Sun Prairie Bridal Show

Getting married in 2011 or 2012? Mark your calendars - there's a FREE Bridal Show in Sun Prairie at the end of the month. There's great food and cake to taste test and as always the 5- $100 door prize drawings that can be used at any of the vendors at the show (including me)! Last year two of the brides that booked me won a door prize = FREE money for your wedding.

Here are the details:

The Round Table

1611 North Bristol St., Sun Prairie

Sunday, Feb. 27th from 11am-3pm

Also, thank you to everyone's patience in the past two months. Since the middle of December, my daughter, Mya, has been in and out of the hospital after finding that she has a disease and a mass in her chest. She underwent chest surgery a couple of weeks ago to remove it and is recovering very well at home now. I realize that during this time, customers have waited longer to get replies, orders or schedule appointments. I just wanted to send a huge thank you for your understanding. Hopefully we'll be "mass-free" now and it won't be an issue in the future. Lastly, another big thank you to those who have kept Mya in your thoughts and prayers. Every little bit helps!

Class of 2011 - Graduation PhotoCard Special

Can you believe that I'm already talking about graduation? Well, its only 5-6 months away! If you're a parent, I'm sorry for the reminder. If you're a senior, I'm sure its not soon enough! Are you thinking of sending a Graduation PhotoCard instead of the formal Graduation Announcement? Now's your time!

Order between January 1st - April 15th

and receive $5 OFF every 50 cards you order.

So, order 150 cards & get $15 OFF your order!

Standard PhotoCard templates available on my Senior Portrait Pricelist page,

or I can custom design something just for YOU!

Things you need to know before calling or emailing your order:

1) When & where is the graduation ceremony (if you're including that info on the card).

2) When & where is the party or open house.

3) What photo(s) do you want included on your card. This can also include childhood photos incorporated with your senior photo.

4) Color(s) for the card. Do you want it to be school colors, your favorite color, or colors that will highlight your senior photo?

The Joys of Photographing Your Own Children

As just about any photographer and they will tell you...they HATE photographing their own kids!!! I loved it until they got to be just about a year old and then things started going down the crapper. Until then, they were my happy little models - sitting and smiling for mommy! Around that year marker was when they could not only walk but RUN and would RUN right out of my scene as I was trying to grab my camera! I'm finding that my 3 year old will pose now, but he's only good for a couple of shots...then he checks out.

Another random thought about photographing your kids. We all love (me included) the sweet photos of our kids, smiling and sitting nicely. But, that's not really our kids (or monsters, as I call my own). The bloopers are the ones that are our REAL kids! So, I thought I'd share one of the "blooper" photos with you from my son's 3 year old session. Enjoy!

Random Wedding Tidbits...

I've been thinking of weddings lately and thought I'd share some random things:

1) I highly recommend the book, "Conscious Bride". I read this book myself while I was engaged and have given it to numerous friends. It is a great book that touches on many of the issues many brides have to work though before and just after marriage. Its not about booking the reception site, how to find the perfect dress, whom to invite, how to word those invites, etc. This is about dealing with parents during the engagement process. Realizing that although they are excited for you, they are also feeling mixed emotions about dealing with the "loss" of their daughter. Its also about how to transition from a single individual to a partner in marriage. It helps so that you don't have the huge "let down" after the wedding day. Trust me...a great read!

2) Are you looking for an alternative to the table favors? Who's sick of tying netting around a few kisses? If you feel compelled to have chocolates on the table, so be it, but save all the time and hassle - put it in a dish or scatter it on the table. I was just at a wedding this summer where they decided to do something different. Instead of table favors, they made a donation to a charity of their preference in honor of their guests. At their guest book table at the reception, they had a poster that talked about the charity. What a great gesture!

3) Here's a trend that has been in Minnesota for a while, but hasn't quite made its way to the Badger state yet. Instead of doing a large tiered cake, they do individual cakes at each table. The Bride & Groom have their own cake sitting in front of them at the head table. When it is time for dessert, the Bride & Groom stand, cut & feed their cake. Then the guests can cut their own piece at their table. The guests tables have different kinds of cakes and this becomes a social event at the reception because they can share with other tables so they can try different flavors.

So, if you're planning a wedding...congrats & enjoy the ride!

Outside perspective....

Today I was hanging a new display, located in the Studio FX Salon in Sun Prairie. If you'd like to see it, setup a hair appointment with Misty or Sarah - 837-4177. The salon is at 425 W. Main St. in Sun Prairie. Very pumped about the display!!! Special thanks to the "models" who were used!

As I was working on it, there was a bridal group in there getting their hair done. Wonderful day for a wedding, BTW, the weather was great! Anyways, the mother-of-the-bride (MOB) was talking to the bridesmaids about who was shooting her daughter's wedding later. What she said cracked me up, so I had to share.

MOB - "The photographer shot all the high school seniors when my daughter was a senior and did a great job. He does nice work, but he's a little quirky. You know, everyone in that profession is kinda nerdy!"

The bridesmaids all look at me and we all burst out laughing! The MOB then tries to save herself and says, "Well, not you of course."

I just had to laugh - What a great day!

Fort Atkinson Bridal Show

Attention all brides!

Looking for a free bridal show? The Central Coast Restaurant & The Dance Club in Fort Atkinson will be holding a Bridal Expo on Sunday, Sept 26th from 10am-2pm. There will be a fashion show at 1:30pm in the dance club. There is also a vendor prize drawing for attendees.

I believe this is a free event for brides, but anyone else will have to pay a minimal fee.

Stop by my booth to check things out, say "HI" and see what kind of show specials I'm running!

Central Coast Restaurant & The Dance Club

1905 Central Coast Lane

Fort Atkingson, WI 53538

Fall Family Sessions

Book your fall family portrait session NOW and save $10 OFF your session fee!

Offer is valid as long as it is on the "Specials" page on the website.