Joel + Heather | Milwaukee Art Museum

The warm sun beaded down upon Lake Michigan with a perfectly cool breeze.  I met up with Joel and Heather for their engagement session at the very cool Milwaukee Art Museum.  Everyone was out enjoying the day, there was music playing by the fountain, white balloons took flight by the lakefront, fun was in the air.  Two young professionals, ready to start their lives together and so in love made it an picturesque session!  Thank you for a wonderful afternoon Joel and Heather.  I can't wait for your downtown Milwaukee wedding in October!  Enjoy your sneak peak.

The Gayhart Family. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Erika and Jesse are wonderful parents and make beautiful babies.  Full time jobs and two littles ones under foot, life can move fast.  Capturing these little moments before they're grown is so special and will become a keepsake. Evie is so smart and sweet. She watches out for her little brother Jonah and listens well to mom and dad's directions.  Jonah just turned one years old.  He is just a bundle of love with a whole bunch of boyish charm and curiosity.  This brother and sister duo are great companions and great friends.  Spending time with the Gayhart family was a delight and I hope you enjoy this sneak peak from yesterday's family portrait session.

Traditional with a twist.

The moment I entered the hotel room, the music was poppin' and the bridal party was getting ready.  The tone was set.  There was a lot of traditional sequencing throughout the wedding day, but with a twist of turned up fun. There was traditional formal wear, family home made items such as a gift card container cut down, hollowed out with a heart carved on the side from an old oak tree, a hand made oak table with bark still exposed on the edging and oak platters on tabletops, all from Nicole's grandfather's land.  The gorgeous white roses with blue and purple orchids were all designed and created by the bride's best friend. Chris and Nicole now follow a traditional family portrait that Chris' parents started on their wedding day and annually since their wedding, 40 plus years ago.  However the twist of fun is when the bridal party sashayed down the aisle with piggy back dancing, wig wearing, scooter riding, wheel-barrel frolicking while sporting easy going sunglass attitudes. The last shot of the day, was one of my favorites.  It was a generational portrait consisting of hands showing wedding rings of the bride and grooms grandmother's, mother's and the wedding couple. The day was amazing.  The crowd was charged with love and support for the bride and groom.  Chris and Nicole's wedding day went by so fast, but the memories will be treasured.  

Meet the beautiful Dykstra Family

Nicole and Troy are truly in love.  It shows in the beautiful family they've created.  On a perfect hot summery Wisconsin Saturday, I got to spend time hanging out with Nicole, Troy and their broods, Braelyn and Bennett.  They are both super sweet, supper silly and super cute! It's so easy to capture the love between family and siblings when it reflects in their interactions with each other.  Thank you Dykstra family for beautiful and fun morning.

CJ DOES MJ'S BILLY JEAN

My precious Connor James is turning 6 years old this month.  He is full of energy, life and always up for being loud and messing around.  He is the sweetest to his mama.  I just love him so much, he is my favorite son.  Ha, because I only have one.  For two months, I will have two 6 year old children until Emily turns 7.  Yikes!  Both my children are my greatest gifts from God and I do not take their presence in my life for granted.  I've never known so much love until I was able to hold my babies for the first time.  Connor's been reading since preschool, love tae kwon do, super hero especially Hulk Smash, legos, drawings, creating books, pretending to create youtube videos, signing and dancing to the latest dance pop music, especially Michael Jackson's Billy Jean.  I celebrate my son this month and hope you enjoy these moments showcasing his smooth moves and long lashes.  Happy 6th Birthday Connor!  Mama and Dad are very proud of you and love you so much!

Meet Mellissa, Joe & Mona. Engagements and Puppy Love.

Mellissa & Joe are getting married this Fall October 2015.  They work hard all day and come home to the puppy love of their life.  Meet Mona.  A gorgeous blond labrador retriever.  Full of energy, super intelligent, loves to fetch her tennis balls and lick you silly.  We were lucky to spend the Summer afternoon with this beautiful family and capture some lovin' moments between these two love birds, Mellissa and Joe!  

It's the glamorous life for Nicole and Christopher!

Nicole and Christopher are engaged and only fifty days away from their August 2015 wedding date.  It's an exciting time in their lives.  Engagements, moving two separate living spaces and melding into one.  This power couple is so cute and so silly, it's truly my honor to spend the day and capture their moments of love. Move over Brangelina!  Make way for our new glamorous couple, Nicole and Christopher!  I'm so excited to get Papparazi on their wedding date!  Enjoy your Sneak Peak of an afternoon with Nicole & Christopher @#Bayview Beach.

Matt & Jenna. Lakefront Love.

Once upon a time, there was girl named Jenna  who had an older brother.  This older brother had many guy friends.  Matt happened to be a very good friend.  When Matt and Jenna met, they knew, they were soulmates.  Together, these two have traveled the world, but agree there is no place like home.  Matt, Jenna and their dog Oliver are living the Milwaukee city lakefront lifestyle and are so in love.   Matt proposed to Jenna and their wedding is set for Summer 2016.  It was one of the most beautiful days in Milwaukee capturing moments  of their Engagement Session @ #McKinley Beach and around #Lakefront Brewery.  Matt, Jenna & Oliver, thanks for the awesome day and cheers to you guys!

Joe + Jamie = Last Night's Engagement Photo Session

These twenty-something lovebirds are MOVERS and SHAKERS.  It's GO time!  Engaged LESS than a month ago, this dynamic duo has everything prepared and planned out to be married in less than six months, for no other reason than, "They can not wait to be husband and wife".  For being so young and big D.I.Y.er's, this couple knows what they want, they have their house in order and getting items checked off their list of things to do.  Joe and Jamie went to the same high school, but in different grades.  After college, Jamie saw Joe at HER BFF's parent's place.  Joe saw Jaime at HIS BFF's parent's place.  That's right, Joe and Jamie's BFFs are brother and sister.  With Joe's sassiness and quick wit, Jamie's big blue eyes and dazzling smile, hearing the story of how these two met is one of the sweetest stories I have ever heard and they are one of the cutest couple I've ever met.  Their engagement session was so much fun and easy going, I'm looking forward to their September wedding, 250 of their closes friends and family, it's gonna to be a  blast! 

Emily + Bella = Sisters 4-Ever!

Emily and Bella come bouncing through my sunroom door, they've run around my property and started playing.  This two sister are double trouble and extra sweet.  In between shoots, we shared pizza, french fries, Sprite and ice cream.  Every photo session should be like this one.  I've known these two since they were small itsy-bitsies, now turning into young ladies.  Capturing these moments from childhood to preteen is such an honor for me as Auntie Jenna, with their whole lives ahead of them, these moments are precious and cherished. 

A Day With A New Baby

For less than 24 hours, it was such a joy and honor to watch these two new parents at home with their new baby Eva Victoria Grace Baker. Their busy careers take a backseat to this new adorable addition. Exhausted and tired, Nick and Dawn find joy in the little moments such as in Eva's breathing, her reactions to her name being called, her little cries that only Mommy Dawn or Daddy Nick can comfort. What an amazing pair of parents. This baby is so lucky to have so much love and affection by two parents who are also so in love with each. I believe Eva is going to run the world with the love and support of these two incredible parents.  Nick tells me that he just wants his baby girl to know that her Daddy loves and supports her, no matter what.  Dawn is amazing and became a protective and loving mama bear.  I've been waiting for this day to come a long time.  To see your best friend make another human being and have a family, words cannot describe the feeling of happiness and content I have for them.  Kinda like your life is complete with a new human being created by two people who love and support each other.  Life is incredible.  

Chris and Nicole

So exciting to post Chris and Nicole's engagement shoot!  Had a blast hanging out with these guys on this cold, windy, and foggy Wisconsin day!  Spring you can come anytime!  But let’s just admit the obvious here and say that these guys are pretty darn cute together.  Oh and we can't forget Miss Bailey in her pink and white ribbons and squeaky ball.  Cannot wait for the wedding day.

Bachelorette Party: Beautiful & Classy in the City

The very famous Bridget Houge Costello contacted me for her cousin's Bachelorette photoshoot.  It was an honor to capture these images of very powerful, casual, beautiful women who travelled from the all across the our country to celebrate their lovely bride-to-be.  It was so much fun and we rocked this shoot in the city of Milwaukee!

MY BEST FRIEND'S BABY SHOWER, DAWN DANIELLE CLEGG & NICK BAKER

My best friend had the most love and support at her NOHO Baby Shower. It's amazing to come back into our home town from Wisconsin where she grew up and see just how many other people think of Dawn's AWESOMENESS! Dawn is going to be a wonderful mom and a sexy one too!  Congratulations to the soon to be parents, Nick Baker & Dawn Danielle Clegg.  Cheers and all my love!  I'll be back for the newborn session of baby Eva!

DANIELLE & SLOANE MOMMY & ME SESSION

Danielle & Sloane's Mommy & Me lifestyle family photography session ROCKED!  Why you ask? 

Lifestyle family photography is about documenting personhood. It celebrates interests, connection, personality, sentiment and the natural pieces of life. It’s genuine photojournalism of children and families in the honest simple moments of growing and experiencing life together.

It’s about the excitement a two year old gets when primping with mommy. The laughter brought on by messy lipstick and rollers in their hair. The curious eyes that lead you to do anything for your kids.  These images show who you are – they show who you are together. The images celebrate life as it is in all it’s simple greatness. 

BOOK YOUR MOMMY & ME SESSION

It's happening!  Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10th, 2015.  

"Moms Are The Glue That Hold's It All Together"  

Out of gift ideas?  Why not give her a gift that last a lifetime.  Time spent together as a family, these moments are the best gift to treasure.  Give your mom the gift of your beautiful face.  These captured moments can be turned into a calendar, canvas album, mug, or any other array of keepsakes for your mom to see everyday.  

Lifestyle Portrait Sessions include: one hour session at a location of your choice, 20 edited digital high resolution images on disc with print release and FaceBook Cover.  Bookings are for April & May 2015.  Reserve your spot today before they are gone!

See my Thumbtack Slide Show!

I've become a member of Thumbtack.com and now have a new slide show on my profile site.  Please click here to see it!

Find me on Thumbtack.com?

When dinosaurs roamed the earth, there was a daily paper.  The "CLASSIFIED" section is where I would peruse looking for a job or specialty service.  Long gone are those days, now there's Thumbtack.com.  Enter the service you need, click some boxes, click on a budget selection, hit send and receive three FREE quotes from professionals in your inbox within 24 hours.  Buying our first house, we needed painters, plumbers, hardwood flooring, carpeting, kitchen countertops, installers.  Thumbtack.com was able to find us local business professionals and there were no surprises.  

As a photographer, I use Thumbtack.com for local clients needing head shots, portraits, birthday parties, corporate events, commercial product and weddings. Besides word of mouth referrals, self marketing and hitting the pavement getting my name out there, Thumbtack.com has become one of my go to  sites.  Every morning, I check my email and review the listings from Thumbtack.com to see if my speciality service is needed in someone's life.  

Thumbtack.com is nationwide, but it drives more income into our local community by servicing local customer service request increasing local businesses.  If you're looking for an interior designer, handyman, plumber, magician, D.J., CPR class, drawing lessons, whatever, Thumbtack.com is a great referral option when you don't have any options, and it's cost effective since you get professional referrals for services within your own budget. Give it try...see what you find.

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