This Friday we spent the evening photographing the wedding of Jackie and Paul, at independence grove in Libertyville Illinois. The morning was full of rain and clouds, so we all crossed our fingers in hopes that the day would turn positive. Just as our lead photographer arrived on site, the skies opened up and the sun peeked through. The rest of the evening had an amazing fall orange glow to everything. Simple radiant!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackie and Paul decided that they were going to see each other before the wedding. This allowed our photographer to focus our efforts on the family and posed portraits before the wedding ceremony itself. Further, we have seen from past weddings that once the couple has already seen each other, that it opens them up to have more fun, rather than be nervous about the ceremony itself. Then once the sermon starts, they are relaxed and actually get to enjoy the moments and enjoy each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the wedding, the couple had about an hour long cocktail hour with mingling in the room next to the main area. During the cocktail hour, our photographer grabbed the couple outside for a quick romantic sunset photo. The sun glowed an amazing color tonight… full of light, full of red, and full of orange. It was as if the sky had parted for us, for just those few minutes. These images reminded us of a Hawaii sunset, except it was here in the Midwest over the lake at Independence Grove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of the evening was spent in the company of DJ Rod Stare from Memory Makers Entertainment (www.memorymakersentertainment.com). Rod really got the crowd dancing and was superb to work with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This afternoon was a marvelous day for an engagement portrait session through Independence Grove in Libertyville Illinois. The clouds gentle rolled across the sky and a gentle breeze came across the rolling fields. Every different season allows for different types of seasonal poses and use of the foliage.

 

I meet with Jennifer and Mark for their engagement portraits. We walked around the loop in the grove for the standard poses. It amazes me every time I meet with a couple about how different each session is. With the variety in the time of day, the wind, the sun, and the relationship itself, every engagement session is totally different.

 

Mark and Jennifer were both eager and happy to try the different locations and poses. Whether it meant hoping up on the bridge, walking through into the woods (and fighting the prickly pears), or snuggling up next to the cattails, both of these lovely people were quite adaptive to each scene. And Jennifer… I do think GQ and Modern Bride Magazine might actually be calling you for the jpg from today’s portrait session! Just send them my way and I’ll handle the rest! LOL! Click on any photo to view gallery.

 

Congratulations to Jennifer and Mark on your engagement!

Today I created the engagement portrait photography session at the independence grove in Libertyville Illinois. We met up with Michelle, Dan and Tinkerbell (that is the super cute puppy in the photographs) for a beautiful spring stroll through the amazingly well kept garden and pond area. We stopped along the way of our walk around, for photos at the cattails, along the edge of the pond on the rocks, and through the arms of the trees. It was an amazing and peaceful day, with a gentle wind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Question for my readers --- Does anyone know of a similar park or nice walking area in Bridgeport Chicago (60608) area? Or anywhere near the south Chicago suburbs? We have become quite familiar with the northern Chicago suburbs and now it is time to learn more about the south Chicago area, since we are opening our new studio in Chicago on June 1st. Our newest “Plum Tree Studio” will cater to Bridgeport, Chicago, Mckinley Park, Back of the yards, Little Village, Greek Town, Little Italy, China Town, Ukranian Village, Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Goose Island, Uptown, Cicero, Berwyn, North Riverside, Brookfield, Lyons, La Grange, Westmont, Downer’s Grove, Naperville, Willowbrook, Oak Brook, Roselle, Northlake, Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge, Palos Hills, Worth, Everygreen Park, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Romeoville, Joliet, Aurora, Batavia, Warrenville, Carol Stream, Lansing, Oswego, Mmokena, Matteson, Oak Forest, Palos Heights, Hazel Crest, Justice, Hinsdale, Berwyn, and all surrounding Chicago suburbs.