People line Morton Avenue to pay their respects to Ssgt Matthew Weikert during his funeral last month. Photo by Steve/Warmowski Photography
Last month I offered to photograph the honor guard, visitation and funeral of Staff Sgt. Matthew Weikert, of Jacksonville, who was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan. The community made an incredible show of solidarity for the fallen soldier, with people lining the route of the funeral procession. People stood along the curb on both sides of Morton Avenue from the funeral home at Lincoln Avenue for a mile until Route 104. More people with flags, signs of support or just standing along road were interspersed along the rest of the route to Libery Cemetery west of town. Soldiers serving as honor guards said they’ve never seen a show of support to that extent in all the funerals they’ve attended.
Tiffany’s cousin, Ian Stewart, was killed in 2004 while serving in the Marines in Iraq. I made photos of the wake and funeral at the request of Tiffany’s grandmother, and extended the same offer to the Weikert family. Hopefully the images I made for the Weikerts will help them remember the gratitude the community extended for their sacrifice.
Boxing legend Ken Norton Sr. breaks down after receiving a painting of his mother during a birthday bash to benefit Pathway in Jacksonville. (photo by Steve/Warmowski Photography)
In addition to weddings, Warmowski Photography provides event photography, and on Friday 23 July Steve covered the Ken Norton Birthday Bash for Pathway Services Unlimited. Pathway is one of the social agencies in Jacksonville facing a budget gap due to delays in state funding, and we donated our services to help with the fundraiser.
Jacksonville native Ken Norton Sr. is probably best known for defeating Muhammad Ali in 1973. The boxer still makes it back to Jacksonville to make appearances, and this trip was anchored by an early birthday party to raise money for Pathway. (It wasn’t really his birthday, but it was Steve’s.) He brought a cadre of stars, musicians and sports greats into town for the celebration at Hamilton’s 110 North East.
Steve covered special events for sponsors in the VIP room, the celebration and the entertainment. In the photo above Ken Norton breaks down after receiving a painting by Mario A.C. Della Casa, depicting Ken with his deceased mother. Two of the artist’s paintings were auctioned off later in the evening for $2,000.
Ken Norton Sr. (center) with Hollywood stars, sports greats and other friends at his birthday bash. (photo by Steve Warmowski)
Warmowski Photography was glad to help in the evening, and preserve memories for the sponsors and attendees of the event (if you had your photo taken with the champ, check out this gallery — all profits go to Pathway).
Carolyn Buckner & Daniel Vize emerge from church after their wedding in Buxton, Derbyshire, England in 2008. Photo by Steve/Warmowski Photography
I recently came home from England, after taking a trip to explore my family history with my mother, aunt and grandmother. We started in London and traveled south to Horsham, then west to Thatcham, Tilehurst (Reading) & environs to see places my ancestors roamed.
On the trip, I conducted a bit of business. Steve and I photographed the wedding of Carolyn & Daniel Vize in England January 2008. We met them at the wedding of our friends Sada & Jason Reed — we hit it off, and they quickly followed suit when we said we’d love to photograph their wedding. Following the wedding, we sent them their photos, but their computer crashed and they lost their images. We pulled their stuff out of our archive and copied everything onto a hard drive for me to deliver. It was a great excuse to reconnect with Carolyn’s mother in London, and Daniel’s parents in Buxton.
Carolyn & Daniel Vize en route to the Old Hall Hotel in historic Buxton, United Kingdom. Photo by Steve
What else does a wedding photographer do while on vacation? Why, take photos of a wedding of course!
Checking out a wedding from the balcony. Photo by Tiffany
While in Thatcham, I (with Grandma, Mom and Aunt Dawn) went to the main church in town to find out when it was built and if perhaps our ancestors had worshipped or were buried there. It was a Saturday and when we arrived, a wedding was about to begin – once the bride finally got there. We quickly learned that the bride was delayed because the car she was riding in broke down on the way to the church! She arrived in a “dirty car,” in the words of the vicar, but she arrived.
We were talking to church’s wedding coordinator while waiting for the ceremony to begin and she suggested I go up to the balcony and watch from up there when the bride arrived. I went up there with my camera and photographed the bride, her father and attendants walking down the aisle. I thought this was amusing because that is the exact place I go when Steve and I photograph weddings.
I have recently contacted the church in order to connect with the bride and groom so that I can e-mail them some photos. I didn’t meet the bride and groom, and they didn’t even know I was there or that I was taking photos. I hope to connect with them through the church and I wish them a long and happy marriage!
Tiffany with an English icon in London.
Posted by Tiffany. Warmowski Photography covers weddings in Illinois, but also offers destination wedding packages. Getting married in England? Why not bring your own photographer to cover the whole trip!
Sherie Kording & "Bubba" Trace are surrounded by sparklers as they kiss outside MacMurray College's Annie Merner Chapel during their New Year's Eve wedding. Photo by Tiffany.
Received an e-mail today on quick tips for shooting fireworks that I thought I’d share. The main things to remember are you’ll want a long exposure so to get the full streak to show and you’ll want to use a tripod to hold the camera steady (both of which Tiffany used to get the photo above).
Other than that, to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend we will be having a print sale. Prints ordered this weekend on July 3rd & 4th will be at 10 percent off. Details will be sent to e-mail addresses registered via our on-line galleries.
Posted by Steve. Warmowski Photography, wedding photojournalism in Jacksonville 62650.
Hans Burlin, 8, flicks a seed as he climbs on a tractor with his brother, Axel, 10, during a visit to Two Roads Farm in Assumption. Their parents, Johannes and DD Burlin, of River Forest, recently bought a share of the farm which produces organic grain.
I like to joke and say I’m a retired newspaper photojournalist (with more than 20 years experience including college, internships in Michigan and newspaper positions across Illinois). But, this is a working retirement — mostly telling couples’ wedding stories, but I also get to do some news work every now and then.
The Chicago Tribune has called on me a couple times over the past few months. It’s a nice way to keep my newspaper skills up to date.
I have been freelancing for the Chicago Tribune since my college days at the University of Illinois — Urbana-Champaign. The first job I can remember was photographing two students who used their martial arts expertise playing the roles the turtles in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie. I even photographed a hog confinement near Bearstown — later my stomping grounds while working at the Jacksonville Journal-Courier. I even got to take photos of my mentor, Archie Lieberman.
I was blessed to work with Wes Smith, of the newspaper’s Midwest Bureau based out of Bloomington-Normal. He’d call me to check my availability, then I’d be off. I have a box of negatives somewhere in my basement. Some of the stories I remember are the Lawlor family and Galena Cellars winery, motorcyclist/protestor at Starved Rock State Park near LaSalle-Peru/Ottawa, Slave House in southern Illinois near Carbondale, and an old guy who was a stink bait supplier for Wal-Mart in Metro East St. Louis.
The most attention I gained was from a story I suggested to Wes. An Amish family near Decatur opened their doors and offered home-cooked meals to raise money to cover medical bills after a son’s farming accident. The story made a big splash on the feature page, and was the talk of the town on WGN radio for several days.
That all being said, at this stage I get more fulfillment telling a bride and groom’s wedding story. To be an intimate part of their wedding day is such a thrill, such a gift, and always inspires me to do my best work.
Posted by Steve, experienced photojournalist and wedding photographer, and part of the husband-wife team of Warmowski Photography.
Last Saturday, Audra Fanning married Francis Nelson in a beautiful ceremony at Annie Merner Chapel on the campus of MacMurray College with a fun reception at the Jacksonville Country Club. Her brother, Wade, served as her “Man-of-Honor.” He told the guests during his speech that night that she had “warned” him for years that he was going to take the place of a maid-of-honor at her wedding someday. He didn’t believe her. But, they are the closest of siblings and she made good on her promise. Wade took her bouquet during the ceremony (placing it on the organ, not holding it throughout the ceremony), arranged her train when needed and gave a wonderfully sentimental toast only a brother can. I’m sure he fulfilled many “person-of-honor” duties prior to the wedding as well. Here are a few photos of Wade willingly fulfilling his role of the day.
Wade Fanning stands up with his sister, Audra Fanning, as her "Man-of-Honor" at her marriage to Francis Nelson Saturday, June 12, 2010, in Jacksonville, Illinois.Wade Fanning adjusts his sister's train during her marriage to Francis Nelson Saturday, June 12, 2010, in Jacksonville, Illinois.Wade Fanning, the "Man-of-Honor," gives a toast to the newlyweds Saturday at Audra & Francis Nelson's wedding reception.
I went to the SpringfieldLocalFavorites meeting at the Northfield Inn Suites & Conference Center earlier this week. We’ve photographed a couple weddings there, and it was nice to see the facility and get info from Pamela Risinger, director of sales (217.492.5552). She loved our sample book, and we left a couple small copies for her to show!
The group brings together the top wedding vendors in Springfield (see listing of members). Some of the other people I met with were . . .
Lisa Lukaszewski (great name!) of Lisa Lu Designs, invitations and programs, 217.416.1970
Dan Williams of Treetop Productions, wedding video and slideshows, 217.899.1823
Adam Christopher Rainis of Themes From The Heart, custom-composed wedding music, 618.593.6262
And don’t forget, Springfield Local Favorites will be holding their Third Annual Bridal Bash on your calendar, Sunday 26 September 2010 from 1-5 pm at The Rail Golf Course. The event is free, and beyond door prizes includes an 8-day, 7-night honeymoon vacation package drawing. Now you can register on-line for free tickets. Unlike other expos, you don’t have to pay to get in, and you don’t have to go bar-to-bar to get a ticket — provide your info and print out your own ticket now.
Posted by Steve. Warmowski Photography, one of the top wedding photographers in the Springfield region.
Katie Carrigan & Adam Filler made time to visit The Irish Toad between their ceremony and reception.
Most couples only have time for a quick lift from their ceremony to their reception site, but Katie Carrigan & Adam Filler had some extra time so they paid a visit to The Irish Toad. (Adam raising his foot while he posed above made me laugh.)
The stop gave their wedding party a chance to relax. Some out-of-town friends connected via mobile phone and met them at the bar. Some groomsmen ordered up one of their famous pizzas to tie them over until the reception at the Jacksonville Country Club.
Groomsmen eat pizza at The Irish Toad.Katie Carrigan & Adam Filler at The Irish Toad.Stapling a commemorative dollar bill on the wall of The Irish Toad.
They also took part in the bar’s tradition of stapling dollar bills to the wall to mark the occasion. When you go, you can find the first above the entrance (with a modified date) and another on the north wall.
Heather Thomas & Doug Zulauf have fun with his bike and their engagement session last weekend in Jacksonville.
We’ve been having fun lately photographing some engagement sessions with some 2010 couples, and wanted to share some images.
We work to do more than a studio sitting, and get more than a portrait for the newspaper. We try to run around town with our couples, to places that reflect their personality or the story of their relationship, and have some fun while making pictures. See some of Heather & Doug’s photos in a special video we created for them.
The engagement sessions include a 5×5 brag book — which can be upgraded to a larger book for guests to sign on your wedding day. As with our other packages, Facebook-sized images, on-line gallery and DVD proofing are also included.
We use the engagement session also as a time to get to know our brides & grooms better. And, having fun with us making pictures will surely make for even more fun on their wedding day.
And, we willing to travel anywhere for the sessions (as well as our weddings). Here’s some images from Jessica (Drebes) & Justin Jones in Quincy, locations including Villa Kathrine and the banks of the Mississippi River. Jamie (Greenberg) & Dave Arlin at various locations in downtown Chicago. And so far our most exotic location — Christy Heaton & Craig Beebe in New Orleans.
Jessica & Justin in Quincy.Jamie & Dave against the Chicago skyline.Christy & Craig in New Orleans.
Stacy (Radliff) Smedley is joined on the dance floor by guests, many of them small, during her reception at Illinois College's Cummings Dining Hall.
As you look for DJs, take a look at Superior Sound Entertainment. They’re based in Springfield, but we’ve worked with them at several weddings here in Jacksonville. They have a nice light set up, professional appearance, and most importantly our brides have liked them. Owner is Tony Boston, 217.544.1404 office & 217.414.1753 mobile.
Stacy (Radliff) & Scott Smedley dance during their reception at Illinois College's Cummings Dining Hall. (Photo by Steve)
Posted by Steve — Warmowski Photography, wedding photojournalists for the Springfield region.
