This Third Time Was Charming

I am well-acquainted with Shayla and her family, and I feel like you all should be now too. I photographed her and her parents for the third time a few weeks ago. Since I don't have too many repeat customers (yet) I get worried that my ideas won't be fresh, and that my subjects will find themselves saying, "Didn't we do this last time?" Well that did not in any way happen with this photogenic family.

I am in love with this shoot and am about to share more photos in one post than I think I ever have before. The light was just so perfect. Honestly, we don't get a lot of great light in the Midwest. But I learned that this time of year around 6 p.m. it could not get any better.

We started at The Bean and used the reflections to our advantage.


So you all remember Shayla right? She's the same little girl from this shoot. She's now one-year-old. That's hard for be to believe because the first time I photographed her, she was still in her mom's tummy.




The Bean and its reflection was great for photos, but poor little Shayla bumped her head on it. It took her a little while to recover, so we took it easy once we made it over to the lawn at Pritzker pavilion. Her mom tried to comfort her a bit.


But really, she just needed to have a moment.


I had to post those for all you who think all I get are smiling, happy kids. Shayla was, but she had her moment too. And don't worry, her mom made sure I snapped pics of this Shayla too. I like to think I capture kids as they are, and sometimes they cry.





This is the face she currently makes all the time.



How cute are her little "Shayla" undies!?!

We left the grass and rounded a corner to find some beautiful, purple flowers and some of the most golden beautiful life I've ever seen. I can safely say that some of the following photos are among the most best I've ever taken.








As hard as it was to walk away from the light, we did. And then we made our way over to the reflecting pools in Millennium Park. This was an awesome idea as Shalya was fading but absolutely loved the water.





I snapped that last pic of Shayla and her dad and then she was spent. I couldn't have asked for antyhing more though. I loved, loved, loved this shoot.

Shayla, Carly and Bun, I can't wait to do it again. Lucky number four! But I hope you all are feeling a little better next time.

A Great Day for a Parade

I'm not gonna lie. I had a very good Friday. I had a great lunch, met up a friend for coffee and the best part, left work mid morning to attend the Blackhawks Stanley Cup parade that took place just a few blocks away from my office.

It was estimated that about 2 million people were in attendance, so it's not like my coworkers and I got a spot up front. However, we found some room under the el tracks and hoped to catch something. All the spots on higher ground were already taken. And the cool part about watching the parade under the el, was that every time a train passed overhead, the conductor slowed down, honked his horn and waved as he went by.





 Thankfully the parade organizers had the fans in mind and put the players all on doubledecker buses. So even though we were at ground level, we saw them.



Now I have to say, I am a Red Wings fan through and through. I've been to two of their parades. And seeing this one made me a little nostalgic for the team that made me first fall in love with hockey. But seeing my hometown boys in all there red and black glory, well that was pretty cool too.

A View from the Top

Ok, well I'm not really on the top, but it feels like it some days. Remember how I started a new job a few months ago? Well that new job came with an office with a view. This is my view.



I love it. Even on gloomy days like today. Obviously this photo was not taken today. Today I had no view. But I've realized I'd rather see the gloom than the same old boring four walls everyday.

Going to the Chapel

Erik and Jessica's wedding was a decade in the making. I felt absolutely honored that they chose me to capture this most important day in their relationship. So here are a few of my favorites from their wedding day.













I absolutely love this quiet moment with Jessica and her pastor shortly before the ceremony started.






I found it incredibly sweet that even though their relationship is far from new, Jessica still was emotional walking down the aisle to her future husband.


Jessica and Erik also did a beautiful job of including their two children in their wedding. Here they are lighting the unity candle as a family.


Their pastor made both Jessica and Erik write their own vows, which was incredibly touching. Before the wedding started, Jessica's pastor asked if she wanted to hold the microphone while reciting her vows. Jessica didn't. But she said could do it if Erik held the mic. It's a small gesture, but I thought it was incredibly telling of their relationship that in such an important moment, she knew she could get through it with Erik's help. I'm pretty sure the photo below was taken when Jessica mentioned in her vows how she patiently waited 10 years for this day to happen.




And then we were off for some photos in downtown Plymouth.






Their kids, by the way, are adorable.











Their cake looked good, but the massive sweets table they had totally stole the show.









The bouquet and garter tosses were fun to watch, full of great facial expressions and action shots.





Following that, there was dancing. Lots and lots of dancing, by guests young and old.




She was my absolute favorite. She just didn't want to leave the dance floor.




Jessica and Erik, thank you both so much for inviting me to be such an integral part of your big day. I had a wonderful time meeting you and your closest family and friends. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.