Featured - Emerie's 1st Birthday

Emerson's birthday party was featured on Pocketful of Dreams today. Thanks to my family for helping me with the food and not thinking I was too crazy to design such a lavish party for a one-year-old.

Visit the blog and read the story here

Contributing vendors include:
Custom Pie Cake - Cake Anatomy
Vintage Fabric Bunting - Jump Up and Down
Pink and White Straws - Hey Yo Yo
White Glass Food Stands - St. Vincent De Paul and Home Goods
Vintage Table Linens - St. Vincent De Paul
Pie Pop Maker - Drew Norbert 4 years old

Holden | Neenah Baby Photographer

I've mentioned in the past that I don't really do infant or children's photography. But this little cutie and his mamma are too cute to pass up... Little Holden was sooo cute and sooo good I could photograph him all day every day.

You might remember his mamma's maternity session last summer. I hope these two have even more kiddos to brighten the world like this little guy brightened mine that day!








Can't wait to photograph Holden's 9 month photos this summer... stay posted for more blue-eyed, chubby cheeked cuteness.

Like Ardent Photography on Facebook for even more images from this session.

What I call my little "George W Bush" face...

A bit confused... but totally interested.
Stick out ears... and messy hair.

That's my girl with her "George W Bush" face on.


But isn't it cute???

Happy Fall! | Neenah Lifestyle Photography

Last week I had the chance to photograph my kiddos. Emerie turned 6 months and Drew turned 4 years in September. They did surprisingly well - Drew wore what I set out for him and Emerson didn't cry too much. It is so hard to photograph your own kids. First off, you have to hide your face behind the camera... babies and kids like to see their mommy - so I play a lot of Peek-a-Boo. Secondly, there is a huge standard that you need to live up to... I'm pretty hard on myself to get things to be perfect.

I'm so happy with the images. Here are a few that I thought would brighten your day.

5 months old....

Tomorrow my baby girl is turning 5 months old. She is such a delight! I've had this past week to spend with her all alone with no big brother around. Emerson loves to smile and laugh... her new big thing is to blow spit bubbles and make baby pteranodon noises.

This week we also found out that our sweet baby girl will need to have surgery in a few months. In late June Emerie had a UTI infection that lead us to have a series of tests. A visit this week with a pediatric urologist explained that she has some crazy stuff going on. In a nut shell, she will end up having part of her right kidney removed as well as some other things that are going on with the tubes that drain to the bladder.

We are hoping this is just a little hiccup in our lives. The abnormality is neither hereditary nor caused by anything from the outside world. This is just how God initially wanted Emerson's cells to form inutero.

Right now we are praying for her and loving her. She is soooo awesome and we know she will pull through.

Maternity - Ardent style

It's been crazy here at Ardent Photography! Since I last blogged I've moved into my Milwaukee Boudoir studio, hired a part-time employee, got Emerson baptized and even found time for a short vacay with the family.

I don't usually do maternity portraits... but if a past client calls with news that they are expecting I cannot turn them away! Katie was one of my first sessions that I shot in my studio in Milwaukee. We shot part of the session in the studio and the second half on the streets and in a baby boutique in the Third Ward.

Their little guy is due any day now. I wish for them a quick and complication-free delivery!