make you even more secure in your choice of a mate. Hey, what can I say, I am here for you.

So once again...

Personal Facebook...Kimberley Bednarski Anderson
It's biz-nass time...KB Image Photography

See you in cyberspace!

2008-08-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peek, Janice and Kris 8.09.08

2008-08-20T22:56:00.001-07:00

Sneak Peek, Sara and Chad 8.08.08

\

2008-08-18T20:11:00.001-07:00

Mari and Jason, August 2, 2008

My car is wearing a groove in the road to Sauk County this year! Once again I was back in beautiful Baraboo to photograph the wedding of Jason and Mari. You might remember I photographed their engagement session not too long ago, and mentioned that I shot Mari's brother's wedding waaaaay back in the olden days. How great is it that I get to see families again celebrating together? And the second I saw where they were to be married I knew just why Mari had told me that she and Jason had always known it was the perfect spot for them to be married. Un-freaking...believable. The amount of work with the yard and the flowers and every detail was just perfect but also home-y and comfortable. Mari's parents outdid themselves, but I am told that is not unusual. Her DAD made the sea glass necklaces for the bridesmaids. And the weather!!! The weather gods have smiled on us this year, that is for sure. It was glorious.

For the record, there is one more Drummer girl that is not married. So this message is for Emily; if you don't hire me to shoot your wedding, I am coming anyway just to party because I love your family THAT much.

Much love and happiness to you both, Mari and Jason.

Check their slideshow out!!!

2008-08-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

WOOT!! The results are in....

The first annual ISPWP Quarter 2 2008 Photo Competition are in and I was pretty darn pleased and surprised that 7 of the 10 images I entered placed! Here they are in no particular order:

FIRST PLACE!! "Getting Ready"; from Natalie and Jon's wedding, April 2008

12th Place "Kids will be kids"; from Diane and Dirk's wedding, April 2008

4th place, "Reception/Dancing"; Natalie and Jon again

9th place, "Getting Ready"; from Amy and Tim's wedding, October 2007

3rd place "Bridal Party Portrait" from Liz and Ryan's wedding, July 2007

4th place "All about light" from Heather and Randy's wedding, June 2007

9th place "Framing the subject" from Kalyn and Vince's wedding, June 2007

2008-08-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Liz and Phil, Chicago Style

They lured me to Chicago with promises of meeting their cats and Appletini's. Phil and Liz hired me sight unseen after seeing my website and talking to me on the phone, which is not totally unusual but I really do love being able to connect with people in person before the wedding if possible and I was smitten with these two within minutes. I love that my clients feel like they know me well enough to bribe me with pets and drinks even when they have not met me.

Meeting with Liz and Phil and the fun we had together really made me do some thinking on the way home.

Several years ago when I changed the tone of my website I got a lot of flack for it. I was told it was "Too chatty, too irreverent for such a high price point in my town, that I wouldn't attract the kinds of weddings I wanted, and are you freaking crazy to make fun of getting the dress dirty and dipping by the Art Museum? And why would people care that you hate licorice?"

I'll admit for about 5.3 seconds I wavered. I thought that perhaps these were valid points. Without sounding like a Diva, I knew my stuff was good enough to stand up to the top shooters in my area but for me I really dig the personal connections and that is really important to me. I love that I daily get inquiries from people for weddings that attach photos of their dog because they know I love dogs. I love that my clients want to go out to have a beer with me after their engagement session. I don't want a big studio with a ton of employees and overhead, I want to work in my jammies 90% at home and shoot weddings the other 10%. I love that every week end when I shoot a wedding when I hug my bride and groom goodbye at the end of the day they feel like friends.

For me, it's what makes me love my job...like a whole damn lot. Some clients I spend lots of time with in person, some it's more via email and phone and then time on the day. But without fail since I personalized my business I've been a happier person. Not a Bridezilla for miles.

Being happy? It's a very good thing.

Look at Phil and Liz...you'll see the happiness.

2008-08-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

Stupid cat cell phone photo of the day

2008-08-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

Results of Wedcomp Summer Contest 08

One of the images I submitted to Wedcomp placed in the top 25 for "Reception" images! I came in at #15 for this image from Kate and Kelly's wedding

To view the other fabulous winners, click here

2008-08-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

AUGUST!!

This is a glass half full/glass half empty post :) I've mentioned before on this blog that this wedding thing is one of the most perplexing businesses EVAH. In past years, without fail, June and October were my busiest months. June panned out nicely, but October (so far) leaves me with 2 free Saturdays; unheard of. I haven't had a free Saturday in October since 2001. And August always plodded along at 3-4 per month (including Friday weddings) so I was pretty used to having a week or two off in August.

Suddenly, someone sent out a memo that I missed that August is HOT. Well, yes, it is generally hot in temperature but suddenly it's the month to get married in this year. So forgive me, my dearest clients and potential clients if it takes me a day or two longer to respond to your emails and calls. In addition to the wedding craziness thanks to Facebook (Are you my fan on Facebook??? Because if you are not, you so totally should be. Do a search for KB Image Photography)I've begun to explode in the Senior Photography market. I'll be honest, I never really cottoned to Senior Photography until I had a teenager. Maybe I just "get" them now, but suddenly I have been having a blast with these young'uns. So while weddings will always be my main focus and my true love, I'm enjoying these sessions with the seniors more than I could have imagined.

And because I am stone loco mad, I'm signing a lease on Monday for a studio space in Walker's Point for 9-1. Say a little prayer for me to the deity of your choice. More updates on this to follow :)

2008-08-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Leah and Marty's big fat wedding and costume party

7.05.08 Viola Wisconsin

Yes, that's right...Leah and Marty chose to have a costume party for their reception. Check out the slide show so you can see their "Something Blue". This wedding was a blast from start to finish. Sometimes the unconventional is just right. Thanks for choosing me to photograph your day!

If you want to see the slide show complete with music then click here out of your reader

2008-08-04T07:06:00.001-07:00

Sneak Peek!!

Mari and Jason, 8.02.08.

2008-08-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

Jared and Kelli's Engagement Session

2008-08-03T16:20:00.001-07:00

Johnathan's 9 month pictures

I literally have known this adorable boy since the day he was born; in fact I was in the birthing room and was privileged enough to witness and record his birth. If you want to see his birth slide show click here. It's not graphic, I promise!

Time marches on and Johnathan is 9 months of cuteness. Here's a few of my favorites of his session with his mom.

2008-07-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

I could not have said it better myself

One of my favorite wedding websites/blogs is Offbeat Bride which proclaims themselves "Taffeta-free Alternatives for Independent Brides" Now here comes my big disclaimer, which may make me seem lame and flighty, which I most certainly am. If you are a girl, it is probably likely that since you were tiny, you had a vision for your wedding. And probably as you matured and grew and got to know yourself, it changed and shifted. And if you are lucky enough to meet the guy of your dreams, it changed and shifted after you met him. And you know what? There is NOTHING wrong with that.

I unashamedly, unabashedly, love all the weddings I shoot. I've shot weddings that cost half a million dollars. I've shot weddings that I was by far the most expensive part of the day (NO PRESSURE THERE...LOL) that were backyard BBQ's with an ipod DJ and all sorts weddings in between. But the thing that ties me to my clients is that the ones that hire me trust me to capture their moments in the setting that is truly THEM. For that I am truly, truly grateful. My goal is to translate your day into beautiful pictures and memories that befit YOUR day.

This is a question I ask a lot of my clients near to the wedding day.. "So, where are you going on a honeymoon?" I ask for a few reasons; I love to travel and love to hear people's stories about places I have not been and why they are going. And because since I see first hand over and over how stressful wedding planning can be I hope that you can take some time to really get away and savor being married. And let's be honest, the economy is crap. I totally get that the honeymoon is the easiest part to delay, or postpone or scrap all together. After all those chair covers are really important, right? (insert sarcasm here)

So this post on Offbeat Bride really stuck a chord with me

Honeymooning is one tradition I wish we hadn’t thrown out!

I would also recommend going on a honeymoon. We didn’t, for two reasons: we had some friends from out of town who stayed around for the week after the wedding, and we’re both trying to finish up our degrees in the next few months and couldn’t afford the time off. However, seeing as we were utterly exhausted for about two weeks after the wedding, I really really wished we’d been able to go away, far from everyone we knew, and just have time to be together and to explore what getting married meant to our relationship. We’ll probably take a trip later in the year, but it still won’t be the same. Honeymooning is one tradition I wish we hadn’t thrown out!

A Honeymoon does not need to be a trip to Fiji or Hawaii. What it does need to be is time for the two of you to decompress. A week end at a B&B in Door County, an overnight in Chicago. 4 days in your apartment with your cells turned off and the computer shut off and not a soul around you, just take-out and good movies.

Take time for yourselves. Be good to yourselves and your marriage early on :)

2008-07-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

Ali, Tosa East Class of 2009

I love doing photos of Tosa kids in the Village. For most of them, the Village is sort of the hub of their lives. Where they hung out at Baskin Robins, the Pizzaria Picola, where they got popcorn from the popcorn wagon and back in the day Drew's 5 and dime store, now defunct.

Ali is a dream to photograph. And apparently wildly popular as she told me that her 2500 a MONTH text plan is just not enough. Another sign that I am getting old....

Her pictures were so great, she gets a slide show on the blog, AND she's my new friend on Facebook. Check it out

2008-07-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

She's been kicking my butt for 2 years and counting...

For the past two years I've been working with Jen who is a personal trainer at the WAC (Wisconsin Athletic Club in Wauwatosa) doing the Pilates Reformer. It is a workout you cannot believe, and after two years by the end of the 30 minute session I am sweating and cursing and begging to be done. If you have never understood the phrase "work from your core" you will after 5 minutes on that bad boy. It's made an amazing difference in my energy levels at weddings; building the strength in my arms and shoulders so that I don't suffer with neck aches and shoulder stiffness after a double header wedding and portrait sessions all week. Jen is awesome, so if you are looking for a trainer who will make you laugh and kick your butt, then give her a call at the WAC.

The tables were turned when I got to kick her butt a bit for a portrait session with her kids and he boyfriend's son. Actually, there was not a lot of butt-kicking, they were a pleasure to photograph and were all very well behaved. These were taken at Lake Park, which is always an awesome setting for photos.

2008-07-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Aidan is THREE

And boy, does that make me feel OLD. I photographed his mom and dad's wedding in 2004 and have had the pleasure of photographing Aidan since he was born. I cannot believe how he has grown since I saw him last, and how much he resembles his Dad. He likes the color red, firetrucks and he's smart enough to know to pick the yogurt cheerios out of a bag first because they just taste the best. Happy birthday Aidan!

2008-07-24T22:21:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth and John, June 21, 2008

For any of us that have lived and grown up in Wisconsin, we know that the odds of counting on the weather being perfect in almost any month is about as fruitless as spending $1 on a Powerball ticket and winning 53 million dollars. So on this Saturday in June when John and Elizabeth married in a completely outdoor ceremony and reception this is what they had to deal with

1. A perfect 75 degrees with not a smidgen of humidity
2. Gorgeous, glorious blue skies and puffy clouds
3. Neighbors who volunteered their homes and properties on the beautiful Lake Wisconsin for their use for the ceremony and reception.
4. I got not even ONE.SINGLE.MOSQUITO BITE IN NINE HOURS. Not one. In the woods, on a lake, in Wisconsin, at night.

It was the kind of day and night that makes you forget that a few months ago we were shoveling every other day and that we had a major snowstorm in March,and that we have some of the highest property taxes in the USA. It was one of those Wisconsin days that have you weeping over your Miller Genuine Draft while proclaiming your love for this state and singing "On Wisconsin" as the fireflies dance on one of those balmy evenings that you remember as a kid.

Click here to view the wedding slide show complete with music.

You can also can view it directly on the blog, but click out of your reader if you are using one

2008-07-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

It's not going to rain....

Those were the words I uttered to Nicole and Greg after driving to the OC (Oconomowoc) for their engagement photos. You know Wisconsin weather can be fickle, and despite the looming storm clouds we managed to get a really good session in, including some shots of their incredibly adorable son Tristan. And then...it rained. Holy COW did it rain. When it became apparent that we couldn't do much more in the way of taking pictures Nicole uttered these words to me..."I think we got enough. Wanna go get a beer?" She is so totally now my BFF. Nicole and Greg are just the kind of people you feel like you've known forever the moment you meet them and I cannot wait for their wedding in August!

2008-07-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

Leah and Marty, Sneak Peek!
Look for their wedding slide show the week of July 28

2008-07-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peek, Elizabeth and John

Look for the wedding slide show by the end of this coming week!

2008-07-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

How much do weddings cost?

I often check an online publication called The Wedding Report to help me gauge trends in the wedding industry. With all of the country screaming "recesssion" I think it's important that I keep up on if it seems to be affecting the wedding industry. It's interesting to me, it breaks things down to how much is spent on bridal party gifts on average in Wisconsin and you can even be more specific as to zip code. So in case you are wondering what a wedding costs on average in Wisconsin, here's the report for the Milwaukee area with projections a few years out. Now remember, this is an average so they are taking the back yard BBQ weddings along with the swanky $175 a plate wedding that make Martha Stewart look like a poseur and averaging them in a lump sum.

Total Spending

Year Total Spending
2007 $28,732
2008 $28,704
2009 $29,614
2010 $30,553
2011 $31,522
2012 $32,521
2013 $33,552

2008-07-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

Erin and Erik, June 14 2008

Wedding at Grace Lutheran in Waukesha

Reception at The Milwaukee Art Museum

I've heard a lot of really good speeches made at weddings in the past years, but the one that Erin's Dad (Hi Sparky!)gave had me laughing out loud behind my camera. Erin and Erik have dated since high school and her Dad read a note that Erin had left him in the middle of the night warning him that she and Erik had been caught by Erik's parents making out and she was sure he was going to be getting a call about it and she wanted to confess before he got too mad. He had the actual note and his delivery of the "great confession" was a hoot.

I have to give a shout out to my friends Phillip and Sherry at Frogman Video who are always a pleasure to work with. Be sure to hop on over to the frog blog and look at the video posted on their blog of Erin and Erik's wedding.

And one more thanks to the dashing Mr Dann Smith, Erin's cousin and one of Milwaukee's best DJ's for referring me to Erin. (Side note to Dann...that picture of you on your site has got to go. Don't you know a good photographer?)

Here's the slide show from the wedding, I'm digging the embedded thing on the blog, but I'm going to ditch the music. If you're viewing this update in a reader then you'll need to click out of it to see the slide show

2008-07-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Kara and Eric, June 7 2008

Kara and Eric got married in a beautiful tent right on Kara's parents property. For added drama, tornado sirens and a torrential downpour started right before the ceremony, but Kara took it all in her normal good natured stride. This wedding was one of the first of the year working with the uber-talented team of Angela Dupont of Top Shelf Weddings as the coordinator and Lisa Schuetz of Mira Beau Events doing the design work. They make my job easy when every detail is so darn pretty. The reception was at the stunning Overture Center in Madison, one of my favorite venues in that awesome town. And for the record, Kara and I are not sisters (well, maybe sisters of the heart :) ) but I was asked no fewer than a dozen times if we are.

For fun, I'm going to try embedding their slide show on the blog here. But if you want to see it in a bigger format, here's the link

2008-07-11T19:04:00.001-07:00

12 years old and a vacation

Joey turned 12 this month, so we took a little vacation to the Carolina's.

Here's the birthday boy himself

A little light reading on the way

Eating the birthday meal, crab legs!

And for dessert, Creme Brulee (are you reading this Brooks? My kid chose Creme Brulee over cake!)

Portrait of Caleb that I love

They were so excited about this...in Kentucky, the birthplace of KFC.

2008-07-08T22:34:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Norma Jean

My grandmother, Norma Jean Anderson. 1924-2008

Over the week end my grandmother passed away. This has been met with some incredulity from my peers and friends that at the age of 41 I still have grandparents. I've been lucky, I guess. I can't claim good genes since none of my living grandparents are blood relatives...my family tree is about as splintered as it gets. My grandmother, Norma Jean was actually my father's stepmother...but she was his stepmother before I was born so she's always been my grandmother to me. My remaining grandfather, "General Gramps" in Tucson Arizona is alive and kicking though he was never married to Norma Jean; but his wife was married to her husband. Please, don't even try to figure that out. My ex husband still doesn't get it so why should you?

My grandmother was 84.She had a great life and she will be sorely missed. She was Armenian, so we looked nothing alike. She had a big noisy family. They all just referred to me as "Danny's girl". When she and her sisters were a family gathering they were famous for what my father called "The Armenian Sliver". They would sit with a Kringle in front of them and insist that they didn't want much, they were on a diet, "just a sliver". And within an hour that Kringle would be slivered to nothingness. It was Armenian slivered to death.

She loved jokes, but could never remember the punchline, which made them all the more funny. She was a brunette, but went blond for years, which never rang true for me. She was 5 feet on a good day and worried incessantly about her weight and told my father when he had cancer that he had never looked so good because he had lost so much weight. I was infuriated and told her so and it was the only time I saw her temper flare. Never cross a woman who is losing a child even if you are trying to instructed them on what is PC these days.

Her laugh will never leave me...it was like those canned laughs on sitcoms with a bit of Tinkerbell mixed in, and she laughed often and with gusto. She always called me "Kimmy" and I never minded.

About 6 months ago out of the blue I couldn't shake wanting to go back to my maiden name. It made no sense to me. I've been divorced (very amicably) for nearly 4 years and kept the surname Bednarski because of my kids and the business. But suddenly I found myself researching how to do a legal name change. I asked the kids, they didn't care. It was a giant pain in the ass to be honest...forms filled out in triplicate, paying for a legal publication, three trips to the courthouse, social security, the bank, the mortgage, credit card companies, and about $500 in fees to change everything and a court hearing to change my name legally to Kimberley Bednarski Anderson. Business wise, it changes nothing. But yet, why did I bother? I'm thinking that somehow subliminally I was reaching out to my heritage. The passing of my grandmother and that it could have been the last of the Anderson's in my family does not escape me.

I will miss you Norma Jean :)