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

Regarding the portraits below, I think we wedding photographers talk a lot about getting our clients to trust us. It is so critical to getting great portraits — having that connection and trust. But I think we — or I, at least — forget that sometimes we also have to trust our clients! Chrissy and Sudhir gave me  little direction about where to do the portraits of them, telling me they trusted me, and saying they liked the industrial photos they’d seen in my portfolio before. Couples occassionally tell me to “do whatever I want,” but I think it can be really hard to trust that they really mean “whatever!” and not “whatever…by which we mean photos on Michigan Avenue.” Since it was my last wedding of the year, I decided to just go with it, to try to push it a little, and I could not be more happy with the results. These are my favourite type of pictures to take, and I hope it shows.

Thanks to all the vendors who were all just great! Hair and  Makeup: Krystyn & Samara of Bridal Beauty Chicago  // Flowergirl, ring bearer accessories (so cute!): my oh-so-talented past client,  Julie Booma  // Bridal jewelry: also by Julie, through Poesi jewelry// //Venue: Modern Wing/Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago