Sarah & Tim

I just want to start this off by saying that if I ever do get married, I truly hope that I look as gorgeous as Sarah did yesterday - porcelain skin, beautiful eyes, amazing smile... My camera and I absolutely LOVED her. Tim, you're a very lucky guy!

This was my second to last shoot contracted to me by Essence Photo & Video.

Before we get to the pictures, I just wanted to say that I've never had such a difficult time choosing which ones to put onto the blog, nor have I ever posted this many for an event before... there were just too many good ones. I'm very pleased to say that none of these pictures had any more than levels and slight color correction done to them (even the one that looks like it has a vignette on it). The only exception, of course, is the sepia toned one.

The big day started off around 1:30 pm at the Harrington Inn in Geneva, IL. I instantly fell in love with this hotel. I fact, I wish ALL of my weddings used this hotel. The lighting and location were absolutely incredible.

I walked over to Sarah's room, and she greeted me with a very excited "HELLO!!" and a huge hug. We only had a short time to get her into her dress, take some pictures, and then for me to head over to the ceremony location at Mount St. Mary Park which was just down the street from the hotel and reception hall (Riverside Receptions in Geneva).














I finally made it to the park, and the guys were all helping with the final touches to the ceremony location. I did a very quick photo session with Tim and the guys, and then it was time for the ceremony.






Sarah and Tim's ceremony was short, but very sweet. They shared their own vows; you could just see how much they loved each other as they delivered them. After the ceremony, we took group pictures. A little more time went by than I'd have liked to, and we were now limited in sunlight for the photo session with just Tim and Sarah.

We made do though :)














It was time for the reception! It seemed like everyone had a lovely time at this fairly intimate occasion, including myself. The bride's charming little brother, Gabe, asked me to dance toward the end of the night. How could I refuse? Thanks again, Gabe!






Like I said before, there were so many wonderful pictures from the wedding, and I wish I could post more! The end of the night came before I knew it, and I had to say goodbye (though I didn't want to). Sarah and Tim, congratulations to you again. You're definitely a fantastic pair, and I wish you both nothing but the best in life.

New New New

In effort to catch up with the best photographers out there, I've decided to update my website yet again. This time, I've gone and purchased a flash template. I know that the finished site will look much cleaner and more professional. I hope that it will also help enhance my abilities as a photographer.

After much debate over which image I should use as an opening image for the splash page to my site, I decided to use one of my most recently edited photos from a trash the dress session (or wet the dress, really) a few months ago:



The logo will not be on the picture itself, which is perhaps a risky move since the splash page is in html formate, but since I own the copyright, well... it's a risk that I'm going to have to take. After all, any image can still be pirated in a flash site with the wonderful technology of the print screen button. Darn thing.

I've also been doing some business planning for my photography company. I've decided to begin working with a coworker of mine, who is the video camera operator for Fox's helicopter. With Matt's background in graphic arts, I know he's going to make a fantastic (dare I say) employee. Wow, that feels weird to say.

Things are still insanely busy as far as my schedule goes. Next week, I have three engagement sessions and a portrait session, plus some networking meetings just to fill in the rest of my time. There goes any chance for a nap, right? ;) Oh, but I wouldn't have it any other way. These are truly exciting times for me, and I cannot wait to keep on traveling down this little path.

After this next week passes, however, it looks like I'm going to have a bit of a breather!!! I only have one wedding left at the end of this month after I shoot a wedding this upcoming Saturday for Essence - my second to last with them!!!! YAY!!!

Alright, off to sleep so I can wake up at 3:45 am to fly in the chopper. Goodnight, everyone.

Tracylyn

I have to say, I LOVED working with Tracylyn, and truly look forward to working with her again, as well as her band (which I've yet to work with). I'm also going to add that Tracylyn has a beautiful and powerful voice. You should definitely check out her music:

http://www.myspace.com/tracylyncountry

Rather than write a bunch for this blog, I'll simply say that it was a headshot/publicity portrait session for Tracylyn.

So great to meet you, Tracylyn! Talk to you soon!

~amy

Shelley & Ted

Saturday, I was contracted by Essence Photo and Video to be the photographer for Shelley and Ted's wedding. As with all weddings I've photographed, this one flew by so quickly. Shelley, Ted and their friends and family were all so much fun to be around and to work with. Thanks to everyone for helping to make my job so much easier!

The day started off at Shelley's house in Bartlett, IL. I arrived before she returned home from her morning errands. While I waited for her to come home, I decided to go ahead and start getting some detail shots of the dress. Shelley was home in no time, and gathered the rest of her things, got dressed and began the picture process with me and her girls.








The girls' part of the morning was over with, and it was time to take the guys' pictures :)






It was time for the ceremony before we knew it. It was a traditional Catholic service minus the mass portion held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Mount Prospect, IL.






After the ceremony, we took the formal set of pictures as quickly as possible, and then headed off to the grounds of the Prairie Center for the Arts at the Schaumburg Municipal Center in Schaumburg, IL for the outdoor photo session. I communicated with Shelley and Ted's limo bus driver to make sure that he knew where we were going. We decided that he would just follow me. What ended up happening was that he accidentally followed another black Toyota Corolla, and lost me! I circled the lot for the Prairie center and tried calling every number that I could find on my contract sheet. I finally received a phone call, and they were at the center. We took the pictures in record time! :)











The reception was held at the Bartlett Hills Country Club in Bartlett, IL. There were so many wonderful images from Shelley and Ted's big day, and I truly hope that everyone enjoys looking at them :) Congratulations to you both again, Shelley and Ted. Many warm wishes for your happy new future together!

Liz and Eric

I just want to say that after just a few short hours into Liz and Eric's day, I felt as though I'd known these folks for a long time. They really made me feel like a huge part of their big day, which ultimately helped me capture the best moments of the day better than I believe could have been possible had they not been so welcoming. A pre-thank you to you both!

Before moving on, this was another wedding given to me through Essence Photo & Video of Schaumburg, IL.

The day started out at Liz's house. I arrived before Liz came back from getting her makeup done. I really had no idea what to expect since I'd talked to her mom about the details earlier in the week. Typically, I talk to the bride before the wedding. I must say, I was more than pleasantly surprised with this amazingly fun and down to earth person that I'd get to spend the day with.





As much as I'd like to share many of the details of the day (namely the getting ready part - HAHA!!), I'll sum it up gracefully by saying that Liz had no shame and was very relaxed and calm throughout the day (even when her brother accidentally stood on her dress at the reception, causing it to tear at the bottom).

Anyway, on to the pictures!!!

The ladies wore this amazing Marylin Monroe styled dress in a wine color that looked amazing on each of them. The flowers were just GORGEOUS! -AND- they matched the wine colored dresses perfectly! We took some group pictures before I went on to the church (St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg) to meet the boys.






So the boys were a lot of fun from the get go too. None of them hesitated to joke along with me, which made it easier to get great pictures out of them. Eric seemed a little bit nervous before the ceremony, but was extremely nice, cooperative and polite.






Liz and Eric's ceremony was short and lovely. The church had this beautiful ray of light that streamed down from the window just behind the altar. I ran up and down the stairs to the balcony to get as many different angles and such as I could. The ceremony was only about a half an hour, so needless to say, I was a bit tired when it was over. Can't complain though, because it was the workout that I needed!







After the church part, we headed over to the Bloomingdale Golf Club in, you guessed it, Bloomingdale, IL. The plan was to take pictures on the golf course and then party! The golf course pictures didn't go entirely as planned, because the hall director wouldn't/couldn't allow us to go out to one of the bridges. The reasoning he gave was that there were several golfers on the course, and we'd risk injury and game interruption. Regardless, we still managed to get quite a few really nice shots :)








The reception was a great time. I have to admit that there was quite a bit of down time at first, but that was because I took my detail shots in record time. Once the introductions happened, the night flew from there.

I was assigned to sit at a table where I met some really fun girls that Liz went to high school with. We clicked right away, which typically doesn't happen for me at weddings; usually it's all business and such. Anyway, it was refreshing. Kelly and Maria (I'm pretty sure those were their names... If you're reading this, girls, sorry if I botched it - names aren't my forte), you two girls rock!

The dancing began and the remainder of the evening seemed as though it lasted only a few short minutes. When it was my time to go, I truly didn't even want to say goodbye - everyone at this wedding was so much fun to be around, and so great to work with.




I started packing some of my things before saying goodbye, and realized that I had lost my lens cap :( ah well, at least it's a cheap replacement, right??! :) I said my goodbyes, gave my hugs, and that was it! A beautiful day that took 8 or 9 months of planning finished in the blink of an eye.





Liz and Eric, you two are just perfect for each other from what I saw all day. Congratulations to you both, and may your new life together be as fun and filled with love as I saw yesterday!

Oh, and Liz, this one's for you: