Greg & Colleen

I’ve known the Sankowski family for a very long time.  Colleen and I were on the same baseball team when we were younger.  I think I was always jealous of how she always got to play the good positions but I am pretty sure that had something to do with her mom being our coach and nothing to do with that I am the most uncoordinated person in the world.  

Beautiful Bride - Colleen

Colleen and her mom

Colleen and her dad - this photo makes me cry every time I see it

I was so honored to be asked to photograph Colleen and Greg’s wedding because the Sankowski family has been a big part of my life.  I can’t think about high school without memories of being at their house hanging out in the bonus room.

I love how cute they are.

During high school we would visit Sankowski’s at their home every Wednesday.  While, the guys would play cards with Mr and Mrs, the girls would be in the bonus room watching Dawnson’s Creek, secretly hoping that we would one day find a boy that loved us as much as Dawson loved Joey. 

Colleen found her Dawson.  

I love Colleen and Greg together.  They always seem to be laughing at some inside joke that no one else would understand.  I love how happy they make each other.  I love how they can look at each other and start laughing.  I love how Greg always kisses Colleen on the forehead.  

This was my favorite part of the whole ceremony.  It was at the  'peace be with you' part of the ceremony and Colleen and Greg couldn't share their first kiss as husband and wife yet.  They hugged, Greg kissed her head, and Colleen said 'I just want to kiss you'  I thought it was so cute that she couldn't wait any longer.

Colleen and Greg’s wedding started out as a beautiful sunny day but just after the ceremony there was a torrential downpour waiting for us and our outdoor photo session.  Alicia and I had to quickly come up with plan B and put it into action.  We went to the bowling alley, which for a lot of people, probably seems like a strange idea but Alicia and I knew how amazing the photos would look against the cosmic lights of Thunder bowl.  Colleen didn’t let the enormous amount of rain ruin her wedding day and by the time we got to the reception the sun was shinning again.  

We had so much fun with this crazy bridal party

They are so cute!

Colleen and Greg, I am so happy for you.  I wish you nothing but happiness together for the rest of your lives.  Congratulations!!

To view Colleen and Greg's wedding Photos go here... 

To view Colleen and  Greg's slideshow find us on facebook here

When music sounds, gone is the earth I know

Music

When music sounds, gone is the earth I know,

And all her lovely things even lovelier grow;

Her flowers in vision flame, her forest trees

Lift burdened branches, stilled with ecstasies.

When music sounds, out of the water rise

Naiads whose beauty dims my waking eyes,

Rapt in strange dreams burns each enchanted face,

With solemn echoing stirs their dwelling-place.

When music sounds, all that I was I am

Ere to this haunt of brooding dust I came;

And from Time's woods break into distant song

The swift-winged hours, as I hasten along.

Walter de la Mare

Korbie came all the way from Nashville to have her photos taken by Erin and I. We pretended like this didn't flatter us, but we would be liars if we said it didn't. We knew the pressure was on. When someone drives 486 miles just for you, it makes you nervous. Erin and I talked all week about how we could do something worth driving that distance for. We knew the expectations were high. We started with her music as our first inspiration. The way the notes ebbed and flowed from her finger tips out of the piano in "not tonight" was what we kept coming back to. We wanted to make images that fit the smooth and soft sound of the Piano but also the strong and soulful tones of Korbie's voice.
We went thrifting (my idea) for ideas when by a complete stroke of luck we found a lonely organ for sale. We knew instantly this was what we had been searching for.
Getting the organ from the thrift store to the creek was a feat all of its own that required many helping hands. I made my dad pick it up from the store and then we had to switch cars once he got the organ and we got back from shooting down town. We knew Korbie wanted some down town Chicago photos and the grand finale was going to be the organ in the creek. I assured them it would be worth the hour drive and hassle of carrying a car load of crap.
we ran a bit behind schedule downtown and we were losing light fast. I literally drove on the shoulder of the highway at 60+ mph with Erin holding her heart and praying next to me. And Korbie and her brave manager following behind us looking worried. I called Phill half way to our destination to see if he would help unload the organ to make it go faster. we were legitimately dealing with maybe 20 minutes worth of shooting time with good light and Korbie and Jonathon were leaving the next day to return to Nashville. It had to work. We had no other options.

We pulled up to the creek unloaded quickly and started shooting immediately.

When Korbie stepped into the water, the rush of the water fountain behind her was loud enough that we had to yell to her to give her directions. Erin bravely put both feet into the creek and walked in despite her fears of falling with her camera and for those of you have seen Erin working know this was a valid concern. (She falls a lot) I was proud of her.

Korbie turned around, barefoot, and playing the organ silently, Erin and I were breathless. We knew that all we had to do was capture this moment exactly as it was, because it was extraordinary without any of our help. we both paused for a second to take the moment in. the sun was setting. the light was blue, the water was cool, the excitement was overwhelming. It seemed as though we couldn't shoot as fast as our minds were racing. We finished the shoot in record time, as the sun left the sky and the air turned blue and haunting.

As Erin and I drove home at 45 MPH when compared to the rest of the day it seemed like a crawling pace.  we couldnt stop talking abou the shoot. We were so excited about the magic we had witnessed unfold before our eyes. We could only describe it by saying we felt like there was music playing when there was none. And Erin said it was worth me almost killing her on the shoulder of the road for it.

Happy Fathers Day

the first time you dance with your dad, is probably at a daddy-daughter dance in grade school. You get dressed up, you stand in your school gym with all of your friends, while all the dads stand on the wall and talk about t-ball scores or ballet recitals.
Eventualy the slow song plays and all the dads make their way to the dance floor knowing that they can avoid dancing for fast songs but the time has come for them to dance with their daughter with a room full of other grown men. And all though it never crosses your mind in grade school, it crosses his. That one day he will be dancing with you in a room full of people and giving you away, and on that day you won't have to stand on his feet anymore
There is nothing quite like a relationship between a daddy and a daughter. He's the first man you give your heart too and the man you run to when someone else breaks it.
We are so thankful for our fathers. for their support, and sense of humor, for their encouragement and hard work.
This father's day we wanted to take a moment to thank all the fathers of our brides, as well as our own fathers for, loving us, for lending their strength and being brave enough to watch us step out on our own and for not only dancing with us, but giving us a reason to dance.


Happy Fathers Day and Thank You.