My first “Trash The Dress” Session!

A few weeks ago I received a call from Angela and Ben.  They had just been married and weren’t crazy about their wedding pictures, so they wondered if we could go out somewhere around the Wisconsin Dells to do a portrait session.  They just wanted some pictures in their wedding clothes that were “frame-worthy” to put on their walls.

SO… we met at Devil’s Lake State Park yesterday.  I have to tell you that Angela and Ben had some funny looks since they were hiking around in a wedding dress and suit! But it was sure fun!  This was the first time I brought my husband (also named Ben) to a shoot, and he had a blast.  And he even got some really great pictures.  A few of them made it into the slideshow!

Anyway, we hiked up the hill, taking pictures along the way (when we were winded!), some more at the top, and then headed back down.  We found an awesome stone culvert, fun spots in the woods and the railroad tracks, and then my favorite: the LAKE!  Yes, it was late September, but that didn’t stop these troopers from hopping in!  And, of course, being the dedicated photographer that I am, I hopped in too.  :)  The water wasn’t so bad once you got used to it.

Angela and Ben, thanks for calling me to do this session with you.  It was so much fun, and I hope to be doing more of these sessions in the future.  Here are my three favorite shots of the day:

 

 

And here is your slideshow!

 

 

Last of all, this is just for those of you who may be curious what will happen to your dress after one of these sessions:

 

Jessica and Greg’s hill-top wedding in Fountain City

This weekend was Jessica and Greg’s wedding.  So far, they win the award for the most easy-going couple yet.  They gave me free reign to do pretty much anything!  The ceremony was at a small church high on the hill in Fountain City, and the reception was at the Hilltop Banquet Hall.  The views at both places were absolutely amazing!  

Their theme was so fun, too!  It was a fall theme with lots of pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, pine cones, deer antlers, and hay bales.  In fact, I can honestly say this was the first time I’ve seen any of those items inside a church!  It was all pulled together so nicely, and I know for a fact that Greg helped plan some of these details.  That was a nice surprise.

And the kids… I lost count after about 20.  There were more kids at this wedding than I’ve ever seen before!  They were all so cute, too.  A couple of them decided to get crazy with the decorations, and started carving pumpkins, right in the middle of the reception!  That gave me a pretty good laugh.

 

Anyway, Jessica and Greg, thanks for letting me share your big day.  Here is your preview:

Engagement photos in the Boonies: Amanda and Ross

Note to self: When someone says, “Hey, let’s get pictures out at the land”, that means I NEED to bring good walking shoes. Not slip-ons.  Um, yeah.

 

Today I was lucky enough to go on a marathon hike photo shoot with Amanda and Ross in La Farge, Wisconsin.  If you aren’t familiar with the bubbling metropolis of La Farge, it’s a cute little town about 30-ish minutes from La Crosse.  Anyway, we met up and did our first couple pictures right in town. We made it quick and headed out to the land for more pictures.  

Here is my favorite shot of the day:

Here are three more of my favorites: 

And here is your official preview:

 

I’m looking forward to your wedding in Viroqua next year!

Pang and Cheng’s wedding, by Photographer Sean

This past year has been so crazy-busy that I’ve recently had to add more people to the team at Images of Distinction.  So if you’ve attended a wedding in the last couple months, you may have seen Sean, Kelly, Jen, or Liz… I’ll write more about that later, and you may even see future blog posts from a few of them.

But anyway, Sean is a hugely talented photographer and photo editor in Madison that has come onboard to help out with some of the weddings this year and next.  Up till now, he’d only done some photo editing for me, but just over a week ago, he shot his first wedding for Images of Distinction.  

Pang and Cheng were married at Allen Centennial Gardens in Madison, and took pictures downtown at the Capitol and Terrace.  Even though Sean was the primary shooter there, I can tell it was beautiful!  He’s still editing the majority of the pictures, but I did convince him to send enough for a preview for the happy couple, who have been anxiously waiting!  Pang told me today that she’s a faithful reader of this blog, so I can’t disappoint her!  Here is my favorite shot of the day:

 

 

My  next favorite shot of the day is this one… it just seems so happy and relaxed!  

 

 

And last but not least, Pang and Cheng, here is your slideshow preview… Enjoy!

Danielle’s Day at the Lake

This post is a bit overdue, since I was actually on vacation in the middle of August.  It’s just been SO busy!  With a wedding in Madison last weekend, and two weddings the weekend before, I barely have time to think these days!

My darling sister has been patiently waiting for me to post some pictures from our trip.  Since it was an unofficial girl’s week, we had a blast swimming, going up to Madeline Island and Bayfield, and traipsing around Hayward.  We got some really fun pictures.

 

Here is the first set.  Danielle is the daughter of a friend of my Mom’s.  She and her dad visited us at the cabin for an afternoon.  Isn’t she gorgeous?  WIth that great smile and curly hair, she’s definitely going to be a handful for her daddy in a few years!

 

Coming soon: vacation pictures!

Megan and Keith, downtown Madison

For almost a year now, I’ve really been looking forward to Megan and Keith’s wedding.  Since I just got married in Madison last year, and Megan was planning their wedding this year, we had a lot in common.  In fact, she saw some of my wedding photos and contacted me.  That’s when she found out I was a photographer, too!  We probably sent more emails between us than I have with any other bride so far!  So it was nice to feel like they were friends when I showed up to shoot their wedding.

They wanted pictures at a few locations, and rented a party bus to take us around town.  That was a lot of fun!  We did pictures at the Capitol and Allen Centennial Gardens.  Their ceremony was actually IN the Capitol, in the Assembly Chambers.  Talk about a gorgeous room!  I walked in and decided I was in Photographer’s Heaven, if there is such a place!  One of my new favorite pictures is this one, taken just after the ceremony:

 

At the entrance to the Assembly Chambers

I mean, just look at this photo of their ceremony!  It doesn’t get much more awesome than that!

Ceremony

And then, to top it all off, they had my favorite cake in the whole world for dessert.  Did I mention I absolutely LOVE Carl’s Cakes?  That’s who made my wedding cake, and who I requested for my birthday cake this year.  Love it.  Apparently the groom loved it too.  He licked the plate, proof is below.  :)

 

Carl's Cakes has this effect on me, too.

Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of other fun things.  The wedding party stopped by the Essen Haus for a “boot” of beer.  There was a certain mishap involving me and the “boot” that shall remain unspecified.  There were the German guys who serenaded both Megan and Keith, and his mom.  Only they serenaded them in German with a hardy drinking song.  Anyway…

Megan and Keith, thank you for a great day!  Your preview is below.  Congratulations!

2nd Annual Wedding Photography Giveaway

I’m excited to announce the 2nd Annual Images of Distinction Wedding Photography Giveaway!

This year Ainsley and Travis were the lucky recipients of the free package… I can’t wait to see who will win for next year! We had about 20 entries last time.  Let’s have over 40 this time!  Tell your friends!  The grand prize includes a free Silver Wedding Package, as described on my website, www.iodphotography.com.

To enter, please email your entry to rebecca@iodphotography.com. Please send the following in your email: your full names and wedding date, wedding and reception location, an interesting story about the two of you as a couple, what makes your wedding unique and personalized, and a photo of the two of you together.

The contest begins September 1, 2008 and ends September 30, 2008 at midnight. Winning couple(s) will be announced no later than October 5, 2008. 

 

Here are the rules:
1) The wedding must take place during 2009.
2) The winners are not required to purchase anything. However, if they desire, they can upgrade the package or add additional products use the grand prize as an $800 credit towards the balance.
3) The location can be nearly anywhere in the world (we love to travel!), but modest travel fees will apply to locations over 60 miles from my home in southwestern Wisconsin.
4) One entry per couple
5) Entries missing information or photo will be disqualified
6) Photo submitted will be posted on the blog when winners are announced.
7) If selected as the winner, your photos may be used for promotional purposes by Images of Distinction
8 ) Grand prize has no cash value and may not be transferred
9) Additional prizes be awarded at the discretion of Images of Distinction
10) Judging panel will include previous clients, photographers and assistants of IOD Photography, as well as a few family members and friends of IOD.

11) Sorry, current customers of Images of Distinction are not eligible for the giveaway.

Sarah and Matt’s Casual Wedding in Caledonia

Saturday I headed up to the small town of Caledonia, Minnesota.  Sarah and Matt were getting married, and their reception was at The Back 40, a restaurant a mile or so out of town.  I have to say that Sarah has probably been the most relaxed bride I’ve had yet.  When we did our phone consult and I asked if she had any special requests, she said no.  :)  She basically said it was up to me how I did things, and that she trusted me.  Yikes!  :)  Sarah and Matt were a lot of fun, and very casual.  Their ceremony was immediate family only, with friends and extended family invited just to the reception.  They had the cutest 9 month old twin boys!  You’ll see them in a few of the pictures.

Between the ceremony and reception, we headed out to Matt’s family’s farm for a photo session.  The sun was pretty bright, but we got some fun pictures with the tractor, old hog barn, and more.  What do you all think?

 

Emily and Nick’s Riverfront Wedding

Friday afternoon I headed up to La Crosse for Emily and Nick’s wedding at the Friendship Gardens, located in Riverside Park.  It was a gorgeous day, and the sun was definitely bright!  Their ceremony was really sweet.  Emily has a seven year old daughter, and Nick said vows to both of them.  He even had a little tiny ring for his new daughter, and he vowed to be the best father he could for her.  

 

Their reception was at Stoney Creek Inn in Onalaska, and it was a beautiful event.  What a great venue!  Congratulations to you both, and to your new family!