Our Green Promise

For a while I didn’t know whether or not to discuss with the photography world about my green/eco-friendly ways, but since it is such a part of who I am I find its time to share. I added the information to my website also. Here is my Green Promise to my business…

“Being green” isn’t a marketing scheme or something I started to jump on the bandwagon; it’s a way of life both personal and business and has been for me for a while.

I strive to be as eco-conscious and “green” as possible, from switching to a reusable and sustainable (made from corn products) coffee cup for my morning coffee to eco-friendly pillow cases (made from bamboo fibers) to lay my head on at night and all things in between. Every choice that I make I try to make the best choice for the environment, picking the eco-friendly option, if available, whenever possible. I have always been a little bit of a nut when it comes to those things since I was in middle school and first learned about the environment and our impact, my mom told me though back then to stop worrying so much I was only one person and couldn’t stress too much about it. Over the last 15 plus years since she made that statement I have seen how wrong she was about our environmental impact (even though I still love her and she’s right about a lot of things) and one person can make a difference and now the world is learning that too. Every day I find a new product or service that has an environmentally friendly version. And I couldn’t be happier.

As a business owner I am so glad I get to make decisions, the right decisions, the environmentally friendly decisions about products and services we offer. I shop at certain office supply stores over others, not because of price but because they offer more eco options. I am trying to be 100% green business–although I know that until I switch over my car that won’t happen. I would love to drive a hybrid, but for now my nine year old car is hanging in there, and I don’t want to put it to waste just to get a new eco-friendly one (of course when I do I will donate parts and be sure they are reused or recycled if possible).

Below is just a quick list of what I (and my associates) currently do in my studio to be a green photographer.
• First we recycle anything and everything that we can, including paper, batteries and ink cartridges.
• We now use an environmentally conscious printer, ProDPI, and we choose the eco options for all materials we can.
• Our business cards our printed on 100% Post Consumer Waste and manufactured using 100% wind power.
• All materials such as contracts and package information are printed on the highest content recycled paper available or alternative papers such as cotton. We offer digital only versions when possible.
• We do not print proof products because it is wasteful, proofs are online and digital, final prints are chosen online and then only those are printed.
• We switched to Couture Books for our albums; their products are made from recycled materials (yet they are beautiful and fashion design inspired) and Couture Books also donate a portion of the profits from each both to a charity of our choice.
• All mail and packages are sent with minimal packaging and are made of recycled material.
• We have converted our flash batteries to rechargeable and we recycle all other batteries.
• Our office/home is cleaned with eco-friendly cleaners and we try to eat mostly organic foods and drinks when possible.
• We use reusable shopping bags, cups, and other reusable items if possible.
• When using two photographers for an event we carpool together. If events are in the city and close together or at same venue we use public transportation.
• We continue to educate ourselves about the environment and our impact, be up to date on new products available
• Discounts on photography packages for using environmentally friendly and sustainable vendors for your wedding/event.

Just Blog…Anything, just blog

“You just need to blog…anything. Instead of facebooking or twittering, blog. Even if its about the green stuff you love, anything. Just blog.” –Great words of advice from my fiancé, Jon.

And so why haven’t I blogged? Well I was on facebook too much and working tons…scratch that.. I just didn’t know where to begin, I have so much that I want to blog about, so many photos to share, where do I start…scratch that.. there is no good reason and without any definite starting point I am going to give a quick update of what I have been up to and how I am… (By the way for your One Life to Live fans I thought of that “scratch that” from Gigi’s speech last week. And okay I watch a soap opera, but only one and its the same one I have watched since as long as I can remember, lost it for awhile, but got to love DVR I can watch it again and a lot of the characters are still there, Vicki, Clint, Bo, Nora, Todd, Blair, Marty, 20 years later the old plots still intertwine with today’s stories)

We will think of this as a new beginning. With Spring arriving and Summer around the corner (although some of the weather could indicate otherwise in Chicago), and a new camera, I am like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Ready to spread my wings.

I got my new camera, the Canon 5D Mark II on May 9, 2009. And yes I know the date maybe I will even celebrate its anniversary every year. For it hasn’t even been a month with the new camera and already it is changing my life. A piece of equipment doesn’t define you, and a good photographer can make great images with any camera. But man this baby is amazing! It has opened my eyes and rekindled the flame of passion I have for photography. It has finally allowed me to make those photos that I see in my head come to life, just as I saw them.

I have longed for this camera—well or the original 5D before I knew the Mark II existed for years. The original 5D came out about a month or two after I made the switch to digital about four years ago I believe. The last of my film camera’s shutter went (yes you can wear those things out!) about a month before the end of the spring semester of my junior year at Columbia College Chicago. I was in a panic as I was in the middle of final projects and needed my camera. Purchasing another film camera at that point just didn’t make sense. So my dad offered an early graduation present and I got my first digital camera, Canon 20D. The salesman raved about the upcoming release of the 5D, but sadly we couldn’t wait, I needed a camera asap. I was always sad about the timing of it all. –Ironically I bought my second digital, the Canon 30D when the 20D’s shutter died during a project, just weeks before the new 40D came out. After fixing the 20D I began a two camera shooter, which worked well for freelancing for the newspaper. But for many of my main events like weddings, I borrowed a 5D from my friend Dan Ciskey; who I can not thank enough!!! What a great friend for letting me use his gear all the time! I showed Jon the differences in the photos and he said the 5D had this surreal quality to it and agreed as soon as I could I should buy one of my own. The days leading up to new camera day were so exciting, I had a “5D, 5D, 5D…” little dance. It was undescribable to finally buy the camera-and the new model, on my own terms when I was ready. I have to thank my fiancé for making the little happy dance possible. He loaned the business part of the money so I could get it at the right time just before the studio’s first wedding of the season, instead of waiting for some freelance checks. Isn’t he the best?!

Anyway see why I don’t blog all the time I babble too much…

Okay the short of it, so big change in my life I got a new camera! I even hurt my shoulder I was photographing too much with the new camera! Doctor said it was just “Frozen shoulder” and after a few days its already doing better, so back to photographing this weekend! In the last month I have photographed some amazing portraits of some people from my past, I will share them with you soon. I have also photographed a few beautiful weddings. (Photo posts coming soon, this is just a what have I been up to post)

Photography isn’t my whole life—although that’s hard to believe. Jon and I got engaged wow over a year ago, March 21, 2008 in San Diego. We are planning our wedding for 11-11-11 in Hawaii. Yes its going to be a 3 ½ year engagement total. A good friend of mine Terence Guider-Shaw told me the other day that his soon-to-be wife (on August 8th) was wondering, “Weren’t they engaged before us, and there wedding is when?” His response made me laugh, “I don’t question Tina, I just listen.” And sadly the way I babble sometimes I bet many of my friends and family could relate to that statement.

Well, being on the other side of things, the crazing planning, and bride-to-be side of things, really makes me understand my clients better. And I love that for three years I am going to be right there with them, stressing over details, hoping and dreaming for the perfect day, and handling all the little things that come up through the process of planning. I hope to try to include some of the plans on here, but also leave some things a surprise too. Jon and I are so excited to share Hawaii and of course our wedding with our friends and family. Planning a destination wedding from nearly 4,000 miles away does pose tons of challenges. My dad’s wife, Sarah, said about planning a wedding away from home, she doesn’t wish that on anyone. My dad and her got married about 4-5 years ago in Marquette, Michigan (a little trivia I was born there, but only lived there for about the first six months of my life, I have been in the Chicagoland area since). But I love destination weddings! -Although I guess I haven’t “planned” one yet I have photographed some, the furthest away so far was Amanda and Nick’s wedding in Jamaica.

Jon and I will be making our second trip to Hawaii (the first since being engaged) in January. It will be the only time I will get to meet with vendors and see sites before the wedding. Yikes! Okay I can’t even think about that right now.

Well in Chicago the wedding season is will just that a season, so some years in the off season I work in temp jobs to stay on the roller coaster that is seasonal photography. This year I am working at UIC again (or sorry out of state people that’s the University of Illinois at Chicago). I work in the Graduate Medical Education office, we deal with the medical residents, there are 850 of them each year. I do typical office things mostly lots of paperwork. But the people are great and I most days I like the work. But right now you can find me basically living on coffee and not sleeping too much.

This year I took a step back from the weddings, for various reasons. One was a possible relocation of my fiance’s job–and no I do not know anything new. We will let you know this fall. I do not want to make speculations anymore. I do know one thing I personally and the company will be in Chicago (Oak Park) until at least second week of October since I have several weddings here this fall. Chicago will always be home to me, my family and friends are here and I have been here my whole life. So whether we stay or go, I will always return for personal and business reasons. And I love to travel!

Also I am expanding to portraits. For years I have done portraits with weddings and for the newspapers-heck I even did some time at one of those “portrait studios,” so why not do it officially. And I am in love with portraits. I still photograph my way, photojournalism/documentary and candid fun. My session will be more day in the life type sessions lasting an hour or two. If you are interested please contact me and find out how you can get a discount for being my model until the end of July. Please look for an official announcement sometime in the Fall for a new website and portraits.

And lastly I am working with other studios to photograph weddings often, while only taking a few through my studio (about two a month) it allows me to concentrate on the editing and final products and better customer service for my clients but also keeps me fresh shooting for other companies.

Wow, what an update, took two days to write (got interrupted the first time). Well now I must get some photos ready to post for you to see. In the meantime, if you are on facebook, check out the photos there and say hi! Tina Jean Photography page and My personal page Oh and Follow me on Twitter if you want.

Jen and Ben: Engagement

Well with this year’s wedding season over and the winter chill in the air, that means its time to sit under a warm blanket, finish up editing photos and finally catch up on this blog.

I am going to skip the long stories tonight and just give you some images to look at. I have been trying out a few post production techniques as well so let me know what you think.
Okay I am going to start with some engagements and work my way up to the wonderful weddings from this season.

First, we head back to Iowa, which has become my home away from home this Fall. When I first met Jen and Ben in June I knew we would get along right away. They were so friendly. I could feel the love between them right away and as I got to know them more this October at their engagement session I saw how sweet together they really were.
I was so happy when they choose Iowa City for their engagement session. I love the city and the University of Iowa campus. Go Hawkeyes!

I loved the buildings there. The old capitol is one of my favorites. Even though the stairs are a little steep, just watch it when you walk backwards I played with some post production actions on this image.

I loved her adorable shoes! And I am crazy about butterflies so I was so excited to see her tattoo, too cute.

We were blessed with some beautiful light! Whenever possible I try to photograph engagements in that golden hour or two.

I love what little moments happen unexpectedly.

This is one of my new favorite poses! (I owe it to Melissa McClure for showing it to me during a engagement session swap we did this summer.)

I love her ring! It is so unique yet still classic and beautiful.

This is my favorite of the day and one of my favorite engagement photos I have taken. I just loved how she kicked her legs up. I used some textures and other post production actions to enhance my vision.

Ben and Jen will be married May 16, 2009 in Cedar Rapids. I can’t wait!

Election Day is finally here!

Please go out and vote Tuesday! Because we do have one day and our votes can make a difference!!!

It is the night before the election, and I can hardly sleep! -It’s as if I know after tomorrow the world-or at least America will Change. I have tried not to express my political views on here, for after all this is a “photo blog.” But this election means so much to me, and I am so proud to be a part of it, I wish that I could have done more to help spread the word, but my schedule just didn’t allow it. –But I wouldn’t change any of it. I love every minute of these past few months. They have been so busy, but I have been very blessed to have been along side many amazing couples and share in one of their most important days of their lifes-their weddings. I have traveled a lot and while I loved it, I am glad to finally put the suitcase away and just be at home-while at my office.

(I have not blogged any of the recent weddings because of my travels and I have been just trying to edit them and get the full weddings available. But I will share the weddings with you all soon, so you can see the ones that you may not have been involved in.)

However, for one day I want to think about the bigger picture, the future of America. For the first time I will be a part of the process, I will vote in a presidential election! I voted for the first time in any election this year when I voted in the primaries.

Why haven’t I voted before? I have been registered for years, but when it came down to it, I never got out and voted. I guess I always felt it didn’t matter much, I am a Democrat and I live in Illinois and well everyone knows that is ALWAYS a blue state without a doubt, its called years in advance. Which always makes me feel that my vote here, no matter which way I voted wouldn’t really matter. And I often wished I lived in Iowa or some other swing state–like Florida that just may happen.

However, this year something is different, I want to be a part of it, I want to be part of the process, and though it may not change the outcome of the state, I want the world to know that one more person believes! I heard a story today on NPR in Chicago during Talk of the Nation program, that gave me more hope that others are believing too. A 95-year-old woman, Florence Washington, from Virginia is also voting for the first time! Can you believe it? She said Obama inspired her to vote. My dad, who is in his fifties, also is supposed to vote for the first time. Although I do not talk politics too much with family, when the subject came up briefly he said it was important to him to vote so that it was one more vote and that was one more to help to historic numbers to show that more people voted for Obama than any other in history. He wanted to help write the history books.

I guess that’s really why we all vote, to have a voice, to be a part of history, to change the world, one vote at a time. As one of my mentors John H. White, a Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist, told us in photojournalism class, “as photographers we have the greatest job in the world, we have a front row seat to history.” Tomorrow I may not be in the front row in the Grant Park Election Night Rally for Obama, but I will be part of history as I walk into that voter booth and cast my ballot, and I have never been more proud and honored to do my part for my country.

Even as I write this blog I am moved to tears. Four years ago I was in the room, amongst the crowd of people, in Chicago as Barack Obama won the Senate election. As I photographed him and the crowd, and I listened to his heartfelt words and looked around the room at the faces of the American people, a diverse crowd, I knew that something in politics was going to change. I could just feel that there was something about him that was different, I knew that America had hope. And someday he would become president; I had no idea it would only be a few years for him to have the chance, and I am excited for the outcome. I hope that on Tuesday you all go out and cast your ballot for whatever your choice is, I hope it is informed and truthful.

Below is my choice and belief, may you each find your own and may you too find passion in the issues one way or the other, stand up for what you believe in.

I cannot believe that someone in politics could move me to tears. Barack Obama has done so many times. I am inspired in so may ways. I have included a couple videos that embody the spirit of Obama and the sense of the movement for change, the hope that he has given to all of us.

For more information on Barack Obama including the truth behind rumors, detailed information about the issues, more videos, and where to vote. Go to www.BarackObama.com

In Between Time…

I love photographing weddings and engagements! And I love the excitement and the little butterflies I get just like the bride in the moments leading up to the big day. I love the reaction from the couple and their loved ones when they seen the moments captured and they can relive them again through the images. However, I am never a fan of the in between time, the wait to get through all the photos and show them to you. I am exploring ways to bring those photos to you faster. And currently I am working on a few blogs and wedding previews. It has been a busy few weeks and it seems I am only home half the time–oh that’s cause I am I have been back and forth to Des Moines, Iowa three times in three weeks! And this weekend I will be in Galena, which is basically Iowa. I have one more engagement session today, which I am hoping the sun comes out in the next few hours. That is the third engagement this week. Man I love being surrounded by so much love!!! Well I had so much fun in Iowa, thank you so much to everyone for sharing your special day with me! I can’t wait to share them with all of you and I hope to bring you some blogs in the next couple days.

In the between time… please read up on the issues for the next election I am never one to preach politics-after all we all know the rule about not talking politics or religion with our family and friends. But I am excited for this historical election and I hope you all are too. And I will just say a few words briefly. Those of you that know me a lot or a little, probably have caught on to that fact that I am an environmentalist, in my business and my life. I may have even yelled at you about forgetting to recycle that plastic bottle or piece of paper Most of the stuff in my house and office is eco-friendly, including all recycled paper and an eco-friendly hard drive–I will write a post sometime about being green and the easy things you can do too, and the things that I do in my business.

But for now I just wanted to mention how much I love Obama’s energy plan and his beliefs for the environment. Also I love his higher education plan and wished that it was in place for me and all of you that went to college recently and still feel the pain of the high costs and student loans. And while his health care plan may still not be perfect, it is much better than the alternative $5,000 health care credit which would lead to all sorts of problems. –Now I could go on and on about the debates and the issues and who I think will run the country best-OBAMA! But I don’t want to ever push political views on anyone so enough about that but I will say that this election is very important, and as many of you reading this are around my age (late 20’s), the policies written now will be writing our futures, we really should all get involved. So learn about the issues and where your candidate stands, while I hope that you all vote democrat, I respect everyone’s opinion. A lot of you live in Iowa or Colorado, both states which mean a lot in this election, so please go out and vote on November 4. And here’s some reading for you to help you decide http://www.barackobama.com/

Well I will have some more photo blogs with some love stories for you soon. I hope you are all enjoying Fall. Best Wishes and Congratulations to all the newly married and engaged couples!

Gmail Issues and Away

Hey everyone I can not believe it is already nearly October! Well I am stock piling some blogs for you all!!
However, currently I am working on returning emails and editing photos. There has been some issues with my gmail today. Currently I can see the emails I have but can’t open any of them. The issue has been going on for several hours, I am hoping it is just a temporary problem. In any case, please know that your email is important and I am looking into the problem to get back to you right away. If it is not fixed in the next 48 hours I will start calling you all if I have your number or looking for another email account to send you a note from. Thank you so much for your patience.

Also please note I am continuing my many weeks in a row with weddings in Iowa, so every weekend I will be in Iowa and not in the office. I will be in the office only 3-4 days a week. I will be responding to all messages when I return from each trip Monday evenings-Wednesdays. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I look forward to talking with you soon!

Dan and Kelley Got Engaged!

A couple weekends ago I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Dan and Kelley. I absolutely love these two! It was a great day, we traveled to most of the iconic Chicago landmarks. And I even learned something in the process. Dan and I go way back, we met in high school sometime, I think at a football game, and if you know Dan that seems about right. Dan went to another high school but lived within our high school’s boundary, so we had a lot of mutual friends. My high school sweetheart actually went to Dan’s school. Over the years it was amazing to find out just how many friends and connections we had.

We remained friends in high school, but as our paths took us different ways in college we lost touch. We finally reconnected a year or two ago through the wonderful social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook. (click links to check out my pages) He knew of my photography business and he had a chocolate fountain business–yummy!

Then I was so happy when I heard that he got engaged on New Years 2008! (story in a moment) He immediately thought of me for the photography, I was so honored, but worried as it took several attempts before we got a date in October that worked for them and I was free. I am so happy it worked out and I can’t wait for their wedding in Hoffman Estates on October 25!

I was so excited to meet Kelley and she’s everything I could have wished for my friend, these two are both the sweetest and kindest people you will meet-oh yeah and they both have great sense of humors and are so much fun to be around!

We started their engagement session in Millennium Park and then headed to Grant Park. I love how the park looks different all the time. I joked with them when they wanted to photograph there, since it seems everyone wants to go there. For many years I lived only a few blocks from there, so I know the parks well. But I am truly amazed every time and with each season how it can all look different and new. I enjoy taking couples there and showing them around.

So Dan and Kelley’s story is so cute, a love at first sight kind of fairytale it was fate story…But first one more photo from the park. You can tell being around these two, just how much they love each other.

Kelley had just moved to Illinois at the last minute from West Virginia just a week prior, it was Dan’s 25th birthday and Kelley went with some mutual friends to the celebration at Famous Freddies Roadhouse. (Ironically at first Dan’s older brother tried to hit on Kelley, but she figured she was too old for him.) Kelley unknowingly sat across the table from the birthday boy, Dan, and they started to talk…the great conversation lasted all night. Dan finally got the courage to ask for her phone number . Of course, just as soon as he asked, someone at the table had jokingly hidden his phone from him, he embarrassingly was looking everywhere for it. It was an amusing site, and he did still get her phone number. After the night was over, Dan called her immediately upon getting home and then set up their first date. They got together the next night and have been pretty much inseparable since. Dan figures he couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present!

Here we are at a hidden gem in the city, one of my favorite walls, tucked away in a parking lot. It was fun trying to find it again, it’s tough without Melissa McClure (this is our wall, we found it together a couple years ago and return to it again and again, its easier to find when you have two people who knows where it is.) Thanks for being patient with me Dan and Kelley while we went up and down stairs, in one entrance, followed by another, through elevators, and finally found it, so worth it!

On this past New Year’s Eve Dan made sure that it would just be the two of them together to celebrate New Years. As the day and night progressed, Kelley was getting really upset because she had left New Year’s plans up to him and he hadn’t planned anything fun!

Just before midnight, Dan sat himself on the floor next to where Kelley was sitting on their couch. When it turned to Midnight, he turned around and said “Happy New Year!” followed by “Will you marry me?” Kelley was so shocked that she immediately responded with “Are you serious?!” and then realized he was holding a ring in his hand. After a few seconds a “Yes, of course!” was recited.

Classic Tina Jean photo, I love finding reflections everywhere, Dan and Kelley looked at me a little strange when I asked them to sit on the ground next to the black wall above. This area was filled with beautiful architecture, unexpected, historical and even some hidden.

This is my favorite photo of the day! I just love this hidden courtyard.

Thank you Dan and Kelley for spending the day with me. I can’t wait until your wedding.

Katie and Mike are married!

Well I already shared their first look with you a couple weeks ago, so I am going to skip right to the ceremony, since I gave away the surprise. Katie looked stunning. It was a hot day in July, but despite the heat Mike and Katie still looked amazing and in so much love. Katie and Mike met in high school and were in the same circle of friends–they actually told me they remember meeting in Mike’s parents mini van when they went to go see “Men in Black” with some friends. They officially started dating in college. And their love continued to blossom like the fields of wildflowers they hiked through on their way to Tuhare Lakes near Minturn, Co, where Mike asked Katie to marry him. They now live in Boulder, Colorado. They were married at the beautiful Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. (It is now when of my favorite venues).

Katie and Mike chose to have a First Look and see each other before the ceremony. I always love it when couples choose this, it allows for much more relaxed photos. We took full advantage of the time we were given and after a tram ride with the group I was able to sneak Katie and Mike away for a few photos alone. Katie really wanted a photo by a tree, and after finally searching the whole arboretum she found the perfect tree.

I love the simplicity of a couple walking away. Here Katie and Mike are done with photos and are walking to prepare for the moments before the ceremony. So they are walking to begin their future together.

I always love the moment the father so proudly and lovingly gives away his daughter to her husband-to-be. Here Katie’s dad, Lee, shakes Mike’s hand, while Mike’s dad looks on in the background. It was great to see how close the families were since they knew each other since their kids were friends since high school.

With this ring…

When I saw this flower later at the reception, I knew I had to use it for the ring shot.

Just married!

The flowers were amazing. From the ones Katie carried to the unique centerpieces that filled the reception. And I loved these amazing wooden chairs with this leaf shape. The flowers were done by Dave’s Floral in Naperville.

Everyone had so much fun at the reception.

I started experimenting with some post production processes, including simply black and white and sepia tone. These two were some of my favorite moments of the day.

Even I had to hold back tears as both Katie’s mom and Katie’s dad gave emotion filled speeches. Later Mike’s dad made us laugh when he mentioned that Mike pointed out his wife as a young boy, as he said “that’s her.” His parents at the time thought he was pointing to his new baby sister, but now joke that it was his future wife he really had his eye on. His sister and Katie where born at the same hospital and on the same day I believe. -Which yesterday was both of their birthdays. So happy belated birthday to you both!

Although they may have had many dances together, here they are in their first dance together as husband and wife.

Congratulations Katie and Mike! I can’t wait to see you guys in Colorado for your Ever After session sometime next year. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day. I wish you both much love and happiness.

Catching Up

Okay my beloved blog readers, clients, friends and future friends, I know you are thirsty for more blogs like you are craving an icy cold beverage on a hot summer day… and we have had our fair share of hot summer days! Its been crazy lately, with those insane storms on Monday, extremely hot days and the exciting Cubs season–oh yeah and of course a very busy wedding season.

So Monday I started my day around 5am–ironically its Thursday around 5am as I write this and I am finishing my Wednesday really as I have not gone to bed from the day before. It started with an engagement session around 6am, yes AM I was hoping for that beautiful sunrise early morning light and they said they loved early morning and were naturally up that early. Well our day started with some overcast at Diversey Harbor, luckily the groom-to-be had foresight to tell us not to walk but to drive to the next location, because as we photographed along North Avenue Beach we saw the light grey skies turn to a greenish black in a matter of minutes. We hurried back to the car just before the rain began to fall. Those of you that were in Chicago on this Monday, August 4, know that was only the beginning and the morning storm was just a small taste of the storms that were to follow that evening. This morning (well Wednesday not right now) as I waited for my first of two cups of coffee I would drink today at Starbucks I glanced down and saw the headline in the Chicago Tribune, it read…

“In a Flash, Heavens Roared”
followed by this remarkable numbers….
90,000 thunderbolts had hit northern Illinois
6 months worth of lightning strikes in one night
[in 4 hours really]
800 bolts per minute at the storms peak

I was–still am amazed by those numbers! I don’t have any photos of the lightning strikes, why? Well because I was hiding in our basement. The tornado siren went off not once but twice! For those of you that know me know how afraid I once was of tornados, growing up I was convinced that was how I was going to die. I had many many dreams about tornados. Now I am not as afraid but still when it comes to tornado warnings I take them seriously. [side note on some interesting tornado things: NPR show This American Life did a great piece involving tornado and the prom-made me cry, and there is also a tv show on Planet Green about a town in Kansas called Greensburg that was wiped out by a tornado and is now rebuilding it green.]

So when the tornado sirens sounded I grabbed two of my external hard drives in a bag with one hand–yes even in the face of danger I think about protecting images, and my puppy in the other and headed down to the basement. I knew from the morning and the green skies that a tornado was very possible. It took Jon until the second siren and some insane winds for him to finally join me in the basement. We watched through the glass block windows and occasionally we would get gutsy and crack open the tiny window for a peek. We just saw flash after flash it seemed almost continuous.
After awhile the winds calmed and so did the rain and lightning. And Chicago went back to sunny, hot summer days.

The storm wasn’t just a storm for me, it was symbolic of feelings I have felt lately. Its hard to put into words, and will probably make far more sense inside my own head and memory. Like the bolts of lightning producing more lightning strikes in one night than in six months I feel like I am producing more photos-and editing, in the last two months than in the last eight. Its a great thing, but hard to contain, like so many lightning bolts a minute. Lately, I have been running on two coffee days–I cut down to a maximum one shot espresso drink a day several years ago in jr. college and have been that way ever since, even less than that most days. I feel too like a tornado and what it symbolizes in dreams and in life. But today after having some amazing eye opening conversations with a couple family members, I feel the calm after the storm and I have a new remarkable lightning bolt energy.

Well I will begin to catch up on my blogs with a hot summer day in July–and I mean hot. My aunt who lives in Florida said that week she saw Chicago was hotter than Orlando area (Melbourne), I had also checked many cities then, it was hotter here than most of the country.
But despite the heat, the sun was perfectly shining and it was a perfect day for a wedding in the garden. It was July 11….

Please continue to next post.
[hopefully immediately following, but if the coffee wears off, following a few hours later]

First Look-Katie and Mike

What is a “First Look” and why should someone choose it?

First Look is a moment between the bride and groom where they get to see each other for the first time on their wedding day. In the traditional wedding sense this moment happens as the bride walks into the church or ceremony location and begins to walk down the aisle. But as wedding photography changes and becomes more documentary and photojournalistic and more emphasis is placed on wedding photos, more and more couples are opting for a more intimate first look. I couldn’t be happier! While I respect those couples that want to be traditional and wait to see each other until the ceremony, I love it when they choose to have a First Look, see each other before and take photos before.
There are so many reasons why I love this choice!

If a couple decides to see each other before the ceremony, I always recommend we set up the First Look moment for them. There are many ways to do it, you could have your bridal party or close family, but in most cases it is just the couple-and of course the photographers to capture the moment.

Katie and Mike were married in the hedge garden at the Morton Arboretum on July 11. They choose to take photos before hand so we could have some fun around the Arboretum’s beautiful grounds before the ceremony. And then afterwards they were free to enjoy their reception and spend more time with their guests.

We set up a First look for them in a quiet secluded garden. Mike patiently waited on a bench with his back to the tree lined path as Katie walked up. Here are my favorite photos of their First Look. I kept my distance so I didn’t hear what was said, but by the looks on their faces, I am sure Mike said how beautiful Katie looked and they both expressed their deep love for each other which everyone could feel throughout the day.

Here’s one of the main reasons I love the first look choice, because not only do you get to talk to each other privately, without all your guests watching, but you also get to be right next to each other the moment you see each other, so you can hug and kiss.

Here is my favorite. This just shows the emotion, the happiness and excitement of the day. This is what First Looks are all about, capturing in one frame that reaction and that special moment when two people so much in love see each other all dressed up and it sinks in that today is their wedding and one of the happiest days of their life.

Thank you Katie and Mike for allowing me to share this moment and your special day with you! Here’s your first look. I will share a full post with more wedding photos soon!