I had so much fun capturing the love of Clarence and Lauren! Most of the shoot is down by Montrose Harbor, one of my favorite places to shoot and a place that Clarence used to take Lauren when she would come up and visit before she moved here to be with him to try to make her fall in love with the city. They are such a lovely couple and compliment each other so well! I had a blast capturing their love!
My baby sister recently made me an aunt again! This time I have an adorable niece, so it’s all pink, dresses and bows. Jordan and I recently drove down to meet her and spend some time with my family in beautiful Arkansas. She is such a good baby and looks so much like my sister and nephew. I had a blast just holding her squeezing those cheeks. I’m counting down the days till we get to go back down there.
As an artist I’ve found in my life and in the lives of friends, that there is a restlessness untill you can support yourself as artist. We were made to be creative and we want to create all the time and we want to support ourselves by being creative. The reality for most artist is doing something to make ends meet until they are “successful” enough to have a career doing their artist. So what job do you do in the meantime? Do you settle into something else and your art becomes your hobby? Do you work two or three part-time gigs in order to do art for free? Or do you get so sucked into your “part-time” gig that you don’t spend much time creating anymore? How do you support yourself and still have time to do your art ? And if you can’t be full-time as a photographer, actor, writer, musician, etc what do you do in the meantime?
My recent hiatus from my blog is a result of those questions, again. I took a 9-5 job for the first time in my adult life. While it was short-lived, I learned a lot. It was the most positive and encouraging work environment I’ve ever been in. I feel completely rejuvenated and I am determined to continue that positivity as I return to my previous part-time gig that is a breeding ground for negativity. I also realized a lot of the reason I took the job was money, security and a little of the grass is greener syndrome. It was a tough job and a very humbling experience because usually I’m a quick learner and this did not come as easy and I’d thought. I wanted something that didn’t exist. I wanted to have it all. I wanted to find something I loved, be instantly good at it and make a lot of money doing it, while Jordan is recording and touring, and still have time for photography. During that time I only took one picture and I was counting down the days till my first wedding of the season (next week!). And after a few short weeks, I decided that my previous part-time gig really wasn’t so bad, at least I had time for photography and got to see my husband more than just Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. So cheers to taking risk, learning from new experiences and time for things I love!
He’s the lone picture I took…
I recently spoke with a client about where to print their photos and tried to explain about why the cost of a professional printer is worth the quality over their local photo printing options. I felt like I did an ok job explaining about color quality etc. and then I saw this comparison that a Wisconsin photographer did. She took two images and had them printed at Walgreens, Walmart, Target and her Pro Printer and then scanned the images for comparison. If you’re going to pay for professional photographer don’t you want the professional quality prints? I love the idea of digital sharing and most of my packages include a digital copy of my images for personal use, but hope that this helps why I encourage them to use my printer.
Three years ago a co-worker from my part time serving gig, asked me go see his band play and maybe take some pictures for them. Not knowing it was a secret plan to make me fall in love with him, I agreed. I also didn’t tell him I didn’t really do that kind of photography, I just went (had a great time) and faked it. I only got one shot that I liked because I’d never worked with that low or constantly changing light. (This was before i bought my flash or had learning about receptions and DJ lighting).
In the last three year I’ve had the opportunity to go to one or two shows a month and I’m learning a lot, baptism by fire, and read tons of blogs and looked at hundreds of concert photography. 3 songs no flash by Loe Beernes is a book I’d highly recommend and this link is to an interview and some of his photos. What I love most about photography in general is capturing honest moments and this is no different. It’s so rewarding to get a shot with so much passion and intensity on their face!
A little about the band… Leah Stargazing was started on the east coast by the Fielding brothers. Their first concert was at a fundraiser for their friends’ little sister who had cancer (Leah) and thought that by naming the band after her it might be a way to cheer her up, and the name stuck. They played several years up and down the east coast and then a few years ago, seeking out new venues in which their music could be heard, they moved to Chicago with big asperations. They are talented, driven musicians and a pleasure to work with. They have what it takes to become your new favorite band, so check out their music and get excited about the new stuff coming soon. Here’s some photos from their show last weekend at Gasthaus in Elgin, IL. 
I moved to the city six years ago to further my acting career. I worked in KY at an equity house for the year after I graduated, where I made a wonderful friend who encouraged me to move to Chicago with her once our contract was over. I performed and stage managed for several theaters and did an internship at a casting agency before I realized my love for photography far out weighed my love for performing. In fact doing actor’s headshots were some of my first paying jobs and all the exposure to headshots during my internship helped me know what makes a good one. I only tell you that so you understand why or how much I love doing headshots for actors. Often they’re like kindred spirits and we instantly connect and the shoots are usually so fun, which is exactly the case with Samantha Woodman.
Sam is an improve actor who performs at Second City and is also part of a team called Park – N- Ride that performs at the Atlantic Bar & Grill. We had a lot of fun during her shoot and I’m confident you’ll see her on Saturday Night Live or working with Tina Fey at some point. Here are her favorites from the shoot…
Congratulations you’re engaged! Now what?!? How do you pick a photographer to document one of the biggest days of your life? I was talking to a friend of mine who was very unhappy with her photographer on her wedding day and only sort of satisfied with the finished product of her images. She asked me how I found my photographer and commented on the fact that my images turned out exactly how I wanted them. If you’re trying to figure out how to choose, here’s some questions to ask yourself and your potentintal photographer.
Figure out what you like before contacting potential photographers.
Your wedding day…
Once you know what style of photography you like best and the type of personality you want in a photographer this should help you narrow you search simply by looking at different photographers websites and/or portfolio. After you’ve chosen your top two, three or five talk to them on the phone and set up a time to meet them in person. I can’t stress enough that you not only want to love the images your photographer creates you want to love their personality! You are going to spend as much time or more with your photographer as you do your spouse, so you want to meet them in person.
When you meet ask yourself…
Questions to ask them..
I’d also highly recommend doing an engagement session with the photographer you book for you wedding. Not only will you have some great image to display the day of, can use them as save the dates etc, but it also allows your photographer to get to know you and your fiance better and see how you interact as a couple which is very beneficial to you both on your wedding day.
Hope this helps!
I recently had the opportunity to photography the newest edition to a family who I’ve worked with three times now. I meet the Ruff’s two years ago when there oldest was only ten days old. She was such a beautiful baby with these captivating eyes that I struck up a conversation with them and then akwardly handed them my card and told them I’d love to photography her sometime. I was shocked when they called me seven months later. It was the first time in the year and half that I’d been doing photography that I had a shoot with someone that I didn’t have any connections with, needless to say it was so encouraging I shamelessly hand out my card all the time.
Avery is such a good baby. I’ve been around her twice now and barely heard her fuss. I had so much fun at this shoot as I’ve come to love this family and enjoyed getting to see Grayson grow up and I look forward to the same with Avery!
Here’s big sis Grayson.
Grayson didn’t really want to hold Avery so this lasted about 10 seconds.
I love little baby toes and can’t get enough of these eyes. I just love little babies! This post makes me so excited to meet my niece, who will be gracing the world with her presence any day now!
My family is very into traditions but we’ve definitely learned to be flexible in the last four years with two marriages, two pregnancies and a toddler. Jordan and I went to Arkansas two weeks early for my family’s annual “Tree Day,” which I haven’t actually gotten to participate in, except once, since I moved to Chicago, six years ago. We had a great visit and fake Christmas with my family. It was nice to get to be together, rest from our busy schedules and play with my nephew who melts my heart.
Two weeks later we were in Chicago for actual Christmas. I really enjoyed being here despite how different it was from the traditions I grew up with, which is sort of fitting since it’s my first Christmas as a MRS. I found that without the hussel and bussel of shopping for gifts and traveling I got to focus on what’s important about Christmas and it got me thinking about change. I’ve never been one to write a new years resolution but with all the changes in my schedule and traditions around Christmas this last month, I decide I was going to write new goals and change my routine when it comes to my art. I have big plans of photography becoming full time within this next year (I had a few fake outs and thought it was going to be sooner rather than later but that’s another post) but in the meantime I’m holding myself to these changes in my routine…
Here’s a few pictures from Arkansas Christmas.
I love passionate people, especially when their passion is contagious and you can’t help but buy into their dreams. I recently had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful Meredith McFaddzean, an emerging singer songwriter. This girl is amazing. She is so passionate, funny, talented and a joy to be around. I can’t wait to see her dreams come true. Keep your eye on this girl, great things to come through her!
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