Chicago Wedding Photographer at Victoria Rosemont :: Stacey & Chris

It wasn't the veil or white dress that really transformed her into a bride, it with the big bright smile plastered across her face all day long. Stacey is one of the most joyful, positive ladies I know, and she was radiating happiness on her wedding day to Chris. 

I LOVE that personalized hanger. So cute!!!

Stacey and Chris we married in beautiful St. John Cantius Church in Chicago - one of the oldest (and most beautiful) in the city. It's also the church where her parents and grandparents were married, and the richness of that family tradition made her wedding ceremony something extra special.

If there was just one word to describe Stacey and Chris's day, it would be joy. You can see it on the faces of all who celebrated with them. Keep that joy, Stacey and Chris, and it'll sweeten the good times and get you through the hard times. I really loved being a part of your wedding celebration, and wish you both all the best!

You can see more of Stacey and Chris's wedding day by visiting their gallery.

Or watching their slideshow.

Maggie & Steve (coming soon!)

September 3, 2011

Elgin family photographer :: The Hartford-Hoon Family

I'm sure my opinion is biased, but I think giving a photo session as a gift is a really great idea! Deb's parents were celebrating 40 years of marriage, and I can't think of a more personal, special gift she could have given than a photograph with all three generations of family together.

This is a family that I love a lot. We go to the same church, and their youngest son is in the same preschool class as my son, Aaron. So to get the chance to create a family keepsake for them was a special treat! I often get a little nervous working for people I know well. I worry that if they don't love their images as much as I do, they might not love me. It's silly and insecure, I know. But this kind family has a way of putting people at ease, and there wasn't one moment during our time together that I felt anxious. Just one more reason to love 'em!

I got to test out my new Shutter Buddies on these boys, and the smiles that happened totally blew me away! Who knew that a silly loop of fabric on the end of my lens would be so entertaining? If you take a lot of photos of your kids, I HIGHLY recommend grabbing one!

Thanks, Hartfords and Hoons for spending the evening with me and my camera! 

To see more of their family session, pay a visit to their gallery.

Or watch their slideshow.

Do you have a special event coming up? Family portraits are a GREAT way to celebrate special birthdays, anniversarys, graduations, and more. Call me (847.697.1606) or zip me an email (sarah@imagesbysharp.com) to set up your celebration session.

Stacey & Chris {coming soon!}

August 27, 2011

Elgin baby photographer :: Three-month-old Everett

My family and I are back from our rather long (and long overdue!) vacation, and we're settling into our fall routine. Our oldest just started preschool, so that's adding a whole new set of activities to our weekly schedule.

While on vacation, I had the privilege to photograph sweet baby Everett. What an adorable boy he is!! As I put the finishing touches on his images, my husband looked over my shoulder and proclaimed,"Man, he is one CUTE boy!" And I have to agree. That shock of dark hair and big saucer eyes will just melt your heart.

Could he be any more precious? I feel like my own baby boy was just this small, but this week I watched him put on his backpack and skip into a classroom. Where does the time go?

You can see more of Everett by visiting his gallery.

Or watch a slideshow of this adorable boy.

From photograph to Work Of Art!

Look what the FedEx driver brought to my door yesterday....

A Gallery Wrap from the Ebel family session!!

It's always exciting to see images in print, but it's even more exciting when I get to see them transformed into a beautiful product like this. Gallery wraps are a fantastic way to turn your photograph into an original work of art. With a deep 2" edge wrap, these are ready to hang, with or without a frame. They even come complete with hanging hardware installed.

What's your favorite way to display your portraits? Do you love to group a lot of smaller prints together, or do you prefer the look of one big image that really makes a statement?

Cincinnati Picnic Wedding :: Sarah & David

"I just don't love formality for formality's sake," Sarah told me, as we talked over her wedding plans. She's not the bride who's dreamed about a poofy white dress since she was six, or who agonized over the perfect wedding color scheme.

But she and Dave did have one of the most amazing weddings I've ever been to. It was simple yet so rightly focused on the promises they were making to each other. The outpouring of love and involvement from their friends and family made this the kind magical summer evening that I hoped would go on and on and on. I honestly didn't want it to be over!

Of course, it's also one of my favorite weddings ever because I've know these two since childhood. And all 300 or so of their wedding guests. That made it so much fun - but also a challenge to keep focused on my job, and not stop and hug every person I saw. ;-)

While it was a simple affair, it was also full of fun details that added to the whimsy of the day: bridesmaids wearing their favorite dresses, groomsmen and dads sporting funky tuxedo tees, table linens collected from many of the women in their church, and a one-of-a-kind Shrek cake topper (with tattoos that matched the bride's!)...  I think this is a lot like what weddings looked like 100 years ago, where everyone wore their best dress, brought their best dish to pass, and danced until the sun went down. It was simply lovely.

These last photos of Sarah and Dave are some of my favorites from the day. Sarah lost her mom just a few months ago, and I wanted to somehow include her in the details of the celebration. Sarah's mom made this quilt, and I though it made such a sweet addition to these picnic wedding photographs. If there are windows in heaven, I know Sarah's mom had her nose pressed to the glass for the afternoon.

To see more of Sarah and Dave's special day, click here to watch a slideshow.

Or visit their gallery.

Thanks, Sarah and Dave, for letting me be a part of your special day. Having known you both for so long, I really can't tell you what an honor this was to photograph your wedding and witness your wedding vows. I'm so happy you found each other! Here's to the journey ahead!!