Naperville Riverwalk Couple Session
I love having photographer friends! Without them I would never be able to test out new lenses, new lighting ideas and new techniques. Take a peak at a shoot I did with my fellow photographer Sarah Barkley of Feather Print Photography and her adorable husband Zac! Thanks again guys!
Cuneo Mansion and Gardens Wedding of Angela and Singer Matt B
This was truly a royal wedding. I met Matthew and Angela through Bella Baby where I also work and we immediately clicked. I could never get over how photogenic they both were and how adorable their son was. Well, fast forward a few months, after a few more sessions with their adorable son they said how they were going to be having a wedding! I was so excited when they wanted to look at my work and book me. The day was nothing short of a Royal wedding, They got married at the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills and this venue was the perfect backdrop for their special day! Angela got ready with all her gorgeous bridesmaids at the mansion and put on her first of three dresses, this one was truly stunning and unlike ANY wedding dress I had ever seen, it seemed to come right off the runway from a fashion show. Matthew sang "All of Me" by John Legend as she made her way down the aisle out of her horse-drawn carriage. It was like nothing I have ever witnessed, the love they shared in their vows was felt by all. After that, the reception began, and it was also just as wonderful filled with laughter, and even more, singing by Matthew and his brothers, they were really amazing, I wished I would of recorded some video of it! The day ended with their son taking the stage with Dad playing the song "Happy" and they were whisked away in their old school car to the after-party. Congratulations Matt and Angela!!
Venue
Cuneo Mansion and Gardens: http://www.luc.edu/cuneo/
Hair and Makeup
Flawless Beauty by Nicole: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flawless-Beauty-by-Nicole/343330125739198
Rose Alexander: https://www.facebook.com/pages/FACES-by-ROSE/278463683505
Donte Mitchell: https://www.facebook.com/BeUtiful.PEOple
Heaven Stewart: https://www.facebook.com/heaven.stewart
Videographer: http://idofilms.com
Catering: http://www.bauerscatering.com
Cake: http://www.oakmillbakery.com
Florist: http://www.weddingflowerlady.com
Horse & Buggy: http://www.horsedrawncarriages.com
Photo Booth: http://photoboothofthestars.smugmug.com
Getaway Car: http://classicweddingcar.com
String Quartet:
2nd Photographer: Kimberli Nelson
St.Charles Creek Bend Nature Center Jewish Wedding
I Love love love outdoor weddings, especially ones that are at 5:30pm! The light was gorgeous and the couple was great. I had known them from three previous family shoots I have done for them, one being this very morning! It was a small service filled with love and details that had a British Literature theme which was very romantic. So take a peek at their wedding and enjoy!
Green Mill and 90 Miles Cuban Cafe Wedding
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Sandra and Greg after they got married in Chicago. We first started at a bar, where they where waiting for me at right next to the Green Mill. I figured why not start the shoot there, the place where they where first sharing a drink as husband and wife! Sandra and Greg are both poets so the Green Mill was a very important place for them as they have both preformed there and that it was also where they would be saying their vows the following night! Next we went to Montrose beach for some shots of them together and then finally to 90 Miles Cuban Cafe for their reception! So I would like to share with you some highlights of their day!
Urban Chicago Engagement Session
I was so excited to hear from Sara about shooting her engagement photos. We had been trying to connect for quite some time so I was so excited it finally came to fruition! We decided on a cool urban shoot in the city after our initial idea of the museum campus was being taken over by Jack Johnson fans.
We started outside their apartment in the north side of Chicago. They had the cutest courtyard!
Then we needed to find a bathroom for a quick change! Lucky us there was a Binny's right around the corner!! Sara changed into this amazing blue dress!!!
Matt B and Angela's Chicago Beach Engagement
So you may see some familiar faces here as I had shot Matthew and Angela a few weeks ago in Millennium Park. Angela and Matthew also wanted to do a shoot on the beach but it was way too cold on our original date so we decided to do another engagement shoot at Montrose beach in Chicago. This was a special location to them since this is actually where Matthew Proposed! So here they are! I can't wait to photograph their wedding come this July! I also had my second shooter Kimberli come with me to this shoot so she could meet the couple before their big day!
After getting done on the beach we took a short walk to the wall to check out the skyline as the sun disappeared. There may of been some clouds of bugs as we walked though to get there. Matthew's reaction was hilarious, he really doesn't like bugs! But they soldiered though.
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)
If you could take a vacation together anywhere in the world completely paid for where would it be and why?
Conor: Hong Kong. Because I’ve never been to Asia and I think it would be really cool to explore that part of the world.
Ian: Somewhere warm with a beach. I’d also love to explore more of Europe.
Favorite color?
We both love blue.
Favorite Food?
We love Chipotle (we’re actually thinking about having them cater the wedding)
If you had to choose three words to describe your relationship what would they be?
Fun, Warm, Light-hearted.
If you had to describe each other what three words would you use?
Ian: Conor is funny, smart, and charming.
Conor: Ian is stubborn, adorable, and intelligent.
Volek Party Barn Beecher Wedding
I was excited to hear when one of my photographer friends (one that I went to photo school with) had a sister in the market for a wedding photographer. I immediately leapt to action and met with Breanne and her sister Danielle to talk about her wedding and she hired me right on the spot. Brad and Breanne got married on April 26, 2014 on an unusually cold spring day. The cold did not faze them though, and the whole wedding party stood up with Brad and Breanne outdoors as they wed in Beacher, IL. Enjoy the look at their wedding day!
Second Shooter: Ania Scheiman
Preparation Venue: Comfort Inn Schererville
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Volek Party Barn Beecher
Event Planner: Breanne and her Mom
Hair and Makeup Artist: Bombshell Beauty Team
Additional Hair: Elise Lasso
Catering: Glenwood Oaks
Florist: Bloomingfields Florist
Cake Artist: Cakes by Jorie
Videographer: I Do Videos by Leo
DJ: Jammin' Joe
Bridal Salon: House of Brides for bridesmaids dresses and Bridal gown from A Lamour
Event Rentals: Mario's
Wedding Jeweler: We got my engagement ring at the Randolphs Antique Fair. It's a 1920's engagement ring.
Millennium Park Chicago Engagement Photo Session
I met Matthew & Angela a little over a year ago now through my job with Bella Baby Photography. They have the most adorable son who is now 15 months who I have been photographing since he was a newborn. Their shoots have always been so fun and easy, and they are all so photogenic When Angela told me that she was getting married in July, My immediate question was if they had a wedding photographer and Viola they decided to book with me. I include an engagement shoot with all of my wedding collections so we decided to meet at Millennium Park in Chicago. This was a special place to them as this is where they actually met for the first time. We had a few reschedule due to some less than ideal weather, and I know you wouldn't know it by looking at these images but boy was it cold! Thanks guys for being troopers and I hope you enjoy them!
Gay Couple Portrait Session
Amanda and Jess where an amazing couple. I was so happy to get the chance to work with them during my time at Shutterfest this past week.
As some of you may know, I just returned from a photography convention last week called Shutterfest (there will be another blog post on that in the future). It was an amazing time and I was very excited and looking forward to taking two classes in particular, same sex posing for couples along with same sex weddings. I was so happy when on Nov. 20, 2013 Illinois became the 16th state in the United States to legalize same sex marriage. So many couples who have been unable to get married will now have the chance to do so starting June 1, 2014. I have always believed that love is love no matter race, religion, or sex. So the idea of being able to capture same sex weddings in my home state really made me excited. I did have questions though, so these classes, who where taught by the ever so talented Kristin Korpos really helped me figure out the details.
It was during one of these course I met the lovely Amanda and Jess. Now they where both just a dream to work with, I am sure you will be able to tell how natural they where in front of the camera, so really they made my work pretty easy. I got the chance to talk to Amanda after I got home to find out a little more about her and her Jess as I asked them about a million questions.
How did you and Jess meet?
"Weeeelll..we met while i was bar-tending at a bar in Belleville, Il.
Turned out we had mutual friends and i totally stalked until i found her and sent her a friend request!
She asked me out for drinks and food and we became inseparable.
We drank and smoked too when we met then quit BOTH together!!! (each for personal reasons but we became even more attached since we wanted the same things)."
Any Fun Summer Plans?
"Summer plans we are going to Destin, FL with her parents in November! WE CANT WAIT!!"
Do you guys have any fun hobbies or interests you share in?
"Our hobbies, activities, and interests all surround working out, eating healthy, and doing projects around the house together!
The house we live in older and we are updating it before we decide to get a new house within the next couple years or so!"
The mandatory what is your favorite color question.
"Jess's favorite color now is neon green. Mine would probably be pink or black..i think black is sexy!"
If you could go on your dream vacation all expense paid where would it be?
"If we could go anywhere all expenses paid, we would go to Bora Bora! And stay in one of those private bungalows, we think they're so cute!"
"Three words that best describe our relationship:
(me) Soulmate. Perfect. True.
(Jess) Corky. Real. Effortless.
Three words that describe Jess:
Onry. Beautiful. Inspiring.
Three words she describes me:
Loyal. Spastic. Pleaser.
Her favorite food is sandwiches.
My favorite is chocolate!!
She's my blonde haired, perfect combination of handsome and beautiful. Thats what I tell her all the time."
