When it comes to tying the knot, couples are always seeking unique and memorable ways to celebrate their love. Bridgette and Dan, a couple with a fiery passion for each other, recently embraced the unconventional by choosing the Chicago Firehouse as the backdrop for their wedding. With it’s history and beautiful antique original finishes it was the perfect venue. In this blog post, we'll delve into the charm of their outdoor firehouse wedding and explore the top five things to prepare for when opting for an al fresco celebration. The Unconventional Choice: Bridgette and Dan's decision to hos ..read more

When Mary contacted me about her wedding at the Hidden Goat in Chicago’s West Loop- I was literally so excited. They are two incredibly kind and compassionate people. Plus.. their day.. sounded like the most amazing day/night ever! There is one thing about small weddings that I absolutely love and it’s that you get to know each and every guest at the wedding throughout the night and you often feel like family. That is what happened at Marcus and Mary’s wedding at the Hidden Goat! It was like I had known them both for years..from the moment I met them in person until I left them dancing the ni ..read more

In the midst of the pandemic Christina and Lucas were planning their 2021 wedding. They had recently moved to North Carolina from the Rockford, IL area and were planning their wedding back home. A mutual friend of ours connected us and it was instant friendship. Christina and Lucas are two amazing individuals and we just clicked. It’s like we knew each other for years…. Which to me is always a plus.. when you are hiring your wedding photographer.. you should hire someone you click with! As I was editing their wedding gallery I relieved some of my most favorite moments of their wedding day ..read more

Today, we’re here to bring a historical urban jungle goodness photoshoot! West Bottoms is one of the oldest areas in Kansas City, located west of the newer downtown. Due to its atmosphere of rich culture and inner-city vibes, it’s one of our top 10 favorite locations to shoot! Whether it’s graffiti or just vibrant brick walls, there are so many epic backdrops to choose from! This is why it made such an amazing location for Grace and her senior photo session. Grace chose this location for all of the fun pops of color. And it’s always a treat for me, as. a Kansas City photograph ..read more

I was checking my email the other day and I stumbled upon what I thought was spam mail… in fact it wasn’t spam mail at all. I was nominated as one of the top 30 wedding photographers in the Kansas City Area by Wedding Rule. I couldn’t believe it! As I was thinking about it as we recently relocated back from Kansas City to the Western Suburbs of Chicago I had a good chuckle. It took me 6 years in Kansas City to get noticed but in the Western Suburbs like Wheaton and Glen Ellyn I have been filling up my calendars non-stop. So what I really wanted to do in this brief blog was THANK YOU my couple ..read more

Once upon a time, to use a fairytale introduction, most people thought of elopements as an exclusively Las Vegas concern. 2020 changed everything. About two months ago I received an inquiry for a backyard elopement in March. A former bride had referred Vanessa to me to capture the simple yet beautiful ceremony she was planning in her backyard. Now as we all know in the Covid world- Micro Weddings and Elopements are on the uptick. Weddings are constantly changing and these micro weddings and elopements are so much fun to capture. What makes it even more perfect and fun is the creativity that m ..read more

I just moved back to Northern Illinois right in arms reach of Chicago and I have been loving every minute of it. From being so close to North Avenue Beach and Lake Michigan to being able to enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life. I have yet to have a day where I didn’t love being back in Illinois.  I know I have been a strong advocate of getting your photos done while on vacation and I was able to do that for a family while they were taking their summer vacation right at North Ave Beach. We planned the session for the day they arrived- so as not to throw off any of their epic Chicag ..read more

Haley and Trevor tied the knot at the gorgeous pavilion event space this past sPRING. it was absolutely a stunning day. I’m sure you’re tired of hearing me rave about the Pavilion Event Space, but it’s the venue I’ve shot the most in in my entire photography career, and it just gets more wonderful every time I photograph there. It’s always gorgeous, and this was the first time I got to photograph in front a beautiful archway for their ceremony! Haley and Trevor were like many of the 2020 couples and their June wedding was thrown out the door thanks to COVID. BUT.. they didn’t let that stop the ..read more

When I was pregnant with my daughter photos were at the top of my list of things I wanted to have captured once she arrived. I had spent the better part of a few weeks hunting down the perfect photographer for our session and one of my requirements was that they come to my home. I love studio photographers but I also loved the idea of having everything I needed right at my fingertips during our session. As a photographer myself I always recommend heading to my clients home. WHY? Because it allows for the family to be there in a space they are comfortable in and with all the items they might ..read more

When you think of getting married outside, it’s likely that you imagine a gorgeous sunny day with warm, springy breezes. But reality has a way of busting our beautiful daydreams. Of course, it doesn't mean you cannot have a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony and reception, but you do have to do some planning ahead of time to ensure our special day will be sunshine-filled.  That's why we thought it would be helpful to put together a shortlist of tips and pointers for brides who want to plan an outdoor ceremony in the Midwest. The Best Time of The Year To Get Married To get the most out o ..read more