San Francisco is a magical place, I recently went there for a visit and a few projects and it was hard to come back here. I had a very lovely trip, and saw many wonderful people, I can't wait until I get back out there. Here is a collection of image from when I wasn't doing projects:

Before today I only had a few conversations with these two and I managed to cry about 5 times throughout their wedding day. I can't describe to you how beautiful this day was and in so many ways- to start, everyone looked so beautiful, these two are ridiculously cute and they manage to have really attractive family and friends. The community that these two have is so genuine, their love for each other is so evident, their friendship is so true. Every bit of this day was perfect, to the cute little chapel they got married in, to the song Cait recorded for their first dance. These two are new owners of a coffee shop and music venue on Monroe St. called Crescendo, and you should all check it out.

I decided I should follow the photographer blog trend a dedicate a post to my favorite Instagram images. I am so grateful for my life, I love the people I spend my days with and I love the work that I do. Instagram allows me to quickly document my day to day, something that I find is very important - I love being able to follow my friends all over this world to stay in touch with them visually - here is a collection of my beautiful life through the filters of instagram:

While I was in San Francisco I was asked to go to Edna Brewer Middle School and take photographs of the wonderful after school programs. My dear friend Meg works here so it was so nice to see what she does everyday and to get a change to meet this kids that she works with. I have never seen an after school program quite like this one, there was skateboarding, arts and crafts, hip hop dance class and a place to get homework done. It was by far my favorite project I did while I was there, it was such a great way to spend an afternoon and the kids were wonderful to hang out with.

While I was in San Francisco I was asked to take photographs of the talented and wonderful Maia, who is the Art Director of Rue Magazine, a talented graphic designer and she runs a blog. I've known Maia for years and it was such a great time getting together to create images.

Last week I went down to Chicago to meet with my June 15th couple. We talked about the wedding, met the Chicago Mayor and took some photographs around the city- meet Sylvia and Pierre.

I recently went to San Francisco for some photo shoots and to visit some dear friends. This is Meg, she is lovely and you will be seeing her many times on my blog - the first thing we did when I landed was sit on her rooftop - a place I wish I could be now.

A sneak peek from a shoot I did in San Francisco.

Yesterday I went down to Chicago to meet with my June 15th couple. We talked about the wedding, met the Chicago Mayor and took some photographs around the city- meet Sylvia and Pierre.

This morning I went for a walk to find out that this lovely band was playing a free show at Context. One of my favorite things about living in Madison, Wi is the music community; people really love live music here - whether they are listening to it or playing it and it is a beautiful thing to be apart of. This group, PHOX hasn't been around very long, but they really have become known and I am eager to see where they will go with their ridiculous talents. I have seen them play countless times and I have never walked away disappointed - in one set they manage to play 10 different instruments, perfect a 6 part harmony and Monica will always warm your with her adorable banter. I highly suggest checking out their music and their woodroom sessions on YouTube and make sure to check them out live.

Friday I put on my polkadots, red lips and went over to the Gagnon's magical home for a tea party. We decided to do a shoot where we (the adults) had no influence, Nora had her cousin Nan over and they picked out their outfits and we allowed them to decide what to do and I documented the afternoon. Children are so comfortable in front of the camera, so I feel there is no need to pose them - just let them be kids and I'll document them.

Anna Vogelzang and Dietrich Gosser will be hitting the road together this summer on tour, so they contacted me to get some promo images of them together. We met at Mickey's Tavern - a place where I have seen both Anna and Dietrich countless times, and spent a few hours hanging out and taking photographs.

I find I get emailed for weddings and engagements almost daily, but there is something about getting to photograph one person, as they are. I enjoy spending the afternoon with them, getting to know them and trying to get their true selves out in front of my camera. Now with Hallah, we know each other - so getting her to be her with me was easy, since the friendship was built before we began our shoot. Hallah is a beautiful girl with an amazing laugh and an even amazing smile - she was a joy to work with and just an all around beauty.

I first met Anne while she was in a Ladies Rock Camp session a few years back. Anne recently contacted me to let me know that she has further continued with music and was in need of some images for an upcoming album. I drove out to her and her Husband's beautiful home in Belleville, Wi where we walked around her land for the shoot. I am hoping to get back out there this summer when all of the snow is gone - it was a photographers paradise! Enjoy these images:

You may not have noticed, but spring is in the air, at least for the good folk over at the Good Style shop who recently said goodbye to their winter collection and hello to 1,000+ vintage threads. If you haven't had the pleasure to shop the racks, you best get down to the 800 block of East Johnson soon to stock up on your springs wears.

Hello! As you can see this is a new website, therefor my new blog has little posts. If you are interested in seeing posts before March of 2013, please visit my old link here.

Thanks!

<3 Audre Rae

A few Sunday's ago I went to see Amy and Tim, I photographed their wedding a few years back and was happy to hear they had a healthy baby girl, Esther Ann. They live in a beautiful home in Lake Mills, when I arrived Essie was sound asleep, but like all newborn shoots - that didn't last. It was the challenge of getting little Essie back to sleep, but she just wanted to hang out: