Lethbridge Portrait & Wedding Photography & Design by Tanya Plonka

Vegas shows usually have a no photography rule, but Absinthe encouraged it! This relatively new show in a circus-esque area outside of Caesar’s Palace is described as Cirque du Soleil’s younger punk brother, which was the perfect description of it. It takes the impressive acrobatic nature of Cirque and throws in raunchy humor (including making fun of Cirque) with a super intimate environment. The stage is only about 10 feet wide with seating for 200 in the theatre, so no matter where you are, you are up close and personal. If these performers were to mess up, you’d get a roller skate in the face. We didn’t splurge for the VIP tickets and still managed to get the second row, which was almost but not quite as terrifying as the first row.

The performers were all amazing and I think I watched half the show with my jaw hanging open. (The other half was spent wiping away tears of laughter.) If you’re easily offended, the humor in the show may not be appropriate for you, and if you don’t want to be picked on, sit a little further back :) (more…)

It’s been a busy season so I’m two months behind on posting this, but better late than never, right?

I had a great time at Photoshop World again and learned many things which I have since forgotten (good thing I took notes!).

On my first day, I went on the Photo Safari with Joe McNally and Moose Peterson. I am lucky I signed up for it when I did because it was sold out several days later! This event is always popular because you get to spend an entire day shooting with these two very influential, talented photographers. They show you how they light scenes, interact with subjects, and see things the way they do. This year the field trip was to Bonnie Springs Ranch, which is a tourist attraction just half an hour outside of Las Vegas. The employees/actors who work at the ranch were our models, and they were great to work with. (more…)

Amazing! Amazing! It’s hard to write much else about this show. After a much too long hiatus, Big Sugar got back together and this is very dear to my heart since they were the second 18+ show I ever went to (my friend and I had to skip some classes in high school the next morning to do this). Gordie Johnson is also now a member of Wide Mouth Mason so they came along as well, and that’s exciting since they are one of my top bands. Shaun is one of my favorite singers – ever – and I never cease to be amazed at his guitar playing gush gush gush, etc. though that’s some tough competition when you are sharing the stage with Gordie.

This show went on for several epic hours and I’m so glad I got to be up front, showered by Gordie’s spit as he sang! :) (more…)

Shari and Garett go back to nearly the beginning of my photography career; I second shot their wedding with Hope only half a year after starting at that studio. Now they have a little family with their daughter Ava, who is an adorable, smiley, curly-haired girl but with all the stubbornness of the average two year old :)
Photos involved a lot of chasing her and as usual with kids that age, we tricked her into all kinds of photos! (more…)

I love following this family! Though I have photographed their siblings, cousins, and friends, it all started a few years ago when I did Chrysline and Michael’s maternity photos. Now Mahlia is getting pretty grown up, and they are adding a set of twins into the family in a few months! I think Chrysline is double-glowing as a result :)

I was so happy we had a beautiful evening for photos and there were just enough leaves left on the trees. (more…)

I see Lori all the time at work, but it’s been a few years since I did photos of her and Luka and he has grown so much in that time! For example, he listens a lot better to instructions… though part of the time, only to mine ;)

We brought his dad Brent along this time and did some family photos of the three of them. They have really awesome bikes so I suggested we incorporate them into the photos, and I’m so glad we did! (more…)