***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!
I always like to try to incorporate something personal into my portraits whenever possible. It helps add some context for the photos and it says something more about a person than just what they look like.
For Brad and Liz that “something personal” turned out to be cribbage. They are self-described HUGE cribbage fans, bordering on ridiculous! So they brought some cards along and I asked them to play a game while I shot. It was a heated battle to the end, but Liz prevailed, as she apparently often does.
I had a fun little family portrait shoot recently with the Rebstock family. It was a hot day, but the shade and the breeze off the lake at Bartel’s Beach in Lake Mills made it really nice.
Little Lizzie, which is short for Lizelle (what a cool name!), is just a few months old and she is such a cutie! Thanks for the fun day in the park Jessica, Chad, and Lizzie!
I knew Kelly and Rick’s wedding would be something special, partially because their reception was held at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton. It’s a spectacular space by itself, but then add in all the decorations for their reception and it all looked simply amazing! As an added bonus we were actually able to go into the theater and shoot on stage – how cool is that!?
I had a great time with Kelly and Rick and everybody else too – it’s not a wedding I will soon forget!
Oh, and thanks to my buddy Alex for helping out that day. I couldn’t have gotten some of these images without him. Thanks!
I’ve seen many brides give their husbands-to-be gifts on their wedding day. Usually it’s a nice watch or some other manly jewelry. After their “first-sight” moment Laura gave Mike a Mr. Potato Head, which at first puzzled me a little, but then I remembered that Mike does research on spuds at the UW. Then it all made a little more sense.
They had an awesome wedding day. They were married at First United Methodist Church, which is right in downtown Madison, so we walked up to the Capitol for some portraits (and some mosquito swatting), and then we were able to walk right down to Overture Center for their reception. No driving – love it!
An interesting fun fact about Laura and Mike: they met while playing tuba in the UW Band! How cool is that?! So it wasn’t terribly surprising when the tuba section showed up at the reception to serenade them with some UW classics.
It was such a fun day for everyone! Thanks so much Mike and Laura!
Sweet! The best late night snack I've ever seen at a wedding! Perfect!
My roots as a photographer are in the journalism and publishing industry, so it always hurts when I see how so many newspapers and publications are struggling to survive and many are closing their doors. I think the loss is especially painful when it’s a local rag – those are really a dying breed. I was disappointed to hear that Brava magazine closed it’s doors earlier this year, especially because a former client of mine, Laura Houlihan, as well as many others, would be out of a job. Then I got a call from Laura last Friday …
She gave me the news that Brava was being relaunched! The really cool part was that she was going to be the new publisher! Not only was she a beautiful bride, but she’s a very talented and intelligent woman. I think she’ll make an awesome publisher and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for Brava! Congratulations Laura and to everyone else at Brava!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Michelle Page-Alswager
(608) 235-3857
holdthathought@gmail.com
BRAVA MAGAZINE AND MADISON WOMEN’S EXPO ANNOUNCE RELAUNCH
Brava magazine confirms release date of August 1, 2009
Madison, Wis. — June 4, 2009 — Brava magazine, the monthly lifestyle publication dedicated to celebrating the lives of women in south central Wisconsin, announces it will re-launch the popular magazine with a brand new look on August 1, 2009.
Erickson Publishing, LLC, former publisher of brava magazine, its sister publication the annual encoreedition and producer of the Madison Women’s Expo suspended operations in April. The fate of the products was unknown. Kristin Erickson, owner of Erickson Publishing, LLC, is happy to have sold the business to a core group of former employees. “I am so proud of the impact brava made to our readers, our advertisers and the community as a whole,” Erickson says. “It was extremely hard to suspend publication, and I am absolutely thrilled that this team of talented professionals will continue to take the products to new exciting levels. I am delighted to pass the baton to Laura Houlihan.” Erickson will also remain working with the team as a consultant.
“The team is assembled and has been working behind the scenes for weeks in the hopes the purchase would go through,” says Houlihan, the newly named publisher of the magazine. Houlihan brings to the table her past experience running Skirt Magazine in Jacksonville, Fla., as well as her sales experience at brava. “The outpouring of support from our readership and advertisers has been amazing. We couldn’t let it die,” says Houlihan. “It’s like having our family back together.”
The Madison Women’s Expo, a yearly event produced by brava and held the weekend before Thanksgiving will also return for its 11th year. Marketing and Events Director, Michelle Page-Alswager, will remain at the helm. “What can I say? Women look forward to this event and exhibitors love the results they get from the thousands of attendees visiting them. It’s the perfect tie in — the premier women’s magazine in south central Wisconsin, and the best Women’s Expo, I’m lucky to be part of both,” states Page-Alswager.
More information to follow.
For more information, contact Michelle Page-Alswager at (608) 235-3857 or Laura Houlihan at (608) 609-9149 or holdthathought@gmail.com.
I’ve got some blogging catching up to do! I’ve been busy shooting lately with the wedding season in full swing now and we’ve also been busy at home because we’re getting ready to move in a week or so to our new home in Fort Atkinson. We’re very excited to be in a new house, a new town, and to be much closer to the studio in Lake Mills!
Val, Nissa and I are on the road for this weekend’s wedding. We’re lucky enough to be shooting on the beautiful north shore of Lake Superior – one of my favorite places! I love tramping around up here camping, hiking, and shooting, but given our busy summer schedule I’m usually only able visit during the winter. It’s so nice to be here in early summer!
Depsite the very long drive, Nissa did pretty good! She’s a natural road-tripper!
Nissa and Val and I spent some time scouting the shoreline for good photo spots for Saturday.
I convinced Val to wade out to this rock a few feet off shore. The water was icy cold!
What a weekend! Here’s a sneak peek at my Saturday with Meaghan, Mike, and their wonderful family and friends. I’ve got so many great shots it was really tough to just choose a few! Enjoy – more to come soon from Sunday!
Mike, arrving on foot and in style. Definitely the best dressed guy on State Street!
Meaghan's shoes and flowers.
Promenade Hall at Overture Center looked AMAZING!
Meaghan's dress was so beautiful!
Meaghan and her mom share a moment together before the ceremony.
Meaghan and the girls!
Their ceremony was held in the Wisconsin Studio - a really great space for a wedding ceremony.
I asked them to be serious for a few shots, but they couldn't hold it very long!
I love these kinds of engagement portrait shoots. We just relaxed, had fun, and hung out on State Street. Oh, and ate some ice cream! Mmmmmm … Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream!
I couldn't resist trying to work this poster at Overture Center into a shot!
State Street is just so full of rich textures and colors. I love it!
Rachel is going to be a stunning bride!
We popped into the Sacred Feather to try on some hats! It's such a cool store - go check them out!
... and then we got some ice cream. Cherry Chocolate Chip!
Paul and Rachel are such a great couple. September 19th will be here before we know it!
A couple hours before I met Betsy and Jonathan for their shoot, I was pretty worried about rain. The skies looked pretty threatening, as did the radar on my iPhone. I thought that even if it wasn’t raining when we were supposed to shoot, the rain would at least have left everything all wet.
Turns out I was worrying for nothing though because the skies cleared out and we were basking in evening sunshine at Olbrich Gardens. Shooting there is fun because there are so many different environments I find a new look every time I go there! We had a good time just walking around and shooting whatever looked interesting.
Normally I don't enjoy shooting in full sunlight, but I found that I loved most of these shots because of the sunlight. You really have no limits if you can get yourself to see things differently and turn what you think are disadvantages into advantages.
I love these shots of them just hanging out on this bench together. Beautiful and natural.
This wedding was a long time in the planning for Kristine & Brian – they booked us about 18 months before their wedding! Everything turned out spectacular! Their ceremony was in the amazing St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay, and their reception was at the Lambeau Field Atrium – naturally a great location!
I started shooting early in the morning with the girls at the salon. I don’t get to do that much and it’s always interesting – so many little steps and details!
I love this shot! Kristine was walking to the back of the church for some photos, so I walked parallel with her down the center aisle and snapped off a few with a slow shutter speed. I do this a lot when shooting … sometimes I get lucky and a little magic happens!
Kristine and her father waiting to walk down the aisle.
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral – what an amazing space!
Boogie and the Yo-Yo’s performed at the reception. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a band use so many different instruments. At one point they even worked a flute into the mix! They were awesome!
Gotta love the colors and motion with Kristine and her flower girl.
Kristine had an amazing veil, but the wind really whipped it around while we were shooting by the river.
There’s really no place like Lambeau Field.
Congratulations Kristine and Brian! Thanks for an awesome day!
I met Nathan and Amy early one Saturday morning at the Dane County Farmers Market, which is a very cool, if not unusual, venue for engagement portraits. It’s just got a special energy to it and I love photographing couples amid the crowds. Although in late April the farmers market doesn’t quite have the color and flair that it does in mid-summer when all the produces and flowers are in full swing.
So we shot at the market for a bit and then headed down to Willy Street to shoot by some of the bridges and buildings down there. We kept on shooting through a few raindrops, but when the lightning started we called it a wrap!
Thanks for the great early morning shoot Amy and Nathan!
Above: The steps of the Capitol make a great backdrop.
Above: Amy and Nathan love to laugh together, but I got them to put the laughs away for a few shots. I just love their expressions here.
I’m photographing Kristine and Brian’s wedding tomorrow in Green Bay, and their reception will be held at the Lambeau Field Atrium. I’ve been here a few times before for receptions and not only is the location spectacular, as you would expect, but the staff here does an awesome job too.
I’ll be starting shooting early in the morning with Kristine and the girls at the salon, so I drove up from Madison tonight. It was just after sunset when I drove past the stadium on my way to the hotel and I couldn’t resist whipping a u-turn and going back to shoot a bit. The light and colors were amazing and I knew I would be busy shooting other reception activities Saturday night, so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
Have a great weekend!
Here’s a bit of what I shot, straight from the camera.
It’s hard to believe that Nissa is already more than four months old. Time flies by and it seems like she’s doing something new and different every day.
One of the things that has amazed and surprised me is just how hard she tries at the new things she’s doing. Whether it’s just trying to stand and push with her legs, or mastering the art of getting her fingers into her mouth, she shows so much determination and effort. So many times Val and I have watched her trying to do something and I’ve said, “Wow, she’s trying so hard!”
That’s one lesson, or perhaps reminder, that I’ve gotten from Nissa -- that you can accomplish so much if you are determined and show some perseverance. What could we all accomplish if we took that lesson to heart?
We managed to get some video of her second successful attempt at rolling over. Check it out!
What a fun engagement session this was. It was such a nice day outside – one of those “first really nice day’s of spring” where it gets really warm for the first time and everybody can’t help but be in a good mood! And Melanie and Greg are such a great couple. As we walked around downtown, no matter what we were doing they seemed to find the fun in everything! Their wedding in June should be a great time.
Here’s a few of my favorites.
Above: Melanie has the best laugh!
Above: I love catching the moment in-between. It just seems so genuine.
Above: State Street is such a vibrant place, full of energy. It's always been one of my favorite places to shoot.
Above: I love all the color and texture in the background. I thought it matched Melanie's personality nicely.
Val and I are really excited for some things that will be coming in the next couple weeks. We’re working hard on a refresh of the website, which will finally include a section for our portrait services. This is something we’ve been planning and brainstorming for months, and it’s finally almost done!
Weddings are of course about two people coming together and making a commitment to each other, but weddings are also about families coming together. This is especially true with brides and grooms who already have children. Some of the most moving and special ceremonies I’ve ever seen were ones where the kids were uniting and making a commitment just as much as the parents.
Often times my clients who in that situation ask to have the kids included in the engagement portraits, and I’m more than happy to do it for them. It’s a great shoot because it’s like having engagement and family portraits all wrapped up into one. That was the case on Friday with Wesley and Marsha and Logan. Lots of kids shy away from the camera, but Logan couldn’t get enough. He struck so many poses for me that I’m pretty sure he’s got a modeling career ahead of him!
Logan seemed to bounce off the walls sometimes, as 7 year-olds will do, but Marsha kept him wrangled up pretty well.
We stopped into the Windsor Bakery for a few shots. Awesome window light and comfy chairs, not to mention fantastic bread!
My favorite portraits of parents and kids are ones where they're just cozied up together like they would be at home. It just seems so natural and beautiful to me.
[caption id="attachment_597" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="I couldn\'t resist doing a few couch portraits with them too."]
I had a fun engagement shoot on Friday with Marsha and Wesley, who are getting married on November 7th. Marsha’s son Logan came along for the shoot too, and was quite the model for the camera, but I’m going to save him for another post. This one all for Marsha and Wesley.
They are such a sweet and happy couple. It’s hard to miss that they couldn’t be happier when they’re with one another. We had a great time walking around downtown Lake Mills, finding all sorts of little places to use as backdrops.
It was a fun shoot and I’m looking forward to the wedding in November! Thanks Marsha and Wesley!
Since we have our beautiful new studio to work with now, Val and I are going to be rolling out some very cool new things. One of those things that we’re introducing right now is something we’re calling “couch portraits.”
Couch portraits are super-simple, quick, and beautiful portraits for families, kids, couples – pretty much anyone! They’re also going to be very affordable. Right now we’re doing them in our studio and we’ll be holding monthly “Couch Portrait Days” when you can have yours created. We’re really excited about these because it makes it easy and comfortable for anyone to have their portrait made, even for those who perhaps aren’t very comfortable in front of a camera. There’s no fussing over posing or formal arrangements – just cozy up on the couch together and be yourselves! Honest, simple, beautiful.
We’ll be announcing our first Couch Portrait Day soon, so stay tuned for that. If your interested in scheduling a shoot, just shoot me an email – dave@narella-studio.com.
Here’s a few couch portraits we created this weekend with the Crowe and Beckman families.
Val and I had a great portrait session in the studio this morning with Megan and Isaiah Crowe & Chris and Teri Beckman, plus all their kids. Megan and Isaiah’s wedding was one of the first weddings I ever photographed, so it was great to have them into the studio for some family portraits. Chris is Megan’s brother, so Teri and him brought their little guy in for some pictures too. There was a little bit of mayhem, but overall things went great and it was a lot of fun! Here are some of my favorites!
Lydia has some amazing blue eyes!
Lydia and big sister Felicity having fun on our giant bean bag!
Porter … what can I say, he knows how to strike a pose for the camera.
