Carol DeAnda 11/4/19 Carol DeAnda 11/4/19

Illinois State University Fall Engagement Session

Ryan and Mike went to ISU together and got engaged there as well and when they mentioned wanting to photograph there for their engagement session I thought it was a wonderful idea. We spent the afternoon walking around the beautiful grounds, exploring some of the buildings, then headed to the Sugar Mama bakery in uptown and finally ended at the local bar they had spent many nights at with friends! I can’t wait for the wedding next year!

Carol DeAnda 9/26/15 Carol DeAnda 9/26/15

Springvalley Nature Preserve in Schaumburg Engagement Session

I was so excited to photograph Sebastian and Nicole's engagement shoot this week at Springvalley Nature Preserve in Schaumburg. It was such a gorgeous fall day and all the wildflowers there were in full bloom. They were all laughs the whole time which makes my job of capturing them way too fun and easy. I can't wait for their wedding this June!

Carol DeAnda 1/27/15 Carol DeAnda 1/27/15

Ian + Jenny

I have know Ian for years so I was really excited when he messaged me to inquire about me photographing their upcoming wedding this fall. We met at the Naperville riverwalk and they braved the cold so we could get them some great engagement shots and some pictures of them with their adorable son as well!

Carol DeAnda 11/13/14 Carol DeAnda 11/13/14

Naperville Riverwalk Engagement Session

I met with Matt and Candice exactly one month after their wedding to do their post wedding couple shoot. We met in Naperville on the riverwalk and also went through some of the alleys to get some more urban images so they had a nice mix of images to decorate their walls of their new place with. Although I may need to see them again soon since they are getting a 4 legged new member of the family and he will want to be on the walls too! Enjoy your images!!

Carol DeAnda 11/12/14 Carol DeAnda 11/12/14

Graue Mill Oak Brook Engagement and Family Session

I had met Liz and Jesse through Bella Life photography a few years ago when her youngest was just a baby! When she had emailed me to inquire about wedding photography I was excited to meet her and talk about her awesome wedding since I hadn't seen her in a few years.

We decided on Graue Mill in Oak Brook for our location and then she and the family braved the cold for an awesome shoot with the most gorgeous light you could imagine. While it wasn't the warmest day I hope you can feel a little bit of the warmth she has within her beautiful family! Can't wait till your wedding!!

Carol DeAnda 6/1/14 Carol DeAnda 6/1/14

Chicago Museum Campus Engagement Photo Session LGBTQ+

I am so excited for you to meet Ian and Conor. I had the pleasure of meeting them about two weeks ago near the museum campus for their engagement shoot.

Ian is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan (though he was born and spent his early childhood in Hartford, CT). He came to Chicago in 2003 to attend Loyola University and has been here ever since. Conor is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He moved to Chicago in 2007 after graduating from Notre Dame.

How did you meet?

We met in an acting class at Black Box Acting here in Chicago, where we both now teach.

Who made the first move and who talked to who first?

Well, we met in an acting class and so we first got to know each other when the whole class would go out for drinks afterwards. After a few of these group outings it was Conor who asked Ian out officially (as in just the two of us).

What does you favorite date night consist of?

We have a tendency to be quite the homebodies. We have a ton of recorded Jeopardy’s saved up on our DVR and love to come home, cook dinner, and watch Jeopardy together with a glass of wine.

What are your plans for the summer? Anything fun?

We both have a pretty full teaching schedule at Black Box through the summer, but we’re hoping to take a weekend to visit Ian’s family in Michigan as well as Conor’s parents in New York.

Also, we should probably start planning our wedding…

How did the proposal happen?

To bring it back to Jeopardy… We can be quite competitive and have had to resort to writing down our Final Jeopardy answers and revealing them after everyone has had a chance to answer. On the night Conor proposed, he had pre-written a Final Jeopardy “answer” that asked Ian to marry him. We exchanged answers, Ian saw the proposal, and said yes! Conor had some champagne and roses ready and we celebrated.

(For the record…Ian got the question correct, Conor did not. It was something about Slurpees and 7-11).

What do you both do for fun, hobbies, interests?

We’re both actors. Ian is also a photographer (mostly actor headshots) and a yoga instructor. Conor is also a writer, a painter, he and does the marketing for Black Box. We like to cook and have friends over. We love spending time by the lake in the summer (although we’d love to be able to get over there more often)