I have never photographed a session this early, and Danny, Klara, and I all shared some yawns–but you can’t tell in these pictures. I would do it again, if the session was as fun as this one! At Cherokee Marsh, where this lovely e-session was photographed–there was still dew on the grass. We were lucky enough to have a nice day, not too hot–and the sky was so blue! I loved the endless plains of cattails and yellow cone flowers, and there were plenty of butterflies dancing around. Danny and Klara have known each other since they were young, and here they are…engaged all these years later! It was awesome to go on this nature walk with them, which is one of their favorite activities along with going on picnics, getting coffee, and sharing their love through music. Danny proposed to Klara by singing her a Jack Johnson song (“Better Together”)….too adorable, right?! Can’t wait to tell the beginning of their new story/new beginning at their wedding this October!

What can I say, but, I LOVE THIS SHOOT! Becca is a senior at Germantown High School and she aspires to be a music teacher–I even got to hear her play some piano (and she did such a beautiful job)! We started the shoot at an abandoned school (built in 1875!) and ended up in her own backyard. There was some concern when it rained in the morning–but the sun came out and gave us such a beautiful day for this shoot! Becca is so super talented, and so sweet, she was an absolute delight to work with!  One of the best moments was when we saw a pair of yellow tiger swallowtail butterflies flitting around the garden! Great things will come from this young musician!

I’m still smiling thinking about how much fun this session was! Andy is a senior at Menomonee Falls High School and we had a BLAST! Without asking, it is easy to tell that Andy is going to take his life into a Theatre or Dancing career — he wants to go to school at NYU as well! He has such an awesome and fun personality and is a straight-up entertainer and I loved photographing him and watching him dance! He also reeeeaaallllyyyy loves chocolate….who doesn’t….but I think he gives all chocolate lovers a run for their money. I’m reallllyyyy jealous of his Wicked poster signed by the cast….I thought about stealing it…..nonetheless, he is a great example of someone just being who they are and enjoying life, which is fabulous. I shared a laugh or two, which made my job really fun! Good Luck, Andy! Hopefully we’ll see you out in New York City next fall!

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!