I’m totally biased, but I think my little niece is just a sweet slice of cute pie. I can’t get enough of her smile and those twinkling eyes! She’s already taking after her Dad, Dan Ponce, hamming it up and even stroking the piano keys. Love her so much!!
One of the best things about being a photographer is working with other amazing professionals, who in time, become close friends. I met Jaycie three years ago during a photo shoot for my sister portrait company Revealed Studios. Jaycie is local Chicago makeup artist brimming with talent, positive energy, and dedication. I’ve watched her grow her artistry from side work to a booming business. She is someone who makes people feel at ease immediately. That combined with great taste and a strong work ethic make her invaluable to us.
Throughout those three years, I heard bits and pieces about her relationship with a man named Bryan. Her face always lit up when she talked about him. The day she came in engaged she was beaming! Her eyes shown with joy and she was over-the-moon with excitement
The couple were married 10 years after they began dating. They’re love story began in high school and carried on through college, the beginning of their careers, a job change for Jaycie, the purchase of their home, and adoption of their dog Roy (featured in their engagement shoot).
Their wedding was such a celebration, bringing together their two families in honor of the couple. It’s apparent from the speeches given during the reception how many memories their friends and families share with each other. The love stretches beyond Jaycie, Bryan, and Roy, encompassing all their guests. Bryan’s Dad said their union was fate, I couldn’t agree more.
Congrats you two! I wish you many, many years of happiness!
Venue: Viper Alley ; Videographer: Windy City Productions ; Wedding Planner: Atmosphere ; DJ: Hype Productions ; Decorations: Atmosphere ; Flowers: C.R. Flowers
Desserts: Swirl Cupcakes ; Wedding Paper Divas
This portrait shoot of Eric below featured his stunning condo in the south loop of Chicago. It was such a perfect setting for both these corporate and casual portraits. After snapping the first series of pictures,we headed outside for urban, editorial style portraits beneath the Chicago El tracks. I love collaborating with clients! Eric was open to many suggestions, from clothing to locations. We’re so thrilled with the final outcome!
Kate and Pat had not one, but two missed connections. In college, they lived on the same dormitory, but never met each other. They also studied abroad in Rome the same semester without knowing it. It wasn’t until at a friend’s party, during a game of euchre, that they finally made eye contact.
They were married on the same campus they played euchre. In the Madonna Della Strada Chapel at Loyola University they exchanged their vows, drawing tears from Pat’s sister and cheers from the guests after they sealed the deal with a kiss.
The two are self-professed Chicago lovers. Their dream was to be married in the city, so during their portrait session, we made sure to visit some of the most iconic spots in the city at museum campus, the terraces behind the Planetarium, and the Chicago River bridges. During the reception, we had the most beautiful sunset, which made a stunning backdrop for pictures on the lake. Then, to top it all off, we snuck off to the library for some fun pictures in the stacks. So much fun!
Big thanks to these vendors who helped make Kate and Pat’s wedding so special!
Cake by Bittersweet , Flowers by A Stem Above , Loyola University Chicago , Catering by Loyola , Make-up Artist: Tracee Badway, Hair Stylist: Dottie Salamone , Toast and Jam DJ’s
This recent family portrait session in Lincoln Park Chicago was so much fun! I made a complete full of myself, reverting back to my 7-year old self by planing games and making faces with these two kiddos. My favorite moment was when we were alternating between scary face-happy face-worried face- excited face. It was a hoot!
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During Katie and Joel’s ceremony, the priest who married them mentioned, in prepping for their wedding, he took the opportunity to visit their facebook pages. What he found were dozen of images of the two together enjoying life by dressing up in various costumes; in one photo they wore feathered boas, another head-to-grow green; there were santa outfits, oversized sombreros, and hats made out of balloons. These two really love to have fun. In each other they found life long best friends and a partner ready and willing to go all out on any occasion.
When it came to their wedding day, I expected nothing less than that same 100% commitment to details. Katie looked divine, like a catalog bride. Joel was dapper in black. The bridesmaids were elegant in the color of summer 2013–coral. It was a beautiful affair with their closest friends and family members celebrating the union of two beloved people. Congrats Katie and Joel! Cheers to #Machoran!
Nearing the 8-month mark, Silvana looked more radiant during her maternity session at Hollywood beach than I’ve seen her. Some call it “the glow,” and I see why. She was simply radiant, the energy of love and confidence emanating from her like rays from the sun.
A friend of a friend, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know this lovely lady over the last few years through various events, one of them being the wedding of our dear friend Augustina Diez Sierra in her home town of Salta, Argentina. It was so wonderful and special to be able to take in this far away land through the eyes of these two Saltanos. No matter how far Silvana or Augustina is from home, they embrace their Latin roots. For example, I’ve heard dozens of times just how glamorous the “ladies of Salta” are, and during her maternity session, Sil lived up to this notion. She embraced her femininity fully, moving with poise and grace (in heels) over sand, concrete steps, and even into the cool waters (without the heels) of lake Michigan.
It was beautiful to watch Silvana connect with her baby boy. Though I have no children of my own, I can tell this is an intensely emotional time, an experience that happens for many only a few instances in life. I could feel the love flowing toward her unborn son as she forgot about my camera and turned her attention inward.
Thank you, Sil for being so open with such an intimate experience. I can’t wait to meet your little one!
On a perfect sumer evening, I drove down a willow tree lined driveway to meet Laura and Danny for their engagement session. After parking, I grabbed my cameras, then hopped out of my car to take in the property. In one direction, ducks paddled slowly across a pond and in another, chickens pecked away in their coop. I was blown away–Laura and Danny picked out this beautiful, country estate, a place Danny visited with his family growing up. Shortly after I arrived, the two walked out from a nearby barn, “Hi guys! Wow, this place is AMAZING! Great choice.”
The setting was perfect for a laid back couple, who love the outdoors. It even came with a friendly pooch who couldn’t resist popping into a few pictures, making the scene all the more charming.
Laura and Danny were great–comfortable with each other and casual throughout the session. They laughed when the horse on the property sauntered over and nuzzled them up from their blanket and eagerly climbed the fence for a picture against the vivid sunset.
Recently I visited my friend, Jessica, for a few days to celebrate her pending motherhood. I’ve never seen Jess look more beautiful, so I wanted to snap some pictures to document this rare and special time in her life. As the sun crept above the California Cyprus trees in the early morning hours, she and I took the Cleveland Cascade stairs down to Lake Merritt in the heart of Oakland. Jess meditated on her baby’s arrival as the dew still clung to the grass and goslings followed their mothers across the still water. She graciously allowed me to capture the moment. We shared smiles and a few tears.
Jess already has such a beautiful, sweet connection to the child. I’m counting down the days till the little one (they’ve chosen to let the gender be a surprise) arrives.
Interested in seeing more examples of my maternity photos? Click the links below for other featured posts:
While my sister was in town from Lincoln, Nebraska for a visit, we decided we had to visit Montrose Harbor for a beach family photo session on the lovely Lake Michigan.
My beautiful sister became a mother almost two-years ago. She’s amazingly loving, giving, and patient to my darling nephew Reed. He’s at the stage when he’s curious and mobile. Montrose beach was the perfect place to take him for this shoot–plenty of room to run, explore, and play and a soft surface for those stumbles.
