Remember Lesley and Matt’s winter engagement session on Landlocked Bride? Well these two tied the knot this past Saturday at Chicago’s Newberry Library! I am squealing over Fleur‘s beautiful florals and the gorgeous light we had before their ceremony!!! Lesley and Matt were their playful, fabulous selves and thanks to Heather Vickery of Greatest Expectations, we had an incredibly smooth and glorious day. I couldn’t help but share this quick preview from their day. Stay posted for more loveliness!

Lesley is just ravishing, and her look was styled by Brandon of Sonia Roselli Makeup and hair by the amazing Livia Caporale.

I may be a little biased, but I think I have the best clients in the world. No, in fact, I’m sure of it. And every once in awhile I get to meet a couple that I feel like I’ve known for years. That’s what it was like when I first met Nikki and Eric. So much so that before we had even met in person, Nikki and I were chatting like old friends on the phone. To the point where she unabashedly asked me about my dating life…and I indulged! And when I got together with the two of them, I just knew I had to shoot their wedding.

You may remember when I shared Nikki and Eric’s story from their downtown Chicago engagement session in the spring. And true to form, their wedding day was filled with much more laughter, emotion, and many tears as their loved ones celebrated with them. Here are a few of my favorites.

I loved Nikki’s Vera Wang shoes and her Enzo Angiolini sash!

We started in downtown Chicago at the Seneca Hotel before heading to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ for the ceremony and further preparations.

Huge thanks to Otto for capturing these beautiful moments before the ceremony.

One of the biggest factors in having spectacular wedding photos is planning enough time in the day to capture the entire bridal party as well as moments between the couple. To truly capture genuine emotion, it’s important to allow things to unfold naturally. While I do some coaching, the real magic happens when people’s true personalities emerge! Nikki and Eric created plenty of margin for this, and even though it had been pouring rain hours before, we ventured to Grant Park and Millennium Park for their photo shoot!

We ended with some fun quintessential Chicago photos on Michigan Avenue before heading to their reception at Spiaggia downtown.

I loved that Nikki & Eric provided flip flops for their guests so they could get their dance moves on!

And Nikki surprised Eric with the ultimate pro football groom’s cake: Green Bay Packers on one side and Wisconsin State on the other!!

Nikki’s Dad got the laughter and the waterworks going!

As did her Maid of Honor…

Nikki and Eric, thank you so very much for inviting me to document your special day. I am so very grateful our paths have crossed and I wish you many years of joy together!

It makes me so happy to reflect on the incredible ways people have been brought into my life. It seems like every few weeks I’m meeting someone special through circumstances I never would have expected. It’s one of the things I love most about life. Meeting Bill and Jane was like that. I was on my way back to Chicago from NY around the holidays, scouring Craigslist for a vintage sled. I saw a few good listings, but Bill’s stood out the most because he had a sled AND a toboggan. Pushing it to the wire on my iPhone after boarding a plane, as I usually do, I wrote him an excited email to figure out when we could meet. By the time I landed in my connecting city he had left me a voicemail, and we had set up a time.

I thought it’d be pretty standard Craigslist protocol. Meet the person selling the goods, have some small talk, buy it if it meets my standards, and wish him luck. But Bill and Jane were different. I met them where they were staying in Lincoln Park, and in their hospitable Texas drawls, they insisted I sit down and chat for awhile.  And I am so glad they did! I totally fell in love with them. We talked on the porch for an hour before even looking at the sleds.  Insisting I try them out for the weekend before I make a purchase, they helped me get them back to my place and we made plans to get together again. We had hoped to take them out one day in the snow, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Instead, they asked me to do a photo session with them!  We spent the chilly afternoon together at Montrose Harbor, talking, laughing and shooting.  It warmed my heart to see how playful they were, and how after so many years of marriage Bill and Jane are still overwhelmingly and unquestionably in love.

We’ve stayed in touch since their trip back home to Texas, and I am so very thankful for my new friends. I wish them both many more years of love and joy together!

On days like today all I want to do is cuddle up with a blanket, a warm mug of coffee and my laptop.  And dream about sunshine. In that spirit, I thought I’d share one of my favorite sessions from this past autumn at Chicago Botanic Garden.

It was Match.com that brought Maria and Tim together, but it was their enjoyment of the same amusements, their respect and admiration for each other, and their ardor for life that made them fall in love.  The two share a passion for cooking, dancing and travel- so much so that they decided to spend a romantic vacation together in Italy this past September. They explored the streets of Rome, sipped wine, looked in awe upon illustrious duomos and magnificent sculptures, savored authentic cuisine, shopped in Florence, sampled gelati, and soaked up the sweet melodies of Italian conversation that rolled off people’s tongues.  While in Cinque Terre, they made it a point to stroll along the romantic Via dell’Amore. It was a trail that had been built in the 1920′s to connect the cliffside towns of Riomaggiore and Manarola, which eventually became known as a lover’s lane.  Lined with impassioned graffiti and padlocks placed by lovers in a popular ritual, the Pathway of Love is rich with romantic tradition.  And on that day, a new chapter in their own story began. There on the Via dell’Amore, on a little incline away from the passersby, Tim got down on one knee and asked Maria to spend the rest of her life with him.

And there on the edge of the deep blue Mediterranean Sea, Maria said yes to the man she loved.

It was a little over a year ago that I met Maria, and over coffee last month with our mutual friend Amanda, we marveled at the beauty that has transpired in her life. I remember the first time she spoke of Tim, her voice softened and her smile reached her eyes as she said she had found the man she had always dreamt of.  I could not be happier for them!

The vibrant fall colors, the fresh blossoming flowers and the unique European feel of the lush gardens was the perfect place for Maria and Tim’s engagement session.

I just adore the rose gardens. They are so romantic. And apparently Maria and Tim thought so too…

Maria just takes my breath away in this photo.

There are so many diverse nooks and unique textures at Chicago Botanic Garden! This one section of the English walled garden actually felt so reminiscent of Italy, we had to linger here for quite awhile.

And autumn at Chicago Botanic Garden?! Breathtaking. I am so thrilled Maria and Tim chose to have their engagement session here during the most colorful season of the year.

The evening ended with warm, sultry, glowy light….mmmm, it gets me every time.

Maria and Tim, I so enjoyed our adventures at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I am so very thankful our paths crossed and to have you in my life!!

Oh sweet Valentine’s Day, it’s hard to believe you are already around the corner.  And while steadfast romantics count down the days to this lover’s holiday, many of us find ourselves wondering just what to get that special someone.  We want it to be meaningful, unique, perhaps playful, and certainly something that kindles that spark that drew us together.

Last year I began offering boudoir sessions as a way for women to celebrate their individuality, and if they so desired, to have a tangible gift to give to the man in their lives. And what emerged gave intimate portraiture an entirely new meaning. In boudoir we honor a woman’s sexiness, but it is by disclosing her inner strength in those intimate moments that she truly becomes empowered. While it is very much about her sexual appeal, it goes even further in portraying a deeper aspect of a woman’s exquisite character.  It becomes a way to express her sensuality in a classy and tasteful way rather than being overtly sexual as in pinup photography. It’s a celebration of every one of her beautiful features- both inside and out.

Another essential part of my philosophy as a photographer is to get to know you on a personal level so you are relaxed and comfortable and your photos genuinely reflect who you are.  This is even more important in intimate portraiture where there must be an even greater element of trust and comfort. I am there to coach you so you’re at ease in front of the camera and feel absolutely gorgeous!

What mood do you want to convey? Are you playful and flirty? We’ll focus on bringing out your natural charm. Do you want sultry and glamorous? Get those high heels and pouty lips ready! Are you looking for more simple and understated? A little lace slip and your sweet smile is just perfect.  Do you want to accentuate certain details, or show just a tease? No problem! The session is about YOU and we’ll spend some time talking about what makes you uniquely sexy.

So you walk away from this experience feeling fabulous about yourself- what’s in it for your guy? How much would he love an 8×8 nightstand album of your most smouldering images? Or a fine art book designed like a magazine spread that features you? There’s no doubt he’d linger over every delicious page…and come back often.  You can even purchase a miniature 4×4 keepsake version if he wants to bring your sexy little self with him on his next trip.  Not only is it a physical memento of your hotness (!), but it can be a powerful reminder of your sacred connection or a visual cue to rekindle some romance.

And guys, it’s pretty clear how you’ll benefit from this sexy little session, but what if you gave this entire experience as a gift to your girl?  She can bring a friend with her and she’ll get to sip champagne, have her makeup done and feel completely pampered in an hour long photo session all about her.  And we promise, you’ll love the end results too! So really, you both win.

So how do we move forward? Collections begin at $350 and each level includes an online gallery, a select number of high resolution digital images, and an album. Prints, album upgrades, additional digital images, and makeup sessions are included in subsequent collections. And if you book your session before February 14th, you’ll get the Valentine’s Day special of $50 off any collection! (If you do not need the images by V Day, you can still book at this rate and we can get your appointment on the calendar for a later date.) Turnaround for Valentine’s Day sessions is 2 days for digital images and 3-4 days for gifts, so make sure you plan accordingly.  Wanna make it a party? Book with a friend and you’ll both get $100 off any collection! (Additional friends over 2 will get $75 off.)  Please feel free to give me a call for more details! 773.789.8706.

Make your Valentine’s Day extra special this year…turn up the heat and add some passion!

(Many thanks to Lillian Toma of Starlight Makeup and Diem Angie Nguyen for makeup artistry in these images.)

They weaved their way over the bridges along the river walk as the air grew chillier and their stomachs began to rumble.  ”Why in the world are we still walking?” Lesley wondered.  They were on their way to dinner and Matt had suggested they go for a quick walk. It had sounded like a great idea, but now she was growing suspicious.  She knew Matt was hungry, and this had been a particularly long walk.  But before she could further analyze it, Matt groaned as he rolled his ankle and collapsed to the ground.  Lesley helped him hobble over to a bench to nurse his ankle.  Or so she thought.  When they got to the bench, Matt was suddenly on one knee asking, “Lesley, will you be my buddy forever?”  Completely shocked by his ankle hoax, she could barely answer!  But in the next breath, she found herself saying yes. A self-proclaimed smart ass, Matt had pulled off the proposal with the wit and humor for which she fell in love with him.

Lesley and Matt had an on-again off-again relationship that first began in high school. He broke her heart.  She broke his.  And then one day finally decided they couldn’t live without one another.  Because when it came down to it, not only were they madly in love with one another, but they had an unshakeable friendship that could weather any storm. The stuff real life love stories are made of.

For their engagement session, we decided to head to an abandoned barn in Sugar Grove (huge thanks to Melissa Diep for showing me this awesome location last year) for a rustic sassy look.  We ended on an outrageously playful note at the beloved Naperville River Walk.  I am so glad to have had Alaina Bos with me on this shoot- she outdid herself!

I cannot get enough of Lesley’s Anthropologie coat with her hot pink pumps & scarf, paired with Matt’s plaid and jeans.

Alaina’s shot on the left, mine on the right.

Right after I captured this…

Alaina caught this. Love the sunflare!

Classic Lesley and Matt.

I adore Lesley’s exceptional sense of style, head to toe. And Matt’s looking pretty charming as well!

One of my favorite photos of Les and Matt, below.

Lesley and Matt really are the perfect match! Rarely serious, always fun-loving, and right on the ball with spontaneous dance moves and playful banter, they kept us laughing all day.

These guys are total goofballs….and I love it!!!!!

Reenacting the rolled ankle right where it happened…

I seriously can’t decide who has the better smile….and those EYES!!!! Fierce.

Couldn’t help but share some BLING. What incredible taste!

For better or for worse??

And seriously, Lesley, STOP with those eyes… Clearly Matt never stood a chance!

Thanks for braving the cold and spending a fun winter afternoon with us!  It’s so refreshing to see your unabashedly silly and adventurous love. I cannot wait for your wedding. I’m especially excited to see the loveliness put together by Heather of Greatest Expectations and Kelly Marie of Fleur. September just can’t come fast enough!!

The waves lapped the shore, and resort guests stopped in their tracks to stare as Brittany and Reed confessed their love to one another on the beach of sunny Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.  It was only the beginning of a wild celebration that continued through the night at a beachside restaurant with fabulous food, Dominican rum, and friends and family tearing up the dance floor.  And somehow in the midst of that, we managed to sneak away for a few photos at dusk.  I am tempted to share more than this one image…but you’ll just have to stay tuned to see just how stunning their destination wedding was. ¡Espero que lo disfruten!

Some of you may remember the preview from a sweet little session with Brittany and Reed in Galena, Illinois this past summer. Today in a beautiful beachside ceremony in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic they will tie the knot with those closest to them. I have the privilege of documenting their special day, and I’m so grateful to have Jaclyn Simpson here with me. Cannot wait to share this one!!!

Reed is a mechanic, so when we saw this classic car on the side of the road, we just HAD to stop. These are definitely some of my favorite from the day.

Brittany is an avid reader and Reed an active hunter, so we thought we’d put a little cutesy twist in the session!

It’s becoming the modern love story.  Boy meets girl…on match.com. He winks. She winks back. They email. They talk. They text. They flirt. They finally go out on their first date, and (fingers crossed) sparks fly, and so begins the equally thrilling and terrifying roller coaster ride of dating.  Although usually, it involves scrolling through pages upon pages of online profiles, fielding numerous random emails and chats, and going on several dates before making a meaningful connection with someone.  But Laura and Brian?  Their story is different. Boy noticed girl, girl noticed boy. And then girl emailed boy. Go Laura!! After a week of talking (which may have involved some playful banter over middle names and some flower sending : ) they decided to meet out for sushi.  Laura smiled slyly as she slid into her seat across him, and that very night Brian knew he had found the girl he was going to marry.  Three dates later Laura said they became inseparable.  And less than two years and many unforgettable memories after they first caught each other’s eye, Brian proposed in front of the same sushi restaurant where they had their first date.  Laura could not stop saying yes as Brian slid the custom-designed ring on her slender finger.

Laura & Brian’s favorite season is autumn, and the vibrant berry trees, golden fall foliage, and the colorful blanket of leaves set the perfect scene for their session.  I am constantly surrounded by people in love, but there is something in the simple beauty and spirited playfulness of their relationship that struck a chord with me.  Laura and Brian’s joy is contagious, in the kind of way they make you smile so hard your cheeks hurt. But you don’t get tired of it because you can’t help but be swept up in their energy. Whether they are traveling, cooking together, cuddling, dancing, or trying new things, Laura and Brian share a remarkable enthusiasm for life.  Their sense of teamwork is a keystone in their relationship and the strong foundation on which they are building their marriage.  I have nothing but admiration and happiness in my heart for you two!

Once again, I was fortunate to have one of my closest friends and colleagues, Jaclyn Simpson, shooting with me. Without fail, she brings something unique to each shoot, and I always feel like I am at my best when we work together.  Thanks, J!

All these rich colors make me giddy!!! Chicago is so beautiful in autumn.

While I was capturing the one on the left, Jaclyn got this awesome shot of Laura and Brian laughing, on the right.

This field of tall prairie grass just took my breath away.

Laura’s kind-hearted smile and sparkling blue eyes are just some of the qualities Brian adores in her…and I can see why.

I had the chance to get together with Laura and Brian a few different times before their session, and as we sipped coffee and chatted about ideas, Laura’s eyes lit up when she mentioned they love flying their dragon kite together. I knew it was something we had to include in the shoot because it was so uniquely theirs!  The wind was a bit of a challenge that day, but we had a blast and were able to get a few of them in action.

Laura and Brian have a sweet tradition of leaving each other notes in a fortune cookie. They certainly are a perfect match!

And the hazy Chicago sky made for some beautifully moody skyline shots.

I am so thankful to Brian’s brother Erwin for connecting us.  He is also a professional photographer, and a talented colleague and friend of mine.  I feel so lucky to have met Laura and Brian, and even more blessed to be a part of capturing their story!

Just five years ago on a southern plantation in Alabama, two hearts were joined in unending love under a pecan tree as Jessie and Eric exchanged vows among their friends and family.  Their lives have been a whirlwind of change since that August day, but the journey has brought them closer and made them stronger.

Jessie and Eric are so much of what I admire.  I can hardly believe I only just met them.  Already I am so grateful for their friendship and their influence in my life. They are both refreshingly witty, hilariously fun, and ceaselessly supportive.  Fellow photographers, Jessie and Eric Stevens (of Simply Jessie Photography) are such an incredible example of what a true partnership is- not only in business, but in their marriage. Their love is deeply inspiring and so very real. And their talent astounds me.  So when I heard they were planning a vow renewal ceremony in the woods of Michigan, I was both excited AND nervous to be shooting with Jaclyn Simpson to capture their special ceremony.

Mosquitoes swarmed, cicadas buzzed and the air was thick with summer’s humidity, but nothing could detract from the tender moments Jessie and Eric shared. They stood under a canopy of trees, styled by Kelly of Fleur with ribbon, lace and twine, as they renewed the vows they had spoken to one another five years ago.  “I promise to love you, honor you, comfort you…I promise to pray for you and pray with you, to live with you in an understanding way, to grant you honor…” were among some of the powerful words they read from the beautiful stationery created for them by Suzy of Lily Red Design.  Jessie’s bouquet was made with cotton (to remind them of their wedding day), thistle (from the song she walked down the aisle to), rosemary, oak leaf hydrangea, acorns and billy balls and finished delicately with twine, for that’s how Eric had proposed.  Kelly spared nothing in gorgeously crafting their arrangements to be abundant with symbolism…just one of the many reasons I ADORE her work. A few personal touches of their own- the Persian rug that was given as a wedding gift from Jessie’s parents, a basket with their wedding album and mementos from the last five years, and a ceramic jar with thoughtful sayings to one another- added even more significance to their ceremony.  And to work with Jaclyn again? I couldn’t have asked for more! Jaclyn is one of the people I most love shooting with because she is so sensitive to the dynamics of each couple, amazingly creative, and truly just so much fun to be around. She brilliantly captured the essence of their vow renewal and I was thrilled to romp around with her, Jessie, Eric and Kelly through the fields of Michigan.  As much as I love city life, there is something so rejuvenating about the countryside!  After enjoying some of the glowy evening light, Jessie and Eric continued their celebration with a small picnic- their favorite wine and beer, small sandwiches of tomato, basil and mozzarella, and decadent pecan tarts.  Suzy’s menus and a few other paper pieces beautifully accented their treats.

Jessie looked simply stunning in her slate and silver dress. A friend of hers made a custom hairpiece to suit the occasion.

And Eric was quite strapping in his rolled khakis with suspenders and a boutonniere of billy balls and cotton, courtesy of Kelly.

Jessie and Eric, thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of your anniversary celebration.  I feel so very honored. I have nothing but love and respect for you both, and wish you many more years of love and learning!! It was a blessing to collaborate once again with Jaclyn and Kelly and to photograph Suzy’s work for the first time. We are thrilled that Eric and Jessie’s picnic and vow renewal was recently featured by Ami Price of the inspirational wedding site, Elizabeth Anne Designs. She told their story beautifully and went all out with the photos!  Also be sure to check out the phenomenal posts by the rest of the crew, including Jessie, herself!

Simply Jessie

Jaclyn Simpson Photography

Fleur, Inc.