Today I had fun going around Chicago with Kelley and Dan for their engagement session. I have known Dan since high school, although we went to different schools, we lived in neighboring towns, about an hour outside the city.

After going to school at Columbia College in the loop and living in Chicago for more than three years I have learned a lot about the city and I love showing people around Chicago’s famous landmarks and hidden places. We wondered through Millennium Park and of course saw Cloud Gate also known as The Bean, we walked through Grant Park and saw the Rose Garden and Buckingham Fountain. I showed them the hidden colorful mural in the parking garage, that I had just a little trouble finding without Melissa (We stumbled upon it together about a year ago and have photographed it together twice now, its our little secret, including during our joint engagement session). I also showed them a hidden courtyard by Michigan Avenue. But my favorite part of the day was when they showed me something new. So while I am still editing the photos of today’s session, I wanted to share with you an interesting fact I learned today about a city I thought I knew a lot about. Every day you can learn something new.

Here’s a photo of Dan and Kelley in a doorway of the Tribune Tower. If you look closely at the stones on the right hand side of the frame you will notice something unique about them. There are a few stones that are actually from different buildings. The Tribune Tower contains over 120 stones or fragments from historical sites around the world. In this photo, taken in the Pioneer Court section of the Tribune Tower, is a rock from the Mt. Pentelicus Quarry, which is where the marble used in the Parthenon in 447 BC was found, and a rock from the Fortess Walls of Cartagena in Colombia. There are also rocks from the Alamo, For more information about the rocks, go see them for yourself or check out the report written about the rocks by Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park.

I can’t believe I didn’t know about these rocks and the history behind the pieces of the Tribune Tower. My fiance, Jon was excited about the stones too and we can’t wait to go explore them some more. Thank you Dan and Kelley for teaching me something amazing today and for so much fun in the city. I will post more photos from today soon. I look forward to your wedding in October!

Last weekend I was in Des Moines, Iowa again. It is beginning to feel like my second home. (my fiance is from Urbandale, a suburb of Des Moines, so I guess it kind of is like home.) In September and October this fall I will be there nearly every weekend! Every time I visit I love it more and more. Everyone I met from there is amazing and Andrea and Tommy were no exception!!

I met Andrea the last time I was in Des Moines in April. We met for coffee and I knew right away that we would get along great. I think we would have talked all day if our schedules allowed it. Since the moment I met Andrea and heard all about her and Tommy I could not wait for their engagement session! Andrea was full of fun ideas for the photo shoot. -I think she actually looked at more magazines and photography sites than I have. Which if you know me this is very hard to do. I am a magazine junkie, especially wedding and photography ones. I used to be bad before, but now that I am a bride-to-be myself its ridiculous! Well I loved that she knew what she wanted. She sent me examples so I really got to know what style she liked and a vision she had for the day. Andrea had scouted the locations, she had a list of where we were to go. At first I wasn’t sure her large list was possible. However, in the end we had so much fun the time seemed to fly by! Thank you Andrea and Tommy for a fun filled Saturday! I hope the photos live up to your visions Andrea.

My apologies for the long post, but I had such a hard time picking my favorites, there were so many!

After meeting at Dairy Queen we headed to downtown Des Moines. There is a bronze looking building across from the Capitol Building that has a great reflection of the Capitol Building and a beautiful green lawn.

I love reflections!

And I love shadows!!

After hanging out at the Capitol, it was off to Gray’s Lake-but first a detour! Its always great when I can ride with the couple so that I can scream, “Pull over there!” when I see something cool. In this case I saw a decorated wooden wall.

As an added bonus it was across the street from the new Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines which includes the “John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park,” named after the donors of the sculptures. Here we are having some fun in the Nomad by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Fun fact: Plensa also designed the Crown Fountains in Chicago’s Millennium Park.

Then I got to see Des Moines’s “beach” at Gray’s Lake.

I thought the giant people outside the bathroom walls were so funny. I never seen anything like it. So Andrea and Tommy humored me by taking some photos with them.

So we really were lucky, it seems like everything was perfect for the engagement session. We had perfect weather, mid to high seventies, mostly blue skies and sunshine, and a little wind for fun movement. And every where we went we found little gems! Like at Gray’s Lake we found this beautiful patch of tall grass (something I look for in every shoot-it’s really a Tina Jean shoot when I am laying on my stomach photographing through the grass!). It was a little marshy like, but Andrea and Tommy were troopers and sat on the ground anyway. Thanks guys! I think it was worth it!

Then we went across the street to Water Works Park. I was hoping to find an Apple tree or Crab Apple tree with the blossoms, and my fiance’s aunt, Denny, suggested Water Works, she said it was in full bloom. I was not prepared though to find possibly the most beautiful Crab Apple tree I’d ever seen with pretty pink blossoms! It was breathtaking. Andrea (and myself) couldn’t stop smelling it!

I found out later, according to the Water Works website, the park has one of the world’s largest collections of flowering crab apple trees. I recommend everyone in the Des Moines area see the trees in full bloom! And call me next Spring, I’d love to photograph there again!

And finally we went to Ankeny, a town north of Des Moines, to Andrea’s aunt’s place. She had a beautiful piece of land and there was an old farm nearby. Sadly most of it is under construction, because the town of Ankeny is trying to build a ramp from the interstate right through the property! It was sad to know that in a short time the beautiful land would be filled with cars and highway. I wish Andrea’s family the best in their fight for the preservation of the land.

Sometimes people will ask me to recreate an image I made or they saw somewhere. Which is always interesting. I love when people share ideas and I keep them in the back of my mind. However, each love story is different. And no two photos are the same. But sometimes when you are trying to recreate something-as was the case with one of my own photos that Andrea loved-you get something else that’s just as great and it’s something unique to the couple. You may see a resemblance to a photograph from Jenny and Eric’s session on my website and on the blog’s banner, however I love them both for their differences too!

And here is maybe my favorite one from the day (although that’s tough to choose)

Andrea and Tommy I had so much fun! I can’t wait for your wedding in September in the Rose Garden at Greenwood Park behind the Art Center!

Last weekend I met Amanda and Nick in Millennium Park for their engagement session. There was a chill in the air and a few clouds in the sky, but that didn’t stop us from having some fun! We started off with a stroll in the park. [edited to post: click on photo to see correct photo, sorry not sure why the thumbnail in the post is a different image.]

Amanda and Nick both had their eyes on each other their freshmen year at Augustana College but they finally met when it counted on the first day of Winter term of their sophomore year. Amanda was running a little late for Psychology Statistics class and quickly grab a seat in the back, which just happened to be at the table next to Nick. It took only a few weeks of class before they started studying together, and then the rest is history.

Their engagement story is one of the cutest I have ever heard! Makes me smile and tear up at the same time. They tell it best in their own words on their wedding website, so here is their story…

“Nicholas asked Amanda to marry him on February 2, 2007. Amanda had just come home from her evening class at the University of Toledo. She was tired from a long day of subbing and going to school. However, when she walked into the house that evening, she knew Nicholas was up to something. The lights were dim, there were candles lit, their song was playing on the stereo (“I’ve Got You Under my Skin” by Frank Sinatra), her favorite flowers decorated the room, and Nicholas was sitting on the floor holding the our dogs, Ty and Ruby. As soon as she walked in, he let go of Ruby and she had a ribbon tied around her neck with a small sign on it that said, “Amanda Christine.” Then he let go of Ty. Ty also had a ribbon tied around his neck with a small sign that said, “Will you marry me? (Nicholas not Ty).” (Nicholas wanted to make sure Amanda knew who was proposing.) When Amanda turned around Nicholas was down on one knee and he said, “Amanda, will you marry me?” Of course she jumped up and down and said, “YES!” After the proposal he took her out to a wonderful Italian dinner.”

So back to last weekend’s engagement session…

It took us a little while to get warmed up. But then Nick said something I am going to just tell everyone in the beginning of engagement shoots, “Oh I get it you want us to act cheesy!” he said playfully. So after that we got lots of fun “cheesy” romantic shots, which were more natural and fun then when I said to act natural. Well thank you Nick and Amanda now I know just what to say to make my couples laugh, let loose and get to see their real personalities.

I loved this painted wall blocking the new construction for the Modern wing of the Art Institute.

Amanda and Nick had a lot of fun when I asked them to get closer.

After walking around the park a couple times, and making sure we avoided those parking police, we headed up to North Avenue Beach. I thought it would be a great idea to have some beach photos since their wedding is going to be on a beach. However, it was the grassy part of the beach we had some of the most fun in-especially Amanda. I am not sure what was said, as I was using the long lens, but next thing I know Amanda was pushing Nick playfully onto the ground. Nick was laughing despite the very large piece of bark sticking into his back, how could anyone have known that was there. I think he’s okay, still smiling.

And a few more along the lakefront

I can’t wait for Amanda and Nick’s wedding on July 5 in Negril, Jamaica!

Corey and Angie are so much fun, my face nearly hurt from all the smiling and laughing I did during there engagement session. They really knew how to show a girl the town, including a stop for Margaritas! We started in Golden, then headed up to Boulder, then to downtown Denver! We really saw it all from the tops of mountains to the city and yes even llamas! Each area felt like a different engagement session, so I am going to post it as such. It is my way of leaving you all in suspense too. So we begin Corey and Angie’s love story (more details on how they met and such in the next post) in Golden, a small town outside of Denver, with a wild west town feel. Complete with a sign on the main street that reads, “Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden Where the West Lives.” I had to take their picture under it. So naturally I asked them to stand in the street, only a few minutes in to the session they thought I was kidding and laughed, but I assured them if they were up for it anything could happen. And so we started our adventure!

The night before I stayed at the Table Mountain Inn. Thank you Corey and Angie! I loved this place and I highly recommend it to anyone. I feel in love with the balcony and the architecture right away.

The Coors Brewing Company is right near town. If you are visiting there I hear they give tours of the factory.

None of us could believe there were really llamas walking down the main street, Washington, so we had to get a closer look!

And this was the moment I knew this couple was special and I was in for a fun filled day, well it happened immediately after we saw the llamas. Corey stopped an old man carrying flowers and asked if we could borrow them for just a moment, then Angie and Corey had some fun. The stranger was so kind to let us borrow them and he wished Angie and Corey best wishes. He said it was great they could take photos with them as the flowers were for his wife for their anniversary. Angie, I wish you receive many more flowers from Corey for your many happy years together.

Next stop will be the mountaintops of Boulder, Margarita time, and some college sports fun! Stay tuned.

So I just returned from many days traveling, I have been to several cities and I have so many stories, including two other love stories, Corey & Angie and Jason & Sara, I was in Denver photographing their engagement sessions. I promise you guys to get these photos up shortly, hopefully by Wednesday after I get settled back in after traveling since the 14th. But first I must write about this last trip while it is fresh in my mind… I am so excited I can hardly contain myself!

Wow where even to begin…

Okay some background…My boyfriend, Jon Harle, and I have been dating for three and a half years. We met when I transferred to the downtown Chicago Cheesecake Factory in September of 2004. I was planning to move to the city a month later, I was attending Columbia College downtown, and tired of commuting an hour from the suburbs. Jon had just moved from Iowa that May after graduating from Loras College. I met him just briefly my first day at the restaurant, I kept confusing him with this other guy who I switched shifts with. The next day I got on the Red Line EL and he happened to be on the same train and in the same car, what are the odds? So we talked the whole way to work and then all night at work. He asked me out for a drink after work. I remember just being amazed with him. And we have been nearly inseparable since.

So here’s the rest of our love story.

Jon and I love to travel. And I hate winter in Chicago. So Jon planned a surprise vacation for me. I knew that we were going somewhere since I had to clear my calendar, but I had no idea where. Well Jon kept it a surprise for over a month. It was agonizing, I really wanted to know where we were going, I didn’t think it was going to be so hard not knowing. I bugged him all the time to tell me, I guessed and sometimes he gave clues. The week before I had it narrowed down to places Jet Blue airline flew to and places that the temperature was currently 60-70 degrees, oh also inside the continetal US. So you could draw a line across the southern part of the US. Jon tried to trick me and tell me it wasn’t the West coast. While I was in Denver he spilled the beans to my family about the location, I found this out the night before when we dropped off our dog. I couldn’t believe they knew and not me, so later that night he told me that the state was in fact California, I was so excited for I love California and we hope to make it our home some day!

On the morning of March 18th we woke up before dawn and rushed out of the house, I hadn’t had much sleep and wasn’t feeling too well. I complained of the icky feeling and Jon said, “Would it make you feel better if we were going to Disneyland?!!” I said “Really, Really…? YES!!” And from then on I always had a smile on my face! I couldn’t believe it!! Disney was our first vacation together, in Orlando over three years ago. Jon has said before it was there he fell in love, after spending so much time together. We said our first “I love you”s shortly after that trip.

We flew in Long Beach, the smallest cutest airport. Here’s a photo of it. Over the course of the trip I came up with a new word, oldtimey. And I found lots of uses: oldtimey airport, oldtimey beetle cars or slug bugs, and my favorite oldtimey photo booths!

When we arrived we went to Burbank to attend a taping of “The Price is Right” which we both loved as kids. We were not contestants, but we were VIP and got right behind contestant row. The experience was amazing, it was so much fun!! The show airs April 14th on CBS be sure to look for us, I am sure you will see us. It was an exciting show too! And there was a lady on the show from Algonquin, IL (the neighboring town where I grew up). No photos were allowed inside the television studio so here we are outside wearing our name tags.

Our second day we went to Disneyland, all day, literally open to close. We went to both Disneyland and California Adventure. It was just as magical and enchanting (as I called the castle the first time) on our first trip. We loved Soaring over California ride along with the Pier area with California Screaming and the romantic ferris wheel in California Adventure. Jon loves how worked up I get before every rollercoaster, I freak out a little I am just so scared, but then afterward I love it and want to go again!

Highlights of Disneyland were Space Mountain, Indiana Jones and the magic of being at the place where it all started. My favorite moment of the day was the fireworks display! We found a great place on Main Street with the castle centered and in a great line of sight and not too crowded. I can’t even describe the firework display it was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Jon’s arms were around me as we stood and watched. I was so happy I was moved nearly to tears. I didn’t take any photos, I just enjoyed the fireworks and was so wrapped up in the moment. The fireworks started with “When You Wish Upon a Star,” and I couldn’t have even dreamed the rest of the perfect vacation.

On Thursday we drove from Anaheim to San Diego. I was so excited, I had been there once in 2002 and I loved it. I often told Jon that I wanted to go back with him because he would love it. We walked around Balboa Park a little it was beautiful enjoying it with Jon by my side. Then we headed to Coronado Island we walked around the Hotel Coronado and the beach. It was great learning about the 120 year history. Then we headed to the Brigantine Grill a delicious seafood place for dinner. After dark we left the island and we stopped in La Jolla to check out the shopping and art galleries. We didn’t make it too far we went to two galleries, the Fingerhut Gallery, which had Dr. Seuss prints. Jon loves Dr. Seuss and I promise him someday we will own a print! Then we went to the Peter Lik gallery. He is an amazing landscape and nature photographer he shoots mostly large and medium transparencies. The colors, the prints and the compositions are amazing! We had seen a couple of his galleries in Hawaii. One of my favorites is “Blush,” and the friendly salesperson Mathew showed us that print and I really think Jon was considering going home with it! But lucky he thought about it, since I didn’t yet know what I would be taking home with me! After that we were done “shopping” for the night!

Friday, March 21, our last full day of vacation started as the others but would later come to be a day I will never forget. We ate an early lunch at a little place back in La Jolla, we stayed in Del Mar, kind of close to Torrey Pines Golf Course, so La Jolla was very close to us. We had no real plans for the day, as was the case the day before, we did know we were going to watch the sunset on Mission Beach. We were going to find the Caves in La Jolla but after a little while we decided to continue on our day to make it to the beach on time. I found in a guidebook an Aircraft Carrier tour. Jon loves them so I suggested we go there, I knew it would mean a lot to him. It was neat to see all the details including the captian’s quarters, engine room and the flight deck which was filled with different kinds of jets. I took many photos, almost too many of Jon touring the carrier.
I probably have photos of him in every little area and with most of the planes. But here is a simple photo of him in front of his favorite plane there a F/A-18 Hornet, a Strike Fighter.

And here is a photo of me goofing around by the plane, taken by Jon.

Afterward we headed to the Mission Beach to find a place for dinner. After driving up the main strip we picked a busy bar and grill. Since it was busy we thought it was good, it was but it was busy due to NCAA tournament. We each had delicious cheeseburgers, I had a root beer float too, I felt like a kid again. Jon got to watch some basketball.

About an hour before the sunset we walked along the beach. I had told Jon about the beach and how much it meant to me when I was there in 2002 by myself. I was there for a photography convention, and besides the convention and the amazing people I met, my favorite memory was walking along Mission Beach. I was so happy and at peace and that feeling was never so strong as then. When I told him the story he said let’s go there our second day in San Diego for sunset. He knows how I love sunsets (and sunrises) and the colors and feelings they create. I love to photograph them.

So we walked for a few minutes, I talked about how many different beaches we walked on over the last few years, San Francisco, Tampa, Coco Beach, and countless beaches on Maui and Oahu, and then now San Diego. The sun was shining brightly in the perfectly blue sky. Jon asked me if I wanted to sit in the sand. I was a little surprised I had black pants on, rolled up, and he had jeans on. I walked barefoot and he had his shoes on. He looked really nice in a button down shirt. So we sat down in each others arms, just enjoying the moment. I laid my head in his lap and looked up at him against the blue sky, his blue eyes were so beautiful.

Throughout the vacation I had said several times how it was the perfect surprise and the perfect vacation. I was so happy I couldn’t use any word to describe it but perfect. I mentioned the perfect blue sky and how beautiful it was. Then Jon said “Do you know what would make this the perfect vacation?” I just said a puzzled, “What?” even though I knew what would, I just didn’t want to say because I didn’t think that’s what he was going to say, but he did! He said “If I asked you one question…Will you marry me?” I was speechless. He showed me the ring that sparkled in the sunshine and then placed it on my finger, as he said, “this is for you”. I just keep questioning “Really? Really?” I couldn’t believe it was really happening!! I didn’t even say an answer to the question I was so excited to hear! So he asked again and I officially said yes!

Here we are moments after the big moment taken by Jon in the exact place he proposed. He is getting good at the together self portraits!

Afterward we walked more along the beach and then watched the sun set together. Here’s the sunset we watched just a while later further down the boardwalk. A funny side story, Jon and I drove down to the beach the night before, just so I made sure I remembered the beach it was. It was dark and late, we took one of the side streets that dead end at the beach, but it didn’t look like it was a dead end really, it looks like it was a little road or alley way like a T intersection. Since it was dark we couldn’t see the ocean for sure, so Jon turned down the street, it looked quiet and odd, but there was plenty of space for two cars and a yellow line dividing the lanes. But we quickly realized this was the boardwalk! And we were driving on it! How was that even possible. I was freaking out yelling at Jon to get off of it and how or why did he get on it. Somehow we got on at one of the few points where you could. Bikers and pedestrians are raising their arms at us and some yell. About a half a mile down we found a spot we could squeeze out. And once we were off of it we just started laughing. I was sorry for yelling, and found it funny. We chuckled on Friday as we walked along the same boardwalk we drove on the night before.

Here is another photo of us taken at sunset by a nice stranger. I am not sure it still sunk in. But I was so happy!

There was a little carnival by the sea, Belmont Park, so we played mini golf and skee ball. We were like little kids. And we took photos in a photo booth, something I have wanted to do with him for years. Here’s the photo strip. I think the flash was a little strong and made for really hot highlights, but I still love it!

The surprise trip and the surprise engagement were perfect in every way.

I know you all want to see photos of the ring, like my aunts! So I will post some soon. Me and the ring have scheduled a studio session

Jon and I have decided on 11-11-11 and a destination wedding, we hope to have it in Hawaii but we are still looking into all our options, Southern California may be possible too. 11 has always been special to both of us. His birthday is 11-22-81 and mine is 01-22-81. And we both wore 11 playing soccer when we were younger. We know its a long engagement but we want to enjoy it and not be rushed to plan a wedding. Plus we hope that by giving time we can all save and our close friends and family can attend and make it an event to remember!

I just had an amazing Saturday in Colorado with Angie and Corey for their engagement session! I couldn’t believe we went all over the greater Denver area. We started in Golden, then up to the mountains and to Boulder, then to Denver. I got to see all the best of the area in one day, with two of the greatest people.

I knew we were going to have fun right away! Especially when we saw some random llamas walking the streets of Golden, Corey and Angie actually seemed more excited than me to pet them and take photos with them, which is surprising given my love for odd photos and animals. But having just met them I held back my excitement.

Here’s a little teaser of their engagement session. This photo makes me laugh and I think it’s a great preview of our “no plans, anything could happen, go anywhere” photo session.

Thank you Angie and Corey for an unbelievable day!! I can’t wait until your wedding. I will post more photos from the session soon.

But for now it’s off to bed, I have another fun filled day tomorrow with Sara and Jason where we will explore Denver more. I am so excited!!