Wedding :: Jacqueline + Matt [Prairie Productions, Chicago]

Wedding :: Jacqueline + Matt [Prairie Productions, Chicago]

Summer weddings in Chicago. You take a gamble on weather, but when you win, you win big. With close family and friends, and a beautiful and intimate courtyard ceremony with perfect balance of rustic and pretty details, Jacqueline and Matt tied the knot at the west loop's Prairie Production.

Simply beautiful and full of love.

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Portraits :: Rodeghero Family [Chicago]

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Portraits :: Rodeghero Family [Chicago]

 

charity: water is a phenomenal organization that aims to provide impoverished areas of the world with tools to be able to access clean water. Because its operations are funded by private donors, every dollar that is raised funds clean water projects. It's an organization whose mission and philosophies align with my personal views. And I wanted to be involved.

So, in December of 2013 I ran a [one month] campaign for charity: water called 'Photos for Filters'. In this campaign, I was offering 20 min sessions for donations of $100 or more. The response was amazing, and within a few weeks, I reached my goal of raising $2000!

Wedding :: Amanda + Joe [Pazzo's, Chicago]

Wedding :: Amanda + Joe [Pazzo's, Chicago]

Amanda and Joe left Illinois for San Francisco when work called. Turns out, they actually met at work, working for corporate Jimmy John's [we also took a quick fun frame at the JJ's Joe opened downtown on Michigan Ave]. For their wedding nuptials, they flew back to their home state for an intimate ceremony and celebration at Pazzo's at 311. Such a grand atrium set the backdrop for the ceremony. Despite this day being borderline freezing, Amanda and Joe were surrounded by close family and friends to make this an epic Chicago 'spring' day. Check out some of the frames from the wedding.

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Engagement :: Elizabeth + John [Morton Arboretum]

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These two! How great of a story just in time for upcoming Father's Day. Elizabeth and John met at the University of Illinois during dad's weekend several years back. John proposed to Elizabeth at home and after she said yes, they went to Mia Francesca's where John had planned for their families to be ready to celebrate the engagement. 

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Engagement :: Cara + Alain [New York City]

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Engagement :: Cara + Alain [New York City]

So, two weekends ago I found myself with a flight to New York City on a whim. I needed a break from Chiberia and even though I was trading cold for cold. The travel change up somehow made it better. 

Perfect timing for Cara and Alain's photo session. And a 50 degree winter day.

With stops in Chelsea, West Village and Long Island City, we took advantage of New York's ever changing backdrop as we raced the afternoon light into sunset. Can't wait for their June wedding in Newport, RI!

Wedding :: Shannon + Mike [Belvedere Banquets, Elk Grove Village, IL]

The last wedding of my 2013 season, November 30 . . . and it was sunny and relatively warm for late November. Shannon and Mike met in high school and as Mike recalled in his reception speech, he was trying to get a basketball game together... and Shannon wanted in. What Shannon wanted, Shannon got and over the course of so many years, their competitive natures grew them into a wonderful partners. I was so excited to work with them after first meeting Shannon and Mike when I photographed her sister's wedding [check out that Lake Barrington wedding here].

Some of my favorite frames from the Belvedere Banquets wedding.

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How Photography Cracked Me

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Sometimes people ask, 'what got you into photography'? And I usually say it's a pretty boring story. I do not have one of those old stories of how I got my first Polaroid when I was 7 and instantly knew I was going to be a photographer. While that may be true for some, it seems like an opportunistic story. I also got kitchen toys . . . and I am certainly not a chef. [Although I'm hoping Chef Charles can help me out with that.]

You get my point. No one ever says they knew they wanted to be something when they were a kid if it doesn't pan out.

Portraits :: Alejos Family Chicago Portraits

It's time for another Alejos session! If you recall, the last session was before the littlest Alejos made his debut to the world [check the spring session here]. And now he is 3 months old! Spitting image of his older brother. So much, it's even a little spooky. After a solo portrait session, we rounded up the whole family to do a few Christmas card worthy shots [you'll have to wait til Christmas to see those]. We had one of the last mild days of the season on our side, warm sun and fall crunchy leaves.