Luci is an adorable kiddo, and had a great time running around the arboretum with her parents, Kris + Lesley! Kris warned me that Luci isn’t quick to warm up to people (not uncommon for kids her age who are pandemic babies), but after a few serious looks at the beginning of the session, Luci softened up and now we’re buds, so I can’t wait for the next set of family portraits for this super sweet family!
-Sam
We played around in some of my favorite areas of the Arboretum, including the evergreen area, and by all the blooming trees and bushes closer to the visitor center, River + Aaron tied for Rock, Paper, Scissors, and we practiced some badass middle-school dance moves. All in all, a perfect engagement session on a perfect day!
Congrats to River + Aaron on their engagement!
-Sam
The Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art Lens is an absolute dream. Now, if I had to pick one prime (non-zoom) lens for the rest of my life it would be the 35mm, but the 24mm is a very close second, in that, while not quite as versatile as the 35, it produces great results, and it’s a perfect lens for capturing the setting, not just the subject, which you’ll see in the example photos below. Without further ado, here’s a quick run down of why we love this lens!
Great For The Following:
Wedding photography where the size of the space you’re in is small (the getting ready portion of the day for instance)
Multi-Person or Large Group Portraits (including family formals)
Taking photos that showcase more of the setting around where you were shooting
Non-macro close-up shots (you can get fairly close to your subject with this lens)
Low light settings like wedding receptions
Street photography (it is PERFECT for street photography if that’s your jam)
Would Not Recommend For:
I wouldn’t recommend this as your only lens because with any wide angle lens, there can be some distortion if you’re trying to get more up close and personal shots
Macro shots (it’s just not a macro lens even though it has a closer focusing distance)
Overall, it’s an incredibly sharp lens at most distances (the very furthest distances are not necessarily tack sharp), that is versatile and gives a photojournalism feel to your photos by helping you showcase the setting of the images you’re taking.
Check out the images below, all taken by us on the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens, and if you’re so inclined, tell us what you love (or don’t) about the 24mm if you have one!
-Sam
And, of course, Sami delivered exactly the type of femme top energy this world needs.
Enjoy the photos, and if you want to book a session, channeling whatever type of energy you want more of in your life, hit me up!
-Sam
These two chose to elope, and are planning to have a small celebration in September with friends and family, but wanted to do a couples session to celebrate their marriage! You know you’re having a good session when at least one of you is singing Aerosmith’s “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. (Okay, it was me, but I wasn’t the one who brought it up this time!) I can’t wait for their September wedding celebration, but in the meantime, enjoy the photos of these two (and their doggos) and help me wish them a big congratulations!
-Sam
Athena + Max had a small, intimate legal wedding ceremony the day before their more traditional Jewish wedding ceremony and celebration. The bigger gathering took place at the historic Iron Amethyst Inn in Mazomanie, WI, which was the perfect venue for the vibe they were looking for. All of the small details of the day were absolutely gorgeous, and though the day was overcast, these two made it as sunny as could be.
Enjoy the photos, and help us wish these two a big congratulations (times two!) for their very special wedding weekend extravaganza!
-Sam
Here are the vendors that helped make their wedding celebration day spectacular:
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Iron Amethyst Inn
Officianti: Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman
Bridal Gown: Martin McCrea Couture
Groom Suit: Lucca Clothing
Hair & Makeup: Daymaker
Florist: Blooms by Brandi
Wedding Coordinator: Catherine Richards / Spellbinding Soirees
Desserts: Honey Bee Bakery
Catering: The Globe Restaurant and Fromagination
Tent Rental: D&S Tent Rentals
Decor Rentals: Velvet Rentals
These two got legally married in Vegas (yes, by Elvis…. can you even get married in Vegas without Elvis officiating?) but wanted a celebration with friends and family back home, so for their 2.0 wedding day, they had good food and beautiful scenery at Tenney Park in Madison, WI.
Sara made all of the flower crowns you see in the photos (amazing, right?!) and you know how we feel about colorful wedding dresses and suits, so we were absolutely enthralled by how amazing these two looked in their wedding attire.
One of the things I loved most about Sara + Jared’s wedding day is that they chose to incorporate a Kintsugi unity ceremony (mending broken pottery with gold) to symbolize that sometimes life brings us obstacles, but they can make you even stronger, and that these two are even stronger together. It was a beautiful way to cement (see what I did there?) their commitment to each other no matter what life throws their way.
Help us wish these two a big congratulations, and if you want more photos of these two cool cats, check out their engagement photos here!
-Sam
Here are the vendors that helped make their day awesome!
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Tenney Park
Bridal Gown: Chontronette
Groom Suit: Hockerty
Flower Crowns: DIY
Catering: Sal’s Tomato Pies
Dessert: Bloom Bake Shop
Table and Chair Rental: Bucky’s Rental
The UW Arboretum is one of my all time favorite places for photos, and with the gorgeous greenery, brilliant skies, and beautiful flowers, it did not disappoint, but even the arboretum was no match for how sharp Malia + Eric looked in their wedding attire! We had a great time walking around the arboretum taking photos and enjoying such a lovely spring day.
Congrats to Malia + Eric, and enjoy the photos of this lovely couple!
-Sam
We started off at the Jade Monkey for beers and games, and then onto San Damiano park on the lake in Monona, which was absolutely stunning with spring flowers and a gorgeous sunset!
We can’t wait for the wedding in August. Enjoy these fun engagement photos in the meantime!
-Sam
And as such, we absolutely have some all-time favorite wedding reception songs we love dancing to. Check them out below, and here’s a bonus song that we strongly recommend you never play at a wedding:
Better Man by Pearl Jam (just don’t do it, it’s awkward as hell)
Enjoy!
-Sam
When these two talked with me about how they met while we were taking their engagement photos, the recurring theme was how quickly they fell for each other, and how they spent pretty much every day together after they met. The other recurring theme was how much they both love their fur child, Olly, the cutest little beagle anyone ever saw (to check out Matt + Drew’s engagement photos with Olly, click here). I was so excited to celebrate Drew + Matt’s wedding day with them, and they had an absolutely stunning and stylish wedding day filled with loved ones, great food, and great music!
Enjoy the photos, and help me wish these two a big congratulations!
-Sam
Their wedding 1.0 was an intimate and joyful micro wedding in 2021 (you can see photos of wedding 1.0 here).
Alisha + Nate met during college through mutual friends, but they actually fell for each other while playing trivia together (I miss trivia, but I’ll be back at it again someday!) and like many of our clients over the last two years, they decided to split their wedding into a smaller legal ceremony (in 2021) and a bigger celebration now that it’s a little safer to do so. Wedding 2.0 was absolutely gorgeous, complete with custom beer & root beer favors, delicious food from a bevy of food trucks, and all in the lush surroundings of the Ivy House in Milwaukee.
Before the ceremony, the wedding party and families even got to hit up a few breweries, including City Lights and Lakefront Brewery, and the iconic Black Cat Alley Murals too!
Enjoy the photos of this fun and modern wedding day, and congrats to Alisha + Nate all over again!
-Sam
Here are the vendors that helped make their wedding day (2.0) awesome!
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Ivy House
Day-Of Coordinator: Ally Spaight
Hair & Makeup. Style by R
Wedding Party Busy: Milwaukee Food Tours
Florist: Jane Kelly Floral
Food Trucks: El Grito, Hidden Kitchen, Slo’ Motion
Dessert: C Adams Bakery
