Happy Holidays from the Sathers (and Santa)!

Tomina and Steve, the Studio Chicken

Tomina is a beautiful 2-week old baby girl who was in the studio yesterday. I love getting these black and white images of newborns, plus since Tyler and I went to St. Olaf together, we had to get a Grain Belt Premium in an image. Steve The Studio Chicken is the offical mascot of the studio and we'll post his "fan" photos on facebook. Babies don't like it when Steve screams right in their ear we found out...

It's starting to snow really hard so I am going home! the studio will be closed until January 4 - have a great holiday everyone! -Judd & the studio crew

Holiday pickups last chance!

Last day to pick up all holiday orders, albums, cards, etc is Wed, Dec 22 from 4-9pm - we'll be here! Then we're taking time off until about Jan 4. I'm going skiing in Montana. -Judd :)

Through the lens over time...

I was framing up these images through my lens at Grant and Michelle's wedding and felt a strange feeling. I can try to describe it as a mix of fun, responsibility, flattery, and service. The images of Josh and Dre and Jay and Frances are mostly the same from their weddings we captured; but the stories, time, and locations are entirely different. Josh and Dre were sans their three kids, but Jay and Frances brought their 5-month-old miracle along. Since we've been shooting weddings now for about 8 years, we've run into more and more of these referral couples at the wedding, but this is the first time we've done three siblings. I put the 4th sibling, "Last of the Mohicans" Natalie in there just for fun. No rush, Natalie!

This kind of stuff keeps pushing photography farther and farther from a "job." -Judd :)

Grant + Michelle Trash the Dress in the pool and on the beach...

It was 6am Monday morning and I heard a knock on our hotel room door. We had planned to meet Grant and Michelle for Trash the Dress part 2 on the beach, but I didn't fully expect to see a bride with makeup and a dress on at my door at 6am! Michelle says, "At least the guacamole washed off in the pool last night!" I love how the sunrise looked like the sunset - it was like watching a really slow firework the way it lit up the sky. I can't remember the last time I watched the sunrise; I definitely recommend it if you haven't done it for awhile! As Michelle was laying the sand she said, "Did I tell you I hate sand." Oops. I think it was worth it!

Grant + Michelle = 12.05.2009 Destination Wedding (Azul Sensatori Resort, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico)

Here are the links for Grant and Michelle's Wedding!

Click here to view their wedding album pre-design
Link to all pictures (available after Grant and Michelle release them - register to be notified)

Facebook link (Become a fan of ours and tag pictures of yourself!)



I had to pinch myself to believe my wife Martha and I had this amazing opportunity to create images of Grant and Michelle and their families over the course of 6 days in Mexico. Even greater is how fun it was just to hang out with these 30 or so people this week. It was the 4th wedding we have done in Grant's family. I found myself reflecting on the awesome privilege and responsibility it is documenting people's lives at their most important moments. Two of our newlyweds in the family had become parents (Josh and Dre / Jay and Frances) - it is so fun to see the families develop. The all-inclusive Azul Sensatori in Playa Del Carmen really helped make everyone happy as well. :)

Below are some of our favorite images:
Best dress hanging shot I've taken, Joe & Carli getting pedicures, the picturesque dock and hut, the ladies, my wonderful wife getting the amazing shot of the pelican in the foreground of the couple, Grant tearing up when Michelle walked down the aisle, the rings, the donkey bar (yes there was beer and ice in the green saddle bags, the massive chess board, Stephanie cradling her son during the dance (made us miss our kids!), and the final shot of the night through the folded "swan towels" on Grant and Michelle's bed. The "Dirty Dancing" shot on the beach was Michelle's idea and with her dancing & ballet experience she of course perfected the technique - right down to the toe point!

Some special thanks: Megan for braving the rainstorm in the pool with us, Joe & Carli for being our meal time buddies, Charlotte (Gma) for being a great hostess, Joanna for introducing me to Mudslides, Josh and Jay for the smack talk and causing me to pull a hammy on the tennis court, Natalie for the bottle of champagne, Frankie and Ruthie for just being really fun all week, and Grant and Michelle for being up for 5 photo sessions and making us feel part of the family all week. This was an awesome way to end our 2009 wedding season! -Judd & Martha

Grant + Michelle = Engaged (downtown Playa Del Carmen, Mexico)

This has been an amazing week from the moment we had our first bite to eat at the Azul Sensatori resort near Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Grant and Michelle are this amazing couple who are up for anything and we had a full day before their family and friends arrived so we got to spend some extra time in downtown Playa Del Carmen and on the beach late at night capturing these images over the last 3 days. The wedding is Saturday afternoon - can't wait! I'll write more but wanted to get these images online quickly. -Judd and Martha