Michael Krakora Photography

A Photographer and Her Baby

Mike and I have been friends with Jen for a long time. She started as an assistant to Mike on weddings when I was pregnant with our second child who is now 4. Now she has a very successful photography studio in Middleton. 

Jen is amazing!  Not just as a photographer, but as a person as well.  I was so honored to be asked to photograph her and her second daughter! Seeing the connecting between the two of them was inspiring. It helped me realize how much I love photographing new mothers.  Everything is so new, even with your second, and being asked to be a part of that by documenting it is a real gift. 

Jen, I can't wait to do it again!  :o)

Getting Ready For Senior Portraits

We are gearing up for the Senior Class of 2010. We will be spending a lot of time outside in great new locations.  Bring us your ideas and we will make it happen.  If you are interested in working with us as a Senior Model, contact us for more details.  We are only taking a limited number of models per school so contact us soon!

One Stinking Cute Baby

I was so lucky to get to document another wonderful and very old friend. If anyone in this world has dirt on me, it is Anne. We have had so much fun through the years. Even though life is turbulent – Anne and I have seen each other through those times. And now I am lucky to be a part of her life when she has a child. August is amazing! I can tell already that he will have Anne and Joe's crazy sense of humor. The laughter, as it always is, was loud and free flowing.

Here are more of my favorites in a slideshow.

His smiles were so contagious!

He makes this look not only easy, but tasty too!

This was my favorite from a series. Anne's hair is so thick and beautiful. She was nuzzling his noes and he would open his mouth just enough to let her hair brush against his mouth and he would giggle.  It was a really sweet moment that I keep replaying in my head. It is wonderful to see Anne so happy.

One thing Anne and Joe really wanted was an image of August crying. Got it!  LOVE this shot!  Even crying, he is so stinking cute!

How to fight the Seven Year Itch!

The Seven Year Itch.  A phrase that often sends a shudder across the necks of many married couples.  If you are like many of us, you have often heard this saying and had a feeling of dread.  Our society has created a fear of this arbitrary time frame and we have been conditioned to question our relationships at that milestone wondering what will happen next.  

How do you fight this feeling of doom you might ask?  Do you look for escape?  No!  Empower yourselves and throw a party.  Lorie and Patrick will be doing just that.  Alright.  Sorry for being so over the top with this post.  I don't think Heather will let me near our blog for a while after I get done here.  She was shaking her head the whole time while I read the post to her.  With a small smile on her face I might add.

I was fortunate enough to have met Lorie and Patrick a number of years ago when I photographed their dogs at the Mounds Dog Fest.  They looked me up to help them celebrate their seven year anniversary.  What was really great was how they wanted to celebrate it.  They are planning a 7 year itch party and well, the pictures below speak for themselves.  They are so not the serious couple.  None of us could keep a straight face for more than a couple of seconds.  It was a lot of fun. Congratulations you two!  I will be looking forward to the next time.

Mike

Wicked shoes!

Old Friends

Ken and I have been friends since about the 7th grade. He has been like a brother to me for, well, a LONG time. When he met Sarah I was ecstatic – she is fantastic. And, when he called to tell me that there was a bun in the oven, I was even more excited. The only sad thing is that they no longer live in the midwest, but in Portland. I really cherish those last minute calls around the holidays where we can share a bit of chaos. This year they wanted to get some shots of the family in and I am so glad Mike was able to do it!  I love how these turned out. Such a fun session with such amazing people. 

I love this! Emma was soooo fast. 

Ahhhhh!  Giant baby!  :o)

This series cracks me up! Ken hasn't changed a bit!  He has been making these faces forever and it just cracks me up to see these.

Ken and Sarah,  you guys are amazing and we feel so blessed to have you in our lives. I just wish you were closer! Hopefully we will get to see you guys this summer. 

Here are some more images in a slideshow.

Happy 1st Birthday Abe!

Mike has had so much fun with Abe over the past year. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot.  Though I have to admit, I will have to do a very special post to highlight just how much this sweet boy has grown!  And oh man!  The hair!!!!  

Every boy loves a train cake!

I love the first bite of cake.

Hmmmm...do I like it?

Abe loved his super tricked out radio flyer wagon.  Complete with shade, backrest and cupholders!  Wow!  Don't show this to our guys, they would be jealous.

But when the day is all over, it is still all about the wrapping paper and the tree.

Kari + Greg

Kari + Greg have an energy that radiates and is contagious. Working with them on their engagement sessions was so much fun. The weather was frigid, but they were very tolerant and willing, as long as we started with a cup of coffee. Who can blame them?

Here is a link to more of our favorites.

There is a certain quiet in this image. I love it.

A Very Special Portrait Session

Mike had the unique privilege of creating some very special images for a new family on the day that they adopted their foster daughter. On the afternoon after the adoption was official, Mike was able to spend a couple of hours at their home. In that time, it was very obvious what a close family they had become. It is times like these where we not only cherish how special family is, but how our jobs as photographers have allowed us into so many wonderful lives.

We have been very blessed this year and we wish everyone a wonderful holiday season.

Fun Fall Portrait Session

Mike had such a fun time with this family!  I had an even better time going through the images, if that is possible.  These girls are such sweeties and I am such a sucker for their eyes and the great colors that were happening!

Mike had a great time instigating the leaf fight. There is nothing like seeing kids pelting their parents with fists full of leaves.

I love this image of the parents. Even after two kids, there is always time to get snuggly!  :o)

Now that I am all caught up with our orders, hopefully now I will be able to design our own Christmas card as well as special gifts for this year's wedding clients.

Rachel + Jason

Mike and I cannot wait to spend New Year's Eve with Rachel + Jason!  It is sure to be a beautiful wedding.  I have been talking with Andrea from Fleurishes and the ideas she has come up with Rachel and her Mom are going to be amazing.  

Check out the slideshow!