I’m no physician but I’m pretty sure laughing keeps you young. At Hazel’s birthday celebration last weekend there was a great amount of humor from her and the family. Even when family members apologized for laughing through most of the portraits I reminded them I’d rather have a laughing bunch than being stared down by an unhappy one any day!

Truth be told, the great sense of humor and abundance of laughs reminded me of my own family’s gatherings. I’m convinced great humor was part of how my Grandma Eleanor lived to be 96. Our family gatherings are full of chuckles, family stories and ornery jokes. Hazel’s party was nothing less!

Never Underestimate the Power of Grandma

The laughs continued into the evening portraits when the ladies decided to help the birthday girl not feel too self conscious about her height. Just before I hit the shutter release they all decided to shrink a little. Unscripted, but maybe rehearsed. Outtake? Given the family’s humor I’m thinking it’s a keeper!

Lots more laughs on the way – see them at the proof gallery here.

Happy birthday Hazel!

Here’s an extra dose of laughs for everybody from one of my favorite movies – enjoy!

Congrats, Aim! With a landslide of fan votes this photo wins the First Friday Fashion (fail) contest! Thanks to all our friends & fans on facebook and all who came out to model! Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for more fashionable contests ahead! -eB

Last Friday, September 2nd, I set up shop downtown at Generic & invited shoppers to put together a favorite outfit of their best style (or worst, depending on fashion taste) and model it for a mini-session. The results were no less crazy than I expected. Come take a look and vote for your favorite on our Facebook page. The photo with →

It's Labor Day in the US and a busy Monday morning at the Bu household. College football season's here and with it my ideal autumn morning weather today - nice and cool and sunny, I've got my favorite hoodie sweatshirt on and a rather well-made coffee to start the week. This weather always reminds me of autumn in Scandinavia when I spent →

On a sunny August afternoon on Notre Dame University campus, Elizabeth and Justin became husband and wife. They exchanged vows, shared tears of joy, and celebrated their union under the timbers of the Log Chapel. Justin and family awaiting Elizabeth's entrance. It has always been and will always be an honor to tell a wedding story through my photography. One of the →

What a perfect sunny August afternoon to celebrate Elizabeth and Justin's wedding at the Log Chapel on Notre Dame University campus today! Here's a sneak peek of one of my favorites from their outdoor portraits around ND campus this afternoon, more photos on the way! Congrats Elizabeth and Justin! Thanks for inviting me to share in your celebration and tell your →

My dad's habit of finding quirky gifts strikes again. A crisp $1 bill got him this nifty Kodak Instamatic 104 Outfit box set at a garage sale. Sweet yellow Kodak box contains an Instamatic camera, unused flash cube, old AAA batteries and box from the last 126 cartridge that expired in May 1975 all stored inside. Now I've just got →

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad! On a sunny afternoon at Bendix Woods park, between the E and the R* of the pine trees that spell out "Studebaker," my parents were married 35 years ago today. Mom had a lovely dress and a bouquet of white and yellow flowers. Dad and the groomsmen had a snazzy white tuxedo, mom picked light yellow dresses →

One of the skills I've found essential to wedding photography is that of flexibility. I love the spontaneity of wedding day photography. Even if I've photographed in the same church and reception venue for brides with the same first name two days in a row (and did a few years back) it's never the exact same day twice. I've collected a →