Anda Marie Photography > Wisconsin Wedding Photographer in Madison WI & Milwaukee WI » weddings http://www.andamarie.net Artistic Wisconsin Wedding Photographer Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:48:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2011 favorites. http://www.andamarie.net/2011/12/20/2011-favorites/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/12/20/2011-favorites/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:04:09 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=4805 So here I sit, two and a 1/2 years into my photography career. It’s crazy really … 3 years ago I’d never think myself a wedding photographer. But I’m usually at a loss to think of something more rewarding.

I find these posts difficult because I always feel that the collection of images I create from a certain event/session is far more powerful than any singular image. I love to tell the whole story and I wonder sometimes how just a slice of something translates when set apart. But without getting into that any deeper, here are some 2011 images that caught my eye as I scrolled through my desktop folders last night:

2011 was the year I finally saw my style & work come into their own. The year I stopped looking to other photographers for inspiration or comparison … and didn’t feel a sense of panic that I was doing things wrong. I no longer cared about that; I really finally felt comfortable shooting 100% from my heart. I’m not here saying I’ve sworn-off looking at other photographers’ work. In fact, I believe it’s important to foster that virtual community by being out on friends’ and others’ blogs, leaving comments and encouraging one another in all of this. I keep up with my friends’ blogs, as they’ve become my coworkers, in a sense. And family in yet another way. I do remain inspired by many many other photographers. But I’m no longer mimicking what they do. It’s all part of learning though … I think we all emulate those we admire when we start out.

I have to end this by thanking my clients, without whom none of this is possible, obviously. They’ve flown me all over the country yet again this past year … including to the west coast several times … my favorite place. People are starting to call it my home away from home. Definitely suits me. Thank you thank you thank you to my clients, friends, and other photographers who’ve helped and encouraged me. I’m glad I don’t foresee any end to this most exciting of careers.

Love, AM

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/12/20/2011-favorites/feed/ 25 Time & Recent Features & a New Song http://www.andamarie.net/2011/11/30/time-recent-features-a-new-song/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/11/30/time-recent-features-a-new-song/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:48:50 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=4722 So today is the final November morning and I can’t wrap my mind around time and timing. I’m always thinking about it too … how it moves, how its speed is amplified in proportion to the number of days we are alive, how it places us in certain places and next to certain people, and how it’s not really linear at all. Maybe I’ve just been reading too much Haruki Murakami lately … but parallel realities and timing/time have always engaged my mind.

I’m done shooting for a month; I always take December off from weddings and engagement sessions. Working on my accounting/taxes/insurance/other exciting paperwork items until the New Year. Also planning to hibernate the last week or so of December … spend time with family and friends and nothing else. Recharge for 2012 and my first wedding of the year in San Francisco mid-January.

I’m all booked up for 2012 weddings now so I’ve been reflecting on how the 2011 wedding season was wonderful and surreal as always. I was able to travel all over the country once again to shoot engagements and weddings and portraits. The people I’ve met have proved to be one-in-a-million yet again. It’s A LOT of hard work (believe me, none of this just *happened* to me) and ups and downs (read THIS ARTICLE for an idea), but mostly I still can’t believe this is my life and I’m doing what I love every day … for a living. I hope I never lose that feeling of awe.

I was so honored to be featured on some of my favorite wedding blogs in 2011. Below are a few select features from the past few months. Thanks to all my clients (and now friends) for having beautiful and inspiring events and letting me into their lives to document them.

Holly & Kohler’s Wedding on Style Me Pretty

Katie & Ben’s Wedding on Green Wedding Shoes

Jody’s Bridal Session on Perfect Bound

Victoria’s Bridal Session on Perfect Bound

Megan & Brent’s Wedding on Style Me Pretty

Megan & Brent’s Engagement Session on The Loveliest Day

Holly & Kohler’s Engagement Session on Perfect Bound

Several more of my awesome clients’ weddings and engagements will be featured in the coming months in both print and online. If time doesn’t escape me again, I’ll be better about updating the blog with those new features :)

I’ll leave you with a beautiful song I discovered late last night and cannot stop listening to this morning. xo, AM

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

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/11/30/time-recent-features-a-new-song/feed/ 8 Molly & Ryan’s Lake Geneva Wedding http://www.andamarie.net/2011/11/10/molly-ryans-lake-geneva-wedding/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/11/10/molly-ryans-lake-geneva-wedding/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:29:21 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=4482 It was cooler outside with bright sun and whipping wind. But with fall weather also comes the fall colors and glowing sunsets. Molly and Ryan’s wedding was beautiful with thoughtfully selected personal details. Molly loves all sorts of vintage items and Ryan is a professional trumpet player, making all the old music memorabilia very fitting. A boatride, a photobooth, John Sherman as DJ, Ryan’s musical group (Northside Brass — you should have heard the never-ending praise for these guys) playing the ceremony, a sunset blazing through the Riviera’s windows coinciding perfectly with cocktail hour … the whole day came together seamlessly. I think the biggest hit of the day might have been the bouquet Molly’s dad made from dozens of vintage broaches — so awesome.

Congrats, Molly and Ryan! Your day was beyond beautiful and so were you both.

A special thanks to my good friend, Nikki N, for helping me out. Always love having her shoot with me … so fun.

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

 

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/11/10/molly-ryans-lake-geneva-wedding/feed/ 11 Amber & BJ’s Wedding in Northwoods, WI http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/25/amber-bjs-wedding-in-northwoods-wi/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/25/amber-bjs-wedding-in-northwoods-wi/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:54:54 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=4316 So much love for this wedding and especially for these people. What a great, welcoming, warm, giving, FUN group! As I drove into Dillman’s Bay Resort the fall colors were at their peak and the air was astonishingly warm. The cabins and grounds were bustling with laughter and anticipation … the tent was being readied with antique china, teacups, lace tablecloths, Scrabble namecards, kegs of WI beer, tons of decorations made with DIY love. Every turn of every viewpoint was gorgeous for this outdoor wedding on a Northwoods peninsula. I wanted to wrap everyone and everything up in a little bundle and take them home with me.

While every photographer loves shooting a gorgeous wedding like this one … it’s the people that make or break the day. And these people?? MADE MY DAY!  I’ve never seen a dance party like this dance party. A bluegrass band at a wedding is some sort of brilliant. My favorite memory of any wedding so far will be everyone gathered around Amber and BJ, singing Old Crow Medicine Show’s Wagon Wheel at the top of their collective lungs. Beautiful.

Congrats, Amber and BJ — I just think you two are amazing. Thank you so much for having me there!

 

 

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/25/amber-bjs-wedding-in-northwoods-wi/feed/ 12 Juli & Heidi’s WI wedding at Badger Farms http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/10/juli-heidis-wi-wedding-at-badger-farms/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/10/juli-heidis-wi-wedding-at-badger-farms/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:32:00 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=4193 A short wedding dress, fall-inspired details, striped socks, a gorgeous rural backdrop, torrential downpours followed by a double rainbow (!), some of the sweetest people, good food, cheeseheads, and a Packers’ win. What’s not to love?

Juli & Heidi, it was an honor. I had a blast shooting your wedding and I’m so glad we’ve met. Enjoy a few of your wedding images:

 

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/10/juli-heidis-wi-wedding-at-badger-farms/feed/ 5 Jennie & Dave’s city wedding in Madison, WI http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/04/jennie-daves-city-wedding-in-madison-wi/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/04/jennie-daves-city-wedding-in-madison-wi/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:57:44 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=4112 Where to even begin? Jennie and Dave are two of the sweetest and nicest people I’ve worked with. It’s obvious they truly cherish and adore one another and they treat everyone around them with respect and kindness. They actually got the wrong cake (discovered upon cutting into it) and just brushed it off and laughed. I was so inspired shooting their city wedding — I love how they took a yellow taxi as opposed to the standard limo. I was obsessed with the wind and the water during portraits … two of my favorite things.

Congratulations, Jennie and Dave! I’m so happy we’ve met. Enjoy just a small taste of your wedding images:

Shout-out to Jennyface for making the girls all look gorgeous. And to daffodil*parker for being the most talented florist yet again.

 

 

 

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/10/04/jennie-daves-city-wedding-in-madison-wi/feed/ 6 Alison & Kevin’s downtown Madison WI wedding http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/30/alison-kevins-downtown-madison-wi-wedding/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/30/alison-kevins-downtown-madison-wi-wedding/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:15:40 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=3974 We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” — Dr. Seuss

Alison was calm and happy from the moment I stepped foot in her childhood home. That calm and warmth set the tone for Alison & Kevin’s entire day and it was just lovely … perfect weather and all. My favorite part was the dueling pianos at the reception. Super creative and unexpected. Everyone was having a blast and I hung around late just to hear them play some more.

Congrats, Alison & Kevin! Thank you so much for having me along as part of your completely gorgeous day. I hope we cross paths again … maybe for brunch at El Dorado :)

PS — Alison did push-ups before she walked down the aisle so her arms would look good. And they did. Future brides, you should try it.

 

 

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/30/alison-kevins-downtown-madison-wi-wedding/feed/ 10 Katie & Ben’s Wedding at Door Creek Orchard http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/20/katie-bens-wedding-at-door-creek-orchard/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/20/katie-bens-wedding-at-door-creek-orchard/#comments Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:13:51 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=3869 Katie and Ben were anything but traditional and I loved their wedding because of it. Katie wore pink, their dog Miller was the ring bearer, the wedding ceremony was super personal and followed no determined path/set rules. They were married under a huge willow tree and timed the ceremony to begin when the tree cast its shade over all their guests. An intimate dinner followed right in the orchard. It was so beautiful. Even the rain at the end of dinner didn’t ruin a thing.

I am nearly jumping up and down here because Katie and Ben’s wedding is featured today on GREEN WEDDING SHOES! This is one of my favorite wedding blogs and it is Katie’s all-time favorite. She used it a lot while planning her wedding and we are both thrilled about the feature. Head over to Green Wedding Shoes to read more about the wedding from Katie’s perspective.

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/20/katie-bens-wedding-at-door-creek-orchard/feed/ 13 Krizia & Scott at Badger Farms http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/15/krizia-scott-at-badger-farms/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/15/krizia-scott-at-badger-farms/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:00:23 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=3845 Badger Farms is easily one of my favorite landscapes against which to shoot wedding portraits. Here are just a few of my favorites from Krizia and Scott’s wedding (we had a great mix of full sun, clouds, wind, stillness and a rainbow):

I admire and love how Krizia & Scott did their wedding their own way and not anyone else’s way. Simple and to the point with amazing food (best I’ve ever had and I eat wedding food every weekend), amazing music (best band at a wedding I’ve heard and I hear wedding band music every weekend), and an amazing backdrop. Apart from the ceremony, no real scheduled “events.”

Krizia and Scott, I am so happy and grateful I was able to be part of your wedding and more importantly, that I got a chance to know you both.  I look forward to seeing you again in the future (THATH!!!).

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/09/15/krizia-scott-at-badger-farms/feed/ 4 Holly & Kohler’s Wedding at Camrose Hill Flower Farm http://www.andamarie.net/2011/08/25/holly-kohlers-wedding-at-camrose-hill-flower-farm/ http://www.andamarie.net/2011/08/25/holly-kohlers-wedding-at-camrose-hill-flower-farm/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:55:14 +0000 Anda Marie http://www.andamarie.net/?p=3711 Well I’m officially at the halfway point of Wedding Season 2011. It’s easy to get lost/buried/burnt-out in the hustle of a 1,000 hour work week and endless hours spent at the computer, editing. But then I go shoot a stunning wedding like the one here, and well, I’m reminded to slow down and take this all in. The fact that I have the best job I could ever imagine and get to spend my weekends with incredible people at breathtaking events.

I’ll let the images do the talking — you’ll see that this wedding was obviously stylish, classy, beautiful  and amazing. My favorite memories of the day happened at the beginning and end of Holly & Kohler’s ceremony. After Holly walked down the aisle with her dad, Kohler grabbed her hand and pulled her aside to whisper something in her ear. I can only imagine it was something along the lines of, “you are gorgeous/striking/beautiful and I’m so lucky to be marrying you.” I thought it was such a sweet gesture and a wonderful way for a groom to communicate his first impressions of the bride before the ceremony even begins.

My other favorite moment of the day was after the ceremony ended and Holly and Kohler sauntered slowly down the aisle together while “At Last” played. Seriously — not the recessional song anybody would expect. But it was perfect. Thank you times 1,000, Holly and Kohler. You have done nothing but shower me with appreciation and hugs and warmth. It means the world to me, and so does the fact I got to share in your day with you. xoxo.

 

]]> http://www.andamarie.net/2011/08/25/holly-kohlers-wedding-at-camrose-hill-flower-farm/feed/ 19