November 6, 2009 – 2:25 pm
In a constantly changing world, the only constant is change. Either adapt, or get run over by those racing to adapt.
I’ve decided to try an experiment and send this blog into hibernation for the winter. I’m not certain if it will return in the spring. My blogging – sharing personal experiences and photos – will continue, but in another forum. A traditional blog like this one is a wonderful way to keep interested folks up to date with what we’re up to, but I’ve found that Facebook (or Bookface for you Office fans) is just a better way to instantly share and communicate with our clients, family, and friends. There are many reasons why I’ve come to this conclusion, and I’d be happy to chat about it with anyone who wants to email me.
This site will stay live, but will no longer be updated. Check out the above links to our presence on facebook and twitter. It’s an amazing conversation happening over there!
Cheers!
October 19, 2009 – 9:15 am
It’s become an annual ritual. The fall family portrait with my sister’s family. As the kids have grown it’s gotten more interesting and challenging, but it’s always fun. This year we visited the UW Arboretum, which was in a lovely state of autumn. Here’s a few of my favorites.
We’re still booking portrait sessions for this fall, both on location and in-studio. Check out all the info here.
When I’m shooting portraits, my goal is to capture something more than meets the eye; it should convey something more than just what the person looks like. With most people, but especially with kids, it’s all about gaining their trust and letting them relax and be themselves.
Eliza … the silly, giggly one.
Clara … the quiet and shy one.
Garrison … the adventurous and rambunctious one.
I love this image below in particular. I love how it has sort of a “Huck Finn” feel to it.
Chad and Jenny … the wranglers.
October 18, 2009 – 10:42 am
So if you’re a regular stalker here you obviously noticed things haven’t been updated lately. The short and sweet explanation is that things during this late summer and fall have simply been so crazy busy that I’ve needed to choose to work on other projects rather than updating the blog. The other factor is that I’m using Facebook and Twitter almost constantly now and I’m finding it a much easier way to connect with everyone. Check us out over there!
Twitter: @narella
Val on FB
Dave on FB
Narella on FB
Keep checking on things here though. Updates will be coming more regularly and we’ve got some exciting things coming down the pipeline that we can’t wait to share!
Cheers!
September 7, 2009 – 10:52 pm
I photographed Tom and Ingrid’s wedding on Saturday. I arrived at the church well before everyone else, and I scouted around for good light, interesting backgrounds, textures, etc. As I walked out the back of the church I spotted out of the corner of my eye the steps leading up to the balcony. They passed by a stained glass window that had the most amazing light. I wasn’t sure if the light would still be there after the ceremony for Tom and Ingrid’s portraits, but I knew I wanted to use it. I absolutely love the images that I was able to make there and I couldn’t wait to share one of them here. Happy Tuesday!
For a few more of Ingrid & Tom’s photos, check out the gallery on Facebook.
September 2, 2009 – 10:31 pm
August 24, 2009 – 10:47 am
I’m always up for interesting locations. I love out of the ordinary and especially places that are personal to my clients. For their engagement shoot, Emily and Adam invited me out to their farm and it was just a gold mine of great backdrops.
Emily and Adam are such an easy going couple that it made my job easy! They’re getting married in December and they’re hoping for snow. Well, not a blizzard, but enough snow to make it pretty and white.
When I first drove up to their farm I spotted this really old house and I knew I wanted to use it somehow. I don’t think they expected to start the shoot in a dirty, dusty, cluttered upstairs of the old building, but there was great light, interesting textures, and it was a good place to start while the rain moved off.
The downstairs of that same building had some great light too. Emily and Adam were awesome – they didn’t at all mind climbing back into the dust and rubble!
They have a creek that runs through their property too. Good thing I wore my sandals!
The rain had moved off, but there were some great clouds still rolling through.
Adam and Emily were able to relax together so easily. You’d never know they were sitting in soaking wet grass!
I kept coming back to this image for some reason. It’s actually one of my test shots, but there’s something I love about their expressions. It just feels so genuine and honest. Love it.
One of their cats was tagging along with us while we walked along the corn. You can’t see it in the photo, but it’s actually running around in the corn behind Emily and Adam.
August 18, 2009 – 8:49 am
August 17, 2009 – 5:53 pm
Every so often when I’m editing a wedding I’ll come across a shot or two that stop me in my tracks. I look at them and think (or say out loud sometimes) “Ooh, wow!”
That happened with the images below, and I tried to think about why I loved them so much. For me, these kinds of photos are the ones I love most from wedding days. There are always lots of polished, picture perfect photos that I take and those are nice, but I love the behind the scenes, gritty, in the trenches of a wedding day kinds of photos.
In the photos below, I love the honest and reality of the moments.
Thirty minutes before the ceremony, foot up on the counter buckling her shoes while Mom laces up the dress.
Three women trying to perfect the back of Emily’s dress while one final coat of hairspray goes on.
Emily is a stunning bride, but you can see a bit of nervousness in her eyes.
I’m sure that they will cherish all the posed portraits and the “typical” photos from the day, but how special and meaningful do you think these photos will be to the bride, groom, and their family in the coming years and decades?
That’s why I love what I do so much!
Val and I recently had the pleasure of donating our time and talent to Gilda’s Club of Madison, which is a wonderful organization that provides a place to gather for people touched by cancer. I actually helped out there before they opened, laying sod in their beautiful back yard. I remember then that the house was nice, but it felt like a new house – nice but needed a little soul.
It was amazing to see the transformation though when we were there the other night. There was art on the walls, books on the shelves, voices and smells of good food in the air. I remarked about how much life there was in the place! It’s wonderful to see a warm and vibrant community growing there.
Okay, the final installment from Abby and Brad’s wedding.
Love the combination of the grass and the clothes.
I love these chairs and the simplicity of the beach and lake. It was just beautiful!
Such a sweet couple! A joy to work with!
I have to give credit to Abby and Brad for climbing out on to this rock. They actually had to climb over a giant rock about as big as a truck to get to the rock they're sitting on. Totally worth it though!
Here’s some more from Abby and Brad’s wedding on the north shore of Lake Superior. Enjoy!
Abby and her mom just a little while before the ceremony.
Brad and his brother and mom walking from their cabin to the ceremony.
Abby, her dad, and the bridesmaids hang out in the hotel lobby moments before the ceremony starts.
I just loved Abby's veil!
Finally it's ceremony time!
I can't remember what was so funny, but Brad had a good laugh after they lit the unity candle.
Stay tuned for more!
It’s always cool to have photos published in a magazine, but to be a part of the story too is extra sweet!
I was recently interviewed for a story in Wisconsin Bride about favorite engagement portrait locations. Check it out on newstands (I’m a fan of Barnes & Noble and their delicious coffee) or online.
***So there was just too much cool stuff from this wedding to contain in one post. Here’s part one. Enjoy and check back soon for more!***
Abby and Brad’s wedding was one we were especially looking forward to, partially because Abby and Brad are such wonderful people and a sweet couple, but also because of the spectacular location they chose for their wedding – Lutsen Resort on the north shore of Lake Superior. What a spectacular location for a wedding!
I love to travel to the north shore to camp, hike, and shoot the amazing landscape, so it was a real treat for Val and Nissa and I to travel up there. It was also so nice to have such a warm welcome from Brad and Abby’s family and friends. They took us in for the weekend like long lost cousins! It was so wonderful!
We arrived Friday afternoon before the wedding and hung out while rehearsal activities went on. The ceremony rehearsal was quick and easy, then the party began! Food and drink and fire and s’mores, all on the shore of the big lake. It was a little chilly, but it was so nice to watch the daylight fade into a beautiful blue sunset afterglow, then see the moon rise slowly into the night sky. Everybody had a great time – I even heard rumors of some skinny dipping – and it was an amazing prelude to their wedding day!
What a simple, beautiful view!
Abby and Brad practice for the next day.
Friends and family gathering on the beach for the rehearsal dinner and fire.
Plenty of Leinie's on hand.
Brad and Abby's Father have a laugh. You couldn't not have a great time with everyone!
When they checked into the hotel, all the wedding guests received a cute little s'mores kit. Sweet!
The fire was kept roarin' and the beer kept flowin' well into the night!
This in the Senate parlor room – great old paintings and furniture. This was about as serious as I could get them to look all day. I love the formality of everything – it feels very timeless.
