This Spring has been rough in Wisconsin, it’s still a bit cool and we had days upon days of rain! I had to get out for some sunshine so I flew to San Diego to hang out with my beautiful friend Annie! She is without a doubt, the most vivacious and fun spirited person I’ve ever met. You can not get her down, with her easy-going attitude and remarkable way to make you laugh. Being around her just puts you in a good mood! Not to mention she’s got a pretty face to go with her amazing personality. It felt good to get away, seeing some other sort of vegetation feels like I went really far! Cactus vs. pine tree is a breath of fresh air! I have one other post coming on some running pics I took of her too :)

Meet Kim! She is a makeup artist based out of Fond du Lac who has the most stunning eyes I’ve ever seen! She and I worked for the same photographer a number of years ago and she was kind enough to come pay my studio a visit with her little one, named Stone. We had an afternoon of some photo fun, testing out some lighting and exploring different looks. She is beautiful & so is Stone who has her eyes too! They are also the most happy, giddiest bunch to spend a day with! Thanks to them both, and to Kim’s mom for hanging out too :)

Hello! These past few months have brought on a lot of new things and with it, a new studio (yay!) and new lights (double yay!) So needless to say I’ve been spending time playing around with the new setup. I’ve decided to color theme all of my test shoots this month with coral and mint green. A fresh color palette for a fresh look and new start in this space. A good friend, an amazing knitter, and a girl with style, Kerith agreed to be my first test model in the space. We met while working at Anthropologie a few years back. We were testing out some e-com samples, and at the end of the session I took these portraits. The black and whites at the end felt very old to me, probably because I just watched “The Artist” which was an absolutely beautifully lit film! (The opening scenes of the movie within a movie where they played with shadows was awesome!) That, and I’m prepping for a hollywood-style shoot this month :) needless to say, I felt like they belonged to that era, and felt nostalgic myself adding a bit of blues like selenium toner back in the darkroom-that was always my favorite way to finish a silver gelatin print.

I have lots to share, but first wanted to share some inspiration. I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights. I’m pretty sure it will be one of the most magical moments ever and I’ll be in complete awe, crying for some reason with hopes of a life epiphany. Laugh, but true! I’m obsessed with the moon and this comes with it. They spark some imaginative scenes that can really be inspiring. I never thought I was far enough north in the states to see any displays until I met a fellow photographer whose personal work is chasing storms and space weather alike. Her images are pretty rad. Late Sunday evening, I got a text, and was out the door with my camera driving an hour away within minutes. I was so excited to explore and finally get the chance, just happy to tag along. But alas, the geomagnetic storm died down and there was no spectacular shows to be seen. So instead only a few shots of the moon, of no particular interest, but to me are filled with hope that one day I’ll capture the colorful phenomenon myself.

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My neighbors just embarked on a life adventure and I had the opportunity to do this amazing shoot with them before leaving! Mitch, Laurel & their dog Kingsley, set out from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to travel 40 cities in 30 days, eating only from food trucks and local markets on their journey. Their final destination will be Austin, Texas where they will start their own food truck! The two bought, gutted & completely refurbished this Pathfinder Camper. The interior looks just as amazing as the paint job outside, with handmade curtains, new flooring, futon & painted cabinets. For the shoot, we went to The Kiltie, a drive in diner located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin where Mitch worked for years growing up. Not only did it fit the retro theme, and local dining endeavor; it had meaning. Those are the best locations! Believe it or not, they did not plan on coordinating that day – they just have amazing style- all the time. :) Not to mention are a ridiculously good looking couple. Add the dog with a matching bandana, and BAM! this shoot was a dream! Props to Mitch’s bro Collin, who was the best dog wrangler on set, getting Kingsley to hold still and pose. Could not have asked for a better styled shoot, with such great people! I wish them luck in Austin as up-and-coming foodie entrepreneurs!

You can follow their adventure on their food truck blog documenting their trip. They’ve got 10 days to go! Check out the pathfinder camper from start to finish too!

I have a lot of catching up to do to share all the work I’ve done this summer, it’s been ridiculously busy! I have a full list of new posts & some brand new photographs! So to kick my bad journaling habit, I’m here to share that Scott & Ashley are getting married this month! We did an engagement session a few weeks ago that we thought would be cancelled, but despite all odds, we got a little window of sun & some romantic rain that made all those colors pop! Very excited to shoot their wedding this September! My favorites are beside all those colorful weeds I made them nestle into right on the side of the road! And maybe those black and whites under the umbrella, rain really can be fun!

Every summer I crew on a sailboat named Adventurous for races out on Lake Michigan. It’s pretty amazing; a sport that I never could have imagined I’d get into, but absolutely love. I crew for a women’s league and a more competitive one out of South Shore Yacht Club. I am so grateful to the family who owns this sailboat and for taking me not only as crew but as friends. We went around for a cruise in Milwaukee’s harbor, with a grill hanging off the back (almost lost it!) and some signature rum drinks from the captain! It was a beautiful night as we ended up sailing towards the moon after the fireworks for a late night cruise. Angel claimed her kids hated to be photographed-but they were good for me :) I especially love the shots from below deck. Many thanks to the Wilcox family!

Congrats to Brian + Nicole on their beautiful wedding this past weekend! I couldn’t help but post a few of my favorites before giving you a full post. It was too hard to pick one, we had an incredible “magic hour” of  sunlight before the rest of the festivities continued, I was so excited while I was shooting, it made her that more excited! So here’s a sneak peek!

I did a shoot for the Bartender Olympics here in Milwaukee hosted by OnMilwaukee.com. A group of bartenders compete in events that involve the most ridiculous of tasks. For example stacking as many PBR cans as possible in a minute or making a drink while holding a shake weight. Haha, so I took a fun approach to it, by making these “athletes” feel like they were true competitors, complete with sweatbands. We didn’t even have to style them-they showed their personality & we made em look like champions! The Bartender Olympics will be held March 1st and along with it, our new issue of Two Cents MKE! In the printed magazine you’ll be able to see the full spread and all the contestants. I’ll link when it debuts! In the meantime, here are some of my favorites!

Such a fun wedding! Kim & Chris were a blast and were full of energy and plenty of laughs throughout the day!