TOM FORD AT NYFW

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It has been a dream to visit New York and attend NYFW. This past Fashion Week I had the honor of being invited to attend Tom Ford’s private dinner and presentation for S/S 23’.

I was invited by a client to attend and capture her exclusive experience throughout the week. I am always so grateful for the incredible moments.

I have always admired Tom Ford for his fun and classic design aesthetic but also for his story, attention to detail and quality, and his journey to the top. He is a true artist and visionary. His creative story telling shines through with timeless grace as he balances the embodiment of sexy with true elegance.

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Chicago Winter Fashion Shoot with Sara Rose

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What to do during a beautiful snow storm in Chicago? Hit up the Bird Sanctuary on Montrose and do a quick shoot with Sara Rose from Stix and Roses.

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Chicago City Hall Wedding

What happens during Covid when City Hall will not allow everyone into the building and no venues will have weddings. You have a small photoshoot of course.  I am not going to lie. This is a long overdue post. This was photographed last year right as the pandemic started. It was a beautiful day where the blooms in Grant park have just started to blossom, but since then this couple has hired me to photograph their little bambino that they welcome before Christmas. Like I said this is long over due.  I will make sure to link the photoshoot once I have blogged about that one. 

There are a lot of spots in Chicago that have beautiful flowering tree blossoms. You just have to time everything correctly.   These are called Crab Apple trees. They are on what is called the Logan Garden in Grant Park. There is a beautiful staircase as well as a fountain. Very Parisian feels and I’m so glad the Judges picked this spot to have their photos. 

After we took some photos of just the two of them. We worked our way to city hall. There was a line outside since no one was allowed to go in. City hall is a beautiful building and I’m very bummed we weren’t allowed to take some photos inside. 

After they got married we made our way to the famous city hall sign with their families. We took a couple of photos and we had to make our way to the board of trade building that has been used in such famous movies like batman. Its the perfect spot to get the middle of the street photo. Very popular with weddings and on weekends there is no one around. So you can take a shot right in the middle of the street. 

Chicago Photoshoot locations 

Grant Park - Logan Garden 

City Hall 

Board of Trade Building 

Park Ridge Wedding: Julia and Eric

Meet the most organized bride I have ever worked with. She had her own binder which is usually something planners have for your day.  It was such a pleasure to work with Julia and Eric.  They were both such kind and family oriented people. You guys really become family to me. I I probably spend the most time with you on your day. More than your actual family. You become my family and I do my best to be the sister to you.  Sneaking around with my camera and trying to capture all your moments. If I have to boss around some family members for photos…I will. 

Everything was conveniently close to where I live as well.  They met at a new years eve party at a hotel in Rosemont and guess what?…. That is the location they had their reception at.  Hyatt Regency Ohare ( https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/illinois/hyatt-regency-ohare/chiro). We made sure to recreate a photo of the two of them from that night they met. 

It was such a hot day that day as well. We had to make portraits fast and pain free since Eric was wearing a three piece suit. We picked the close location right by the Hotel called Dune park. They have beautiful swans but also lots of goose poop to get around.  We made it quick and painless. 

The ceremony was at St. Paul of the Cross also super close to the hotel. Everything was so convenient for the guests and family. Some churches have rules on where photographers can and cant be. This was one of them. So we had to make sure not to break those rules. This included us not being past the last guest. This makes it difficult to capture emotions of the parents during the ceremony but we made it work.  A new favorite tradition of mine has become trying to take a large group shot right after on the steps of the church to capture everyone there. It’s super quick but makes the best memory of everyone on your day and probably the only time we are able to do that. 

Intimate Covid Wedding

Covid has changed many lives and taken a big toll on weddings in 2020. Many couples have resorted to small and intimate weddings. Outdoors and backyards were a big hit since you can invite a couple of people and keep your distance. Thea and Mike have three small children and have opted for an intimate wedding in their home. It was just the them, an officiant and myself. The children were taking a nap and grandma was on duty in the backyard in case.

We went to a close forest preserve to get some intimate shots and came back for some family and kids photos to remember the day by. The kids are tiny and they needed to be able to be more flexible than a full on wedding. I think everything turned out in their favor. It was a beautiful day and congratulations to the couple.

Covid Wedding Rescheduled to Grandpas Horse Ranch

Paul and Kim got married May 16th , right in the heart of Covid19. They were originally planning to get married in Florida. They have had this plan for a year now, with the uncertain times they were not able to have the wedding they wanted. Their Grandfather, however has a beautiful horse ranch and they were able to have an incredible wedding. Everyone was far apart enough to be able to enjoy the company of all their loved ones, in a time of Corona.

With all the smaller weddings, happening during Corona, I’m really admiring and appreciating the wedding season more. The intimate weddings are spent more focused on the couple and their love than the guests and their needs. It really is a better way to celebrate your love.

Chicago Rooftop Maternity Photos

When Jenin asks you to photograph her maternity looks on top of Chicago, you say yes, especially since Veronica Sheaffer is involved. Nothing is ordinary form those two. Jenin is a blogger and Veronica is a local designer that was, recently on project run way. Her romantic poet blouses is what she is known for. This is her new line that everyone can rock, even a pregnant chick! It was snowing, it was cold, we couldn’t get the dresses wet because Veronica was going to New York with them that weekend, but as they always say, the best memories are made from things that go wrong. Everything always works out in the end and the photos came out beautiful.

Notice Jenins awesome gold boots. They are my favorite.

Mama: Jenin Paradise
Dresses: Veronica Sheaffer
Earrings: Iris trends
location: London House Roof Top

Chicago Albanian Muslim Wedding

This family is very special to me. Adem, the groom, has been a member of our family since he was maybe 4. His mother and entire family are the most kind and giving people. Photographing their wedding is like photographing my own brothers wedding. I’m so happy to have been able to be a part of their special day.

Notice in their culture the groom gets prepped by the family. They shave and do his hair, but then everyone comes around to wish him happiness and mess up his look.

A New Simple Way to Make Wedding Invitations

Recently, I had the pleasure of trying Basic Invites.  It’s a super simple way to make wedding invitations. The best part about Basic Invites is they have an address collecting service.  If you are like me, who doesn’t stay up to date on the ever changing addresses of friends and family, you need to use this service. It is the simplest way to get everyones information without really being involved.  Planning a wedding is a heroic feat, involving so much detailed planning and collecting addresses shouldn’t be another task on your list. Basic Invites uses a free address collection service to request addresses with just three simple steps. Share a link via social media or email, collect addresses, and get free envelope printing.

Another great thing about them is they offer free, completely customizable websites for wedding. The mobile friendly templates are super easy to use. You can instantly upload all of your wedding details, along with engagement photos, and a convenient map with directions for your guests. Choose from 180 colors, and a design suite to perfectly match your wedding invitations!

My favorite is the Seal & Send Wedding Invitations, your guests will love it because they include a tear-off RSVP piece included!  Below is a photo of one of the seal and send invites. The printing even has fully customizable foil options to set your invitation apart from all of the others. The guest's addresses are printed on the front of each invitation so no envelope is necessary! All you have to do is use their address collecting service and upload them onto your design. Once they make the invitations and send them to you, all you have to do is add postage, fold your and secure them with a sticker! It doesn’t gets easier than that. I wish this was available for my wedding. 

Basic Invites will send you out samples so you get to actually touch and hold your invites before placing a full order. Be sure to check out the clear cards or any of the gold foil. I ordered both for samples for a couple of my flat lays and they are all great quality. It’s so refreshing to deal with their responsive customer service too.  

Highlights

Free Wedding Websites - Completely customizable wedding websites! They're mobile friendly and super easy to use. You can instantly upload all of your wedding details, along with images, and a convenient map with directions for your guests. Choose from 180 custom colors, and a design suite to match your wedding invitations!

Almost Unlimited Colors - Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. You can change the color of each element on a card, with over 180 different color options. The card can be exactly how you want it, down to the littlest detail. This is what sets them apart from any other online stationery company and is their biggest draw.

 Custom Samples - Basic Invite allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of their invitation so they can see the card’s paper quality and how it will print before they have to place their final order.

 Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes - Just as colorful with their enveloped as they are with their invitations. You can choose from over 40 different envelope colors so that you can make your invitation stand out even before they are opened. All of the envelopes are peel and seal so the envelopes can be closed quickly and easily. 

 Over 900 Wedding Invitation Sets - Each of the wedding invites are part of a set. They have all the wedding stationery you need, like save the dates, wedding invitations, enclosure cards, wedding menus, wedding programs, and even matching thank you cards!

 Free Address Collection Service - Use their free address collection service to request your addresses with just three simple steps. Share a link via social media or email, collect addresses, and get free envelope printing.

Seal & Send Wedding Invitations - The seal and send wedding invitations are an all-in-one wedding invitation with a tear-off RSVP postcard included! The Seal & Send is the newest collection. Currently, offered in over 30 designs including foil options and they are all customizable. Guest's addresses are printed on the front of each invitation so no envelope is necessary! All you have to do is share a link, collect guest addresses, and upload them onto your design. Once you receive your order, add postage, fold your invites, and secure them with a sticker! Simple and easy.

Get Social with Basic Invite - @basicinvite

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Chicago Wedding with a touch of Disney

I had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful wedding which featured subtle hints of Disney, including a “mermaid bouquet” that constituted of vibrant pops of purple and turquoise.  The bride opted for artificial flowers so that she could preserve a fond detail of her wedding. The planning and execution of their wedding reflected who the personality of the couple perfectly.  Not only did they take shots, but beers were shotgunned at the altar. We had so much fun shooting the newlyweds and their great group of friends.  Many cheers to Mike and Stephanie.

Wedding Team

Wedding Planning: Olive Layne Weddings
Getting ready and first look Venue: The Robey Chicago Hotel
Venue : Greenhouse Loft
Caterer: Feast and Imbibe
Dj: Toast and Jam DJ’s
Make up : Alluring Beauty