Melenbacker Photography Blog: Wedding photography in Omaha, Kansas CIty, Denver...

Our New Site and Blog Are Live!!!!!

2010-06-15T15:18:00.004-06:00

It brings us much happiness to be able to make this announcement as it means we can finally share with you some of our most recent work in a totally new way. A very special THANK YOU to Big Folio for creating a blog that is completely customized and original to our brand!

This blog will still be here for those of you interested in seeing featured images from the past, however, to see our newest creations, CLICK HERE to be redirected.

Our New Blog's Address:
http://melenbackerphotography.com/blog

Changes are Coming!!!

2010-04-26T07:03:00.012-06:00

We've been working hard on some new updates and changes around here and we're so close to finally being able to share them with you (two of them at least)! Get a glimpse of what's to come by watching the preview below.

A special thanks to Meiko for allowing us to use her song "Reasons To Love You" to share this news with you. To hear the whole song or for more music from Meiko, visit her MySpace page.

Reaching for Greatness - How to achieve it?

2010-04-06T17:21:00.011-06:00

Success. It's a really hard word to define. For some it maybe raising their children to know each day they are loved and cherished, for others it's a life well lived. Many of us carry so many hats that we find success may not mean the accomplishment of just one thing, but many.

As individuals, we look for many ways to stand out and leave our stamp on the world. There's blogs, facebook, twitter, books, magazine's, newspapers and list goes on and on. It's seems the number of ways we can stand out are endless and so many of us find ourselves effortlessly working to keep ourselves from vanishing into the woodwork. So, what do we do? How do we leave that piece of ourselves that others will cherish?

I've recently been thinking about what makes a person great and I've come to the conclusion that it is not who we lead, the number of people on our mailing list, or the amount of temporary popularity we can achieve, but rather who we choose to serve. It is a person's dedication and love for others that is not only admirable but worth remembering for a lifetime.

The video I've attached below really made me stop and realize that greatness does not require anything other than love and specifically selfless love for others. The video below shares facts with you about one of the greatest leaders known to human history. And, despite personal beliefs or where you may rest on various religious topics, I think we can all learn from the influence this one man had on not only his generation but every generation since his existence.

One Solitary Life from Jenna Preston on Vimeo.

NE Wedding Day Blogs Destination Engagement

2010-01-21T09:55:00.005-07:00

Recently, some images from Jesse and Linden's destination engagement session were featured on Nebraska Wedding Day magazine's blog under their "Things We Love" section.

To view more images from Jesse and Linden's session: click here

To view Nebraska Wedding Day's blog post: click here

Nashville Portrait Session w/ Ashley Fisher

2009-12-22T12:17:00.010-07:00

While in Nashville at David Bean's workshop, we had a portrait session with Ashley Fisher. Below are some of our favorite images from the day. Our thanks to David for hosting a wonderful workshop about commercial imagery and being so open to sharing with us. Shane and I really enjoyed our time in Nashville and can't wait to go back.

United States Professor of the Year

2009-12-02T14:20:00.008-07:00

Two weeks ago we were hired for a photo shoot by the University of Nebraska at Kearney for a professor who was soon to be named "Top US Professor of the Year" by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Rick Miller was one of only four in the nation to be given this title for the 2009 year. This is the first time a professor in Nebraska has received this honor.

To read articles that have currently been published click on one of the links below:
USA Today
KCAU TV
Kearney Hub
Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska.tv
CASE
Inside Higher Ed

Nashville TN

2009-11-10T05:36:00.009-07:00

Last week we took off to Nashville for a few days. The main reason for making the trip was to attend David Bean's Light and Commerce Workshop, which we will be posting images of soon. The second reason was to explore the city of Nashville itself and most of all the music scene. Nashville, or rather the people of Nashville intrigue me and in a very good way. I don't know how many people we met that moved out there on a prayer, hoping to break into the industry. Some of them have succeeded and some are still trying, either way that takes a lot of courage and I respect them for it. For what it's worth they have my support.

At the Bluebird Cafe we saw Tommy Karlas, Erin Enderlin, Brandy Clark and Charlie Stefl, all amazing singer/songwriters.

Here's a sneak peak at what's to come!

Wedding at Champions Run: Tamara & Jared

2009-10-21T19:26:00.009-06:00

Erin and I had been looking forward to Tamara and Jared's wedding since our first meeting and even more so since their engagement session a little while ago. You may remember their engagement session from the off-roading shots we took with the Mule along the Missouri River. Needless to say we had just as much fun at their wedding and probably more so since their families and friends were there to liven things up even more! Their wedding and reception were held at Champions Run and although it snowed almost four inches the night before everyone was in a joyful mood and ready to celebrate with Tamara and Jared.

Gown from The Gown Gallery

Tamara and Jared rented this fun photo booth for their guests at the wedding reception. Of course, they had to first show them how it's done :)

Lisa & Eduardo's Wedding at St. Mary's and the Rococo

2009-10-16T11:02:00.014-06:00

We first met Lisa and Eduardo on the day of their wedding and when Erin was greeted with a hug from Lisa upon her arrived, we knew the day would be a fun one. But it was not only Lisa and Eduardo that made us feel welcome, Lisa and Eduardo had an amazing group of family and friends who joined them from various places around the world including Mexico, Italy, Hawaii and more.

They had a beautiful wedding at St. Mary's Cathedral and then visited the state capital for additional imagery.

After dinner, guests were surprised with a Mariachi Band.

Their reception and dinner catered by Green Gateau was held at The Rococo Theater in downtown Lincoln, NE.

Dancing!

Glacier National Park, Montana Engagement Session

2009-10-13T09:37:00.006-06:00

Back in July when I was in Africa with Thirst Relief, I was talking with Erin through Skype and she was telling me of this great couple she just met with that was getting married in summer 2010. It was shortly after I returned that I was able to talk with Jesse a few times over the phone and found out they wanted to have their engagment session in Glacier, Montana close to where Jesse is now living while Linden finishes school in New York.

Fast forward to the day I flew into MT. Outlook for the next day was cold, windy and snowy. Woke up to a very cold wet morning and while driving into the park found out that roads were closed due to snow. The outlook was not good but we kept our spirits up and at about 3:00pm the sun was shining, the snow was melting and we were having a blast.

Wedding at Lauritzen Gardens

2009-10-07T08:22:00.004-06:00

Recently we photographed Adam and Andrea's Wedding at the Lauritzen Gardens with planners Beth & Joellen from A-Z Concierges. Adam and Andrea looked beautiful! ...and worked with some great vendors who helped make their day a beautiful success:

Hair & Makeup Artist: Ann Luchsinger

Caterer: Abraham Catering
Live Band: The Confidentials

Flowers: Barb Coffin, Creative Director of Piccolo's Flowers

Here's an image from their engagement session in downtown Omaha.

A Choice for the Positive

2009-10-01T17:41:00.008-06:00

I ran across this post on Deadly Viper Character Assasins' Blog. Now stay with me, I know it's a strange and funky title, but...

Spock and The Power of Words: by Jud Wilhite

"We all have things that we don’t like about ourselves.

I have this Spock-type ear. It’s got a ridge … like it has been cut by craft scissors. Sometime I’ll let you feel it.

When I started dating Lori, I’d turn my head when I talked to her. I didn’t want her to see the Spock ear. Really, it’s not a big deal. You could stand 2 feet from me and you’d never notice it but for my self-perception I think, “I’ve got this whacked ear. It’s weird.”

Yes, we all have those things. But we also have the power to transform the way other people see themselves.

Our words are very powerful. With them we have the ability to encourage others to look beyond their own shortcomings. Or we can use our words as weapons, causing insecurity and hurt.

How do you choose to use your power?"

Shane and I have talked about this subject many times and how we as photographers have an amazing opportunity to help others see the beauty in themselves. Sometimes during a session or event, emotions can run high, people can seem more pushy and it can be just plain hard to be positive. But...staying positive is not only a part of our job, we feel it's a responsibility we have as people. By being a positive reinforcement in the lives of those we work with, we can only hope that our words will extend into the very way they feel about themselves. Next time you're feeling down or frustrated on a shoot, try being positive and encouraging and watch how it changes the attitudes of those around you.

Wedding: Martha and Randy

2009-09-28T08:13:00.000-06:00

We have known Martha and Randy for a couple years now and were excited when they asked us to photograph their wedding. In meetings leading up to the wedding they were trying to decide what they were going to take from the cerimony to the reception. In the end they decided on an old 50's Mercury that Randy had pretty much restored from scratch. The vehicle was amazing but not as amazing as Martha, Randy, their families and wedding party. We had a great time and wanted to share some photos from the day.

On our way! KPPA in Topeka, KS

2009-09-27T07:07:00.001-06:00

We're on our way to our speaking engagement for KPPA today :) It's
about a three hour drive from our stopping point last night so we're
taking some time to look through yesterday's wedding images. We had so
much fun with Jason and Kelli in the Polish capital of the nation!

2009 Apple Picking With Friends

2009-09-24T09:20:00.004-06:00

When we bought our house back in March they said there was an apple tree on the property and I thought "ok, sounds good" without really thinking anymore about it. What Shane and I failed to realize was that it was the tree that towers above our two level home. Still I was naive.

I invited a few friends over for an "apple picking party" thinking maybe we should form a community basket and then divide the apples between families (of course we wanted to make sure everyone got apples). About 10 baskets later, a large moving box filled to the brim and a tree that looked like we weren't even there, we realized a community basket was probably the least of our concerns.

I had such a great time with the ladies that came, I'm sure this will now be a yearly event. The evening was filled with hot cider, apple bread, games of hide & seek and great friends :) Although this time it was more for moms and kids, I think next year we'll make it a family evening so they guys can get in on the fun too.

Ari being the helper and showing her brother where to place the apples.

Charissa was a star apple picker! She was non-stop and even climbed the ladders to help us pick them (with a little help of course). Her great-grandma used to have apple-picking party's in California when her mom was little, so it must run in the family :)

Future apple pickers :)

Glacier National Park

2009-09-21T15:09:00.003-06:00

I'm heading home after spending the last two days in Glacier National
Park with Linden and Jesse for their engagement session. Scenery like
this is hard to leave and I wish Erin could have been on this trip
with me! Can't wait to take a closer look at all the images.

Image above was taken on my iPhone.

A Wedding at Arbor Day Farm

2009-09-15T07:12:00.018-06:00

On Memorial weekend we spent some of our time with Becky and Kaleb for their wedding at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, NE. The Arbor Day farm is actually the birthplace of Arbor Day and the surroundings were amazing.

Becky along with her father and two sisters took a carriage to the ceremony location together.

Whether a bride and groom sees each other before or after the ceremony, there's always something special about the groom seeing his bride for the first time. Kaleb and Becky chose not to see each other prior to the wedding.

Becky's flowers were created by SnapDragon Floral and Gifts out of Nebraska City...

Featured Speakers at KPPA's Fall Seminar

2009-09-04T10:10:00.018-06:00

We will be speaking at KPPA's Fall Seminar September 27th on social networking. We'll be sharing how we use online tools such as our website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, online storefronts and studio managers, incorporate them in our workflow and use them to stay connected.

We're so excited to see you! If you are one who will not be able to attend the class, we'll be in Kansas City Saturday afternoon and will be having lunch somewhere in the area. I'll announce the place and time via Twitter sometime Saturday. Whether 2 or 20 come, we'd love to meet you there!

When: September 27th (Entire Conference 27-28th)
Where: Topeka, KS
Investment: $130 (KPPA members/non-members), $170 (non-members)
- Click here for a registration form -

*Sponsored by Miller's Professional Imaging

Wedding: Chris and Lesley

2009-08-26T06:28:00.009-06:00

It's rare we are able to photograph a wedding in our home city; Chris and Lesley's was the first of only two this year. It may seem out of place because not long ago we were photographing their engagement session in Kentucky at the Maker's Mark distillery. Chris and Lesley do live in Kentucky, but their families are from Nebraska. They chose to use their engagement session as a way to share glimpses from their current surroundings and lifestyle, while choosing a wedding location that would bring them "home" to friends and family.

They had a beautiful wedding and Lesley was stunning bride.

Flower's designed by Kearney Floral, with Lesley's bouquet having a piece of her mother's wedding dress around the base.

Matt and Alejandra: Wedding

2009-08-19T20:32:00.001-06:00

Ever since day one Matt and Alejandra have been a blast to work with. We posted images of there engagement shoot in the early spring, yes... they're the ones that we got kicked out of the capital with :)

Matt and Alejandra make an amazing team and time flew by while working with them. Their ceremony was in both English and Spanish and incorporated various Hispanic cultural traditions such as the lasso (symbolizing their commitment to each other and God) and the passing of coins (symbolic of their choosing to share all their possessions).

Andy Frasco, provided the night's music during the reception. Not long ago Andy was invited to join VH1's Save The Music Foundation Tour, a tour that helped raise money promoting music education and encouraging music awareness within public school systems across the U.S. If you have not heard Andy's music, check out his myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/andyfrasco

Andy Frasco

Engagement: Tamara & Jared

2009-08-17T08:04:00.010-06:00

Recently we had an engagement session with Jared and Tamara in eastern Nebraska. We began at Tamara's family cabin on the lake and then rode out on their Kawasaki Mule for more fun. Some of the roads, or should I say overgrown trails, were rough but a lot of fun. Tamara and Jared were a blast to hang out with and we are very excited for their upcomming wedding in Omaha.

Travis and Fei's Wedding

2009-08-03T19:46:00.005-06:00

OK, so I'm back from Africa and finally catching up on, well... the entire summer :) There will be more posts from the Thirst Relief trip but since I took well over 9,000 images and some of those images can not be displayed until next year, it's taking some time to sift through them all.

This has been a great year with some awesome weddings and wonderful couples. This post is of Travis and Fei, who we did not meet until the day of the wedding which was held at the Joslyn Castle in Omaha. Because Travis and Fei live in Georgia a lot of the communication with them occurred between Betty, Fei's sister, who did an amazing job coordinating many of the day's events. These two were so laid back and easy going the day just flowed and they were up for just about anything in the way of photographs.

Brief Update: African Safari

2009-07-21T10:54:00.005-06:00

For their last two days in Tanzania, the group was able to go on an African Safari. The group has been away from any internet/phone connection for days, so this is the first Shane was able to share a little more from the trip. I'm told there are plenty of images coming that will share more of their visit to Tanzania, but for now, Shane has sent me this iphone pic he took during the safari. Such a tease! But, I'm promised we'll see more soon :)

Tanzania - Thirst Relief Benefit Shoot

2009-07-19T09:38:00.006-06:00

It's been about two or three days since we have had internet and have been able to post anything so I thought I would send something out quickly. This trip truly has been amazing. I have been blessed to travel all around the world and there is no doubt that Tanzania ranks in the top three on my list. The people have here been wonderful to work along-side and the scenery is exotic and breathtaking. It has also been heart wrenching to see some of the conditions in which people live. The images posted here are ones that tell a story but were picked out on the fly, there are hundreds more like them. Without experiencing it first hand, it is hard to understand some of the conditions people are facing and living in. I'm going to wait to until I have a little more time to post before I talk about what we have been doing here and what we hope will continue. But I can honestly say that it has be life changing for me and hopefully to some of the people of Tanzania as well.

Here's a picture Phillip Glickman took of me during a shoot. (Thanks Phillip)

Scenes From Dubai

2009-07-15T10:56:00.007-06:00

I'm writing this post on the plane from Dubai to Dar Es Salaam and will hopefully be able to post it as soon as we land, although I'm doubtful right now because the wireless in Dubai was hit and miss I can imagine what it will be like in Tanzania. Our plane was two hours late arriving in Dubai but that didn't stop us from hitting the town. We first stopped at the beach next to the only 7 star hotel in the world, Burj Al Arab... We didn't stay there:) The next stop was at a couple more 5+ star hotels including Atlantis on the Palm Island. I think we finally got back to the hotel at around 3 am, even then we sat around chatting for a while. Goodtimes! I'll post more if and when I get a chance.

Arriving at our hotel...

Early morning sight-seeing

Atlantis...

Image of Burj Al Arab (lower-right)

Getting Ready to board our plane for Africa (image from Ray Santana)

To Africa! - Thirst Relief & Grace Ormonde Benefit Shoot

2009-07-14T09:42:00.002-06:00

Shane has officially started his trip for the Grace Ormonde benefit shoot with Thirst Relief International. During this trip he will be working alongside 12 other amazing photographers

Ray Santana, Mike Colon, David Burke, Andrew Bryant, Ben Harrison, David & Luke Edmonson, Jason Thon, Jeff LaPlante, Jim Davis-Hicks, Melissa Jill and Phillip Glickman

as well as auction winners Laura Parker and Michelle Walker. Their current plans for the trip include:

-working with Thirst Relief International to provide life-saving clean water to Tanzanians

- A photoshoot with models from South Africa wearing fair trade jewelry by The Leakey Collection and gowns that were donated by the following amazing dress designers:

Ines Di Santo
Amy Michelson
Adele Wechsler
Angel Sanchez
Jenny Packham

– an African safari!

Shane and the team flew out of California Monday evening and arrived in Dubai early Wednesday morning (somewhere around 12:00am from what I understand). After checking into their hotel they all took a midnight tour of Dubai. I'm told it was still around 100 degrees and humid at 3:00am.

Exploring Grand Cayman: Part II (Something Different)

2009-07-13T09:19:00.004-06:00

These images are in a special collection because they are all edited in a way that we considered a little different than how you normally think of a beautiful and colorful tropical paradise. They are my favorite images from our trip.

Exploring Grand Cayman: Part 1

2009-07-13T08:22:00.009-06:00

While we were in the Caymans for Engage!09, we decided to see the island. So, we rented a car (which was a bit of a challenge at first because they drive on the opposite side of the road), got a map from the Ritz's concierge and took off without any real plans for the day. It was great! We drove around the entire island but the very north west part and had a great time documenting our trip.

Things we visited included:
Rum Point
Stingray City
Hell
The Turtle Farm
The Blow Holes
Water Cay
Local Beaches
George Town Shopping Center

The one's directly below are from our boat ride to swim with the stingrays, hosted by Ambassadors of the Environment.

Album preview and future visit to Africa

2009-07-07T14:06:00.010-06:00

The summer is flying by and it seems like most every week we've been on the road or in the air. Next week will be no different as Shane will set out for Tanzania, Africa w/ Mike Colon, Ray Santana, The Edmondson's and more amazing photographers to work with Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine and Thirst Relief International. All your thoughts and prayers are appreciated during these next couple weeks as they begin an amazing adventure together. I will be incredibly excited to see images from this trip and will be waiting along with you in anticipation :)

Because time is moving by so quickly, rather than creating an entire post of Emily and Jeff's wedding, I thought it may be a special treat for you to see a glimpse of a few pages from their album.

Enjoy!

note: slideshow is accompanied by music

engage!09: Grand Cayman

2009-06-25T10:15:00.005-06:00

engage!09 is over but we're still down here on Grand Cayman and having a good time. We thought we would share a little from the actual event so you could get a glimpse of what we were treated to. The opening night was a reception on the beach designed by Michelle Rago from NYC. I was lucky enough to have dinner with Michelle at the dine around and she is a wonderful person as well as so much fun. The final evening was designed by Celebrations ltd and was in one of the Ritz's ballrooms. Now it's time for a vacation in which we will blog about after it's over, time to relax:)

Cayman Islands: The Beginning...but first....

2009-06-21T08:46:00.004-06:00

We're here in the Houston airport before our flight out to the Cayman Islands. We're both looking forward to everything this week holds, but first, I didn't want to move any further in our blog posts until I shared a picture of Emily (as promised) and the look she chose for her wedding day. Here is my favorite :) We will post more from the day in the future, but until we return you'll be seeing pictures of our visit to the Cayman's.

One more week until.... engage!09 :: something blue

2009-06-15T08:03:00.010-06:00

In less than a week we'll be joining some of the nations top wedding vendors for the engage!09 :: something blue business summit at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Speakers from this event will include:
Darcy Miller – Martha Stewart Weddings
Preston Bailey – Preston Bailey Designs
Carley Roney - The Knot
Marcy Blum – Eventiste
Sylvia Weinstock – Sylvia Weinstock Cakes
Antonia van der Meer – Modern Bride & Elegant Bride Magazines
...and more.

We are planning for an exciting visit and experience as well as a relaxation/vacation time once the summit is over.

So, stay tuned because we'll be posting updates for you to enjoy with us. We will not be available during this time (June 20-29th). However, you are still welcome to email or leave us a voice message and we will respond to any personal needs or requests upon our return.

We look forward to serving you and sharing our experiences!

Headshots w/ Actress Emily Spalding

2009-06-10T08:05:00.019-06:00

Last Saturday we photographed Emily and Jeff's wedding. Jeff and Emily currently live in California, Jeff as a composer and Emily as an actress. So on the Monday before their wedding, we updated Emily's headshots. We have so much fun every time we're with Emily and Jeff; I can hardly wait to share their wedding images with you.

Emily was a beautiful bride! I loved the look she chose for her wedding. Coming soon :)

Lauritzen Gardens Wedding: Jess & Henk

2009-06-03T08:53:00.027-06:00

We recently photographed Jess and Henk's wedding at the Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska. It was a beautiful wedding and both Shane and I enjoyed the time we spent capturing their day. In the brief amount of time we spent with Jess and Henk both Shane and I were impressed by the kindness, thought and care they both shared for others and they made it a joy to work for them.

:: :: :: Weddings in Nebraska :: :: ::

Even though we are available worldwide and have lived throughout the US, there is a big part of us that now calls Nebraska home. Prior to a wedding, the couple or event designer will complete a wedding questionnaire for us. This questionnaire tells us the general expectations the couple has for us as well as the vendors they will be working with that day. Having a vendor list w/ names and numbers has always proven to be extremely helpful, but with Jess and Henk, I was pleasantly surprised that I had not only worked with many of their vendors, but they were also some of my favorites for the Nebraska area. So, we've decided in this blog to also share with you a few of the favorites that we've worked with for couples from the Nebraska area that Jess and Henk also chose on their wedding day:

Makeup Artist/ Hair Designer ~ Ann Luchsinger

Gown Boutique ~ Laura's Couture Collection
*** Also accompanies us as a selected Grace Ormonde Platinum List Vendor ***

Music ~ The Confidentials

Florist ~ Beyond the Vine

To see more from Jess and Henk's Wedding, click on the slideshow below.
note: slideshow is accompanied by music

Abandoned Factory Engagement Session

2009-05-26T08:57:00.009-06:00

Last Saturday we had an engagement session with Becky and Kaleb at Chimney Rock. Prior to the session we had a firm idea of the kind of imagery we wanted to walk away with. I say "had" because we were only one location away from finding inspiration for a completely different set of images. One of the qualities we love about photography is it's flexibility to capture new ideas and inspirations so easily.

The day before their Chimney Rock engagement session, Becky and Kaleb found this old abandoned sugar plant. I don't know if we could have found a more fun location to shoot at this day. There were so many options for location and lighting. Also, because Kaleb is a designer, we all ended up taking some images for textures and backgrounds for future designs and images.

Loyal Fans....

More images from the area.

Kentucky Engagement Session (cont'd...)

2009-05-21T08:16:00.005-06:00

The summer is in full swing but we didn't want to move on before sharing at least a glimpse of Chris and Lesley's pictures with you! Because Chris and Lesley also live in Kentucky, this was our first time meeting Chris. We had a great time visiting with them, talking about the coming wedding and sharing funny stories.

For their session's location, Chris and Lesley chose a local distillery, Maker's Mark. The grounds were beautiful! Even though our session continued after the place closed, management unlocked the buildings and allowed us to continue the session as long as we closed the doors behind us :)

Yardwork and Cameras?

2009-05-06T17:55:00.003-06:00

Today was a couple firsts for us. The first of firsts was that Shane and I were able to work in our yard for the first time. It was also the first time I understood what the Realtor meant when he said "It's a big yard, almost an acre." During my sad attempt to try and trim these bushes you see behind me (which surround the 1 acre yard) out comes Shane with his lighting and camera gear taking pictures of the process. Needless to say, I wasn't up for the job of being a model :) But, Shane had fun and soon came to take over the task. I think the lawn upkeep may be a job for someone else.

Kentucky Engagement Session... but first, some sleep.

2009-05-03T12:18:00.005-06:00

We're in the Lexington KY airport right now waiting for our flight to Memphis and then back to Omaha. Unfortunately we don't have a long enough layover in Memphis to visit Graceland:( (just kidding)

We had a great time here at our engagement shoot with Chris and Lesley and the people of KY have been great! We didn't get to go to The Derby though, can you believe the winner was a 50-1 longshot! We grabbed lunch at a local pub and the owner was telling us how he won, not a bad payback. Anyway, Erin liked the sleep package the hotel gave us so we thought we'd share. It was quite relaxing... it came with a sleep CD, earplugs, lavender pillow spray and the eye cover. We also found out that our hotel, The Lexington Crowne Plaza, is one of the oldest hotels in Lexington (recently remodeled thankfully).

Practicing Caution: Why We Purchased a Commercial Grade Surge Protector

2009-04-29T08:24:00.011-06:00

When Shane posed the idea last year to not only invest in a top quality surge protector, but invest in the same brand that large commercial organizations and healthcare facilities invest in, I thought it may be a bit much. After agreeing to be safe rather than sorry we bought the BACK-UPS RS 1500 by APC

It has already saved us twice. The first time was in a small way when while editing one afternoon we lost power in our area of the city. When this happens, the protector has a back up battery supply that will begin sounding an alarm to let me know there is no power and will supply power to everything plugged into it for about 10 mins so I can safely shut everything down (more if you don't have so many things running off it like I do).

The second time it saved me was yesterday when there was a city-wide power surge and I was in the middle of editing a wedding. I heard the loud bang, our lights popped and after getting over my initial panic, I realized my computer and hard-drives hadn't even noticed.

I am so thankful that we bought this system and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to make sure their computer, hard-drives and information is safe from power outages and surges. There are many different models and protection levels to fit your specific needs.

Beauty & Fashion: Brette

2009-04-23T10:06:00.004-06:00

So far I would have to say that this year is off to an awesome start. We've had some amazing sessions and many of them have not even be posted yet. For Brette's session we started out in the studio to update her headshots while also having some fun, as you can see from some of the photos below. We then moved out side for some natural light and backgrounds. Brette has some of the most amazing eyes and I think the setting really emphasizes their color. In less than two weeks Brette will be back in Chicago continuing her acting career.

Engagement Session: Matt & Alejandra

2009-04-20T13:47:00.013-06:00

I love engagement sessions because you always get to know so much more about each other. We had a great time hanging out with Matt and Alejandra! Even though they did get us kicked out of the state capital (lol, jk). Seems it's a "true story" that you're not supposed to hang around after they close the building. We quickly found you get locked inside and the police have to buzz you out. It was actually pretty comical.

Overall, we had some great laughs and had so much fun traveling around Lincoln for the afternoon. Can't wait for the wedding!

and just for fun...

Update: My Birthday Gift From Shane

2009-04-15T16:57:00.009-06:00

Update: Images of my new piano in addition to the video below :)

What an amazing b-day surprise!

yes, I was confused :)

Also, for those of you who have been asking to see pics of our new place, this is part of our main floor and entryway. I am so happy with the way the colors and flooring turned out! Still waiting for some of our furniture, but we haven't forgotten to share and we'll post more as the rooms are finished :)

::end update::

So this is going to be short, but I wanted to share with you what Shane gave me for my birthday. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts and totally made me cry. He had been coordinating this delivery and purchase months prior to today and somehow got it all done during my lunch out with a friend. Shane said the owner of the music store was amazing to work with because when Shane told him that he wasn't sure how to buy it without me knowing, the owner said, "pay me when I deliver it". How awesome is that?

Nebraska's Sandhill Cranes

2009-04-06T07:11:00.009-06:00

Every year between the end of February and March hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes fly through here while migrating North for the winter. They stop within a few miles of Kearney for about a two week period to fill up on left over corn in the fields to gain the energy needed to make the long flight into Northern Canada.

Since living here, I have more or less taken this for granted since it happens every year. Kind of like living in New York City and never going to the Statue of Liberty, I can't believe I know people like that:) It wasn't until I had the chance to go and photograph these birds at Rowe Sanctuary that I truly appreciated what it was all about. Some areas of the river are completely covered with cranes for miles, you can hardly even see water.

In the morning while I was in the blind I met people from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas and Nevada, I was the only person that lived within 200 miles. It's crazy how many people come to crane watch. It was nice to get back to my photography roots and be able to shoot nature again, I think I'll have to make more time for some personal shoots.

Speaking at HOA in Kansas City!

2009-03-25T07:30:00.007-06:00

Update: Oh, and did we mention we have an awesome give away from our friends Bob and Dawn Davis for one lucky person attending? :)

We're only three days away from the class we will be teaching in Kansas City, MO for the Heart of America Professional Photographer's Association. The class itself will be a very small group of individuals, providing those who attend a close-knit setting to talk with us about their specific business needs and questions. During this session, we're an open book. If you've every wondered how we run our business, work and connect with our clients and keep track of it all, we'll be sharing our secrets here!

We'll be talking about internet networking and business tools such as Blogger, Facebook, LinkedIn, online storefronts and studio managers, showing you how we incorporate them in our workflow and use them to stay connected with our couples and clients.

We're so excited to see you! If you are one who will not be able to attend the class, we'll be in Kansas City Saturday afternoon and will be having lunch somewhere in the area. I'll announce the place and time via Twitter sometime Saturday. Whether 2 or 20 come, we'd love to meet you there!

Wood Floors Finished!!!

2009-03-13T05:20:00.007-06:00

After 35 hours of working on the wood floors last weekend with my father-in-law, we finished. I knew that it would take most of the weekend to finish but I didn't think it would take that long or make me as sore as it did. When we ended on Sunday it was a little difficult to move very quickly:) All in all though, it was well worth it and I look forward to finishing more projects on the new studio home.

We are limiting how much the pictures show until everything is finished, which may be a few weeks yet, then we'll do more of a spread on it. We'll keep you posted on the progress though as we have some pretty cool ideas for other areas of the studio.

Oh, by the way... thanks for all the votes of confidence out there, the poll was fun to watch!

Talent Session with Jenna Carlson

2009-03-12T08:52:00.006-06:00

We have been proud to be Jenna and Tom's engagement, wedding and post-wedding photographers. This time, we were able to work with Jenna as she expands her portfolio. Jenna is currently an actress and television host and is soon moving with her husband Tom to California to continue her career there. As always with Jenna, we had lots of fun and laughs.

Can't wait to see you both on the coast!

Update: New Home Studio

2009-03-06T17:35:00.007-07:00

Update: Well the floors are in and look great! Shane and my dad did a wonderful job and I even like the new floors better than the pre-existing ones. I will say that they came with a price. Both the guys were in a decent bit of pain after deciding they would finish over a 550 sqft area in a little under two days. We made a visit to the local Walgreen's for Advil.

So, to all of you who voted with faith, congrats! To those that didn't...it was fun anyway. Shane's a person driven by motivation and integrity; I rarely bet against him when he sets his mind to something :)

Pictures soon...

-Erin M.

For those of your who follow us on Twitter or Facebook, you already know we recently moved into our new home! So far we love it and have been working hard to get it ready to share with you. This weekend it's wood flooring. Our entryway and kitchen have great solid wood flooring and after some convincing, Erin agreed to let me try my hand at installing matching wood flooring throughout the rest of the 1st level. Have I done this before? Well no, but I'm feeling confident. So, what do you think?
We've attached a fun poll below for you to weight in your opinion. Haha.

What do you think of me doing the wood flooring myself? ( surveys)

Foto Flo Workshop: Omaha Ne

2009-02-26T06:17:00.003-07:00

Any photographer who uses Adobe Lightroom or is wanting to learn more about how Lightroom can streamline your archiving and post-processing process should look into this great workshop. Geoff, Mike and Andrew of Malone and Co and Geoff Johnson Photography have been working with Lightroom since it's beginning and have developed a simple and highly effective way of making your post-processing efficient. Visit there Foto Flo website to read more and to register, but for now here are some more details...

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009

Open: Studio opens at 8a, starting at 8:30a, wrapping around 5:30p

Covering: Adobe Lightroom 2 (please have current version installed)
What to Bring:

* Computer (Mac's are what we know. We cannot guarantee Window's support.)
* External hard drive
* CF Card Reader
* Lightroom must be loaded on your computer
If you don't want to buy, you can download the trial and use it for 1 month:
www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/
* We will send out a pdf of the notes prior to the workshop
* Camera's not needed, bring them if you can't leave home without them

Workflow includes:

* Importing
* Metadata
* How a LR catalog works
* Lightroom Modules
* Exporting
* Archiving

WPPI 2009 - Las Vegas! Part One

2009-02-23T08:30:00.007-07:00

Erin and I just returned from WPPI 2009 in Las Vegas and as expected, we were not disappointed. This was another fun filled, action packed weekend connecting with old friends and meeting plenty of new ones. This year WPPI was held in the MGM which I like more than Paris/Bally's where it was held last year. From what I heard it was about 50/50 split on who liked which venue better.

One of the reasons I liked MGM was for the MGM Signature Suits which is where we stayed. The Signature is part of MGM but just over a year old and not directly attached. We will be staying here next year, that's for sure. Although we didn't stay in the room too much, it was great having a place to rest and get-a-way from the frantic pace of everthing.

We'll be posting some more pics from Vegas soon!

Traveling: Nebraska, The Nation and World

2009-02-03T08:13:00.008-07:00

We have been traveling a lot lately. Already in January we've been all over Nebraska. Throughout the year we'll be sharing photos with you that show a bit of the scenery we're surrounded by throughout our travels. This year's looking to be an exciting year as we'll be in Vegas in less than two weeks, Kansas in March and the Cayman Islands in June! I'm most excited about this last one!

photo from Ritz-Carlton website
Click here to visit the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman to see where we'll be staying.

Below is Nebraska's Chimney Rock. If you think you've seen it before, you probably have. This historic site in Nebraska is found on the back of our US currency (the Nebraska Quarter).

Life Through The Lens

2009-01-27T18:45:00.005-07:00

I love how photography has the ability to capture the qualities that make life great.

Featured Wedding: Published in Nebraska Wedding Day

2009-01-14T06:21:00.015-07:00

You can now see pictures of Brice and Ashley's beautiful wedding the in latest issue of Nebraska Wedding Day! Some of you may recognize the images as they are on our website and blog. The article does a great job of telling Brice and Ashley's story and can be purchased in Nebraska bookstores. If you'd seen the article and wanted to see more, click on the video below to see a web-show of their wedding day.

University of Nebraska - New Frontiers Publication

2009-01-12T09:06:00.015-07:00

During the winter months, as weddings are fewer, we will sometimes work closely with businesses or educational organizations to help provide them with signature imagery for campaigns and publications. About a month ago the University of Nebraska Kearney Commissioned us to provide imagery for their most recent publication of New Frontiers. This magazine features some of the brightest minds within the University and those professors who are at the top of their fields in creation, research or science. We were extremely impressed with some of the things that are coming from this University - from scientific discoveries to amazing cutting edge design and artwork - that we had the desire to share it with you.

One of my favorite session was with Victoria Goro-Rapoport. She was actually a past professor of mine and her amazing work never fails to impress me. Her work is so detailed that she creates it with the help of a magnifying glass. The finished pieces easily exceed 30" in size. The magnitude of her work is hard to fully comprehend until you see it. So, I've attached two images below. The first shows what we see with the naked eye, the second what you see through the magnifying glass.

She draws out a sketch of the image she wants to create before she begin the etching...

The following is more of a sneak-peak into the sessions. Below is UNK's Chancellor and former Nerbaska State Senator, Doug Kristensen and Dr. Greg Brown who is researching the health benefits of Wii boxing.

The sessions and articles also included author Kate Benzel and her research on modern American writer Carl Sandburg, Dr. Kimberly Carlson, for her research with fruit flies and the AIDS virus, and Dr. Jeanne Stolzer for her research concerning the diagnosing of young boys with ADHD.

Merry Christmas and Thanks Matt!

2008-12-26T20:45:00.007-07:00

First of all Merry Christmas to everyone! I truly hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is preparing for a great New Years. Erin and I spent Christmas Day in Kearney and are now in Lincoln with her parents for her family's Christmas tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures... they can be a crazy group.

On a side note I was googleing myself and randomly came across Matt Duling's blog called Daily Duling. This is possible the nicest comment we have ever received. Matt and Alicia were so much fun to photography over a year ago and it was great seeing them at Max and Ashli's wedding last month.

You can read his comments below and read the rest here.

"The pictures. Now I'm really not a big fan of getting my picture taken, but the photographers that they hired, Shane and Erin Melenbacker are probably the best ones on the planet. I don't believe that I'm exaggerating either. First, you would be hard pressed to find a nicer couple, possible I'm sure, but very difficult. Second, you won't find any photographers who take better pictures. It's possible that a trained eye might be able to determine a better photographer, but again, you would be very hard pressed to do so. And third, they actually have this amazing talent of making the subjects of their pictures feel relaxed and at ease. Your wedding day has quite a few aspects that can cause stress, and having a photographer that actually alleviates stress is really amazing. When you put those traits together, you will find that they are worth every cent, in fact you are actually getting quite a deal.

Alicia and I had the Melenbackers at our wedding. We met with a lot of photographers at different bridal shows and our initial first impression was that these people are some of the nicest people we've ever met, and they really do have a passion for capturing the joy of weddings. Our wedding party assumed that they were old friends of ours who happened be be excellent at taking pictures. They took the time to meet with us and actually get to know us before the wedding. Now, when we saw them a year and a half later, they not only remembered who we were, but were genuinely interested in how life was going for us and what we were up to. I can not say enough great things about them and I highly recommend that you take a look at their website www.melenbackerphotography.com"

Why Am I Awake?

2008-12-11T02:51:00.004-07:00

It's now 4:00am and I've been up since 1:30am and still feel wide awake. Can't say I'm fond of being wide awake while the rest of the general population is sleeping. It's kind of been a weird week when it comes to sleep. The positive side is I'm getting a decent bit of work done, the negative...I don't know how well I'll be functioning during the day :)

Hope you're all sleeping soundly.

J Minus - New CD Released!

2008-12-02T09:23:00.008-07:00

If you've visited our website, you may already know that J Minus is one of our all-time favorite bands. Dylan Fant is the guy that created this band and to say he's talented would be an understatement. He writes and produces most of their music, plays several instruments and has been awesome in personally giving us permission to have their music on our site and blog. Last night I received an email from Dylan letting me know that their newest CD "Mr. Robotron on the Byway" has been released. I love it! I have attached a YouTube video of theirs below for you to see a glimpse of their newest music. To buy their CD or heard more of their music online, you can click on the links below:

J Minus Acoustic MySpace Page
J Minus Store
J Minus MySpace Page

Our Christmas Photos

2008-11-24T09:26:00.005-07:00

After a busy and full calendar year, we realized we had almost forgotten to take our own photos for the holidays. At Last... here they are :)

Video of us at work: Behind the Scenes

2008-11-13T08:19:00.011-07:00

Click image to play

It's finally here! We work with a large number of couples and peers who are not based in our home-town, state, or sometimes, even our country. Because of this, there is a number of people that we have yet to meet in person. Until then, both Shane and I are excited that we can now give a glimpse into what we do and share a little more of our life's moments with you.

Our thanks to Ron and his amazing team at Cinematic Studios for helping us document and share this with you.

Iwo Jima & WWII: Remembered by Lee Vinyard

2008-11-10T09:26:00.009-07:00

Today is the 233rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Erin's grandfather along with many of her relatives were Marines and this year at the annual birthday celebration, we met Lee. Lee, was on Iwo Jima when they raised the flag and the video below is his shared memories from the day.

We really enjoyed talking with Lee and are both so thankful he was willing to share his thoughts and experiences with us. We are so blessed to live in a free country and in many cases we owe our thanks to men like Lee who fought for our freedom.

Post-Wedding Session: Jenna & Tom

2008-11-03T15:57:00.006-07:00

We had so much fun working with Jenna and Tom this summer for their engagement session and wedding and were
excited to work with them again this past week for their post-wedding session! We love their ability to keep us laughing (that's a good thing) :)

Tom gives us his "high-fashion" pose...

It was so cold outside. This old barn was a perfect place to take pictures and get out of the wind.

Cookies & Flowers

2008-10-25T10:30:00.006-06:00

For some reason I'm not able to post blogs from my blogger account currently. So, until this is fixed, I'll be posting from Shane's.

Today we're having a relaxing day at home and it's been a great weekend so far. First, Shane emailed me to ask me on a date last night and surprised me with flowers. I love flowers and I love the idea of going on dates even thought we've been married for almost 7 years now.

Secondly, we have been married almost 7 years and I have never successfully made a batch of cookies. Well, I think my luck has finally changed! I made my first successful batch this morning! May sound silly to be so excited, but if you only knew the failed attempts (haha). When I told Shane they turned out he said "Really? I'll admit I'm somewhat surprised." I've caught him twice this morning eating them :)

1900-1940's Inspired Wedding: Douglas & Laura

2008-10-16T05:08:00.021-06:00

One of the first times I talked to Laura, she described herself as someone who loved "old things." This was evident from the moment we began working together on the day of her and Douglas' wedding.

Laura and Douglas designed their wedding after the early 1900's mainly 1900-1940's. Her dress, she made herself and fashioned it after a 1907? design. (Now, I'll admit that I am not the best with dates, so I'm giving you the approximate date verses the exact as Laura, Douglas and their families would know)

The church was built in the late 1800's after the All Saints Church in Wiltshire, England.

When they left the ceremony and later the reception site, they left in a 1940's Packard.

The reception was a High Tea with tea sandwiches and a variety of pastries.

I LOVED the attire they left in!

Nature Photographer

2008-10-11T13:50:00.004-06:00

Today I decided I would make a change from wedding photographer to nature photographer. Of course I only decided this as I saw this guy looking at me as I walked through our front door. I don't think he (or she) like being a model though, it jumped away after the fourth shot. I think I'll go back to weddings!

Marathon Press and us

2008-10-10T05:01:00.006-06:00

This last year at WPPI Erin and I met Linda from Marathon Press and since then have kept in touch once in a while. A few months ago Linda called and invited us as a guest to a workshop they were hosting. Erin and I are drawn towards Marathon for a few different reasons:

1. There customer service is second to none.
2. They are much more than just a printing company.
3. They are dedicated to seeing the photographers they work with succeed.
4. They are the largest printing/marketing company in the nation for
photographers and they are based out of our home state... Nebraska!

The workshop they put on was amazing and while there we were able to meet some great photographers from around the nation. Being wedding photographers, most of the time we are around other wedding photographers. But this group was a diverse mix of everything which made sharing ideas even more fun.

One of my favorite parts was the print tour. This was also Erin's favorite part because it reminded her of the video they had to watch in design school about the printing process. Very interesting in person, contrary to the educational video.

Above is the offset printer and below is an example of what is printed

Wouldn't want to get my fingers under this thing!

Automatic paper folder.

This is Linda and us along with Marathon's owner Rex who was great to talk with. We first met Linda out at WPPI in Las Vegas, crazy that we had to meet at a huge convention when we're based out of the same state! Linda was great at keeping us on track throughout the workshop (wouldn't want me wondering back through the printing area) jk

On the last night, Marathons president, Bruce, invited us along with about 20 employees to have dinner at his place. Nothing like a good Nebraska steak to end a workshop on :)

We ended the night at the hotel drinking coffee and talking with Doug and Amanda, Don and Mindy and Rick.

Shane & Erin Melenbacker Speak at PPN Conference

2008-10-02T08:23:00.015-06:00

Erin and I had so much fun speaking at the PPN Fall Conference! Actually, probably too much fun as we're beginning to see the pictures surface on Facebook :) We'll be speaking next at the Heart of America Conference in March, so if you missed us this time, we look forward to meeting you there!

Our thanks again to BODA for sponsoring us and giving away a BODA Dry bag, Mike Colon for donating his DVD "On Location With Mike Colón: Toronto", and Big Folio for providing one lucky person with a new website/blog/online hosting combo! We love these products and sites and for those of you that didn't win in the drawing or couldn't make it, BODA has offered to extend a 15% discount to anyone planning to purchase a BODA bag before October 10th. Use code: mel0814

The amazing group we had!

We had a short break, and had some awesome volunteers to play a quick round of "Reception Dance Song" Trivia. The catch... if you knew it, you had to dance it to compete. Photo below is from "Thriller"

(Update) Post-Wedding Session: Trash The Dress

2008-09-27T20:21:00.012-06:00

Update:

Images coming soon!

Flip Mino

2008-09-27T09:19:00.002-06:00

I love this new Flip Mino! We found out about this from Gene Higa while we were in LA at Pictage's Partner Conference.

Post-Wedding Session w/ Mattie and Marty

2008-09-18T11:58:00.010-06:00

Sometimes the wedding day just doesn't allow for all the creative or fun imagery a bride and groom would like in their wedding collection. Maybe there's a favorite location the couple was unable to visit on the wedding day, maybe the wedding day schedule didn't permit the extra time or maybe the bride is wearing a designer gown that must be protected until the wedding day is over. Whatever the reason may be, we have loved post-wedding sessions simply because they are a relaxed and stress-free time for couples to get specialized imagery that meets specific desires.

Pro Photo Hub - By Ray Santana

2008-09-17T09:31:00.008-06:00

Our friend Ray Santana recently started Pro Photo Hub. It's a great resource for photographer's to hear about the latest in wedding industry and we love it! On the site there's interviews with some of the industry's greats, reviews of gear, and insight on some of the latest equipment available to reach the pro photographer.

You can check it out at www.prophotohub.com

His latest interview was with Grace Ormonde, publisher of grace ormonde wedding style magazine. As some of you may know Shane and I are included as platinum list vendors in her magazine and we love Grace's style, attention to detail and the strong imagery she chooses to publish. If you have never read her magazine, we would greatly encourage you to check it out.

The Beach and Then Beverly Hills

2008-09-15T09:23:00.000-06:00

Before the craziness of the Pictage Partner Conference began last week, we decided to visit the Beach and then Beverly Hills. For lunch, we tried a Blackened Mahi Mahi wrap, which was actually really good, walked on the beach for a little while, and then headed back to the hotel to get ready for a fun evening in Beverly Hills. I loved visiting the stores and one of my favorites, Cole Haan.

In You - By Erin Melenbacker

2008-09-14T10:31:00.018-06:00

Sometimes our lives get so busy heading in one direction that we forget or neglect areas that we not only enjoy but are blessed by. This hit me at church this morning while Erin was performing a song she wrote. Singing with her is Paul Braddy, who added so much to the song with his voice and guitar. Some of you know that in the past Erin has done a lot of singing and songwriting and has even opened for 4 Him and Jaci Velasquez (back in the day). I am so proud of her singing and songwriting ability and feel guilty that I have taken it for granted over the past few years. We have been so busy with "life" that sometimes this amazing talent can be pushed to the back burner even though it can bless others. This was made apparent to me today when I saw various people with tears in their eyes during the song.

Because I enjoyed this so much I wanted to share it.

Melenbacker Photography: Speaking at PPN's Fall Conference

2008-09-12T12:30:00.006-06:00

It's getting so close! Not too much longer and we will be speaking to our fellow photographers about working with todays' brides and grooms.

When a couple is working with you or considering working with you, it is so important that they have an accurate picture of who you are and are able to stay easily connected with you and your business. We'll share general ways we assist and work with couples and help explain why using online tools such as Blogger and Facebook are important to both your business and your clients. We will be speaking on Sunday, September 28th, beginning at 6:00pm. If you have not yet signed up but would like to attend, you can click on the following link for more information: PPN Fall Conference

See you there!

Dinner in Hollywood

2008-09-12T08:39:00.008-06:00

After our engagement session with Emily and Jeff, our friends Erin and Gavin showed us the city and took us to a restaurant called U Wink. What made this restaurant unique is that instead of having a waiter who took your order, everything was a touch screen. You filtered through this virtual menu, added up what you wanted and your food was on it's way to you. Also, while you're waiting, you can play games with the people who are sitting at your table. (the girls won!) We had so much fun hanging out with Erin & Gavin.

The Pictures below were taken at the Kodak Theatre (where American Idol takes place) and the Chinese Theatre (hands and footprints of the stars).

In Los Angeles California

2008-09-09T11:24:00.005-06:00

We arrived here in Los Angeles Sunday morning and to say the least, I would say it started off rough as our flights were changed last-minute and we ran around like crazy to make sure we caught all the right flights. Once here, we freshened up and got ready for an great engagement shoot with Emily and Jeff. We had an awesome time together and the weather was perfect. For the rest of the week, we'll be here with some of our photographer friends from around the country at Pictage's Partner Conference. More pictures coming soon...

Wedding: Rusty & Hailey

2008-09-05T07:36:00.006-06:00

Well, not too much longer and we'll be in California. Soon we'll be sharing pictures from our visit with you, but before we leave...

This summer's been so much fun and I can't tell you how excited I've been to work with each couple. I feel so blessed to have met and worked with the couples and families we have this year. Rusty and Hailey are no exception and from the first time we began working together at the wedding, their families made us feel just as welcomed.

I love Hailey's ring!

SCORR Marketing

2008-09-04T19:56:00.004-06:00

Last week we had fun photographing our friends from SCORR Marketing. Shane and I have loved getting to know their talented staff because they really are an incredible team both in the work they produce for their clients and the way they take care of them through their customer service. Here's a sneak peak into just a part of the session.

Weddings: Brandon & Kelsi

2008-08-27T13:32:00.010-06:00

The first time we met Brandon and Kelsi, we couldn't wait to begin working with them. Brandon and Kelsi are such a positive and fun couple to be around...and to think we also found another person that cares just as much about the way his shirts are ironed as Shane :) haha

After a beautiful wedding, Kelsi and Brandon released butterflies in memory of those who were not able to be present at their wedding. Before the reception, we stopped at an old train station for some additional pictures. I loved this place and because the sun was setting, everything had a nice warm glow. The caboose pictures remind me of a scene from an old romance movie.

Goboda.com

2008-08-25T23:02:00.006-06:00

Back in April we posted a gear review where we talked about the Boda lens bags. First of all, after using and abusing this bag for over five months now I still stand by everything I said in April. This bag has been a very valuable asset during the wedding season. That is also why I am very proud to say that Boda is sponsoring us.

What that means for anyone reading this is that they can receive 10% off a Boda bag by using this code: mel0814. There will be more to offer our readers and anyone who is planning on seeing us speak at the Professional Photographers of Nebraska conference in a few weeks as well as the Heartland of America photographers conference in March. Looking forward to seeing everyone and if anyone has any questions about Boda bags feel free to ask and in case you ever need this promo code it will be permanently posted at the bottom of our blog.

Washington DC Photographer Get-Together with Armin

2008-08-18T17:23:00.003-06:00

OK, I'm really trying to catch up with my blogs and the next one in line is the fun night we had at Carlyle in Washington DC. I really have to thank my good friend Armin for setting this up with a bunch of great photographers. It was good meeting them all and I am really looking forward to seeing them again, hopefully soon! Thanks Armin, Julia, Peter, Hadar, Noah and Moshe for a great time!

In DC and Georgetown

2008-08-13T02:21:00.008-06:00

So the pictures with everyone from tonight will be posted a little later. For now I thought I would get some up of georgetown! Went walking around yesterday evening and just had some fun shooting.

To DC

2008-08-12T13:03:00.006-06:00

After leaving Omaha at 11 AM and arriving in Washington DC at 8 PM I finally made it. I was delayed in Chicago for a few hours due the ATC (air traffic control) I think they use that one for everything. It did give me a chance to try out a Wolfgang Puck pizza though which I would suggest to anyone. I will be posting some DC city shots soon as well as some from tonight. I will be hanging out with Armin and some other DC photographers. Should be a blast!

Popped this one off while waiting

Fun With Friends

2008-08-04T20:01:00.003-06:00

Last week, our good friend Kenny Kim came and spent some time with us before helping us shoot a wedding over the weekend. We were also able to hang out with Julie and her husband Troy along with Nate and Danielle on Sunday.

Our weekend ended up being a great time. Although....sometimes Erin thinks Kenny and I have too much fun.

Maybe shes right.

Within an hour of Kenny arriving we had some good laughs and I received a $200 dollar speeding ticket. GOODTIMES!!!! Nothin' but love Kenny :)

Brice & Ashley

2008-07-29T13:34:00.006-06:00

Last weekend we photographed the wedding of Ashley Brown and Brice Wiltgen. Both Shane and I loved meeting and spending the day with them and their families. The wedding was beautiful. In the slideshow below, you'll notice that the bride and groom's wedding logo was in various places throughout the day including their spa attire, water bottles, invitations, valet parking tickets and more. This logo and other graphic design was provided by Janelle Reed. The flowers came from Kearney Floral and all the night's food from Shawn Engberg who is the owner of the Alley Rose in Kearney Nebraska. Brianne Aldinger was the event's coordinator who did a spectacular job and kept everything running smoothly. Our thanks to Kenny for helping photograph the day with Shane and I.

In Kansas City MO. with Shane and Laine

2008-07-25T10:44:00.005-06:00

Last Saturday we met Laine and Shane in Kansas City for their engagement session and had a blast. You can see how in love these two are with each other and how much fun they have together. We started out in the Country Club Plaza area of KC which is a nice shopping district and then moved to more of the downtown area. I'm just glad there are not photos of me at this session because it was so hot I was a mess. It sure didn't bother these guys though. Erin looked great too, we just don't have any photos of her either :)

Kansas City

2008-07-25T01:36:00.006-06:00

OK, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Erin and I were in Kansas City this last weekend for an engagement shoot with Laine and Shane which will be posted in another day or so. We also met with Ellyn Bold who is an amazing event designer in KC. Check out her website to view some of the great events she has done. We had a really nice Sunday brunch at The Grand St Cafe by the Plaza. I would recommend it to anyone who is going to be in that area. These photographs are just Erin and I goofing around on the last day. We stayed an extra day to relax which was worth it. Right now Kenny is in town and it's been a lot of fun as usual along with some really late nights already... It's now 2:45 am. I better get to bed.

The shot below is from the roof of Baja 600 on the Plaza.

Soon I'll also be posting some of the fun Erin, Kenny, Geoff, Julie and I have been having over the last couple days.

Our Friends from North Carolina

2008-07-19T06:20:00.005-06:00

Last night we were in Lincoln visiting with friends of ours from North Carolina that I have not seen for over 8 years. Jim and Theresa were my parents' friends from the time I was just a child. Growing up, Jim was our church's choir director. A lot of my interest in music I credit Jim with. He is one of the first people that ever had me sing publicly and encouraged me to use my music abilities within the church. The church we currently attend is in the process of using some of the praise songs I've written and I have Jim to thank for that and the inspiration he gave me years ago.

Anyways...it was great seeing everyone again. Their daughters are so beautiful and sweet; it seems like everyone's doing well in North Carolina. Because my dad was in the military while I was growing up, we traveled or moved a fair amount so I don't see many people that I knew from my childhood and it was awesome to see them again!

PS...Shane found another person besides Jose Villa that prefers to use film :)

Wedding: Alex & Michala

2008-07-11T06:29:00.006-06:00

Over last weekend we spent the Saturday with Michala and Alex. While Michala is from Nebraska, Alex was originally from West Virginia. A few years ago when Alex came to Kearney, he came to fulfill the dream of being a rancher and along the way, met his future bride :)

My Favoite Online Radio Station: Pandora

2008-07-08T06:42:00.005-06:00

I love Pandora! During the day while I'm editing wedding albums, selecting images, ect, this is what I will listen to while I'm working. One of my favorite features is that it has you type in your favorite band or musician and then creates a radio station with artists or bands that sing the same style of music. Once you have your favorites created, you can combine the selected stations for more of a variety. If you don't like a song or artist they play, you can thumb it down and it won't play it again.

Old-school

2008-07-05T08:26:00.002-06:00

What do you get when you mix a couple photographers, a polariod camera that was about to be thrown away and film that is past expiration by 7 years.

Hope everyone had a happy 4th!

Wedding: Brooke and Justin

2008-06-30T17:40:00.008-06:00

Update: Here is a slideshow with more of Brooke and Justin's wedding pictures. Click on the play button below to watch it.

It's been a busy day and weekend, but I wanted to take a quick moment to share with you a couple of our favorites from this weekend's wedding. The ceremony was held at First Plymouth in Lincoln and the reception at The Country Club of Lincoln. Brooke has amazing style and taste so it didn't surprise us that both places were decorated beautifully. We really enjoyed spending the day with Brooke, Justin and their families and will be posting a few more over the next day or so for you to enjoy.

Brandon and Kelsi

2008-06-27T06:13:00.006-06:00

Summer is flying by. I still can't believe June is almost over!

Recently we had an engagement session with Brandon and Kelsi. I love it when a bride and groom have a special place or destination they want to take their photos at. For Brandon and Kelsi, we spent the last part of their session photographing at Kelsi's parents' land. My favorite part was walking through and taking pictures in the wheat field.

One thing I will always love about the mid-west is how awesome and friendly people are. After the photo session, Kelsi and Brandon's parents sent us on our way with home-made scones (which were delicious)! Kelsi and Brandon have been so much fun to work with and we are looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Happy Birthday Shane!!!

2008-06-18T16:08:00.002-06:00

Shane's Birthday was yesterday and here's a pictures Shane trying to blow out the many candles on his cake :) He likes to call his age twenty-twelve, I am a few candles short, but my fear of burning down the house kind of made me stop at 24. For his birthday wish he just wanted to stay home and relax, so we grilled huge New York Strips, rented a movie and finished the night with a frozen yogurt ice cream cake and coffee from his new Bunn coffee maker!

Thomas and Jenna

2008-06-16T19:08:00.005-06:00

Last Saturday we photographed a great wedding in Kearney. Jenna is the television host for Fox 4 & 17 and Thomas is so fun and outgoing. Neither one shy away from the camera which is a photographers dream. These two were so much fun and had so many ideas they wanted try, as you can see from the last shot.

Both Tom and Jenna wanted to get some pictures at the same pier where their favorite engagement pic was from. When we arrived at the park it turned out they were having the park's annual celebration, complete with bands and a couple moon bounce things. It didn't take Tom long to convince Jenna that it would be a lot of fun to get in and bounce around. I have to say thanks to all the kids who let us cut in front of them, only one of them was a little upset :)

Rusty & Hailey

2008-06-06T11:02:00.002-06:00

Tuesday we had a small break between lots and lots of rain and I'm so thankful that we did. It gave us the chance to hang out with Rusty & Hailey and take their engagement pictures. As a couple they are so much fun. We're both looking forward to seeing them again at their wedding later this year.

Awesome Failures...

2008-06-04T17:53:00.001-06:00

We saw this on DJ's blog and it's awesome so we had to share it with you.

What did we do on a Monday night?

2008-06-03T08:21:00.004-06:00

Last night our friends Nate and Danielle called and asked if we'd like to do something different and go bowling. We had not been bowling since...well, I'm not sure. But, we all thought it sounded like something fun and retro so we went and had a blast! None of us scored over a 130 the whole night and a couple of us scored in the 70's a few times, but it was fun anyway.

Some more fun shots of the night. I had to take a picture of this top right one. Socks in a vending machine? That's a first. Fortunately we all had our own socks :)

Erin decided to do some fun experimental post-processing with these pictures of me. I like them.

One Last Tornado Picture

2008-06-02T13:37:00.002-06:00

Ok, so we were done posting on the Tornado until we were sent this picture taken from someone driving by kearney on the interstate when we were hit by....I still can't believe the number....7 tornadoes in one night! Looking at this picture, I guess it's more believable. I'm guessing this is what we took a picture of out of our earlier blog out or south-facing window.

Joe and Kari's Wedding

2008-05-30T13:00:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday was Joe and Kari's wedding and we had a great time with them on their wedding day. Joe and Kari booked us a while ago while they were living near Lincoln and it just so happens they have moved really close to us. Well, Kari is in the process of moving now but since Joe has been here we've been able to get some coffee and hang out a little. These two have so much fun together they are a blast to be around and we look forward to doing that more in the future.

They each wrote letters that were delivered along with a gift when they were getting ready by the maid of honor and best man.

Here's some fun group shots of Kari and the girls outside the reception.

Tornadoes in Kearney

2008-05-29T18:17:00.008-06:00

Update #3: Here's some pictures of local damage...

Update #2: Here is a picture we took last night as the storm clouds moved in. I've always been told to watch the sky and if it turns green, head for shelter. I have to say, I have never seen the sky turn this color before.

This image was taken just a few moments later. The sky was no longer green and this is what we saw rolling down and toward us through our south facing windows.

Update: the storm is over and all is well at our place. Driving through town there are roofs missing and on one road, there were cars stacked ontop of one another. The amazing thing is that the last news reports said their are no casualties as of yet. We are so thankful for God's protection during this time.
End update_______________

Thank you to those of you who are praying for us and our friends in neighboring cities this evening. We had multiple tornadoes touch down in Kearney and two that were only a couple blocks north and south of our home. Phone lines are currently in and out and the power is down. I am not sure of the most recent update, but here's what I have so far...

"A civil emergency has been issued in Kearney after a storm carrying several tornadoes rolled through the city.

There are reports of downed trees and power lines, as well as a train derailment just outside of town. There's also reports of damage on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus."

For the few moments that we had a small weather break, we stepped out to see that their are lots of trees and phone poles down as well as roofs to buildings. Again, thank you for those of you who are praying, I know it's not over yet for us and for neighboring cities throughout Nebraska. Shane is on a disaster committee for the city and has been called out, I'll post more when I get an update.

Governor Heineman's Birthday Celebration

2008-05-21T10:10:00.007-06:00

Last night we had an wonderful evening photographing Nebraska Governor Heineman's birthday celebration. Tom and Kim Dinsdale hosted the evening at their beautiful home. Below is a photo of Tom & Kim Dinsdale with First Lady Sally Ganem & Governor Heineman. After the celebration, we had a fun late-night dinner with Katie and Chris who were also at the event. We'll be photographing Katie and Chris' wedding in the fall and it was great to get together again. The last time we saw each other was when we did their engagement session in Las Vegas.