Ana + RJ // University Village Engagement Photos

My wife and I met Ana through a friend of ours. I was pretty pumped to hear that she had gotten engaged and was hopeful that she would have me photograph her wedding. So I was giddy when I received her email requesting my photography information, and we shortly set-up a meeting over at her place. It was cool seeing Ana again and meeting RJ for the first time. He's a good mix of serious and funny (as you'll see in the photos below) and complimented Ana very well. We chatted about their wedding plans and I had a good feeling about the flow of their wedding plans. The next step was to schedule the engagement session. We stayed near their place in University Village and started the shoot at Holy Family Church and St. Ignatius College Prep. The entrance to St. Ignatius is a location I had been wanting to do an engagement session at and was really pumped to see what we shot there. We then stopped by the Showplace Icon Theater, which is their favorite theater in the city. The photos with the green and purple looking light sabers were taken near the theater. We were stopped by security at least twice before we moved along and ended the shoot over at Ping Tom Memorial park in China Town.

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Ana and RJ's engagement photo session:

Well that's it for now guys! Their wedding photos will be up on the blog soon enough! More to come.

Kelli + Shaun // So Pumped To Be Married

Kelli and Shaun are crazy in love - the post-ceremony photo below of them walking up the aisle says it all. I love it when my bride and groom are crazy in love with each other. It fires me up to be their wedding photographer and gives me all sorts of energy the day of their wedding. Their hands are pumped-up and their smile expresses pure jubilation - I love that about them. Shaun was so in the moment that he just could't stop from dancing, high-fiving, moving and smiling. He basically hammed it up all day long and was brilliant! Kelli looked so beautiful and was excited herself, but next to Shaun seemed really chilled and relaxed. Having a jubilant couple and a fantastic bridal party takes me to my happy place :)

Kelly + Corey // A Fun & Playful Joliet Wedding

Star Wars and an epic battle scene. I must admit that these two ideas/visuals never come to mind when I think about photographing a wedding. But lo and behold, Kelly and Corey's wedding provided both, and a ton of laughter and warmth to boot. Just look below to see what I'm talking about. I can easily say that this was one of the most enjoyable weddings I photographed this year. Kelly was such a beautiful and cool bride that being around her was great. I could't take a bad photo of her. There was so much energy and buzz that from the moment I arrived I knew it was going to be a fun wedding. Kelly was surrounded by her fun loving/energetic/emotional sisters and her cousin, and they were something else all on their own.

After the ceremony we drove to a family friends house where we were able to settle for a second (literally) and set-up for the epic battle scene. Yes, the men had axes while the women had flowers - not a very fair fight. I was cracking up amidst the crazy heat and intense sun right in my lens - good times indeed. I seriously couldn't believe that they guys had axes! We get to the reception and here is Darth Vader walking towards Kelly and Corey... umm, that was a little weird. Kelly and Corey weren't expecting this Sith Lord as a guest, so I hadn't heard of this until I saw him in fornt of us. We were all a bit surprised and weirded out. Darth Vader was very welcoming and disappeared as quickly as he arrived. Their wedding cake had a Han Solo and Princess Leia topper, which tied the Star Wars theme together nicely.

Jenn + Terry // Laughter & Fun at a River Forest Wedding

I photographed Jenn and Terry's engagement earlier this year and had a blast. I was left with a real excitement for their wedding. I kept thinking after the engagement session "these two will make a great couple". It's amazing how a connection can grow so quickly in such a small amount of time - the engagement session was just a few hours and I felt like I really knew these guys. They are just a great couple to spend time with: they laugh a ton and really keep the conversation fresh and honest. The wedding ceremony took place at the beautiful Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, IL. It's a massive structure with really great church architecture. I enjoy photographing the pre-ceremony moments because of all of the raw nerves and excitement coursing through everyone. But I know in just a few short hours everyone will be dancing and having a great time at the reception, so I keep that perspective and love getting to know everyone.

After the ceremony we drove around Riverside and hung out at Guthrie Park and found a few trails to take the bridal party portraits. Just look at a few of the photos below and you'll see that this was an amazing group to be around. They were cracking each other up and I was there to capture a bunch of those crazy moments. A few photos I cannot share on this wedding blog since I try to keep it at least PG. It was a great afternoon to be out and to be with this cool group of people.

Becca + Sam // The Byron Colby Barn Wedding

I've enjoyed photographing weddings at the beautiful and rustic Byron Colby Barn in Graylake. So I was really excited when Becca and Sam contacted me to photograph their wedding at the Byron Colby Barn. I love how we're all super-connected because of the internet (I know that sounds a little geeky). But without that on-line connection we all share I would never have met Becca and Sam. You see Becca and Sam live in China and found my blog by searching, as I imagine most brides do. She liked my work (thank you very much) and we set up a meeting via Skype. I would loved to have traveled to China for out meeting, but that wasn't going to happen (unfortunately).

The ceremony took place at the Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake. I had photographed a wedding there before, so I felt that very comfortable being there. The range of emotions was beautiful, from laughter to tears, to joy. I know many people expect those type of emotions at weddings, but it's always so intense when you're experiencing them right as they happen. It's really quite amazing.

Thank you again Becca and Sam! It was an honor to serve you on your beautiful wedding. I hope China is treating you guys well - Zài jiàn!

I'm So Thankful!

What an amazing 2012 I've had, mostly due to my AMAZING clients! It's been the busiest year for me ever and also one of the most fulfilling. I've had the honor to photograph so many weddings this year, as well as photograph so many families! Thank you to all of my couples and families, you've all been so amazing and fun to work with that I couldn't imagine my life without the experiences that we've created! I'm looking forward to my 2013 weddings and families. Stay tuned to my blog and my Facebook page for more photos and for some fun contests as well - make sure to Like my page to stay up on the latest info. You can also check out some of my photos on Instagram. I am also thankful for the birth of my daughter - Emiliana Christine. We call her Mils and she has been such a joy. Here she is smiling at her sister who was standing behind me as I took this photograph. Emiliana, I love you!

Lucy + Ted // Oak Brook Engagement Photos

Lucy and Ted are a really cool couple. I love Lucy's energy and her focus - she know what she wants and goes after it. Ted is a bit more chilled and laid back, which strikes a perfect balance to Lucy's energy. I love seeing how my wedding couples balance each other out! Balance is a great thing in a marriage, sometimes it's more evident than others. I could tell that Lucy and Ted are perfect for each other. I met up with them at a Starbucks in Hinsdale, the one next to the Whole Foods Market. Lucy's mom came along with them, which I thought was great (I love it when the parents are involved in some of the wedding plans). We were able to talk about their weddings plans and we also came up with a location for the engagement session. Lucy wanted to shoot at the Graue Mill and Museum which was only a few minutes from our meeting place, but on the Oak Brook side.

We met at the Graue Mill a few days later and were greeted by a perfect day and an art faire. The actual Graue Mill is surrounded by beautiful little nooks to shoot in or around in. We were able to spend about an hour together since Ted had a flight to catch back to the west coast. I had a great time with them, which got me pumped-up for their wedding. I was able to see how good they are together and was able to capture some really fun photos. My goal was to capture Ted smiling, and I did! My many thans to Effie and Gary (Lucy's parents) for coming out and spending a little time with us.

I'm looking forward to sharing some of their wedding photos, so come back and check those out!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Lucy and Ted's engagement photo session:

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Well that's it for now guys! More to come.

Cheryl + Craig // Adler Planetarium Engagement Photos

Cheryl and Craig - what a calming and loving couple. I met with them at a Starbucks in Orland Park a little before the engagement photos were taken. We talked about how they met, about their wedding plans, Cheryl showed me photos on her iPad, and Craig was as cool as can be. I fell in love with these guys immediately (total "couple crush") and was instantly hoping they would hire me to photograph their wedding. I remember coming home and telling my wife about how I hoped they would hire me - and they did! I would love to go on about how much fun we had at the engagement session. I could go on about how loving, affectionate, and respectful Cheryl and Craig are towards each other. But I think it's best to look at the photos and see the warmth for yourself. It's also fun to imagine Cheryl laughing at my corny jokes. Be careful though, her laughter and smile are infectious.

I have to thank my friend David Fowlie for referring Craig to me and my wedding photography services. Without his referral I would have missed out on one of the best experiences of my photography career. Thanks David!

I'm looking forward to sharing some of their wedding photos, so come back and check those out!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Cheryl and Craig's engagement photo session:

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Thanks for checking out my blog! More to come.

Easter Family Portraits

Here's the annual Easter Family Portrait with all of the grand kids. My daughter and her cousins are growing up so fast and I wanted to capture that older/cooler vibe they're putting out. The exciting part of this portrait is knowing that next year my wife and I will have our newest daughter in the photo. I'm looking forward to that portrait session!

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Misuzu + Alvin // Married // Alice Millar Chapel

Misuzu and Alvin quickly became one of my favorite couples. We had a blast at their engagement session, which was a great indicator to how their wedding day was going to be. The ceremony took place at the amazing Alice Millar Chapel in Evanston. I had shot at this church before, but had forgotten just how colorful and awesome it truly is. You can see the amazing architecture and colors in the photos below. It was great seeing the range of emotions shared while they shared their vows. I could tell how much Misuzu and Alvin care for each other.

The bridal party portraits were taken near the Northwestern Sailing Center and the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. There was a great point in the park where we could see the entire city of Chicago - so we decided to take the portraits around there. It was really sunny that day, so I had to find some shade for the remainder of the photos. I was having a really fun time with the entire bridal party at this point and was looking forward to the reception.

The reception was at Via Veneto in Chicago. My brother had his reception at the same location a few years back, so it was pretty cool being there again. The festivities kicked off shortly after we arrived from taking photos at nearby Hollywood park near Peterson and Lincoln Ave. This is when Robert, a friend of Misuzu's, gave one of THE best toasts I've ever heard. He was hilarious and his delivery was unmatched. He had the entire place laughing! I was glad I didn't have to follow him. The rest of the evening was fun and energetic and all I remember was plenty of dancing and laughter.

Here are a few of my favorite wedding photos from Misuzu & Alvin's ceremony and reception:

My many thanks to AnnMarie Gilmore for assisting and shooting with me again. I look forward to working with her again.

Princess Closet // 2012 Day Dream Event

The Princess Closet is a great organization created by Maria Davalos. Princess Closet has donated thousands of prom dresses to Chicago area high school girls since 2010. I had the honor to cover an event this past Saturday over at the Gads Hill Center. This particular Day Dream Event had over 100 girls attend - each walked away with a prom dress and a pair of shoes. Prom gets very expensive, so anyone that's attended a high school prom knows just how huge this is. The girls were also treated to a fashion show (first photo below) as well as beauty tips and life tips from some pretty amazing volunteers. I could go on about this amazing organization and about all of the smiling faces I had a chance to photograph, but we'll just let the photos do some talking. Please take a moment and check out the Princess Closet when you have a moment. Thanks!

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Jen + Terry // Homerding Park

Jen and Terry are getting married at the end of April and I'm really excited for them. They are a fun couple and I enjoy reading Terry's Facebook updates - he's a die hard Brown's fan and isn't afraid of showing it. This engagement session was so relaxed, fun, and full of great conversation/laughs. Homerding Park is a great find for me: it has beautiful trees, its next to a golf course, it has a pretty large pond, and it has a couple of sweet bridges. The funny thing is that it's really hard to see if your driving down Harlem as it's sort of covered up by a few sandy hills. But once you're there it's pretty amazing - having 70 degree weather in March added to that amazing feeling! It's also near Orland Park (which I'm around that area a lot), so taking photos at that park was a win-win situation. Thanks to Jen for thinking of that place.

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Jen and Terry's engagement session. I'm looking forward to seeing them again soon:

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Sarah + Allie // Joliet Engagement Session

It was really a blast spending some time with Sarah and Allie a few weeks back. We were in downtown Joliet taking some engagement photos, though because of the cold I was afraid that we would have to reschedule the shoot. But they were great about facing the cold and were amazing to work with. They just got married on December 30th and I'm sure you couldn't find a more loving couple out there. Having just moved to Joliet I had been wanting to shoot in the downtown area near the Rialto Square Theater. I was also hoping to shoot inside of Jitters Coffee Shop, but we wrapped up the shoot a little sooner due to the cold. Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot:

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Perks of a Wedding Photographer - Pt 1 - Churches

Being a wedding photographer has a lot of perks. I love having complete access to my brides as they get ready for their wedding. This allows me to take some very warm/intimate pictures between the bride and her friends and family. There's also seeing the groom tear up as he sees his bride walk down the aisle. Those moments are truly special. But there are other things that I get to see/experience that maybe most people wouldn't think about. Here you'll see some of the visual perks I get to experience at every wedding: the details of the church. These aren't even the details you'd expect, like the flowers and decorations. The inside of most churches are works of art, and I have always enjoyed photographing them. Here are a few of my favorites taken at St. Aldabert's Church on 17th & Ashland in Chicago.

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Misuzu+ Alvin // Sneak Peak

I loved shooting Misuzu and Alvin's wedding earlier this year. They are such a wonderful couple - full of love for each other and for their family/friends. I'm looking forward to sharing more of their wedding photos. You can see photos from their engagement session in the meantime. Stay tuned. Here is one of my favorite photos of Misuzu and from the entire 2011 wedding season:

Maureen + Matt // Sneak Peak

Maureen and Matt's wedding was a blast to be a part of. Here is just one photo from the wedding taken at Valley Lo Club in Glenview. There will be a full post coming soon with a ton more photos, along with new (and some older) weddings. I'm also going to be blogging more family shoots, as well as some other works. Stay tuned. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the wedding:

If you live in Joliet, Romeoville, or Crest Hill, then you can check out my wedding photography service page from a cool site I've been using called Thumbtack. You can also see more of my photos there.

Misuzu + Alvin // Jackson Park's Osaka Japanese Garden

Misuzu and Alvin will be tying the know in a few short weeks and I had the privilege of hanging out it with them for their engagement session. It was Misuzu's idea of shooting their engagement photos at the Osaka Japanese Garden - I later found out that Alvin proposed to her in the garden. So it made a lot of sense to go back there and take a few photos of them before their wedding. Shooting in a new location is always a blast and allows for new ideas to flow. I felt like a kid in a candy store the moment I entered The Osaka Japanese Garden. The colors were beautiful and there was a peacefulness to that area that I was not expecting. I couldn't even tell that we were in the backyard of the Museum of Science and Industry. Misuzu and Alvin definitely compliment each other - she is the heart and he the reason. It's was very obvious to me that they really care and love each other and I cannot wait to see what they do once they are married.

I already told them that I'm looking forward to their wedding. See you guys soon! Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot:

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My many thanks to AnnMarie Gilmore for assisting and shooting with me. Her passion for photography is very evident and I look forward to having her assist me at Misuzu and Alvin's wedding. Stay tuned for those photos!

Sam + Rigo // West Loop Engagement Photography

Sam & Rigo are flat out a cool and loving couple. They have to be one of the most kissy-kiss couples (I just made up this term) I have ever photographed, and I love that about them. They are totally into each other and it was easy to see that right from the start. I'm so pumped to be shooting their wedding in a few short weeks! We started at Milton Lee Olive Park, which is near Navy Pier. I really enjoy shooting at that park, as did Sam and Rigo. Olive Park has one of the best views of the city, bar none. Check it out when you get a chance. The sun was setting fast so we started shooting right away. We had planned on hitting up Navy Pier as well, but changed plans at the last minute and then headed out to the West Loop.

I was excited about shooting in the West Loop, as it's the complete opposite of shooting in a park. The textures and feel of the area is awesome. But the sun was gone by the time we arrived and we were hungry, so we decided to shoot for just a few minutes - I had to follow that photographer instinct. The last 3 images are what we were able to get in the West Loop, so I am so glad that Sam & Rigo were cool about staying out there a little longer.

So next is the wedding and it's going to be a blast. See you guys soon! Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot:

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My many thanks to Steven Ryne for assisting and shooting with me. It was great having him along as I whistled Mary Poppins tunes all during the shoot, I'm so glad he didn't judge me. It will be great having him shoot Sam & Rigo's wedding with me.

Araceli + Mike // Navy Pier Engagement Photography

So here is the rest of the post that I blogged last week as promised :) First off, Araceli + Mike were so much fun to work with. Their willingness to try things and forgo the original shooting plan was amazing. Secondly, I loved that they came prepared to be photographed, both in spirit and wardrobe (I mean, C'mon, just look at her dress!). These 2 things made for an amazing experience. That and Navy Pier looks amazing after a day of rain.

The original plan was to meet up at Milton Lee Olive Park, a.k.a. Olive Park, and shoot the engagement photos at the beach. Well, that didn't work out as planned due to rain making the beach look less appealing than usual. So we walked around Olive Park (which I LOVE) and made use of the many nooks and crannies available to shoot in and around. That park is seriously like a candy store for photographers. I had my friend and fellow photographer Jenn assist and second shoot with me. I am so glad that she was there. She is awesome and helped out a ton.

We then headed out to Navy Pier and hung out inside to wait out the rain - yes, it started raining again. A few places were closed off around Navy Pier, which was a bummer. But we were still able to shoot at the indoor garden, the one with the cool water arches. After the rains came and left the dramatic clouds rolled in and the sun came out for a while. Very cool and I could not have asked for a better day to shoot. We went outdoors and finished the shoot to a beautiful sunset.

Here are a few of my favorite images:

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Thank you again Araceli + Mike! This was an amazing shoot and I am glad that I could serve you both. I hope you guys have an amazing wedding in Mexico. I look forward to hearing about it.

            

By The Way: Again, stick to your guns and do the shoot. The rain kept coming and going all day and I was tempted to cancel the shoot. After talking with Araceli we decided to shoot!

When It Rains It Gets Colorful

This past Sunday was pretty wild in terms of the weather. The morning was amazingly beautiful - blue skies and all. By the afternoon the clouds started rolling in. By the early afternoon it was POURING! But then it stopped, but then it started again, and so on and so forth. It was a bit frustrating, but "the shoot must go on" I kept telling myself. And the shoot did go on at Navy Pier and it was an amazing shoot with dramatic clouds and a pretty darn cool couple. Here is a quick sneak peak of sorts. More to come.

            

By The Way: Stick to your guns and do the shoot - that is of course if your client is also willing.