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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

Kate - July 27, 2007 - 10:17 AM

Thank you so much Judd! You really helped things run smoothly and it was such a perfect day! I’m so excited to see the proofs!

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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

Nikki Sonnek - July 26, 2007 - 8:24 AM

My Wedding was the best day of my life. I could not have asked for a better day. Becoming Mrs. Nicole Jewel Sonnek makes me the happiest wife alive. I could never imagine my life without him, our families, and our amazing friendships that we have kept thought the years. My husband and I thank everyone for spending this wonderful day with us.

Laura Sonnek - July 27, 2007 - 10:20 AM

The wedding was amazing!!! Both Joey and Nikki were so happy!! We all knew 5 years ago when Nikki and Joey started dating I knew that Nikki was the one for my brother!!! Thank god it was her! She is the best sister a girl could ask for!!! So glad she is in my family now!!

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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)

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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

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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

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Marshall and Megan – June 15, 2007



Click here to see all their pictures! FREE DOUBLES on all orders until July 10!)
A warm day cooled off nicely for a great evening at Dellwood Hills. This wedding wins the award for most colorful flowers – great blues and purples mixed in!

Marshall was very diligent with the lint roller for the groomsmen to start the day, but about halfway through the dance that seemed to be the least of the groomsmen worries… We took some great big group shots of those crazy Madison and Tartan contigents (Nice fight song singing.) Dellwood Hills was decorated beautifully for this young, fun wedding! – Judd and Joe

bob brace - June 20, 2007 - 3:33 PM

Wow Whee! What a classical Gas!

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Matt and Lisa – June 10, 2007



See their Italian album design by clicking here. (Click on the shopping cart to view all photos). Enjoy!

Part #1 of Matt and Lisa’s highlight video (ceremony):

Part #2 of Matt and Lisa’s highlight video (reception):

What a gorgeous day and a fun Sunday wedding! A quick trip to Target for a steam cleaner (thanks Target return policy!) got the wrinkles out of Lisa’s dress at the outset of the day. That steamer picture, both moms carrying Lisa’s dress, and the picture of all the Verizon folks were shots we’d never taken before at a wedding.

A beautiful ceremony at Northwestern was followed by the “streamer web” that captured Matt and Lisa in a crazy tangle as they left the church – see picture above. The sunset shots at the end of the evening were unbeatable. This wedding wins the “longest conga line” award which emptied out the entire reception hall (check out the end of Part 2 video) – funniest part of the conga line was Chris was inside deleting photos oblivious to the fact that everyone had left (besides the DJ of course). My favorite shot was probably after the conga line down on the golf course where everyone looked super happy and bridesmaid Tricia was making out with her man. 🙂 -Judd, Chris, Joe, and Josh

Here is the link to their album design

Matt & Lisa Bocan - June 29, 2007 - 4:25 PM

Judd, Chris, Joe & Josh – The pictures you shot were fantastic! We couldn’t have “pictured” a better day, and you 4 captured it perfectly… Thank you for all you did to make our day special!

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