I got real in my last blog post and shared how I’ve been derailed and uninspired these past couple months. I always take December and January off from shooting in order to reflect on the previous wedding season, reassess my business, and to just have a breather and spend time with friends and family. The past couple years this has been totally necessary, but this year I think I made a mistake. I was crazy busy these past months, but I wasn’t doing anything to feed my soul. It’s a common misconception that wedding photographers work one day a week, but most wedding photographers own their own businesses, and the Business Owner hat consumes far more time (6 days a week, oftentimes 12+ hour days) than the Photographer hat (maybe only 1 or 2 days a week at about 12 hours total). Most of us spend a small percentage of our week actually shooting (the inspiring part, for me) … and the rest of the week is spent meeting with clients, fielding emails, sending out contracts and invoices, doing bookkeeping and accounting, setting goals, editing images, branding/marketing/social media’ing, writing copy for print and web materials, burning and packaging client discs, going to the post office and bank (my least favorite things ever), participating in forums and workshops, and (the most time-consuming for me) designing books and albums.

As I mentioned, the soul-feeding and inspiring part of my job is the shooting. And I need to do it consistently to feel alive and to feel myself. Even in the terrible winter, I’ve realized. So when Abbey told me she was coming to Madison and wanted to meet (we met previously only through the Twitterverse), I immediately let her know that I’d be shooting her (and she wasn’t allowed to refuse). Abbey is a fellow WI photographer (very new to the scene) who is a real talent. Talking with her was completely natural, exciting, and great. I felt like I found a long-lost friend and kindred spirit. We went out for tacos, tried some new Madison beer, and then ran around on Lake Mendota for 10 minutes. Those 10 minutes were all it took for me to feel myself and on track again. I woke-up this Monday morning fired-up for the week, for the coming year, and for being 30.

When I shoot, I prefer to observe before directing. One thing I noticed and loved right away about Abbey is how quickly she talks and how much she uses her hands when doing so. I wanted to capture some of that.

After being on that lake with Abbey I returned home feeling so revived and wanting to go back out there. So I took Troy along and he turned the camera on me instead. I wanted some updated photos that I didn’t take on my iMac, haha, and to remember the first awesome day of being 30 :)

Abbey, I love ya. Thanks for everything.

Hey, it’s me below. Feeling good.

From now on, even if I don’t have time (and especially when I don’t have time), I just need to get out and shoot something for myself on a regular basis. I don’t want to burn out on the Business Owner front because I’m not nurturing the Photographer side of things. Have a great Monday. Some GREAT things are in store here soon. I hope one of the next blog posts I write is on my NEW BLOG!!!

She has a new website launching in the coming weeks so we spent 30 minutes hanging out with her awesome car, house, and boyfriend … just capturing some relaxed images for the new site. Nikki said she wanted photos that felt like we were just hanging out and I love to shoot that way (I hate posing and don’t even really know how to do it) … so it was perfect.

VIEW MY PORTFOLIO * LIKE ME ON FACEBOOK * FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

PS — Jessica’s amazing red dress was her grandmother’s. Love that.

Andy is a talented fellow photographer, so being asked to photograph him and his wife was a huge honor … one that I do not take lightly. Thank you, Andy and Jess, for trusting me, being open, and being awesome. Hope to see you again soon!

My favorite memory from the evening was asking Andy why he fell in love with Jess and he said, “because she drove a Saturn.” Yup :)

I shot Lizzy and Scottie’s wedding when I was *just* starting as a photographer, back in August 2009. They somehow trusted me to capture their day before I even had a couple weddings under my belt (and before meeting me). They’re laid-back and amazing like that. In a few weeks they’ll be adding another little boy or girl to their family and I couldn’t be happier for them.

Here are a few from my session with Lizzy (total trooper, by the way. It was about 50 degrees and windy (felt like 20 degrees, imo) and she went barefoot into Lake Mendota).

Disclaimer: This is my first and last maternity session. I adore Lizzy and her baby bump, but right now I’m not looking to expand my business into yet another direction :)

Launching my new branding was such a weight off my shoulders … almost a year of working 24/7 that has already proven to be the hugest return-on-time-investment.  Thank you so much for all the kind words here, on Facebook, on Twitter.  My heart was so overwhelmed and so full.  I couldn’t be happier or more at peace about it.

I have another huge project underway.  It has me tossing and turning at night and wishing sleep was never necessary.  I’ll be around … but a little more silent here for a week or so yet.

Until later…

Thanks Jenna, for always being my muse on any type of shoot, even at the last minute.  You inspire me.

To embark on my new endeavor I attended a boudoir workshop with the talented and lovely Jennifer Williams and Leah Aubrey.  We shot at the new Cosmopolitan Hotel and it was so gorgeous … I mean, really super gorgeous.  I’m staying there for WPPI next year for sure.  Jen and Leah demonstrated a few of their favorite poses and then for 3-4 hours we had time to direct and shoot the models alone with one other workshop attendee.  I was super inspired by some of the more dreamy Anthropologie/hippy looks my shooting partner and I styled the model in.  Here is a small handful of the shots I got while working 2 on 1 with the model (who rocked it out, btw).

I’m keeping it PG-13 (actually, probably closer to PG or G, even) and showing mainly beauty shots. Once I launch my boudoir business it will have it’s own special, private place on the web (basically, on a separate blog).

Thanks for being so fun to work with, Victoria.  You’re awesome!  And another huge thanks to Jennyface for her hair, makeup, and styling expertise.  I want to bring her along with me on every shoot :)

I am going to be OUT OF THE OFFICE (and state) for a photography conference until next week Friday (February 25th). I’ll be pretty busy while I’m away but I will try my best to respond to emails as I can.  Ciao for now!

Sarah is so amazing and fun to shoot — such a natural beauty (enhanced for this shoot by Jennyface‘s makeup talent).  Sarah is one of my former brides and I adore her; I was very excited to have the opportunity to shoot her again.  Thank you, Sarah!!

No, these first two images are not tilted in-camera.  Sarah is actually bending that far backward!

I’ve been holding back (mainly because I’ve been so dang busy since starting my business), but I’m here to announce for real that I’m going to start offering way more stylish/fashionable (H.S. seniors and young women) portrait and boudoir photography (for now, boudoir is limited only to my brides).

Official announcements about the new extensions of my business are on the way in months to come.  But if you want to get on my calendar now, send me an email.  I’d love to hear from you and see if it’s a good match!