Angela

About a month ago I was going through some photos of my friends and realized I barely had any current ones of my roommate Angela. This clearly had to be fixed! So last week she got all fancied up and we strolled around the neighborhood for some fun portraits. I had also just received a new toy in the mail: the Lensbaby! It's one of the cheapest lenses you can find, focusing is extraordinarily difficult, it's all plastic, and really really cool.

Fabulous light on our front porch: for months whenever I would answer the door around 5 or 6 I would think "I must shoot out here!" but I'm not sure the UPS delivery guy would have gone for it.


Fabulous light + Lensbaby


A boarded-up pizza shop around the corner; it didn't smell very good where Ang was standing. I'm glad she tolerated it!




Playground!














Using sun flare with the Lensbaby creates interesting results.




At peace with the world






One final one on the kitchen table with more fabulous light streaming through

Katy and Kory's wedding

Katy and Kory's wedding was so much fun! It was held in Lake Geneva right on the lake, then we all boarded a boat for the reception.

Katy's first look at herself after hair and makeup was complete


Katy's sister had the most adorable shoes - and a beautiful pedicure!






Katy's niece took it upon herself to make sure Katy had her "something blue": Cookie Monster stickers for the bottom of her shoes. Fabulous.






Katy and her sister just moments before the ceremony started.




The 3 flower girls exploring the grounds before the ceremony




Just married!










The flower details were exquisite!


Katy during her dad's toast




A view of the reception boat


First dance


Thank you Katy and Kory for an amazing time! Your friends and family were such a joy.

Yuridia and Pedro: engagement

These two were simply adorable: their looks at each other, telling the story of how they met, talking about their wedding day... all so sweet. We met in Olive Park (near Navy Pier) where they got engaged, so we made sure to do a few shots at the exact location.







Playtime on the beach!










Thanks so much you two!

A bit about me

So I have been tagged by my friend Erin of Erin Kate Photography.... I am to tell the world 8 things that you most likely do not know about me. Here goes!

Growing up, my family would sometimes raise baby angora goats in the house

I pronounce aunt the "British way"

I love to swing dance, and have danced my way across the country from Maine to California

It's rare that I wear solid-color socks – have a look at Foottraffic to get a sense of my sock drawer

I sing with a world-champion women's barbershop chorus

I believe garlic makes everything taste better

My left foot is 1 1/2 sizes larger than my right

I'm a native of Maine, yet sadly can not do a respectable Maine accent

Heather and James's wedding

There were so many things I loved about this wedding, starting with the ceremony. It was right near my house (always a plus) in a church I'd been wanting to shoot in for years: Minnekirken, the last remaining Norwegian language church in Chicago. I've been fascinated by Norway since I was a teenager (my maternal grandfather was Norwegian), and visited many relatives there with my mom 8 years ago. Being in the church and listening to the Norwegian prayers and scripture brought back awesome memories of our trip.

Heather and James wanted the bare minimum of portraits, so we took just 15 minutes for all family, wedding party, and couple portraits (good thing I've learned to work fast), then it was off to the party! The reception was so relaxed and fun: there was no schedule, no sit-down dinner, people gave toasts when they were ready, and only at the last minute did Heather and James decide to do a first dance. And kids! I don't know if I've been to a wedding with so many kids; they added so much life and humor to the evening.

Heather waited in the (comfortable air-conditioned) limo outside the church until the ceremony. She was enjoying watching the guests arrive, knowing they couldn't see her.




There were quite a few kids hanging around the alter even after James and his guys walked in.




They kept exchanging sweet glances during the hymns.








This is quite possibly the cutest portrait I've ever shot.










Let the dancing begin!




A coloring corner was set up for the kids.




That's the ribbon from the junior bridesmaid's dress they're playing with.


Taking a little break










Thanks so much for an awesome evening, Heather and James! You two were a blast.