Jessica and Ben had a beautiful winter wedding in Madison this weekend. They are a super-sweet couple who have been together for six years and were married at the Glenwood Moravian Community Church, where Ben’s grandfather had been an active member.

Jessica got dolled up at Bellaz Glow Salon, where her stylist did a beautiful job with her loose and lovely up-do pinned up with pearls.

Isn’t she gorgeous? Such a classically beautiful bride. I loved the tightly composed bright bouquets — they were nice pops of color on a snowy day.

The church was a photographer’s dream: Flooded with natural light, so open and airy. The congregation has about 100 people but Jessica and Ben drew a standing room-only crowd. It felt very warm and intimate.

Jessica and her sister toasting to the happy couple… after Ben had inadvertently left the church with his groomsmen when we were supposed to be taking couples photos. She tracked him down eventually.

I would like the record to state that I have never asked anyone to jump in the air on their wedding day. Not once. However, if you choose on your own to jump for joy, I’ll be there to capture it. Here’s Ben’s co-best man holding Jessica’s shoes after she changed into her snow boots. The things we do for (our friend’s) love.

Jessica gave her niece a taste of the cake before dinner.

Listening to Jessica’s dad’s toast at the reception. I liked how Ben looked a little nervous, but the message was very welcoming and her father seemed so happy to have him join the family.

The DJ was Nathan Foulks out of Madison and he was amazing. He mixed songs in a way I’ve never heard at weddings (see the actual turntable?) and got every generation out on the dancefloor. He doesn’t have a website, but message me if you’d like his contact info.

Thank you, Jessica and Ben, for trusting me to capture your lovely day. I had a great time with your friends and family and I can’t wait to hear how newlywed life is treating you!

And to my readers: As you can see, I’m trying out a collage format for the blog. I always hear that people want to see more photos from weddings, and I always have more I’d like to share! Let me know what you think and how it loads for you.

I was so very excited to meet Nolan, this little peanut born to a lovely couple whose wedding I photographed last spring. It doesn’t look it from these images, but he was a bit of a stinker; the session took nearly three hours, and he never slept for more than a few minutes at a time! His mom and I pulled out every trick we had, but each time it seemed like he was fast asleep he’d squirm a little and open those huge blue eyes and we’d start all over again. I think our patience paid off, though, with some beautiful photos from the first few weeks of this new little life.

It’s important to me to get the little details in newborn photo sessions. As a parent I know how quickly children grow. One day you go to put their socks on and realize they no longer have baby toes; they have the toes of a little boy. To be able to go back and see what their tiny little parts looked like when they were new — from eyelashes to toenails in crisp detail — is just priceless.

And here he is waking up again…

Thank you so much, Nolan and family, for making the trip and letting me meet your sweet little man. I can’t wait for his next session to see how much he’s grown.

Juniper is now four months old, which is so strange. In a way I can’t believe it’s gone by so quickly, but I also can’t remember a time when she wasn’t in our lives. It just feels like she’s always been there, or perhaps that she was always meant to be.

She started rolling over this week, and what my sister lovingly termed her “male pattern baldness” is subsiding, so everything is right on track.

Anyway, with a baby in my house, and friends and clients having babies left and right, I’ve got a little bit of baby-photo fever. And so I’m happy to announce the Great Baby Give-Away of Ought 10. Wait, that makes it sound like I’m giving away babies. Let’s try this again.

The Great Baby Session Give-Away of Ought 10.

I was planning to give away five free baby photo sessions between now and March 31, but two were snatched up right away, so three spots remain. If you or someone you know has a baby between 0 and 12 months who’s in need of some fresh, modern, fun infant photos, please call or email me for details. You’ll receive a free session and a very generous discount on any prints you order. And you’ll help me with my nearly insatiable baby fix, so it’s a win-win.