Class of 2013 Senior Models Wanted

We are looking for students that are graduating from high school in 2013. We want to hear from the energetic...who want to have fun and are excited about getting their senior photos taken. JM Studios always takes the time to find out what your in to, so we can create a portrait that is unique to only you.  


Sorry, no boring senior sessions, please. 


Let's get creative. 
Let's do something different. 


Let's capture life from a different angle!

Apply Here!

Johnny

This is a personal project that was done with my friend and fellow musician, Johnny.

This is going to be printed using a metallic finish that should really pop the vibrant colors.

Dimensions will be 12" x 24". Thanks Johnny!

As a professional photographer and self-diagnosed 'gadget fiend' I should be slightly embarrassed by the makeshift process I used to achieve these images. But in this digital age we sometimes forget that creativity doesn't always have to be achieved with expensive tools, just a vision and lots of free time... or in this case, a sponge, a cake pan, and a few "doh!" moments.

A sponge was mounted 2 feet above a clear glass cake pan filled with water. All sat on top of a table made out of two saw horses and a scrap piece of plywood...in my driveway. The camera was set up on a tripod. I poured water into the sponge then waited until the stream, flowing through the sponge, ended and the drips began. Trial and error was used to time the correct moment to take each shot.

The colors were achieved with pieces of construction paper in the background. All 'poses', individual prints, were taken using a shutter speed of 1/2000 of a second. All poses are as they were captured by the camera, none were manipulated using imaging software. The water took on a personality of its own, I just sifted through the RAW files to find it."

Check out the new video for JM Studios.

A studio site coming soon!

I had the pleasure of photographing the Slaughter and "Ratt" concert at The Mississippi Moon Bar in Dubuque, Iowa on Saturday night. I met Mark Slaughter, Dana Strum and the rest of the band. They are all great guys and I look forward to the next time I have the opportunity to work with them again.

30 Rock

Shot taken on the ride to the top of Rockefeller Center in New York City. Can't explain the face in the photo. Why am I not reflected in the plexiglass ceiling of the elevator?

When life hands you lemons.

Bobby

Bobby rocked his senior photo session. What an awesome kid!

 

Some sweet engagement shots

October is a great month for outdoor shots. Last week, we went to North Shore suburb of Highwood for Erin and Dino's engagement shoot. There were pumpkins everywhere in the attempt of breaking the worlds record of lit pumpkins. They were close...you can check out photos, video, and comments at www.facebook.com/CityOfHighwood.

Chicago Botanic Gardens is a photographer's dream with over 365 acres and 24 gardens situated on nine islands surrounded by lakes. This is where we started Erin and Dino's engagement session. We then took a unique personalized tour of the beautiful homes where some of the 80's movies were filmed and Fort Sheridan - a once US Army Post now renovated into residential neighborhood. The architecture is exquisite!

Thank you Erin and Dino for your hospitality (and for the freshly picked pears from your front yard)...Looking forward to your wedding at the Grand River on 9/10/11!

Closer to Dubuque, Todd and Kendra's engagement session was just as colorful and the light was just perfect. We had a lot of fun - and, by the way, like the new phone! Looking forward to your wedding in July.

Sarah

Sarah and I took a few shots in this old barn, this was

one of my favs.

Chris & Lara and Michelle & Jeff

Congratulations to Chris and Lara, we loved the Model A Ford

and Todd, their ring bearer. He was a good puppy!

Michelle and Jeff had a great day! We missed the rain or should I say the rain missed us.

We were able to enjoy the beautiful October day in the Galena Territories.

Telling the Story

Every now and then, it's great fun to just go crazy outside the 5x7 box.... Which is exactly what we got to do in working with Mr. and Mrs. Hackbarth on the design of their custom wedding album from JM Studios.

I really enjoyed thinking about the newlyweds showing this album to all their friends and family, telling the story of their wedding day with the turn of each page. The internet is a great way to share, but photographs often are lost to the immediacy of the mouse click. A print that you can touch, admire, and pass on to generations is simply a beautiful thing. 

Here are a few of my favorites from the book:

"Honey, We're the Big Door Prize."

Jill and Alex came all the way from Austin, TX for their wedding at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, IA last week. Took some great photos and met some even better friends... Their fun and carefree personalities made for a fantastic and memorable day.

Thanks to Jill, Alex, and family for showing us a great time. You guys are the best!

Nikki and Brandon

Nikki and Brandon officially became Mr. and Mrs. Bell on Saturday!
Beautiful weather, fantastic wedding, fun crowd. What more could two photographers ask for?

The happy couple even worked the camera in the super cool JM Studios red chair.

Congratulations and thanks for a great time, you guys rocked out...

Summer in Iowa

Drove back to Decorah yesterday from a busy weekend in Dubuque with Dad... could not help but notice the beauty of Iowa in the summertime. It really is quite serene.
Need to make an effort to stop and take photos during those drives. To think, I almost let this just pass me by.

A few shots from the Little Rebels photo shoot. Little Rebels is a new children and teen clothing store in Galena, Illinois.

Yellow River State Forest Fire Tower

A trip up to Yellow River State Forest. Madison and I took the opportunity to photograph

the abandoned fire tower. Lights used were star light and a Bic lighter.

The Milky Way from my house.

I think I'll try the fisheye next.

Go Red Team!

Music on the March last night in Dubuque, IA. Dad and I got to be right up in the action.

So hard to choose from our favorites! Congrats to the Colts, Colt Cadets, and the rest of the performing corps on a job well done. You guys rock!

Family Business

Mom is learning how to take sweet photos.

Shooting out the car on the way back from Minnesota yesterday. With just a little cropping and Lightroom b&w conversion... Boom! Awesome photo. Not too shabby, Mama!