Elgin baby photographer :: Three is a magic number!

Three six-month-olds in one session? This was a first for me! I headed to the family's Elgin home with a good idea of what I wanted to accomplish, but also saying a lot of prayers that everyone would be in a good mood. :-) It was a wild morning, but these triplets did so well, and I just love how the images turned out. Take a look:

So cute, right? It was wonderful to see how each of them have a personality all their own. And those boys make me want to lock up my daughter. They're going to be charmers, for sure.

To see more, CLICK HERE to watch their slideshow. Or here to see their proofs.

Elmhurst Wedding Photographer :: Amy & Nathan

Another day with the Zielstra family! It was ten months ago that I photographed Marcus and Jess on their big day, and this time it was Amy and Nathan's turn. Despite the thunderstorms that came and went throughout the day, we were blessed to have a few breaks in the rain and capture some wonderful outdoor photos. Elmhurst Church has the most beautiful garden patio - a perfect spot for pictures - so I was so glad we were able to take advantage of it. :-)

This wedding was really special. I could just feel all the love and support for Amy and Nathan from their wonderful friends and family. I loved that their faith was front and center in every aspect of their wedding celebration, and I have no doubt that God is going to bless their marriage.

Here's a peek at this stunning couple:

All the best to you, Amy & Nathan! Can't wait to see the big things you'll do together!!

To see more of their big day, you can view their slideshow.

And here's a link to their proofs.

Schaumburg Engagement Photographer :: Amy & Nathan

It was a windy and wet day when I met Amy and Nathan for their engagement session, so we decided to stay mostly indoors at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg. I joked with them on our way into the building: now that it's rained on their engagement pictures, they're guaranteed a beautiful sunny day for their June wedding. :-) Let's hope I'm right!

This was a great chance to get to know Amy and Nathan a little bit better, and it's got me really excited about their wedding (which is coming up SOON! Can't believe June is next month!!).

To see more of their session, check out their slideshow.

Chicago engagement photographer :: Alex + Jerry

Taking the kids to the zoo, getting an eyeful of beautiful plants and flowers, a romp through the playground, and an engagement session all rolled into one? Yep, it was a nearly perfect day when I met Alex and Jerry in Lincoln Park. We walked here there and everywhere to find the perfect backdrops (darn the construction that closed my favorite bridge with skyline views!) and poor Alex's feet were not so happy by the time we were finished, but I think the results were well worth it. There were so many super cool images that I had a hard time deciding what to share with you.

I just love the playfulness Alex and Jerry have together. I think the ability to laugh together will serve them very well in marriage.

And this girl knows how to work her angles! Hello, supermodel!!

Love, love, loved the way Alex's pink trench popped in every photo. It was a perfect play against the blue sky and green grass. And trenchs are kind of a thing for Jerry, so I love that they worked this special detail in. Here's more from their session: slideshow and proofs.  Keep an eye out for their awesome karate moves! HILARIOUS!!

Thanks, Alex and Jerry, for such a great afternoon together! We're so looking forward to celebrating with you at your July wedding!!

Crystal Lake Engagement Photographer :: Ashlie & Mike

First I teased you with hints about her awesome shoes, then I made you wait an ETERNITY while my computer issues got ironed out. I'm so happy to report that I'm typing this post from my beloved laptop, which seems (for the moment) to be working perfectly. Better than new, even. YAY!


So, without further delay, I'd love to share a few images of this fantastic couple. We met in downtown Crystal Lake on a blustery afternoon, and one of the first things Ashlie said to me was "We're not photogenic." Um, what??? They insist they don't have any good photos of themselves, but they totally rocked this session, so I'm not sure I believe it. Judge for yourself....

I think they look beee-you-teee-ful! We had so much fun together! Best of all was after our picture taking ended;  my DH and the kiddos were spending some together time at the nearby Crystal Lake library, and they came to pick me up at Ashlie and Mike's home (which was our last stop for photos). I had planned to just dash out to the van when they pulled up, but DH ended up bringing the kids to the door. The first thing Aaron said when he walked in the door was "Nice house!" Too funny! The conversation got going from there, and it turned into a great little visit. I LOVE that about my job - that professional relationships so quickly turn into friendships.


A & M, thanks for being such gracious hosts, and for waiting so patiently for everything to come together. I think you finally have some GREAT photos of yourselves. :-)


Want to see more of them? Watch their slideshow, or check out their proofs. 


I have another engagement session to post later this week, and two more couples to photograph this weekend, so get ready! You'll be hearing more from me soon!

[Crystal Lake Portrait Photographer] Sneak Peek: Ashlie & Mike

Hmph!  I was really looking forward to showing off Ashlie and Mike's engagement session (remember those zebra print shoes I mentioned on FB?), but the day after our session I started having issues with my computer.  Little issues turned into big issues, and it's been over a week now that my computer's been in the shop.  I'm having Photoshop withdrawal!!!  Luckily, all my files were backed up, so I didn't lose anything. Thank you, Mozy!!!

My wonderful husband has been gracious enough to let me hijack his laptop, so I now have my beloved Photoshop back.  Thought I'd give you a little sneak peek of those fabulous shoes I keep mentioning...

and maybe one of their beautiful faces, too.  :-)

There's more to come! Cross your fingers for me that I get my computer back soon and in one piece!!!

Elgin baby photographer :: Susannah is 4 months old already (and a photo challenge!)

I CANNOT believe my little baby is four months old already.  We're 25% of the way to her first birthday! Craaaazy!!

This isn't one of our official monthly portraits, but the sunshine was so nice yesterday that I could'n't resist spreading out a blanket and snapping a few shots of her.  Good thing I did, because today is gray and snowy, and the beautiful sunshine is gone. :-(

Using natural light is a great way to make your own family photos look better.  Try turning off your camera's flash and see what you get! For this photo, I simply opened our front door and laid Susannah on a blanket in the light. Let's make it a challenge!  Take a photo using only natural light - no flash - and email it to me. I'll post a few of them here to share. Go have some fun!