Bam...Pose...

Taking the actual photos is on the lesser half of the importance when it comes to photography. More than this is the constant reading of people. On wedding days you can have several hundred people to figure our all at once. Is she happy? Is that person about to have a melt-down? How do I get this person enthused enough to take just one more set of pictures? It is by far the most exhausting part of what I do. Now engagement sessions already have their advantage in that there's only two people to read but don't be deceived in some ways this is equally tricky as there's way more focus on each other. So you just don't know how the whole process will be for a couple. Will it come naturally to them? Will it take awhile to break the ice? This couple....Was a piece of cake! From the very first image I knew this couple was no joke. Bam, pose, bam, awesomeness....They are adorable, and me and my camera love them.

 

Mike and Jill

It's hard not to think of these two and not think "fun." From running around in the bitter cold in the winter for engagement pictures, to partying hard in a photo booth at their own wedding. One thing I really admire is they are a couple that is genuinely who they are around everyone. Changing for no one is such a rarity these days. A specific moment that I think I'll remember for a long long time was when they were coming out of the photo booth at their reception and the attendant asked "Do you want me to hide some of your pictures from being online so other's won't see them?" Jill, the bride's response was perfect: "No, post everything we've got nothing to hide." I don't know why that struck me so, but really as cheesy as that sounds (especially the fact that such a lesson is coming from a photo booth) it's really powerful. Here it's their wedding their first official day of being together and they're already setting the standard of being real. I really think this will help their marriage flourish. I can't wait to see what the future hold for these two.

 

A Walk In the Park...

After all the storms we've had recently we couldn't have asked for a better day. Maybe a little bright but really, can't complain; the day was a walk in the park. All puns aside, this couple is bubbly, fun, and has a lot of laughter. We'll actually be re-visiting this park's gorgeousness come winter and come their wedding! It's gonna be great! 

A Back Yard After My Own Heart...

It's kind of funny to take a step back and realize where I live. Here I am a wedding photographer that often times shoots in the chaos of the city, that lives in Pleasant-ville suburbia, that has a College Camping degree hanging on her wall. Those three locations and the daily lifestyle that they bring are so incredibly different. There's a part of me, (a big part of me) that would love to walk out my back door, see the woods, the lake, and pier awaiting for me. Though that's not my reality (unfortunately!), it is for todays future bride Leslie. Her yard should be classified as a state park, it's incredible! What's even more incredible? The fact that she's having her wedding there next spring! Hurray! I LOVE garden weddings. (: 

Soccer Players For Life...

The first day I might the future bride was at soccer training camp back when we played in college. We got off to a well....interesting start but really when it comes down to it I finally had found someone as competitive as I was! Really though, there's few people in my life that's has had that experience that we had and it's been a bond ever since. From girl talks over a burrito at Chipotle to trying to re-live our glory days via a co-ed indoor team Melissa (yes, we even share a name) ( :  is a dear friend. I'm so glad that she's finally found the one for her and I consider it a privilege to be a part of their big day.

 

They Get It...

I often tell my couples little tid-bits of wedding day advice. I after all  have only been to a couple hundred. (: One of the things I find myself saying the most often is whatever the emotion is...go with it. I've seen too many times where the bride and groom try and "hold it together" that their whole effort is going toward that rather than soaking it all in. Sure you may be embarrassed for a minute that you cried in front of more people than you ever have before but really in the grand scheme of it all what will you remember? The one moment of shyness or the time that you go to wipe a tear from your soon to be husbands face? This couple got it. The rode the ride of the wedding day and it was beautiful. I absolutely loved how there were two things that could get the groom to instantly cry. The Lord...And his bride. I think that's a picture (no pun intended) of how there lives will be. That the two things that completely overwhelm them with gratitude and joy is our Lord and each other. For that, and many other reasons, I loved spending one day in time with these two. 

Go Cubs Go!

I gotta say...There's two major perks to what I do. 1.) I get to hang out with awesome couples. 2.) Once in awhile I get a chance of a lifetime to go to locations that I otherwise wouldn't be allowed. Today, the latter was true and it was sweet. Myself, an old-time friend from way back when, and her fiance Ryan got an opportunity to live any Chicago sport-lovers dream and run solo for awhile with an empty Wrigley Field. It was surreal...It was huge...And it was awesome! It was fun to watch Laura's face as she saw her future husband giddily run amongst the seats and slide himself on the dugout bench. I can't blame her I loved watching it too. (: Glad to hear that the many pictures will be added to sports memorabilia room in their future home. I have no doubt we will have as much fun in August for the wedding. Can't wait! (: 

Adorable...

I don't know what was more adorable. This couple or the brand new puppy they brought to the shoot. (: They couple just may have the edge on this one. I know the future bride from way back when before this whole photography thing worked out for me and we worked at Starbucks. 16 pounds later and a caffeine addiction I got to pursue this passion of art and was thrilled to have Vanessa re-cross my path. We may need a cup of coffee to make it through the wedding day but at least we know the pictures will be great as the bride is effortlessly beautiful. 

Still True In Iowa....

I've often said that Iowa is one of my favorite places to shoot. A couple weekends a year I get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend the day with some of the most genuine people a place has to offer. This hands down was the longest engagement session I've done but I loved every minute of it! From off roading on the family farm at sunset to smoothies at a quaint outdoor cafe every spot was a picture waiting to happen. This couple couldn't be sweeter, and I'm thankful I got to spend so much time with them. Looking forward to October when I, Iowa, and it's most genuine couple re-unite. (:

 

Rialto Wedding

Once in awhile a gem crosses my path that despite all my wedding location stalking I had no idea the place existed. Such was true for what could be one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. (Let alone got to shoot at) Getting there before the bride and groom allowed me the opportunity to figure out how to work in this huge space. So as I'm walking around this ginormous theatre it becomes more and more apparent that I'm the only one there. Amazing? yes. Kinda creepy? Yes. As if I were transported into the Phantom of the Opera I keep checking over my shoulder to make sure it's still just me. (: It was such a great opportunity and I loved every bit of it! Thanks to Issa and Elaine for allowing me to be a part of their special day. 

What Has Washed Away My Sin...

Like molasses from the jar my stubborn and hardened heart has been so slow to move. I thank God He hasn't given up on me! Often times I find myself caught in a world of Christian cliché's, where one is admired for saying how they know they aren't perfect and like a work in progress, God is continuing to change them. Which in a sense is true. But there's something so much greater than that. Something that's past tense but completely effects today and my future. God isn't just changing me...He has CHANGED me! 

I found a note that I wrote myself while listening to a sermon this past summer. It was based from our Study in Revelation 22:14- Here are the words of Pastor Colin...

"Simply owning a washing machine doesn't make your clothes clean nor does owning a laundry basket. Clothes must be washed. Simply owning the machine (Admitting you're dirty) doesn't cleanse you, only the submerging of dirt and sin in the blood of Jesus will do." 

Later he prayed and today this is mine: "Wash me, clean me, change me until I meet you, so that every bit of evidence of sin is out of my life. Keep washing until the stain is out." 

Yes, I'm a work in progress, but my my heart is no longer sitting on top of the machine. God has washed it.