bobbi+mike

a husband+wife photo team

Monthly Archives: January 2011

sesame street for jeffy

01.28.11

Jeffy turned 21 this month. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! TWENTY ONE???!?! It’s SO weird to see him as technically old enough to buy alcohol. If you’re a long time blog reader you know JeffyIf not… well, I’ll tell youJeffy is Mike’s challenged brother who will forever be Mike’s baby brother.

He also happens to love all things Sesame Street. We invited Mike’s family to our house last week to celebrate a belated Christmas (we were with my family this year in Kansas City) and also Jeffy’s 21st birthday. I JUMPED on the opportunity to make him a birthday cake.

Ever since I made my birthday cake last June I’ve been OBSESSED with baking and creating. For me it’s a creative outlet that’s not photography… and I LOVE the entire process (though not the best new hobby considering the healthy train!).

For months, I’ve had my eye on these sesame street cake pops for Jeffy (by the famous food blogger Bakerella). I’ve never made anything like it and was super excited to try my hand at it… I FINALLY had an excuse to make them. Oh, for those wondering… essentially a cake pop is a ball of cake and icing covered in colored white chocolate and then decorated…

So, without further adieu… here they are!

I made three of each so that I had enough left overs to bring over to Addi and for Karen (Mike’s mom) to bring back to her great nieces. PS. After about a day and a half of constructing them… the final touches didn’t happen until the sun went down and the light in our loft wasn’t at its best. Not to worry, I took a few more photos of the leftovers the next day with the sun!

But of course I had to make a cake to put them all in. I tried to make the icing look like grass. Mike’s parents bought us a Kitchen Aid Mixer for Christmas and I put it to work RIGHT away on that icing! (BEST GIFT EVERRRRR!) Oh, and yes… my expression in that photo on the left would be categorized as joyfully intense.Jeffy, however, wasn’t as excited about them as I was. Oh well… I still had a blast making them! Posing it up.Here are the photos with a bit more detail taken the next morning in the sun light

Big Bird was the most popular.
Here were Addi’s favorites…but Oscar was who I was most proud of! That’s it! Hope you enjoyed…

And to the healthy train… don’t even THINK about it… this thing is a calorie bomb! I ate half of one cake pop and had WAY too much guilt to complete it!

Much love!

~bobbi

PS. Just to reiterate… before you try your hand at these know that they are pretty labor intensive! It really did take 1.5 days to complete… I wasn’t exaggerating (…as I’m known to do). That being said, they were really fun to make… and I’d totally do it again!

posted in personal

wppi platform speakers

01.21.11

that’s right… PLATFORM SPEAKERS!!!! Can you believe that?! HOW FLIPPING EXCITING!

Yes yes yes, we’re speaking in VegasAnd this time… not at a tradeshow booth… THIS time… we’re speaking ON A STAGE! I gotta tell you, we’re incredibly honored and… well… I’m a bit nervous…

(us speaking at the mpixpro tradeshow booth in 2010)

Okay, let me slowwww down. Many of you have heard me talk about WPPI… but what exactly IS that?! Well, it stands for Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. And every year, for the past 31 years, they hold a tradeshow and convention in Las Vegas. It also happens to be the largest tradeshow and organization in the world for wedding and portrait photographers. There are thousands of people who go every year… last year there were a record number of photographers (nearly 15,000)…

We were thrilled to speak at the tradeshow last year… but when mpixpro asked to sponsor us as platform speakers this year… I poopied in my pants. Okay, that’s a lie… I didn’t do that… that’d be wayyyy gross. Why do I even say things like that?! I’m weird. Anyhow…

And what are we speaking about?! Well, if you read the WPPI blurb about our talk it says:

“bobbi+mike discuss what they consider to be the root of their success – finding a balance between professionalism and down-to-earth relationships. From the first call to delivery of the album, learn why technical skills need to be complemented by building rapport with couples. Come hear how bobbi+mike photograph who people really are.”

Oh, and I should mention… we’re listed under the “motivational” category. We don’t really know what that means 100%. After Mike saw that we were listed there, he considered wearing the money suit from this infomercial… because who’s more motivating than THAT guy?!

We’re really excited… and honored… and as I mentioned earlier, I’m nervous. I mean, I’m not the most eloquent speaker. I talk fast and I’m a little ADD (okay, a lot ADD… it’s a good thing that I have Mike to keep me on track!)We do however speak genuinely, passionately, and energetically.

So, if you’d like to come hear us…. set your alarm on Monday because we’re scheduled for 8am that morning (February 21). Yeah you heard me right… Monday at 8am… maybe we are motivational. I mean, you have to be pretty motivated to get up that early the day after you get to Las Vegas!

And I should mention… WPPI is doing something this year that they’ve never done before… an “early admission and guaranteed seats for your favorite Platform classes” system.If you dig us and want to come… here’s the link.

PreBoard WPPI 2011

I HIGHLY suggest you go there and sign up for all of your favorite speakers right now. Trust me, I’ve been there… waiting in line forever… only for the room to fill up before I can get in. This is a very welcome change for the convention and I’m a big fan of the idea

I hope to meet MANY of you there!

Much love friends

~bobbi+mike+

…and just because I love this photo of us… a little blog entry bonus

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PS. there’s an article in the January issue of RangeFinder Magazine about us and what we’re speaking about… pages 28-38. I’ll be writing more about that next week

posted in photography stuff

healthy train v5.0 – the before.

01.17.11

HELLOOOOOO HEALTHY TRAIN!

First and foremost: I am BEYOND proud of each of you. Seriously, you have NO idea how proud of you I am! Can’t wait to see your after photos. It took guts to send those photos… and I’m REALLY proud of you. To swallow your pride and take that photo… (ESPECIALLY of the scale!!!!) I KNOW that this is going to be our most successful train yet. I just KNOW it! This time is going to be different, I have 100% faith in it.

Official final number of healthy train participants: 209.

TWO HUNDRED AND FREAKING NINE! AKFKM??!?!!!!?!!? YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSKI!!!!!!!

First, some business.

FYI, there were some of you that didn’t submit a scale photo, I tried to email to each of those who didn’t individually… but some I missed… so, please send that ASAP!

Up above… there are all of your photos. I know that, for SOME reason, there are some photos that I didn’t pull from my email… and I can’t figure out whose I’m missingI’m telling you, this was an all day job for me on Friday… creating mailing lists, gathering photos, getting the excel doc ready with each person’s name, emailing people who were having problems, emailing people begging for extensions, etc. So… things got mixed up in the shuffle. EEEKS!

I’ve emailed everyone who I’ve received photos from. If you haven’t received an email from healthytrainbobbi at gmail.com yet… then either I have made a mistake or for some reason, I didn’t get your photos. So, if you haven’t received an email yet OR you don’t see your photo up there… forward me your before photos from your original email at the above email address asap.

Also, in that email, I shared the healthy train google excel doc with each of you. If for some reason you haven’t received that email… here’s a link:

healthy train 2011

This will pop up…. Just click on the “request to access this document” and I’ll approve you.

Just request access and I’ll approve you. (This only goes for those who are on the train)

And for those who have asked… no, you don’t need a gmail account. You need to have a Google Account though, which you can create with you e-mail address as the login name. You will have to provide your own password for future access, during the creation process.

Create your google Account here: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount

FYI, If you don’t “weigh in” within two weeks of the weigh in dates… I’ll unfortunately have to remove your name from the contest.I’m saying this because I REALLY want each of you to succeed and to hold you each accountable.

Okay, done with business…

I have a GENIUS freaking idea! Are you on the edge of your seat??? Well, I’m going to tell you!

#healthytrain twitter accountability

What does THAT mean? Well, I’ve JUST created a separate twitter account JUST for #healthytrain tweeting. THERE I, along with Mike, will put photos of ourselves post workout and photos of our lunch and dinners. Now, we won’t do it EVERY meal or EVERY workout… but enough to remind ourselves that we’re letting you all down if we don’t. There, we will also be tweeting about anything #healthytrain related.

Now, I’m hoping that each of you to do the same

You can either use your current twitter account (if you already have one) or create a secret account that NO ONE will know about… just other #healthytrain competitors. Be sure to include the #healthytrain hashtag (that’s the word healthytrain preceded with the number sign: #healthytrain) on each of your tweets that pertain to the #healthytrain. I think it will create an amazing community of support and well… accountability!

Here’s my new #healthytrain twitter account: http://www.twitter.com/healthytrainbob

And here’s Mike’s: http://www.twitter.com/theHTcaboose

Told you… GENIUS FREAKING IDEA!

It really comes down to discipline. RESIST. It’s hard, I get it… I get it 1000000%! I’m ALWAYS reminding myself of the weight watchers motto, “Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels!” (They actually say “skinny.” For me though, it’s alllll about healthy!) Really… just think… You could easily be down 15% by the beginning of July. 15%!!!! Do the math… and realize that’s ONLY 5.5 months away. What’s five and a half months of discipline?! JUST FREAKING DOOOO IT!

Okay, I THINK that’s all for now…

CHOOOO CHOOOOO!!!!!

FIRST WEIGH IN WILL BE FEBRUARY 3!!!!!!

~Bobbi

PS. If we have the same success level as last time… that means that only 16 of you will send in your after photo…. and that’s unacceptable. I’ve put in WAY too much work for you guys to let me down. So damnit, DO IT! K? k.

PPS. PLEASE keep all correspondence with me at the healthytrainbobbi at gmail.com address. No facebook messages, and no emails to my bobbiandmike account please. Not trying to be a jerk… but it’s just WAY too much for me to keep track of. Okay, that’s all.

PPPS. I adore you all. Okay, REALLY done now

posted in healthy train

lisa+adam

01.12.11

Lisa and Adam were the PERFECT way to end our 2010 seasonWe completely 100% adore them. If you’ve been keeping up with us for this past year, you know we’ve had some TERRIBLE luck with weather… It was as though a rain cloud was following us! When we woke up this Saturday morning and Mike told me that it was going to rain all day, I said, “Fantastico… let’s have some fun with this today!” You see, I KNEW that Lisa and Adam would be down for anything. I know I say this all of the time… but we really do photograph the best couples. :D

When Lisa, who has VERY curly hair, heard what the forecast was, she did a switcho-change-o on her hair plans so that it could work with the weather.BTW Lisa, I JUST noticed that you’re wearing the same shirt that you wore for your engagement sessionMust be good luck! …meanwhile…HAHAHA! This was, hands down, one of the best group of guys we’ve photographed. Remember… Adam is a percussionistThese two met in marching band (I THINK Lisa was a flutist???). Anyway, most of their friends are also band-o’s, who also happen to be my favorite kind of people. Generally speaking, there’s a unique set of characteristics that is almost always associated with musicians. 1) Comfortable in their skin. 2) Successful in life. 3) A bit eccentric. 4) Passionate, driven and goal oriented. And last, but not least, 5) You’ll ALWAYS have a good time when you’re with them… no matter what the situationAdam was lucky enough to have rented a tux that had never been worn. He thought that the pocket had been sewn shut (as many garments have when brand new). Mike agreed and handed him his pocket knife. Uhm… FYI for future grooms/groomsmen, it’s a faux pocket.…waiting for Lisa before their first sight. My view on the left, Mike’s on the right. So freaking perfect.It had quit raining for a bit… So, we quickly hopped into our car and drove to a few fun spots. Lisa is the DEFINITION of a “Fearless Bobbi Bride”. If you guys knew what this scene really looked like, you’d he throwing Lisa some high fives. Most brides would have been flipping their poopy. No no no… Not Lisa… she trusted me.That being said, there were NO dresses harmed in the making of ANY of these images!OH how I’m in love with this!!!!!…it started to mist a bit… NOT TO WORRY! OUR FANCY CLEAR UMBRELLA TO THE RESCUE!!!! THEN… it was getting married time! This was one of the best ceremonies of 2010. Yeah.. I went there.That look on Adam’s face is SO 100% him! They wrote each other letters… the sweetest, most genuine, and quite hilarious letters… and asked their honor attendants to read them. Neither one of them had read the others before that day. That look on Adam’s face was during the reading of his. It was, hands down, my favorite part of their ceremony… and I’ve never seen anything like it. If Mike and I were planning our wedding, we would TOTALLY copy…husband & wife, officially!I’m sure whatever I was doing to get that reaction was RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING!I couldn’t resist! Adam, thanks for being a good sport! Ladies and gentlemen… GET READY FOR THE ANNUAL TOP 50 OF 2010… because THIS will DEFINITELY be in the top 10! Are you freaking KIDDING me with this?! OHHH I’m SO proud of it! Lisa and Adam, thank you from the bottom of our little hearts for not being pansies and being willing to go outside, in your wedding attire, in the rain.Our favorite+…the best man’s speech…This face reminds me of Patrick Swayze in the final dance scene in Dirty Dancing when he looks at Jennifer Grey and mouths… “and I OWE IT ALL TO YOU!” (fast forward to 5:40ish)…incognito…

……………………………

indianapolis, ind.

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their songs

introductions | “Say Hey (I Love You)” –Michael Franti & Spearhead (LOVE this song!)
first dance | “The Way I Am” –Ingrid Michaelson
father/daughter |“My Little Girl” –Tim McGraw
mother/son |“Have I Told You Lately” –Rod Stewart
stepparents/bride&groom | “Beautiful Day” –U2
last dance | “The Time (Dirty Bit)” –Black Eyed Peas

lisa+adam

What was the most memorable moment of your day?
lisa: There are a few memorable moments I will keep with me forever. I LOVED our ceremony. I feel it was “us”, but what I loved the most about it was when our MOH and BM read the letters we wrote to each other. When Adam’s letter to me was being read, I was so overwhelmed with emotion….I felt like the luckiest girl on earth. Of course walking down the aisle with my dad was something I will always cherish, it’s the moment almost every little girl dreams of….but the moments before that when it was just the two of us (and Bobbi) I will always hold dear to my heart. I don’t get to see my dad as often as I would like, so to have that moment with my dad before he “gave me away”, was very special to me.
adam: Seeing Lisa for the first time and seeing how gorgeous she was. Second moment: not crying AT ALL during the ceremony….at all….
lisa: Liar.

What was your favorite detail?
lisa: I LOVED my dress. I loved every little detail about it and wish I had a good excuse to still wear it right now. I also loved my shoes. I insisted on NOT wearing white shoes and loved that it was my “something blue”. My “something old” was lace from my mother’s wedding dress and my “something borrowed” was a pearl necklace borrowed from my 92 year old great-grandmother and both were wrapped around my bouquet. It was important to me to have personal meaning in a lot of what we planned.
adam: Having bobbi+mike there! Being able to celebrate with all of our friends and family in one place.

Any advice for future bride/grooms?
lisa: Uh, hire bobbi+mike….DUH! Seriously, not only are they the best photographers around, they are also genuine people who want nothing but for you to have the most perfect day and most perfect pictures. The pictures are what you will look back on to remind you how you felt in that exact moment. They are the best Once you go bobbi+mike, you never go back!!! Also, just soak it ALL in…it goes by too fast…..and enjoy every single moment of it.
adam: Do whatever you want, don’t base your day on tradition or other’s expectations of how it should go. Plan your day not someone else’s. But, be sure to plan enough time to party! (We second both Lisa and Adam’s advice as officially the best advice ever, EVER!)
lisa+adam: Be sure you are able to tell Bobbi “YES” the next day….. HA!!! (HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!)

Funniest memory from your wedding day?
lisa: Probably the Best Man’s speech….I had some explaining to do to my parents about a couple of his stories! OH, and when I realized I was holding Bobbi’s hand (more than once) when she was pretending to be Adam. I suppose I was just helping her play the part
adam: Best Man’s speech, especially when he said, “I’m lucky enough to be Adam’s BM………” insert long awkward pause here.

If you could do it all over, would you change anything?
lisa: Absolutely not! The only thing we wish we had more of was time…..time to spend with our friends and family. It all happened so fast, I feel I didn’t get to see everyone.
adam: Ditto.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
lisa: JAMAICA!!! We went all-inclusive and had THE time of our lives. It was the best vacation ever
adam: I went to Jamaica, too. We highly recommend going all inclusive, it’s worth every penny.

Me with my bridesI think this is, to date, the longest time period between two weddings. Jessica and Josh got married July 8, 2006. (a little piece of trivia: we shot our first wedding professionally on March 4, 2006).Adam and me, taking pictures. You know… the usual.

I just couldn’t get low enough… So, I put down a ziploc bag, hoping it would protect me from the elements, and laid back. (I had to get super low to get those wall signs behind them out of the image).
…it didn’t work.

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PS. stay tuned for our annual top lists.

posted in wedding

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