Laura and Rocky :: May 31, 2008

Laura and Rocky were a blast to photograph. From the getting ready shots to the reception... the entire day was filled with emotion.

Laura dressed at her parent's home in Green Bay. This room was absolutely perfect for the final phase of "getting ready" - the lighting was beautiful and the room had great space.

These earrings are real diamonds were loaned to the bride (along with a diamond and sapphire bracelet and necklace) from their jeweler in Chicago.

I love dramatic angles and selective focus. Here, I focused on her grandmother's ring (her something old) and also captured a beautiful smile as she looked up at her parents on the deck.

Aren't they gorgeous!?

Rocky was sooo excited as they left church he did a heel click. I was literally "shooting from the hip" for this shot. I am sooo happy I captured this moment!

A funny moment produced a terrific smile from Laura - guys.... you know what I'm talkin' bout!!!!!!

This image was captured on the road leading up to Thornberry Creek Country Club.

Here are some more teasers from the day...

Kati and Cory :: May 24, 2008

You may have seem Kati and Cory on my website... I took their engagement photos I took last fall with an amazing display of color as a backdrop. They are an awesome and fun couple and they make my job as a photographer extremely enjoyable!

I knew that their wedding day would be filled with some awesome moments. The first amazing vision I came across was the beautiful small white church in the middle of the country. The church was so intimate and historic. It aisle consisted of only 8 pews... I could photograph the entire church with my 28-70 2.8L lens!

After the ceremony the wedding party traveled to Lawrence University for their photo session. The flowering crabapple trees were still in bloom making for an awesome splash of color in the photos.

Kati and Cory's romantic photo session was relaxed and fun... having done their engagement session a few months ago really helped them relax and enjoy the moment while they were in front of the camera.

Our coverage time ended with cutting the cake at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in downtown Appleton, WI.

Here are some additional teasers...

Stacy & Jeremy :: May 17, 2008

Stacy and Jeremy got married in the small town of Newton, WI... Here are some highlights...

When they cut their cake they cracked their cake knife in half! I was so happy I was able to get the looks on their faces the moment it happened!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why the name Ardent Photography?
Ardent is a word that, according to Webster, is characterized by eager warmth of feeling, passion, or intensely devoted. The word perfectly describes the passion that surrounds people in love and my enthusiasm for photographing them.

What is your photographic style?
Artistic, romantic, sophisticated, wedding & relationship photography that is just a bit edgy.

Do you shoot digital or film?
Digital. But I sometimes snap a few frames with an antique film camera for a unique look.

Do you have a studio?
I have a small studio/gallery in my home. I use the space for photo sessions during the winter months and for client meetings.

Did you go to school for photography?
I have my bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design from the Universtiy of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. In addition to my design degree I also have my minor in art history and many credits in photography.

How long have you been shooting weddings?
I have been shooting weddings unofficially since 2002 (I assisted my first in 1995) and I started Ardent Photography in 2005.

Why do you offer an engagement session with all of your packages?
I offer engagement sessions as "get to know you" time. I love learning about how you met, how you hold hands, what makes you laugh... Plus it is a great time for you to get used to my shooting style and dumb jokes.

How many photos do you take at our wedding?
I average about 200 frames per hour when I shoot with two cameras. The actual amount of proofs you will see is quite a bit lower than that. I go through every photo and hand select the very best images from your day. I remove blinks, motion blurred images and duplicates from the bunch. You will end up with around 600-900 final proofs in your proof book depending on your package coverage.

What kind of albums do you offer?
I offer hardbound coffee table albums in a variety of sizes. I also offer custom art books with leather cover options.

In what format are the initial proofs offered?
You will receive a hardbound proof book contact sheets of all your photos. In addition to the proof book you will have a private website of your wedding images to share with friends, family and co-workers. The proof book is yours to keep forever, the website is live for 60 days.

How soon after the event are the proofs ready for viewing?
I always post a few teaser photos on my blog at www.ardentphotography.blogspot.com. The proofs in their entirety are ready for viewing on your personal website up to 4 weeks from the wedding day.

How do my family and friends know when my online proofing site is ready?
At your reception I will place an email sign-up list near the guest book. Guests will be encouraged to add their information to the list. They will be notified by email when your wedding website will be ready.

Do you retain the copyright for the photos?
Yes. You can purchase the personal rights release and high resolution images from me at any time. Some packages have the high-res files included in the package.

Are your high res files large enough to print larger than 8x10?
I include the same high resolution files I print your photos from on your DVD. The files you receive from me are large enough to print 16x20 and higher, unlike many photographers who say their files are high resolution. Of course, I recommend ordering from Ardent to ensure the highest quality enlargements - plus they will come retouched and mounted on archival board to protect the print for generations.

Do you shoot destination weddings?
Yes. I have done weddings in Boston and California. I have my passport and would love to quote of your destination wedding!

Do you have a replacement photographer in case you become unavailable on the wedding day?
Yes, in the very slim chance an act of God does not allow me to shoot a wedding I have a large network of qualified photographers that could take my place.

What kind of equipment do you typically bring with you on the day-of?
2-3 professional digital SLR camera bodies, a variety of L-Series lenses, 3 flashes, reflectors, up to 36 GB of digital media, a laptop computer, ladder and umbrellas.

Do you bring back-up equipment to the event in case of malfunction?
Yes. I have back up equipment for everything.

How do we reserve our wedding date with Ardent?
Whew! You are still here? Great!!! The first step in reserving your date with Ardent Photography is to find out if your date is available. You can check my calendar section on the website or shoot me and email. The next step is to set up a complimentary photography consultation. After we talk about your wedding dreams and details you will be able to look through printed samples and albums. All I need to retain your date is $350 and a signed contract.

Bling - Becky & Jason :: May 3, 2008

©2008 Ardent Photography LLC

©2008 Ardent Photography LLC

Teaser photo from Becky and Jason's wedding on May 3, 2008. Their photos are ABSOLUTELY stunning and I cannot wait to get a slide show up on the blog for you all to view!

Oh - and I'm testing new watermarks that include my new logo... I had a designer help me with the concept last September and I am finally getting things updated with the new modern/edgy look... do you like???

Rachel & Eric :: April 26, 2008

I was fortunate to be a shooter and a guest at Rachel and Eric's wedding. Rachel and I have been friends for about 5 years. We were both teachers at Marcia's School of Dance and spent a lot of time together dancing at workshops and on stage.

When Rachel started dating Eric I used them as my very first "sample engagement" session. Imagine Rachel asking Eric after only a few weeks of dating if it was alright to model as an engaged couple. During that session I knew that they were some day going to be married.

When Rachel called to tell me that he finally popped the question and that they were getting married in 4 months I was sooo happy! She asked me about shooting her wedding, and although I was honored that she asked, I told her that I don't do wedding photography for neither close friends or family. For me it is just too difficult to do an amazing job if I have Aunties or old college buddies wanting to talk to me all day.

So I referred a couple of photographer's names to her and Dave Jackson's name rang a bell. I told her I though he was awesome and that she should meet with him right away. One week later she had him booked.

Since then Dave and I have met for coffee and shot together while at WPPI in Las Vegas. He is a really nice guy and doesn't hold back. The great thing for me is that he allowed me to second shoot for him during Rachel and Eric's wedding.

I got some great photos... here are some of the highlights!

Published...

Three of my images I shot as a fan at the Packers vs. Seahawks playoff game were published in Community Connection News (CCN)- a Milwaukee magazine. I was surprised to find an email from an editor in my in box a few months ago. When they told me they were using my images as full page spreads I didn't really believe them...

Last week I received a large envelope with the latest printed issue of CCN Magazine. I opened right to my image. Ha! There they were three full pages of my Packers glory... The funniest thing is, I used an kit lens from an old film camera. It had a pretty wide range and I didn't care if it got damaged by snow... overall the quality is ok. But if I would have know that some of the images I shot that day were going to be full page in a magazine I might have brought some better glass!

Oh, and an editor from the magazine wants me to let you all know that the magazine is on newsstands now. You can purchase your own copy at Walgreens, Cops and Pick N' Save stores.

Enjoy!!!

Cover photo of #4 is not mine ;-)

To see more images from that game please visit my flickr stream...

Engagement Session :: Joanna & Ben

Joanna and Ben drove down from the Twin Cities to have their engagement session last weekend. It was the first time meeting the pair in person because they booked me for their July wedding over the phone after seeing my website.

The weather the morning of the shoot was cold and rainy. Luckily by the time the arrived the rain subsided. Our session started at High Cliff State Park. About 45min into the session and after learning more about the couple we decided to head downtown Appleton to do even more photos with an urban feel.

We took a break at a coffee house and chatted about their interests, their jobs and their wedding day. I love getting to know my couples!!! Joanna and Ben love life and love living in Minneapolis. One fun fact about each: Joanna is fluent in Spanish and Ben was a golf pro - he asked her to marry him in Spanish on the beach in Mexico - Awe!

Here are some of my favorite shots from the day. I cannot wait to shoot their July wedding!

I've been blogged!!!!!!!

Offbeat Bride (www.offbeatbride.com) blogged a few photos of mine from the wedding I helped shoot in San Francisco. It makes me excited to have my photos featured!!!!

Check it out for yourself!