Light Painted Coca-Cola Products
In the spring of 2017, I set out for a week-long photography class with professional photographer, John Hartman. The class was all about a photography technique called light painting.
Little did I know at the time, but this would be a career-changing class for me! Upon returning home from John's class, I was on a mission to light paint just about anything I could!
This is the very first light painting project that I ever photographed. It was created in class, right there in John's studio in Steven's Point, Wisconsin.
My photography would never be the same!
Here's my very first light painting project that I created in John's class!
Light Painting a Cool Bar Remodeling by Julkowski Inc.
I was fresh out of my Light Painting "101" Class, and I needed to practice this stuff before I forgot what I'd learned!
So, as many people will do when they need help, I turned to my family. Our daughter Jen, and her husband, Ben, had just remodeled their entire basement. They added a wonderful bar area next to their new family room.
Their remodeling project was designed and built by Julkowski Inc., and they did a fantastic job!!
I never wrote a blog post about this light painting project, however, I did put together a "Build Video" of it on our YouTube Channel. Clicking on the button below will take you there.
Light Painted Wedding Photography at Olympic Hills Golf Club
Upon returning from John's class, I thought that if I kept on practicing this new skill, I might become proficient at it. So, since Joannie and I were professional wedding photographers, why not see if light painting could work at a wedding?
Derek & Zlata's wedding was only a couple of weeks after I had returned. I'd already light painted the bar remodel, so why not give it a try at a wedding? Our newlyweds were excited that they got to be our guinea pigs!
Despite a rainy evening, and lots of mistakes made, it is still a really pretty wedding photograph!
The old phrase, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" could not have been more true!
It turned out that we were just getting started!
Derek and Zlata's pretty light painted wedding photograph, our very first created at a wedding, by the pond at Olympic Hills Golf Club in Eden Prairie, MN.
Light Painting a 1977 Classic White Corvette named "Snow White"
This was my very first "solo" light painting of an automobile, a "Classic White" 1977 Corvette.
I found out afterward that all-white and all-black cars are the most difficult to light paint. Why start out with something easy?
A good friend of ours, Gary, let me "borrow" the car, nick-named "Snow White" so that I could practice with her.
These images were created in our very own Portrait Park, which is part of our home-based studio, right there in our backyard.
I was starting to get the hang of this "light painting" thing!
Light painted photograph of a 1977 Classic White Corvette with a 350ci,180hp engine, and a V54 roof rack.
Light Painting of a 1955 Chevrolet BelAir
Just one week after light painting Gary's Corvette, I was light painting a 1955 Chevrolet BelAir in historic Stillwater, Minnesota.
The famous Stillwater Lift Bridge that you see in the background was about to close to vehicular traffic forever.
Now, after a full refurbishment, it is a pedestrian and bike bridge as part of a 4.7-mile loop that goes into Wisconsin for a while, then back across the new Highway 36 bridge, and then back to Stillwater.
A pretty light Painting of a 1955 Chevrolet BelAir that was created in downtown Stillwater, Minnesota. The famous Stillwater Lift Bridge is seen in the background.
Light Painting a 1938 Chevy Coupe
The night after I light painted the BelAir, I had another cool light painting project!
This time, it was a 1938 Chevy Coupe! This was an interesting project to light paint, especially since it was only my third-ever light painting of a car (with all 3 of them created in just over a week)!
This car's stunning paint job, with hand-painted lightning bolts, was a real challenge to light paint. It changes color with different angles of view!
"Isn't that paint job cool!" exclaimed, Ron, the car's owner. I replied, "Yes, but I'm trying to make it look like it's all the same color!"
A cool light painting of a 1938 Chevy Coupe with a HOK Violette paint job with hand-painted lightning bolts!
Saint Paul College Club Wedding Light Painting
This time, we were better prepared to tackle a light painting at a wedding!
I had learned an awful lot in a little over a month! And, unknown to Joannie and me at the time, we were creating images that no one else, anywhere in the world, was creating at weddings!
And, if I don't say so myself, we kind of knocked this one out of the park at Clint & Gretchen's Saint Paul College Club wedding!
Clint & Gretchen's pretty light painting was created during their wedding reception at the Saint Paul College Club!
Light Painting New Brighton Fire Engine #5
New Brighton Fire Engine #5 was the very first fire truck that I ever light painted.
My many years as a professional photographer for the New Brighton Department of Public Safety paid dividends here. I asked them if I could try something new with one of their rigs, and they gave me the go-ahead.
It turned out to be great timing, as long-time firefighter, Ron Finney, Sr. was about to retire. So, as a surprise to Ron, we added him to the light painting in post-production.
They presented the finished metal print to him as a surprise gift at his retirement party!
Ron was photographed, on a different night, in one of the bays at the station. All we told him was that I was "trying something new." And that wasn't a lie in any way, shape, or form!
Ron Finney, Sr. in the light painting of New Brighton Fire Engine #5 created right at the station house!
Light Painted Wedding Photograph at The Pavilion at Lake Elmo
Bryan & Emily's wedding light painting is when I started to think that this was going to be "Our thing!"
We created this beauty during their wedding reception.
I'm sure that a lot of their guests were wondering just what the heck those two photographers were doing firing about a million flashes at the grass, the building, the trees, and the ground.
We were creating one-of-a-kind light painted wedding art!
Bryan and Emilie's stunning light painted wedding photo was created at The Pavilion at Lake Elmo, in Lake Elmo, MN.
Light Painting Wedding Photography at Grand Superior Lodge
Time for another wedding light painting! This time, Joannie and I traveled to Lake Superior to photograph the beautiful wedding of Brycen and Aleksandra at Grand Superior Lodge.
It began to rain at the start of their reception, but that didn't stop us! With plastic bags and umbrellas to protect the camera and lighting equipment, we pulled this one off!
In Photoshop, I was able to "fix" the dreary sky by adding the Northern Lights. We were up north after all!
Brycen & Aleksandra's stunning light painted wedding photograph was created at Grand Superior Lodge on Lake Superior.
Light Painting Falcon Heights Fire Department Ladder 757
Less than two weeks after light painting Engine #5, I had a surprise light painting of another fire truck, this time it was Falcon Heights Fire Department's Ladder 757!
I was creating Ben & Emilee's engagement photographs at Minnehaha Falls when Ben asked if it would be okay to stop by the fire station for some additional photographs.
At this point, I didn't know that he was a firefighter, and he had no idea what light painting was. All that changed that late September evening.
Joannie and I also created a cool light painting of these two at their A’Bulae wedding in St. Paul, Minnesota the following April.
One of Ben and Emilee's fun engagement photos, this one is a light painting of Falcon Heights Fire Department Ladder 757!
Light Painted Wedding Photo at the Hilton Minneapolis Bloomington
After creating Kevin and Stephanie's beautiful wedding photos at The Japanese Garden in Bloomington, Minnesota, we headed to the Hilton Minneapolis Bloomington. It was there that they would actually get married.
I wanted to create a light painted photograph for these guys, but where? The entire area around the hotel is pretty much all commercial property, and very lit up at night with street lights everywhere.
Time for our very first indoor wedding light painting! The cool lobby staircase, and its surroundings, made for an amazing finished image created with our fisheye lens!
Kevin and Steophanie's light painted wedding photo that we created right on the pretty lobby staircase at the Hilton Minneapolis Bloomington.
Harley Davidson Motorcycle Engagement Light Painting
Here's a really stunning light painted engagement portrait of Corey and Ashley and their Harley Davidson motorcycle.
This awesome image was created in downtown Stillwater, Minnesota at St. Croix Boat and Packet.
Unlike Ben and Emilee's project, this engagement light painting was planned ahead of time. It was created after I had photographed Corey and Ashley's "regular" engagement photos all around the wonderful town of Stillwater.
Corey and Ashley's pretty light painted engagement portrait with their Harley Davidson Motorcycle. This unusual engagement photo was created at St. Croix Boat and Packet in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Light Painting at the Minnesota Zoo
Time for yet another wedding light painting (we've now created dozens of them)! This one is pretty unique location-wise, the Minnesota Zoo!
After non-stop pouring rain all day long (yes, their outdoor wedding ceremony had to be moved inside), the rain gave way just long enough for us to create something pretty darn special for Steve and Sarah!
As you can see, looking at the sky, we got done in the nick of time, it was pouring again shortly after we got back inside!
Steve and Sarah's cool light painted wedding photograph, created in between cloud bursts, at the Minnesota Zoo's Splash Pad.
Light Painting at a Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club Wedding
Eric and Amanda's pretty light painting was the culmination of a fantastic, and very pretty, fall wedding at the Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club.
The cute bridge by the pond would serve as the spot for our newlyweds to be in their one-of-a-kind light painted wedding art!
Here's Erik and Amanda'd pretty fall colors light painting at the Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club.
Light Painting a Wedding Photograph in the IDS Crystal Court
Next up, we had Matt and Jennifer's pretty wedding which was held at Windows on Minnesota in the IDS Tower in Minneapolis!
After a fabulous wedding day with our newlyweds, we headed down 50 floors to create what is still our most ambitious indoor light painting to this day (based on the sheer size of the area we light painted)!
Matt and Jennifer's pretty light painted wedding photograph in the IDS Crystal Court of the IDS Tower in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Light Painting Santa's Magic Workshop!
Because of my love of this art form, I'm always looking for ways to incorporate light painting into as many photography genres as possible. So, how about light painting with Santa Claus? Yep!
Here's Santa Claus in his workshop (all light painted) with an adorable young lady who is getting the opportunity to see how Santa finds her house on Christmas Eve on his Magic Globe!
The Best Santa Experience is one that you and your kids have to experience at least once! It will lift your spirits for the holidays, and for years to come!
And, the big bonus is that you'll be helping us to raise money to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis! It's a win-win!
A sweet little girl visits Santa Claus in his Magic Workshop and asks him how he finds her house on Christmas Eve. So, Mr. Kringle shows her his route on his Magic Globe!
Light Paint the Sensory Art Wall at Crescent Cove
In the spring of 2018, I had the opportunity to light paint the Sensory Art Wall at Crescent Cove in Brooklyn Center, MN.
Crescent Cove was about to open its doors as a hospice and respite home for children and their families.
At that time, there were only two children’s hospice homes in the United States. Crescent Cove was about to become the third.
I've been involved with Crescent Cove since its earliest fundraising days due to my involvement with the children's charities of our dear friend, the late Harmon Killebrew, and his wife Nita.
To this day, I volunteer my photography services for Crescent Cove whenever I can, including their annual Gala each January. Harmon would be proud to see what has been created in his name!
My light painted photograph of the Sensory Art Wall at the Crescent Cove Hospice Home for Kids in Brooklyn Center, MN.
Wedding Photography Light Painting at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest
Griffith and Kathryn's wonderful wedding and reception were held at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
After dinner, I created this unusual wedding light painting using our wacky Canon EF 11-24mm f/4.0 L USM lens. That thing is crazy wide!
A crazy wide-angle light painted wedding photo of Griffith and Kathryn on the wooden staircase at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park, MN.
Wedding Light Painting at A’Bulae in St. Paul, Minnesota
Do you remember that "surprise" engagement light painting with a fire truck that we shared earlier? Well, that was Ben and Emilee with Falcon Heights Fire Department Ladder 757. Now, several months later, it's their wedding day!
Joannie and I created this unique light painted wedding photograph during their beautiful wedding reception at A’Bulae in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.
Ben and Emilee's unique light painted wedding photograph that we created during their wonderful wedding reception at A’Bulae in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.
Elm Creek Chalet Wedding Light Painting
At this point, Joannie and I were creating a full-scene light painting at every wedding we photographed!
This is Jesse and Stephanie's stunner, created just before a rainstorm moved in. It was photographed during their wedding reception at the Elm Creek Chalet. This pretty location is at the Elm Creek Park Reserve located in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Jesse and Stephanie's wedding light painting was created just before a rainstorm moved in. Joannie and I created this image during their wedding reception at Elm Creek Park Reserve located in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Light Painting at the Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel
Jeff and Lucia's beautiful wedding and reception were held at the Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Their wedding light painting was created indoors due to severe thunderstorms in the area.
It probably seemed like the lightning was a lot closer to the hotel guests than they thought. Nope, that was just us firing a zillion strobed photos in the lobby and hotel interior area to create this unique indoor light painting for our newlyweds!
Jeff and Lucia's pretty light painted wedding photo was created during their wedding reception right in the lobby at the Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel in Minnetonka, MN.
Science Museum of Minnesota Wedding Photography Light Painting
At this point, almost exactly one year into our learning how to create light paintings, Joannie and I had created a cool wedding photography niche for ourselves!
Our brides and grooms from upcoming weddings were excited to see what we had been creating for our past couples. And, they were very curious as to just what we might create for them on their wedding day!
We were truly just getting started on our light painting adventure!
This one was created during John and Jennie's wedding reception at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
John is a big space nut, and, well, there's a huge astronaut at the science museum! Sounds like a rather unique light painting opportunity, don't you think?
This is also a somewhat rare vertical light painting. I haven't created many of those.
John and Jennie's wedding light painting by the huge astronaut at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Light Painting at The Meadows at Mystic Lake Casino
To pull off this stunning wedding light painting for Lyndsey and Shayne, we recruited two of their groomsmen (acting as human light stands).
What we didn't know was that all of the mosquitoes in Minnesota would be there too! We got eaten alive! (We now carry bug spray to all of our weddings!)
The amazing sky, which included a waxing crescent moon and the planet Mercury, turned this one into something really amazing!
Shayne and Lyndsey's beautiful light painted wedding photograph amongst the stallion statues at The Meadows at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
Light Painting Wedding Photography at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest
The day after Shanye and Lyndseys' wedding, we photographed Mina & Kerstina's wedding at St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church in South St. Paul, MN.
It was during their wedding reception at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest that we created a cool light painting for our newlyweds.
This one was created right in the pretty garden courtyard at the hotel.
Mina and Kertina's pretty light painted wedding photo that we created at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest.
Light Painting at The Van Dusen Mansion
This would be our 8th wedding light painting in a row! We were on a roll!
Creating light paintings at weddings taught us a lot about the craft, and it created some amazing one-of-a-kind wedding photos for our couples. Another win-win!
Dang & Linh's wedding reception was held at one of the more amazing pieces of architecture in the Twin Cities, The Van Dusen Mansion!
I knew their light painting was going to be incredible, even before we arrived!
Dang & Linh's amazing wedding light painting at The Van Dusen Mansion!
Iona’s Beach Light Painted Engagement Photo
We were back on the North Shore of Lake Superior for a light painting project that really "bugged" us!
Chris and Sarah joined us on our annual North Shore Weekend in 2018 to have us create some great engagement photographs for them!
And, since their wedding was a daytime affair, to be held just one week later, we decided to create their light painting up north! (By now, we were including light paintings in our Wedding Collections.)
Beautiful Iona's Beach would make for a pretty spot to create their light painting. The part that really bugged us about this location was the thousands of black flies that dropped by to visit at dusk. They were really annoying!
Their finished light painting was worth being "bugged"!
Chris and Sarah's pretty light painted engagement photograph that we created at beautiful Iona's Beach on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Light Painting of a1930 Packard 734 Boattail Speedster
It had been quite some time since I had light painted a vehicle of any kind. Well, that was brought to a sudden halt with this amazing vintage car!
I met the car's owner at "Back to the 50s" at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in June.
I light painted this beauty right in their backyard with the car surrounded by his wife's pretty garden.
A pretty light paintied photograph of a 1930 Packard 734 Boattail Speedster in the client's beautiful backyard.
Embassy Suites Airport Light Painting
Back to light painting wedding photography!
This time, we were photographing Sagar and Martha's August wedding. And once again, we were at St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church where we had photographed Mina & Kerstina's wedding ceremony just a few weeks earlier!
But it was during their wedding reception at Embassy Suites Airport that Joannie and I came up with this pretty light painting spot, right next to the parking lot!
Sarag and Martha's pretty light painted wedding photo by the parking lot at the Embassy Suites Airport in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Light Painting a 1969 Chevy Truck
Here's a really cool light painting that I created for a high school senior!
Meet Derek, and his pride and joy, a 1969 Chevy pickup truck!
Like many senior guys, Derek wasn't all that excited to have his photos done prior to his senior portrait session. But he was pretty jazzed when he got done helping me create this light painting of him and his Chevy!
Derek's senior portraits light painting with his 1969 Chevy Truck.
Light Painting the TPC Blaine Clubhouse
Dan and Katie's beautiful wedding and reception was held on a spectacular September day in Minnesota!
After a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony, a fun-filled reception and dinner followed.
Once the dance was underway, Joannie and I slipped outside to prepare for the creation of their stunning light painting with the clubhouse as the backdrop!
A beautiful light painted wedding photo of Dan and Katie outside of the clubhouse at the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota.
Light Painting at Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens
You may recall near the top of this page, one of the images that we shared was of a stunning light painting of a cute couple with their Harley Davidson Motorcycle in downtown Stillwater, MN.
Well, Corey and Ashley, are back!
This time, Joannie and I were creating a beautiful fall-color light painting!
We created this pretty image during their wonderful wedding reception at Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens in Minneapolis!
Their wedding light painting was a real challenge due to the very strong winds that evening. Joannie and I had to recruit a few wedding party members just to hold onto our lighting gear to pull this one off!
This is another of those "rare" vertical light paintings and a pretty one at that!
Corey and Ashley's pretty light painted wedding photograph in the peak fall colors at Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens in Minneapolis, MN.
A Wedding Light Painting in a Stillwater Parking Lot!
Brandon and Amy's wedding light painting was an interesting one, to say the least! Their October wedding day started with snow and blowing wind! The snow stopped in plenty of time for their pretty wedding at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Oakdale, MN.
However, the wind stayed with us for most of the day. By the time we got to their fabulous wedding reception at the Grand Plaza Banquet Hall in Stillwater, most of the leaves in the entire metro area were on the ground.
Brandon and Amy wanted to have the fall colors in their wedding light painting. So I slipped outside during dinner to see what, if anything, I could find.
Well, about a block away, in a parking lot, I found fall colors that were still mostly on the trees (although there were plenty on the ground).
As wedding photographers for a bazillion years, we know that sometimes you gotta improvise. We certainly did here!
Brandon and Amy's pretty light painted wedding photo in stunning fall colors (in a parking lot, of all places) in Stillwater, MN!
Light Painting Our “Santa’s Cabin” Set
Our long-time friends, Matt and Mary, came to the rescue when I decided to up our game for our wonderful Santa Experience.
I wanted to create an entirely new Santa set. Of course, it had to be light painted so that it would look incredibly detailed.
They were kind enough to let me stop by their home to light paint a big potbelly stove that they had.
Little did I know that once I got there, they had most of the makings of "Santa's Cabin" right there in Matt's Mancave!
Here's the new set in action with Santa sharing a peek into his Magic Toy Bag with a couple of cute kids, Kira and Austin!
Austin and Kira get a sneak peek inside of Santa's Magic Toy Bag. The beautiful set, all light painted, is the site of Santa's Cabin!
Wedding Light Painting at The 3 Ten Event Venue
Clint and Kaia's wedding was another dandy (in more ways than one)! Their wedding ceremony and reception were both held at The 3 Ten Event Venue in Faribault, Minnesota.
Their December 1st wedding day will be one that we'll never forget! A massive blizzard hit Minnesota bringing everything the a halt. Everything except their wedding!
While many of their wedding guests simply could not get there (I-35 was closed for a large part of the day and night), they did indeed get married!
Part of the original wedding day plan was that the wedding party was going to ride on a parade float during the Faribault “Winterfest Parade" that night. However, the parade had to be rescheduled because of the winter weather.
Think about that for a moment!
Oh, yeah, and we did create this cool light painting for them too! This was the very first time (and not the last) that we would create a light painted wedding photo, at an open bar, during a wedding reception.
Think about that for a moment too!
Clint and Kaia's cool light painted wedding photograph was created right at the bar (with a lot of cooperation from wedding guests and bartenders) during their wedding reception at The 3 Ten Event Venue in Faribault, MN.
Light Painting Wedding Photography at Rush Creek Golf Course
Ryan and Kalya's December wedding was stunning (and very, very cold)! After the huge snowstorm for Clint and Kaia's wedding on December 1st, winter was here to stay, and she was flexing her muscles!
Rush Creek is a really beautiful place for a wedding and a reception. We've photographed weddings there on many occasions.
This, however, was our first wedding held there in the wintertime. It would also not be the last, as we would be there once again in just three weeks for another wedding reception!
Since it was so cold outside, and the snow was pretty deep, we opted to create their wedding light painting indoors at the beautiful Grand Staircase at Rush Creek. After all, it was all beautifully decorated for the holidays, and it looked fantastic!
Another rare vertical light painted photograph, but it really had to be!
Ryan and Kayla's stunning light painted holiday wedding photograph on the Grand Staircase at Rush Creek Golf Course in Maple Grove, MN.
Okay, that's 36 one-of-a-kind light paintings, and their stories, all created in just our first 18 months of light painting! This page is bursting at the seams! So to make things easier to navigate, we have created another page with more of our fun light paintings and their stories. We'll be starting up right where we left off, with the one-of-a-kind images that we began creating in January 2019. Check them all out on this page: The Stories Behind the Light Paintings - Part Two. Thank you!