Jennifer Kathryn Photography Blog

Amanda Edwards | Chicago Craft Social | Lifestyle Portrait Session

Almost three months ago I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Amanda Edwards of Chicago Craft Social while attending a workshop at SCORE Chicago. As three young entrepeneurs with zest for our businesses, Amanda, Maria Bayer, and I instantly connected. Recognizing the value of collaboration, we started meeting regularly to track our progress and offer a fresh perspective to one another outside of our own industries. One of the ideas birthed out of these meetings and Amanda’s flourishing creativity was Chicago Craft Social. As coordinator for three collaborative craft events over the past year, Amanda’s experience inspired her to take a new approach to energizing the craft community in Chicago. Her prior gatherings were highly successful and creatively fulfilling, quite similar to Etsy’s local craft parties, but Amanda wanted to take it to a new level. So for the all new Chicago Craft Social, she has joined forces with both local and national talent. Among the talented artists that will be donating their resources and sharing their skills are a bead store, a stamp store, a national craft education manager, and a professional celebrity crafter. The idea is that participants pay a small fee for unlimited access to these materials while receiving instruction in a new area of artistry. There are typically 4-5 crafts to choose from in a given night and the amount of time one wants to spend on one is the only limit. The event has some fabulous sponsors giving away notable prizes, and refreshments will be provided throughout the evening. I am honored to be photographing Craft Social’s debut and I hope to see many of you there!

Tags: Amanda Edwards, Chicago Craft Social, Chicago Photography, Etsy, Evanston, Illinois, Maria Bayer
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WITS Chicago Blackboard Affair | Chicago South Loop | Chicago Illuminating Company

There are so many reasons I love what I do for a living, among which is the opportunity to give back to the community. A few months ago my friends, Carolyn and Steve Goldhaber, put me in touch with Kristen Berlacher, deputy director of Chicago’s Working in the Schools (WITS) regarding their upcoming Blackboard Affair fundraiser. WITS is a charitable organization whose primary focus is promoting literacy in the school systems. By developing relationships with students, volunteers help cultivate a love of reading and a greater enthusiasm for learning through one-on-one tutoring and student mentoring.. When Carolyn told me WITS was looking for a photographer to cover the Blackboard Affair, I was delighted to get involved. From as early as I can remember…well…knowing HOW to read, I was curled up with a book every chance I had. Whether it was risking car sickness on a road trip to finish a story, sitting in the front pew of church with my latest paperback purchase (hey, I was there!), or lying in bed at night with a flashlight and a novel, sheets forming a tent over my head so my parents wouldn’t catch me, I have always loved to read. It was because I had parents and teachers who cared enough to invest in me, and so it is very dear to my heart to help support an organization that devotes its time and resources to making a similar impact in children’s lives.

WITS Chicago held their annual Blackboard Affair this year at the Chicago Illuminating Company in the south loop area. Jaclyn and I walked through the doors of the spacious CIC, thrilled to be shooting in this former warehouse converted into one of Chicago’s trendiest wedding and event venues. There was a bar in the front registration room usually reserved for cocktail hour, and on the wall opposite the entrance was a magnificent framed floor to ceiling panting. We wandered into the next few rooms taking in the massive paintings, large framed mirrors, arched windows and marble bars. Self described as “renovated, modern architectual highlights,” blending “with an urbane loft aesthetic for a sophisticated, state-of the-art feel,” Chicago Illuminating Company was a sight to behold. Three large tables were lined with top notch prizes from local businesses for the silent auction. Bidders had the chance to win items such as a boat excursion, a custom Oxford Clothes suit valued at $3,200, tickets to a Chicago Cubs game, a wagon full of enough liquor to stock any personal bar, engagement or lifestyle sessions from several Chicago photographers, pampering for the day at a spa, and many other exciting services. Complete with lighting by Sound Investment and floral artistry by the Revel Group, the decor at the Blackboard Affair was breathtaking.

Food for Thought kept guests satisfied all evening with their delightful and creative hors d’ouvres, while DJ Kid Color spun the music throughout the event. Glitter Guts added to the excitement with fun sparkled background photobooth in the lobby! The night’s festivities concluded with an iPad raffle, drawn from halves of large playing cards participant wore during the event.

Two of my favorite images from the night were captured by Jaclyn, below. Chicago Illuminating Company has an expansive display of Grey Goose behind its back bar, and GG was, very appropriately, one of the Blackboard Affair’s official sponsors

I am incredibly grateful to have had Jaclyn Simpson shooting with me at Chicago Illuminating Company. It was a blast to spend time with her at the WITS Blackboard Affair, and she truly captured some amazing images!  I am so glad to be able to support Working in the Schools, and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the future.

Tags: Blackboard Affair, Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Event Photography, Chicago Illuminating Company, Chicago Lifestyle Photography, Chicago Photography, DJ Kid Color, Food for Thought, Glitter Guts, Grey Goose, Jaclyn Simpson Photography, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Kristen Berlacher, Oxford Clothes, Photography, Sound Investment, South Loop Photography, Steve Goldhaber, The Revel Group, WITS Chicago, Working in the Schools
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Chicago Fast Track Photographer News

Tonight marks our third local Fast Track Photographer meeting in Chicago, and I’m still reeling from February’s gathering. On a brutal Chicago night, almost 30 of us crammed into my tiny Lakeview apartment the night before a snowstorm for one purpose: community. With so many things going on in our lives and businesses, it’d be tempting to write FTP off as one more meeting to attend…..except those of us there realized we can’t afford NOT to invest into a network of fellow creatives who support one another in our passionate pursuit of our careers.  We talked that evening of how some of us have made (or are making) the transition from one full-time career to full-time photography. It was a lively discussion that touched on business plans, to vision, to second shooting with experienced photographers. I interjected occasionally, but mostly I listened to individuals share with conviction the things that had most helped them.  From some just breaking into the industry, to those of us who’ve been doing this a few years, to seasoned experts in the industry like Dawn Davis, Ted Suss, and Bill Skinner from Calumet Photo, almost everyone had something to share. I was simply amazed at the willingness and eagerness to share. Even more, I was blessed by seeing the connections that were made afterwards.

So as a photographer, cinematographer, artist or wedding professional, what value does Fast Track hold for creatives in the Chicagoland area?  In one word: community. Relationships keep us accountable and motivated, deepen our experience, and allow us access to more resources than we could ever gain on our own.  Even in our age of independence and getting it done ourselves, the old phrase, “No man is an island,” still holds true.  In an industry that is always evolving and growing, whether you are a newbie or a seasoned pro, we all have something to offer to each other.  Fast Track serves as a vehicle to bring together industry professionals who share the same values who are committed to investing into each others businesses as we see ours grow.  To paraphrase one of Dale Carnegie’s principles, as we become genuinely interested in people, they will be genuinely interested in giving back.

Dane Sanders, author of Fast Track Photographer and founder of this movement takes some time to touch on our FEO- “For Each Other” values in a short video:

Only days after WPPI in Las Vegas, an annual conference and tradeshow for wedding and portrait photographers, has come to a close, I am more energized than ever this year to have connected with an international community of photographers committed to being For Each Other.  Among many of the events that took place last week were several Fast Track gatherings as well as the inspirational UNITE groups formed by David Jay.  Dane also hosted numerous guests on Fast Track TV to share resources with the industry worldwide.  I had an opportunity to share a little bit about our Chicago crew, and I have to say, I am stoked on you guys! I am just so proud of our group and thankful to have a such motivated and inspiring colleagues in our area.

Tonight we’ll be gathering at Calumet Photographic downtown at 7pm (1111. N. Cherry Avenue, Chicago, IL) thanks to Bill.  (More details here.) We’re so thankful he’s made this venue available to accommodate our quickly growing group! But he took it one step further and secured approval through the VP for a special 20% Calumet products from 5:30-6:30. Talk about being For Each Other! Thanks so much, Bill!! We are so grateful for you!  Looking forward to seeing everyone later!

Tags: Bob Davis, Calumet Photo, Calumet Photographic, Chicago, Chicago Photographer, Chicago Photography, Chicago Wedding Photographers, Dane Sanders, David Jay, Dawn Davis, Fast Track Photographer, Jennifer Kathryn Gaudreau, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Las Vegas, Photography, Wedding and Portrait Photographers of Chicago, Workshop, WPPI
Posted in Events, Personal, Workshops | 2 Comments »

Chicago Fast Track Photographers: A New Community

My first encounter with Fast Track Photographer was last year at WPPI through my friend, Carl Johnson.  He had been so impacted by Dane Sanders‘ seminar that he had to get me a copy. Little did I know what a treasure was to be found in these pages.  I let a few months go by before I picked it up. I was a little skeptical. “Fast Track Photographer?”  I had been shooting for two and a half years, desperately seeking vision, but knowing there was certainly no fast track in the photography world. Like anything worthwhile, photography is a craft that must be practiced over and over and over to be mastered.  But one day in May I decided to pick it up and see what this “Fast Track” thing was all about. I could barely put it down.  What I was reading was not a photography manual or an inspirational book, but a resource that would help me discover my core strengths and passion as an individual and how to transpose those  abilities into practical skills for my business.  There is no fast track to honing our skill- or discovering who we are. But the concept is that as a business, as a brand, as photographers, we are more than the images we produce. “The real value is in the engine that creates the art- the photographer.” To invest in the value of our businesses, we need to invest in ourselves. Getting clear on what we do best and focusing on that is the heart of the book.

So when another good friend, Kenny Kim, encouraged me to go to Dane’s Fast Track Roadshow workshop in Chicago a few months later, I was all in. And it did not disappoint. I’ll save my review for another post, but the truth was it changed my life and business in many ways. And the biggest contribution was that Fast Track introduced me to an entire community of people (through the workshop and the forums) who, in this very competitive industry, were truly committed to being FOR each other.  A sense of community is cornerstone to truly thriving in all areas of our lives.  While our individuality must continually be cultivated, our personal, professional, and spiritual lives are enriched profoundly when we are connected to a group of people with common ideals and understanding. It is in realizing what we have to offer to a community that, often, our own sense of self is strengthened and we become clear on how our personal vision fits into the bigger picture.

Surrounding myself with individuals committed to challenging and contributing to one another has fueled my growth as a business owner.  It is with this same vision that Fast Track groups, an outlet for creatives to come together in a dynamic supported body, was birthed.  These communities are now being launched all over the country and are bringing together artists who share the same values, who want to invest in one another. It is non-exclusive and non-competitive. It’s not about any one personality, or a brand, but about a collaboration between individuals who share the same passions.  So when Dane asked if I’d facilitate in Chicago, greater than my fear of stepping into a new territory was my conviction to see such a group rise up.  And when 20 of us gathered 2 weeks ago at Matt and Stevi Savage‘s place in the South Loop for our first meeting, the response was overwhelming. After spending a good 45 minutes just hanging out and getting to know one another, we convened round table style to get to the heart of what Fast Track is all about.  As we went around the room introducing ourselves, it became clear there was a greater desire for collaboration, relationship, accountability, and sharing of our resources with one another.  I looked around the room, amazed at all the different connections that were made to bring us together that night.  We were blessed to have Bob Davis with us, and he shared from his own experience the value of building relationships and how being tied into a larger community can keep us grounded. Bob and Dawn have been such an incredible example to me and to the whole photography industry of what it means to be “for each other,” as they conduct their lives and business with a genuine heart to give, and an authentic desire to connect.  Ted Suss (Neil Enterprises and Wedding and Portrait Photographers of Chicago) also joined us, and offered himself to the community as a resource. We walked away after our first meeting, some of us having talked late into the night, inspired and empowered. Can I just say, I truly love these guys!!

(Image below taken by Matt Savage of Avery House Creative.)

Collage below includes images from Avery House Creative, Otto Rascon Photography and Jennifer Kathryn Photography.

So much of our success is dependent upon creating the right environment for ourselves. While I tend to be more spontaneous and gravitate towards things that don’t require planning, I’ve realized that things I do not commit to do not happen. We have launched Fast Track Photographers- Chicago with the goal of committing to be FOR EACH OTHER, as we meet monthly to continue facilitating these values in our community. Our next meeting will be on Monday, February 8th at 7pm. (More details can be found here.) We’d love for you to join us!!

Tags: Bob Davis, Chicago, Chicago Photography, Chicago Wedding Photographers, community, Dane Sanders, Fast Track Photographer, Jennifer Kathryn Gaudreau, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Kenny Kim, Neil Enterprises, Photography, Wedding and Portrait Photographers of Chicago, Workshop, WPPI
Posted in Events, Personal, Travel, Workshops | 6 Comments »

Discovering Italy: PhotoVenture with Kenny Kim

“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.” Frank Herbert

“The wise man travels to discover himself.” James Russell Lowell

Travel is a part of who I am. It’s in my blood.  I was fortunate enough to take my first international trip when I was 15– to India. My parents were puzzled that I’d want to travel to India of all places, but I was curious, passionate and stubborn, and they relented. I went to India with open eyes and a heart to learn. And I have never been the same.  It sparked an insatiable hunger to see the world and to experience new cultures. I’ve since returned to India, traveled to Hong Kong, mainland China, Tibet, and the Dominican Republic.

But it had been entirely too long since I had been overseas.  I was starting to get restless. So naturally, when I first started talking with Kenny Kim months ago about his PhotoVenture workshop in Italy, my curiosity was piqued.  There is something about getting out of my natural routine and experiencing a different way of life that gets me in touch with my heart and the things that are really important.  It is all too easy to get in “automatic” mode and not be fully present.  Travel is one of those new experiences, as Herbert reminds, that awakens the childlike wonder in me that I often allow to become dormant.

After hearing Kenny’s vision for the workshop- to discover the true Italy, to capture our experience through the lens of our cameras, and in the process discover more of ourselves- I was convinced this was where I needed to be in September. So much so, that even though I had a wedding scheduled before the end of the workshop, I decided to go regardless and just leave early.  Kenny partnered with Max Brunelli & Cristiana Chiacchierini, a husband and wife team who design custom tours of Italy geared specifically towards creatives. I knew we were in for a treat when I learned they are also good friends of the extraordinary Kevin and Clare Kubota, and play a key role in their incredible Secret Italy workshop. But in reality, I had no idea what was coming…

We went out a few days before the workshop to see Rome, Florence, and Siena. I was elated to have extra time on the front end since I was leaving early. I was so excited on the flight that I didn’t sleep much. I journaled, I voraciously digested as much Italian as my brain could hold, and I began planning just how perfect everything was going to be. [Insert snide remarks for my idealism.] Of course, when I dream about how wonderful traveling is, I always remember the glamorous moments- not the ones when we arrive 10 hours later exhausted, hungry, dirty and sweaty. All I can think about at this point is taking a shower and changing before exploring Rome for the day. We wander aimlessly on the street where our bed and breakfast is supposed to be located asking all the locals in our impressive Italian if they knew where the Casa di Rossi is. 30 minutes later we find it (right next to a shop who’s owner told us he had no clue where it was) and all I can think about is the steam from the hot shower.  We manage to get our ridiculously large suitcases up three flights of stairs. (The lift was broken- go figure.) I’m beaming. We’ve made it.

And the room is not ready. Won’t be for another hour or two. What?! I start having a mini meltdown. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to roughing it. I’ve used squatty potties in India and gone a month without a real shower. I didn’t wear makeup in Tibet or care what kind of shoes I was wearing. I’ve done my share of hiking and camping in the pouring rain where you just get used to the idea that your clothes and hair will be plastered to your skin the entire trip. But this was Europe.  Italy, no less. How could I look less than fabulous wandering the streets of Rome? Kenny looks at me like, “Seriously?”  (I jest; he was a LOT more understanding than that.) But he says, “We’re traveling. This is what happens. We need to be flexible.” In that moment I had a decision to make. I could be upset and squander the opportunity to enjoy the incredible privilege of being in Italy. Or I could accept the present, adjust my expectations and embrace the very inconsistencies that make travel such an adventure. I am thankful I chose to do the latter.

This was the first of many lessons I learned while in beautiful Italy, and I had plenty of opportunities to practice surrender. I hadn’t realized how inflexible I had become. The moment I met Max, he smiled, wrapped us each in a big hug, and told us to “Relax! Enjoy!” He truly lives that. And he continually challenged our way of thinking. I pulled out my iPhone less and found myself soaking in the fellowship of a good meal and great company more frequently. I worried less about things going the way I wanted, and remembered the delight I’ve always had in the unexpected. Experiencing the Italian way of life had such a profound impact on me.  I learned not to take things so seriously. I saw the beauty of living simply. I observed how hard Italians work and yet how much more passionately they celebrate and enjoy life’s small pleasures. While I discovered some of my inhibitions, I also discovered in myself the great capacity to overcome them and live more freely.

It will take a few more posts to tell of all the adventures we had and the laughter we shared, and to explain just how profoundly this trip impacted me artistically, personally and as a photographer. I have hundreds of images to share to which I simply cannot do justice in this small space. But take a glimpse at just some of the wonderful things I was blessed enough to partake in while discovering Italy and discovering myself this September at PhotoVenture with Kenny Kim.

I absolutely adore the Colosseum in Rome. We had so much to see, but I look forward to the day I get to return and explore it some more.

This view of Firenze (Florence) from the Cattedrale Santa Maria Firenze del Fiore was well worth the 463 challenging steps to the top!

Ponte Vecchio in Firenze (Florence) was absolutely breathtaking.

Montepulciano in Tuscany.

I am so blessed to had the opportunity to travel to Italy this summer. I cannot wait to share more images! In the meantime, if you’re hungry for more, check out Kenny Kim’s latest post on an incredible experience we had while in Assisi.  And please consider coming with us in February for the next PhotoVenture! If you allow yourself to experience the Italian way of life, you will never be the same. Ciao!

Tags: Colosseum, Florence, Italian Way of Life, Italy, IWOL, Jennifer Kathryn Gaudreau, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Kenny Kim, Kevin Kubota, Max Brunelli, Photography, PhotoVenture with Kenny Kim, Ponte Vecchio, Rome, Secret Italy, Siena, Travel, Tuscany, Umbria, Wedding, Workshop
Posted in Events, Personal, Travel, Workshops | 13 Comments »