Liz and Mike - Sneak Peek

*UPDATE*
Liz and Mike's Wedding is now available for viewing!  Go to my website to see the entire collection!

www.smileoutloudphoto.com

I had the pleasure of photographing Liz and Mike's wedding this last weekend in Oconomowoc. They're the kind of people you wish you were best friends with. So fun and funny... they surrounded themselves with people who truly love them and celebrated the kind of love some only dream about. Here's a sneak peak of your day - Congratulations!

Beauty and her Brother

This morning I had the chance to photograph a beautiful little girl and her great big brother. She's just two but she can talk and sing and her turtle finding abilities would impress even the most experienced outdoorsman. Eva and Jack live in my neighborhood and so it was a real thrill to get to know them better while snapping away... not unlike the turtle Jack found while walking the boardwalk. Thanks you two... and your mom too... for the wonderful, warm, sunny time away from the bustle of my house. I had a great time, I hope you did too!

Bridge to Juniors

So, another milestone was celebrated this month - my daughter has bridged to Juniors, which is a big deal in the world of Girl Scouts. She has been working hard this spring to meet all the requirements for bridging... performing Junior tasks and learning the history of the organization and it's founder. To me, it sounds like work, but to Caitlin, it's big fun and she's had such a great experience over the last few years. She's got a lot of friends who are in her troop and you can tell by the smile on her face that she's really thriving. Cate is a good girl. A great girl. No one can match her compassion and love of helping others and sharing her kindness with friends. I am truly blessed with this one.
Her bridging ceremony took place at a local park on a beautiful day. My parents and my niece came over to watch it all. (Mom even got involved in the end song - thanks Mom!) Goodbye Brownies... hello Juniors... and a whole phase of childhood!

Graduation Day

My son graduated from Kindergarten a week or so ago... an event that I'd previously perceived with both happiness and sadness. On the one hand, he's doing what every mother dreams of... he's going out into the world and succeeding! He's mastered some basic reading, math and spelling. He's made some new friends. He's learned how to tie his shoes and work the zipper on his pants all by himself. What accomplishments! Most of all though, he's learned how to spend a great deal of his time away from me, which is where the sad part comes in. whoopee! He's good at doing things without me. Making friends without me. Having a great time, without me. I know it's selfish, but there's a tiny part of me that was hoping that I was the key to all of that. Guess not. I wasn't the key to his sister's, why should I be the key to his. Anyway, I truly am a proud mama and the fact that I knew of another mother in the crowd who might never see another of her daughter's graduations made me all the more thankful. How blessed am I that I was there to witness such a fantastic event in my son's life. Guess I'll gladly take the little dollop of sadness with the giant vat of happiness. So, here he is walking through the school's garden to get his diploma... and a little comparison. My boy in the first and last days of kindergarten. A huge thank you to Mrs. Miller for all the fabulous ways she helped him grow over the past year.

Beautiful Girl

While her mom and dad posed in front of the Art Museum, Veteran's Memorial, Milwaukee Skyline and Lake Michigan, this little one kept such a beautiful smile on her face! (Thanks to Auntie who came along to help out.)  She will bring such joy to you Jill and Cliff... congratulations on her arrival and your upcoming wedding!

Just A Peek

Jill and Cliff - I'm so excited to shoot your wedding this fall, the colors will be gorgeous! In the meantime, here's a sneak peek of your engagement session... so cute! You said you weren't a 'touchy-feely' couple, but I have to say, the romance shines through in these portraits. You are surely in love and it shows! Oh, you also have one of the most beautiful babies! I'll post a few of her in a bit... but for now, take a peek!

Family Session

When you think of your family, what comes to mind?  Prim and proper... sitting pleasingly in front of a fake background?  More likely it's the image of a child or two running barefoot through the yard, or stepping in that garden bed you've warned them of about a dozen times before!  Family portrait sessions should capture the realness of your family, so that when you look back at them years from now you can actually feel what their bodies felt like in your arms, the smell of their sweet breath and that look in their eyes.  My family portrait sessions are simple - invite me to join your family someplace familiar and comfortable.  Maybe it's the park, or your own backyard... on a comfy couch or the beach.  I'll snap away and create a collection of prints that showcase the beauty of your family, as it exists right now, today - and you'll cherish them for years to come. 

 

Fighting

There's a mom in my town who has been dealt an unimaginable blow. She is the mother of two small children, beautiful daughters, and the odds of her now seeing them grow into women are slim. Her story is not mine to tell, so I won't. I just want to say that I hope she's got a lot of fight in her. I hope her insides are purely spit and vinegar. I hope it matters that she's got everything to live for. I am praying for her.
I'm also newly appreciative of all the wonderful beings that surround me. Here are two. They're the reason I'd fight -