Sometimes all it takes is 10 minutes.

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!!!

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.

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I really don’t want to write too much about Jason & Jessica because, well, I sometimes get sappy on my blog … and I have to see these guys all the time. Jason is one of Troy’s closest friends and I used to think Troy and Jessica were dating (back when I just stared longingly at Troy from afar ;)). They were both there the night I sent Troy a drink (and when I then ran away because I’m shy sometimes). Jason is a talented artist and Jessica is a talented writer. It kinda meant a lot to me that they wanted me to photograph them. I like them a bunch and think they are adorable together. Below are just a few of my favorites from our session together. We started at a favorite place, Mickey’s Tavern, and then walked down the bike path to Tenney Park. The best sessions are the ones where we all just walk around a lot and let the moments come about as they will.

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

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.

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.