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In: Engagements

I’m so excited to share this engagement session on the blog, especially as the couple’s wedding day approaches next month.  Danelle and Scott met me at Chestnut Hill Farm in Sleepy Hollow, where Danelle boards her horse Skye. They are such a down to earth couple, we had so much fun walking the property and taking in the outdoors during their summer engagement session. We stared the session in the evening after most of the riders were gone and had the place pretty much to ourselves. The barn and surrounding wild and groomed areas were gorgeous, and the staff was so gracious in letting usRead More →

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In: Families, Newborns, Portraiture

He kept us on our toes in the beginning, but he settled in eventually. Meet Nathan, 12 days old. Mama’s nickname for him is wiggly. Allison and Michael make a great couple, Allison whom I have known for years. I’m so happy for them to be growing their family, and grateful to have been asked to document these earliest days! We shot on-site at Nathan’s home in Hanover Park, Illinois. I brought with me a backdrop stand, off-camera speed lights, pockets wizards, and several fabric options for backdrops. Allison collected some sweet and simple swaddling and basket options. Of course, Nathan owned his shoot, lookingRead More →

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In: Albums, Vendors I Love, Weddings

It’s the little touches that make each album really personal to each couple-like the phrase “love. honor. comfort. keep.” that was lifted from Lisa and Tim’s ceremony programs, font type and all, and used on the back cover of their wedding album. I love these tiny details! Click here to view Lisa and Tim’s completed wedding slideshow.  Read More →

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In: Families, Newborns, Portraiture

In November, I did a holiday photography session for Nicole and Robert, a fantastic couple that I met and worked with last year shortly after they moved to Chicago. They wanted to celebrate their first year in this great city together with an iconic skyline shoot. However, this year when Nicole called she shared the wonderful news that she and Robert had started their family! Little Elly would be joining our holiday session. And she was adorable-just look at her playing with those huge ruffles in her holiday skirt, and you’ve gotta love capturing a little baby yawn! We began the session downtown at the Chicago Cultural Center,Read More →

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In: Albums, Vendors I Love, Weddings

Between family portrait sessions this fall, I completed a couple wedding album layouts with one of my favorite album vendors. I’ve been working with Asuka Book to produce wedding albums since 2006. They consistently add new products to their portfolio that my clients will love and new services that will make my life easier. I’m a busy girl, so whenever you can same me time, you just made yourself a loyal friend. But moreover the craftmanship of their albums is just beautiful, I was so excited for Lauren and Adam to receive their storybook wedding album! The presentation box even includes a DVD placeholder for their wedding slideshow. Perfect. Click here to view the couple’s completed wedding slideshow.Read More →

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In: Families, Portraiture

Well, I certainly let the busy holiday season get the better of me when it came to blogging. But after a wonderful holiday season with family and friends, I am getting back on the horse and with what a fitting family session post to begin. Sandy called me this fall to do a family portrait session for the holidays. I knew Sandy from grade-school and she and her children had just moved back to the Chicago-area from Tulsa. She was very excited to be near her family again, and so we included the whole clan-siblings and parents too. Wanting to celebrate Chicago in their first holiday portrait session back, we choseRead More →

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In: Weddings

I’ve been so excited to post on the blog about Lisa and Tim’s October wedding in Milwaukee, WI. We had a fantastic time at their engagement session this spring. Lisa and Tim are active, outdoors people, very down to earth and we became fast friends. Their wedding day was no different. Just one night with their wedding party and guests it was obvious that they are surrounded with love in their lives, though they prefer to be the ones showering others rather than the ones at the center of attention. I left that night with many fun memories. I met Lisa and Tim through a referral, so I was already looking forward toRead More →

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In: Families, Portraiture

Moving into the holiday season once again, the time of year that often sparks that need for a new family portrait for holiday cards and gift giving.  Recently I had the great honor to meet and photograph the family of one of my college professors. Among other activities with the communication department, I served as a department secretary and am still fairly active as an alum with the department. His grandaughter made me chuckle when she asked why I kept calling him Dr. Hemmer. For as long as I know him, I’m not quite sure I could address him any other way. Being the unpredictable fall season we hoped for good weather, but we were prepared for theRead More →

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In: Families, Portraiture, Travel

Earlier this month I had the privilege of traveling to Colorado Springs to shoot family portraits. Sirkant was stationed overseas with the Air Force for six months. KC and I are already old friends (think preschool friends), so while her husband was away, we decided it was a good time for a girls visit and photo session with the kids. Genesis (8), Sela (5), and Solomon (3) are all very smart, very funny little kids. Each with these big, but unique personalities. And of course in Colorado you are never far from spectacular backdrops. Every time I am out in the mountains I wonder why I don’t live there yet, and swear thatRead More →

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In: Weddings

What was predicted for a week to be a rainy day, turned out to be beautiful. Perhaps a bit steamy, the first truely humid day of the summer, but blue skies. I met Lauren and Adam through the alumni network at Carroll College and shot their engagement photos in Chicago last summer. They were married at The Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wisconsin in June. I think my favorite part of photographing their wedding was the time we spent driving around the golf course shooting portraits of the couple. It was really the first time they had to be together and seperated from theRead More →