Tag: Photographer

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 their engagement 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

Molly and Nick’s Nebraska Country town wedding

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Over a year ago Molly visited her fiance’s (now husband) hometown, Avoca, Nebraska.  During her stay she had a vision of a country wedding in the middle of the town park.

There are not many Nebraskans who know where Avoca is.  If they do,  it’s probably because they visited for the Annual Quack-Off duck races. Yep, it’s true, this town hosts such an event each year drawing big city folk from Lincoln and Omaha to come place bets on the oh so exciting, never a dull moment, nailing biting competition.

Outside of Nebraska you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who’s familiar with the town.  Here’s what came up when I googled “Avoca, Nebraska”:

Population in July 2009: 262. Population change since 2000: -3.0%.

Molly saw something very special though on her trip and she wanted to share Nick’s old stomping grounds with the rest of their family and friends.

She imagined an event with diy details-Wine bottles with lace trim, a clothesline adorned with photos from throughout the years, mason jars with lemonade, classic coca cola, popcorn and caramelized pecans. She pictured carpenters lights strung above picnic tables, a buffet of comfort food, homemade pie along with an assortment of desserts. With her family, friends, and a U-hual truck full of supplies driven eight hours from Chicago, she arranged a true backyard wedding.

I’m completely blown away by the attention to detail, patience, and creativity given to this wedding.  Molly, Nick, friends and family, you all did an amazing job and I am so grateful to have photographed the occasion, and been able to be a guest at the end of the night.


Darlene + Andy=L.O.V.E. & Marriage | A Thai/Korean Wedding

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Darlene and Andy’s wedding was a beautiful combination of different cultures.  Their ceremony was sincere and traditional, complete with the exchange of vows, lighting of the unity candle, and kiss to seal the deal. Immediately following their procession, they moved to a room prepared in advance for a Thai customary Water Ceremony where family and guest blessed the couple.

It’s been over a year since my last trip to Thailand, and I’ve missed the people and rituals.  I was excited to learn from Steve Koo, whom I photographed the wedding with, that Andy was Thai.  Both sides were warm and welcoming, but once I said “Sawadee Kaa” (hello) and wai’d to his father, I suddenly felt like family.  For the rest of the night I heard “Chok dee” (good luck) and “Saib bai dee mai kap” (how are you?) from all directions. It was almost like I’d returned to that beloved place I’ve missed so much.”

Darlene beams while having her makeup done.

I love  the lace.

I love the glasses!  

Things were going so well…

And then…. The wedding party was nothing but sympathetic.

Darlene played a song for everyone while her Dad watches in the background.  

Darlene’s Doppleganger. Her mom gave her the socks  with a famous Koren starlight printed on them for a present.

Flowers for the Thai ceremony.

Receiving  a blessing.

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.

Passenger’s reflection on the boat ride to Barro Colorado Island.      

The canal

A shared laugh.

The Jungle

Bus Station.

Fisherman.

Our boat driver to the island.

El Cristo Negro

The little Chinese owned Panamanian spot. Delicious.

What’s James Natchwey’s TB Slideshow have to do with weddings?

by Maggie Rife Ponce

I recently revisited the incredible project documenting TB across the World by renowned photographer James Natchwey.  I first saw images from this work while while doing some maintenance on the archive while interning at VII photo agency.

When I came across these images, I couldn’t help by sit wide eyed for a while, shell-shocked by the faces distorted in pain. One image showed the emaciated back of a man washing himself. You could count each vertebrae of the spine and every single rib jotting through his thin skin. I was just blown away.

A few months later I was able to attend the opening of the project at the United Nations in New York and here Natchwey talk.  Seeing all the prints as a whole was a remarkable experience.

It would not suffice to say that Natchwey is a rarity. He establishes trust and intimacy with his subjects quickly, as though he were family, a lover, a friend.  His level of commitment is inspiring.  I asked him once if he ever thought about retiring (not that I thought he should). He seemed to be surprised by this question, “retire? Oh no, I’ll keep doing this till I can’t walk anymore. I still have a lot to photograph.”

Whether I’m shooting weddings, boudoir, or daily life, I often think about his work; my subject matter may be very different, but I feel respect and intimacy are just as essential.

If you have three minutes, watch his slideshow.  It’s well worth it. I encourage you to pass on the slideshow.