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:

I was super pumped when my good friend Lindy’s boyfriend Brian emailed me asking if I’d be willing to help him out with his plans to propose to Lindy earlier this month.  While there were quite a few hiccups in our original plans, it still was one of the most romantic thing’s I’ve witnessed in person.

Lindy was a little excited. :-)  Ok actually, she was so so excited she wouldn’t stop jumping!

Congratulations to a wonderful couple o’ people!

If there’s one thing I love, it’s clients who want unconventional locations for their portrait sessions, and Maria and Jose fit the bill.  They wanted something fun and romantic downtown, so to symbolize the new journey they’re making as they become husband and wife, I give you a CTA-themed engagement session. :-)

We of course made a few stops along the way (not everything was on or near a train!)

P.S. it was about 40 degrees out this day.  Maria is a TROOPER (and a lover of cute colorful dresses!)

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

I’ll let the images speak for themselves on this one – Diane & Edwin were married at the beautiful Meyer’s Castle estate in Dyer, Indiana, on seriously the most beautiful day!

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

Our new apartment has 3 closets and only 1 bedroom, and I hated the idea of making part of my dining room (something I’ve never had before) into my office.  So, with a little inspiration from Anna over at Door Sixteen, I made our large closet in the living room into a closet office!

Here’s what it looked like before:

And here’s what I did, with lots of help from my hubby (and a friendly worker in the Home Depot lumber department):

I’m not really sure what I’ll put on the walls – a shelf?  Picture rail w/ framed photos?  I haven’t even begun to really unpack that stuff so I’ll figure it out.  Here’s what it looks like without the chair:

Don’t those beautiful dark-stained doors just look pretty?  It’s like a window into what this apartment once was, you know, before the 8 layers of sloppily-painted muck on the walls.  And I’m excited to get to finally unpack my office stuff with all the built-in shelving:

I originally was hoping to get a nice piece of natural wood, but the sizes were so weird, and this melamine-laminated wood came in the EXACT depth I needed, we just had to have Home Depot cut the length down for us.  Easy-Peasy.  Not so easy to mount the brackets (or to find the studs with a sort-of-not-working stud finder, but we managed.  Still have a little bit of work to do – figure out where to keep cords, paint the white trim at the bottom, etc.

But my closet-office dream has come true.  And I am HAPPY. :-)

A good friend of mine, Thom, is part of a hilarious sketch comedy duo called A Good Idea [In Theory].  He asked me to take some photos of him and his partner-in-crime, Andrew, for their upcoming show.  Here are a few of my faves:

Here is the finished poster I designed for them.  Oh, and I’ve seen the show, and it’s pretty darn funny.

Oh, and I also dabble in web design, so I put together their blog site as well. :-)

I met Stacey & Mike back in the fall to shoot their engagement session, and we hit it off right away.  With such a fun couple and the beautiful city as the background for their wedding celebration, I knew their wedding would be fantastic.  And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

With great anticipation, Stacey and her bridesmaids got ready in her highrise condo in River North, with a stunning view of the skyline just outside the window.

Love love love love the vintage style of Stacey’s dress!

I just adore this creamy-dreamy color palette.

The ceremony was held just walking distance away at Assumption Church.

The couple’s handwritten vows had me (and Stacey of course!) on the verge of tears.

After the ceremony we made a few stops around the museum campus for some photos.  The weather threatened to force us inside, but once we stopped to get some photos by Buckingham Fountain, the skies began to clear and we were golden!

Last stop was Kinzie Street bridge.  A great spot if you want Chicago architecture without the busy-ness of tourist downtown.

Last, but certainly not least, we headed to the stunning reception at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza.  One of my favorite venues downtown, really, with large windows overlooking the Chicago River, and beautifully clean, modern lines.

Stacey’s brother and sister-in-law sang “Unforgettable” as the couple shared their first dance.

Stacey and Mike, you two are the best.  Your wedding was truly unforgettable!  If you could hear how much I gushed about your wedding to my co-workers afterward you’d probably think I’m a weirdo. :-)

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

Jessica and Peter’s wedding this past March could be summarized up in three words: stylish, modern, and fun.  The day started & ended at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, with a Chicago ceremony at St. Sylvester Parish in Humboldt Park.

There was truly an air of excitement as Jessica pulled up for the ceremony.

The happily married couple!  Next we made a quick stop (it was freezing outside) to Humboldt Park for a few photos before heading back to the Renaissance.

Jessica and Peter’s reception was decorated with bold black & white with a wash of purple floral arrangements and lighting.

Towards the end of the night, Jessica and Peter asked me if we could do some more photos of the two of them around the magnificent hotel lobby.  I love it when couples do that!

What a great day!  Jessica and Peter, I wish you the best.  Thanks for including me in such a fab celebration!

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