This engagement session is one of my favorites from last summer.  I'm posting now because Laura & Mike's wedding is coming up this Saturday!  I'm truly looking forward to documenting their event at The Thompson Chicago.

Brook & Mélanie's wedding truly was an honor to be a part of, and was actually a bit of a milestone for me.  This was the first same-sex wedding that I was hired to photograph.  They're such a warm, funny and dynamic couple, and made me feel so welcome while shooting. 

One thing that struck me about Anna & Chris is how stylish they are.  I really wanted that to come through in their engagement photos, and I had a great time putting together a plan with them.  This is one of the few sessions where using their wedding venue really made sense (Venue Six10 on Michigan Avenue).

Amy & Mike were wonderfully laid back, and even a little goofy in front of the camera.  Before their wedding later this year, they are spending large chunks of time apart (Mike is a chemist living in Canada, and Amy is a dance instructor here in Chicago).  So it seemed like they were making the most of their time together.  For their engagement session, Amy really wanted a classic Chicago feel.

My final wedding of 2015 could not have gone better.  Between their style and relaxed demeanor, Stephanie & Michael's approach to their wedding day really made it fun to photograph.  Our outdoor photo plans did get canceled due to the first snow storm of the season.  However, all that meant is we got to shoot inside the Art Institute instead!

In June I had the distinct honor to photograph Terra Jole & Joe Gnoffo's wedding as part of their Lifetime reality TV series - Terra's Little Family. The final episode of the first season, which featured the wedding, aired last night.  It was a ton of fun to watch and to be a part of it all.

Evie & Ameer could not have asked for a better day in May for their wedding.  The weather, the light, the locations….everything was absolutely incredible.  We started off with photos of the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready.  They were truly a fun group to photograph.  From there we headed directly to the Harold Washington Library.  The ceremony took place in the Winter Garden on the top floor, one of my personal favorite wedding venues in the city.

This spring was an incredibly tough season to photograph Evie & Ameer's engagement session.  I think we rescheduled at least three times due to either the wind, rain or cold.  That said, with just under two weeks until their wedding, we found a beautiful day in May.

I recently got to photograph the 2015 Chicago Polar Plunge benefiting the Special Olympics with the good folks at Chicago Photo Press.  It was quite honestly one of the more challenging assignments I've been on.  I was fitted with a Chicago Fire Department "dry suit," used in cold weather rescue operations, and spent about two hours wading around in the water.

First, a big thank you to Loreen at Clementine Custom Events for introducing me to Kim & Chad.  The situation was a little unique, since in addition to wanting to meet me, the couple needed a few images for their save-the-dates.  After getting to know one another, and acknowledging the fact it was 15-degrees outside, we decided to stop by Deicke Park in Huntley for a very quick (say 10 minutes), winter engagement session.

Claudia & Erik were a referral from, and I kid you not, a bride from the first year I photographed weddings.  It was great to catch up with our mutual friend Jaclyn, and talk about how much has changed in 12 years.  To give some perspective, I shot her wedding in 2002 on all 35mm film.

I'm happy to feature Jessica & Stephen's wedding images as my first new blog post.  They were wonderful to photograph and simply to be around.  They hosted their ceremony and reception at the Shedd Aquarium, and I was excited to photograph there again.  Truly one of the premiere classic venues in Chicago!