Reflecting on this event, I experience a wide spectrum of emotions. I don’t even know where to begin or what to say, especially given the ironic and unfortunate happening for Shana Martin (Huntington Disease Society of America Spokesperson) and her family, and at such a joyous and hopeful event for such a great cause…I feel so honored to have been involved.

Huntington’s disease is awful, and I hadn’t gotten much knowledge of it until Shana asked me to help photograph the event. It is a terrible, genetic neurological disorder that slowly shuts down a person’s motor skills…imagine not being able to think, eat, or walk on your own…imagine this all starting when you’re at your prime and in the middle of your life. Luckily, through people like Shana and others who speak and work to find a cure, we can have events like this re-prom, and it gives us all hope. I was overtaken by emotion at one point where a speaker mentioned that she tested positive for the disease, and lives having knowledge that one day she will succumb to the fate of her diagnosis…but she keeps on fighting.

Shana’s mom passed away on the way to this event. There were tears, and words that cannot be found…all you can say is “I’m so sorry…” Shana and her dad came to the prom anyways, as they felt it was their mother/wife’s wish for them to be happy and dance the night away. To say that this is inspiring is a serious understatement. And then it was also Shana’s birthday. The entire night was so moving, there was something if not multiple things that everyone could take away from it.

The event held a silent auction, dance, dinner, and more all to help sponsor and fund research to find a cure for Huntington’s disease. It was such a beautiful thing to see all these people come together and connect in a place to find comfort, hope, fight together, but still party and dance the night away.

As the last song of the night played….Don’t Stop Believin’.

Special thanks to LaiLia Thao Photography for helping cover this event. For more information, please visit the following links:

• HDSA Madison ReProm 
• Channel 3000 Video
• Debby Martin Obituary

This past thursday, on a very hot August dog-day….I went down to Lake Wingra to photograph the Madison Log Rolling team. So fun!

I am on vacation right now in Wisconsin’s lovely northwoods. Yes…I am working.

Admittedly, editing a wedding is a very long and mundane process, and I am elated and relieved when finished. However, what is work when you love what you do? I could quote some very cliche sayings, but I know for a fact you have heard them all. This set of photographs was non-commissioned. Bea is staying at the lodge with us, and I babysat her when she was just a tiny thing. We went for a walk in the woods, learned that bug-spray is very important, and crossed paths with a majestic doe that simply stood by and watched. Our “session” ended with finding a patch of wild raspberries.

I naturally snagged a couple images that might work for my personal project, as Bea is a great portrait of sweet innocence. I’m currently reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. I will include a review of this novel and what I gather from it in my next entry with my personal project. Thinking. Editing. Photographing. It is so much better with a lake nearby.

With that being said, I now return to my vacation.

I sit here smiling at the fact I was given this opportunity, and am so thankful for it.

I was very fortunate to participate in an event known as Diva Day– a women’s small-business fair at Metro Harvest Church in Menomonee Falls, WI. I had a booth, and was asked to also document the event.

How awesome is it that all these women can get together, network, and support each other in their fabulousness. Other vendors included Mary Kay, Miche bags, Pampered Chef, Avon, etc….a simple celebration of all the little things in life that make us feel beautiful. They might be meager objects, not necessities….but perhaps these “trivial” items are friendly reminders of the simple enjoyments in life that carry us one day to the next. I know for a fact I induldged in some fabulous chai whip, chocolate mousse….beer bread with awesome spreads and chips dipped into the most fabulous cream cheese salsa I’ve ever had. I delighted in watching things sparkle, women smile, and above all….getting to take awesome pictures of all of this!

No blue sky? Never fear, the clouds make the world your oyster beneath a giant and perfect softbox. That’s a photographer’s perspective, anyways.

I was more than thrilled when Kelly & Todd told me they’d like to do their engagement session at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I was completely psyched. I love that this sweet couple’s love story began at this lovely spot downtown, was re-visited today, and will be celebrated on their wedding day (you will see how they chose to illustrate this August 18). They are simply brillantly honest, and beautiful people who deserve each other and are so fortunate to have found each other on this crazy planet and are keepin’ it real.

Well…I was hoping for more entries to make this contest more exciting (seriously–$200ish in prizes…you all must not like cupcakes or something! Haha), there were three entries who are sweet and want some pretty sweet stuff! Here they are!

Entry #1: This photo was submitted by Sarah. The photo is of her 1 1/2 year old daughter, Allie.

Entry #2: This photo was submitted by the girl in the picture, and apparently major cupcake enthusiast, Jessica.

Entry #2: This photo was submitted by Amanda–another self-portrait. She wants to win this contest for her nephew.

Alright ladies, the game is ON!  How does this work? It’s easy! Follow the steps via PunchTab below:

If you did not enter the contest with a photo before 2/29–even if you try to enter on here–I will not accept your entries. Do Sarah, Amanda, and Jessica a favor by either voting via blog comment (just list the photo #) or the personal link they received upon entering that you can click on through Facebook or Twitter.

What do they win?

Emily Bee Arts Photoshoot ($110 value) – They’ll receive a gift card in the amount of $110 for a Haiku Portrait Session.

Accordion Book ($75 value) – They get a business-card sized “brag book” with 10 of their favorite images from their shoot.

Gift Certificate / Madison Sweets ($20 value) – $20 for cupcakes!!!

What’s with the cupcakes? I’m delighted to announce, as winter draws to a close something sweet is headed your way from EBA….

How excited am I for this? VERY. What does this all involve, might you ask?

To enter, simply email a non-professional photo of yourself, kids, friends, family, significant other (whoever, as long as they are of some relation to you) eating cupcakes to info@emilybeearts.com. Along with your photo, please include your name or the names of the people in the photo, and their relation to you. The entry deadline is 2/29 so if you don’t have any photos of yourself with a cupcake lying around, you have plenty of time to take a picture.

On March 1st, the contest will officially begin. I will post a blog with all entries + photos and an application (Poptab) that you as an entrant must also fill out. If you do not have a photo of yourself on the blog on March 1st, your entry will not count. If you do, however, simply follow all the required steps on the application and ask your friends to visit a link that will gather you more entries. Whoever has the most entries by 3/17 wins the following:

* One-hour Photo Shoot with Emily! This shoot can be of any nature, and it includes full editing and online proofing/ordering for 1 month.

* Accordion Book. These make a great keepsake item or brag book! They are about the size of a business card and are a great way to show your family and friends your favorite photos from your session. They come with fabric covers in a variety of colors and are conveniently “pocket-sized.”

* Gift Certificate for Madison Sweets. Have you ever been on state street and walked by a shop that smelled AMAZING? That’s the bakery! If you win, you get a gift certificate to purchase their fabulous cupcakes or something else sweet. There is no better reason to purchase these delectible goodies other than to treat yourself from an awesome local bakery.

What are you waiting for? Enter now!!! The contest officially begins on March 1st so be sure to email your photos to info@emilybeearts.com by February 29!!! This contest is for everyone!

I’d also like to give a BIG THANK YOU to Allie, Aidan, & their mom for helping me out by letting me take the photos for this promotion. Fun fact: They were the first EBA clients EVER! Can’t believe how big these kids got!

We all have complained about our economy. I complain about the economy a lot, myself. We always wish we had more, or that something was different–there are lots of things about everyday life we wish could be better. No one is at fault for being selfish as all humans are guilty of this in one way or another.  I always wish I had that shiny new lens or I wish I could afford that Alien Bee RIGHT NOW! We all need to remember that there are communities in third world countries that can’t afford $3 garden hoes to cultivate the land to grow crops to feed themselves, etc. We are so lucky to be where we are, and sometimes it is vital to step back and remember that, even on the happiest day of your life….and I have a few reccomendations on giving back in even the smallest ways as you tie the knot!

Toms Shoes are a great company that has had great success in their cause. If you buy a pair of shoes, they give a pair to a child in need. They have a variety of styles, including some glittery ones (yes, they have a wedding section) that would work great with that stunning bridal gown of yours! They have shoes for men, women, and children…so no one is left out, including the groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, etc! They also have an eyewear section now.

Puravida Bracelets sells waterproof, colorful, handmade bracelets made by artisans in Costa Rica. The cause was inspired by the need to remove trash and debris from our beautiful beaches around the world. 1% of the proceeds go through the Surfrider Foundation (for cleaning up our beaches). The bracelets are also made by artisans and the company is able to provide full-time jobs to these people who otherwise would be out of work. The bracelets are inexpensive, and work great as bridesmaid gifts!

WorldofGood.com is an online shop by eBay that sells green, fair trade, and some give back to people/communities in need. They have everything from jewelry, clothing, accessories, bags, home and garden, and other miscellaneous gifts. This might be a great place to mention to your wedding guests as far as your gifts go.

Ethical Weddings is an online community for all things holy-matrimony when it is green, fair trade, organic, local, cruelty-free, etc.  It provides couples with information to have their big day without compromising their values.

I have come across some great examples from celebrities and close friends that have given back through their wedding. NCIS Fans–Actress Pauley Perrette (Abby) got hitched in a thrift gown and asked all guests to donate to charity instead of giving gifts. Last summer–I was in a wedding where instead of clinking the glasses and getting a kiss from the newlyweds just through that–if you hit your glass with a spoon, you had to donate money to Habitat for Humanity to see any kissing…and the more you donated, the better the kiss! You can be creative, or as simple as you need to be…and any help, no matter how small or simple…makes a big difference.

Happy August in an hour! Let the dog-days begin? Here is the first of probably many informational/insightful blog posts (I might be posting these once a week or so).  The goal of these is to keep clients informed on our community, and some tips from the one with the eye capturing the memories–and catching other tricks of the trade, field, or industry….ie: wedding decor, diy blogs, session ideas/inspiration, new locations, etc.

Today we begin with the “watch-what-you-buy” category. The focus of this blog post–a LOVELY store called Anthropologie. Before we begin here, let me say I LOVE Anthropologie. They’re a lovely store, and I wish someday I will be rich enough to fill my closets and house with their stuff. Much of their stock is on the pricy-end, and it is good to keep in mind other options to save $. They have everything from housewares, bedding, clothing, bath&body…to a wedding line (BHLDN). These items are great, and before you buy, consider making it yourself or buying from an independent seller on Etsy. You can have more originality AND save some money! Check out a few of my finds–

There are a lot of trends right now in fashion and design with vintage/handmade inspired looks. Here is something from BHLDN:

It is a bottle. Tied to a stick with twine. The price…*drumroll please*….$68!!! Yes, $68 for a bottle tied to a stick. You can go into the woods, and get a stick. You can drink a beer/soda/juice in a glass bottle or scrounge the recycling bin. You might have to pay for the twine. I hear twine is dirt cheap, however.

There are also a lot of terrariums appearing as decor and accessories–a really charming and GREEN trend, if you ask me! Anyways, here are some necklaces with terrarium pendants.

Anthropologie: $128

Etsy: $14

I don’t understand justifying spending $128 for a piece of moss in a jar–they are cool looking, but Etsy has many unique options for terrarium necklaces and terrarium centerpieces. That’s just my opinion. You could even go to your local craft store, buy a mini jar and jewelry chain–and go out to the woods and get some moss if you wanted, and put rocks, beads, trinkets or whatever inside and it would be YOUR original work of art.

I’ll just say this one more time–I am not trying to knock Anthropologie–they are an amazing store (I really want THIS dress!) and I love their products. I don’t need to tell you how awful the economy is and how every penny counts these days. These examples are small aspects of your day, and these tiny details can often save you money so you can budget it towards something else for your big day or something in your future!

Waldeinsamkeit (German) : The feeling of being alone in the woods.

And then, the images…yup, another personal blog!

[Show as slideshow]

12►