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

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. For the most part it’s chill and not about buying stuff or running all over to parties and whatnot. This week I’m racing to get all my print orders, album designs, and DVDs done so I can sit and enjoy a day with family and football and food. I have a lot to be thankful for and I’m definitely thankful for the amazing and talented friends I’ve made since beginning this photography journey.  Nikki N is one of my favorites.

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

Dear Amalie & Eric,

Will you be my friends forever? Check yes or no. In all seriousness (although that was serious), I had a great time photographing you last week. Your chemistry is off the charts and your tastes and personalities are beyond any awesome adjective I overuse on this blog. Thank you for finding me and contacting me. Thanks for having a couple drinks with me at the Old Sugar Distillery before your session. Thanks for going there even though it was jam-packed and you two knew about it way before it was cool. Thank you for lighting a Chinese lantern to rid some negative energy from this world. Thank you for giving me a Chinese lantern to light one day when it’s darker outside. And for the wine and homemade maple syrup. I mean, come on … is it not clear why I want to make you be my friends?

Special thanks to Jennyface for her brilliant makeup talent. Dang, she makes my girls look gorgeous.

I guess it looks better at night :)

PS — Can I tell you the story of how these two met? They didn’t. Well, that’s how they describe their story … that they never really met. One night, when they were both out, Amalie saw Eric and just approached him. She grabbed his hand and started walking away with him saying, “you’re coming with me.” Yup. That was two years ago. And now they’re getting married.

I know. It’s not fair I get to work with people like this.

Bikes and East Main Street and water. I liked this session. In fact, I was just looking through my portfolio and realizing that nearly all my favorite images have water incorporated somehow. Makes sense, as I can easily sit by a lake or the ocean for days without being bored.

Stef and Justin are sweet, super easy-going, intelligent, quiet and yet not awkward or difficult to talk with (in fact, they are very easy to talk to and enjoyable to be around :)). Their wedding will be at one of my favorite places next year — the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Cannot wait.

Big thanks to Jennyface for making Stef look extra-beautiful.

If I could script a perfect wedding it might look something like a custom-designed dress that combines new fabric with fabric from the MOB’s wedding dress. It might take place on a farm and have cocktail hours (yes, cocktail hours plural) before and after the short & personal ceremony. During said ceremony, the crowd would cheer and holler. This wedding might have Izze, lawn games, gray striped straws, handmade signs, flowers by my favorite florist (daffodil*parker), DIY whimsical details, sno cones, cotton candy and popcorn. There might be pulled pork and corn on the cob for dinner. There would be a dessert bar with treats made by friends and family (recipe cards nearby for the taking), a typewriter guestbook and Elegant Farmer pie for dessert. There would be an upbeat first dance after heart-felt speeches that made your abs hurt from laughter and your eyes well-up with tears. There would be a bride that changed into TOMS shoes and guests dancing to Cake. There would be sparklers.

Most importantly, there would be a bride and groom like Maggie and David. Sweet, generous, beautiful, caring, ambitious, successful but down-to-earth, and humble. This bride and groom would be surrounded by friends and family who help all day with the wedding in 90 degree heat (while having huge smiles on their faces and looking fashionable to boot).  Everyone at this wedding would be amazing and nice and welcoming. In case you haven’t caught on, this perfect wedding actually was Maggie and David’s. Enjoy:

It would be a blog post this long — that could have been much longer — because I loved it all so much.

Maggie and David, thank you. It was truly an honor to be part of such an amazing and perfect day. You are two of the most considerate and wonderful people I’ve ever met and your family and friends are a testament to who you are as well. I wanted to take you all home with me in my pocket. Congratulations!!