A New Year for Sydney!

This is the last picture I will take of Syd this year. She is obviously contemplating something evil while staring at the gingerbread ornament, but let's pretend that she is thinking about all the great things she will accomplish in the new year.

Kelly and I are super excited about this coming year, and what it holds for our family and business. So with this image...one of the best parts of my life this year...I lift my glass, and cheer you all into 2007.

Happy New Year!!!

January Savings!!!

Well it's a new year (almost), and Kelly and I have decided to offer a special for our weddings. I know what your thinking...Mark doesn't do specials...well this one time. We are launching our new site and logo, and I have decided to cave.

So, for all you Christmas engagees...first come first serve. Just for the bookings in the month of January...and just this once.

Randy, Pam, Alaina, Tom, and Kelly

We spent the afternoon with a great family who were all home for the holidays. Alaina, Tom, and Kelly were all home on break from their respective colleges so they took the opportunity to have some family photos made. Here are a couple of fun shots from the day. We had a good time and finished off the shoot with some toasting. Here's to a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Bekah's Sweet Bags!

Bekah Worley ,TC's wife, is turning out these unbelievable hand bags/purses/laptop bags. She made one for Kelly that was super sweet, and we had to have one for sydney too. She makes them from recycled material and hardware; and they are an American made product, which is hard to come by these days. You can buy one already made at her store, or spend a little more and have something custom for yourself.

Check out her online store here

Virginia

We just got back from our trip to Virginia! My mom and dad's family all live in the southwest part of Virginia, and we were finally able to attend the annual Christmas parties. I love showing off Sydney to all the relatives, and remembering my childhood days. My Aunt Kate was our host while we were there, and really enjoyed staying with her. I could go on for hours, but here are some pictures that tell a thousand words. The first image, is a view of powell valley from the highway. The next image is the sunrise from Birch Knob in Clintwood, and the last image is the entrance to a coal mines.

Krystal and Matt

This may be a record. Two posts in one day! This afternoon we spent some time exploring downtown Appleton with a super cool couple. I am just a little bit jealous of Appleton's booming downtown. We had a great time, even stopped traffic to get the shot as you will see in the slideshow. Krystal and Matt are getting married next month. Good luck to you both as you handle the craziness of the holidays coming up and finishing your wedding plans. We are looking forward to your beautiful winter wedding.

Krystal and Matt's E-session

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Leather Craftsmen

I wanted to take some time and show off our incredible LC ablums. Kelly does a marvelous job on the layout, and Leather Craftsmen does our binding. The party shot you see down below is out of an 11x14 album so the spread is actually 22x14...that's a huge print for an album. We also do Willow and Asuka books, and might add more next year. You have to understand that these are family heirlooms that will be handed down for generations, and they sometimes represent the best collection of family photos a home might have. We take our albums very seriously, and every one of our clients have been astounded by their beauty.

Sorry about all the images, but I had a hard time narrowing it down to these.

The puppies are not ours!

Just thought I would share our Christmas card photo this year. The pups are schnoodles, and they belong to Sharon our makeup artist. Sydney loves puppies, so she was having a very good day.

I'm Obsessed!!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a hobby jumper. Now, you have to realize that for the past couple of years sailing has been my passion, and it still is; but since I no longer have a boat to work on...I thought I should find another winter project. I found it! My dad is an excellent small engine mechanic, and TC is an authority on all things motorcicles(not motorcycles). You guessed it, the ebay god's have shined on me again. For a mere eighty bucks, I got this rusted piece of junk that is my winter project, and I had the priviledge of spending a day with my dad(which is worth way more than eighty bucks) as we went to Watertown to pick it up. The bike up top is mine, and the one below is what I want after the rebuild. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

The Massey's

How do you thank someone for introducing you to your future? In all honesty this man was only a servant of God doing what God wanted him to do...and through that, the Lord used him to change my life.

Mark Massey came to Northland (where my dad studied to become a minister), about the time I was a sophomore in high school. He volunteered as a our yearbook advisor, and the rest is history. The first camera I ever shot with was Mark's Nikon FM, a great camera; and I fell in love. He also had a darkroom for the yearbook, which I totally dug. Me and my good friend Mark Vanderwarf spent many an evening there developing, printing, and tricking each other into sniffing acetic acid(really burns your nose).

So many years later, I now have the priviledge to do family pics for the Massey's. Mark, his wife Lynn, and their five wonderful kids serve with Victory Family Ministries in Wausaukee, WI, and every time he needs a picture I'm their man. How can you pay a person back for such a gift...I have what you call a life debt.

So if the Lord had not introduced Mark into my life, I might be flying a airplane or something. The Lord has a perfect plan for each one of us, and I hope and pray that your life matches up with God's plan...cause it's the best.

Mark

Abby

We were back downtown today enjoying some of our favorites haunts. Abby was a fabulous subject with lots of skill in front of the camera. Hope you have an enjoyable senior year with many great memories. Enjoy the show!

Abby's senior session

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Molly and Nick

We had a fantastic time today exploring the Broadway district, drinking coffee and cocoa at Kavarna, and hanging out with a super fun couple. Thanks guys for treating us to the drinks (we conveniently forgot our cash) and for being great sports. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Molly and Nick's E-Session

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Trent and Erin

You never know what a wedding may bring. I was a little worried about the rain today...but we had a super duper couple that was willing to do anything to get the shot. We hauled this old chair out into the parking lot to get some great images with this cool tree that actually had leaves left. There were these fabulous cookies after the ceremony...super sweet...literally! I got to be with a lot of friends today, and that always makes for a great day. Enjoy the show.

Trent and Erin's Wedding

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Make Up

I had the opportunity to do a model shoot tonight with Sharon my makup artist. She is working on her website "facefirstmakeupartistry", and we wanted to get a good before and after picture...we got it. Sharon is the best! Thanks to all you who helped out.

Sydney the Tiger

Halloween folks...why else would we put this costume on her. She is about the cutest tiger i've ever seen. I'm not much of Halloween person myself, but that candy thing has merit.

Sydney Cam

This is my first ever movie post. I couldn't help, but share this little clip of my sweetie princess. It is a quicktime movie...so you might need to download that from apple to watch it.

Sydney On the Go

Kelley and Katy

Kelley's parents have this awesome place here in town, and we had a great time exploring. We kinda went into the neighbors fields for a few shots, and I laid in some cow remainders...how special. So anyway, we had a super cool time; and I hope this show brightens your day. Excuse me now while I go wash my shirt!

Katy and Kelley's e-session

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James and Amanda

Once again I have been lead to a new super sweet location. We did these awesome pictures at the Barkhausen Waterfowl Perserve in Suamico. The weather was great...the couple was great... and there were some great nature shots to be had...but alas I am a people photographer. Hope you guys enjoy the show!

James and Amanda e-session

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Holga

People ask me all the time if I ever take pictures just for fun, well... TC and I went on our annual sail trip this summer, and the only camera on board was a $20 medium format Holga. The Holga is a super sweet peice of plastic junk camera, that makes some incredible images. The best part is you never know how any particular image will turn out...that's why I don't shoot weddings with it. I find it humerous that TC and I have like 30,000 in our collective gear, but we always use point and shoots when we hang out.
Enjoy!

Stephen

I'm actually getting to write on my own blog again...super sweet! Kelly is running around trying to get us ready to go meet some clients, so I'm sneaking this in. Anyway, these pictures are totally awesome. Stephen and I had a great time talking about our mutual interest...photography, and hanging out all over Pembine. Enough chit chat, enjoy the show.

Stephen's Senior Pictures

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Caleb, Sarah, and Bekah

We enjoyed being in the country this weekend, and getting back to our roots in the grand town of Pembine, Wisconsin. We had malts at Mary's Place (the best chocolate malt in the world), visited the Pembine Food Depot where we spent many a lunch hour while we were in high school, and we saw quite a few cows roaming free which brings us to the picture above. Kelly wanted to get a picture of me next to the cow, but they started running away before I could properly pose so we got a nice action shot instead. Only in Wisconsin.


This weekend, we did two senior shoots. On Sunday afternoon, we did Caleb's senior pics and also took some time to get some family shots with Caleb and his sisters. Thanks to all of you for braving the super cold weather, and thanks Caleb for putting up with all the hardships of your sisters giving you a slightly hard time. I totally understand your pain. You were all a lot of fun, and we enjoyed getting to know your family better. May God bless you as you make desicions about your future.

Caleb and family

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Daniel

This was the only senior guy that I've photographed all season, so we had a good time. We toured the grand east side of Green Bay in search of some unused locations, and I think we got lucky. We also made an appearance at Cafe Mario for some coffee and sandwiches. Dan, I hope you dig these pics, I know I did.

Daniel's Senior Session

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Amber

Lately, we have been braving the elements to get the good pictures. This morning it started to rain right as we were about to head outside. Amber was a good sport though, and she didn't let it spoil the day. We kept her somewhat dry with the help of a damaged umbrella and a plastic bag. In spite of the rain, the botanical gardens were beautiful. The buildings provided some nice shelter. Amber is a senior at Bay City Baptist School, and she is hoping to study voice in college. This girl can melt your heart when she sings! We hope you enjoy your senior year and of course your slideshow.

Amber's Senior Session

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Sarah and Matt

This is Kelly writing for Mark because I am tired of his bad grammar and spelling errors. He got an A+ in photography but not in English!

Sarah and Matt came in from Minneapolis for the weekend to do their engagement session at Sarah's parent's home in Ashwaubenon. We got to meet the whole family. Sarah's sisters and their dog Lambeau were kind enough to entertain Syd for a bit. Thanks!! Matt is a chef in the cities, and Sarah is studying to be a speech pathologist. We appreciate the great cooking advice. We wish you both all the best this year as you plan your wedding and finish your schooling. Enjoy the pics!!

Sarah and Matt's E-Session

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Jessica

I was worried that it was going to be too cold to do this senior session, but we had some of Mario's hot chocolate which helped out a long the way. I really enjoyed doing some studio work since it was chilly outside, and I think they turned out pretty good. Jessica was awesome from the first frame to the last; and Valerie, Jessica's sister, helped guzzle down the chocolate at Mario's. Sharon and I had a great time, and I hope you enjoy the show.

Jessica's Senior Session

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Jan, Nadia, and Sophie

It's always good to hang out with friends, and that's exactly what we did tonight. Not only did we get some awesome images, but Bernadette made us bruschetta, spaghetti, and english tea. I supose this will be my last fall shoot this year with all the glorious colors...here comes winter!
Enjoy the show.

Jan, Nadia, and Sophie

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Jeff and Jessica

You couldn't ask for a better day for a wedding. Jess and Jeff, your wedding was beautiful. We had tons of fun shooting at Lambeau field. We even got to tour the Packer's locker room. Heritage Hill was breathtaking with the fall colors. We wish you both all the best. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your special day.

Jessica and Jeff's Wedding

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Sarah and Mike

You could not ask for a better fall day. We were back at Bayshore Park this evening exploring unchartered territory with Sarah and Mike. We walked along some of the cliffs, and even checked out some climbing routes and caves. We had a lot of fun as I am sure you will see from the pics. Thanks for a great time. Enjoy the show!!

Sarah and Mike's E-Session

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Kathryn

Bright and early this morning in spite of some serious gusts of wind, we managed to shoot a sweet senior session. Kathryn is a senior volleyball player at Ashwaubenon. Her team is 8 and 3. Congrats and best of luck for an awesome finish to your season and your senior year. Thanks for the great images and thanks to Cheryl and Randy for chasing after Sydney who came along.

Kathryn's Senior Pics

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Katie and Chad

We took a nice drive up to Crivitz today to do an engagement session with Chad and Katie. Chad is the first professional golfer that I've met, and Katie is in school to become a photographer. I hope this session won't make her change her major. They have a wonderful place on the lake and an awesome park nearby. Just being out in the woods with all the great colors and good company makes for a great afternoon.

Chad and Katie's e-session

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Lisa and Brad

Tonight we had a great e-session at St. Norbert's here in town. We laughed a lot, and I needed it because of having pneumonia for a week or so. Laughter is the best medicine you know! Congratulations you two, and I hope you enjoy the show.

Brad and Lisa's Engagement Session

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Nicole and Jeremy

I was in one of my favorite towns today, Sturgeon Bay, shooting this super cool wedding. Jeremy and Nicole had an awesome horse and carriage to travel the town in style. The reception was at the yacht club, which I enjoyed, and the weather was gorgeous. See for yourself!

Nicole and Jeremy's Wedding

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Jeff and Jessica

Two words...Crazy Kids. This is an awesome couple who knows how to have fun. Maribel Caves...who would a thunk it; this place was so beautiful. So Jeff and Jessica were the ultimate location scouts and found this place south of Green Bay. All I can say is we had a great time, and I am totally looking forward to their wedding is at Heritage Hill in less than a month. Check out this awesome show!

Jeff and Jessica's e-session

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Arriba

Yes, the rumors are true...Arriba is for sale. How could that be you may ask? Time and money...we don't have the time for her anymore, and we'll we could always use some extra money around here. The honest truth is that Sydney is too young to be on such a small boat, so consequently I sailed alone alot this summer. Does that mean we are in the market for a larger boat...Kelly says we are not.

So if you know someone who wants the coolest little sail boat ever built...give me a ring.

For Sail: 1977 San Juan 21 MKII

Warning! Ranting and Raving Ahead

I just received this little booklet from a professional photography association that talks about the dilemma that professionals are in. The dilemma that Mr. Oles speaks about is the onslaught of digital cameras and how consumers are taking their own portraits instead of having a professional do it. He also talks about ways to get customers back into "the fold". Not one time does he mention making friends with your clients along the way. No wonder this guy is losing his shorts!

Let me first say that there is no dilemma. Secondly, only a complete idiot would try to do there own portraits. As far as weddings go, if you are inclined to let uncle joe do the pictures for your wedding; your not looking for good product or service anyway! The bottom line is: You go out to a nice restaurant, not for just food, but also for the atmosphere and service. You hire a photographer, not just for great images, but also for atmosphere and service. This is a relationship business...not a product business, and the relationships that we build with our clients will keep us busy little photographers until we can't click anymore. Once again I must say that if you don't make a new friend or friends on every shoot, you should think about a career change.

End of Rant

mark

Vanessa and Scott

Talk about a great day...yesterday rocked! You couldn't ask for better friends and family to hang around all day. Sometimes I can't believe that people actually pay me to do what I love. There were so many awesome images we had to cut from the show, but don't forget that they will be up on pictage in a couple of weeks. Congrats Scott and Vanessa!

Vanessa and Scotts Wedding Day

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The Trip

Let me introduce a good friend of mine...TC Worley. TC is a photog in the twin cities, and every year he lowers himself to come to Wisconsin to hang with his buddy(me). We just got back from our 2nd annual sail boat trip. Three days of fun in the sun on the beautiful Green Bay. This years trip took us to Rileys Bay, and Egg Harbor...quite the trip. I actually felt relaxed for the first time in months. I hope to post some photos or video soon. Good times all around!

mark

Laura

I might just get labeled as a senior photog yet! We tried some new cool stuff last night and had a blast doing it. Once again the fabulous Sharon McMahon did a standup job on Laura's hair and makeup, and sydney did a good job of distracting everyone. I hope you enjoy your senior year and these super cool pics.

Laura's Show

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