Brite Idea Photography

a long time ago

2011-06-22T23:38:00.003-05:00

Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved photography. She got bored of taking photos of flowers and plants and trees and kittens so she found her little brother and somehow convinced him to be a subject in her portraits. He was a good little boy, devoted to his sister and was willing to be photographed. So she borrowed her grandma's "fancy" 35mm camera with a zoom and they explored the farm taking photographs along the way. That was over 20 years ago....now I feel really old.

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Engagement photos

2011-06-11T13:39:00.000-05:00

Ryan and Dawn celebrated their engagement with some photos at the park and their future home... Congratulations!

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Summer has arrived

2011-06-10T13:33:00.005-05:00

So a post with some photos of snow would be appropriate! Senior portraits are a perfect time to express your personality and capture an important time in your life. So we can do them in any season!

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Change of Direction

2010-08-10T21:51:00.002-05:00

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It has been almost a year since we started packing up our retail studio in River Falls and since moving we have been fairly silent on our blog. I thought it was about time to break the silence and let you know what we have been doing in this last year.

The answer is simple yet complex. When we planned our move last September, we had every intention to continue business as usual at our farm location for Brite Idea Photography. Our plans included building an indoor portrait studio and extensive landscaping to our farm to accommodate children's, family and senior portraits. But shortly after we loaded up the truck and transported all our photo equipment, furniture and fixtures to our home studio, we took a moment or two to reflect on what the past two years in River Falls had been for us.

Perhaps when you are in the middle of something, whatever it happens to be, it can happen that you lose sight of your long term goals or you simply are too busy to step back and look at the big picture. Moving the studio gave us the opportunity to take a hard look at our goals and we realized we wanted to make some big changes in our business and personal lives. So this past year we have taken an unofficial Sabbath break to see what life was like without the studio or at least, cut back our workload.

When we did we quickly remembered that there was more to our lives than photography related interests. I enjoyed reading books of literature, sewing, biking, gardening and writing. Our children enjoyed being home to play in the yard, ride their bikes, pet the dogs and cats or make huge Lego messes in the playroom. My husband dusted off his road bike and again started logging miles on the road riding the beautiful countryside that surrounds our farm. We've also enjoyed getting to know our old and new friends better by simply having dinner together. This extra time has also allowed us to renew our faith and continue to walk with Christ with deeper commitment and purpose. By moving Brite Idea Photography, the transition has proved to be much more than a simple geographical move.

Our time at the studio was amazing and we have created friendships from our time there that we hope will last a lifetime. But our "business as usual" plans are on hold for a while. We will continue to photograph portrait sessions on location and by appointment only, however Doug and I are working on personal and professional projects utilizing our love of photography, business and other interests which will be our focus in the coming months. In addition, we are enjoying a renewed commitment to our family time and more time to spend with our children.

We have been very blessed by our experiences and even more blessed by the people we have met along the way. It has been a journey of learning humility, faith and grace as we walk together with you. We are excited as we continue on in a new direction.

May the grace of Yeshua be with you as you walk upon your own journey!

2010 St. Croix Animal Friends Calendars are in

2009-10-11T11:47:00.002-05:00

St Croix Animal Friends now has their calendars for sale! Please contact them via their website OR email to order yours. These would make a GREAT gift for the upcoming holidays so get yours soon!

Feely Family

2009-09-28T19:48:00.003-05:00

Jake (2010 Senior)

2009-09-02T14:12:00.003-05:00

Katherine (2010 Senior)

2009-09-02T13:58:00.003-05:00

Portraits in the Park on Sunday, Sept 13

2009-08-27T07:29:00.006-05:00

Isabella C.

2009-08-17T21:53:00.004-05:00

Kaelee @ 1

2009-08-16T16:53:00.002-05:00

Isaac G.

2009-08-16T16:18:00.002-05:00

We had the pleasure of shooting Isaac Grover again for his new website and business adventure. If you are looking to get into Real Estate Investing, you NEED to talk to this guy !

Thanks again Issac.

Bruce + Eloise

2009-08-16T16:05:00.004-05:00

VanAlbrecht Family

2009-08-16T11:45:00.007-05:00

Fun Opportunity

2009-07-21T15:36:00.002-05:00

Community Update

If you live in or near River Falls, you might want to stop by Veteran's Park (downtown on Main St.) for a free chair massage from 12 pm - 7 pm to celebrate Massage Therapy Week!

Sponsored by Horizon Family Chiropractic!

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Winner's of the Dog and Cat Days Pet Contest

2009-07-09T09:53:00.009-05:00

Thank you to all who participated in our contest!

Congratulations to the 13 featured pets for the 2010 Pet Calendar.

*All the runners-up will be featured on the back cover of the calendar as well.

cover portrait

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

*Just a reminder to all the contestants - if you haven't sent in your model releases yet, please do so soon in order to be included in the final draft of the calendar design!

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MONDAY TIP : Decorating with Portraiture

2009-06-29T17:32:00.004-05:00

One of our favorite things we get to do in the studio is help clients design their homes with beautiful artwork. Did you know that we offer FREE design consultations before your session to help plan you session. Our design consultations are a time for you to preview ideas, talk about clothing options, discuss where you will be hanging your portrait and then designing the perfect session. Did I mention it was included in your session fee ???

As a past client states, "We had a wonderfully positive experience with both Doug and Amanda! They assisted us with everything from wardrobe selection to selecting the best portraits for our home. The whole process with Brite Idea was seamless and simple."

- Kathy Metcalf

Here are some tips we have put together on our website.

2009 Pet Contest Results

2009-06-17T17:57:00.001-05:00

2009 Pet Portrait Update
WOW !! Thanks to everyone for a VERY successful and fun day. IT was great to meet each of you and your pets. We have a lot for you to look at so take you time and enjoy and feel free to forward this email to your friends and family so they can share the joy as well.
Video Slide Show
Here is a video we created of all of the great shots we captured.

Carousel Slide Show
Here is an image slideshow we created of all of the great shots we captured.
Online Ordering
After you have seen all of the images in the slideshow, go here to Order your Prints.
NOTE : You will need to login with a Session ID : pets_calendar
Facebook Slide Show
Here is an image slideshow we created for Facebook.

2009 Pet Contest Finalists

2009-06-17T16:44:00.006-05:00

Here are the finalists from our 1st Annual Dog & Cat Days Portrait Contest

2009 Pet Contest Available Slots

2009-06-02T08:17:00.006-05:00

Here are the available times still left for the 2009 Pet Contest :

03:15 PM AVAILABLE

04:15 PM AVAILABLE

04:30 PM AVAILABLE

NEW : Digital Packages

2009-06-01T07:55:00.004-05:00

After talking to many of our past clients, there was one thing we heard over and over again.

"We want not just print packages, but rather packages that include both prints and the digital files !"

Well, after much discussion, planning, we now have our new digital packages. PLUS, for the month of June, we have them on sale.

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Wonderful....

2009-05-28T10:02:00.000-05:00

This is a dear lady that we've had the honor of photographing twice now and this is one of her portraits planned for her children. I was so excited to be able to do this portrait session with her!

Relocating the Studio

2009-05-20T10:58:00.000-05:00

Despite the huge sign in our front window (put there without our approval) stating our building is FOR SALE OR LEASE, we will not be moving the studio until our current lease expires at the end of September 2009. The large sign is apparently a miscommunication with the realtor and should be changed to a small "discreet sign" in the side window that we agreed to with our landlord earlier to give him time to find someone for it when we were done.

After September 15th we will only be taking on location sessions until we complete our indoor studio at Shady Elm Farm.

Thanks to all - sorry for any confusion the sign may have caused!

Toddler Tuesdays are Back !

2009-05-18T08:59:00.002-05:00

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TESTIMONY : Jackson Rohde

2009-05-17T08:42:00.000-05:00

"My first experience with Brite Idea was with Doug when I was chosen to be a senior model for the class of 2009. His enthusiasm was contagious! I had two photo shoots with Amanda, one in the spring, and the other in the fall. She took some amazing photos, in the studio and outdoors. My parents had a tough time deciding with ones to choose, there were so many great ones! The pictures arrived as scheduled. We especially liked the large canvas piece and the collage of my sports pictures. We gave several as gifts to relatives, and everyone loved them. I think the best experience with Brite Idea was when my mom met with Amanda to lay out my invitations to my graduation open house. She got to them right away, and put together a few different layouts for us to look at. She listened to our thoughts, and came up with one that was exactly what we were picturing in our heads. We received them in less than a week after we ordered them. They are amazing! One of our friends told my mom that it was worth framing! Overall, I would highly recommend Brite Idea for senior portraits. My sister, who is currently in 8th grade, said she wants her senior pictures taken there also, and she's pretty opinionated!"

- Jackson Rohde

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TESTIMONY : Kim Mazur

2009-05-17T08:41:00.000-05:00

"We moved into River Falls our daughters senior year and needed a photographer for her senior pictures. We tired out luck with Brite Idea and what a BRIGHT idea it was. Out of all the pictures they took I think we did not like 2. Amanda captured our daughter beautifully. It was fun having so many perfect options. Thank you!"

- Kim Mazur

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TESTIMONY : Monica Timm

2009-05-17T08:40:00.002-05:00

"Going to Brite Idea was the best thing I ever did. They are so wonderful. They will go to any spot or any place you want to go and have your picture taken. They will help you out in any way they can. The pictures always turn out great! And if you have kids like I do and they don't like to sit very well they will get the picture you want fast. They are fast shooters and the picture always turns out very nice no matter if your kids was sitting still or not they will get it taken fast. I will always go to Brite Idea to get our pictures taken!!!! They are the best!!"

- Monica Timm

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TESTIMONY : Dana Sharon

2009-05-17T08:40:00.001-05:00

"I was lucky enough to have Brite Idea Photography take my maternity pictures when I was eight months along. They are fun to look at now that my daughter is 15 months old. We also had our daughter Lillian's baby pictures taken with Amanda! Amanda was able to take great shots that captured Lillian's personality perfectly! You can tell that Doug and Amanda both love what they do and that they really care about their customers! Thanks again."

- Dana Sharon

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TESTIMONY : Ginger Hemauer

2009-05-17T08:39:00.000-05:00

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!"

- Ginger Hemauer

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TESTIMONY : Mark Mastalir

2009-05-17T08:38:00.002-05:00

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo."

- Mark Mastalir

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TESTIMONY : Kirstin Joseph

2009-05-17T08:38:00.001-05:00

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!"

- Kirstin Joseph

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TESTIMONY : Pastor Rick & Debbie Mannon

2009-05-17T08:37:00.000-05:00

"Doug and Amanda were just terrific!! They made our photography shoot very relaxing, and fun. We had a very large group, working with all ages, and they were so professional, and worked great with the kids!! It was so hard to choose from all the pictures they took."

- Debbie Mannon

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TESTIMONY : Steve & Kathy Metcalf

2009-05-17T08:35:00.002-05:00

"We had a wonderfully positive experience with both Doug and Amanda! They assisted us with everything from wardrobe selection to selecting the best portraits for our home. The whole process with Brite Idea was seamless and simple."
- Steve & Kathy Metcalf
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TESTIMONY : Jon Hinzman

2009-05-17T08:34:00.000-05:00

"Great people to work with and excellent photographers! These people are great to work with, as well as true professionals! You will be absolutely pleased with the results!"

- Jon Hinzman

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TESTIMONY : Isaac Grover

2009-05-17T08:32:00.001-05:00

"As a fellow member of the River Falls Chamber of Commerce, I felt confident in Doug and Amanda's ability to make sure their customers were treated fairly. After our appointment for both our family pictures and my daughter's one-year pictures was scheduled, I was pleasantly surprised to receive fashion tips and color suggestions well beforehand to ensure our pictures turned out well. During the photo session, my daughter was well engaged and just had fun as the grownups went about their business. When the photos came in for pickup, Doug made sure that what I ordered was what I received, and that I was pleased with the final product. In conclusion, I am happy to say that my initial confidence in their abilities to take care of their customers was both met and exceeded. I will recommend Brite Idea Photography at every available opportunity."

- Isaac Grover, Owner

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MY BOYS

2009-05-14T05:15:00.004-05:00

Kilkarney Hills Partnership

2009-05-08T15:02:00.005-05:00

Wow ! What an amazing Golf Corse ! If you haven't been to Kilkarney lately, you HAVE to get there.

For the 2009 Golf Season, we are partnering up with Kilkarney to help promote the staying local. The coolest thing is their 2009 Golf Course Guide. This little guide has tons of tips on how to play the course better as well as a slew of local info. And for only $2, it's AWESOME !

We are sponsoring hole #14 so check it out and give a ring to let us know what you think about it.

Here is our ad :

Let's Connect

2009-05-08T14:51:00.003-05:00

Just a quick reminder, we love to connect with each and everyone of our valued customers.

So, if you are on either Facebook or twitter, click below and let's connect !

Also, take a moment to visit our new designed homepage on our main website and tell us what you think !

May is Customer Appreciation Month

2009-05-08T14:51:00.001-05:00

As always, May is one of our busiest months as we start shooting next year Seniors and have our annual Customer Appreciation Month. To kick off the savings, all Family Sessions will be only $39. When was the last time you had a nice family portrait ? If you are like most, it's probably been about 3 - 5 years (or more) and your family has changed since then. Stop putting it off and call the studio at 715.425.9899 today and take advantage of this great offer or click here and book online.

To add a little whip cream on top of that, we are bringing back our infamous "Buy 1 Print @ Regular Price, Get the 2nd @ 50% OFF" for the entire month. So, come in, get your family session, and then SAVE SAVE SAVE on all your portraits. Why not get ahead this year and order your Christmas Cards early since they are on sale as well? Also, we are extending this offer to all those who had session in 2008.

Stop in or Call and we'll review your favorites and help you get in on this great deal. May wouldn't be complete without a tribute to Mothers. This year, why not treat mom to a piece of artwork she can wear to show off her family. Click here for all the details.

Ask Amanda

2009-05-08T14:50:00.001-05:00

This month's question comes from Katie and she asks, "It’s been a long time since I was in a professional photo studio. Any suggestions on what I should wear ?”

"The two biggest areas we help our customers with is that of clothing and hair. Here are some things to consider when selecting your clothes. First of all, white or pastel colors are perfect for lighter backgrounds while middle tones or deeper solid colors are ideal for formal portraits. However, if your session is going to be on location or outdoors, then casual outfits in earth tones work best. It's best to avoid large prints or patterns as that distract from your beautiful face and it's always better to choose long-sleeved shirts or sweaters rather than short-sleeved. When dealing hair, plan to wear your hair in a style you’re comfortable with and avoid new cuts or styles for at least 3 days prior to your session. Our friends at Lori's Day Spa would be more than happy to help you with a new look or style to help get you ready for your portrait session."

If you have found this information helpful, this, plus many other resources are available on our website in the "Studio Tips" Section

Now, if you have a question about our studio, or a general photography question, please submit your questions to AskAmanda@BriteIdeaPhotography.com. And for being this month's question, Katie will receive one of our Portrait Experience Gift packages which includes a free session and a free 8x10. Thanks Katie !

What is Brite Idea LIVE

2009-05-08T14:49:00.000-05:00

Over the past year, we have been secretly working on a new video project. The result of this experimenting is going to be a weekly 5 - 10 minute Internet TV Show about what's happening at the studio and a photography tutorial for those wanting tips to better their photography skills. How cool is that ? Plus, you will be able to find us in iTunes.

So, check out Brite Idea LIVE and tell us what you think.

Spring is finally here !

2009-05-08T14:48:00.001-05:00

Spring is finally here after the the long, cold winter and a lot has happened here at Brite Idea Photography. First of all, I want to thank those of you who participated in the 2009 America's Cutest Kid Contest. Although we did not win, going into the last day of voting, we had 3 of the top 10 with our highest placed contestant in 4th place and so that was exciting to see how the final voting was going to turn out. Secondly, we want to wish all of our Class of 2009 a great graduation and good luck in future and for those of you in the Class of 2010, we are now bookingSenior Portrait Sessions so check out our Senior Extravaganza below.

2009 Pet Contest

2009-05-08T14:16:00.004-05:00

On Sunday, June 14, we will be hosting the St. Croix Animal 2010 Pet Charity Contest. The winners of the contest will be featured in the 2010 Calendar to come out this fall.

The sessions are only 15 minutes and all varieties of pets will be allowed. There is a $25 Session fee, which includes a 5x7 with the proceeds going to St. Croix Animal Friends.

Our posters are all around at all the area vets, pet clinics and pet supply stores. In fact, if you find on that doesn't have our poster, please let us know and we;ll get one in right away to help the Charity.

About 50% of the sessions are already booked so call our studio today at 715.425.9899 and setup your pet and maybe you'll see them in the calendar.

% for $5 on 5/5 (Cinco De Mayo)

2009-05-05T07:35:00.000-05:00

In celebration of Cinco De Mayo, we will give the first 5 (aka Cinco) Juniors that call our studio today will receive their Senior Portrait Session for only $5.

Five Bucks can’t even get you a meal at McDonalds, but it will get you your Senior Session TODAY. How cool is that? We will be offsite shooting today and will get back into the studio at 4:00 PM so call and leave a message or use the Contact Us Form and we’ll post the winners later today.

Deadline is 5 PM

Call 715.425.9899 and leave a message with your Name, Phone, Date of Session you would like.

Fill out our Online Contact Us form

NEW WEBSITE : www.BriteIdeaSeniors.com

2009-05-04T21:23:00.004-05:00

We have a new website out for all things relating to HS Seniors so check it out ! We are looking for Senior Models, Spring Sale for Class of 2010 Sessions, new Video and more !

Check it out ! www.BriteIdeaSeniors.com

Brite Idea LIVE 004

2009-04-23T17:21:00.000-05:00

New Homepage. Take a look

2009-04-20T21:43:00.002-05:00

Take a look at the new homepage.

We Promise ...

2009-03-31T21:16:00.001-05:00

ALWAYS - Make you feel welcome.

ALWAYS - Work in a studio that's clean, fresh, and reflects the highest quality standards

ALWAYS - Respond promptly to an need you or your family might have.

ALWAYS - Give you the absolute best service anyone can provide that will make you thrilled to return again.

ALWAYS - Thank You for sharing your experience with your friends and family.

If, for any reason, you beleive we're not keeping our word, please tell us immediately. After all, a promise is a promise.

Final Call : Custom Graduation Cards

2009-03-30T23:03:00.001-05:00

We are extending our Custom Grad Card Sale until this FRIDAY ! After that, it's too late.

Class of 2010 Seniors - NEW WEBSITE !

2009-03-30T22:28:00.003-05:00

That's right !
It's here!
It's new !
It's BriteIdeaSeniors.com

PREVIEW : Steven Buri

2009-03-11T19:46:00.003-05:00

St. Bridget's Gala 2009

2009-03-03T17:22:00.002-06:00

Last Saturday night, we volunteered our services to a great charity to help raise money for St. Bridget's School here is River Falls. I'll post some images here shortly but in the meantime, go to our homepage and click on the link there to see everything.

Special thanks goes out to our good friend Steven Buri who helped with this event.

2009-03-03T14:56:00.002-06:00

We've got a great new program developed for Juniors interested in getting great deals on their senior portraits while earning credits toward their prints. We can only take a limited number of students for the program. Call 715-425-9899 or email: douglas@briteideaphotography.com for more information.

(website: briteideaseniors.com coming soon)

ANNUAL SENIOR SLACKER SALE

2009-01-29T09:11:00.001-06:00

Class of 2009 Senior Slacker Sale

Have you, or someone you know, waited too long to have their Senior pictures taken ? If so, then this final sale is for you. Our package includes a 1 Hour Studio Session, (1) 11x14, (2) 8x10 , (4) 5x7 , (4) 4x6, and (48) Wallets all for the unbeatable price of only $449 (You SAVE $210).

CALL Brite Idea Photography TODAY at 715-425-9899 before this offer expires on Friday, Feb 13.

CONTEST : America's Cutest Kid

2009-01-27T23:15:00.003-06:00

New Website Contact Us page

2009-01-23T12:58:00.002-06:00

Hey there Brite Idea Families ! We have a new, streamlined Contact Us page on our Website. We've also added new Social Media Icons on all of teh pages so you can connect with us in Facebook. Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogger, and YouTube.

Check it out and Comment below what you think on it !

River Falls Journal Story about "America's Cutest Kid"

2009-01-23T11:22:00.001-06:00

Brite Idea Photography, 121 S. Main St., is taking part in a national model search created to find the nation’s cutest kid, promote photography studios and raise funds for the charity Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

Children 18 months to 14 years may enter the contest and vie for $1 online votes. Parents who want to enter their children pay $35 for a modeling session at Brite Idea.

Photographers submit pictures for the contest. City winners can take part in a modeling tour in their region and compete for the contest’s national prizes: A $5,000 U.S. savings bond and a high-value digital camera.

Brite Idea owner Douglas Boyce said proceeds from the sessions and contest go toward a charity his studio has supported for the past two years. The organization connects parents whose infant has died to photographers who help record and preserve the baby’s image.

Kids must enter the contest by March 1. For more information, parents can contact Brite Idea at 715-425-9899 or douglas@briteideaphotography.com or log onto to one of two Web sites: www.briteideaphotography.com or www.sandypucmodels.com.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE WISCONSINITE WHEN

2009-01-22T10:01:00.001-06:00

Some light hearted fun for us Wisconsinites. (And some Minnesotans as well)

1. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.

2. 'Vacation' means going up north past Hwy 8 for the weekend.

3. You measure distance in hours.

4. You know several people who have hit deer more than once.

5. You often switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again.

6. Your whole family wears Packer Green to church on Sunday.

7. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.

8. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings and funerals ).

9. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

10. You think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and venison.

11. You carry jumper cables in your car and your wife or Girlfriend knows how to use them.

12. There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Mill's Fleet Farm at any given time.

13. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

14. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

15. You refer to the Packers as 'we.'

16. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.

17. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.

18. You have no problem pronouncing Lac Du Flambeau.

19. You consider Minneapolis exotic.

20. You know how to polka.

21. Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.

22. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.

23. Down South to you means Illinois .

24. A brat is something you eat.

25. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole shed.

26. You go out to fish fry every Friday

27. Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.

28. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

29. You find minus twenty degrees 'a little chilly.'

30. You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Wisconsin friends.

Studio Closed

2009-01-15T09:33:00.002-06:00

The Studio will be CLOSED on Thursday, Jan 15 as it is -25F out and we'll be staying at home today. If you need to schedule an appointment, go to our website and us the Contact Us form or call the studio and leave a message. We will be checking messages throughout the day.

Thanks for your understanding and please stay in and IF you must go out doors, dress appropriately.

Is your child America’s Cutest Kid?

2009-01-13T11:49:00.001-06:00

Brite Idea Photography is participating in the National Charity Model Search to select “America’s Cutest Kid” and to raise funds for charity.

We’re looking for cute children ages 18 months to 14 years old to model for a portrait to be entered into the contest.

Models Search Special:
$35 entrance fee, which includes a 30 minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery. For this special event, we also have special Portrait Packages for our models to save BIG MONEY on any portraits you may want.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Anyone may vote. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from votes benefit the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. (NILMDTS.org)
Grand prize national winner will be determined from the 50 city finalists. Winners selected by photography and modeling industry experts.

If your child is selected the national winner, you’ll receive many prizes, including a $5,000 US Savings Bond and a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera.

If you’re interested in entering your child(ren), please call our Studio at 715-42-9899. For more information about the contest, go online to www.BriteIdeaModels.com (this site will be up shortly.

Brite Idea LIVE 003

2009-01-12T21:14:00.001-06:00

Due to the fact that I was stuck in traffic on snow covered roads for 3.5 hours, needless to say, I did not get into the studio to record this week's Web TV show.

Tune in tomorrow when I have our regularly schedule program.

HINT : If you've ever wanted to be a model, tomorrow's episode is for you.

Swingin' Dreidel

2008-12-28T09:13:00.000-06:00

Our Christmas Card

2008-12-25T14:02:00.001-06:00

Rapid Packaging

2008-12-22T15:54:00.001-06:00

Greetings -

To all of you who have ordered in the past week, we are RAPIDLY assembling all of your orders today that came in over the weekend. We still have 1 final shipment coming in tomorrow.

If we have not called you today, please call our Studio at 715.425.9899 to see if your order came in while we are assembling everything.

Once we get everything put together and ready for pick up, we will call each and every one of you to let you know.

Merry Christmas to all of our Loyal & Faithful Customers

Brite Ideas - Video Blog #001

2008-12-15T21:00:00.003-06:00

Colin - What a Look

2008-12-15T07:56:00.000-06:00

he was such a quiet little guy but oh so sweet!

Gift Certificate Sale - Ends Dec 23

2008-12-08T21:23:00.002-06:00

FINAL SESSIONS of 2008

2008-12-08T10:34:00.003-06:00

It's that time of year again with all of the Holiday cheer going on that families are gathering together to get family & children portraits done.

I am here today to announce that we have only a few slots left this week for Family & Children Sessions for 2008. After that, you will need to book your Portrait Experience in 2009.

Check out our Promotions page on our newly designed website to check out the great deals that end on Friday.

Have a great Holiday Season.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-08T07:53:00.001-06:00

I was getting ready for a family session (someone else's) and had the boys sit for a minute on my new bench. I had to laugh . . . the expressions on their faces are so THEM.

3 Master Jedi

2008-11-03T11:26:00.003-06:00

While we were helping photograph children at this year's Abundant Life's annual Harvest Party, our 3 boys were able to play around as Master Jedi.

Here are the collages we built for them.

Vote 2008

2008-11-03T08:24:00.001-06:00

Here is a timely word of wisdom.

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams

Harvest Party

2008-10-30T20:39:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow we will be at Abundant Life's Church in River Falls helping out with their Annual Harvest Party. This is a great time for the kids to dress up and enjoy a bountiful harvest.

Blessing over wine: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.

Blessing over bread: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Blessing for Bible study: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who command us to study His Word. (Originally: who commands us to engage in the study of Torah)

Blessing over pastry (count me in): Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of many kinds of food.

Blessing over fruit that grows on trees: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the fruit of the tree.

Blessing on seeing lightning or other natural wonders: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, the source of creative power.

Blessing on hearing thunder: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose power and might pervade the world.

Blessing on seeing the ocean: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, maker of the great sea.

Blessing on seeing the beauties of nature: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose world is filled with beauty.

Blessing on seeing trees in blossom: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who created lovely trees to enchant the heart. (Abridged.)

Blessing over the spice box: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of all the spices.

Here are some samples from last year.

Autum Sneak Peak

2008-10-23T06:44:00.002-05:00

We are LIVE

2008-10-20T22:16:00.002-05:00

After a soft launch weekend, we are now LIVE with our new website. It's been WAY overdue to get the overhaul it needed.

Now, our website matches our studio's colors and designs.

to CELEBRATE the new website launch, we are offering Family Sessions 50% OFF if booked by Friday, Oct 24 at 5PM

Call now with the code MARWEB and start saving.

Website Update

2008-10-12T07:43:00.002-05:00

Yippee !!! We are now reviewing the final proof of the new website. Once our changes are made, we will be live.

At this point, we are just a couple days away from the new site.

Keep checking the in the coming days !

Little Helpers

2008-10-10T16:40:00.001-05:00

Last night we had a friend come out for a photo session on our farm and I had a little helper sneak in one of the photos. I still have to go through the rest of the photos but I thought I'd be a good blogger and post this one. Thanks Ginger and family for a fun time:)

UWRF Homecoming Cheer !

2008-09-30T16:12:00.004-05:00

Our studio has been taken over with UW-River Falls Homecoming Decorations.

Here is a snapshot of the front window that was painted today.

Sneak Peak - Maternity Model Lindsey

2008-09-30T16:00:00.004-05:00

We recently had a new Maternity Model in the Studio and the pictures turned out great !

Sneak Peak : Sweet 16

2008-09-29T20:52:00.002-05:00

GRAND PRIZE WINNER !

2008-09-23T22:32:00.002-05:00

We recently raffled off an Apple iPod Video Nano at the Pierce County Fair. Congratulations to Matt & Lindsey Quinn of Ellsworth.

Here is Lindsey with her new iPod (yes I know, Matt will probably be the one using it)

We still have yet to hear back from some of our other prize winners so, if you were at the fair, be waiting for a call or an email.

Claire Sneak Peak

2008-09-23T21:08:00.002-05:00

Here is a sneak peak of Claire. She is absolutely adorable.

Finally... A new website coming

2008-09-22T09:06:00.002-05:00

We are finally getting the final touches of our new website completed. I know that I have talked to a number o you over the past year saying "it's coming, it's coming, I just need so time to get it all wrapped up.

With the final testing and images selecting coming, our tentative launch date is Friday, Oct 3. 1 Year after the new studio opening. How amazing !

Keep reading the blog for updates

Here is a sneak peak

2009 Weddings CLOSED

2008-09-22T09:03:00.003-05:00

It's official now. We are completely booked up for the 2009 season. We will no longer be taking any 2009 brides.

To my 2009 brides, congratulations on booking early as I we didn't expect to completely full until the earliest of the end of Oct with the Twin Cities Bridal Fair. This is so overwhelming your trust in us.

Thanks

Word 2007 Test

2008-09-17T08:23:00.001-05:00

This is a test from MS Word 2007

Just Released: Táve Studio Manager!

2008-09-10T20:01:00.003-05:00

To all my photographer friends, the great team at Táve Studio just officially released Táve Studio Manager. We've been using it since it's early beta when we met Adrian, Jason & Karen at WPPI and it's a wonderful product. We have our entire studio online with this and absolutely love it.

From Táve

"Along with the new release, we've unveiled our new website and opened up registration to anybody who qualifies with a 30-day free trial.

Within moments of registration, you'll have access to Táve Studio Manager and the new iPhone Access application. After the 30-day trial period, it's only $25/month! That's half the price of most of our online competitors and way less than the legacy software applications.

Best of all, we're still busy working on all sorts of exciting new features that will be released soon. Our philosophy is to release early and release often, so instead of sitting on new features for big product releases, you'll continue to see constant upgrades almost every week!"

So, here is a link to get you started on your way to keeping track of all those post it notes, scribbles, and napkins about your customers.

JOIN MY NETWORK

BLOG PRIZE CONTEST !!!

2008-09-04T16:12:00.002-05:00

Recently, we were at the Pierce County Fair and had a drawing for a number of prizes. We gave a few iPods and a bunch of FREE Sessions.

I just got off the phone with our last of the winners and 5 people did not claim their prizes.

So, I have the following to give away on our blog :

(2) Family Relationship Sessions that include a 30 Minute Session an one of our great 8x10 Artistic Portraits.

(1) Senior Relationship Session that include a 30 Minute Session an one of our great 8x10 Artistic Portraits.

(2) Children Relationship Sessions that include a 30 Minute Session an one of our great 8x10 Artistic Portraits.

So, the FIRST 5 people to call the studio at 715.425.9899 can claim these prizes. We talked to the previous winners and asked if it was okay to give their prize away and they said it was okay.

We figure someone should win these prize. CALL 715.425.9899 NOW !

F(8) - 1 HINT #5

2008-08-08T08:09:00.002-05:00

I was a Math major in College at the U of Mn with an emphasis on numeric patterns.

Regardless of what ANYONE tells you, Math Team IS cool !

F(8) - 1 HINT #4

2008-08-08T08:08:00.001-05:00

F(8) - 1 HINT #3

2008-08-08T07:59:00.001-05:00

Keeping with a Math theme here are 2 numbers in the equation.

40.366427

-105.594406

So far, everyone is stumped. I'm winning !!!!

F(8) - 1 HINT #2

2008-08-07T06:54:00.001-05:00

8603 Ft. and the Olympics start TOMORROW !!!!

F(8) - 1 HINT #1

2008-08-07T06:48:00.001-05:00

I'm Italian. Any takers or are you still stumped.

F(8) - 1

2008-08-06T06:44:00.002-05:00

Today's quick blog post is a CHALLENGE.... Friday begins the 2008 Beijing Olympics and sadly I will not be there. So, what does the title mean and how does it relate to Friday's Opening Ceremonies ?

Please comment below. We'll see who gets it. Come back on Friday where I'll give hints if nobody has figured it out yet.

July Print Special End TODAY

2008-07-31T09:14:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year again. Our Christmas in July. This year we are offering our larger print items at a Buy 1, Get 1 FREE

That's right, all 11x14, 16x16, 16x20 , 20x20 , 20x24, and our 20x30 are all ON SALE.

Classic Images make great Christmas and Birthday gifts so enjoy the discount.

JULY SPECIAL - BUY 1, GET 1 FREE

2008-07-02T16:08:00.003-05:00

It's that time of the year again. Our Christmas in July. This year we are offering our larger print items at a Buy 1, Get 1 FREE

That's right, all 11x14, 16x16, 16x20 , 20x20 , 20x24, and our 20x30 are all ON SALE.

You must place your order by 5:00 PM on Wed, July 30 to QUALIFY!

Classic Images make great Christmas and Birthday gifts so enjoy the discount.

Shannon + Aaron Album

2008-06-30T21:16:00.003-05:00

Here is a small preview of the album design we did for our recent wedding of Aaron + Shannon.

Enjoy the small taste.

Adorable

2008-06-21T06:43:00.001-05:00

A New World Recrod !

2008-06-20T10:04:00.006-05:00

On behalf of the Guiness Book of World Records, we would like to thanks them for our recent accomplishment in the annuals of time.

Ok... All we did was download the new Firefox Browser, but hey.. They set a new world record.

50,000 worms and no returned emails

2008-06-04T11:25:00.002-05:00

A few days ago, I had a CISCO networking question and thought I'd call up my old friend of mine, Ted Marchand, who designed the system. After a few unanswered emails, which was odd, I thought I'd give him call.

I then learned that Ted had passed away a few years ago. That would explain why he hasn't returned any of my phone calls for the past few years. I told his old employer to take off his voicemail since I don't think he'll be getting to those any time soon. :)

So after a little searching with my trusty helper Google, I found this.

Theodore Marchand

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. - Theodore (Ted) Marchand, of Saugerties, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004, at Ten Broeck Commons in Lake Katrine, N.Y.

Born on Nov. 13, 1942, in Auburn, Maine, he was the son of the late George and Beatrice Berry Marchand.

He resided in Saco, Maine, until he moved to Ten Broeck Commons. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and worked for IBM in Providence and later in Kingston, N.Y., until his retirement in 1993.

While living in Holly Hills, Woodstock, he worked for IBM and also was a property manager and an associate with Westwood Real Estates in West Hurley.

Upon his retirement from IBM, he moved to Rochester, Minn., where he taught at Rochester University and was affiliated with Cisco Computer Design Company.

He moved to Maine in 2002 and designed the computer system for the school systems in the state of Maine, under the auspices of Cisco. He was a member of IBM Quarter Century Club and served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Greenland during the Vietnam era.

Survivors include two sons, Todd of Kingston, N.Y., and Scott of Saugerties; a daughter, Jennifer of Shandaken, N.Y.; his former wife, Erna Bomba Marchand of Olivebridge; two brothers, Barry of Maine and Robert of Connecticut; seven grandchildren; two nieces; aunts Gerry Wheeler of Kittery, Maine, and Arlene Goold of Belleview, Fla.; and several cousins.

A sister, Karen Marchand, died in 1960.

MARCHAND - Theodore (Ted) Marchand of Saugerties, N.Y., died Nov. 16, 2004. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 27, at the Methodist Church in Minot Corner, Maine. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Poland, Maine. Arrangements are under the direction of the Lasher Funeral Home, Woodstock, N.Y.

Rest In Peace old friend....

Name That Photo

2008-06-02T21:05:00.002-05:00

Below this image is a place for comments. Please add your best thoughts how to Title this image. As much as I wish I posed this shot, this was LIVE action.

Red Cedar Soccer

2008-06-02T21:01:00.002-05:00

Brite Idea Photography

a long time ago

Engagement photos

Summer has arrived

Change of Direction

2010 St. Croix Animal Friends Calendars are in

Feely Family

Jake (2010 Senior)

Katherine (2010 Senior)

Portraits in the Park on Sunday, Sept 13

Isabella C.

Kaelee @ 1

Isaac G.

Bruce + Eloise

VanAlbrecht Family

Fun Opportunity

Community Update

Winner's of the Dog and Cat Days Pet Contest

Thank you to all who participated in our contest!

Congratulations to the 13 featured pets for the 2010 Pet Calendar.

*All the runners-up will be featured on the back cover of the calendar as well.

MONDAY TIP : Decorating with Portraiture

2009 Pet Contest Results

2009 Pet Contest Finalists

2009 Pet Contest Available Slots

Here are the available times still left for the 2009 Pet Contest :

NEW : Digital Packages

After talking to many of our past clients, there was one thing we heard over and over again.

"We want not just print packages, but rather packages that include both prints and the digital files !"

Wonderful....

This is a dear lady that we've had the honor of photographing twice now and this is one of her portraits planned for her children. I was so excited to be able to do this portrait session with her!

Relocating the Studio

Toddler Tuesdays are Back !

TESTIMONY : Jackson Rohde

- Jackson Rohde

TESTIMONY : Kim Mazur

- Kim Mazur

TESTIMONY : Monica Timm

- Monica Timm

TESTIMONY : Dana Sharon

- Dana Sharon

TESTIMONY : Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!" - Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!" - Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!" - Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!" - Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!" - Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!"

- Ginger Hemauer

TESTIMONY : Mark Mastalir

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo." - Mark Mastalir

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo." - Mark Mastalir

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo." - Mark Mastalir

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo." - Mark Mastalir

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo."

- Mark Mastalir

TESTIMONY : Kirstin Joseph

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!" - Kirstin Joseph Join our Newsletter Today !

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!" - Kirstin Joseph

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!" - Kirstin Joseph

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!" - Kirstin Joseph

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!"

- Kirstin Joseph

TESTIMONY : Pastor Rick & Debbie Mannon

"Doug and Amanda were just terrific!! They made our photography shoot very relaxing, and fun. We had a very large group, working with all ages, and they were so professional, and worked great with the kids!! It was so hard to choose from all the pictures they took." - Debbie Mannon

"Doug and Amanda were just terrific!! They made our photography shoot very relaxing, and fun. We had a very large group, working with all ages, and they were so professional, and worked great with the kids!! It was so hard to choose from all the pictures they took." - Debbie Mannon

"Doug and Amanda were just terrific!! They made our photography shoot very relaxing, and fun. We had a very large group, working with all ages, and they were so professional, and worked great with the kids!! It was so hard to choose from all the pictures they took."

- Debbie Mannon

TESTIMONY : Steve & Kathy Metcalf

"We had a wonderfully positive experience with both Doug and Amanda! They assisted us with everything from wardrobe selection to selecting the best portraits for our home. The whole process with Brite Idea was seamless and simple."- Steve & Kathy MetcalfJoin our Newsletter Today !

"We had a wonderfully positive experience with both Doug and Amanda! They assisted us with everything from wardrobe selection to selecting the best portraits for our home. The whole process with Brite Idea was seamless and simple."- Steve & Kathy Metcalf

"We had a wonderfully positive experience with both Doug and Amanda! They assisted us with everything from wardrobe selection to selecting the best portraits for our home. The whole process with Brite Idea was seamless and simple."

- Steve & Kathy Metcalf

TESTIMONY : Jon Hinzman

"Great people to work with and excellent photographers! These people are great to work with, as well as true professionals! You will be absolutely pleased with the results!"

- Jon Hinzman

TESTIMONY : Isaac Grover

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!"

- Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!"

- Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!"

- Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!"

- Ginger Hemauer

"I have LOVED every experience I have had with you. I love the natural photos that have captured my girls as themselves--kids that want to have fun. Thank you!"

- Ginger Hemauer

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo."

- Mark Mastalir

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo."

- Mark Mastalir

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo."

- Mark Mastalir

"A really nice feature of the Brite Idea Photography site is that it offers lots of nice settings with in a few feet of each other and very private, so you can concentrate on the moment for the best photo."

- Mark Mastalir

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!"

- Kirstin Joseph

Join our Newsletter Today !

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!"

- Kirstin Joseph

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!"

- Kirstin Joseph

"I really enjoyed the experience, Doug and Amanda are very nice people, and I absolutely LOVED the way my pictures turned out! I would do it again in a heart-beat!!"

- Kirstin Joseph

"Doug and Amanda were just terrific!! They made our photography shoot very relaxing, and fun. We had a very large group, working with all ages, and they were so professional, and worked great with the kids!! It was so hard to choose from all the pictures they took."

- Debbie Mannon

"Doug and Amanda were just terrific!! They made our photography shoot very relaxing, and fun. We had a very large group, working with all ages, and they were so professional, and worked great with the kids!! It was so hard to choose from all the pictures they took."

- Debbie Mannon

"We had a wonderfully positive experience with both Doug and Amanda! They assisted us with everything from wardrobe selection to selecting the best portraits for our home. The whole process with Brite Idea was seamless and simple."
- Steve & Kathy Metcalf
Join our Newsletter Today !

"We had a wonderfully positive experience with both Doug and Amanda! They assisted us with everything from wardrobe selection to selecting the best portraits for our home. The whole process with Brite Idea was seamless and simple."
- Steve & Kathy Metcalf