At each wedding, I am always trying to observe while shooting. One would think that those would be the same thing, but it can be so easy to just get wrapped up in the moment that you can forget to really observe and witness what is actually happening. My goal is always to try and find the unique characteristic or emotion that represents the couple. For Erik and Katie, it was this truly lovely tenderness and admiration that really stood out to me. It was really so beautiful, and I just loved watching them together. There are many portraits below that I just love, but the one on the beigey-purpley wall is what feels so much like them to me: so soft, connected, and so full of respect and love for each other.
Katie and Erik are also a couple that have a great love for architecture, art and culture, and so it made perfect sense that they chose the glorious Modern Wing to host their wedding celebration. This was my second time shooting here, and it is always a treat. It is so ripe with inspiration, and there is something quite incredible about being able to create wedding portraits with paintings by Degas and Monet in the background. It was such a beautiful wedding, and it was such a pleasure to be a part of it.
Wedding venue: Terzo Piano at the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago | Florals: Botanicals | Officiant: Terry Brady (a favourite of mine) | Dress: Vera Wang | Shoes: Chanel | Makeup + Hair: Jo and Claudia from Sonia Roselli
by Olivia
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Andrea and Patrick are a great couple getting married at Salvage One later this fall. They live on a cute block in Humboldt Park with a cute pit bull that they rescued. We decided to shoot in their neighborhood for their engagement connection session, capturing some urban elements that Pat and Andrea love, along with a trip to gorgeous Humboldt Park proper.
by Olivia
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Kristin and Chris are a sweet couple who met in college at U of I, now live downstate, and came back to Kristin’s hometown area for a beautiful, intimate wedding at Morton Arboretum. This is a venue I shot at several times last year and still love to shoot at, if only because it allows for outdoor ceremonies! It is so extremely rare in Chicago to be able to married outside, that I feel like I hit the photography jackpot anytime I am able to shoot one. We were blessed with stunning weather on their wedding day, and as the sun set behind their large ceremony tree, the colours and light just became resplendent. Kristin and Chris also decided to do “private vows,” as a part of their first look. I had never heard of or seen a couple do this before, and I thought it was the perfect touch. I love personal vows during the ceremony but understand several reasons why a couple might opt for traditional vows; Kristin and Chris still wrote out their private l vows and just shared them privately with each other when they first saw each other. It was a touching, personal and emotional moment that really added some extra depth, meaning and almost “sacredness” to the first time they saw each other.
Venue + Catering: Morton Arboretum | Dress: Pronovias | Florals: Elizabeth Wray Designs | DJ: Toast & Jam
by Olivia
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When I met with Mark and Monica many months ago, I instantly knew I wanted to shoot their wedding. When I saw them again last month on their wedding day, I was quickly reminded why — I think they may be the most genuine, exuberant, and joyful couple I have had the pleasure to work with! The minute you meet either of them, they make you feel so welcome, and both have such open and authentic personalities. I just loved being around them and capturing the obvious pleasure and joy they have in each other’s company.
They had a perfect little wedding at A New Leaf on a Sunday in July. Monica’s dress was custom designed using her mother’s wedding dress, Mark’s wonderful children served as groomsmen and bridesmaids, an African musician provided such beautiful and unique processional music during the ceremony, food was plentiful and delicious, the dance floor was bustling, and the much-discussed Louboutins made it into the wedding day. It was the type of wedding I adore – personal, meaningful, unique and fun.
Dress: Custom from the Dress Doctor / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Catering: Hearty Boys / Florals, Ceremony and Reception: A New Leaf / DJ: Toast & Jam
by Olivia
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by Olivia
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