Photographer Archives

Lindsey and Jon are married!

Lindsey and Jon’s wedding brought their closest family and friend’s together in celebration of their love. It was Jon’s grandfather, a retired pastor, who married the two. He spoke to the couple of the joy, beauty, and commitment of love. Friends and classmates at Garrett Evangelical Theology Seminary ushered guests to their seats, and one performed a song of worship that brought tears in the chapel.

From here, Lindsey and Jon will say goodbye to the Evanston campus and continue their journey in Michigan, where Lindsey will start her new pastoral position. Good luck to you both and warmest wishes to your lives together!

Lots of gratitude goes to my second, Michael Boyd. Thanks Michael!

Big Thanks to these vendors:

Florist: Flowers Flowers (Evanston, IL)

Cake: Rose’s Bakery and Oak Mill Bakery

Caterer: Hilton Garden Inn

Wedding Service: Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Chapel of
the Unnamed Faithful

DJ: Enchanted Evening

Dress: Tara Keeley

Tux: Men’s Wearhouse

Ashley + Rex’s Winter Engagment Session at Millenium Park and North Ave. Beach

by Maggie Rife Ponce

For weeks Rex told Ashley he wouldn’t make it to Christmas in Cincinnati with her family. The two hadbeen dating long distance since Ashely moved back to her home town to work as a pediatric physical therapist. Because of the distance, Ashely was really hoping to see her far away love.

Two days before Christmas, her mother asked Ashley to make a last minute gift run. The shopping route took them past Ashley and Rex’s Freshman dorms (where they met nine years ago). There, waiting on the same steps they climbed together on a daily basis, was Rex. Ashely’s mom pushed her out of the car, (she at least stopped first) leaving the two alone. As she approached, Rex bent to one knee and amongst hundreds of glowing candles, asked Ashely to be his wife. She happily accepted!

The Ponce Brothers for WLS 890 am

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Dan and Anthony Ponce are well-known local reporters for news stations WGN 9 and NBC 5, respectively. Now they’re being recognized for additional coverage on a different medium, airwave radio. Tune into WLSAM.com or a.m. 890 on Sundays from 1:00-3:00 p.m. to hear The Ponce Brothers discuss national and local topics from the week.

I refer to Ponce’s brother Anthony as my fiance and Dan as my soon-to-be brother-in-law. I know them well. So, I wasn’t surprised when they spent the entire shoot rifling off nonstop movie quotes and cracking each other up. I’m glad they have each other so someone thinks they’re funny. Just kidding, guys, you’re great comedians, but please keep it on the radio and out of my photo shoot.

Dan and Anthony learned from their father, Phil Ponce, longtime host of Chicago Tonight. Phil will be a frequent guest on the Ponce Brothers show and even occasionally fill in.

Keep up the good work, guys. anthony dan ponce

Agustina and Johann’s Day After Portrait Session in Uyuni, Bolivia

by Maggie Rife Ponce

A few days after Agustina and Johann’s wedding, we jumped in a pickup truck with our guides, Joaquin and Dani, gas tank loaded on the back of the bed, and headed North. After two days of driving, we arrived in Uyuni, Bolivia. Llama farms dotted the countryside and locals sold hand woven fabrics along the road. After having a quick bite of local fare, we headed outside of town to the salt flats. This celestial terrain stretches for miles as far as the eye can see. The expanse of salt is remnants left over from what once was an ocean or sea.

On the dry cracked land, dressed in their wedding attire, I snapped pictures of the newlyweds. It was a beautiful setting for a couple that radiates. Thank you for having me along to document your wedding and experience Bolivia and Argentina!

A few Outtakes:Our guide Dani strikes a pose. He wanted to be a part of the portrait session. Dani and Joaquin smile for a photo.

Dani uses a stick and plastic tube to siphon gas into the tank. This was a first for me!

Sweet Baby Reed

by Maggie Rife Ponce

My sister is the proud mother of her first child, Reed Curtis Thompson, my darling nephew. My trip back to Nebraska couldn’t come soon enough after the little guy was born. I’m so glad I could hop on a flight and get some real quality time with Katie, Ty, and Reed before heading to South America (pictures to come in the next few days) a few short days later. Love you guys!

Lindsay and Matt Married at Howes Memorial Chapel in Evanston

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Lindsay and Matt’s wedding was full of International flair and cultural tradition. Their love for travel and learning was expressed through their details. Guests arriving to the wedding, picked up small blue programs that looked just like a passports. They were charmed during the ceremony by a guitarist playing one of Lindsay’s favorite acoustic melodies. Family and friends were introduced to a Afrocentric marriage tradition during the Yoruba tasting ritual, representing four elements of marriage. The ceremony shows that despite hardships within a marriage, represented as sour, bitter, and spicy, there is sweetness overall.

At the reception, a collection of Brazilian musicians created drum heavy beats for guests to dance too. Above the sambaing crowd, hung rows of white Mexican paper decorations, and behind the dance floor, a dessert table was covered with an assortment of Italian cookies. Chiwara figurines, a tradition of the Bambara people of Mali were the cake toppers. Lindsay’s father hand carved the pair of antelope that represent renewal, abundance, and teamwork.

Lindsay and Matt brought their love for culture and travel to their wedding. It was truly a distinct, unforgettable experience. Congratulations to you both!

Also, quick shout out to my second Tom Root. Thanks for all your help!

Cake: Janet Lee, Flour Cake & Pastry –flourcakeandpastry.com/

Makeup/Hair: Angelica Rivera, Tigerlilie Salon-www.tigerlilie.com/

Musicians:

Luciano Antonio–www.lucianoantonio.com/

Felipe Fraga-www.felipefraga.com

Geraldo de Oliveira-www.geraldodeoliveira.com/

Reception: Campagnolawww.campagnolarestaurant.com

Second: Tom Root www.tomroot.blogspot.com

Kate + Tj’s-from the tracks to the beach

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Kate comes up my front steps carrying a bag full of clothes on one arm and a bag of shoes on the other. “I brought options.”

“Wonderful!” I said. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

I’ve known Kate for a few years now. She is tall, striking, and fun. Her fiance TJ is laid back and with all-American features and a Midwestern easygoing nature.

Kate shows me her options and we select a black dress with a slight cowl-neck paired with jeweled flip-flops for her first outfit. For the second, she chooses a grey-blue dress with ruffles that reminds me of the soft tones of dusk and the waves on Lake Michigan.

It’s the part of the summer when nearly every evening ends in warm-golden light. During Kate and Tj’s session, the sun is low in the sky–it cuts through the steel beams of the El and wraps around their figures. It carves out the texture in the bricks and brings out the amber in her eyes. Then later, it softens into pinks, blues, and purples.

They walk together on the beach, Tj’s arm draped over Kate’s shoulder. They move toward the shoreline, where Kate, barefoot, walks carefree through the waves and Tj pulls at his pant legs to keep them from getting wet.

When the sun is nearly set, they sit together in a position of comfort. Kate leans into Tj and their limbs tangle together.

It was a beautiful evening. Thank you Kate and Tj for letting me document it.

Becky + Darnell’s Arlington Heights Wedding

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Becky and Darnell were married 30 minutes outside of Chicago in Arlington Heights, IL. I was able to spend sometime with the couple a little before their wedding during theirengagement session. They’re fun, funny, and kind people. I love Becky’s easy going laugh and Darnell’s quiet sense of humor.

Their day was full of family-including three lovely flower girls who wooed myself and second shooter Tom Root. They were Becky’s little helpers dressed like mini-me’s in layered white fabric. One of my favorite moments was when Becky captured their attention, and like magic, had them all sitting patiently as she spun them a fairytale-patiently for two minutes, but hey, that’s a lot for a day full of hustle and bustle!

Big thanks to Tom Root who seconded with me on this one!

Caterer: Heba-Hilton Rosemont

Florist: CR Flowers

DJ-Something 2 Dance 2

Chris

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Pieces of Panama, part 2.

by Maggie Rife Ponce

On a Saturday morning a few months ago, I woke to find a missed alert on my phone from a friend and fellow photographer Laurie.

I dialed my voice mail expecting to hear a message continuing some portion of the conversation we’d had at dinner the night before. To my surprise, the call was regarding something altogether different.

“Hey Maggie, it’s Laurie. I talked to Johnny tonight and he said you could come to Panama with us. We’re thinking about going in the next month or so and we’d really like you to join us!”

I thought about it for about 30 seconds before calling her back to tell her I was on board.

Johnny, Laurie’s husband, was the point person for our travels. We laid down a few specified a few spots of interest (the canal, countryside, and Caribbean) and he did the rest. A week before our departure he even showed me the excel spreadsheet coordinating our days’ activities in clear color-coated blocks of time. His enthusiasm for Panama was contagious, especially with the constant promise of hammock time on the beach.

I could only spare 5 days for the trip with my schedule, but I feel like I got a real taste of the country. The people were warm and laughed easy. Johnny’s family was wonderful. His mom made a number of tasty meals for us, delighting my palette with tamales, a sweet yogurt drink, fresh fruit, and other treats I snarfed down. To our delight, Marco, Johnny’s cousin spent three days with us. Marco knows a lot about Panama and was really patient with my constant queries about “that over there,” or “the history of this spot.”

The photos below chronicle a lot of our adventures, from our morning hike at the Smithsonian owned island, Barro Colorado, to our day at the Caribbean.

With Laurie, Johnny, and his family as my guide, I was able to see SO much of Panama… I had such a great time, and am already looking forward to the next visit.