We had the perfect fall day at the Chicago Botanic Gardens for Jen & Evan’s engagement session. It was particularly warm for the time of year, perfectly sunny and the best part…there was hardly anyone there. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. It isn’t very often you get to explore and photograph at the CBG with no worries of capturing any number of people in your shot. It was also a great opportunity for me to chat it up a little with Jen & Evan and learning a little more about them. They are both really sweet and thoughtful and just fun to be around. I’ super excited for their wedding this summer!

I just finished up this fun couple’s wedding photos and thought I’d go ahead and share a few images from their engagement session a few months back. I had a really awesome time exploring the Northerly Island area on this shoot. After their session, I got the chance to introduce these two to one of my favorite Chicago restaurants, Chicago Q. It was really great to share a meal and just have an opportunity to just sit for a bit and get to know them a little better. Sarah and Ernest are really fantastic! I can’t wait to share a few of the amazing details from their wedding soon!!

I hadn’t been to the Brookfield zoo since I was a little kid, so I was really excited when Teresa & Bill said they wanted to shoot their engagement session there. They are having their September 2012 wedding at the zoo so we took a little time to check it out and  get a few engagement photos in while we were there. It ended up being a perfect day and I loved photographing these two! One of my favorite parts about this session was to have the opportunity to witness just how obviously in love Teresa & Bill are. It didn’t take long at all for this pair to completely be enveloped in each other. I love when I get the chance to photograph couples who are so comfortable together. I’m so glad I got the chance to get to know them a little better too. They are both so sweet and just plain cool. I’m really excited about their wedding next fall!

These two are awesome! I knew the moment I met them that I was really going to like them! Caroline & Brian decided they wanted to incorporate their love for literature by shooting part of their session at bookstore. Bookman’s Alley in Evanston was gracious enough to let us use their establishment for a few photos. I am always up for new and creative places to shoot. I had never been to Bookman’s before, but immediately fell in love with the eclectic decor and the stacks upon stacks of vintage books! Such a cool place! If you haven’t been, I highly recommend taking the time to go explore it. As Caroline and Brian live out of town, we ended up doing their session just a few days before their wedding. We decided to check out the wedding day venue (Caroline’s childhood home) and take a few photos there as well. On the way we happened upon an amazing field full of giant, vibrant yellow, sunflowers. We took advantage of the few moments of perfect weather just before the sky opened up and let loose it’s fury.
Stay tuned for images from their beautiful, vintage outdoor wedding!

This was a particularly fun session for me! Jake is my younger cousin and one of my favorite people in the world! Anyone who knows me knows I am pretty fond of all of my cousins. I spent quite a bit of time with Jake and his brothers growing up. They feel more like brothers to me than cousins. So I can personally attest to the fact that Jake is one of the sweetest, funniest, coolest persons out there! I just adore the guy! And then there’s Katie…I can’t think of a more perfect match for Jake, than Katie! I don’t know how I’ve managed to gain so many really awesome cousin-in-laws, but I have! And Katie ranks right up there in my book! She is incredibly thoughtful, hilarious and a total blast to be around! Plus…she has really good taste in beer! I’d have to say I’m pretty excited to say I’m related to her! I had such a good time hanging out and photographing these two. We started out at Graue Mill, which was a really great spot I had never been. Then we headed over to Danada House in Wheaton, where we caught that golden hour. The warm, glowey light was a perfect backdrop for the rolling hills of tall grass and wild flowers. And  I am once again super grateful to have the incredibly talented Jennifer Kathryn along on this shoot too! Thanks, Jenn!
I can’t tell you how excited I am for their rustic mountain  wedding next summer in Colorado!!