The Luebke Family [Sioux Falls, SD - Family Photos]

As the trees make their annual donations to the ground and harvest spreads machinery across the South Dakotan countryside, South Dakotans mentally prepare themselves for the prolonged, less colorful season ahead.

Much of our next few months will be spent gathering around leaf-lengthened tables full of our family's finest food and conversation. These are perhaps the most meaningful events in our lives, and there is no bigger honor for me than to have helped decorate the family-filled rooms in which they take place.

October decorates our parks with deciduous shades and provides a comfortable backdrop for making some family photos.

This particular blog post features my favorite shots from a recent outing to the Japanese Gardens at Terrace Park in Sioux Falls. I hope the Luebkes and their families enjoy sharing these photos as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Brad + Michelle: Brookings, South Dakota Wedding

The first time I met Brad and Michelle, they were sitting together in a dorm room in Mathews Hall at SDSU. He had his arm around her, and she was nearly falling off of the futon with laughter. Brad, you see, is a funny guy. He's known to liven up any social engagement with a quick joke or with his side-splitting, four-second impression of John Wayne. He has a knack for bringing out the smiles - the most beautiful of which is Michelle's.

Fast forward about 4 years - and they're still smiling, but for more profound reasons. SDSU blue and yellow accent the alter, the dresses, the tuxes and the bouquet. And so it only makes sense for Brad and Michelle to commit their lives to each other in a beautiful church just a few blocks from the beautiful campus where they met.

A couple hours before the ceremony, Michelle takes a practice walk down the aisle, sneaking up behind her man. As soon as she reaches him at the end of the aisle, she lets out the sun-shiniest smile as he turns, sees her for the first time and puts that same arm around her just as he did on that futon back in Mathews Hall. It's one of those moments when you know things are right where they're meant to be, and it's a great day to be a Jackrabbit.

Amber and Jeremy: Married!

Passion. There are a few things in life to which we devote it. Work, sports, cars, clothing, houses and religion, to name a few. But what's really important? People! We live with and for other people.

My friends Jeremy and Amber had one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever seen. What made it beautiful? Besides the baby blue accents, ivory ribbon bows dangling on the pews, penny-sized bubbles filling their path to the limousine and flowery center pieces with live gold fish, it was the couple that really lit up the day in front of their friends and family.

People and passion. I was honored to be there to capture it for them.

Here are some highlights!

Soulcrate Summer Kickoff Party 2010 - Sioux Falls

If you haven't heard of Soulcrate Music - you soon will. The Sioux Falls-based group is cultivating the local music scene with catchy, powerful hip hop. Thanks to my pal artist/writer/radio DJ Lucy Albers, I had the honor of photographing at the Soulcrate Summer Kickoff last Friday. The group, along with Prof and Rahzwell (Minneapolis), Adapt (Sioux Falls) and Midwest Blessed (Vermillion) filled a giant white tent behind the Lie'Brary bar in Sioux Falls with an impressive crowd.

After crawling, sweating, creeping, crouching and shooting around the stage for the whole gig, I took home a sizeable crop of shots. A few of these photos were featured on The Post, on Soulcrate's Facebook page and now in a special edition here for you. I hope you like 'em!



Special thanks to my friend Lucy for letting me storm the tent with my camera.