Jake Rohde | Valo Photography

We just met Ashleigh and Brandon, and they wanted to get their engagement session done before the end of the year, so they could use their images in their wedding planning for things like their Save the Dates… Simon and I are all about shooting whenever, so we were down. Ashleigh and Brandon braved the cold and we made some great images down by Lake Michigan, Alterra at the Lake (one of their first date spots), Brady Street, North and Farwell by the Oriental Theatre, and we ended the day warming up at Von Trier with some tasty beers. These guys are awesome… and here are a few of my favorite shots from the cold, but very fun, shoot with them:

2 Comments | In: Engagment Session | tags: Alterra, Brady Street, Engagement Photographers, engagement session, Lake Michigan, Lakefront, Oriental Theatre, Photography, Von Trier. | #

The day’s schedule was tight, and we didn’t have a lot of time for the family formals. So I set up an impromptu photo booth at the reception so we could grab a few more group shots. Whenever you mix a photo-booth with Valo, though, you always end up with a Crazy Booth!

The night started out with casual human pyramids, which quickly escalated into a more formal and much more serious round of human pyramids, ending in an epic 10 person pyramid with no one else but the bride, Gretchen, on top!

1 Comment | In: Wedding Photography | tags: Discovery World, Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Pier Wisconsin, Valo Photography, Wedding Photographers, WI. | #

Jen and Will are from the East Coast, but were getting married in Wisconsin… On a boat! They met each other when they were helping to build the very boat they were married on, The Denis Sullivan. The day started out great, when we went to make some portraits and noticed they were both wearing hiking boots! AWESOME! When asked if they would mind walking out into a field, they just looked down at the boots and we all laughed. I think at one point I heard Jen say “Oh cool, my dress is getting a little dirty…” as grasshoppers were flying out from under her as she walked through the field… I knew this was going to be a good day. From there the day only got better… Wedding on the Denis Sullivan, Reception at Pier Wisconsin with a ton of handmade AWESOME-NESS, custom napkins for people to take home, a photo place-card wall where people matched the photo on their card to the photo on each table, prairie grass center pieces that fit perfectly with the surrounding of Pier Wisconsin, KITE FLYING, Frogwater, awesome food by Bartolottas, amazing family and friends, 7 CAKES (Simon’s favorite part, I think), great weather, and sweet sweet light…

Here are some of my favorites from Simon and I throughout the day:

5 Comments | In: Wedding Photography | tags: Denis Sullivan, Discovery World, Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Pier Wisconsin, Valo Photography, Wedding Photographers, WI. | #

Today’s wedding was a blast. And an early one as well. I met the girls at the salon and Simon met the guys at the hotel getting ready… all around 8:30am. I have to say I am a fan of morning/afternoon weddings… the light is great all day long. The weather today was less than perfect, but being as awesome as they were, that did not even put a dent into their day, or their smiles. Erin and James accepted it for what it was, and the day went on.

Pier Wisconsin / Discovery World was a great venue as well. The light floods every inch of that place with amazing beauty…

4 Comments | In: Wedding Photography | tags: Discovery World, Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Pier Wisconsin, WI. | #

I picked up an old 1937 Retina II a while back, and just got around to testing it out. I love old cameras, the inner workings, the lenses. This camera is completely manual, meaning it has no batteries, no computers, nothing buy glass, metal and film.

I went down to the beach to test it out:

That last shot is me with the camera. You gotta do the obligatory self portrait in a mirror with the new camera

Whats the oldest camera you have ever used?

No Comments | In: Personal Work | tags: ABS, beach, Fine Art, Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Personal work, staying fresh, surfing, the lake, water, WI, Wisconsin. | #

Meaning of “Sara” – Princess. In the Bible, Sara was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. Her name was originally Sarai (quarrelsome), but God commanded that her name be changed to Sara before the birth of her son

Meaning of “Chris” – Diminutive of Christian: Follower of Christ.

Together a Christian Princess… sounds pretty good to me. In the short time I have known Sara and Chris it seems to fit. Their smiles and laughter are more than warm, they are as genuine as it gets… and they didn’t let up for a second during our engagement session with them. I can not wait to photograph their wedding in just a few months.

Here are my favorites from both Simon and I:

No Comments | In: Engagment Session | tags: @jakedavidrohde, @simonmcconico, e-session, engagement session, Jake Rohde, Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Simon McConico, Wedding Photographers, Wedding Photographs, WI, Wisconsin. | #