(ALERT: Sensitive intimate portraiture in this post. May not be suitable for children, office viewing or conservative readers.)

Two years ago I began offering boudoir sessions as a way for women to celebrate their individuality and beauty, 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 and a select number of high resolution digital images. Most even include an album. Prints, album upgrades, additional digital images, and makeup sessions are included in subsequent collections. And if you book your session through the month of February, you’ll get the Winter Special of 10% off any collection! (If you do not need the images by the end of February, 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 4 days for digital images and 1-2 weeks for gifts, so make sure you plan accordingly.  Wanna make it a party? Book with a friend and you’ll both get an additional $50 off any collection! Please feel free to give me a call for more details! 773.789.8706.

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

Among my favorite Chicago weddings of 2011 was Shweta and Jay’s beautiful Hindu ceremony at the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Itasca, Illinois. I cannot express just how much I love the vibrant colors and beautiful customs of Indian weddings!! I am looking forward to posting more next year, but in the meantime, here is a sneak preview of Shweta and Jay’s gorgeous day.

I cannot get enough of Shweta’s beautiful eyes. She glowed with her jewelry and ornate saree.

After their ceremony, we spent some time at the Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus once Shweta and Jay completed their outfit change.

We ended the day at the the fabulous Waterford Banquet Hall in Elmhurst. I cannot wait to share with you how dramatically the room was transformed!! All the best for a fabulous 2012!

I adore warm autumn days, yummy food, and photographing pretty things. So naturally the preview luncheon Chicago Botanic Garden hosted to show off their fantastic new wedding venue, the Pullman Barn, was a dream. There was already quite a buzz in the air about their gorgeous new rustic space for intimate weddings, rehearsal dinners, showers, and smaller celebrations. As a big fan of the shabby chic, vintage, organic feel, especially for weddings, I knew I would love it.  So when the trolley dropped us off and I beheld the wooden chairs set out in the ceremony site and the lovely yellow wreath of flowers by Jan Channon on the barn door, I was smitten. We walked through the gate into a lush garden dedicated to the ceremony area.

Once we walked in, we were greeted with self serve lemonade and iced tea, sweet potato bisque shooters, and warm Peach-Bourbon tea.

The tables were decked in gorgeous cream flowered table runners and napkins fastened with raffia from BBJ Linens. The florals were simple, elegantly understated, and absolutely stunning. The yellow flowers seemed to bask in the golden light that streamed in through the windows.

After connecting with several new wedding professionals and taking in the decor, it was time to satisfy my appetite. Chef Jake Peck of Culinary Landscape, CBG’s exclusive caterer, created a menu that was as tasty as it was visually appealing. The buffet style meal was served on Hall’s Rental lovely vintage china.

The jalepeño cheddar cornbread muffins and BBQ spiced shrimp were phenomenal.

But the sweets were to die for. I wished I had room to eat all of them: Stone fruit with simple syrup, peach cobbler, campfire s’mores flamed to order, Mississippi mud pie (mmmm) and pumpkin cheesecake with caramel corn.

As a parting gift, Chef Jake sent us home with his homemade apple butter. I am savoring every bit of mine.

Connie Bolle and Kristina Perez of the Botanic Garden really outdid themselves with this event!  I adore Chicago’s newest rustic wedding venue and I’m looking forward to seeing the Pullman Barn in use.

For more fabulous images, be sure to check out these posts by Jeremy Lawson and CBG, as well as the lovely write-up from Beth Bernstein of SQN Events.

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!

One of the things I most adore in the wedding industry is the talent I am surrounded by from my fellow creatives- photographers, floral designers, event planners, stationery designers, and blog editors. Whether it’s a styled shoot, a wedding, or an engagement session, I am continually challenged by my colleagues’ work to see things differently, think outside the box, and push myself to a higher level of artistry.  One of my greatest sources for inspiration is the ingenuity that shows up almost daily on my favorite wedding blogs. With a knack for finding the most unique trends for weddings, the best blogs appeal both to brides and industry professionals. I started following Landlocked Bride last year, a modern wedding blog dedicated to providing design inspiration for Midwest and Mountain weddings. Brit Tucker Stewart started the blog in 2009 and has since been sharing her exquisite taste and fabulous resources in a fresh and creative way. I am so honored to have Matt and Lesley’s Naperville engagement session featured today on Landlocked Bride. If LLB isn’t on your radar,  you’ll definitely want to start following to see what else Brit has in store!

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!

Yesterday I had lunch with Gregg.  Only a couple weeks ago I spent five hours with him in his home. I photographed his late partner’s watercolors and acrylic paintings on canvas all day. Kieran was a brilliant artist. His work was vivid, intense, powerful, edgy, emotional. As Gregg and I talked, we laughed, he cried, we shared our hearts, we goofed off. I saw a glimpse into his soul. I was struck by just how resilient the human spirit is. In the midst of his immense grief, Gregg still has fight left in him and a determination to love life. He spoke of the love he and Kieran shared, and reflecting on the 17 years of beautiful memories, said with melancholy, “We were just getting started.”  It is his hope to preserve Kieran’s legacy by sharing with the world the many stories and inspiration behind each painting.

I’m thankful to have met a new friend. I am honored Gregg let me into his home and into a small part of his heart.

THIS is why I love what I do.

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.)