Self Portrait | Wisconsin Photography | Work in Progress

"Looking at his 1947 photograph of a Sicilian street entertainer on stilts, he told a journalist, 'It's a metaphor of the artist; it's me, on shaky feet but above the crowd.'"  

Since I was a little girl, I have always possessed a sensitivity and awareness of the world that has given me a deep and rooted perspective.  Now, as an adult, this sensitivity is both a blessing and a curse.  I have purpose as a creative individual, but my "thin skin" inhibits me at times.  How do you withstand all the self doubt as an artist?  Or outshine the disingenuous individuals that abuse this medium for monetary gain?  I think that in all of this virtual mess, it gets really hard to remember the true value of photography.

This image titled, "Shadows Cast on Nude," is a self portrait I took last summer as part of a larger series that is still in progress.  In less than two weeks, I will be headed down to Miami to see one of the images from this series celebrated at the YoungArts Gallery.  I know that the serious tone of this post is not reflecting how truly thrilled I am for this opportunity, but please, don't be fooled! 

Goldstein Family | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Family Lifestyle Photographer

I was invited to photograph the Goldstein family by their only daughter, Barbara, whom I have worked with for a few years.  This was a rare occasion, in which her brother's family was visiting from Hawaii, and I was honored to be able to capture it!  We decided to shoot in her mother's gorgeous backyard near Glendale, with flowers in full bloom!  Her mother even cut me a bouquet to take home!  Barbara's son, Elliott, was just about to turn 2, and he was quite the character, chasing after his older cousins, tugging his grandfather's trousers or greeting his father with pure joy as he arrived from work.

Just before the session, Barb caught me parked down the road with my new puppy in tow, because my husband and I were showing our house at the time.  I had planned to leave her in the car for a majority of the session, but the Goldsteins were totally okay with keeping her in the backyard with us!  Elliott was mesmerized by her, but had to build up some courage to get close...

The session went by quickly with lots of laughs and lots of smiles.  I felt so blessed to get to know this family better in their intimate, backyard session.     

Devin + Joanna | The Rotunda | Waukesha, Wisconsin

Despite the chill in the air on this spring day, I felt an honest warmth fill the Rotunda on their wedding day last May.  You could tell that both Joanna and Devin have been greatly influenced by their families because everyone involved remained so relaxed, despite the tender emotion felt throughout.  These music lovers gravitated towards each other at a concert with friends and have stuck together through the thick and thin - Devin dove into the frozen Lake Michigan with Joanna only weeks after meeting her!  I cannot wait to watch their love continue to grow and fill those around them as it did on this special day.

Vintage Bridal with Brown Cow Vintage // Mount Mary University // Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In celebration of collaborating with some of my favorite ladies today, I wanted to 'throw back' to a vintage bridal shoot we did about a year and a half ago.  I personally designed the floral headpiece for this look.

Great success can come from combining talents and pushing boundaries.  Excitement is brewing for our themed shoot today!!  Stay tuned!

Location: Mount Mary University

Makeup and Hair: Kaley Joy Wittnek

Dress: Brown Cow Vintage

Model: Anna Werve of The Rock Agency