Weddings, Couples Carol DeAnda Weddings, Couples Carol DeAnda

Chicago Lake Shore Drive Outdoor Wedding and The Signature Room

I met Sara almost 6 years ago at my job, she was actually my manager and a wonderful one at that. So I was flattered when she reached out to me to see if I was available to photograph her wedding and engagement I was so excited. Her ceremony took place right off Lake Shore Drive overlooking the city on one side and the lake and beach on the other. She wore Steve's family heirloom dress for the ceremony, a dress worn by not just his mother, but also his grandmother too. After the ceremony, we head back to the hotel for a quick outfit change and then headed back outside for some more photos of the couple together. After we finished, we head to their reception, a delicious brunch at The Signature Room. The views were amazing to say the least. The love was all around the room as they celebrated with family and friends and I hope you enjoy the images from your day!

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Couples, Weddings Carol DeAnda Couples, Weddings Carol DeAnda

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






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Weddings, Couples Carol DeAnda Weddings, Couples Carol DeAnda

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!

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Couples, Weddings Carol DeAnda Couples, Weddings Carol DeAnda

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!

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Families, Kids, Newborn Carol DeAnda Families, Kids, Newborn Carol DeAnda

Summer Outdoor Newborn Photos

     Lauren contacted me about taking some photos of her newest addition and I was so happy to meet them at their beautiful home so capture this little man with his two proud sisters. The girls loved holding him and gushing over how cute he is! What a perfect age for both of them to have a new sibling!

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Couples, engagements Carol DeAnda Couples, engagements Carol DeAnda

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!!!


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Couples, engagements Carol DeAnda Couples, engagements Carol DeAnda

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!

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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.


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engagements, Couples, LGBT Carol DeAnda engagements, Couples, LGBT Carol DeAnda

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). 

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 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).

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 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)

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 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. 

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Favorite color?

We both love blue.

Favorite Food?

We love Chipotle (we’re actually thinking about having them cater the wedding)

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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.

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Families, Kids Carol DeAnda Families, Kids Carol DeAnda

Chicago Family Lifestyle Photo Session

     I was excited to hear from the K family again this year, I had met them last year from the referral of a photographer friend of mine! It was miss J's one year mark and I was happy to capture her in her brand new home! They had just moved a little over a week ago and their new home was just gorgeous. Now I knew at the end of this shoot that I wanted to do something messy! So I suggested maybe I bring some watermelon with me for the very end of the shoot, and it was a hit I must say! Who needs cake when you have a huge watermelon slice! Enjoy this peek at their shoot from this past saturday.




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