Another Senior photo session from last week.  We were at Lawrence and downtown Appleton.  It was a green wardrobe, which I like just look at my truck.  She also brought her prom dress which was great.

The past few weeks have been kinda of hectic.  Last week I photographed Taylor and here are a few photos from the shoot.

This has been the second time I have made Pizza on the grill.  I have known about it for a long time and have always been afraid to try it.  First let me say that it is probably the best pizza I have ever had.  Secondly it’s not that hard to do.  I have a steps below on how to do it.

First you need a grill.  This is my pride and joy.  Those that know me know that I am a charcoal guy.  Either you are charcoal guy or you are gas guy, and I like to tame the flame.  This is Weber’s best charcoal grill, the “Performer”.  It has a side work table, a bin to hold the charcoal and a small gas bottle to get the charcoal going, yup no more lighter fluid.  Pile up your charcoal, turn on the gas, push the button to ignite and shut it off 5 minutes later.  That’s enough to get it going.  If I could change one thing on it, it would be to make it a little bigger.  I sometimes run out of space on the thing.  I  just might have to get a second one.

You need to get your grill good and hot.  Another great feature of this grill is the thermometer right in the lid to let me know when it is ready.  Yeah I know it is starting to sound like an ad for Weber.  I have no affiliation with them but I do love their grills and I am not afraid to spread the word.  If they want to send me a t-shirt or something I wouldn’t complain.

While the grill is getting hot, I like to get everything else ready. Choose your sauce and toppings.  Less is more for the toppings because the pizza cooks fast. I like to shred my own cheese.  It seems to be fresher and softer, so it melts easier.  You will need something to spread the sauce and the knife is for popping bubbles in the crust.  More on that later.

The last thing I get ready is the dough for the crust,  You can make dough, which I have yet to try but soon, or but it at the store.  I get it at Festival foods.  I ball of dough makes a roughly 14 inch pizza that’s not to thin.  I coat the dough and my work surface with flour, you could also use corn meal.  Then you need to flatten that dough ball to your shape.  Years ago when I was in college I worked for Dominoes Pizza, so I learned how to make round crust complete with the tossing in the air spinning thing but a rolling pin works just as well.  Put the crust on a cookie sheet or pizza pan and then coat it  with olive oil.

This side is going to go down on the grill first.  I will mention that I like to spray the cooking grate with oil first.  Please do this BEFORE you put the grate on the grill or you will get a flare up.

So your grill is nice and hot, the crust is ready and toppings are standing by.  There are a few more things you need to have standing by.  The first is a set of tongs or two and/or a spatula, flipper, turner or what ever you call it.  You will also need a pizza pan or cookie sheet and some sort of mitt or glove to protect your hands.

Now you are ready and it goes fast.  First get that crust on the grill.  You can leave it on the pan to flip it over onto the grill or I just grab the crust and do it.

Once it is on the  grill coat the top side with olive oil if you want then close the lid and check it after about a minute.  This is where the tongs come in handy.  You will probably start to see bubbles forming in the crust.  Take you knife and pop them.  This is nitrogen in the dough getting out and we don’t want them.  Once the first side is done to your liking flip it over and add your sauce, cheese and toppings and then close the lid.

After a minute or two I like to slide the pizza pan under the pizza on the grill.  This prevents the bottom from going to dark (I should say black) I then close the lid for a few more minutes to let the cheese and toppings melt and blend together.  When this is to your liking pull that baby off and put it on something that can handle the heat and then get ready to enjoy.

This may seem a little intimidating but it really is easy to do, just have everything ready and close by.  Remember it’s pizza, it doesn’t have to look perfect.

Abbondanza!! and enjoy!!

I know Spring has arrived when Mike’s Popcorn stand opens up.  For those of you who do not know, Mike’s Popcorn is this little trailer that sits along Wisconsin Ave and serves popcorn from 6 to 9 every night.  They started selling popcorn in 1968.  We saw the trailer there last week but have been waiting for it to open.  We drove by Friday and saw that it was.  Now my youngest daughter I would call a popcorn fanatic.  Absolutely loves the stuff.  She eats it almost everyday (still trying to figure out if that is good or bad)  When she heard that it was open, we had to go.  I will admit I think it is the best tasting popcorn around.  Here are a few photos I took to document the occasion.

Do you want butter with that??

I had a great wedding yesterday at Waterfront Banquets.  You may also know it as Pullman’s or Trolley Square.  It is a smaller venue with great food and it overlooks the river.  We did go outside yesterday for a few photos.  My couple are from Arizona so they are not quite used to the cooler weather anymore, but they were troopers with it.  I think we all got a little spoiled with the exceptionally warm weather we had earlier in the week.  Here are some photos from the day, enjoy.

Saturday was my first wedding for the year ‘10.  Some how “10 just doesn’t roll of the tongue like ‘09 or ‘08 or ‘98 or anything.  I think this is going to take a bit to get used to.  Luckily that doesn’t affect my weddings.  I had an absolute blast with Stephanie and Ryan this weekend.  I can’t tell you the last time I have seen so much energy at a wedding.  All day was non stop.  We had a running theme of Super Heroes for the day.  This is the start to a great wedding season.  Enjoy the photos

We spent a long weekend visiting colleges in Minnesota for my son.  We went to Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of St. Thomas.  Both are great schools, it’s going to be a hard decision for him.  We spent the evening in St. Paul and had a great view of St. Paul Cathedral outside our window.  Here is a photo of the cathedral from early morning.

Long trip but a good time.  Looks like we might have to do it again in two weeks.

It is almost midnight and in 15 minutes it is Groundhog Day.  I don’t know about anybody else but I am ready for spring.  I really miss my garden or I should say I miss what comes from the garden.  It wasn’t a great year for my garden but it was my 3rd year at it and I will learn from my mistakes ( tall plants behind the short plants ). I am going through photos to make new galleries ( coming soon )and I came across some photos I did this summer of some of my bounty.

So I am routing for Phil to not see his shadow.  Go Spring!!

Here is a photo from a few years ago I did at the Red Mill in Waupaca.  I was recently asked if I had any photos from past winter weddings.  I did and created a gallery for the couple to see.  You can view the gallery here.

Winter weddings are not that common here in Wisconsin, but in reality they are not that much different than summer weddings.  It is just colder, there’s snow, and it gets darker earlier.  You can “brave the elements”  and go outside for photos or stay inside.  Most couples prefer the inside option.  The couple in the photo above did not.  Their license plate said “LUV SNOW” so I knew where photos were going to be.   The chapel at the Red Mill also has no heat and it was about 18 degrees that day.  I wore my finest wedding Carhartt’s and Sorel’s.

So what do you do If you are staying inside?   You look for cool backgrounds to use.  It also may mean you use a few extra lights to help the photo.  In the photo below, I had the couple go up 4 floors and I put a light on the same floor as them off to their left.  This gave the photo some dimension.  I also used a light by the camera to help fill in some of the shadows.

So if you are thinking of a winter wedding don’t be afraid, there are always options for great photos.

Last Saturday was the the Farmers Market and family photos.  Here are a few photos from my family shoot.

Red, the grandfather, asked if he should were his hat?  So I asked, “do you usually wear it?”  He replied that he did.  So we used it for a few shots.  I think it is important for little things like this.  Family is never with us forever and it will be those little things that help bring back your fondest memories.  ” Oh yeah, remember how Grandpa always wore his Stetson, I loved that hat” ” do you remember the time. . . “  Family photos help tell the story of your family.