Simon McConico | Valo Photography

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. | #

Some weddings are like a party. Brent and Christina’s wedding was most definitely a party.  From the moment we got there to the moment we left there were crazy things happening everywhere we turned.  I love to shoot weddings that reflect the couple’s personality and where they are having a good time.

From the flowers to the dress, there were lots of things that were either handmade or given personal touches.  Christina is my cousin (Brent is now as well), and there were lots of family hands involved in the planning and execution of the wedding.  My mother made the cakes, I shot the photos, my uncles bus company provided a party bus, parts of the dress were sewn on by an aunt (if it wasn’t an aunt, it was a family member), and my Dad instructed the couple for the first dance and Father/Daughter dance.  It was great to see how everyone helped pitch in to make this day very special for Brent and Christina.

The Party  bus was out of control! So much fun!

Well… everything was nuts.

Ooo… my Mama made this cake. It was good.

My pops choreographed the First Dance and the Father Daughter dance.

My dad and sister were tearing up the dance floor.  He taught ballroom dance and she currently teaches it in Minneapolis.

There was a lot going on at the wedding and it was such a blast.  We brought out the crazy booth and you can see the photos from that here: CRAZY BOOTH

Also, if you get a chance, please vote for us here: VOTE

1 Comment | In: Weddings | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, dancing, fridley, milwaukee, minneapolis, minneapolis minnesota, minneapolis wedding photography, Photography, simonmcconico, Valo, Valo Photography, valophotography, wedding photography, wisconson wedding photography. | #

I met Ian a little over a year ago at Alterra by the lake. We met for a cup of tea and talked about his wedding in the upcoming year. Kyle was going to school in Minneapolis at the time so I didn’t get a chance to meet her until Jake and I shot their E-session earlier this year.

The wedding took place at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee. The place was fantastic and everything was perfect… other than the weather. Wisconsin throws some doozies out there and even though the wedding was in June, it was cool and rainy. The rain held off just long enough for us to get some photos out of the way and then we moved in to the beautiful facility.

The ceremony went well and the party was a lot of fun. Saz’s catered the food and they had a great Jazz trio who played during dinner. After dinner the music started and people hit the dance floor. They partied into the night and had everyone dancing. Thanks Ian and Kyle for asking Valo to be a part of your wedding!

Check out what Jake shot here on his BLOG

3 Comments | In: Weddings | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, dancing, milwaukee, milwaukee photogrpahy, milwaukee wedding photos, Saz's, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, simonmcconico, Valo, Valo Photography, valophotography, Weddings, wisconsin wedding photography. | #

I really love shooting engagement sessions for a few reasons. One, there isn’t a ton of pressure on the photographer. Two, there isn’t a ton of pressure on the couple. And three, it gives the couple a chance to see how the photographer works and gives them an opportunity to trust that the artist is going to capture them in a flattering way.

Well, Andrew and Abby needed no help from my camera or me to be flattering.  They were a great looking couple that showed up and were ready to have fun.  Jake and I thought that the Third Ward would be a good place to shoot, so we met them right by the Milwaukee Public Market.  From there we wandered around the streets, jumping on things, going in and out of alleys, and even jumping in fountains.  There were so many opportunities to make great photographs that it was hard to whittle down this post to the size that it is (and it is still big).  I am excited to shoot this couples wedding because I know it is going to be fantastic and so much fun to shoot.

3 Comments | In: E-Sessions | tags: @jakedavidrohde, canon 5d mark 2, milwaukee, milwaukee engagmenet session, milwaukee public market, milwaukee wisconsin, outside, simonmcconico, third ward, Valo, valophotography, wisconsin photogrpahy. | #

If you got a few mins you can check out this video that Jake and I are in.  Blake from Actions Talk had a chance to interview us before a shoot earlier this year.

You can find the shoot we did here and here.

And here is the video to check out:

2 Comments | In: Interesting Links | tags: @jakedavidrohde, actionstalk.com, history, interview, Photography, simonmcconico, start up business, Valo, valophotography. | #