For the {groom}

The inspiration pieces I love + share are, most of the time, bride-related. Not today! Via { Once Wed }, I just had to share these adorable bow ties...one of my favorite groom details. The new “Forage” line of bow ties from { Something’s Hiding in Here } is coming to { The Curiosity Shoppe } at the end of this month. I just love the colors + fabrics they used in the line.
Stop by { Once Wed } to enter to win the striped tie below!




{Images via Once Wed}

{ today }

...kiss the one you love...

{ spring }

{ i heart...}

...blue mason jars...

Decorate your home with photography

At our house currently, we have zero items hung on the walls. I'm talking z-e-r-o...throughout the entire house. We are on the cusp of finishing painting nearly every existing surface, so there's at least a reason for the madness. It's actually been refreshing in a really odd way though. I have an entirely new color palette throughout, and about a half-million gallery frames to place wherever my heart desires!

I can't wait to start getting new and old photos up again to enjoy every day. Which brings me to your photos...any personal photos of yours...have you printed them lately? Or have you just been shooting, storing + forgetting them on your computer? Or Facebook?? People...Facebook is not going to be around to show your grandchildren. (Seriously, remember MySpace?) Print and display your photos!!! You will be so happy you did, I promise!

While waiting to redecorate our walls, I've been simultaneously working on a project putting all of our loose prints into albums...from the last seven years! Don't fall behind like me. I'm having a blast doing this, but I never want this to happen again. I'm working to be totally caught up before our babies arrive, since after that, I know we will have a new half-million photos to frame and put into albums (and about 2 minutes of spare time a day). And yes, I've got beautiful professional albums and many, many images from professional labs, but my point-and-shoot fun photos are equally important. And they deserve to be printed and enjoyed...not left to rot and collect dust on my hard drive.

If you're itching for ideas, { Pottery Barn } is always great and their gallery frames are my favorite. They're affordable, good quality + timeless. Love them. Start a fun winter project and make your home yours!




{Images: Pottery Barn}

{ Oh My Deer } handmades

Chelsea Petaja is the amazing artist behind { Oh My Deer }...a healthy dose of inspiration for the day. Her pieces are not only fantastically beautiful, but have fantastically romantic names like Begonia, Elodie, Lilac + Marigold. I just adore her work...you can view all of her latest spring pieces { here } and shop for them { here }.





{Images: Tec Petaja}

Fabric Poms {DIY}

I initially came across this little project via { ohdeedoh } when checking out decor ideas for our nursery, and I love these! They are absolutely perfect for weddings as well. Check out the full tutorial on how to make your own fabric poms on another favorite of mine, { Once Wed }.

{Image via Once Wed}

2009 thank yous, among other things...

I don't even really know where to begin writing this post. In the past year, my business has boomed exponentially along with all of the incredible people, emotions + love I've been able to photograph. In a time where so many people are experiencing hardship, I've had to turn business away time and again because I simply can't fit it in. It's a humbling feeling to receive that kind of response to my work; I know a simple 'thank you' isn't quite enough, but thank you, thank you, thank you to my clients who continue to gush to friends, and to all of you for valuing my point of view and trusting me with your memories and moments. I love you all!

Now for the 'among other things' part of this post! If you've been on my website or referred a wedding to me for next year, you know that I am no longer taking on new weddings for 2010. This is with good reason. (I am not getting lax!) Being a professional photographer entails a lot more than what most people believe you actually spend time doing. { This is a perfect breakdown of the common misconceptions of a photographer's life vs. what we actually do to run a successful business! } I've lightened my workload for next year because Zac and I found out some amazing news this fall...

We are having a baby!!!!!!!!!!!

We are SO excited (to say the least), and I want to be able to give my family 100%  while giving my clients 100% as well. So even though my passions have not changed toward photography, I feel a slowdown is necessary for me to find a balance in my new life.

As of this past Thursday, this balance has become of even higher importance. Zac and I went in for our 5-month ultrasound to see how everything was progressing with Baby and were hit yet again with some pretty crazy news...

We are having TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This came as a TOTAL and complete shock! We had no inkling, no idea, no anything that there could possibly be two little ones in there. I never showed signs of carrying multiples either, or had any test results that indicated anything differently. We've been on a wild ride since getting this news but we could not be happier and we feel so, so blessed! So without further ado, meet our babies + check out their first grainy black and white image! P.S. Baby B is a boy, and Baby A is a girl!!!! One of each!!!!!!! :)

I hope everyone's holidays are as wonderful as our holidays have been so far! I will try to keep my blog on the professional side, but I'm pretty over the moon about having twins so I will definitely be sharing more of them in 2010. :)  Merry Christmas + Happy New Year!

{ makes me melt }

The pages and spreads in { Vogue } have always been a big inspiration of mine...I love seeing the photography and presentation, and of course, the styling + fashion. I gasped at this spread from their current issue by the unbelievably talented { Arthur Elgort }. His work is the kind that makes all of the little hairs stand up on the back of your neck...the kind of imagery that makes you hold your breath when you look at it. Not only is his fashion work extremely gorgeous, but I adore his ballet + dance photography.... be sure to visit his { website } for more inspiration...






Check out this amazing artist - { Arthur Elgort }.

I've got a fever today...

...and the only cure is more headpieces! I love these. Click here to visit Jennifer's site -

Still obsessed...

I'm still obsessed. I said it last spring, I'm saying it again. Just sayin'.




Brides...I will issue you a $500 print credit if you've got a Melissa Sweet - Reverie gown. Seriously! Okay, I'm only kidding. (Or am I...muah-ha-ha-ha!)

Etsy shops

I was unhappily snowed in this weekend, and so of course managed to find plenty of time to peruse the Internet for all things unnecessary! One can definitely kill much time on Etsy.

If you haven't ever checked Etsy out, it's a must. It's basically a collection of individuals selling handmade items in little online shops. You can find just about anything you're looking for, that you don't need, etc. etc., and the creativity is nothing short of inspiring. I find it especially cool for bridal details like headpieces and jewelry because I believe every bride wants her wedding to be unique; finding a cool handmade piece will surely up the odds that you won't see another bride in your area sporting the same look!

I stumbled across the Modern Romance store - one of my new faves.

Also check out -

Designs by Portobello

Lulu Splendor

Featured on Green Wedding Shoes

My work was recently featured on the beautiful blog, Green Wedding Shoes - Daily Wedding Inspiration for the Southern California Bride. Jen has some amazing inspiration boards, along with many other cool looks, designs, and abundant ideas! You'll find my work here, and be sure to check out her entire blog here. It's a collection of delicious eye candy...enjoy!

Reverie by Melissa Sweet

I saw this ad in one of my bridal magazines and I just had to share. The Melissa Sweet line is one of my absolute favorites!! The glamour, soft tones, and vintage feel come together so beautifully. Total eye candy.

Here's the ad hyping the new line - Reverie by Melissa Sweet - I just love it!

Bridal Blog Surfing

If you're looking for unique wedding ideas and inspiration, there are so many awesome resources available to brides now via blogs & specialized websites. Bridal magazines are by no means your only option!

Mackenzie Sala of the ever-gorgeous KenzieKate Invitations blogs about products and inspiration for modern weddings at her blog, Something Old, Something New.

DIY Bride gives you free access to "do-it-yourself projects, resources, and advice to help you create your crafty, one-of-a-kind wedding." There are some seriously funky and fun ideas from bouquets and invitations to food and favors! DIY Bride

If you'd like the ultimate in unique, check out Etsy, where you can purchase some of the coolest handmade items.

Personalizing your wedding is no more than a few clicks away!

Be Your OWN Best Wedding Planner

I was a bride in 2007, so I can definitely relate to all of my brides who are toiling over wedding day details!

One of my biggest wedding planning stress-savers was finding this great folder to keep important and inspirational items in. I had every section labeled so if I'd find a clipping I wanted to save for hair ideas, pictures of dresses I liked, cards from vendors we'd met with--I had it all in one place.

It was just a little something that made so many things so much easier!

A Beautiful Day

We had AMAZING light this afternoon, so I ventured out for some fun shooting. I am in love with this church...it's incredibly romantic:

I love it's European look:

A little bit Vegas-y with those lights?!? (The irony!)

From the second location I visited--I just love this one too! Lots of love today...

I'm still planning to show off of our new client consult area, but the finishing touches are taking a few more days than we thought! Soon enough!

New Decor

While in the Milwaukee area last weekend, we also made time to pay a much needed visit to Artistry Furniture in downtown Racine. I highly recommend it to any of my brides in the area, or to anyone else looking for elegant & eclectic items for their home. (OR, for anyone else that's as addicted to design as I am!!) They even have baby stuff!

Zac and I snagged up this awesome piece of wall art:


How cool is this hurricane?