Red Gecko Studio

Hi, I’m Mandie…

It is an absolute blessing in this world to love what you do for a living- and I am truly blessed this way. Since beginning my journey as a wedding photographer and independent business owner, I've become completely enamoured with photographing couples on their happiest day.

If I had to pick my favorite part of the wedding day to photograph, I'd be hard pressed to choose. I love capturing the details, big and small: the dress, the shoes, the rings, the flowers, the placecards, the socks- all of the things you've brought together through months of thought and care. I love the excitement in the bride's face as she sees herself all put togehter. I love the moment the groom sees the bride for the first time. I love the last moment of the father-daughter dance. When you're dealing with people who are engulfed in love and happiness, you can't help but be happy right along with them.

I'm a giant softie and I'll admit it: I tear up at some point during every wedding I shoot. Waterproof mascara and autofocus are a must!

As a newlywed myself, I know just how much effort you've put into the orchestration of your perfect wedding day. I want to capture it for you so that you'll remember it always. So please- take a look around my blog, visit my website, and send me a message or give me a call. I look forward to hearing all about your big day and how I can be a part of it!
…and I’d LOVE to be your photographer!

Always More to Learn :: A Posing Workshop in Madison :: Wisconsin Portrait & Wedding Photographer

Monday, February 8, 2010 Posted in Random Fun

Education is priceless. There is never a point in life where you can sit back and say, “Now I know it all.” Of course this is true in any profession, including photography. As a professional photographer, it’s my job to make sure I am learning all I can to improve my art. Keeping myself aware of learning opportunities is important not only to me, but to you- my clients! I want to give my very best to my brides & grooms.

Here in Madison I’m finding that we have a wonderful network of local photographers who I can call friends. Pierre of Pierre’s Portrait Art is a great artist and dedicated to sharing his knowledge and inspiration with all of us. On Superbowl Sunday I had an amazing time attending Pierre’s workshop on posing. We got to photograph another fellow photographer and her hubby, who have been married for five years this year. They were fun to work with and did a great job of putting up with all of us!

Here are some of my images from the day, both portraits and candids of my fellow classmates and our mentor in action. Let’s start with our beautiful couple. Even a hotel hallway can provide a portrait backdrop:

Pierre’s lovely wife Anna showing us how to instruct our subjects:

Pierre in action, too – they make such a great team!

Larger workshops mean that you don’t always get the greatest angle on the subjects, but you work with what you get.

This one is absolutely my favorite from the day…

Yummy window light:

An exercise in perspective and size:

Gotta tell both sides of the story, of course!

I just adore this hallway. And ya gotta love a classmate who’s ready to go model when it counts! Thanks, Mike!

The fabulous Pierre shows off his mad posing skills!

Thank you, Pierre, for being so generous with your time and your expertise. It is photographers like you who push and enable all of us to become better photographers and business owners- and that in turn has a positive impact on all of our clients and couples! To all my friends from the workshop, I hope to see you guys again!

For details about hiring Red Gecko Studio as the photographer for your upcoming wedding, please use the Contact section of this blog! Red Gecko Studio proudly serves weddings and special events in Madison, Milwaukee, and southeastern Wisconsin. Travel to any other location in the world can always be arranged,so don’t hesitate to ask about your destination wedding! Thanks for visiting, and please take a moment to leave your thoughts as a comment!

no comments

Downtown Fun :: Meet Andy! :: Madison Portrait Photographer

Saturday, February 6, 2010 Posted in portraits

I am horribly belated in the posting of this preview, but as I’ve got one more week before I’m officially free of daytime employment once again I decided to post a quick and fun peek at one of my December portrait sessions. Meet my buddy Andy!

Andy & I met when we worked together at a local software company. I can’t believe that was over three years ago! We remained friends after I left the company, and I love reading Andy’s quirky and amusing status updates. Everyone needs one friend like Andy: lighthearted, playful, and completely genuine. His positive qualities don’t stop there- this guy has mastered the ability to create positive change and momentum in his life. Since moving to Madison, he’s fallen in love with jogging and cooking and has adopted an inspiringly healthy lifestyle. I saw our portrait session as an opportunity to document his success in this endeavor. What fun!

We met downtown at a coffee shop and chatted for quite a while before we realized that we’d better get moving! Our session was super fun. We started at the Capitol, visited the holiday tree inside, and then strolled on State Street for a bit before transferring our energy to the efforts of shopping. Fun, casual, coffee, shopping- what more could I ask for in a portrait session?

Without further ado, heeeeere’s Andy!

I loved the colors & lights in the tree in the capitol.

We wandered around inside for a while. I always love these lampposts!

We got several nice shots, but this portrait just feels the most like Andy to me. It says, “oh, hai!”

And this is Andy’s tribute to Zoolander, appropriate for his first official modeling gig:

Time to get serious.

And one last favorite from the day. You know, just hangin’ around on a ledge…

Thanks, Andy, for letting me create these portraits for you! I look forward to our next coffee and shopping meet-up on State Street.

For details about hiring Red Gecko Studio as the photographer for your upcoming wedding, please use the Contact section of this blog! Red Gecko Studio proudly serves weddings and special events in Madison, Milwaukee, and southeastern Wisconsin. Travel to any other location in the world can always be arranged,so don’t hesitate to ask about your destination wedding! Thanks for visiting, and please take a moment to leave your thoughts as a comment!

no comments

Another Year, Big Plans, & New Shoes :: A Birthday Post

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Posted in Personal, Random Fun

Today is a day that has been filled with some of my favorite things. I ate my favorite things (sushi and chocolate!) and I spent time with some of my favorite people. I must say that today was a wonderful little birthday. Leading up to today, I’ve been a tad unsure of what to think. I’m now officially much closer to 30 than to 25, and I’ve been a legal adult for a decade. Weird! Despite all of the things I’ve been through and accomplished – getting a degree, getting married, buying a house, starting a business – I still don’t feel “grown up.”

A few days ago, I realized one thing about this birthday that makes me very happy. In some capacity or another, photography has officially been my preferred method of artistic expression for HALF MY LIFE. I find it somewhat amazing to have done or been any one thing for half of a lifetime. What started as a class I took in school just 14 years ago, at the age of 14, has now become my daily passion and my career.

It is with this milestone in mind that I step into this new year of my life with a barrage of emotions and ideas. This year, I will grow my business. I will hone my craft. I will attend my first conferences and workshops as a professional photographer and entrepreneur. I will do my absolute best work for each bride and groom who have entrusted me with the documentation of their special and unique wedding day. I will meet new people. I will give my all. I may even write a book.

My birthday is a day that I’ve come to see as an excuse to splurge a little on myself. This year, I thought it appropriate to splurge on some new shoes to wear on some of my adventures. I walked into DSW Shoes (my very favorite shoe shop) with every intention to buy a pair of sensible, responsible, and comfortable shoes for the blustery winter months. And then, I laid eyes on a pair of fun, sexy, and very IMPRACTICAL red heels…

This year, I will shoot a session in these shoes. This year, I will splurge on more cute heels. Life isn’t always practical, so why treat it that way?

Thank you so much to my family & friends for being so supportive to me on this journey into adulthood – I love you all so much. Thanks also to my Facebook friends, who showed me more love than I think I’ve ever felt from friends on any other birthday, and to you guys- my blog readers who put up with my silly posts about big plans & cute shoes.

4 comments

February 8, 2010 - 7:48 pm

Mandie Haberman - Rebecca, maybe I’ll let ya borrow ‘em in Vegas, he he!

February 4, 2010 - 9:49 am

Tracy Schwartz - Awesome shoes, on your last day here, you have to wear them!

February 4, 2010 - 9:36 am

Jessica Kempen - LOVE those shoes! Glad you had a great b-day and I look forward to hearing about your accomplishments in your best year yet

February 4, 2010 - 6:21 am

Rebecca - Love love love the shoes. Too bad you saw them first! I’m glad you had a wonderful birthday, Mandie!

Triple The Fun :: Meet The Triplets! :: Milwaukee Baby Photographer

Sunday, January 31, 2010 Posted in Babies

I will be the first to admit that I don’t consider myself an expert baby photographer. I have had wonderful experiences so far photographing some adorable little ones, and I hope to continue working with teeny tiny clients! This weekend I had the opportunity to meet three very special girls. The miracle of life is amazing in and of itself, and when a couple is blessed with not just one little miracle, but three, it is truly a beautiful thing to witness!

To start off, here’s the promised color version of yesterday’s sneak peek. Pink Chucks! I LOVE them!

The shoes above were chosen because of their appearance in Mommy & Daddy’s previous portrait shoot, but the shot below features a whole family of Chucks:

We started off with a quick little all-family shot. What a happy family of five!

Then we moved onto some individual portraits of the girls. Get ready for some serious cuteness, and gorgeous blue eyes! Three pairs!

After their close-ups, we moved on to some cute and girly shots! Mariah, my sister and fab artist, put some adorable tutu’s together this past summer. Such adorable little ballerina babies:

All together, these adorable little ones are unmistakable sisters!

I just can’t wait to get more opportunities to photograph these sisters as they grow up. I can’t even fathom how beautiful they’ll all be with those blue eyes!

To the B family: Thank you so very much for inviting me into your home to meet these precious little sisters. I had a wonderful time getting to know them and I look forward to more photo shoots in the future!

For details about hiring Red Gecko Studio as the photographer for your upcoming wedding, please use the Contact section of this blog! Red Gecko Studio proudly serves weddings and special events in Madison, Milwaukee, and southeastern Wisconsin. Travel to any other location in the world can always be arranged,so don’t hesitate to ask about your destination wedding! Thanks for visiting, and please take a moment to leave your thoughts as a comment!

1 comment

February 1, 2010 - 12:00 am

Mariah - ADORABLE!

A Quick Peek :: Triplets! :: Milwaukee Baby Photographer

Saturday, January 30, 2010 Posted in Babies

In the midst of a hectic weekend, I wanted to share a very brief teaser from today’s shoot. I’ve been looking forward to this shoot for MONTHS! I had the privilege of photographing three of the most adorable little girls I’ve ever seen…triplet sisters! They are beautiful girls with gorgeous blue eyes, but you’ll have to wait another 24 hours or so to see them. In the true essence of a “teaser,” here’s one of my favorite shots from today:

Even babies can have shoe shots! Aren’t these the CUTEST little baby tennies you have ever seen? Tomorrow I’ll show them in color, but today’s version is a throwback to honor the inspirational shot from Mommy & Daddy’s portrait session: