I’ve known Tia & Mike since before they were married over three years ago, but we’ve been out of touch for quite a while.  I love that Tia became my Facebook friend and we were able to reconnect over the past year.  I got to find out what this couple has been up to and I love checking out her photos!  Mike is a volunteer fireman and they’ve spent a lot of time remodeling their first home together.  When I advertised on Facebook that I was seeking outgoing couples for some fun shoots, Tia spoke right up!  It is so flattering to me when a friend becomes a fan of my photography.  The three of us settled on an ice-skating portrait session at Red Arrow Park in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.  The location was fun, the weather was bearable, and I’ve gotta tell ya…Tia & Mike rocked it on the ice!

On to the eye candy…  We began with some simple laps around the ice rink at Red Arrow Park.  I was so impressed by Tia’s skating skills!  Even with the very delicate train on her gown, she had no trouble scooting around on the ice with ease.  I can’t tell you what a relief it was; my biggest fear that day was to send poor Tia crashing to the ground in a pile of tulle and skate blades.  What can I say, I’m a worrier, even when I ignore the worries and take the risk anyway.  It is usually worth it!

The building across the street (which I’ll refer to as the famous pink-glass building whose actual name I’m not sure of) made a lovely backdrop.  I brought this image to a critique recently and was informed that the chandelier mimics the shape of Tia in her gown.  Entirely unintentional but I love it anyway!  For me, the little boy looking at them makes the shot.

Mike & Tia took great direction, and they are such a warm and loving couple together that it was easy to give them one simple idea and watch them bring it to life with smiles, laughter, and genuinely loving glances.

This girl can twirl, on ice skates and in a big poufy gown!  I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, because she’s a dancer…and it shows!

After some fun on the ice, we stepped out of the rink for a few shots.

They were up for anything.  “You want us to climb up on this bench in skates?  Sure!”

Take two people in love, place them anywhere, and tell them to enjoy this little moment in time.  Voila!

Across from Red Arrow Park stands the Performing Arts Center.  In hindsight, I wish I had gotten it in the background with the skating rink…but oh well.  Lesson learned!  Who’s going skating with me next winter?!  Regardless, the PAC lights up in alternating colors at night.  So lovely, and so much fun!  We caught some of the pink…

This is absolutely my favorite shot of the night.  I knew it as soon as I saw it!  And it goes to show that you’ve GOT to keep your eyes and mind open when shooting portraits.  We went there to shoot ice skates, and my favorite shot features neither ice nor skates.

More fun shots ensued with the changing colors…

Yup, it’s the antique-style treatment that’s becoming so popular these days…but I love the warmth that it adds to this glowy kiss!

I adore the textures and patterns in this one…especially how the pattern on the wall mimics the pattern in the brick, yet the smooth texture of the wall contrasts against the rough texture of the worn brick.  Oh, and the couple’s pretty cute, too.

As far as I’m concerned, a shoot is never over until I can no longer SEE my subjects.  Otherwise, I wouldn’t have these fun shots of Mike & Tia heading back to their car!  This one is TOTALLY candid…

To Mike & Tia, I had SUCH a fun time running around in the cold with you!  Thank you THANK YOU for giving me this opportunity to reconnect with you both, create some fun & fabulous images, and play around in the dead of winter.  I hope you enjoyed your preview!

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!

We started right outside the Memorial Union, where Lake Mendota was frozen over enough to traipse around on the surface with ice fisherman and a group of people reconstructing the sunken Lady Liberty statue from a 1970′s prank.

As interesting a backdrop as that was, it wasn’t what we were expecting…the finished sculpture.    Guess they fell behind!  But it turns out that the frozen tundra look was fun all on its own!

Mmmmm, toasty looking…it almost seems like it could have been a nice, warm day!

The scene was enhanced by the castle-like figure of the red gym.

And even more amazing is the Union Terrace as a backdrop…you don’t get that very often.

The dip…not so easy on a frozen lake…

I was super lucky to have Mike and Luke from The Visual Soundtrack accompany us on this shoot.  It was great working with them!  Here’s Luke in action…

I love the architecture of the Union.

A cover of white snow is reflecty.  Fun to shoot on!

I love that you can’t tell here where the pier ends and the lake begins…  And if you’re not a Madisonite, it might not even be obvious that this IS a pier (if not for the no diving sign).

I even got Katy to sit in the snow.    Go Katy!

One of the things I really admire about Luke &  Mike’s work is that they know their stuff about studio strobes.  They set up an off-camera strobe light and got some fantastic shots…then they generously turned over the cord to me so I could grab a couple well-lit shots!

I’ve been a teensy bit action-heavy lately, I’ll admit it…

After all was said and done, we revisited the scene of the crime: The Orpheum.  Katy & Joey’s wedding reception was held here barely six months ago!

To Katy & Joey: Thanks so much for being troopers through the cold and snow for this shoot!  I know all three of us photographers had a wonderful time.  Hopefully we can do another portrait session soon, perhaps for a one-year anniversary?  He he he!  You guys are just too fun.

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!

A very snowy Replay session on the frozen Lake Mendota:

A fun in-home professional portrait session with a local Personal Trainer:

And finally, a daring bride & groom on ice skates at Milwaukee’s Red Arrow Park:

Until then, please check out all of the Best of 2009 posts and cast your vote before winners are chosen on Sunday, February 28!

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!