http://www.craigjohn.com/ Craig John Photography Blog en-us http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=113 http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=113 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:14:00 GMT
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View This Entire Post > ]]> http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=108 http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=108 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:07:00 GMT Whistling Straits
Reception: Whistling Straits
Catering: Destination Kohler
Event Director: Trina Moynihan
Florist: Rhonda Graf - Destination Kohler
Cake: The American Club

HELLO! It's my favorite venue time. I say this every time I photograph a wedding at Whistling Straits, and I'll definitely say it again. Wisconsin weddings just don't get any better than what you get at Whistling Straits. Sure there may be weddings with more sparkle and glitz: but there's a special intimacy that's incomparable from this little slice of Heaven along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Marquette and Brad's wedding was just that: intimate and fabulous. They also may have had the best wedding day of the year. It was partly cloudy with gorgeous blue skies, wonderfully cool and not a drop of humidity. I was half tempted to drop my cameras, grab my sticks, and hit the links. ...Oh heck no, I love wedding photography way too much. ..And when you get to spend an entire day with such wonderful people as Marquette and Brad, it's impossible for me not to love what I do. :)

Much love,

c

View This Entire Post > ]]> http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=107 http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=107 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:09:00 GMT Groom For Men
Ceremony: Saint Hedwigs Roman Catholic Church
Reception: Women's Club of Wisconsin

Another gorgeous wedding, a gorgeous bride and a fabulous day. Alison and Matt's Milwaukee wedding has to be one of the most laid back, non-stressful wedding days I've ever photographed. ...And that says a lot, considering most of my weddings are pretty easy going. Seriously; the guys went to a salon (Groom for men) to get spiffed up. Yes, you read that right. Matt took the guys to get pampered before the wedding. Now I have to HIGHLY recommend all guys stop in, relax and get yourself professionally cleaned up the morning of your wedding day. Feeling a bit left out, I was on the verge of packing my camera gear in the car, jumping on a chair, and having a hot towel wrapped around my face. OH! That looked awesome. ...Dare I say, if I ever get a clean shave, I'll look 12 years old. …No one is going to trust a 12 year old to shoot their wedding.

The last time I visited St. Hedwigs it was during an overcast day in May; so the natural light was a bit dim, and we relied on the overhead lights. It made for a bit more moody atmosphere, which I certainly do appreciate. Not this time. Alison and Matt's wedding was wonderfully sunny, so the Church was filled with wonderful natural light, and it really made the ceremony shine. That beautiful sunlight also made for gorgeous portraits and a little wedding day picnic at the Joan of Arc Chapel.

The the creme de la creme? The reception was held at the Women's Club of Wisconsin - SUCH a gorgeous space for a wedding venue filled with TONS of character. This was my first visit, and I'm anxious to return. The WCoW has tons of windows filling the space with an abundant amount of beautiful natural light. This may be the first time I never pulled a flash to shoot the dances. It was such a beautiful wedding day in all aspects.

Much love to Alison and Matt; enjoy your new life together........in Alaska. I'm already planning my visit :)

c

View This Entire Post > ]]> http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=106 http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=106 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:56:00 GMT Dynamic Events, Inc.
Ceremony: St. John's Noble Victory Memorial Chapel
Reception: Chenequa Country Club
Florist: The Flower Garden
Wedding Cake: The Cake Lady
Chocolates: Indulgence Chocolatiers
Music: Dangerous Mike Music LLC
Limousine: Gallant Knight Limousine

I love it when I know the Milwaukee area wedding I'm covering as a photographer has been meticulously planned by the staff at Dynamic Events. The expectation is a vibrantly designed and well orchestrated event, from sunrise to midnight. Lauren and Mark's fabulous wedding never disappointed. Hint! Hint! Hire a wedding planner.

There is only one reason I love this job so much, and it keeps me coming back again and again. It's the fact I really love the people I get to work with. I feel entirely blessed to have been the wedding photographer chosen to spend an entire day with Lauren's and Mark's incredibly loving family — they have something truly special happening in their little neck of the woods.

Rather than trying to find words to explain it all, I invite you to take this long peak into their wedding day so you can "feel it". It was so much fun.

Much love and many blessings to all,

c

PS, Dangerous Mike and crew, you brought the house down. :)

View This Entire Post > ]]> http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=105 http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=105 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:11:00 GMT Blessed Sacrament Parish
Reception: Overture Center
Music: North Coast Orchestra

What a scorcher — it's a theme happening over the span of about six weddings this summer. On my drive from Milwaukee to Madison, I was watching the temperature steadily climb into the 80's by 9 am. Ouch. I'm glad I packed plenty of water and bananas for this heatwave.

Once in Madison, I hung out with the girls at the Concourse Hotel. As with nearly every wedding, there's a great amount of activity surrounding the girls as they get ready. Best of all, they're always at ease in front of the camera — as if they were born for this very day. I know. Shocking, isn't it? LOL

What's funny, is when I hang out with the guys and they have no idea what to do when there's a photographer in the house. Jack's house became the epitome of "dudes getting squirrelly in front of the camera". It's pure entertainment. That aside, I loved hanging out in the back yard as Jack and his brother were warming up in the bullpen before the wedding. So cool.

When I finally made it to the church, I set up one the best "first looks" I've photographed to date, but mostly because it was in one the most unlikely of places. ...Outside of a Catholic grade school. Wait until you see this crazy-cool wall. The light was sublime.

I also experienced a first during this gorgeous Madison, Wisconsin summer wedding. We a had a groomsman go down (fainted) just as the ceremony was underway. From the back of the church, I heard a little thud; and as I was peering through my camera, I noticed the bride and groom looking to the right. After a few minutes, we went on with the proceedings, and I still didn't understand what happened. I figured someone may have passed out, but I had no idea it was a groomsman. ...So that was exciting. LOL At least he was up and at 'em by the time we the congregation was exchanging the sign of peace. :)

We hit the Arboretum for a few portraits after the ceremony. During the drive I stared at the outside temp reading. 99. I did my best not overheat the wedding party, so I kept things a bit short and simple. We already had one go down, and I didn't want to be responsible for any others. :) However, in my never ending quest to go forth and be a photographer, I took Melissa and Jack on a little stroll to the trees where the shade made the heat a little more bearable, and the light was beautiful. Cha-ching!

Then there was the Overture Center. It was my first visit, and I want more. A LOT more. Melissa was correct. I believe my style of photography was taylor made for the modern lines and abundant natural light of this dramatic venue. I'll the let the photography do the rest of the talking.

Many thanks to Melissa, Jack and their family and friends for inviting me to be a part of their special day. It was such a fabulous wedding from beginning to end. :)

Much love,

c


PS. I hope the little flower girl is doing well. :)

View This Entire Post > ]]> http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=104 http://www.craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=104 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:00:00 GMT Visual Changes Salon and Spa
Ceremony: St. Patrick Parish
Reception: Stoney Creek Inn

There's always a wedding that holds a place near and dear to my heart. In 2010, it was photographing my niece's wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In 2011, it was shooting my grade school teacher's daughter's wedding in Onalaska, Wisconsin. And not only in Onalaska, but the very Church in which I grew up attending CCD. While it was a long drive from Milwaukee, and it was intolerably hot at times — like every time I stepped outside — it was entirely worth the effort.

While I grew up in Onalaska, in a sense this was an entirely new area for me to shoot wedding — something I fully enjoy. I love trying to do something a bit different, and doing my best to avoid the cliché locations every city seems to possess. Jordy and bobbie put their trust in me; so instead of heading to Riverside Park, I opted for the tall grassy fields between the bluffs around Bluebird Springs Campground area. Sorry to Jordy's brother, who lost his sun glasses in the Jurassic Parkesque grass. Please take solace in knowing, no one else will ever find those Ray Bans. :^\ ...We also made a quick stop at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse; a place where both Jordy and Bobbie practically grew up. AHHHH! Another jungle gym. :)

What makes these days even better, is when you get to work with such awesome people and their incredibly wonderful family and friends. And knowing Jordy's mom, I expected nothing less than a truly special heartfelt wedding day.

Much love to Jordy and Bobbie, their family and friends for inviting me to photograph your wonderful day.

c

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