...Top Ten of 2011 Winners...

The Best of 2011 Contest was a huge success. 

I couldn't have picked more perfect winners if I had chosen them myself. All of the photos chosen show what I hope are consistant parts of my style and vision as a photographer. Thanks to everyone who voted for the photos and congrats to the Top 10 winners.

 ...Best of 2011 #10 - Sweet little Torie...

Newborns are so hard to photograph.  I'll be honest, I don't really enjoy the photographing part of having newborns stop by. I'd rather the baby just come to my house for me to snuggle. Miss Torie's surprise smile made me forget all about the usual struggles of shooting teeny tinys. 

...Best of 2011 #9 - Dea & her Mommy...

Part of what I LOVE about doing this job is the relationships I form with clients. This photo is a great example of what happens when you take extra time to let the kids warm up and get comfortable with you. I remember this moment perfectly. Miss Dea was telling her mom that she got me to eat the "yucky Laffy Taffy." Pretending to take a bite of gross, sticky candy allowed for some great smiles later in the photo shoot, when I mentioned it. 

...Best of 2011 #8 - Jeff & Lindsey's Family...

For so many reasons I loved this shoot. It was a beautiful evening so the light was perfect. Lindsey picked out adorable outfits that coordinated just enough, but not too much. We shot in a lovely spot with lots of texture. Long grass, old bricks and yes, even a few ticks! Also this is a great example of a pose that is not super posy. Composition is not my strong suit -  I'd rather just guide the family a little as we go. I let the family interact naturally for the most part, and give a bit of direction here and there to achieve the look I want.

...Best of 2011 #7 - Brad & Sarah's Family...

Another super fun family to work with. This was one of those "freeze" moments. The shoot was full of laughing and goofing around, but this quick shot makes it seem like they were flawless little figurines the whole time. Kids aren't wax statues that pose and smile when directly. Some photos like this are great, but in my opinion the best shoots end with a mix of perfectly posed & what of the family is actually like!

...Best of 2011 #6 - Nolan...

 Must haves for an excellent 3 year portrait of a happy little boy. Great grin. Beautiful light. Bucket hat.  With a typical kid avoiding eye contact with the camera. No props or distracting backdrops, just Nolan.

...Best of 2011 #5 - Carver & Atley...

Almost all of these top 10 photos have one thing in common...amazing light!  Word to the wise...schedule your shoot in the evening. The golden light about an hour before dusk will make for the best photos. This photo is a great example.

...Best of 2011 #4 - Hattie...

I love this photo of hambone Hattie. Full of smiles, giggles and silliness. I easily could have deleted this photo because it's not super sharp. My focal point is on her hand not on her eyes like usual. So although I see blurry eyes, I saved this photo because it captured a moment. A moment worth keeping forever!

...Best of 2011 #3 - Carlos, Joe & Luca...

This is my absolute favorite photo from 2011. To me, it's visual poetry. Every time I see it, it touches me on a different level. The one consistent thing I see every time I look at it is LOVE! 

"At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet."

Plato

...Best of 2011 #2 - Lara & Kris...

 Nowadays wedding photos are as unique as the couple getting married. Which makes wedding photography all about the relationship between the photographer and the bride & groom...or bride & bride in this case. I love the simplicity of this photo, and I knew this would exactly what Kris & Lara would love too.

...Best of 2011 #1- Justin, Jessie, Atley & Carver...

I'm so glad this was chosen as the Best of 2011 for couple of reasons. First of all, this is what a photo shoot with young children is all about... flexibility & fun. Shoots with kids never, seriously NEVER, go as planned so the best way to make it enjoyable is to just roll with it. I promise I will get shots you love, if you promise to trust me & my process. It may seem chaotic or messy, but there really is a method to my madness.

The second reason I love this photo is because it was taken right before one of these little boys got very sick. This family had quite an ordeal right before Christmas. Since then Jessie told me while Atley was struggling, she would look at this photo and pray to have that healthy, little boy back. This photo gave Jessie hope when she was scared for her son. I'm so happy for these guys that Atley is doing better & I consider myself lucky to have been able to give Jessie & her sweet family the gift of this moment. 

Happy New Year.  I hope to see you in front of my camera in 2012!

Lola & Linden | Wisconsin Child Photographer

Sweet Lola was born right before her big brother, Linden, turned 2.  

The Leary Family | Wisconsin Family Photographer

Photographing families with small children is always an adventure. It's a fun, unpredictable escapade that typically ends up differently than imagined. For me, a fun photo session involves letting go of the need to control the chaos, and just embrace the experience!  I mention this right on my website in the about me section... "welcome to my photography website. if you are looking for formal photos with lots of props, you are at the wrong website. my approach is casual. life is unpredictable and so are facial expressions. the best pictures aren't planned; they just happen. sometimes you may not even know i snapped a shot. the beauty of real life is found in those unexpected moments. i love to document those moments. will the people be centered, and the smiles perfect? probably not, but that is what lifestyle photography is all about."

Brendan & Camryn were a perfect example of how adorably erratic small children are at photo shoots or church or the grocery store or...well anywhere!  These cool parents, Sean & Jill, were troopers. They didn't get worked up or impatient. They embraced the madness and laughed through it all. And looked what resulted-

A couple of perfectly imperfect family photos and...

sweet, baby girls smiles and adorable, 2 year old boy antics. 

{Photographer's Favorite}

This might be my favorite moment of any photo shoot ever. (As a little side note, Sean & Jill are good friends of Trevor & myself, and they are hilarious...both of them.) I asked Brendan to go stand my his dad, which he did without hesitation, but he wouldn't face me.  He stood there smiling & laughing with his back to me, knowing just how funny it was. He's a little comedian in the making. 

Adler | Wisconsin Child Photographer

I love photographing kids. It's my favorite...by far! Give me a 2 to 10 year old and I can shoot all day. 

 Typically, babies make me sweat.  They don't normally respond to my goofball smile-getting antics like older kids do, but there was Adler.  He was perfect.  Smiling and laughing at me and his gorgeous parents.  This shoot has everything I love about photographing babies...perfect baby soft skin, big sparkling eyes and spider leg eyelashes...oh and baby man boobs!  

{Photographer's Favorite}

I love this photo.  His sweet smile with his power tie onesie. 

Someday when he's hosting the evening news, I think we'll all know where he got his start.

Halle & Treyton | Badger Children's Photographer

These adorable little Badger fans stopped by for a quick shoot. 

This post is a big shout out from Treyton & Halle...GO BUCKY!

{Photographer's Favorite}

This was what Treyton did when I ask how much he loved his new sister. 

Too much for a 50mm to handle...that's a lot of love.

The Odgers Family | Wisconsin Family Photographer

Happy 1st birthday to stylish Miss Isla. She looked so sweet in her blue dress, it matched her beautiful eyes. You know me, I'm a sucker for blue-eyed babies!

{Photographer's Favorite}

Most of you know that 1 year old photo shoots are challenging, and as parents you are probably going to be disappointed with me as your photographer, if you wanted your baby sitting up straight in the chair and smiling perfectly.  

If your willing to go with the flow, and meet the child where they are, well then you're my kind of client. Yes, Isla used the chair, but just as a 1 year old should, she used it for a quick game peek-a-boo. I love these photos of the happy birthday girl. 

 

The Gruetzmacher Girls | Wisconsin Childrens Photographer

Photographing children is such a fun job, but I'm telling you...it's a ton of work!  Cristina and her beautiful babies are a perfect example of how much work goes into getting a beautiful photo. We had to hurry up to get photos when Rose was finally happy, only to have little Elizabeth's smile turn to tears. We dressed and undressed two hot & sticky babies! Dad & Grandma worked to get diapers changed, bottles ready,  spit up wiped away and giggles from both babies and mom. We all left sweaty, bug-biten and ready for a nap, but not once did I question whether it was going to be worth it.  

The minute I saw the photos, all the heat and humidity vanished because I got the chills.  Cristina and these two gorgeous babies will forever have this moment in time, and I was able to provide it to them. That makes all the hard work that goes into the process totally worth it.

I typically just pick one favorite, but honestly, I love so many equally.

{Photographer's Favorites}

I love pretty much any photo with Cristina in it.  I love her expressive face as she looks adoringly, smiles proudly and laughs genuinely at her little Gruetzmacher girls.