Candy and flowers last for a season but, for Mother's Day, nothing says "I love you, mom," longer than a family portrait Story from "Patch" by Rich Rostron
Well, there are always chocolates and flowers, right? Mom seems to appreciate them. Of course, she'd say she loves them anyhow. It's the thought that counts, and the time you spend with her.
All this is probably true but, sometimes, it may leave you feeling as though you've taken the easy way out - just order some flowers and take mom out for dinner. Besides, if you decided to do something more what would do?
Remember the part above where we spoke of how much mom appreciates the time you spend with her? Why not give her something to remember that time by. How about a portrait? But, not just any portrait: it has to be as special as she is. Around Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin there's no better option when it comes to portrait photography than Wancket Studios.
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mother's day
From the community section of Trib Local~by Rich Rostron
Portrait photographer has gift for capturing youthful innocence
Successful photographers have a unique and amazing gift – the ability to convince children, who seemingly are otherwise in perpetual motion, to sit still long enough for a photograph. For most of us, as soon as we have the precious little ones set and step back to the camera, they move. When we do seem to catch the intended photo our pleasure is short lived as we discover their eyes were closed.
Instead of a wonderful time spent with the children in an effort to capture the moment for posterity, before long, we're pulling our hair out. If this isn't sufficient cause to contact a professional, what is?
When it comes to contacting a professional, you can't do any better than Audrey Wancket with Spring Grove based Wancket Studios. Not only does Wancket convince the little darlings to sit still long enough for a portrait, she even brings out that magical youthful innocence that is otherwise fleeting between diaper changes or cutting off toddlers at the pass before they shatter that heirloom vase handed down from your grandmother.
A story posted here last week told of the incredibly cute children’s’ portraits created each spring with baby ducks or chicks. That limited edition opportunity starts April 18 and runs through April 24. Such opportunities are all the more precious as Wancket is one of the top portrait photographers in the world.
In these portraits, Wancket matches that innocence with breathtakingly adorable images parents treasure for life. These aren't portraits for the photo album; they are deserving of a place of honor on the wall where they are shared with friends and family.
Wancket puts considerable time and effort into every portrait to ensure that everything is just right. The lion's share of that time and effort, however, occurs before a client arrives with a child or children for a portrait session. There's no fiddling around trying to decide what setting will work best or adjust the lighting. These are done in advance.
In the end, the portrait session is almost as rewarding as the portrait itself.
For more information, or to schedule a portrait session, call 847-587-3350 or visit www.wancketstudios.com.
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limited edition baby chicks
The World's Cutest Portrait Sessions to start this month.
Patch story by Rich Rostron
When you take the incredible cuteness of a child and put it together with the wild cuteness of a baby duck or chick and combine the two in the presence of world renowned portrait photographer Audrey Wancket the outcome is right off the cuteness scale. In fact, you can easily call them The World's Cutest Portrait Sessions.
That's why, every Spring for the last 20 years, Wancket, of Spring Grove based Wancket Studios, offers a Limited Edition opportunity for moms and dads to bring in the little ones for portrait sessions of the incredibly cute variety.
"It's a Limited Edition session that only lasts about one week," Wancket said. "The ducks and chicks begin to replace their baby feathers with adult feathers after about 7 days. They don't look good for a while."
Wancket said she originally used bunnies and lambs. Then she started working with baby ducks.
"One year, I received a call from the feed mill that my turkeys are in," she said. "They made a mistake and they didn't have ducks.
"I went to the feed mill and said, 'I need something cute. Turkeys are not cute."
As an alternative, the feed mill eventually called an egg farmer and asked if he would allow Wancket to incubate and keep some chicks for about a week. That year, she realized the chicks are actually a little easier to work with and they still ooze with cuteness.
Wancket said she uses two assistants for the portrait sessions: one to work with the ducks or chicks and the other to work with the children.
"It's wonderful to see how delighted the children are with the chicks," Wancket said. "Not only do we end up with the absolute sweetest Spring portraits, but the
When you take the incredible cuteness of a child and put it together with the wild cuteness of a baby duck or chick and combine the two in the presence of world renowned portrait photographer Audrey Wancket the outcome is right off the cuteness scale. In fact, you can easily call them The World's Cutest Portrait Sessions.
That's why, every Spring for the last 20 years, Wancket, of Spring Grove based Wancket Studios, offers a Limited Edition opportunity for moms and dads to bring in the little ones for portrait sessions of the incredibly cute variety.
"It's a Limited Edition session that only lasts about one week," Wancket said. "The ducks and chicks begin to replace their baby feathers with adult feathers after about 7 days. They don't look good for a while."
Wancket said she originally used bunnies and lambs. Then she started working with baby ducks.
"One year, I received a call from the feed mill that my turkeys are in," she said. "They made a mistake and they didn't have ducks.
"I went to the feed mill and said, 'I need something cute. Turkeys are not cute."
As an alternative, the feed mill eventually called an egg farmer and asked if he would allow Wancket to incubate and keep some chicks for about a week. That year, she realized the chicks are actually a little easier to work with and they still ooze with cuteness.
Wancket said she uses two assistants for the portrait sessions: one to work with the ducks or chicks and the other to work with the children.
"It's wonderful to see how delighted the children are with the chicks," Wancket said. "Not only do we end up with the absolute sweetest Spring portraits, but the children have a positive memorable experience."
Wancket said she now picks between ducks and chicks based on which looks the cutest, and are a little calmer, when she picks them up. After the portrait sessions, she turns them over to an egg farmer where they start producing more ducks and chicks for the next year.
This year, The World's Cutest Portrait Sessions start April 18 and continue through April 24. For more information call 847-587-3350 or visit www.wancketstudios.com .
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limited edition baby chicks
Inspired and named from Audrey’s passion for the “Old Master Painters” of Vermeer, Rembrandt, John Singer Sargeant and others. This art form combines the realism of our photographic portrait with the added depth of fine painting. Audrey takes us beyond the limits of the camera to an art piece rich with hand painted details.
These exquisite portraits are appropriate for the finest homes.
close ups with detail
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paintings by audrey wancket
Warm weather beckons portrait photographer to consider outdoor backdrops
by Rich Rostron
It's official - Spring has arrived. The warm weather offers opportunities for people to get out of the house, to ride their bicycles, start work on the garden and do some grilling. The warm weather also has the folks at Wancket Studios thinking about taking their work outdoors.
While owner Audrey Wancket has built a collection of more than 120 backdrops for use in the studio, she also looks for natural settings when creating the proper mood for her world-class portraits. The early arrival of warm weather, with buds already showing on the trees, has turned the world into a panoramic scene rich in opportunity for outdoor photography.
As the warm weather progresses, Wancket will tailor her garden and other outdoor areas to create specific natural backdrops. But, she is always open to the spontaneous splendor of nature.
"There is a freshness to portraits taken outdoors," said Wancket. "I love working in the studio but I still look forward to warm days when we can work outside."
Wancket said she also creates portraits using winter scenes, which have a particular beauty all their own. But, like most people, she also appreciates the warm weather. Besides, she said, it's easier on a warm day for her clients to relax and enjoy an outdoor portrait session than on a cold winter day when they're trying to stay warm at the same time as they're posing for a portrait session.
For more information or to schedule a portrait session at Wancket Studios, indoors or out, call 847-587-3350 or visit the website at www.WancketStudios.com. Wancket recommends that, if you're looking for an outdoor portrait, you contact her for scheduling.
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wildflower portraits
Spring Grove portrait photographer elected to board of directors for professional photographers association. By Rich Rostron
Audrey Wancket, of Spring Grove based Wancket Studios, has wide acclaim from coast to coast and beyond as one of the most outstanding photographers today. That recognition and her reputation as someone with foresight, vision and the best interest of professional photography has earned her a spot on the Board of Directors for the Professional Photographers of America or PPA.
The PPA is a nonprofit association, with 22,000 members in 54 countries, that has promoted the advancement of the professional photography community. Wancket, a portrait photographer who placed fourth in this year’s Kodak Elite Award and in the top 10 of this year’s Grand Imaging Award from PPA, is known for her portraits that have the essence of fine oil paintings.
In the community of professional photographers, Wancket is known as a serious photographer, artist and business woman.
“What I bring to the board is my love for the organization and my desire to make sure that it remains a strong organization that helps other photographers grow,” Wancket said. “People join an organization like PPA because they want access to the educational and inspirational benefits of membership for business practices, studio management and marketing, as well as skills and techniques.”
A nominating committee identified Wancket as a potential candidate for the position and submitted her name to the PPA’s Executive Council. Tim Walden, the current vice president who will take over as president of the organization March 1, said the 200-plus members of the council voted on the candidates submitted by the nominating committee.
“Audrey is amazing, diligent, passionate and has an amazing head on her shoulders,” Walden said. “She has a solid grasp of the structure of the organization and she’s an amazingly gifted photographer. We need all of those traits in a board member. The last is a bonus.”
Wancket will serve a two-year term before she comes up for re-election. However, she pointed out this is not merely an honorary position.
“Some board positions are fluff,” Wancket said. “This is not one of those. This is definitely a working board.”
For starters, she said she’ll make four, two-day trips each year to the association’s home office in Atlanta. She’ll also serve as a board liaison with two of the association’s committees and attending their meetings. As an example, Wancket explained that she now serves as the vice chairman of the Professional Photographers Certification Commission.
“The board liaison’s job is to make sure that everything is still put before the board for final approval,” Wancket said.
Walden agreed there this is much to be done.
“Our goals are to protect, provide and educate,” he said of what the organization will seek to provide its membership during the course of the next two years. “We do lobbying in favor of copyright protection, offer insurance for our members’ equipment and have various forms of education.”
To learn more about Wancket Studios, visit www.wancketstudios.com or call
Trib story-by Rich rostron
World-class portrait photographer looks to master painter for inspiration
Isaac Newton once wrote that, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” It’s a universal truth for those who excel in any field.
For Audrey Wancket, of Spring Grove based Wancket Studios, a consistent winner of top photography awards, she recognizes the shoulders of one such giant who has had a significant influence on her works. However, this master worked in another medium. Still, the style and grace of that artist is strikingly apparent in Wancket’s works, too.
“I love the works of John Singer Sargent,” Wancket said of the renowned artist who staked a place among the masters with his portraits in oils.
Looking at Wancket’s works, it’s easy to see Sargent’s influence. Though Wancket paints through the lens of a camera, one can almost envision the brush strokes on the canvas.
“The poses, his lighting, the attitudes of his subjects and his color pallet – it all comes through in everything he did,” Wancket said. “Whether it’s complementary colors or similar colors, you learn a lot from looking at his paintings.”
Wancket said much of the way she poses subjects in her portraits comes from what she learned observing Sargent’s works, particularly when it comes to posing women.
“You just learn from seeing something beautiful,” she said. “You learn about what makes it beautiful. Each person is an individual with natural features you want to accentuate.”
Wancket has a remarkable touch for choosing the right lighting, accessories, furniture and setting for her subjects. Above all, she knows how to put all the pieces together, from the surroundings to the individual’s wardrobe and makeup, in a way that is flattering while going beyond a mere picture to actually telling a story about the individual or individuals in the portrait.
She described her unique ability as something she has developed to the extent that these things happen almost subconsciously. The keys of her success all started with seeing the world through the eyes of masters, such as John Singer Sargent.
To schedule a consultation for a Wancket portrait, call 847.587.3350 or click here to visit her Web site.
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portraits by wancket studios
