THE IMPORTANCE OF A PHOTOGRAPH

Family, friends and loved ones. They've got to be the meaning of life, because when they go it seems you'd give everything to have them back. Telling stories with friends helps; especially while flipping through photos of your most beloved memories. Lately, we have been viewing our photography in a different way. Pointing our lenses in a slightly different direction. We've always been aware that photographing someone's family was important, but it seems the more we photograph special events with couples who we become so close with, the more we realize how important these photographs are. These words aren't anything ground-breaking, and perhaps it's because we don't really know how to express what we are feeling at the moment with words.

You know those photographs of your parents and grandparents that you hold in your hands every now & then and absolutely adore? That's what we are trying to create. We want to capture a moment within our images that 25 years from now — even 45 years from now — makes you feel something. If our bride & groom's grandchildren are holding the prints that we delivered to them and smiling from ear-to-ear, telling their sisters and cousins how young & beautiful their grandma is… then we've accomplished our goal. That's how much value we place on the moments we see happening at the weddings we photograph.

We recently had the privilege of photographing an amazing event. It was a wedding. Family & friends flew and drove from near and far. Smiles and happy tears were everywhere to be seen, and this particular Saturday in July was absolutely beautiful. The property at which the wedding was held was that of the bride & groom's home, and it was decorated SO beautifully by the incredible Evolutions in Design team here in Wausau, Wisconsin. It was the joining of two beautiful families. We had never witnessed a wedding like this before.

We've only personally known the Hugus family for a short time. Just two weeks before their wedding, they asked us to photograph their celebration. Thankfully, we happened to have that day available! A few conversations over the phone and connecting with them on their wedding day has been the extent of our interaction. But it didn't take long for us to realize how incredible this family is. Words can't quite do justice when describing the affect they have on you — we guess it's that when you are around them, you can truly feel their warmth. And John, who ended his 17 year battle with cancer just a few days ago, had an especially welcoming presence. The smile he gave us, having not even known us for more than a couple weeks, made us feel important and genuinely appreciated on his wedding day. We are so very thankful that we were able to capture the happiness that surrounded John on his & Robin's wedding day. We will remember that day always, and couldn't be more grateful to have been a part of it.

Love | Kelsy & Butch

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All images captured on film with Hasselblad 500cm, Contax 645 or Nikon F100 and Fuji 400H + Ilford HP5 film. 

WAUSAU WISCONSIN WEDDING | MICHELLE & RYAN!

Michelle & Ryan's wedding style was a beautiful harmony of classic & elegant meets vintage! If you ask us, this combination couldn't more perfectly reflect the two of them and their relationship. Together, Michelle & Ryan have a calming nature about them that makes you feel genuinely appreciated and blessed to be a part of their lives. Spend one second with them and you can tell that they fill each other up, just by the way they so effortlessly fall into one another. :)

In the months leading up to their wedding day, Michelle & Ryan worked closely with Anna of A.Styled Event and Evolutions in Design to bring their wedding day vision to life! From a charming "welcome to our wedding" sign, the cutest apple cider favor display, expertly created chalkboard signage and countless blooms in stunning amber glass vases, it's clear that no detail was left untouched! Bringing a stylist into their wedding celebration truly elevated it to an event that not only represented Michelle & Ryan as couple, but also brought an element of creative surprise that wow'd their guests! The team Michelle & Ryan assembled to bring their Jefferson Street Inn wedding to another level is one that we are so fortunate to have been a part of.

We're actually starting to think that Michelle & Ryan are an incredibly lucky pair. Their wedding fell on the most PERFECT fall day imaginable, just like their engagement session last fall!! All day long, we were in awe of the vibrant color that had just "popped" and the sunny skies surrounding us. Have we ever mentioned that fall is our FAVORITE?? ;)

Thank you so much, Michelle & Ryan, for choosing us to photograph your wedding day! You two are such a sweet couple, and we feel very lucky to have been the ones capturing these moments for you & your family!! :D

Love | Kelsy & Butch

// Film: Fuji Pro 400H, HP5 & Delta 3200 // Camera: Contax 645, Nikon F100 & Hasselblad 500cm //

FEATURED ON STYLE ME PRETTY | SONOMA WINE COUNTRY PORTRAITS

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Where do we even BEGIN with the excitement and fun that was Stevi & Charles' portrait session during our visit to Sonoma wine country? Stevi and Charles have such a loving relationship with so many shared passions & interests -- one of them being, of course, wine! We could have photographed them all day long amidst the private vineyard where we stayed!! Looking through their images brings us right back to the beautiful valley and certainly makes us want to go enjoy a glass of something tasty :) Cheers to love, exploring, and documenting! Now, go leave these two some love on the lovely Style Me Pretty!!

Love | Kelsy & Butch

413 ON WACOUTA WEDDING | MEGAN & CAM!

Megan & Cam were married last October, and we've been hanging onto their gem of a wedding day until just the right time to share. The trees just popped into shades of yellow, orange & red in Wausau, and we KNEW this was the perfect moment to unveil their beautiful celebration to you!!

From an intimate ceremony to their warm & inviting reception, Megan & Cam's style and rich color palette was carried though every element. A few things they love as a couple are great food, wine, and the company of their closest friends & family. They managed to make their reception feel like a large dinner party, and they did so by not only spoiling their guests with delicious bites, but also by making sure each & every guest knew just how important it was to have them there. 413 on Wacouta was the perfect setting for such a celebration, and La Petite Fleur created the most elegant bouquets and centerpieces to really bring the space to life!

When we think of Megan & Cam's wedding day, the first think we think of is how romantic it was. After getting ready in the elegant Saint Paul Hotel, Megan & Cam saw each other for the first time at Irvine Park. As Megan descended down the grand staircase, Cam waited for her with the cutest smirk on his face. Megan snuck up on her groom-to-be, and they had one of the sweetest "first looks" we have ever photographed. It was as if we were watching a movie!!

Everyone join us in congratulating this wonderful couple, as their first wedding anniversary is right around the corner – October 13th! :)

Love | Kelsy & Butch

// Film: Fuji Pro 400H & Delta 3200 // Camera: Contax 645, Nikon F100 & Hasselblad 500cm //

CELEBRATING MR. DUDLEY!

Earlier this month, we had the absolute honor of photographing Mr. Dudley's private Traditional Irish Wake at the Great Hall. The event was in a spirit of celebration, and it included family & friends who had flown in from all around the country. As everyone who lives in Wausau is certainly familiar, Dick Dudley was a philanthropist with a huge heart for supporting our community. His celebration also included a live performance by the Barbershoppers as well as stunning flowers by Evolutions and catering by The Mint. Photographing the sharing of  "Dickieisms" & hugs throughout the afternoon of mingling & reminiscing left us with such a warm feeling – it would be difficult to measure just how far Mr. Dudley's impact stretched!! :)

Love | Kelsy & Butch