My friends, Jessica & Viral’s Chicago Hindu wedding celebration weekend was a “prove your photography skills” dream. If you’ve been following along here on the blog for any amount of time, you should know by now that I didn’t always know I wanted to be a photographer. I don’t get excited about this black box that freezes things for the sake of the trade skills and equipment. To be honest, if I wasn’t photographing weddings and people, I most likely, wouldn’t be a photographer. It’s because of the people and their stories that I get into giddy school-girl mode. But as …
Chicago Wedding Day – Kelli & Adam
Like anyone might choose for a destination wedding, Kelli & Adam took full use of the city at their fingertips to showcase as much as possible about the city they love so much. Their Chicago wedding day spanned from North to South. With a ceremony under the stunning stained glass of Alice Millar Chapel and a reception at the classic Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel Ballroom, they were able to take advantage of a huge variety of architectural styles and classic eras to treat their visiting guests to a uniquely Chicago experience. Favorite! (But you might know that already if you are …
Art Institute Engagement – Taylor & Joel
Laughter is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of time spent with Taylor and Joel. And their Art Institute engagement session proved no different. There were moments when I had to keep myself from laughing just to be able to focus the camera and document all the fun these two were having! It didn’t matter if they were simply strolling through the beautiful South Garden at the Art Institute or dodging tourists on the Riverwalk. Clearly, as long as these two are in the same place together, it’s going to be a good time. I mean, they …
Family Photos in NYC – Ada in Brooklyn
Given that this adorable family is packed up and moving from their start in New York to the good ol’ Midwest, it’s only fitting that we feature their sweet family photos in NYC this week. Ada’s mom, Anja, is a powerhouse working momma as the Director of Education for a small little publication you may have heard of called The Knot. Yes, THE Knot. That big, mega resource for all things weddings. Naturally for me, having the opportunity to document this amazing family was a huge honor particularly given how many photographers Anja knows! From my perspective, the best part of …
#IKissBerg – Our Wedding!
Our Save the Dates are mailed and loved ones have been personally alerted, so what better day than my own parents’ 42nd anniversary (today) than to publicly (finally) announce our wedding plans!! Drumroll please… On April 23, 2018, Kevin and I will say “I Do” at the Abbazia San Pietro in Valle, in Umbria ITALY! Yep, you read that right my friends. I’m embracing the question you’ve heard me ask so often, and running full steam ahead with “Why not?” Why not get married doing exactly what the two of us love to do together? Traveling together has shaped our relationship so …
Hotel Arista Wedding – Alyssa & John
While apart, Alyssa & John are happy people. But the moment you see them together? You realize, there’s a whole other level of smiling you had yet to experience. Together, these two positively beam. The week leading up to their Hotel Arista wedding day, Alyssa and I texted off on about the weather forecast and our Plans A, B & C in case the potential rain decided to stick around (all the while, obviously hoping it wouldn’t rain). When I awoke that Saturday morning to the puddles on the sidewalks and continued sprinkling, I was so worried I’d walk into Alyssa’s hotel …
Central Park Engagement – Jessica & Viral
When I asked Jessica & Viral what they would do for their engagement session if they could do absolutely anything, none of the answers had anything to do with Chicago. When we started talking about some of their happiest memories and how Viral proposed, it was in Central Park. Why, I thought (and promptly asked) are we taking engagement photos in Chicago? So we didn’t. Jessica & Viral’s Central Park engagement session couldn’t have suited the two of them more. Filled with cuddles, laughter and impromptu dancing, a couple of hours flew by without any of us realizing it. And …
The Truth About Printing Photos
I read an article in the Chicago tribune recently that discussed the cost of weddings in Chicago. Spoiler Alert: It’s expensive. Chicago ranks fourth in the nation for the cost of a wedding, coming in behind Manhattan, New York, and New Jersey. Everyone kind of knows that already though, right? (Just take what you would spend on dinner at your favorite local bar. Something simple – 2 cheeseburgers, 2 beers. Now multiply that by 150, or whatever your guest count is. That’s also 1 drink a piece, not an open bar, and not anything unique yet. So it makes a …
Chicago Riverwalk Engagement – Kelli & Adam
They laugh without caution and hold onto each other as if the axis of the world existed inside of that hug. Their laughter tells of the comfort found in being yourself without holding back. And all of those hugs – with the extra little squeezes – speak volumes to the support system they find in each other. And with this romance, the romantic setting that is the Chicago Riverwalk at night, couldn’t have been a more perfect spot for Kelli & Adam’s engagement session. The cozy ambiance that naturally surrounds Kelli & Adam would be enough to make time photographing them …
How to Remember Your Wedding Day
You are happily planning your wedding and yet at every turn someone says, “Oh my gosh, the day goes by so quickly. Be sure to soak it in.” You hear it over and over again, enough to cause a bit of concern. After all, you are spending months of your time preparing for this great celebration. The last thing you want is for it to fly by and not remember it! But the one thing all of these good meaning people haven’t said, is how to soak it in. It’s great advice, but what is a real solution? How do you actually …