So excited to announce that the very first wedding video I’ve EVER shot was featured on Style Me Pretty Illinois! As many of my friends and fans know, I began delving into video last year. While I still love photography and a majority of my work is still wedding and portrait clients, doing video has opened up a really exciting avenue of creativity for me because I love visual & emotional storytelling! When my good friend Ashley at Ashley Biess Photography mentioned she had some clients that would like to have video, I jumped at the chance to put my skills to the test.

Kamile & Adam’s nuptials took place at the beautiful Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Chicago, and the reception took place at the Lithuanian World Center, with a stop at Morton Arboretum for photos in-between. It was such a beautiful day, with a lush palette of purple blooms and mossy greens. A big thanks to La Belle Fleur Events for flawless coordination, and most of all, thanks to Kamile and Adam for such a fun time! I absolutely loved capturing your happiness.

Kamile & Adam’s Wedding from Hannah Goering on Vimeo.

To inquire about video services for your wedding, please contact me here!

This November I had the opportunity to photograph family portraits for Nate & Kelly – long-time family friends from Iowa who also reside in Chicago now.  It was a chilly but beautiful fall morning, and Lincoln Park provided a perfect setting for some fall color.

Rich traditions, strong family ties, and bold yet elegant colors characterized Duraien & Shamoon’s beautiful wedding at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel this July – enjoy!

[This wedding was photographed for George Street Photo & Video.]

This April I was blessed with the opportunity to photograph my dear friend Lindy’s wedding – you can see photos I took at Brian’s proposal here and the couple’s engagement portraits here.  With the proposal happening shortly after New Year’s and the wedding mid-April, there wasn’t much time to plan… Lindy and I met up a few times for coffee/sushi during that time and every time I asked her about the details, she seemed so nonchalant like there was nothing to really worry about.  (I was secretly thinking, “Lady, you’re crazy, and why aren’t you freaking out?!?”) Let me just say that I was totally blown away on the wedding day, Lindy did such a phenomenal job with all the details – it was truly one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever seen – so simple yet elegant, so classy with a touch of whimsy, so Lindy. :-)

Lindy & Brian’s condo is on the Near West side, and the nearby Kitchen Chicago, with it’s rustic/urban loft feel was the perfect venue for their ceremony and reception.  The details were full of the fresh summery color scheme, with soft blues & pinks accented with yellow and orange:

Being a wedding photographer herself, Lindy understands the value of doing portraits before the ceremony and the hustle and bustle of the day begin – she and Brian met up a few hours before the nuptials so we had plenty of time to get what she wanted.  Their first meeting:

We first went to the ‘top secret’ location with a fantastic view of the skyline from the Metra tracks for a few photos.

Then we went to the Goose Island area for a pop of industrial color:

When ceremony time came around, the sun lit up the venue’s loft like a spotlight on Lindy’s grand entrance.  She came in Bruno Mars’ song, “Just the Way You Are” – and I don’t think I’ll ever hear that song without picturing her lit up at the top of that balcony.  So stunning.

After the ceremony, cocktails started, and Lindy & Brian shared a quiet moment in the stairwell away from all of their guests.

And it was party time!

Brian has a full storm trooper suit (he does charity events with the troop around the city), so there were several Star Wars items floating around the reception. :-)

A whole bunch of us from the office were at the wedding, so I handed the camera off to my husband for a group shot at the end of the night.

Such an unforgettable night!  Lindy and Brian, you guys are amazing and I’m so glad you thought of me to capture your wedding! I still get teary looking through your photos, I’m so happy for you both!

[This wedding was photographed in conjunction with Gokhan Cukurova for George Street Photo & Video.]

I shoot all over the Chicagoland area (and beyond that from time to time) and I’ve seen a lot of fantastic venues and locations.  However, there is just something I love about a city wedding.  Probably due to the fact that I’m still for some reason head-over-heels with the hustle & bustle of Chicago – city weddings often have that heightened level of excitement.  Courtney & Ryan’s wedding was one of my favorite city weddings last year, and I’ve gone far too long without sharing:

The ceremony was held at Holy Name Cathedral, with grandeur never to disappoint. :-)

I love the cool fresh palette in Courtney’s bouquet – just the perfect mix of texture and color.

With the reception taking place at Cafe Brauer, it made sense to do portraits right there in Lincoln Park before heading to the party.

And finally, I sneaked away during dancing to catch the last bit of sunset over the pond.  Breathtaking, isn’t it?

I’ve got several (quite a ton actually) weddings that I never posted here on my blog that I’d like to share with my followers – so I’ll be posting from time to time here with some of the “oldies but goodies.”  First up, Stephanie & Justin’s summer wedding in Aurora, Illinois.

The ceremony was held in the beautiful Annunciation Church.

It was about 95 degrees outside, but we sweat it out and went to the Japanese Garden in the Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva, IL, for some portraits.

I <3 bokeh!

The reception was held at Piper’s Banquets:

It was an awesome party.  So much fun. :-)

Lousy cold fronts = chilly spring nights = warm cozy beds = you. know. what. i’m. talking. about.  Babies!

For a download-able price guide (with the above images) click here.

P.S. No, I myself am not preggers.  But if you are, give me a call! :-)

Yesterday I had a great session with a couple of friends of mine – Melissa (I call her Lindy) & Brian.  I worked with Lindy for almost three years, and in sharing a very small closet-of-an-office with her, I’d say we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well!  When Brian decided it was time to pop the question, I was honored that he asked me to photograph the big event.  [Photos of that magical evening in January are here.]

Lindy & Brian are getting married later this month in a super-chic urban loft space nearby their place in the west loop.  So exciting!  The weather yesterday actually turned out quite nicely (especially considering the freezing temps and sleet/rain/whatev we experienced all week prior!)  We started the session just a couple blocks from the couple’s condo under the el tracks.

Then we traveled to Lindy’s top-secret location which we’ll be using for portraits on the wedding day.  Well, maybe not so top-secret anymore?

Next we went to the museum campus in front of the Field Museum, where they had their unofficial first date.  I wish I could retell the story well, it was so cute.

Last stop, Soldier Field.

I recently was asked by my good friend Thom to do some photos for his new improv comedy group, Thora Birch – with the group’s theme of childhood stardom and fast-fading celebrity fortune, we met up at Wish Craft, an adorable little venue in Roscoe Village, to play around.

Here’s what we came up with:

Yes, I also do boudoir photography!  Give your spouse the sexiest gift he’ll ever receive – a beautiful book of sensual, artistic photos of you – perfect for your wedding gift or anniversaries.  Please contact me for rates and more information.