Reminisce Photography & Design | Milwaukee, WI and Beyond Wedding Photographer

Come on over to our new blog-site! This one's retired.

2010-08-13T15:16:00.000-05:00

We've been meaning to post this here for awhile now, but we're excited to announce our new blog-site! ... which is where all of our posts for the last two months have been, in case you've been wondering :) Click here to see and hear all about it!

If you've subscribed to our RSS feed in your blog-reader (not to be confused with email subscriptions- those are a-ok), be sure to update our new feed, as this this one will no longer be updated. Here's the direct link to our feed, to make it easy on you: feed://www.capturingyourday.com/?feed=rss2

Thanks for your readership!

Talk to you soon :)
~Miranda & Adam

Megan, Adam, Mason & Kale | Oostburg Family Photographer

2010-06-18T14:02:00.000-05:00

We LOVE it when we get to photograph couples' weddings and then their growing families!!! Megan and Adam are one of those stories, and they just welcomed their son Kale into their life. Mason was a proud big brother and an excellent host. He showed me around their home, gave me an in depth tour of his and Kale's bedroom and toys, tended to my bee sting and gave me both a handshake and a hug goodbye :) He also said that "guests can do whatever they want," so we'll have to keep that in mind the next time we're over at a friend's house for dinner ;) He had many other "Mason-isms" to share with us, too!

It was such a pleasure meeting their new addition Kale, who was a total trooper for photos! He must have seen their wedding photos on the walls and wanted to top them! Here are some of our favorite photos from their family session at their Oostburg home and then the beach...

Thanks for a wonderful evening! It was a fun shoot :)
Miranda & Adam

Reminisce: Featured by the Wedding Yentas!

2010-06-17T15:06:00.000-05:00

We're so excited to be featured on The Wedding Yentas blog today!

Here's a little preview of the feature for you, but we'd love for you to take a look at it in all it's glory by clicking here :)

While the magazine shelves and the Internet boast a plethora of wedding planning ideas and styles, the Jewish bride has no place to go to research for a traditional, modern, and high-class wedding. TheWeddingYentas.com provides Jewish traditions with hip ideas and current trends, so that the bride can stand under the chuppah with her groom knowing she’s created the wedding of her dreams.
- The Wedding Yentas

Thanks for featuring our work! We're so glad you enjoy our photos!
~Miranda & Adam

Bridget, Maddie & Mom | Milwaukee Family Photographer

2010-06-16T09:38:00.000-05:00

You might remember us telling you about our mini-session marathon we had a couple of weeks ago. Well this is one of our sessions from that day! Bridget just graduated from high school (congrats!) and is going off to college, so it was the perfect time to get some photos with her mom and sis before she leaves. Here are some of our favorite shots from their Milwaukee lifestyle portrait session...

Good luck in college, Bridget! It was great hanging out with you and your fam :)
~Miranda & Adam

Melissa & Cory's Engagement | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

2010-06-15T16:00:00.002-05:00

Melissa and Cory love riding their bikes and hanging out at the lakefront together, so for their session, we rented an adorable (and fun) surrey bike at Veteran's Park. After having to reschedule twice due to weather, we were especially looking forward to their session... and the skies made up for the delay, too, with gorgeous clouds. We had a blast joking around with them and laughed so hard at one point that our stomachs actually hurt! Here are some of our favorite photos from our Milwaukee engagement session with them...

We're excited for your wedding this fall! Talk to you soon :)
~Miranda & Adam

Marisa & Fam | Milwaukee Family Photographer

2010-06-12T09:44:00.000-05:00

We met Marisa a couple of wedding seasons ago... she's a talented wedding videographer. Since, we've worked with her at a number of weddings and it's always great seeing her :) Recently, she was instead in front of the camera when we photographed a family session for her at her dad's Milwaukee home. Her sister, brother-in-law and nephew were in town from Canada, so it was the perfect time to capture them together. Here are some of our favorite shots...

Thanks, Marisa! Hoping to see you again this wedding season :)
~Miranda & Adam

Evan & Fam | Milwaukee Family Photographer

2010-06-11T17:47:00.000-05:00

Had lots of fun with my sis and her family at the beach for Evan's photos! Of course, we got photos of Ava and Grace, too, along with mom and dad. Grace (the one in the blue dress) didn't get a nap in (she's not a big fan of naps anymore these days), so she wasn't in the greatest mood that day, but she was happy to see Auntie M (Miranda) and put her "photo-face" on :) To thank her for her picture-perfect mood, I got a shot of Cuddly Bear sunning on the beach (at the bottom of the post). Here are some of our favorite photos from their lifestyle portrait session at a Milwaukee beach...

By the way, I think my sis April should be a stylist... didn't she coordinate their outfits perfectly?!

Love you!
~Auntie M (& Uncle A)

Happy 89th Birthday! | Racine Wedding Photography

2010-06-09T16:11:00.000-05:00

Dana and her family had the wonderful gift idea of a family session for her grandpa, Jim, who just turned 89!

We stopped in at his birthday party for a surprise shoot to capture him and his family, who were visiting from a number of different states. Dana's mom made him the numbered cookies (above), a cute family tradition. Happy 89! Here are some of our favorite photos from their session in Racine...

(Dana's mom above, with the man of honor)

We enjoyed meeting the family! We hope your grandpa loves the photos :)
~Miranda & Adam

Amy & Paul's Engagement | Madison Wedding Photographer

2010-06-08T15:59:00.000-05:00

We had so much fun making our way all over Madison for Amy & Paul's engagement session! We started off at Lakeshore Path where the two of them shared many walks together during college, made our way through the crowds on UW's terrace for a few fun shots, hopped along State Street, and finished up at a favorite swanky bar of theirs for a martini (can't beat that!). Thanks for treating us to a cocktail :)

Here are some of our favorite photos from this record breaking session (We think this might have been our longest engagement session ever, which was fine by us- we had a blast!)...

Paul proposed at the Capitol Building...

The restaurant they at at the evening Paul popped the question...
(btw, Amy & Paul, we stopped there for dinner before we headed back to Milwaukee and it was delish!)

Looking forward to seeing you at Bethany & Matthew's wedding this fall and, of course, at your wedding next year!!!
~Miranda & Adam

The DeWitt Family | St. Francis Family Photographer

2010-06-07T09:08:00.000-05:00

Not only are Tegan and Noah 1,000% lovable, but wow... just look at their expressions!!! So adorable! We had permanent smiles on our faces while processing their photos :)

We had a fun outdoor family session in St. Francis, with a refreshing breeze from Lake Michigan. Apparently it was just the right combination of elements! Here are some of our favorite photos...

We love how the shot below seems to capture the essence of childhood. As a side note, we think Tegan really looks like her mom on this one!

Thanks for a super cute and inspiring session! Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
~Miranda & Adam

Happy Anniversary | Reflections (and advice!) one year later...

2010-06-06T16:17:00.002-05:00

We'd like to wish our June 2009 couples a very happy one-year anniversary, much happiness, love and excitement as they enter their second year of marriage! We hope this first year has been nothing short of amazing for them! At the end of the post, check out some Wedding Words of Wisdom from Christine & Brent, and see what they've been up to :)

Karen & Bernie ~ June 6th, 2009

Eric & Dara ~ June 7th, 2009

Ellen & Jon ~ June 13th, 2009

Loni & Britton ~ June 14th, 2009

Alison & Chad ~ June 20th, 2009

Laura & Jim ~ June 26th, 2009

Christine & Brent ~ June 27th, 2009 ~ Check out their advice below!

What are the photos from your wedding day that you wouldn't want to live without? All of them of course – it’s impossible to find any that I could live without! I love all of the wedding party and couple pictures – specifically the pictures by the red door and on the bridge. I also love all of the candid shots that capture the feeling of the day and the emotions of the person in the picture. One that is a personal favorite is the picture of Brent and I walking out of the church just after we were just married and we are smiling huge, genuine smiles at each other – it was right when we realized we were actually married! It was such a special moment and you captured it beautifully.

Were there any moments that you didn't get to experience, but were excited to see that we captured? Reactions as we were walking down the aisle, reactions of guests to the speeches during the reception. I also loved the dancing pictures from the reception – it all went by so fast it was awesome to see all of the guests having a great time.

What piece of advice would you give to couples looking for their wedding photographer? Look for a photographer that you will get along with - you spend all day together! Also pick someone that will listen to what you want but still use their own creativity to get those awesome shots! It’s also wonderful when there are two photographers – so many amazing moments are captured when the photographers can “divide and conquer.”

What were the best decisions you made regarding your wedding? Besides our photographer of course… :) Our DJ choice - he did an awesome job and kept the guests dancing and the party going until 1 AM!! Other good decisions were putting disposable cameras on the tables [in addition to professional coverage] - some absolutely hilarious pictures were taken, buying flip-flops for all of the bridesmaids (and me too of course), and picking hardy flowers that looked amazing all night – and for the entire next week!

Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently with your wedding? I would have given us a little more time for pictures between the wedding and reception. I also would have worried less in the week before the wedding – in the end everything worked out perfect and the little things that did go wrong… no one knew about because only I knew what was supposed to happen. It is such a fun time of your life and there’s no need to let your worries affect your ability to take it all in and enjoy every minute.

Happy anniversary! How will you be celebrating? We will be going to a nice dinner, seeing Cirque du Soleil in Minneapolis (!) and staying in a nice hotel downtown for a bit of an in-town vacation. We are also finally going to watch the video of our wedding – we decided to wait and watch it a year later as a way to relive the wonderful day.

Any exciting news from this last year or fun things happening around the corner? We have settled into our new house (finally!). Brent and I have both received promotions in our jobs which continue to keep us busy. We are hoping to do a decent amount of traveling in the next year – NYC, CA, Canada, FL and possibly even Europe! We want to really make a point to enjoy this special time together just the two of us before we add kids into the mix!

Any other fun facts, words of wisdom, etc. you'd like to share with us? You don't marry someone you can live with, you marry the person who you cannot live without.

Thanks so much for the helpful advice, Christine & Brent! And congrats on all the big news this year! Happy travels :)
~Miranda & Adam

Intessar, Layla & Jamil | Greendale Family Photographer

2010-06-02T12:44:00.000-05:00

I loved hanging out with Intessar and her two little ones! They did this session to surprise Intessar's hubby with... such an awesome gift! :) Layla was a dream to capture- totally in love with the camera (I think she'll be America's Next Top Model of 2025). Little brother Jamil loved his sis and mommy giving him so much attention, and rewarded them with adorable little faces. Here are some of our favorite photos from their family session at their Greendale home...

Thank you, Intessar! Hope your hubby loves the photos :) Looking forward to Jamil's next session!
~Miranda (& Adam)

Dawn, Olivia, Bryce & Haden | Milwaukee Family Photographer

2010-06-01T12:57:00.000-05:00

It was fun hanging out with Dawn and her family at the beach for their session. Olivia had her own creative ideas, Bryce had a variety of funny faces to share, and Haden had classic one-liners that were always good for a laugh.

It was the strangest weather that day: gorgeous sunshine and blue skies... everywhere except over Lake Michigan, where we unexpectedly encountered the thickest blanket of fog. We got a few shots in downtown and then headed further South in Milwaukee, hoping for clearer skies, with not much success. The fog ended up getting so thick that our hair was wet! Needless to say, we called it a day and will be getting together again for more photos :)

However, I'm glad it turned out that way, as I love the feeling of these photos. They seem so peaceful and really capture the innocence of childhood. Here are a few of our favorites...

Thanks, Dawn! Looking forward to part 2 :)
~Miranda (& Adam)

Whimsical Wedding Details ~ Whichgoose

2010-05-27T13:08:00.000-05:00

This is the first time I've posted a vendor under our Wedding Words of Wisdom, but I just had to share this with you!

I randomly stumbled upon Whichgoose on Etsy and fell in love with Emily's work! We of course see a lot of wedding inspiration, themes, ideas, etc. but her pieces really stood out to me. They're wonderful signature items to give your day a little something extra. Here are a few of my favorites, including two of her "crowns," a boutonniere and shoes (you know me and my shoe fetish)!

Hope to see some of her beautiful adornments at our weddings this season!
~Miranda (& Adam)

Sarah & Peter's Engagement | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

2010-05-24T12:27:00.000-05:00

Sarah & Peter spent the majority of their 20's living on the East Side and hanging out on Brady Street together, so it was the perfect place for their engagement session! The day before their session, Adam and I took a Milwaukee Food Tour on Brady Street (which we highly recommend... it was lots of delicious fun), so on our engagement session we gave them a bit of Brady Street history, while they shared some of their Brady Street stories with us :)

Here are some of our favorite photos from their session...

When Adam and I were brainstorming the shot below, we were talking about how cool it'd be if they were sitting on the sculpture, but too bad it was too high. Right after we said that, Sarah said, "Oh! I can get on it!" And she jumped up. It was awesome :)

The church in the background is where they'll be getting married...

Thanks for a fun time! Looking forward to your wedding this fall!
~Miranda & Adam

Well Groom’d (by guest blogger David Jensen)

2010-05-21T14:16:00.002-05:00

After reading my Words of Wisdom last week about looking fab in your weddings photos (tips for both the ladies and their gents), our awesome designer, writer and client friend David was inspired to write some words of wisdom just for the guys, since they're so often neglected by wedding articles and could probably use some good advice. Thanks, David! Without further ado, here are his biggest tips...

-------------

When it comes to looking your best on your wedding day, you might think that in comparison to the bride, you’re off the hook. Actually, you might be right. After all, everyone will be watching her, not you. As they should. This, however, doesn’t mean you can shave in the morning and kick your feet up for the rest of the day. Turn off Madden 2010, gents. Some of you out there need to know how to present yourself for the nuptials so that your bride will actually want to come all the way down that aisle…

Let’s start from the top, shall we?

~ If you’re planning on getting a haircut for the wedding and don’t have a reliable, stand-by shop around, get online and look for the appropriate barbershop for you. Look for ratings, reviews and if these places have websites – they might have a photo gallery for you to see their work. Price should not be an issue. This is, after all, your wedding day and the difference between a $7.00 haircut and a $40.00 haircut will be apparent. Schedule a mop-chop a couple weeks ahead of time so that you won’t look like you just got drafted (unless that’s what you’re going for) and that you have enough time to figure out how to comfortably style your new do. If you have stylishly longer hair, at least have a barber trim up those split ends.

~ A clean neck is a neck worth a woman’s touch during a slow dance. Every barber will give you a neck trim during your cut, but a barber worth his or her salt will shave your neck, most likely with a straight razor. If you want things done right, this is the way to go. The back of your neck should look like a Cadillac, not the floor of your frat’s bathroom.

~ Keep the spiders out of your nose. Invest in a nose hair trimmer or at least take a pair of scissors to those legs creeping out of your beak. If you don’t think this is a big deal, think again. Women notice these things, so get a mirror, get some clippers and turn on the bright lights to see what you might be missing. The same goes for ears. You may not be 900 years old, but in the wrong light, your ears could end up looking like Yoda’s. No, that isn’t “awesome.”

~ To beard or not to beard? Good question. As a furry-faced man myself, I have a few opinions on the matter. First and foremost, what does your to-be wife think? Her opinion matters most. Second, think about how often you have facial hair versus how often you’ve got a clean look. If you’re usually baby-faced, give yourself a shave (don’t forget the after shave) in the morning and you’ll be fine. If on the other hand you resemble that of a lumberjack more often than not, feel free to keep that flavor-saver, just clean it up. This means cheekbones, under the beard and around the neck and Adam’s apple. Above all, think about your future. If you fancy yourself someone to consistently carry a luxurious face-mane through out life, it might look strange if your chin is bald in your wedding pictures, and vice versa.

~ Tie the knot. Correctly. There’s no more of an obvious giveaway that you don’t dress up often than a poorly tied tie. Hopefully you guys out there know by now that there are certain knots for certain ties. A wider tie and spread-collar shirt calls for a wider knot, so on and so forth. Your tie should also look appropriate with the rest of your ensemble. If you’ve got a skinny suit or tux with narrow lapels, you should have more of a closed-collared shirt with a narrower tie (about 1”-2.5” inches wide.) Don’t forget that a tie isn’t tied until you’ve got that perfect dimple under the knot and that the bottom of the tie reaches down to the middle of your belt buckle.

~ In spite of it all, your tux or suit is the key factor here. It’s what your bride, her parents and the entirety of the attendees see first when they look at you. If you look like you’re wearing your eighth grade graduation suit or attempting to pay tribute to Charlie Chaplin, people will notice. Stick to these easy rules for the jacket portion and you’ll be fine. Shoulder seems should fall exactly where their namesake states: the shoulders. The sleeves on the jacket should allow the sleeves of your shirt to peek out about a quarter of an inch, half an inch for French-cuffed shirts. Armholes should be cut high.

~ Finally, when it comes to actually wearing this thing, do not, I repeat, DO NOT button every button. It isn’t an overcoat; it’s a suit/tux jacket. Never, ever button the bottom button. Keep the middle button on a 3-button closed, or keep the top button on a 2-button closed when you’re standing, walking, dancing. When you sit down, open it up and breathe for a while.

~ Baring torrential downpours on your wedding, there likely won’t be a flood. Unless you’re hip enough to pull off short pants resembling those sometimes seen in British fashion mags, get a pair of pants that are hemmed properly and are minimal on what industry professionals and other fashion snobs call “shelving”, which is when your pants bunch up like accordions on top of your shoes. And speaking of accordions, stay as far away from pleats as possible. It’s flat fronts or nothing, people, and if your tux shop doesn’t offer any, it’s probably time to move on.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you should be. There’s a lot that goes into a wedding and if you’re not accustomed to sweating the small stuff, welcome to boot camp. But think of it this way: it’s one of the most remarkable days of your life and when you look back at your (quality, stylishly Reminisce-shot) photos, you can feel confident that you took the necessary steps to try to look good enough for the love of your life. You can thank me later.

Chic promo shots for Chic Blossoms :)

2010-05-20T08:52:00.000-05:00

We had the pleasure of working with Dana from Chic Blossoms at Laura & Eric's wedding just a few months ago. It was fun getting to know her just recently while we took some promotional shots at the park! And she was such a sweetheart and brought me the most gorgeous yellow tulips. Looking forward to seeing more of her beautiful work at future weddings!

~Miranda (& Adam)

Angie & Eric's Engagement | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

2010-05-13T21:06:00.001-05:00

We had a blast at Angie & Eric's engagement session! In the beginning of our shoot, an interesting bird graced our presence (long story...), and it apparently really got our creative juices pumping! We love the nighttime shots of theirs, especially. After our session, they were so kind as to treat us to dinner and wine. Can't beat that... a fun shoot, a happy belly and good company (thanks again!) :)

Here are some of our favorite photos from our shoot along the Milwaukee RiverWalk / Downtown / East Side...

Below is one of our favorite engagement photos ever...

Looking forward to their wedding at Renaissance Place just around the corner!
~ Miranda & Adam

P.S. Your engagement guest book is going to rock! We're excited to work on it for you. Talk to you soon :)

Jacki & Jake's Wedding ~ Osthoff Resort | Elkhart Lake Wedding Photographer

2010-05-13T15:55:00.000-05:00

Jacki and Jake have quite the story... Jacki is from Wisconsin, Jake is from England, and they met in Japan while working for the Air Force! Their wedding was Jake's first time in Wisconsin, and he loved it. We'll invite him back in January and see if he likes our 20-below weather ;) Though our spring weather has definitely made up for it (they had a beautiful day for their wedding, too)! Anyhoo, one of the things that made their wedding unique was a saké toast they shared with their guests to give them a taste of Japan (there's a photo of one of the saké glasses in their collage below).

Here are some of our favorite photos from their outdoor ceremony and following reception at the Osthoff Resort. To see almost a dozen more, take a peek at our facebook album.

Congratulations, Jacki & Jake! We wish you all the love, luck and happiness :)
~Miranda & Adam

------------------

Here are a few of the other wonderful vendors who made their day a success:
Ceremony, Reception, Caterer & Salon: The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake
Cake: Bakery on State
DJ: Double Platinim DJ Service
Florist: Cain's Bridal Wreath
Musicians: Wisconsin String Quartet

Wedding Words of Wisdom: Looking Fab in your Wedding Photos

2010-05-10T10:58:00.000-05:00

Looking fab in your wedding photos (or any special occasions, for that matter): Tips from Miranda & Adam at Reminisce Photography & Design

~ Be yourself! If you normally don't wear a lot of makeup, don't be out of your element on your wedding day by wearing heavy makeup, as you might appear unconfident in your photos. They also won't showcase who you truly are. Same goes for dress-hunting. Trends are great for inspiring, but be sure that if you choose a dress trend, it captures your personality (as opposed to overpowering it).

~ Reserve looking orange for the Oompa Loompas :) Tanning is your own personal preference, but be careful not to over-do it. What kind of skin-tone did you have when you fell in love with your dress? Colors (even different shades of white) that look good on us compliment our skin tone. If you change your skin tone drastically, your dress will look drastically different on you... just something to chew on.

~ If you aren't fabulous at makeup, get it professionally done.

~ And speaking of professional makeup, guys can have it too. Just a bit to even out skin-tone, cover blemishes, etc. If professionally done, NO ONE will be able to tell he’s wearing makeup and his skin will look flawless.

~ Bare Minerals makeup photographs beautifully. Some concealers / foundations photograph strangely by reflecting / absorbing light differently than your skin. Best to consult with a makeup artist to be sure that your makeup will photograph awesomely.

~ Steer clear of glitter lotion. Your amazing dress should make you feel like a princess... no need to overdue it with glitter.

~ Try your dress on sitting down, too, and not just standing. Your dress should be flattering standing and sitting. If not, some alterations are in order.

~ If you're getting married in hot weather, side swept bangs aren't the best option, as they get sweaty.

~ Get your teeth whitened... but not so much that they’re black-light sensitive :)

~ Hire an amazing photographer. You can look red-carpet-worthy, but if you don’t have a photographer who can capture the beauty, emotion and fun of your wedding day, you’ll walk away with lackluster photos. Your photographer should be an Artist and a Professional who can not only anticipate moments before they happen, but through a trained and instinctive eye, know how to interpret and capture them creatively. Your photographs are how you’ll remember your wedding, and they should be just as wonderful as your Big Day.

~ As you can see, not over-doing it is the underlying message in most of our tips. Be yourself, and you’ll look great! Hire a photographer who can tap into your personalities and capture them in photos... you’re all set!

Have a great week :)
~Miranda & Adam

In honor of Patty...

2010-05-08T13:24:00.001-05:00

I've been struggling to find the words to write this post... but sometimes there just aren't words. My family recently lost my cousin Patty to a brain aneurism, and today, I ask for your prayers for her two daughters who will be without their mother tomorrow, her granddaughter who will be without her grandmother tomorrow, my aunt who will be without her daughter tomorrow, and my grandma who will be without her granddaughter tomorrow on Mother's Day. I wish them all the strength and love...

Adam and I would also like to offer our condolences to Patty's many other loved ones... her dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Much love...
~ Miranda

(If you're reading this in your email or blog reader, feel free to click through to our actual blog to see a video I posted.)

Adoption is Good Business | Milwaukee Event Photographer

2010-05-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

Recently, we volunteered our services to the Adoption Resources of Wisconsin (ARW) for their Adoption is Good Business Luncheon. The event honored Brady Corporation for their support to employees looking to adopt.

The Keynote speaker was Sean Tuohy, the adoptive father of Michael Oher (their and their family's story might be familiar to you from the movie "The Blind Side."

He spoke of the amazing story of how he and his wife Leigh came to meet Michael and welcome him into their family. If you haven’t seen the movie The Blind Side, it truly is a must see! And, if you or anyone that you know is considering adoption, please take advantage of the assistance and guidance that ARW has to offer. Here are a few photos from the event!

Sean Tuohy (above)

Have a great weekend! :)

~Miranda & Adam

Mini-Session Marathon ~ Sunday June 6th

2010-05-04T16:16:00.000-05:00

Sunday June 6th, Miranda & Adam will be hosting a Mini-Session Marathon!

What: 45-minute mini-portrait session (normally our sessions are 1-2 hours)
Where: a Milwaukee park
How much: $100 (+ tax), plus prints or product investment (no minimum purchase)*
What's included: Our shooting time, time to process and enhance all photos, online viewing and ordering

Why get a portrait session?
It's a fun way to celebrate Summer
You've been longing to get some artistic photos of your kids
Father's Day is around the corner
You and your best friend rock
Your kids are growing faster than you could have ever imagined
You have some friends or family members in town
You'd like to look at some Summery photos when it's 20-below outside
You like your new hair-do
You'll have the best photos ever to put in your holiday cards
You or your kid is going off to college
You always wanted a nice photo with you and your grandma
It's been 20 years since you and your husband took a good photo together
You'd like a good excuse to buy some new clothes

Email miranda@capturingyourday.com or call 414.405.6693 to schedule your session! A $50 non-refundable retainer is required to reserve your session time. In the event of poor weather, the photographers may elect to cancel the shoot and will refund your retainer.

* High-school seniors, engagement and maternity sessions require a minimum purchase. Please call for details.

Happy Anniversary | Reflections (and advice!) one year later...

2010-05-03T13:57:00.000-05:00

We'd like to wish our recent one-year-anniversary couples much happiness, love and excitement as they enter their second year of marriage! We hope this first year has been nothing short of amazing for them! At the end of the post, check out some Wedding Words of Wisdom from Kara & Ben, and see what they've been up to :)

Kim & Mark ~ April 18th, 2009 ~ Welcomed their First Born, Samantha

Lisa & Greg ~ May 17th, 2009 ~ Moved to California, where they're both Doctors

Kara & Ben ~ May 30th, 2009 ~ Take a peek below!

What are the photos from your wedding day that you wouldn't want to live without?
That is a tough one- so many good pictures to choose from. We love the photos by the fountain, the adirondack chairs, and on the golf course. The pictures of the entire wedding party are also a lot of fun.

Were there any moments that you didn't get to experience, but were excited to see that we captured?
The shots before and after the ceremony are priceless. Especially the photos of Ben having moments with friends and family before the ceremony. The photos of the reception are also great to see how much fun everyone had.

What piece of advice would you give to couples looking for their wedding photographer?
Two pieces of advice- 1- don’t skimp on photography and 2- have two photographers

What were the best decisions you made regarding your wedding?
Location- Our location was amazing and beautiful
Photographers- Having two photographers that are super fun and creative
DJ- Best DJ in Wisconsin

Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently with your wedding?
The one thing that I would have done differently is to have someone other than my parents coordinate the flowers. We did our own flowers but did not plan the delivery and distribution of them very well. Secondly, I would have planned more time for photography of us in between the ceremony and reception.

Happy anniversary! How will you be celebrating?
We are staying a couple of days at Grand Geneva where we were married. Spending some time golfing, going to the spa, eating good food, and enjoying some time away.
Any exciting news from this last year or fun things happening around the corner?
Ben and I both finished school this May. Ben finished his Engineering degree, and I have completed my dual master’s degree. We now have free time to spend together hiking with the dogs, biking, and hanging out with our friends. Looking forward to where life leads us.

Any other fun facts, words of wisdom, etc. you'd like to share with us?
Words of wisdom- Have fun, laugh a lot, and enjoy life!

-------------

Happy Anniversary! And thank you for your great advice, Kara & Ben!

Hugs!
~Miranda & Adam

Miradam's Musings

2010-04-30T15:35:00.000-05:00

Sorry! We've been pretty absent from the blog last week. As we mentioned a bit ago, we're working on a huge project... part of which we finished yesterday! We're so excited to reveal most of it to you sometime this June :D BUT the blog posts are back in the schedule for next week. Until then, we thought we'd tide you over with some musings...

~ A couple of weeks ago, we took a day off and one of the things we did was stop at Milwaukee's Villa Terrace. While we've photographed weddings and sessions there, we only briefly had a chance to walk through on our own, and that was a few years ago... so we thought it was time that we paid it a more lengthly visit :) As always, it was gorgeous (photo below from Wikipedia).

~ We've been doing tons of photo-location-scouting lately, and while walking around the streets of Bay View, we saw this very perplexed dog... and we could not stop laughing! :D At one point, the dog was laying is head on the "gentleman's" lap, just staring at the head!

~ We recently had our mentor session with Kenny Kim (we had the winning bid in the Thirst Relief Auction). We had a blast getting to know him, talking shop, seeing his Thirst Relief and Italy work, enjoying a delicious meal here, sipping some red wine and espresso... I could go on and on. We can't thank him enough for the invaluable advice he shared with us. He was humble and fun, and we look forward to hanging out with him again the next time we're in Chicago :) We finished the day checking out the Shedd Aquarium (we only got to see half of it last time) and having dinner with one of our best buds. I love days when everything just puts a huge smile on your face! Here's a photo Kenny took of us with his phone, and one that we shot at Shedd (also on our phone).

~ A couple of weeks ago, we met up with photo friends in the Third Ward at Gallery Night & Day to check out some artists' work, including ours. The MIAD graduate show was also that night, and it was so exciting to see so many blossoming artists with their futures full of possibilities! A fair amount of them created books, which I was disappointed to see were not for sale. We asked them, and it seemed they hadn't thought of it (they were probably overwhelmed with finishing their project, completing their last semester, etc... which is very understandable!). I hope some future MIAD graduates are reading this so they can learn to sell their artwork. Anyhoo, here's a shot at the exhibition that had nine of our pieces in it (taken on my phone)...

~ We finally invested in some new office furniture!!! Bought two sets of these (below). Cannot wait to receive it!!! Our office is currently by far the least pretty room of our home... but not for much longer!

~ Also while scouting, Adam and I took a little break to go paddle boating at Veteran's Park. We're slowly but surely learning to balance work and play... It's very easy as a small business owner to be all work and no play. Having balance is not only good for your personal life, but it also refreshes you as an artist (or whatever your career may be). Here's one of our shots from the pond (taken on our phone).

Have a great weekend! Talk to you soon :)
~Miranda & Adam

Max (6 Months) & Fam | Hales Corners Family Photographer

2010-04-23T15:11:00.000-05:00

It was so much fun seeing Max and his fam again! Max has changed so much from his 3-month session. He has a ton of hair now, which came in in an adorable auburn color, and his smile is even bigger :)

Lance and Liz invited their niece to the shoot, and she did an awesome job getting Max to smile and laugh! We also got a few photos of the kids together. Max had fun pulling at her face and hair, and I couldn't resist posting a couple of the "bloopers!" Here are some of my favorite photos, taken in Whitnall Park (Hales Corners)...

Looking forward to Max's 9-Month Session! Thanks for a fun time in the park :)
~Miranda

Spring is Sprung!

2010-04-21T09:14:00.001-05:00

Adam and I follow quite a few blogs, and while Spring has made it into postings from other parts of the country quite some time ago, it's finally here in Wisconsin! Whenever it's been nice out, we've been going for nice long walks, and taking in as much Spring as possible :) It's amazing how much things can grow in a day... new buds, leaves and flowers. We love it.

Here's a taste of Spring through our eyes...

For the photogs, the shot below is SOOC (I'll label the other ones as we go)...

We stumbled upon a field of Magnolia trees... it was gorgeous!

(SOOC below)

There was a huge hill that was completely covered in spider webs... so strange...

Then we found one of the prettiest trees we've ever seen. It was like something out of a fairy tale.

(Rest of the shots are SOOC)

Happy Spring! Talk to you soon :)
~Miranda & Adam

Miradam's Musings

2010-04-16T07:46:00.000-05:00

~ We're super proud of Dave for winning a prestigious award!

~ We went to our first Brewers' Opening Day. We had great seats, and it was a blast :) But, we're going to save our Brewers' festivities for non-opening day games in the future. Way to crowded! We waited in line for the bathroom and then waited once in line for a beer, and got back to our seats over two innings later! Here are a couple photos from our phone from the game (the first one is on the bus we took from the State Fair grounds to the game).

~ Speaking of the game, it was GORGEOUS out that day! I was wearing a tank top in the stands and was hot... and even got some color (which is rare for me - Miranda - since I normally reflect the sun)! Then, two days later it was snow flurries outside our windows. That's Wisconsin for you.

~ We've been busy bees working on several projects along with trying to perfect our workflow before wedding season is full force.

~ Not sure if you've heard of the new rampant drug among teens dubbed "skittles" but apparently Skittles-the-candy-company thought it would be cool if they marketed to skittles drug users and exploited this issue by making their new website hallucinogen inspired. That's wrong on so many levels.

~ Our nieces have their favorites among Adam and I. Grace's fav is Adam (Uncle A), and Ava's fav is me (Auntie M). Coincidence or not, Adam is Grace's Godfather and I'm Ava's Godmother. They're still too young to even really understand that, so I don't think it has anything to do with it...? It works out nicely, though, because when Adam and I hang out with them, they don't find the need to compete for attention. All is harmonious and fun :D

~ Adam's pool leagues are over now, and his team finished 2nd! He's officially a part of Mad Dog Saloon's history, with a little plaque on their wall. (photo from my phone)

~ Two different clients of ours had loved ones pass away over these last couple of weeks. Each expressed their gratitude for the memories we captured for them. Adam and I are humbled and honored that we were able to give them such important remembrances with our photos. Our condolences, love and support are with them and their families.

~ We purchased pre-sale tickets for Lady Gaga this September! Neither of us have ever been to a show like the one she's bound to put on, so we're pumped! Most of the concerts we've been to have been rock, blues, and hip hop, so a huge pop star's show will be a very new experience for us!

~ Whenever it's nice outside (which has been surprisingly often this April), we've been going for long walks in the park. We have some lovely Spring photos that we'll be sharing with you soon! One day, we saw HUGE birds that we had never seen before. With the help of Google and Wikipedia, we discovered that they were Turkey Vultures (see below, photo from Wikipedia).

~ Don't forget to come see our work at Light Ideas Gallery this weekend at Milwaukee's Gallery Night & Day! :D We'll be there tonight, and hope to see you! :)

Talk to you soon!
~Miranda & Adam

Reminisce: Exhibited in Juried Exhibition this weekend!

2010-04-14T15:09:00.001-05:00

Adam and I are excited that each of us has work that was accepted into a juried exhibition at Light Ideas Gallery! The exhibition is called Takin' it to the Streets, inspired by the Milwaukee Art Museum's current exhibition Street Seen. Takin' it to the Streets features images of life on the streets in Milwaukee.

Come see the show this weekend at the Historic Third Ward's Gallery Night and Day! We'll be there on Friday, and hope to see you! :)

~Miranda & Adam

Gallery Night & Day
Third Ward and beyond, Milwaukee
Friday 5 - 9 and Saturday 10 - 4

Light Ideas Gallery
207 E. Buffalo St.
Corner of Buffalo & Water, Marshall Building ~ Lower Level

Reminisce: Published by Wisconsin Bride Magazine

2010-04-12T12:32:00.000-05:00

We're excited to be featured in the current issue of Wisconsin Bride Magazine! In their "Newlyweds" section, they showcase Dara & Eric's wedding that we photographed last year at Pier Wisconsin.

Thanks to our lovely couple, who inspired us the whole day! Looking forward to seeing where we can take our creativity this 2010 wedding season!

Talk to you soon :)
~Miranda & Adam

Miradam's Musings

2010-04-02T10:53:00.000-05:00

~ I (Miranda) have been spending a lot of time with my sis lately, so much so that her couch fiasco (the furniture store is giving them a hard time about their warranty) has ended up in my nightmares. While some might say that means we've been seeing too much of each other, I think it's cute (though I don't welcome further nightmares :)

~ Last month, we had the winning bid in the Thirst Relief Auction for a mentor session with Kenny Kim. It's so phenomenal that the auction raised over $41,000 to provide safe, clean drinking water for those in need around the world. Can't beat donating to such a great cause, and having the opportunity to "talk-shop" with such an awesome photographer. We look forward to our session with him!

~ I (again, Miranda) purchased some Sketchers Shape-ups, and while I feel like I look like Herman Munster in them, I'll tolerate it, because I really do feel the burn wearing them.

~ We had a huge response to our internship this year! It almost made me blush a little :) We're looking forward to our new intern, Molly, starting in Mid-May!

~ We've been trying to schedule as much fun in as possible before wedding season is in full force, because as our friends know, we then fall off the face of the earth and live in the wonderful world of weddings. Don't get me wrong, we have a blast doing what we love during wedding season! We just have less time for our social life. Here's what we've been up to over the last couple of weeks:

Went to see Vampire Weekend! Since I (Miranda) have seen a million punk and rock shows, I've learned the art of worming your way to the front, so that's where we were! Apparently the adorably naive girl who had been standing there for 3 hours did not understand that's how rock concerts are, so she she was quite upset and put her seemingly illegally obtained beer in my face (apparently very proud of her fake ID) and told me to get my 18-year-old-a** out of there. I thanked her for the compliment :) It's not every day someone under-guesses your age by a decade! On a side note, we also ran into Laura & Eric there!

Took our nieces to see If You Take a Mouse to School at First Stage Theater. It was so much fun to see their faces light up!
Bought tickets to the Brewers' Opening Day (this coming Monday)! We're pumped! We'd love some suggestions for good tailgating food...
Have been having dinner with a lot of our friends lately! After dinner with Kelly & Dave, we stopped for a cocktail and stumbled upon some karaoke! We're hoping to post a video at some point but just haven't had the time to figure out the logistics of that (we need to edit the video on our iPhone... Any tips?).
Went on a tour of the Pabst Mansion. They told us that it's rare to see people from Milwaukee on the tour even though the mansion is in Milwaukee! So we recommend our fellow Milwaukeeans to check it out! We loved it. (Photo below from Wikipedia.)

Had a game night with Adam's family. Seriously, I'm curious how many decibels we raise in laughter :)

Have a great weekend, everyone! Talk to you soon!

~Miranda & Adam

Photos with no people?! ~ Some personal work

2010-04-01T10:57:00.000-05:00

One of our goals this year is to get out and shoot some more personal work for ourselves. Not only does it feed our souls, but it also keeps us inspired on all levels. We went shooting on Sunday in Milwaukee, and here are some of our favorite images...

My (Miranda) first photography teacher said to me, "Keep creating images, not taking pictures." There's a big difference, and I'm grateful that I got such awesome advice so early on in my photography career.

Talk to you soon :)
~Miranda & Adam

Miradam's Musings

2010-03-29T16:33:00.001-05:00

Around the time of our wedding, our friend Dave started jokingly calling us Miradam, and the circle of our friends and us had a hilarious time seeing what last names we could come up with using the letters of Zynda and Kneeland. So since then, our "celebrity name" is Miradam Zynland ;)

We thought we'd pay homage to that in a dorky and funny way by bringing "Miradam" into our new blog series featuring our random thoughts.

So here they are, kicking off our first miscellaneous post...

~ We're currently working on lots of new and exciting stuff for our business! We can't wait to share it with you in the next couple of months! Because we're putting our energies into these projects, we might be blogging a bit less, but trust us, it'll be worth it :)

~ We're super pumped to have finally completed our own wedding album! Let that be a personal testimony as to why it's not a good idea to do your own wedding album. It took us YEARS, and this is what we do for a living! We actually just received it today. Waiting to open it till we're done working today :)

~ We just celebrated our wedding anniversary :) We started the day going to see Street Scene at the Milwaukee Art Museum, went for a late lunch at Cafe Hollander, went to see Alice in Wonderland at the Oriental, followed by a cocktail at Hi Hat and dinner at Bosley on Brady (a couple of these places might look familiar to you). We had a wonderful day together!

~ We finally got out and did some personal shooting. Felt so good. We'll share some photos with you soon!

~ Spring is here! We've thoroughly enjoyed seeing things spring up in our yard. Check out the shot below (taken on our phone)...

~And speaking of spring, I (Miranda) love how my shoe selection has opened up with the nicer weather! I love shoes :) Check out this pair that I bought to wear at Dave & Amanda's wedding (photo taken on our phone)! I think I'll be wearing them with a black and white dress with a red bolero like this one on Etsy...

~ Made it over to Jess's house to see her and her hubby's baby! Reggie has some good genes! :)

(taken on our phone)

And... this post got long, so we'll have to save our other musings for a later time...

Talk to you soon!

~Miranda & Adam

Jim's Retirement & Birthday Party! ~ Maggiano's Little Italy | Milwaukee Event Photographer

2010-03-25T18:02:00.000-05:00

Jim certainly had a lot to celebrate... and awesome friends and family to do it with! Great conversation and food was had by all, along with the enjoyment of touching speeches and an entertaining slideshow! It was a pleasure to see everyone honoring Jim, and we're excited for him to enjoy this next chapter of his life. Congratulations!

~Miranda & Adam

Here are some of our favorite photos from Jim's party at Maggiano's in Milwaukee...

Reminisce: Published by Wisconsin Woman Magazine

2010-03-22T10:56:00.002-05:00

We are thrilled to have one of our photos featured in the April issue of Wisconsin Woman Magazine. The magazine showcases one of our images from Kate and Rhett's lovely backyard wedding, where we had the pleasure of working with event planner Ginger Gant of Ginger & Company. Take a look at the feature below! Just click to enlarge :) Have a great day!

~ Miranda & Adam

Laura & Eric's Wedding ~ Milwaukee County War Memorial | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

2010-03-15T16:52:00.001-05:00

Laura & Eric's wedding was just as much fun as their engagement session! They had beautiful weather for a winter day that accompanied their gorgeous church and lakefront reception perfectly! Here are some of our favorite photos from their day...

Laura started go get a bit nervous while the girls laced up her dress. I love how the photo below captures that excitement and nervousness! And if you scroll down a bit further, you'll see one of my favorite "getting ready" photos ever... "Star of the Week!" :)

For you photogs reading this, the shot below is SOOC, as are the photos of Laura putting her earrings on, the corsage, and the ceremony photo shot between the pillars. Gotta love it when that happens :)

A generous gust of wind had great timing, filling Laura's dress for the image below.

Love this photo of Eric spontaneously jumping with glee on our way back to the bus to join their wedding party!

Taylors opened their doors to host their guests between the ceremony and reception. Guests had a blast!

This is one of the best ideas we've seen for favors. In addition to donating to two different causes, Laura & Eric's aunts made a cookie bar for them! Behind each cookie platter were recipes that guests could take home with them. Unfortunately we forgot to grab a few at the end of the night :(

Congratulations, Laura & Eric! We loved photographing your day :)
Hope you had fun skiing on your honeymoon!

Hugs,
Miranda & Adam

---------------

Ceremony: St. Monica, Whitefish Bay WI
Reception: Milwaukee Country War Memorial, Milwaukee WI

Caterer: Irene's Catering
DJ: Double Platinum DJ Service
Florist: Chic Blossoms
Salon: Neroli Salon & Spa

Calling all Awesome Seniors ~ Free Sessions!

2010-03-05T16:46:00.001-06:00

Not the senior citizen kind of seniors. The class of 2011!

We're looking for outgoing, stylish, fun teens to rock the camera and inspire our next senior portrait season!

Also, earn print / product credits with each friend you send our way who books a session with us! Saving your parents $ = you score points with them = you might be out of the dog house if you pull a senior prank.

All sessions are on-location for modern, fresh photos with as much personality as you. Check out our galleries on our site or the senior category on our blog to see what we mean :) We're also totally open to your own creative ideas!

So here’s what you need to do. Message me on facebook or send me an email (miranda@capturingyourday.com) by the end of March telling us why you should be involved. Feel free to get creative, and get your friends involved! :)

Looking forward to chatting soon!
~Miranda & Adam

Reminisce ~ Now hiring!

2010-03-04T07:40:00.000-06:00

That's right, Reminisce is now accepting resumés for a summer internship with us! Please pass this along your email list and help us find the perfect candidate!

Last year we had a great intern, Rachel! Her enthusiasm and desire to learn helped her rock the internship, and we recently received a super sweet letter from her...

"I just wanted to send you a letter formally thanking you for all that you taught me and allowing me to be your intern this summer. The information I learned was truly priceless and really helped out in classes. I think you have a great business, a ton of talent, and many creative ideas. I with you nothing but the best in the future and truly considered it a privilege to be able to work alongside you..."

Are you are next intern? Is your friend's sister's boyfriend's younger brother our next intern? Whoever you are, we're excited to meet you!

Please inquire for details and get your resumé in ASAP to miranda@capturingyourday.com

Talk to you soon :)
~Miranda & Adam

Marcia & Shawn's Wedding (Part 1) | Beloit WI Wedding Photographer

2010-03-03T10:54:00.000-06:00

Marcia and Shawn might look familiar to you from their recent engagement session. We also just photographed one of their two weddings! We will be joining them for their destination wedding in the Cayman Islands, but first things first- their WI ceremony and dinner...

Their ceremony was at the beautiful First Baptist Church in Beloit. Here are some of our favorites :)

Marcia and Shawn's moms were so cute, greeting each other with a big hug...

No one could resist the adorableness of Marcia's niece...

Marcia & Shawn are both Danish, and we loved seeing their traditions, including this duel toasting cup...

They had both your traditional wedding cake and a Danish ring cake (both were delicious!!!).

Congratulations, Marcia & Shawn! We've enjoyed seeing so much of you lately, and we're looking forward to taking many more photos of you :) We had a great time meeting your friends and family, and can't wait to see them in the Islands! ~Miranda & Adam

Show us the Love ~ Winner Announced!

2010-03-02T09:32:00.000-06:00

Thanks, everyone, for the super sweet comments on our blog! It warmed our hearts :) We're excited to see so many more blog subscriptions, and we hope you have fun seeing our latest work and happenings!

Here's a taste of what you can look forward to seeing: a danish ring cake (if only you could have actually tasted it!), some exciting announcements, spring engagement sessions and a personal project or two! And, of course, wedding season is right around the corner!

Hopefully you'll find that feeding your soul with some awesome photos is a great way to start or conclude the day (or as I hear a lot from people, a fun way to take a break at work)!

Without further ado, the randomly selected winner of our contest is invitesbyjen@yahoo.com, who ironically happens to be a wedding vendor! Looking forward to meeting you, Jen, and seeing what kind of session we'll be doing! Talk to you soon :)

Thanks again for the blog love!

~Miranda & Adam

And since every post is better with a photo, here's a spread of one of the custom-designed albums we're currently working on (just click to enlarge)...

Winter Fun :)

2010-02-26T09:47:00.000-06:00

When not dealing with driving conditions, shoveling, or de-icing winter can be absolutely gorgeous! Adam and I went for walk the other day with our cameras and marveled at the beauty...

Not five minutes into our walk, I tipped over :) The ground was uneven, and what was six inches of snow was suddenly a foot and a half. Since I didn't hurt myself (or the camera), it was hilarious! Adam thoroughly enjoyed making fun of me!

Here's me eating the snow :)

After hiking / shooting, we went sledding! Not too much later, Adam's sled shattered half way down the hill and the park kids could not stop laughing (and neither could I :)

Happy winter!

Talk to you soon.
~Miranda & Adam

Amy & Brian's Engagement | Madison Wedding Photographer

2010-02-24T13:51:00.000-06:00

We were so excited to hear that Scott's sister Amy got engaged! We're looking forward to photographing her and Brian's wedding this coming October and seeing the Wood family again :)

For their engagement session, we walked around the Wisconsin State Capitol building. We enjoyed hearing about their wedding and the super fun weekend they just had!

Here are some of our favorite photos from their engagement session. Such a sweet couple!

Congrats, Amy & Brian! Looking forward to seeing you again in Madison, this time at your wedding :)

~Miranda & Adam

------------

Dig what you see? We'd love your nomination for Wisconsin Bride's Best of 2010! Just click here (there are lots of categories, but you only need to fill in 6 for your vote to count).

Thanks much!

*hugs*

Show us the love for a chance to win a FREE SESSION! :)

2010-02-23T15:40:00.000-06:00

Awesome, right?! All you have to do is:

1) Leave us some blog love (aka a comment) ANYWHERE on our blog... could be about your favorite photo, favorite session, favorite place, etc.

AND

2) Subscribe to our blog using the subscription box on the upper left of our blog (don't forget to confirm the subscription- you'll receive an email asking you to do this).

The contest ends Sunday, February 28th at midnight. One winner will be randomly selected to receive a complimentary photo session with Reminisce at one of the locations of our choice (we'll give you a selection to choose from). The winner will not be obligated to purchase prints.

Let the blog love begin! :)

Talk to you soon...

~Miranda & Adam

Marcia & Shawn's Engagement | Cayman Islands ~ Destination Wedding Photographer

2010-02-22T14:42:00.001-06:00

We had a fun variety of places to go for Marcia and Shawn's engagement session last week. After hopping around Madison, we incorporated some tractors on our way back to Deforest, which were a prevalent part of Shawn's life growing up. Then we got some photos of him in his uniform and with the squad car. Shawn was on duty the first night that he and Marcia met, and it also has something to do with their awesome engagement story...

Shawn's police officer friend "arrested" Marcia (cuffs and everything) for a missed payment on her heat / electric account which got messed up a bit after a recent move. When he took her to the interrogation room and turned on the light, Shawn was on his knee with the ring, and the rest is history :)

You'll see a lot more of them on the blog... we also just photographed their small Wisconsin church ceremony and will be photographing their upcoming destination wedding in the Cayman Islands. We're so excited to be a part of and capture their wedding(s)!

Anyhoo, here are some of our favorite photos from their engagement session...

Congratulations, Marcia and Shawn! Looking forward to showing your ceremony sneak peek soon, too!

~Miranda & Adam

------------

Dig what you see? We'd love your nomination for Wisconsin Bride's Best of 2010! Just click here (there are lots of categories, but you only need to fill in 6 for your vote to count).

Thanks much!

*hugs*

Laura & Eric's Engagement | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

2010-02-17T16:26:00.000-06:00

For Laura & Eric's engagement session, we started out at their house in Bay View (congrats on the new home!) and then hopped around Brady St. in Milwaukee. They used to live on the East Side, so a big part of their history as a couple lies in that area. We had fun doing a mini-pub crawl and getting some shots along the bustling street, finishing up at Bosley on Brady, where Eric proposed. Here are a few of our favorite photos from their session...

Thanks so much for the fun shoot (and the beer)! Looking forward to your wedding!!! :D

~Miranda & Adam

------------

Dig what you see? We'd love your nomination for Wisconsin Bride's Best of 2010! Just click here (there are lots of categories, but you only need to fill in 6 for your vote to count).

Thanks much!

*hugs*

Evan (3 Months) & Fam | Milwaukee Family Photographer

2010-02-14T20:34:00.000-06:00

Evan is such an awesome addition to the fam! Look how much personality he has! I think he should get into modeling (though I'm biased since I'm his Auntie :) It's so heartwarming, too, watching how his sisters embrace him. They're always stealing kisses and baby-talking him. They also ask to go hang out in his crib with him! So sweet...

For his 3-month session, we photographed in their Milwaukee home. At the end of this post are a few photos I took while we were hanging out at the Domes, too.

Keep an eye out for my favorite photo... the b+w one of Evan lying on his tummy in his birthday suite. His expression melts my heart!

This series (above) of Ava doing some impromptu vogue-ing cracks me up!!! She definitely has a future in the Arts! :)

Hope you all had a fantastic Valentine's Day!

xo

~Miranda (& Adam)

P.S. Congratulations to Megan & Adam and Jessica & Andy, who had babies this weekend!!!

Wedding Words of Wisdom: Outdoor Wedding Tips

2010-02-10T23:05:00.011-06:00

After seeing (aka photographing) a lot of weddings, I've gathered up some first-hand research on making sure your outdoor ceremony runs smoothly. Now, these are just my opinions, so take them with a grain of salt. Also, if you've already planned and it's too late for some of these recommendations, don't fret... you're day will still be perfect. It's meant to advise, not to stress :)

Grab a cup of tea... it's a long (but juicy) one...

--------------

Backup Plans: You spend SO MUCH time, thought and energy selecting your ceremony venue. Whether you fall in love with it because it overlooks the lake, because of the colorful fall leaves, because of the gorgeous gardens, or because of the cityscape, it's important to think of the alternative. What if it rains? Does your venue's back-up plan also meet your vision?

For example, my sister and her hubby got married in the botanical gardens of Maui under a small gazebo. It rained on her wedding day. Fortunately, because it was a small, intimate ceremony, we were all able to fit in the gazebo comfortably and still have the lush and vibrant backdrop of Hawaii's flora and fauna (and their ceremony was absolutely perfect). If we were a larger party, the ceremony would have been in a banquet room. Doesn't exactly say "tropical," does it?

Try to find a venue that has a great backup plan. A couple places off the top of my head are Hawk's View Golf Club and Schlitz Audobon Nature Center. Both places have options that are STILL OUTSIDE, protected by gorgeous wooden pavilions! How awesome is that?! But even if your venue doesn't have an outdoor rain-backup-plan, inside can still look fab... a stone fireplace, victorian windows, modern architecture, whatever the look may be.

Another option is to book two venues. This may sound excessive, but with enough research or with the help of a wedding planner, you can find a rain-backup-plan that fits the budget. We recently worked with one couple who was planning a garden ceremony. They also booked a beautiful church for only a few hundred dollars in case it rained. Since it didn't rain, you could look at it as a waste of a few hundred dollars, or you could look at it as well worth the peace of mind, knowing that their ceremony memories and photos would still fit their vision if it rained.

The Tent Option: You might have noticed that "throw up a tent" wasn't included in my backup plan advice above. It's not because I dislike tents; it's just because you really have to pull this off well for it to look (and feel) good. Tents should be lit, clean and decorated (i.e. flowers, lanterns, etc.) so that your ceremony feels like a wonderful outdoor wedding that just so happens to be protected by a tent... not so that it feels like you're, well... in just some tent.

I also recommend not putting up the tent unless it's forecasted to rain the morning of the wedding. Why have a tent up if you don't need it? Wouldn't you prefer your photos capture the whole scene?

Comfort of Guests: If there's a possibility of it being a swelteringly hot and humid day, or an uncomfortably crisp day, please think about your guests who are sitting and waiting for your wedding to start. People usually start arriving 45 minutes before your ceremony... add that to the ceremony time (we'll say 30 minutes) and your receiving line (30 minutes), and your guests are outside for over an hour and a half! Maybe you have a bottle of water or cute little fans holding down the ceremony program on each chair. Or a pair of cloves tied to the back of each chair. Or maybe you invest in heaters... you get the idea.

Comfort of Bridesmaids: If you're having a spring or fall wedding, please invest in shawls for your bridesmaids... and nice cozy ones like pashminas. The love may not be enough to keep them warm. Stylish tights are also a great addition.

Location of Sun: This is a big one, both for photos and for comfort levels. I'll try to keep it short and sweet:
• Noon (or close to noon) sun = nasty shadows on your faces. Best to have your ceremony in the later afternoon.
• Sunset can be tricky. If the sunset is your backdrop, your guests are staring into the sun. Just something to think about. If you're in love with the sunset and you'd like it to be a big part of your wedding, maybe plan on your photos being taken during this time, instead of your actual ceremony.
• This one isn't as big as the other two, but if you have control over it, I'd recommend positioning the ceremony so that the sun is either behind the officiant or in front of the officiant (as opposed to an angle) for even lighting on you and your wedding party.

Acoustics: If you're using a microphone or are having your DJ play music, it's important that your DJ is well trained to deal with outdoor setup. If your ceremony is on a lake, you want minimal echoing. If it's windy, you want minimal disruption / feedback. Make sure they test volume levels out before the ceremony. One more thing... cords are generally not so pretty, so please try to hide them :)

Wind: If it's unbelievably windy, you may want to skip the veil for your ceremony... unless it's like a birdcage veil, or cathedral length ( because it's heavy enough to stay down, or long enough for your MOH to hold). It can get very annoying for a bride to be constantly moving her veil out of her face during vows. And you can always wear your veil for formals and such.

OR, what if you switched sides so that the wind was blowing towards the girls (meaning veil and hair out of the face)?! As long as your ushers do their job, it shouldn't confuse people.

Arbors should be significantly weighted down. Arbor and tent weights should be disguised... and not by something that can blow :)

(I just love it when the wind works for you, like the photo below...)

Shoes: If you're getting married on a beach or grass, flats and wedges all the way.

--------------

Phew! Long post! Better stop now. Hopefully some useful info was packed in there for you! :)

Happy planning!
~Miranda

Winner! The photo voted Best of 2009!

2010-02-05T09:48:00.001-06:00

With 2,958 votes in a week, the results are in for our Best of 2009 Contest!

Without further ado...

In 1st Place with 24% of the votes is "Proud Papa" from Ali & Tim's wedding! Ali and Tim win a Metal Mosaic or Gallery Wrapped Canvas with the image of their choice.

In 2nd Place with 22% of the votes is "Lovin' in the Leaves" from Bethany & Matthew's engagement session! They win an art board wrap with the image of their choice.

Congratulations to our winners!

It was so much fun for us to see how excited people got about the contest! Granted the prizes probably had a bit to do with it, but we also got lotsa love email from people we never met who wanted to compliment our work. Words can't describe how much that means to us :)

Thanks for cheering us on and participating in our contest!

Have a great weekend, and talk to you soon :)

~Miranda & Adam

Reminisce: We received the Bride's Choice Award 2010!

2010-02-02T09:37:00.002-06:00

We're honored to have received the Bride's Choice Award 2010 on weddingwire.com!

"The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the Bride's Choice Awards are determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds. This year's winners represent the top five percent of WeddingWire's vendor community."

We couldn't be happier that our clients leave us such glowing reviews!

Thank you! :)

Hugs!
~Miranda & Adam

Reminisce: Featured on Rock 'n Roll Bride

2010-02-01T09:39:00.001-06:00

We're super excited to be featured on Kat Williams' blog, Rock 'n Roll Bride!

Click here to see our feature, which shares nearly 30 of our favorite photos from David and Amanda's Engagement Session, along with a bit of their story! Stick around on her blog for awhile, too, and peruse lots of fabulous ideas, couples and shoots!

Kat has an amazing eye for style and uniqueness. She says her blog "promotes individuality and general awesomeness in a cookie cutter, pastel pink, poufy dressed wedding world. Don’t let the wedding industry define your day – let *you* define your day."

Kat also says on her blog, "My passion is photography. I am excited by every single photograph on this site and am honoured that each photographer is proud to have their work adorning the walls of Rock n Roll Bride."

Thanks, Kat, for the feature! Love your blog!

~Miranda & Adam

P.S. Besides David & Amanda's engagement session, we also photographed David PROPOSING to her! Did you check it out yet?