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Friday, May 18, 2012

A Photographer’s Wedding: Revelations

Posted in Personal, Vlog3 comments

9 months! I can’t even believe it has been 9 months since our wedding (and coming up on a year since our 1st legal ceremony!)! The time is absolutely flying by, but this week we had a couple opportunities to pause and look back on our wedding. Our wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty Illinois! (So exciting to share our wedding with people all over again!) And as of last night, we received our final wedding film from I Do Films! (We stayed up into the wee hours, watching it over and over again!) Talk about double exciting!

Between our Style Me Pretty feature and our amazing wedding film, I have been feeling all giddy again reliving those wedding moments. I have also been thinking a lot about how it felt to be a wedding photographer on the other side of the camera on our wedding day. It was exciting, fun, and all kinds of wonderful! (And at the end of the day I had a blast with my loved ones and married my better half, so not much else matters!) But, there are things that I wish I had thought about more ahead of time. Did they make or break my wedding? No way! Looking back, do they mar my memories of that fantastic day? Absolutely not! But, I definitely think they are worth mentioning and sharing, if they can save any other bride out there some stress. (Especially any other wedding photographer brides out there, who think they can do it all!)

So, today I am looking back on that time I forgot to wear my own wedding veil (Yes, I really did…) and offering some tips from my perspective of a wedding photographer who planned their own wedding…

Ultimately, I have to tell you that planning your wedding does not have to be stressful! It can be really fun and a wonderful time in your life to bond with your fiance and family, so take a step back and remember to enjoy it. (And if you are only in it for the champagne and cake tastings, hire an amazing planner to make sure your day goes off without a hitch and you can have a wonderfully stress free engagement! I cannot recommend this enough!) And just remember what it is all about at the end of the day…marrying the love of your life! That is the only part that matters!

Posted in Personal, VlogTags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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Christy Tyler - May 18, 2012 - 12:45 pm

I hear you! I should have done the same thing for my own wedding! Instead, I was setting up the hall myself the morning of my wedding! haha. Wedding planners – get one! :)

Emilia Jane - May 18, 2012 - 2:28 pm

Amen. Hire a wedding planner. That is all :-)

Lauren Wakefield - May 18, 2012 - 5:12 pm

I want to see your video! And I’m so happy your wedding got featured! Double woo!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Creative Job Hazard

Posted in Personal, Photography2 comments

Some nights the hours fly by without me evening realizing it. I’m working behind the computer or scribbling in a notebook far into the wee hours of the morning. The spouse has long since passed out. The doggies have put themselves to bed. I start to hear birds chirping outside and finally realize that it must now be morning. Gah, I had done it again!

My days of college all nighters are long behind me, but some nights when the creative juices are flowing, I find myself right back there. On a roll and not able to stop. Ideas are flying and the time is now to get them all down. Or I’m kicking butt editing a wedding and I just can’t bear to stop for a break, I want to see it through to the end. Or I’m so inspired that I spend hours upon hours researching new things. It’s what I call my ‘creative job hazard.’ When I accidentally stay up all night because I can’t turn the creative side of my brain off. I can’t plan when inspiuration will hit, so I dive right in when it comes along! Some of my best ideas and my most inspiring relveltions come to me during my unintentional all-nighters, but gosh come morning I feel a lot like this…

So, bring on the coffee! And here’s to creative job hazards that leave you wonderfully inspired (but terribly exhausted)!

Posted in Personal, PhotographyTags: , ,

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Emilia Jane - May 17, 2012 - 5:10 pm

Coffee please! She’s SO CUTE!!!

Tami Paige - May 17, 2012 - 6:59 pm

I pulled one of those creative-all-nighters just last night!! And yes, felt completely justified to oversleep this morning. :) ADORABLE picture!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Temple Sholom Gala – Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Posted in Special Event2 comments

Last month I had the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful event at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. This event was the Temple Sholom Fundraising Gala, planned by the always amazing SQN Events. With David Rothstein Music, Topiarius, Boutique Bites, Shutterbooth, and Truffle Truffle (just to name a few!) on board, you just know it was a fabulous evening! And it was full of too much Spring goodness not to share it…

Click through for more Spring time goodness from the Temple Sholom Gala!

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Posted in Special EventTags: , , , ,

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Emilia Jane - May 16, 2012 - 1:37 pm

Oh this looks like so much fun!

Christy Tyler - May 16, 2012 - 2:41 pm

Beautiful! So many fabulous details! I love the Nature Museum!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Let’s Hear it for the Ladies!

Posted in Personal4 comments

I was more thankful than ever on this past Mother’s Day…not only did I get to spend the week before in Tennessee with my wonderful grandmother and mother in law, but I got to spend my Sunday off with my own grandmother and mother! To say I am blessed with lots of amazing ladies in my life is really an understatement! And each one of them is truly nothing short of amazing!

My mother. Police Lieutenant, by day. An everyday Martha Stewart, by night. She is the strongest and hardest working woman I know! And always brings  wine!:)

My grandmother. ‘Little Geraldine,’ as we affectionately call her. She isn’t afraid to tell you what she thinks because, hell, her age gives her a free pass to say anything she wants…at least she thinks so! She is also the most giving woman I know! And, oh, how I love it when she makes herself laugh and just can’t stop!

My mother in law. Such a strong woman with a wonderfully beautiful heart. She is always surprising me with her kindness and thoughtfulness! Not to mention, she knows when to shush Katrina from poking too much fun at me!:)

My grandmother in law. So unbelievably understanding, kind, and caring! Another grandma who isn’t afraid to call it as she sees it and I love it! I could walk around flea markets for hours upon hours with her, scoping out Coca Cola memorabilia and antique goodies. 

So, I know Mother’s Day has now come and gone, but I wanted to take a moment to celebrate all these wonderful ladies we have in our life. We would truly not be the people we are today without their love, guidance, and support. And for that, I am so very thankful!

Did you celebrate the wonderful ladies in your life? Go ahead, tell them how wonderful they are! They deserve it!

Posted in PersonalTags: ,

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Emilia Jane - May 15, 2012 - 1:26 pm

So sweet! I spent a half hour on the phone with each of my grandmas :-)

Lauren Wakefield - May 15, 2012 - 2:47 pm

Yay for ladies. I am obsessed with whatever you are wearing in the first picture. Just so you know… :)

Amanda M Miller - May 15, 2012 - 3:00 pm

Tracy Reese for Anthro dress. It is like my favorite dress ever! :)

Christy Tyler - May 15, 2012 - 5:12 pm

Love it. Cheers to all the fabulous mom’s in our lives! :)

Monday, May 14, 2012

Wedding Sneak Peek: Lauren & Michael

Posted in Sneak Peek, Wedding Bells4 comments

I honestly could not wait a minute longer to share a couple sneak peeks from Lauren & Michael’s wedding! Our ‘secret’ spot for photos may have been the tiniest of parks, but it was just perfect for the two of them to get cozy!

So much more to come from their wedding soon! For now, cozy up to the one you love and have a happy Monday!

Posted in Sneak Peek, Wedding BellsTags: , , ,

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Christy Tyler - May 14, 2012 - 3:10 pm

So so pretty! Especially love that last moment… :)

Emilia Jane - May 14, 2012 - 3:31 pm

OMG I am dying over her dress!!!

Amanda M Miller - May 14, 2012 - 3:42 pm

Thank you! That last one is a favorite of mine! :)

Lauren Wakefield - May 14, 2012 - 6:29 pm

LOVE her dress. I seriously cannot wait to see the rest of these!

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