2 huge surprises, 1 week...

First we found out 'it' was a Boy, even though we were overwhelmingly told by family, friends and clients for the last half of a year or so that it had to be a girl (you had us almost sold on it too!).  We decided not to find out through ultra sounds this time around, there's only so many big surprises life has to offer so we decided not to cheat ourselves out of this one and it was well worth the wait.

Then we got a call, the day we got back from the hospital, that we had been voted 'Best Of' by the readers of the Knot for Photographers in Wisconsin.  This really is a huge surprise and honor for us as we did no kind of campaigning for this award and actually weren't aware that voting was taking place at this time.  So thank you, thank you, thank to everyone who voted for us!  We truly appreciate it and can't be more thrilled that you've enjoyed working with us as much as we've enjoyed working with you.  We were fortunate to receive a similar award through Wisconsin Bride Magazine a few months back, which was also a real honor, but the Knot is the premier and largest publication and website for brides ( and grooms ) planning weddings in the US.

We'll continue striving to offer the highest level of service and quality of work that we can.  And this award is definitely motivation to step it up even another notch.   Thanks again!  

A new Look

We walked behind a woman being pushed in a wheel chair on our way up to the birthing

triage center at the Hospital.  April had begun going into labor 18 days sooner than predicted.  We took our place at a curtained off hospital bed and were instructed to relax and they'd check in on us.  A few curtains over we heard a nurse tell the woman in the wheel chair she was going to see 'how far along she was.'  We heard something to the effect of 'wow you're about to have a baby.'  A few moments later we listened as  doctors and nurses filled the cramped triage area and the woman gave birth.  The curtains didn't do a great job of dampening the sounds associated with this event.  Not exactly the best environment to relax in.  Our little one wouldn't come in such an expedited manor.  It was 9pm Sunday night.  Fast forward to the middle of the next day and you'd find April still courageously progressing through the process.  She had to have a last minute cesarian with our first child which opened us up to additional risks and issues associated with having baby number two the old fashioned way.  On top of that, when April would have contractions it would cause the babies heart rate to dip.  This concerned the doctors and nurses, who were keeping a careful eye on everything and trying all kinds of different things to over come this problem.  More than once it seemed we were on the brink of being sent to the operating room to deliver in order to keep baby and mom safe, just to have the decision overturned at the last second by some small glimpse of hope that a second cesarian could be somehow safely avoided.  Finally around 4pm the doctors felt it was time to try to deliver before defaulting to plan B.  After about a half hour and some more scary drops in babies heart rate, the doctors decided to make use of a 'super vac.'  Tension was high in the now crowded room, equipment and new faces popped up everywhere.  Orders were being shouted back and forth and April bravely proceeded doing her part.  Things seemed to move quickly, yet time past slow.  Then suddenly there he was.  Kohen arrived into the world at 4:59pm, and even though he was a little over two weeks early, he was almost just as large as our first son who was 1 week late.  Both baby and Mom are healthy and doing fine.  We're proud parents, again, and happy Koeplin now has someone else to introduce to the world of monster trucks, tractors and all the other things little boys seem to be so interested in.  On a business related note we will be out of the office until further notice and will do our best to get to all of the messages and e-mails we've received in the past few days in a timely fashion.   Orders that were received on and around the Holiday deadline will be still be placed in time for the Holidays.  Please bear with us over the next few weeks as we get to know baby Kohen better.  Below are some of the many photos from the Hospital.

Alana + Matt are Engaged!

We began Alana and Matt’s shoot at the Capitol and progressed to the street and ally’s around Jenna’s, where Matt and Alana got engaged.  We had great lighting, not too much wind, and Alana and Matt made things easy on my end.  I’m sure we’ll be wishing for a touch of this cooler weather when they say “I do” next July.  Below are some of our favorites from their shoot. -Derrick

Meg + Tyler are Engaged!

With Meg & Tyler living out of state, it was difficult to get together for a couples session.  So even though we don’t recommend waiting to schedule an engagement session until the week before your wedding, in this case it was the only opportunity we had.  We met up downtown, outside the Orpheum, and took advantage of a lot of the great backdrops in the vicinity, including inside and on the rooftop of M.M.O.C.A.  It was a fun session and definitely a great warm up for the wedding day.  Below are some of our favorites from their shoot. (wedding day images to follow soon!)

Elizabeth + Jed are Engaged!

Elizabeth and Jed’s couples session had to get rescheduled a couple of times, so I was glad when we finally got to meet up with them for their shoot at Olin.  With their wedding still coming up this year in December, it was great to get to work with the two of them and build a little more chemistry.  They were easy to work with and had some great input for shots.  I look forward to shooting their wedding next month, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for a little snow, no wind, and tolerable temperatures.  Perfect elements for a winter shoot.  Below are some of our favorites from their session.

The Rustler Family...

Shooting one rambunctious toddler can be a challenge, shooting two is an experience that is in a whole other league.  We were fortunate to work with Ryan & Michelle when they got married a few years back.  So it was awesome to get them in front of our cameras again to do a child/family session.  It really was a lot of fun chasing their two little ones around and watching them interact with one another.  All of us non-twins out there have definitely day dreamed at some point about what it would be like to have a twin.  And though it’s still to be seen if they’ll resemble one another enough when they’re older to stand in for each other and pull tricks on people, it’s just got to be nice to have someone your age by your side to play with and confide with as you grow up.  It was nice seeing Ryan & Michelle again and meeting the Nolan & Cameron.  Below are some pics from their session.

Welcome Baby Kalia...

Unless you plan it, I don’t think anyone ever considers the possibility that you’ll have your baby at home.  Well Darby & Erin definitely didn’t plan a ‘home birth,’ but as crazy as it sounds, Erin didn’t realize she was in labor until the Baby was well on it’s way.  Darby barely got 9-1-1 dialed when he had to assist in delivering his second child, a beautiful baby girl.  Thankfully everyone was healthy and are doing great.  We had the privilege of photographing baby Kalia just a couple weeks into her time in this brand new world.  Below are some photos from their session.

Boutique Style Christmas Cards...

We have a lot of great Designer Holiday Cards to choose from this year.  Use a photo from a recent session or schedule a new one to create a personalized and chic card to send your friends and family this year.  I know we’re biased, but in our opinion you won’t get this sort of quality in a card from a big box or chain site.  Here are some previews of some of the designs.  If you’d like to see them larger or schedule a session contact us.  Keep in mind next week is the last week we guarantee delivery for the holidays...

Boutique Christmas (2 sided 5x7's)

Joyful Christmas (2-sided 5x7's)

Damask Calendar: (5x5 tri-fold)

Mini-Holiday #1 (1 sided 5x7 flat card)

Mini-Holiday #2 (1 sided 5x7 flat)

Modern Calendar: (5x5 tri-fold)

Red/Green Couture (5x5 tri-fold)

Couture Holiday (2 sided 5x7)

Burgundy Vintage (2 sided flat 5x5 & 5x7)

Boutique Holidays (2 sided 5x7s)

Aqua Damask: (2 sided 5x7's and 5x5 tri-fold)

(The images in these card layouts are not work of Creative Look Studios.)