Jon and Megan - August 5, 2007

Click here to view Jon and Megan's Italian Album - the shopping cart icon will work once Jon and Megan have had a chance to view all the pictures. Their YouTube highlight video will be online in a few weeks.
Here's their highlight video!

Wedding #5 in a 9-day stretch... here I come, Wisconsin! Hopefully they sell Mountain Dew along the way somewhere. :) As the Studio J Tuscon bulleted through the early morning mist and rain, I was reminded that Joe the video guy set my GPS last night to a pleasant British accent that now said "Turn left in 447 miles" and "Recalculating" about 12 times in the McDonald's drive through - so I shut her off.

5 hours later... To lower my blood sugar from my Snickers/Egg McMuffin/Mountain Dew/crappy coffee breakfast, I stopped just outside Elkhorn, Wisconsin at a quaint little ice cream shop and ordered a cholesterol cheeseburger and strawberry slush since I was still yawning at noon. Around the corner was the isolated country church when Jon and Megan were getting married. There were these really cool, tall windows in the older church for pictures of Megan and Jon and the bridesmaids (see shot above). A funny moment at Lake Geneva after the ceremony was when Megan was paged by her friends to "report to the office" during the dock picture above.

The reception was at the gorgeous Hawk's Nest golf course - I saw a picture of Tiger Woods golfing there in 1999 with glasses on! Ever wonder why Wisconsin and Minnesota have such a high number of golf courses per capita when we are inside for so much of the year? Me too. Anyway, a great and fun wedding that wins the "best man speech of the year award" for Peter's amusing ramblings "amongst the people" while he walked around the tables thanking his parents for raising "moderately responsible" young men - good stuff. Thier video on YouTube will be posted here in about 4 weeks. -Judd

Aaron and Ellie - August 4, 2007

Click here to view Aaron and Ellie's Italian Album design!
Highlight Video Part 1!

Part 2...reception fun!

"Most animated dinner" award goes to Aaron and Ellie's wedding - it will probably go down as the dinner with the most entertainment in my career - ever. Russ the DJ had people dressing up as hula dancers, Mexican hat dancers, the Rockettes, and WWE champions - and that was just during DINNER!

What a beautiful day, I actually felt comfortable wearing a long sleeved shirt; and the bridal party was exceptionally fun. We got the best outdoor shots ever for a rainy day! Special thanks to Allison and Alyssa for playing videographer and umbrella carrier for those shots. :)

A couple interesting parts of the day: 1) My childhood dentist, Dr. Phelps, was there from Spencer, Iowa (I still have 7 of his fillings in my mouth) and 2) We got Aaron the ringbearer to finally smile by all saying the name of his dog "Charlie." So, when I wanted Ellie's mom to smile bigger I asked her the name of her dog and unfortunately, they had just put their family dog to sleep a few days before... Oops. Foot-in-mouth syndrome. -Judd, Joe, Josh, and Amanda

Richie and Jessica - August 3, 2007

Richie and Jessica's highlight video on YouTube - part 1.

Part 2...

Scott and Heidi - July 28, 2007

Click here to watch Scott and Heidi's online Italian Coffee Table Album - the shopping cart icon (for proofing and/or ordering all prints) will work once Scott and Heidi have had a chance to look at all the pictures.

< Here's their holiday greeting card from last year! :)


I love the shot of Heidi spinning in her dress above! Scott and Heidi's wedding gets the "Best Limo Party" award despite the fact Father Time was a little touchy on the brakes and the karaoke machine was off limits. What a fun bunch! First time I have ever been peer-pressured into tasting "Swamp Water" out of a Gatorade jug. Did you get a shot of that one, Becky?

The humidity had broken for Scott and Heidi and it turned out to be a really fun day - with a full moon as well! I loved the color of Heidi's dress and the vertical jump she got in it at the park stop near their house (see picture above).

From the beauty of St. Ambrose to the fun at the reception, we got some really unique and energetic shots, including a couple of the Groomsmen getting up and faking a kiss when the table bells went off. And Danielle grabbing our video guy Josh for a spin around the dance floor; I'm sure the dance is still going strong as I type this at 10:30! -Judd, Chris, Joe, and Josh

I'll also put their highlight video on YouTube here as well once it is complete.

Eric and Amber - July 27, 2007

Click here to view Eric and Amber's Italian Coffee Table Album - the shopping cart icon will work once they have had a chance to review all of the pictures.
Here is their highlight video!

Eric and Amber's wedding wins the "earliest bride ready to go" award. Usually we show up and shoot some creative "getting ready" pictures for 30 minutes or so and then have couples see each other. But today, we took some pictures of the outside of the building and walked up to the third floor of the University Club and there was Amber dressed and ready to see Eric 35 minutes early. So, we unpacked everything quickly and got some great photos and video right off the bat.

A brisk walk in the summer sun to the Hill Library and Rice Park yielded some great outdoor pictures as well. You guys are a fun couple - witty and laid back enough to roll with the DJ playing the wrong first song. :) My favorite moments were a groomsmen roasting Eric for faking a broken leg one time to get out of work and Eric saying at the end of the night video interview that this was one of the "Top 10" weddings he had ever been to. Enjoy your honeymoon and we'll have your album designed and up in a week or two. -Judd, Amanda, Joe, and Josh

Funny side story tonight for you blog followers is I found my hotel key from the Chanute, Kansas wedding (see June 30 (Craig and Tara) and July 14 (Ben and Kate) to get caught up on the story) in my photo bag tonight and dropped them in the mailbox. Hope they hadn't changed the locks yet...

Kedar and Lindsay - July 21, 2007

Digital Coffee Table Album link - click on the shopping cart once Kedar and Lindsay have released all the pictures - free doubles until August 26!
So my day starts off at 12:15 in the early morning at the Seattle Airport. This guy in front of me at the Northwest ticket counter couldn't figure out why he couldn't check into the computer for his flight. The lady at the desk was trying to explain to him that the day changed from the 20th to the 21st 15 minutes ago and that his flight was at 12:55 the previous morning. The guy was confused (as he drove to the airport on the 20th), so keep that in mind next time you book a close-to-midnight flight. Good thing my wife is my travel agent. Did you know that exit row seats don't always lean back? Put that in your memory bank also as it is miserable trying to sleep in an upright position even though you have plenty of leg room.

So, I get back to my house at 8am, grab about 3 hours of sleep and head to Burnsville for Kedar and Lindsay's wedding. It wasn't too hot and there was a nice breeze as well. I am kind of tall but felt small around the bridesmaids as they are all like All-American athletes in hockey, field hockey, volleyball and basketball so this wedding wins the "tallest, most athletic bridesmaids" award.

Some unique shots were Lindsay dipping & kissing Kedar (above) and Lindsay flexing her formidable biceps. My favorite part of the day (besides Kedar's brother's wife Martha trying to talk me into having a 4th child) was seeing the potato in various shots of Kedar in the Growing Up video at the reception - what was up with that? Somebody leave a comment, I know it's a long story.

Due to lack of sleep, I forgot the table cards with our website on it so go to www.studiojphoto.com and... ...wait, you're already here! -Judd and Jessi

Vacation!

Click here to see the rest of the pictures (some taken by my 3-year old after arranging everyone how he wanted).
Check out the size of that fish! I had to hike 3 hours uphill to get to Holden Lake in the Wenatchee Wilderness of Washington State but the views (and pictures) were well worth it - we were surrounded by glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls in 70 degree weather. I think I caught 7 fish on my first 10 casts. Photo tip: hold the fish with your arm extended towards the camera to make it look bigger (demonstrated in the picture). DO NOT put your fingers around the fish as then you give away its real puny size (also demonstrated above).

My extended family decided to spend a week in remote Holden Village without cell phones, TV, red meat, and pretty much every modern convenience including automatic pin setting machines in the bowling alley. Hikes, fishing, time with kids, pottery, reading, conversation, hot tubs, pool, and bowling filled the days instead.

It was a great break but funny timing since it was in an "10 weddings in 4 weeks" time frame. Do you know like 50% of Americans don't take the vacation they are entitled to? Probably since you don't want your employers to find out their company runs just fine while you were gone; probably because you spend most of your day online reading other people's blogs. :) So, I have a solution: drag your feet on work for two weeks before your scheduled vacation, then have a bunch of friends call your "if this matter needs immediate attention" colleague over and over so the perception is that you are invaluable to the company and therefore need more vacation time. Try it and let me know what happens. -Judd

Ben and Kate - July 14, 2007

Click here to see Ben and Kate's Digital Italian Coffee Table Album! click on the shopping cart to see all the pictures once Ben and Kate have had a chance to view them all.

OK, here's a "small world" story if you ever heard one: Ben's family (The Babcocks) are from Chanute, Kansas (see blog for Craig and Tara's Wedding June 30). Unreal...

What a great wedding! When Ben and Kate first saw each other outside the church it was one of the most genuine first meetings I have had the pleasure to photograph. Except for the Pawn America sign in the background of course which I captured as well (on purpose). Regardless, Ben and Kate just radiated with adoration toward each other and lit up as soon as they were finally together on the wedding day.

The ceremony was great, even though Ben had microphone problems all day it seemed. :) We got a couple REALLY great shots of them walking out of the church under a shower of bubbles (see above).

Shady Thompson park yielded some really great wedding party shots on a gorgeous day; finally a summer wedding with great weather! The St. Paul Hotel was decorated beautifully and the bathrooms had some unique ice placement (right cousins at table 5?). This wedding wins the "Best Vows" award for the heartfelt, memorized, and 'not by the book' verses Kate and Ben spoke to each other - Uncle Roger, you got that on video, right?

Check back here in late July for their online album, I'm going on vacation for a few days! -Judd and Jessi

Joe and Nikki - July 14, 2007

Click here to view their online Coffee Table Album and click on the shopping cart to view and /or order all the photos once Joe and Nikki have had a chance to view them. Free doubles on all orders placed before Aug 25!

Amanda and Chris shot wedding #3 of the day - Joe and Nikki. It was great to see a young North High contigent (Anna, Alec, Laura and Brady, and Alec) as well as a Studio J photographer as a guest (Chad holding the flowers).

It looked like a really great day with lots of fun pictures like the groomsmen hanging from a tree. Nice catch on the garter, Brad - I always told Coach Porter you should have been an outfielder! -Judd

Jason and Heather - July 14, 2007

Heather and Jason's Wedding Highlights - part 1

Part 2 (reception)

So Jessi and I leave Ben and Kate's wedding to try to catch an hour or so of Jason and Heather's wedding that Joe and Josh videotaped and had a classic case of GPS gone awry... instead of going to Mississippi BLVD, we went to Mississippi Dunes golf course (Hastings / St Paul, pretty much the same right? Not quite. You should have seen the confused look on the bride's face there seeing two photographers walk in a 10pm. We did eventually get there and were greeted by 1/2 the cast of the "Secret Lives of Teachers" as they were leaving the wedding (see blog for April, 2007). Ms. Destics' shoulder was sore from driving her truck all weekend, apparently. They must have had some secret stuff to do leaving at 10:30 on a non-school summer night.

I grabbed a couple of shots for Jason and Heather's DVD artwork (above) and headed home thinking I haven't seen Heather that happy since she got her Q-comp check ;) (teacher joke). These guys win the "best dance moves by a couple" award for the 'hook, line, and sinker' fishing move from across the dance floor. Very appropriate. -Joe, Josh, Jessi, and Judd (full Studio "J" crew)

Craig and Tara - June 30, 2007

Craig and Tara's Italian Album - Click the shopping cart to see all the pictures; free doubles through early August on all online orders!
Click below to watch their video - resolution is low for faster streaming!

Have you wondered why we haven't had any rain in Minnesota? It's ALL in Kansas - 15 inches in the 3 days we were there, helping the river 33.5 feet over normal levels and closing roads (check out the picture above - there's not supposed to be a waterfall there at all!)

Where do I begin? As we're driving into the BOONDOCKS of Chanute, Kansas for this family wedding, I noticed a sign that said "birthplace of Walter Johnson" and I'm wondering "Who the heck is Walter Johnson?" Turns out he was one of the best baseball pitchers ever that played - his career ended in the early 1900's and the sign looked that old... So we make it into town past the "Bargain Center" where "no credit is needed" and I'm wondering "If things are such a bargain why would you need credit?" Then when I entered my hotel (Wild Bill Hickcock hotel room) and saw the carpeted BATHROOMS, I stopped wondering about things in Chanute as my brain had started hurting.

Some unique shots at this wedding was one of the wedding party while standing on the rail of the bridge, the amazing 6-level cake Tara's grandma made, and a picture of Craig and Tara while I was actually singing with the family during the ceremony.

It was raining (again) after the short reception so we went back to the Tioga Suites and wound up finally finding a slow song by George Strait so Craig and Tara could have their first dance. In Kansas, they play BOTH kinds of music, Country AND Western - and the DJ's sure weren't used to wedding dances in the hotel bar. The evening ended with the family checking which roads were flooded and closed online - there was only way out of town (the opposite direction we needed to go) but it looked like we could get back to Kansas City Int'l the next day. But wait! One last surprise, a 1am tour of the hotel brewery from the Brewmeister who had just returned from a party. She was also kind enough to show us her 7 new pug puppies - 10 hours old; my camera was unfortunately asleep by then. The MOST UNIQUE WEDDING award goes to Craig and Tara's, hands down. -Judd

Brad and Kelleigh - June 16, 2007

Their highlight video!

Another sunny (hot) June wedding! Brad and Kelleigh met in class at St. Thomas - right next to the arch they are walking through in the picture above. This wedding wins the "most creative table decorations" award with flowery, handmade European structures made by Kelleigh's mom (Brad and Kelleigh got to know each other on a European trip in college). The wedding party took a brief (60 minute) break during the reception to "decorate" Brad and Kelleigh's hotel room - I wonder how it looked... Somebody follow up with me on how Brad decorates your rooms on your wedding days!

I think I'm going to start posting highlght videos here on the blog through YouTube so check back here in a few weeks after Brad and Kelleigh have had a chance to view their highlight video. -Judd and Josh