Kim + Queen Naperville Riverwalk Portrait Session
Kim and Queen came and visited me on the Naperville Riverwalk for their portrait session, they had contacted me after finding me online for their very first professional photos together after 20+ years. What an honor it is to be able to capture the love between these two! Thanks so much for choosing me as your photographer Kim and Queen I had such a wonderful time photographing you both!
South Pond Engagement Photos
I was so excited to meet with Zuri and Alex for the engagement shoot at South Pond this past week. We looked at the weather report and decided on an unusually warm looking monday. What we didn't predict is that the temperature would drop to bellow freezing and it would be snowing by the end of their session. Alex, Zuri, and their two dogs were troopers though and we had an amazing shoot with the Chicago Skyline and the Honeycomb as amazing backdrops to their city engagement shoot. I can't wait to photograph their wedding on September 3rd, 2016!
Chicago Gay Wedding at the Wyndham on Wacker Drive
Some weddings just really show how in love a couple truly is and reminds you of what marriage should be. This was the case with Jon and Francisco, seeing how truly happy they make each other and how they always bring smiles to each others faces. They got married at The Grand Wyndham in downtown Chicago which is a stunning venue. The views from their reception room were just out of this world! So take a look at their gorgeous wedding!
Venue-Grand Wyndham Chicago
Flowers-Flowers for Dreams
String Quartet-Cloud Gate Quartet
Desserts-Bittersweet Bakery
Photo Booth- The Traveling Photo booth
Second Photographer-Ania Scheiman
Chicago City Hall Winter Elopement With Two Brides
Chicago gave us one of our coldest days of the year for Sarah and Nichelle's wedding this past weekend but the ladies were troopers and head outside for a few images and I was just in love with the results. Both Nichelle and Sarah had the most contagious smiles and spending their wedding day with them was wonderful.
Chicago J2 Gallery Wedding
Jesse contacted me last year about photographing her destination wedding in Chicago. Both she and Sarah now live in Las Vegas, but it was in Chicago where they met and fell in love. They got married at J2 Gallery in Chicago which made an awesome wedding venue. I had never had the opportunity to photograph a wedding at an art gallery and now I can cross that off my list!
Their ceremony was emotional! Hearing the letters that they had written to each other expressing their love brought me to some tears behind my camera.
Jesse and Sarah were down for anything photo-wise, so we headed outside to get some great urban images showcasing Chicago. Congratulations you two! It was an amazing day!
Venue - J2 Gallery
Crepes - Flip Crepes
St.James Farm and Harry Caray Lombard Wedding
Kenny and Ashley's wedding was pretty much a dream from start to end with the gorgeous details, dress, venue, and all the love the two of them shared. I met them both last year through my friend and fellow photographer Sarah who was in the wedding. We photographed them after their church wedding at one of my favorite places, St.James Farm in Warrenville. It made such a wonderful backdrop. Then we headed to the reception at Harry Caray's in Lombard. Enjoy the look at their day!
DJ/Photobooth/Uplighting-Sounds Abound
Videographer-Ojo Creative
Florist-Urban Botanicals Chicago Eileen Weeder
Favors-Garrett's Popcorn
Hair-A Cut Above Nicole Matsas
Makeup-Flawless by Tiffany
Dress-Bella Bianca
Cake-Creative Cakes
Party Bus-Elite Chicago Limo
Reception-Harry Caray's
Second Shooter-Courtney Scheimann
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!
Creek Bend Nature Center Outdoor Wedding
From our first phone call I could tell what a cool laid back couple Clancy and Patrick were. They came all the way from Washington D.C. back home to have their wedding in the St.Charles area. They met during graduate school at Georgetown University and have been together ever since.
The day of their wedding we had an awful thunderstorm, things were so dark but I had a feeling that everything would clear up in time for their first look and sure enough it did. A little rain on your wedding is good luck they say. Their first look was so sweet, I think Patrick almost had some tears in his eyes when he saw Clancy who looked stunning. Her dress had this gorgeous pink tone to it, ever so subtle but just breathtaking.
Next we headed to the wedding at St. Patricks, The church was so filled with all of their family and friends who had traveled from near and far to be with them on their day. After the said the "I do's" We headed back to Creek Bend Nature Center, part of LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve so they could enjoy their cocktail hour and of course their big party. What a gorgeous setting for a wedding! Once the dancing started it seemed everyone was on the dance floor, the flower girl was dancing up a storm way into the night a long with Clancy's Grandma Lois. One of my favorite parts was when the "Call Me Maybe" song came on, Patrick was on that song singing it and dancing to it in the middle of all their friends.
After all that I snuck the two out of the reception for a few minutes to take a final nighttime shot which also allowed them to have a few minutes together just to reflect on the whole day. As a couple I see how their personalities really compliment each other and I just wish them well in this new chapter of their lives together. Congratulations Clancy and Patrick!
Wedding Planner-Two Sisters Events
Makeup-Meghan Selleck
Reception-Creek Bend Nature Center
Catering-Cousine America
Church-St. Patricks Parish
Hotel-Hotel Baker
Second Photographer-Laura Manzano
Moe + Kayla
When I was asked by Kayla's sister if myself and Ania would be interested in shooting her sisters wedding I was excited right away. I have known Ania and Melissa for years and have even traveled to photography conventions with both of them. When a fellow photographer wants you for an event as special as your sisters wedding it's truly an honor. Once I met Kayla and Moe I was very excited to work with them both. They are both very much in love and also had a appreciation for photography which I loved.
The weather on their wedding was gorgeous, especially for July, no sweltering heat! They wed outside at Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park, which was decorated in so many flowers in the most dreamy light. They exchanged vows and also locked away letters during their ceremony that they will then read on their 5 year wedding anniversary. What a cool idea and something I have never seen before.
Well take a peak at their day bellow!
Silver Lakes Country Club; Venue; Weddings at Silver Lake Country Club, Orland Park, IL
Amy Coghill; Silver Lake's Director of Events; Weddings at Silver Lake Country Club, Orland Park, IL
Felix & Fingers; Music; Performers: Emily & Robert; Dueling Pianos - Felix And Fingers
Karen Steen; Florist; Home
John Sternisha; Videographer; http://gingerjohnthomas.com
Jarmin Carreno; Hairstylist; Jarmin Carreno (Master Hair Stylist)
Allison Dziemiela; MAC Studio Makeup Artist
Melissa Wilson; Wedding Planner
Courtney Wilson; Baker/Wedding Cake; (Culinary Art Student)
Reverend Anne Styx preformed the ceremony THE REV FOR WHATEV- Chicago wedding officiant and interfaith minister
Ania Scheiman; photographer Ania Scheiman Photography
Paul + Emily Married
I had met with Emily to discuss her wedding a few months ago and was instantly in love with all the fun and DIY projects they had, Star Wars Boutonnieres, and custom made action figures Yes PLEASE!! We couldn't of asked for a better day, once again not to hot and no rain hooray!
During their ceremony, One reading or quote rather really stuck with me.
"'We’re all a little weird. And life is weird. And when we find someone
whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into
mutual weirdness and call it love.'
How true that statement is and to find that other half that does work with your weirdness, it's truly a blessing. Emily and Paul were both surrounded by big families who were so happy for them on their big day. Villa Olivia provided the perfect backdrop to their ceremony and reception! Once the reception started and the best men and maid of honor made their speeches. The whole room was laughing, these were some of the funniest speeches I had ever heard. So take a look at their special day bellow!
Hair - Valerie Giacobbe at Plush Salon
Makeup - Benefit Boutique In Downtown Naperville
Venue - Villa Olivia
DJ - Dave Alvarez 312-479-3557
djdave_alvarez@ymail.com
Wedding Dress - Wtoo - A Joyful Occasion
Rings - Hers Kay Jewelers
- His Touchwood
Second Shooter - Courtney Scheimann
