Andrea Lopez Quinceañera | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Lifestyle Photography

When Andrea asked me to be her photographer for her quinceañera, I was honored to be a part of this culturally rich occassion.  A quinceañera is a celebration of a teenager’s fifteenth birthday and her transition from girlhood into adulthood that typically includes stunning dresses, a holy ceremony, and a reception into the night.  Andrea’s quinceañera (or, as the girls call it, her quince) was even more special to me, as she is one of my students!

The religious service was held at the beautiful, historic Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church on the South Side of Milwaukee.  The ceremony was solemn, yet celebratory.  Andrea looked effortlessly beautiful in her pink gown, and her family was oh-so-proud of their little girl.

After the ceremony, a traditional reception was held --- and the priest even stopped by! Andrea was sweetly blessed by her grandparents, and she and her quinceañera court performed not one, but two choreographed dances.  The birthday girl, her friends, and her family danced into the evening.  As I left the venue, I happened upon the younger children playing on a playground against a breathtaking sunset: a perfect ending to a perfect day!

Story Editor: Jackie Dunn

Ceremony and Reception at Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church

Goldstein Family | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Family Lifestyle Photographer

I was invited to photograph the Goldstein family by their only daughter, Barbara, whom I have worked with for a few years.  This was a rare occasion, in which her brother's family was visiting from Hawaii, and I was honored to be able to capture it!  We decided to shoot in her mother's gorgeous backyard near Glendale, with flowers in full bloom!  Her mother even cut me a bouquet to take home!  Barbara's son, Elliott, was just about to turn 2, and he was quite the character, chasing after his older cousins, tugging his grandfather's trousers or greeting his father with pure joy as he arrived from work.

Just before the session, Barb caught me parked down the road with my new puppy in tow, because my husband and I were showing our house at the time.  I had planned to leave her in the car for a majority of the session, but the Goldsteins were totally okay with keeping her in the backyard with us!  Elliott was mesmerized by her, but had to build up some courage to get close...

The session went by quickly with lots of laughs and lots of smiles.  I felt so blessed to get to know this family better in their intimate, backyard session.