Simon McConico | Valo Photography

Okay, so maybe I am not Tyra, but I sure can smile with my eyes. (If you don’t know what that is all about, I suggest you watch any season of Americas Next Top Model). While I am not a supermodel, I am looking for folks to model for me.  I am not looking for the most amazing and stunning person in the world, I am looking for the average Joe and Jane.  I shoot photos for iStock, which is a stock photo agency and am always looking for regular people to photograph to add to my portfolio.

If you would like to be a model for me, please shoot me an email at simon (at) valophotography.com and I will put you into my model database.  I always give photos retouched photos to the people who model for me in exchange for their time.  I am also always looking for great locations to use: Office Buildings, Spa’s, Gyms, Coffee Shops, etc. so if you know of any of those, please let me know as well.  So until then, keep smiling with your eyes.

1 Comment | In: Stock Photography, Uncategorized | tags: milwaukee, milwaukee wisconsin, simonmcconico, Stock Photography. | #

I love pictures. I love taking them, editing them, and printing them. I love showing them and giving them to people. There is something about catching a moment and putting it on paper. This last Saturday I went on a photo walk with some of my Flickr friends. (Flickr is fantastic for people from pros, to moms with cameras) We have been going on photowalks for about 4 years now and it has been great to meet new people and talk with other people who are passionate about pictures.

We met up at a place called Wolskie’s, which, if your from Milwaukee, you have probably seen their bumper stickers around town. From there we walked around Brady Street taking photos of places and people and ended at a place called the Nomad. There were lots of great photos taken and conversations had. If you shoot, want to shoot, or have fingers and a camera, you should come out to the next photo walk. To get more info, join flickr and then join the Cream City: Milwaukee group.

1 Comment | In: Random Shoots | tags: flickr, milwaukee, milwaukee wisconsin, photowalk, simonmcconico, street photography, wisconsin. | #

Madison is crazy after a Badgers game. Not to mention when the Badgers lose. To the Hawkeyes. Granted, this was good news for Kevin and Sarah. Call it an early wedding present for the two Hawkeyes that were getting married that day in Madison.

The setting: The Orpheum

The Orpheum was a really cool venue. Really dark… but really cool.  Lots of texture and lots of space. Those always make for fun photos.  Jake and I went up to Madison a few hours early from Milwaukee to shoot an engagement session for Nick and Dana who are getting married at the same place next year.  After the shoot we got some lunch then it was time to get our wedding shoes on. (I don’t really have wedding shoes, although I did wear pink and white chucks when shooting my cousins wedding)

There were lots of cool touches to the wedding that made it very personal and fun to shoot.  Sarah had her mother and grandmothers dress on display as well as their stories for people to check out.  The bouquets were made out of different herbs and smelled amazing.  After they said I Do and kissed, Sarah’s dad busted out a guitar and Kevin serenaded her on the steps of the stage.  It was a very warm and fun wedding to shoot even though it was chilly outside.  I am so glad that we got a chance to be a part of these two Hawks special day.

3 Comments | In: Weddings | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/, madison, madison wisconsin, milwaukee photography, milwaukee wedding photographer, milwaukee wisconsin, orpheum theatre, Photography, photos, the orpheym, Valo, Valo Photography, valophotography, wedding, wedding photographer, wedding photography, wedding photos, wisconsin, wisconsin photography, wisconsin wedding photography. | #

Oh my, oh my, oh me… Again, I can’t express how much I love shooting weddings of people who have a personal flair to everything that they do.  People who infuse their personality into everything from the vows to the shoes to the drinks to the wedding party.

Shawn and Cassie’s wedding had all of their awesomeness infused into one giant day which has now turned into one giant blog post.  I loved everything from the Chuck Taylors that the grooms men wore to the Crazy Booth that is going to be tough to top in 2010.

The wedding was at the Eisner Museum in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, which has tons of really great places to take photos.  After the ceremony we went running around the Third Ward taking tons of photos, tripping on things, and dropping bridesmaids. (Wasn’t as fatal as it sounds)  From there, the Ceremony rocked and the Crazy Booth was brought.  By the end of the night I was exhausted, but had such a fun time shooting and capturing an amazing party for two amazing people.  Congrats Shawn and Cassie.

(now on to the photos which is why you are looking at the blog anyways)

2 Comments | In: Weddings | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, eisner museum, historic third ward, milwaukee, milwaukee photography, milwaukee wedding photographer, milwaukee wisconsin, Photography, photos, simonmcconico, Valo, Valo Photography, wedding, wedding photography, wedding photos, wisconsin, wisconsin photography, wisconsin wedding photography, www.eisnermuseum.org/. | #

There are not many words that can describe these photos. Well… by not many, I mean none.

Oh. My. Lord. These are divine. Jowels.

Yeah… Shawn and Cassie were so much fun… pretty much love them. To be able to shoot for clients like them is a pleasure.

I know that was a mutha load of photos, but hope it was worth it.

p.s. pretty sure the booth makes the reception killer (well, your DJ betta be rockin it, but whateva)

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Shoot me some love: simon (at) valophotography.com

3 Comments | In: Crazy Booth | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, milwaukee, milwaukee photography, milwaukee wedding photographer, milwaukee wisconsin, Photography, simonmcconico, Valo, Valo Photography, wedding photographer, wedding photography, wisconsin, wisconsin photography, wisconsin wedding photography. | #

Before I leave to spend Turkey day with my folks in MN, here is a lil something for you until next week:

You can check out their E-Session HERE and HERE

No Comments | In: Weddings | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, milwaukee, milwaukee photography, milwaukee wedding photographer, milwaukee wisconsin, Photography, Valo, Valo Photography, wedding photography, wedding photos, wisconsin, wisconsin photography, wisconsin wedding photography. | #

Matt and Krista are awesome!  It was so much fun shooting their wedding at the Milwaukee County War Memorial.  The light was great, the people were fun, and the wedding was beautiful.  Matt is a cancer survivor and friend and it was a great honor for me to document this day for him.  Jake, Nicole, and I shot photos, danced a bit, and rocked the Crazy Booth all night long.  Enjoy the images, you two are great!

3 Comments | In: Weddings | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, Lake Michigan, milwaukee, milwaukee county war memorial, milwaukee photography, milwaukee wedding photographer, milwaukee wisconsin, Photography, simon mcconico, simonmcconico, Valo, Valo Photography, wedding, wedding photography, wisconsin, wisconsin photography, wisconsin wedding photography. | #

I don’t have words for this type of stuff… just look at the photos.

Shooting weddings makes  you really thirsty

And, I guess it also makes you a little crazy

Cuvee, a super swag place is a great location to have your reception. Great staff and a really great environment.  You can check out the full wedding post on My Blog and Jakes Blog.

No Comments | In: Crazy Booth | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, Crazy Booth, cuvee, funny, funny photos, milwaukee, milwaukee wisconsin, Photography, wedding photography, wisconsin photography, wisconsin wedding photography. | #

Awesome light. Awesome location. Awesome senior. 2010 ain’t messin around!

3 Comments | In: Senior Photos | tags: canon 5d mark 2, highschool photos, highschool portraits, milwaukee, milwaukee senior photography, milwaukee senior photos, milwaukee wisconsin, Photography, Senior Photos, senior portraits, simonmcconico, Valo, Valo Photography, wisconsin, wisconsin photography. | #

Oh my my my my… I love shooting weddings. Rob and Christina’s wedding just continued to keep me on my toes.  Tons of home made things, small details, and lots of fantastic vendors to work with.

Rob and Christina contacted me from New York where they live and work.  Both of them have been involved in theater and the arts and it was evident at their wedding.  Christinas dress was handmade and so were all of the flowers.  The flowers were paper and crafted by St. Jude’s Creations and looked fantastic.  The wedding was at the beautiful Villa Terrace, which is an awesome location overlooking like Michigan.

I love to see the different emotions that people go through at a wedding… from the nervous first steps to the first kiss.

They had an adaptation of one of my favorite author/illustrator, Shel Silverstein’s work “The Missing Piece Meets The Big O”

We had some fantastic light for photos after the ceremony.

Of all the great personal touches, this one takes the cake. Rob is a big Back to the Future fan and Christina surprised him with renting a Delorean (from TimeMachineRental.com) to go from the Villa Terrace to the reception site, Cuvee.  Pretty much the most fantastic thing ever.

Heck… I even got in on the action.

The cake was from Eat Cake and was not only gorgeous, but was the best smelling cake ever. I could smell the berries before the cake was even cut.

Later that night we went out to the car and took more photos and had a great time quoting lines from Back to the Future and attempting to go 88mph. Didn’t work…

A big thanks to Dynamic Events for helping pull everything together and make this a great night for Rob and Christina.  There are more photos coming from the Crazy Booth… I’ll post those in just a bit… too crazy for my computer to handle.

7 Comments | In: Weddings | tags: @jakedavidrohde, back to the future, canon 5d mark 2, cuvee, delorean, dynamic events, eat cake, midwest wedding, midwest wedding photography, milwaukee, milwaukee wedding photos, milwaukee wisconsin, paper flowers, simonmcconico, st. jude's creations, villa terrace, wedding, wedding photography, wedding photos, Weddings, wisconsin wedding photography. | #