Weddings
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Posted on July 27, 2010
These two have such a wonderful story. Serendipity, I tell you. Stephanie was born and raised right here in the south side of Chicago. Michal was born and raised in Slovakia. In May, 2009, they each planned a two week trip to the same resort in the Dominican Republic. Michal was supposed to go with a friend, but plans fell through and he ended up going alone. Stephanie planned to spend the first week with her mom, who lives in Georgia, and the last week alone. They had two chance meetings around the resort, both noticing the other was alone. After the second meeting, they ended up spending the rest of the week relaxing, adventuring and falling for each other.
In late September, Michal came to Chicago to visit and they planned a kayak trip down the Chicago river, Steph’s way of showing Michal around Chicago. Michal proposed to her under the Ohio Street bridge. The couple now live in Kent, England, but they plan to live abroad, possibly Australia or New Zealand.
I’ve known Stephanie for a long time. Steph, Amanda (her matron of honor), and my sister have been friends since Jr. High. So when she contacted me to do her wedding, I was thrilled! Since she was in England, we set up our meeting via Skype, my first of many Skype converations! It was easy to see how in love these two are. Michal was probably the class clown in school, and he absolutely loves to make Steph laugh, which he does often. The two of them share this connection, it’s palpable. It seems like they’ve known each other for years, when in reality, they’ve only been together a little over a year.
I’m so happy you both found each other, and I’m so thankful you asked me to be your photographer for your beautiful day! Thanks so much to Jenni O’Connor of Lions Roar Media for being my second. Your first wedding as a photographer (she’s been the videographer for many) was a huge success, and I’m hoping you have bookings lining up out your door! You did a fabulous job! The pictures below are a mix of both of our shots. I love that Jenni has the same style as me. This could be the beginning of a beautiful business relationship!
Enjoy!
LOVE this church. I could not stop snapping pics of it. The lighting was gorgeous!
The video shows more, but Michal is quite the goof. It makes for a very happy bride and some really great pictures!
Lots of tearful toasts. Had me crying too!
The reception was very intimate, held in Steph’s uncle’s barn and it made for some fun shots! My beautiful sister, Fran, down there on the bottom left with her boyfriend, Ray. 
Posted on July 19, 2010
This took several tries, but I think we got it! She had a blast with this!!
Posted on July 15, 2010
Rhianna and I “met” each other through an online forum for mom’s. She and her husband, Jeff and their adorable baby, Charlotte live in Colorado She contacted me through Facebook, letting me know they were coming back to Illinois to visit with both of their families and they’d like a big family picture. Two families, made up of six separate families, seven couples, and eight kids. Pretty much the largest family group I’ve done since starting my business. I had a blast! Everyone is so photogenic, it was hard not to have a great time. Plus, the land and the barn on Rhianna’s sister’s property made a fantastic backdrop for the pictures. All the blues with the textures of the barn, perfect. Thank you so much, all of you for such a fantasic shoot!
Posted on July 15, 2010
I knew something had to be up when I received a Facebook message from my dear friend Leah. She asked me if I was available on June 5th. She asked me on May 2nd. I had a potential booking, but nothing set in stone. Still, the fact that she was asking me sent me into a mini panic. Just a mini one. I told her I didn’t have anything booked officially, and asked her what was up. Then she told me the story, and I knew I couldn’t say no. Her niece, Ashley was set to get married in August. Had a photographer and everything. Then, they got the news that her fiancé, Josh, an Airman First Class in the Air Force, was going to be deployed to Iraq sometime before August. On top of that, Ashley also got the news that her father, a Warrant Officer in the Army, was also being deployed, so he might not be there to walk her down the aisle. The only date that the military would give them that was doable was June 5th. Unfortunately, their photographer had to drop out. She was going to ask a friend to take pictures with a point and shoot.
This is when I started a real panic. Of course I had to do it. Pull on my heartstrings why don’t you, Leah? Fiancé AND dad going off to war overseas? Wedding date moved up? No photographer? Point and shoot? Yea, I really had no choice. So, why the panic? Well, my daughter’s 5th birthday party was set for June 6th. Her 5th birthday is June 7th. The wedding was in Ohio, 5 hours away and I had to be back by 3pm the next day. Ok then. I could do this. I said a little prayer and sent Leah back a message saying I’d do it.
And I did. And it was fabulous. And I made it back in time for my daughter’s birthday party. I even had a nap before hand. Awesome.
Ashley and Josh started dating in eight grade when they were 13 and 14 respectively. Josh wrote her a note saying that he liked her and included a list of things that he was into. Seriously, how cute is that? In the note, he asked if Ashley would go out with him. She told him no. After her friends pushing her in his direction, she eventually said yes and they started dating a week later. She kept the note all those years. As a surprise to Josh, she had it framed and gave it to him at the rehearsal dinner. And adorably, as a surprise to Ashley, Josh sang a song to Ashley at the rehearsal dinner. George Strait’s “Check Yes or No.” Neither had any clue what the other’s gift was. Seriously, tear jerker!
These two are so completely in love. They still make puppy dog eyes at each other and I think everyone gets butterflies in their stomachs when they kiss. This picture that I posted in the sneak peeks, Ashley’s mother, Malena, has said that this pretty much encompasses Josh’s total devotion to Ashley. They’re made for each other, and everyone feels it. I was honored to shoot their wedding. I think my favorite photo from their wedding is this one, basically an unintentional tribute to our troops. The red, white and blue, and the little yellow flowers saying “Support our Troops.” Love that. Thank you Leah, Ashley, Malena, all of you, for asking me to come out and shoot this wedding. I had a blast. You are all a wonderful bunch of people and I’m so thankful you made me a part of your lives, and I am happy to call you my friends.
And I can’t wait for Breaking Dawn in 2011. Just sayin’.
Posted on July 9, 2010
Hooray for Friday!
Every Friday I <3 Faces posts a picture for the public to have fun editing. I LOVE doing this! I haven’t done one of these in a while, but this one caught my eye. I love the color of her skirt, and the railroad tracks are always fun.
Here’s the original:
Heres my first edit in LR2:
I cropped the photo and used the Spice preset from Pretty Presets.
Passed it over to PS5. I used the Eye Doctor action on her eyes from MCP Actions, and the Al Grungy texture from Life.Camera.Actions. I masked out the texture on her entirely. Here’s the outcome of that:
Then finally, I passed it back to PS5, added a little Powder Your Nose action on her legs from MCP Actions and despecked her legs. Passed it back to LR2, added Black +4 over the whole image, and -2.80 Exposure on the back of her shirt. Then I did -40 clarity and +25 brightness on her legs to smooth them out a bit more. I also erased some fly aways and fixed the shadow under her nose because it was bugging me.
Anyway, here’s the final image with my edits:
Posted on July 6, 2010
This was a lot of fun! Rhianna and Jeff met up with both of their extended families and asked me to get some shots of everyone. Six families! Love it! I was so happy to be there. Here are some sneak peeks of the shoot. More of the story and LOTS more pics coming soon!
Rhianna, Jeff, and their adorable daughter, Charlotte.
Rhianna’s Family
Jeff’s Family
