Jennifer's Maternity Portraits

As many of you know, Jake and I are expecting our second son in August!  We are so excited and thrilled to welcome this little boy into our family!  Of course, Gray really has no idea what is coming to him.  Any time we ask him if Mommy is having a baby, he insists I'm actually having a bus.  Well... it feels like it, kid ;) Jake has been diligently taking monthly belly photos to track the baby's (and MY) growth, but the other week we finally found some time to go out on location and get some 'real' portraits done!

My dear, dear friend, Mary LeRoy kindly came over and did my makeup before the shoot!  She is amazing, and I felt beautiful!  We did all the prep out on our front porch as it rained and poured all around us.  As soon as she was done prepping and primping me, the rain cleared and we were left with a gorgeous evening with amazing light.

Here are a few of my favorite images from my session:

Megan and Bill's S.Carolina Wedding

Earlier this month, Megan and Bill flew me and my good friend Ryan Timm out to Columbia, South Carolina for their beautiful southern wedding (with a Japanese flair!).  We got there the day before, so Ryan and I had a chance to walk around downtown Columbia for some random shots. When we arrived at the reception site (701 Whaley St.) Megan had decorated the whole place pretty much by herself!  She actually folded 1,000 paper cranes including paper crane earrings for each of her bridesmaids.  She was running around putting finishing touches to everything.  I had a great time just photographing all of the little details she put together.

It's always alot of fun photographing for people that we know and even more fun being flown across the country.  Thanks Bill and Megan and congrats!

-Jake

Abby and Chad's Wedding

Abby and Chad's wedding has the premier distinction of going down as one of my FAVORITE weddings of all time.  Really.  Not just because I was in it (as the Matron of Honor).  Not just because they let us choose our own dresses.  Not just because they served my favorite food at the reception. Not just because they had amazing locations to shoot at, or because the music they played was the bomb. C'mon. Their wedding was goes down as one of my favorite weddings of all time because of all the aforementioned reasons, PLUS the fact that Abby and Chad are really, truly, and undeniably, M.F.E.O -- made for each other.  Their wedding was an extension of themselves.  Every detail, every last bit of their wedding was crafted and planned with precision.  The hours that were spent cutting, sewing and piecing together every single fabric flower and the months saving wine bottles for center-pieces all came together and Abby and Chad's vision was complete.

It was truly beautiful.

We started off our day at the Burr Oak B&B in Kankakee, where we all primped and readied ourselves.  We enjoyed delicious pastries from Fritz' Pastry shop in Chicago and from there we moved into portraits.  The beautiful bride and her groom were so fun to work with -- we could have shot at some of these locations all day!

We worked with a blend of digital photography, a few toy cameras, an antique camera (or two) and a polaroid.

Just for good measure.

One of the many things I love about Abby and Chad is how they make each other laugh.  All day long, they were smiling and laughing.  At each other, with each other.  They constantly had smiles on their faces.  It was so refreshing.  As Abby looks at Chad you can see the adoration in her eyes, and a little twinkle as she digest the last inside joke he whispered in her ear.  The mutual respect they have for each other is immediately apparent and you won't see a man look at his wife sweeter than Chad looks at Abby.

Like I said, M.F.E.O.

Abby and Chad, your ceremony was so touching.  The reading from the Veleteen Rabbit was beautiful and your vows were just right.  Even though it started to rain during your ceremony, the giant trees kept us dry and the thoughtfulness of every spoken word, truly kept us warm.

Ok, I'll stop with the cheesiness soon, I PROMISE!  I just really mean every word.  I gush, I gush!

We had a blast at the reception.  It was held at Chad's parents' home.  Their beautiful backyard was the perfect setting for the laid-back picnic vibe -- the dancing was off the hook, and as I said before, their music was fantastic.  Abby and Chad made all the cupcakes that were served.  My personal favorite were the pumpkin chocolate chip.

I am posting this last photo because of my insane jealousy of the wedding gift from Abby's boss, Bill Marhoefer.  Abby,  if someone ever breaks into your house and the only thing missing is this -- don't come looking for me, as I have already fled the country.   Ok, Mr & Mrs "Smear"  congratulations, once again, from the both of us.  We are so thrilled for you two.  We loved being a part of your day.  It meant so much to me that you asked me to be your Matron of Honor... I don't know if I fully expressed how special that made me feel.    And as your photographers, thank you for giving us a chance to work with you!  We had a blast, and love what we came away with!

See you around the 'hood.

Jake and Jennifer

Bo and Megan's Wedding in Analog

A few weeks ago I had the honor of being a groomsman in my cousin Bo's wedding.  I made my way up to Minnesota and brought 7, read it, SEVEN antique and toy film cameras! I had a lot of fun being IN a wedding party for a change, and it delighted my purist's heart to shoot only in film for the duration of the weekend.

Here are some shots from our Golf Outing, the Bachelor Party, the Rehearsal and the Wedding day.

Please enjoy!