who we are

...anodyne obscura is the photography team of peter eisert and elli rader, based in the twin cities. we are both graphic and web designers with our own successful businesses: hot ice design and paperlily design. two years of collaborating on web design projects led to the beginning of anodyne obscura.

we are available for event photography such as weddings, engagements, anniversaries, and parties. please see our services page for information, and submit a contact form for a quote.

peter eisert

...given a camera from his grandmother at the age of 12. photography lives in his blood. driven by the passion to capture the true essence of the moment. his photography has appeared in award winning magazines and on websites throughout the world. peter has worked with a range of subjects; international musicians / artists / celebrities to the neighborhood bird.

elli rader

...began studying photography in the 80s with an internship under a commercial photographer. it’s hard to tell who got more out of the internship – the photographer always had some fun and creative project in mind that would often lead them far astray from the commercial projects on the schedule. they built pinhole cameras out of coffee cans and set up intricate lighting and backdrops to prepare for shoots.
elli has spent the last five years building her own design company from the ground up. noticing that photography elbowed its way into almost every single project that she did, she gave in to the passion for it and now has some kind of camera within reach at all times. her photographs have appeared in award winning magazines and on websites throughout the twin cities.

frequently asked questions

we found this list of questions on the MN Bride website, and we thought we’d be proactive and answer them for you. it’s a list of questions that you simply MUST ask a photographer before hiring them for your wedding . . .

1.  why are you a wedding photographer?
the simple answer is, by request.  we had so many friends and family members ask, “why don’t you shoot weddings?” …and the more we thought about it, the more we realized it is a great fit for our style and demeanor.   we jumped in with both feet and haven’t looked back.  we realize the wedding industry can be highly competitive and stressful, but our company is just not about that.  we don’t believe in bringing that kind of energy into one of the biggest days of a couple’s life.  the work in our galleries is the proof of our abilities, and we take great pride in providing outstanding service to match the quality of our work.  if you like what you see, let’s talk about your wedding or event!

2. how will you bring together my and my fiance’s families?
with a lot of preparation, experience and charm!   we have both worked with a great range of personalities – we have experience in the wedding industry as well as retail/customer service and entertainment industries.  with your help, we will come prepared with a list of family members and key wedding people so we can achieve the very best wedding photos possible for you.

3. do i get a DVD of digital negatives included in my package?
digital negatives are RAW files.   we shoot only in the RAW format, because we have the most control over the editing process.  we do not modify our RAW files, we preserve them in their original state and keep them archived.  what is included in your package is a disk of full size, high resolution, enhanced and color corrected JPG files that will meet the color and resolution specifications of professional labs.  you will be able to print any size – from wallet to poster size – using our high resolution JPGs.

4. if i get a DVD of digital negatives, are the images color corrected or no?
again, we NEVER color correct our digital negatives.  we keep preserve them in their original state, and keep them archived and backed up in duplicate.

5. do you do color corrections on your own photos or do you oustource it to another company?
we do all of our own post editing, no exceptions!  our editing time is built in to our quotations, and it is just as big a part of the process for us as actually shooting the photographs.

6. finished albums – how do they work?
we can provide a custom quotation to create a beautiful finished album that is specifically tailored to your aesthetic.  we are not tied in to one specific album style or lab, so we can discuss what is most important to you – papers, leather bound, page styles, recycled paper – you name it!

7. how many hours do i need to book for my photography coverage?
that will depend on what aspects of your wedding you will want photographed, and we will put together a quotation based on your needs.  we always schedule planning meetings with couples to make sure we understand the schedule of the day and know exactly where we should be at all times.

8. what kind of makeup looks best for my photos?
we have to say that hiring a professional hair and make up artist is worth every penny you will pay and you will never regret it, for the rest of your life.   not only will you be pampering yourself, but you will be reducing the stress that comes with getting your make up and hair just right.  so many times we have heard people say, “it doesn’t get better than what i’m already doing,” or “i’ll just do it myself – there’s little hope for me,”  and if you feel that way, you will be amazed what hiring the right stylist can do!  you will look and feel amazing, and your photographs will reflect that.

9. what should i expect from you on my wedding day?
you should expect from us the utmost in professionalism and kindness on this emotional and special day.  you should expect us to already know – from planning it in advance – where we are supposed to be and when.  you should expect that you don’t have to worry about whether or not we will be late, or dressed appropriately, or arrive prepared.  you should expect that we will do our very best work for you, because that is what we expect of ourselves.

10. do you need to scout out my locations before my wedding day?
we would love to be able to see the locations for your wedding day beforehand, if they are locations we have not seen before.  even if they are, we like to meet with couples on the site of the ceremony and/or reception to get a visual of how their specific wedding will be orchestrated at that site.  we like to do this so we can best prepare for the lighting situations and flow of the day.

link to MN Bride article

environmental awareness

...this website is hosted by dreamhost, which is carbon neutral. it is a top concern at anodyne obscura to preserve natural resources in any way we can. for this reason, we do not include contact sheets or printed proofs as part of our package. we provide proofs in a secure online gallery that you may share with family and friends.

all content and images copyright © anodyne Obscura, LLC 2009