Monday, January 16, 2012

Movin' on up!

the time has come for me to say goodbye to this blog :)
it is has been a good blog, filled with lots of memories and good times.
but, alas, I have upgraded my website...and blogger...well...i'm leaving you for wordpress ;)
thanks for holding my memories & thoughts for the last few years!!

stop by www.mlphotoanddesign.com for the latest & greatest!! :) 

xoxo
Maggie

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

NIkki & Brian's Album | Winona, MN Wedding & Portrait Photographer

merry christmas & happy holidays :) 
I hope everyone has had a great few days.

today I have Nikki & Brian's wedding album design :) 
if you haven't checked out their wedding post...click here.

Nikki & Brian chose the 'oh so simple' layout for their book.
this is one of my favorite layouts...because it is so simple and easy to layout.

here are a few of my favorite layouts from their book...














happy tuesday :) 

xoxo
Maggie

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Nikki & Brian | Married! | Winona, MN Wedding & Portrait Photographer

happy almost Christmas :)
I seriously cannot believe that it is december 22nd!
maybe it is because it has been 40* lately and there is no snow.
although, I can safely say that I am UBER excited that the days will now be getting longer.
getting dark at 5pm makes me not a happy camper.

anyway, today I have Nikki & Brian on the blog!
these two were married on a lovely October afternoon in Winona, MN.
I was super excited when Nikki emailed me asking if I would photograph her wedding...
for a few reasons....
one, I would get to visit my little sister
two, I would get to see Nikki & catch up on life
and three, the Winona bluffs in fall = <3

ohhhemmmmgeeee. the fall colors were just starting to peak out.
ahhh...heaven. loved it.

Nikki & Brian had a small bridal party, ceremony and reception.
I have to say that I totally loved it!
don't get me wrong, lots of people are fun too..but there is just something so wonderful about only a handful of people witnessing the first moments of a newlywed's first day as husband and wife.
here are some of my favorites from their day:

 the church...i kind of love big churches like this
 i just loved Nikki's flowers! the green was so unique!
 deeeeetails :)

 husband & wife :)
 after the ceremony & family portraits we went to the lake in Winona...which has a backdrop of the bluffs. :)))))))

 <3 favorite
 THEN...oh man...THEN...the reception was at the Winona Historical Center.
umm...old brick building CHUCK FULL of old vintage things. ohhh it was probably my favorite venue. :) just sayin'

 the brick of outside gave us the perfect backdrop for some photos as the sun was setting

 Nikki made all of her table decorations and even had coffee cups for everyone to take home. it was such a cute touch! i love it when brides get all artsy-craftsy!
and one last photo :)

Nikki & Brian,
thank you for letting me be part of your day! it was so much fun to be with you as you joined your lives together! 

xoxo,
Maggie



Sunday, December 11, 2011

somewhere in-between | personal | Sheboygan Wedding & Portriat Photographer

I always wondered what it would feel like.
I always wondered when it would happen.
and when it happened, what would that do to me...
would I be different?
would I change?
would it be the right thing at the right time?
the right place?
that minute when I realized that, wow, this is my life…

I am a grown up.

or, as grown up as I have to be, anyway ;)

the other day, sitting at work it happened.
I realized it.
I grew up.
I am grown up.
somewhere in that in-between.
I. am. a. grown. up.
that moment when you realize that this, this is your life.
and the decisions that have to be made are more than just what you are eating for lunch that day.
the decisions that can change every aspect of your life.
change your life in the matter of a few words or seconds of decisions and actions.
then, make your life a whirlwind of crazy.
and all of a sudden that whirl wind takes over your life, and somewhere in that in-between there is a light at the end of the tunnel. a light that leads to this whole new world of options.
almost like walking outside after the rain finishes.
you know, that calm after the storm.

when I was younger in school I always wondered what it would be like to be a grown up.
to have to get up every morning.
get dressed.
eat breakfast.
(because, it really is the most important meal of the day)
go to work.
have responsibilities.
deal with people.
whether they are nice or not. and whether or not you are in a good, bad, or ugly mood.
have a social life (or try to anyway).
have to pay the bills.
get enough sleep.
eat the right things (pizza and beer is healthy…right?! ;) )
all those things that grown ups do.

it happened the other day.
it actually happened.
and I sat in disbelief for a few mintues.
let that realization sink in.
that moment I realized that somewhere in-between not-all-that-long-ago and 26 and a half…
I grew up.

maybe it is because of all the decisions that the past few months have presented me with.
or maybe because I get my hair cut regularly.
and paint my nails, wear makeup, and dress up like a girl sometimes…
all out...with heels and everything!
or maybe its because I have been forced to realized what I really want in life.
in MY life.
and I am the one who has to call the shots.
I never imagined I would be making some of the decisions that I have had to make lately.
the last few months have been the hardest of my entire life.
and have faced me with some of the toughest decisions to make.
decisions that have ultimately made me a much stronger person.
I know I can go on and live without certain things.
things that I never imagined having to live without.

but yet, at the very same time, the past few months have been some of the best of my entire life.
funny how life works.

all of this life-in-between has also shown me how thankful I am for the people that are in my life right now.
people that have seen me at my lowest and highest moments.
helped me through some of the hardest decisions a person can make.
kept my spirits up.
shown me that the sun does come out tomorrow.
and proved that even in the hardest of times, there is good in everything.

to the people that have stood next to me,
thank you.
thank you for everything.
and those two little words don't seem like nearly enough.
the phone calls.
the texts.
words of encouragement and wisdom.
and simply just being there.
it means the world to me.

and to the ones that didn't stand next to me,
well, thank you as well.
for opening my eyes to the world around me.
for making me a stronger person.
and for helping me to believe in myself.

and because a blog post shouldn't be without a photo
the one that I owe the most to...


xoxo
Maggie

email! :) / website! :)

Monday, November 28, 2011

Jenn & Joe | Engaged! | Milwaukee, WI Wedding & Portrait Photographer

today on the blog I have Jenn & Joe.
I met up with them back in September for their engagement photoshoot...
in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.
:))))))
I <3 the 3rd ward.
like...a lot.
there are SOOO many places and nooks and crannies to take photos.
amazing.
had it not been raining...I could have easily spent the entire day with these two

take a look at some of my favorites!

 kisses in the rain
 random fences & parking lots
 probably some of my favs :)

 I just love all of the old brick buildings down there
 we really only walked around the block by the public market...TONS of places! and despite the rain, these two were more than happy to do whatever I asked


and what would a photoshoot in the rain be without a dip kiss in the middle of a rainy street?!? :)

Joe & Jenn,
Thank you for being such troopers in the rain! it was a blast to capture your engagement photos! I can't wait to capture your wedding day!!

xoxo
Maggie

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Lately. | Personal | Sheboygan Wedding & Portrait Photographer

well, howdy!
I know, things have been pretty quiet on the blog lately.
life has been pretty crazy lately.
and honestly...I can't believe...IT'S NOVEMBER.
seriously...where did the year go?
I feel like I say that every year.
but every year I feel like time gets a little bit faster :(
sometimes I want to just freeze time for a hot minute and never have to move forward

the best part is that lately its been like 60* outside.
amazing.
having these temps this time of year...makes me really not want the winter to come. 
I like mid-50's & 60's :)

so, in reality this post is really just me checking in...
to let y'all know that I have some awesome posts coming up
because I have had some of the most amazing couples & families to take photos of over the past few months :D 

anndddd I am SOOO excited for 2012!
so many possibilities and opportunities!
I seriously cannot wait to see where and what this next year brings :)

check back soon for some wedding, engagement, and family goodness!

xoxo
Maggie

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Beth & Michael | Engaged! | Sheboygan Wedding & Portrait Photography

happy Saturday!
today I am off to Kimberly, WI to photograph Abby & Andy's wedding
I am hoping the gale-force winds that have blown in over the past few days decides to hold off while we are outside taking photos :)
I am also hoping for the weather to be a little bit warmer than 58...paaaa-llleeeaaassseee!
I am SO not ready to let go of summer.
or fall.
whatever the past few weeks of weather have been

anyway, today I have Beth & Michael on the blog
I met up with these two on a gorgeous mid-September day to take their photos
they were so much fun to hang out with!
we started out at Michael's parent's house
with some vintage cars
...yes...let me repeat that...
vintage cars.
ohhhh yes.
Beth told me that there would be vintage, and cars, and old-ness, and some rusty stuff.
heaven.
for real.
I probably looked like a kid in a candy store.
it was so much fun incorporating all that stuff into the photos.
after all that fun we headed down to the lake.
which was also gorgeous that day.
I've said it once, and I will say it again...I do love living so close to Lake Michigan.
sometimes it can be kinda ugly...but lately it has been such a pretty blue.

these two LOVE football.
seriously...they planned their wedding around football season ;) 
now THAT is dedication :)
they also love to laugh.
which is fabulous because there is never a dull moment!

here are some of my favorites from their engagement session!


 always laughing :)
in the back of a model T
 probably one of my favorite ring shots!
 seeeeee old rusty truck :)




 favorite! I told them to be cute and interact with eachother...and that is what I got! :D
makes me smile :)

 forehead kisses are the best




 love that face Michael ;)
 another favorite :)
while these two both love the Packers, their football tastes differ when it comes to college ball....Beth is a Hawkeyes fan and Michael is a Wisconsin fan.

Beth & Michael, 
thank you for spending some time with me while I took your photos! It was such a fun couple of hours! I love your spunk and love for fun and life! I really can't wait until your wedding in February!

xoxo
Maggie


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