This is the view off to the side of our cottage where the walking path meets the road. Off in the distance are the town-home condos. The path runs into some woods that are behind and alongside us. We get to see all kinds of wildlife that comes visit. The woods have lots of deer, wild turkey and a variety of pretty birds including cardinals. It’s very peaceful to sit out on our patio in the morning.

Theodore later gave credit to Ecclesiastes 9:10 for these great words…  ”Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” We aren’t in a dusty bloody arena, but we are in the midst of what can be extremely long, stressful, and absolutely crazy days. So today as we have the privilege of capturing a moment in time for a great cause, focus on absolutely giving your best in the great hope of making an impact in ways you may never even know for the kingdom of God. I am so excited for a great day, be energetic, enthusiastic, super creative, and let’s deliver the best images Geneva National has ever seen today! YOU GUYS ROCK & I am proud to have you all on our team today!

Ink and colored pencil in Moleskine.

Ballpoint pen in Moleskine.

Fountain pen in sketchbook. This pen was giving me all kinds of grief.

I rode along in the golf cart and played with my iPhone camera. I like using the Hipstamatic app to make some creative photos.

Here is what I have learned in the past few years. My passion isn’t really photography, and it isn’t at all making money, although I like that part! My passion has been found in the joy of life and making a difference in peoples lives. I love weddings and initially this is what was attractive to me about shooting weddings. people say things like, “Ryan, WOW… (with tears) words can’t describe the feeling I had watching the photofusion tonight at my wedding…it is priceless and I will cherish it forever” or perhaps, “Ryan, we felt like we have known you forever and that you have given us a gift that will live on as a legacy in our lives together… none of our friends or family were able to touch us as you have, thank you.”

However, there is a disconnect here… my heart says I am all about the relationship and life, yet my business philosophy said otherwise being that we ONLY shot weddings. So last year we started to change the way we do things. We started to take the philosophy of being lifelong photographers. Being there for you during all of life’s important moments like your engagements, wedding, maternity, newborn and yearly family portraits at prices that people can afford and are encouraged to come back or have us come to them time and time again.

Jessica (McIntosh) Sylfest has run a successful wedding and event planning business called Cherry on Top (www.cherryontopevents.com) for several years and we have loved working with her company and have built a wonderful relationship with her and her family. Last year we started by shooting engagements, hen shot the wedding, Maternity Photos, and baby photos and have plans this summer to shoot her family portraits at the lake! I have grown to love Jessica, James, baby Grayson and her family. Not only that but the relationship has opened the door to more business than I would have ever dreamed of and better than that… I have had the joy giving Jessica and her family images that can never be replaced and that they will cherish forever. but the crazy thing about this… in the end I am the one who has been blessed the most. Thank you Sylfest and family. Ideal Impressions loves you!

Here is a shot from their engagements last summer:

There wedding was amazing!!! Here is the Same Day Photofusion:

JAMES AND JESSICA Same Day Photofusion Highlight Video

And here is a sweet maternity Pano

And finally here is a wonderful new post of baby Grayson… (who is the most adorable little guy you have ever seen!)

What an awesome year… and WOW what a difference!

Dr. Garth Schneider

Aurora Lakeland Medical Center’s 27th Annual Benefit Ball is coming up on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 6 p.m. at Geneva National in Lake Geneva.  This year’s Honorary Chairperson is Dr. Garth Schneider, a dedicated family medicine physician who has served the community for the past 28 years in both family and internal medicine.

Garth Schneider, MD, was born and raised in the small Wisconsin town of Kewaunee. His father Robert, a medical salesman, and mother Frances, a vocal music teacher, strongly supported his choice of career. His sister Terry pursued a career in elementary education.

Dr. Schneider graduated from Kewaunee High School in 1971. He attended Northwestern University from 1971 to 1974 where he received Phi Beta Kappa honors and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. In his junior year, he was accepted to Northwestern Medical School, which he attended from 1974 to 1978 and received Alpha Omega Alpha honors for academic achievement. While at Northwestern, he met his future medical partner, Britt Kolar, MD, during a meeting of medical students. Following graduation from medical school in June 1978, he entered the University of Wisconsin – Madison St. Mary’s Family Practice Residency program. There he reunited and partnered with Dr. Kolar, and later with Greg Gerber, MD, forming a relationship with each that has lasted throughout his career.

Upon completion of this family practice residency in July 1981, Dr. Schneider gained additional training and completed a two-year residency in internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin – Madison Hospital and Clinics. Following his dual board certification in family practice and internal medicine, he served as a clinical instructor with the Department of Family Medicine in Madison.

In July 1984, he joined Drs. Kolar and Gerber in Lake Geneva, where he has remained in primary care practice ever since. He has served 13 years as past director of the Aurora Lakeland Medical Center intensive care unit, as well as past president of the Aurora Lakeland medical staff from 2000 to 2002.

Dr. Schneider met his wife, Peggy, at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center while she was serving as a contract physical therapist from Sacred Heart Rehabilitation in Milwaukee. Married in 1990, they live in Lake Geneva with their three children. Kathleen, 20, is a sophomore in physical therapy at Marquette University; Claire, 19, is a freshman in nursing at Marquette University; and son Tom, 16, is a sophomore at Badger High School. Away from his medical practice, Dr. Schneider enjoys spending time with his family, music, history and trips to Door County.

Proceeds from the Benefit Ball will be directed toward purchasing a state-of-the art Holmium Laser for urological procedures that will eliminate the need for additional surgery and prevent unnecessary hospitalization. Tickets are $150 per guest. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit our website  or call 1-262-741-2600.

This black-tie optional event features gourmet foods, and live and silent auctions. In addition, attendees will be able to dance and enjoy the music of Velocity.

Honorary Chairperson of this year’s event is Dr. Garth Schneider, a dedicated physician who has served the community for the past 28 years in both family and internal medicine.

The Humanitarian Award will be presented to Dr. Cary Berkowitz and Mrs. Maureen Berkowitz in recognition of their 30 years of outstanding volunteer efforts.

“We look forward to hosting an event our friends and supporters can enjoy while helping to support the needs of our local hospital,” said Jennifer Jones, member of the Benefit Ball Committee. “On behalf of the planning committee, we invite our community to attend an event that has helped Aurora Lakeland Medical Center to be a community resource that we have come to rely on over the years.”

Aurora Lakeland Medical Center

Proceeds from the Benefit Ball will be directed toward purchasing a state-of-the art Holmium Laser for urological procedures that will eliminate the need for additional surgery and prevent unnecessary hospitalization. Tickets are $150 per guest.

“It is because of community’s generous support that our hospital continues to impact the lives of patients and their families for their health needs. Aurora Lakeland Medical Center has the ability to provide comprehensive services and keep patients close to home,” said Foundation Development Officer Michelle Weber.

“This event would not be possible without the support of our dedicated community volunteers. Their hard work reflects the community’s support of a hospital that has been serving the community for 95 years.”

This annual event is organized by a community volunteer committee, including Maureen Berkowitz, Marianne Bonifacic, Janet Giovannetti, Kathy Hartman, Irene Humphrey, Terri Jambor, Jennifer Jones, Vicki Lewis, Genna Monticello, Alice Morava, Mary Ovitz, Kathleen Skowlund, Cathy Slovick, Rita Stensland, Donna Surinak, Michelle Weber and Wendy Weiner.  Meet some of the leaders of the Aurora Lakeland Foundation at our YouTube playlist.

Registration is now open online! Questions? Call 1-262-741-2382.

Join us for the 2010 Lifelong Empowerment Open (The L.E.O.)
Monday, June 28. For more info go to http://www.GenevaNationalFoundation.com

Ideal Impressions will be covering the event with all kind of incredible media services!

Check out this commercial we made that will be running on both Charter and Time Warner TV ads over the next month!

We just got several new albums and would like to encourage our future brides to come into the studio and look them over and our past brides to consider making an anniversary album. They are considered the finest albums on the market and are definitely the nicest ones we have EVER seen! We have several studio samples and swatches for you to view.

We are also offering 101 and 201 photography classes in February for $99! We encourage EVERYONE to sign up!

101 CLASS
6:30-7:30 Tuesday’s during February
Course Outline:
• Basic Photo Methods
• Understanding Digital
• Composition and Clutter
______________________
201 CLASS
8:00-9:00 Tuesday’s during February
Course Outline:
• Advanced Photo Methods
• Aperture and Shutterspeed
• Understanding your Digital SLR

We are going to several wedding shows this year, if you are interested in joining to us you can view our schedule at http://www.idealimpressions.com

If you know of anyone having a destination wedding we would be very interested in being their photographers. Most of our crew is looking for a winter vacation getaway and in many cases we are willing to photograph a destination for less than our regular packages.

Ideal Impressions is different from any other photography company we have ever seen or heard of; we are technologically savvy, incredibly professionally driven, have an unprecedented turnaround time (no more waiting weeks to see your proofs as with most photographers) and are 100% committed to your undivided satisfaction.

We have been named the best photographers in Wisconsin by several publications and are members of Pictage, Professional Photographers of America, and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. We pride ourselves in delivering award winning elegant photography with immediate digital results and same day slideshows.

Most photographers get you in the door by advertising low priced “sitting fees” or entry level package and by the time you order the album prints, uploads, full resolution images and more it costs you thousands of dollars more than you ever imagined. There are no hidden fees with Ideal Impressions. The price you see is the price you pay. We encourage you to shop around and are certain you will find in the end you can’t beat our photography and un-matched value.

Our goal is to capture the greatest moments of your life. Our photographs tell your story and vividly express the passion of the day. Images are edited and put together in a highly professional video slideshow set to music. This means your guests basically see your wedding album on a huge screen at your wedding reception! WOW! Your guests will be thrilled at the reception and can later download your images for free from our website!

You get full resolution images and award winning INCREDIBLE photography of your wedding day with every package; some packages include uploaded images for your guests to conveniently download and ability to order reasonably priced professional images directly from our site, video slideshows (fusion mixes and whatever you may want) and many other options. If it can be done we have either done it or are ready to try it!

Invest in art. After your wedding we want you to have a print or canvas on your wall that leaves your guests saying… “That is an amazing image” and then they realize that it is an image of your wedding day! WOW! So then they sit down at your coffee table and find a book that tells your story and blows them away! That is Ideal Impressions and that is our art.

We work very hard to meet every person’s personal needs and realize that in this economy people need to save as much as they can. You probably have been on our website and seen our regular pricing. Regardless of the package or price we are 100% committed to your satisfaction.

I had the honor of shooting Lauren and Nate’s wedding on May 2nd at Geneva National in Lake Geneva, WI.  They were great fun to work with.  Their wedding party was fun and willing to work with me and we got some unique and interesting shots as a result.

Below is a sampling from this wedding.   If you would like to view more go to their gallery by clicking here.

I think this is one of my favorite photos from the day.  Because the original intent was to hide the bridesmaid behind Lauren so she wouldn’t be seen.  Then when I saw her peek around it made for a great shot to “tell the story” I liked this version even better.

Maid of honor hides behind Lauren to hold the dress in place on a windy day.

While we were shooting at Geneva National a golfer came along and offered to let us use their golf equipment to take this unusual wedding day photo.  Nate, good job showing your trust in Lauren!

Testing the marriage relationship

Behind the scenes, Matt Mason risks big for the photo.

Right next to the Hunt Club off of the 10th tee box we have found a wonderful spot to shoot a wedding photo!

Loved this wedding party! Great job ya'll

Fun all day long

This next photo is important because Nate and Lauren decided to see each other before the ceremony in order to get all the photos they were hoping for.  So we positioned Nate at the end of this incredible bridge off of the 10th hole of Geneva National‘s Player Course near the Hunt Club Restaurant. Then Lauren approached him and tapped him on the shoulder and they had a special moment together while the rest of us hung back and Josh and I shot like the paparazzi.

I can see the layers of emotions in this photo.

Thanks Lake Geneva Cruise Line for letting us hop in board for this one!

Ever seen Reservoir Dogs?  We love doing this shot.  It always looks cool and we love shooting at The Riviera in Lake Geneva.

Morrissey Dogs

Lake Geneva Piers are irresistible to shoot on wedding day!

The sky blew me away!

Celebrate!

As always Geneva National did a top notch job of serving this couple.  This was a very funny wedding.  I have never heard the minister roast the groom as much as this wedding ceremony.  It only last 10 minutes and I’d say 30% of the talking part was giving Nate a hard time.  This photo says it all!

Wedding or Roast?

We have our main studio at Geneva National and so it is always a pleasure to be able to use the studio for a few shots in between things.  Nice smile Nate!

Studio Shot

Empty pool ... cool shooting angle. Great shot Josh!

I loved the expressions Lauren and Nate had throughout the day.

Please leave comments and thoughts on this wedding.  We would love to get your take on the approach we took and the final edited images.

Posted by Matt Mason.