TUESDAY, APRIL 28 - 10 PM - CBS CHANNEL 2

On Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 10 p.m. on CBS Channel 2, an organization that I volunteer for will be featured: NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP. They spoke with a family that I photographed last year this time about their son, Daniel. And they spoke with me about why I volunteer.

NILMDTS provides bereavement photography for families. When I learned about the organization, I thought how could I not do this. You can learn about the organization at www.nilmdts.org.

In case you miss it, be sure to check it out at http://cbs2chicago.com/.

Pregnant Shoot

Yep... it was bound to happen sooner or later... one of my brides eventually having a baby... Seems to be the next logical step for married couples, right? I mean, if they already have a condo and a few pets, right?

Michelle is due in about 4 weeks and I spent a little time with her earlier this week to snap a few images with her big belly from here to Timbuktu.

Not having children myself (just nieces and nephews), I have often wondered about the bond between a mother and child. How you bring a life into this world?! How you can love something so much! Your drive to protect it! Your desire to nurture it and see it grown!

Though, like I said, I am not a mother, but I am my mother's child. There has never been a day in my life, not one moment, when I ever doubted the profound love my mother felt for me. When I remember her, I am not filled with sadness but incredible gratitude that she was mine. It is because of her, because of a mother's love... that I can only begin to imagine that that is the closest thing to what God's love is like for us. I just feel like the luckiest daughter ever because of my 'Mama.'

I know that Brian and Michelle's baby is going to be one lucky little kiddo and they can hardly wait for his/her arrival. Yep, they don't know what sex the baby is; it's going to be a surprise. Somethings are still best the old-fashioned way, right?

Old-fashioned or not, one thing is always true: there is nothing else like the bond between a mother and child! Michelle looks great and happy and ready!!! I wish Brian and she a healthy and happy baby. And I can't wait to see him/her and take his/her photo too.

CONGRATS!!!

AUTISM - Schaumburg Group

Well, it' s not my usual Saturday morning but it was great to spend it with all these awesome kids and their families. A good friend of mine from way back when, has two special need children. The group wants to do a calendar as a fundraiser so she called me for the photography. We planned two weekends - the first one would be more portrait-like shots with the children and their families and the second would be at the fun gym-like place Pump It Up.

I had a photography friend with me on the first Saturday. He was great with the kids, talking to them, warming them up to the camera and catching them w/ bright eyes and big smiles on their face. Thank you David Cardenas. Great working with you!

It's amazing (in a disturbing way) how many children (and their families) are impacted by autism - all of varying degrees. Thankfully, our perception of these children has changed from detached and unemotional. Now we see them as children are: loving and responsive, curious and animated. Though, it is indeed such a challenge for families. I'm just so glad that I could spend this time getting to know them and learning about their struggles.

Check out some of these great kids. And once the calendar is published, I'll be sure to post again with the information on how you can purchase your own calendar to help support this organization.

2009

Here we go again... another year of love and hope and happiness!!!
I've been really busy working on marketing items.

For example, I am now listed on www.mywedding.com.
I'm about to be listed on www.rainbowweddingnetwork.com.
Updated my website, www.nataliephoto.net. Please check it out.
Have also made my website editable so I can maintain it myself.

I actually have album offerings now AND have just ordered sample albums from the 2 companies that I'll be using. Both are very non-traditional.
First is www.la-viealbums.com. Artistic. They do amazing work. Each album is a work of art.
Second is www.couturebooks.com. Elegant. Very contemporary. Yet timeless at the same time.

I mean who really wants a wedding album that screams "I'm a typical boring poorly designed wedding album that my children will laugh at when they look at it in years to come." I'm just not interested in offering that to my brides and grooms. Instead, when their children look at their album, I want a response with something like, "OMG, this is so cool. Look how good you guys looked. Wow, this looks like it was really awesome."

Am waiting for my new business cards to arrive, an embosser and stamp of my logo. Have made many trips to many art and paper stores, talked to printers, spent hours and hours making the files, editing, and all the FINE-TUNING to make sure everything is just right... I can hardly wait to pick up my new promotional materials from the printer later this week.

So these are just a few of the things that I've been up to over the last number of weeks. And there are still many things that I want to set up in addition to these. But if I want to describe what I've been up to and where I am now, I guess the best way to describe it is...
RAMPED UP FOR 2009!!!
There you go. That's it. Ready and raring and RAMPED UP!!!
Yes indeed.

So anything else for 2009?

BRING IT!!!

2008! OH WHAT A YEAR!!!

Well, busy busy busy. That'd be a good way to describe 2008. But a good kind of busy... so many weddings, so many couples in love. I already have a new years resolution... around this blog - BLOG MORE. More information, more photos, more news. B/c I can only imagine that 2009 is going to be that much greater than 2008. Look for more new images on my website, www.nataliephoto.net. New offerings, new albums. And anything else I can come up with. Stay tuned!

MICHELLE AND BRIAN

Michelle and Brian. Pine Garth Inn, Union Pier, Michigan. WOW!!! What a weekend. It was awesome. Michelle looked beautiful and she couldn't stop smiling the whole day. I've never seen a calmer bride. And Brian, he couldn't hold back his happiness when he saw his bride walking down the aisle. Family. Friends. Everybody had such a great time celebrating with this bride and groom. On a hillside. Right on the water. The sun setting. YEP!!! It was awesome!!!

It was through the bride's brother, Stephen that the bride and I connected. He's been my hair stylist as well as my friend for many years. BTW, Thank You, Stephen! 

So what happens to you when you're the brother and a hair stylist??? Well, we lost count of how many heads of hair Stephen but it started with his mother followed by his 5 (yes, 5) sisters, and a couple of friends on the side... including me. He barely had time to get ready himself before he walked Michelle down the aisle.

Wishing Michelle and Brian all the best and HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!

Also, can't wait for the babies to start arriving... I do family portraiture too!!!

Summer 08

Wow, I  can't believe that it's almost August already. Where has the summer gone. I know that I have spent practically every weekend celebrating, partying with couples in love. Yeah, sounds like a hard life as a wedding photographer, doesn't it? I initially thought my blog would only be wedding photos but there are always other things that catch your eye that aren't always the bride and groom and they just say something to you, you know. So here is one of those, the candles people light for their prayer intentions...

OMG - The Big 40

Yes, May was my birthday month and this year I turned 40. YIPPEE!!! Age of reckoning??? Perhaps. Just when you start to really get comfortable in your own skin... things start to hurt a little here and there. Thankfully, the aches are few and the gray hairs even fewer. But the good times are far better and more often.

What a wonderful birthday it was. My 2 big sisters, Jane and Lulu, came in from Baton Rouge to help me celebrate. With over 30 of my friends, we feasted on jambalaya, Mississippi mud pie, and mint juleps. Everyone earned their Mardi Gras beads while good ol' jazz played all night long. It was a great time. Everyone had loads of fun.

40? I figure I'm just beginning to enter my prime. And starting it off with my sisters and friends made it oh so special. 

Debby and Carl

Congrats to Debby and Carl!!! 

Not your traditional wedding day and that's just fine with me... the small and intimate setting of Maxim's on E. Goethe. A brief ceremony followed by cocktails and dinner with family and friends on this special occasion. Friendly crowd, having a good time, celebrating Deby and Carl tying the knot. So glad I could capture the special moments for them. 

Wishing them 'happily ever after!'

Brigid and Dan

It was a good day to get married and that's just what Brigid and Dan did. We didn't let the cool weather stop us. The ceremony took place at St. Michael's - such a great church - it certainly has a long aisle for the bride. But I swear, those bridemaids made it a quick trip. Then cocktails and dinner at The Union League - awesome venue. Ornate and high ceiling. Artwork everywhere. Great service and food. And to top it off to get everyone boogie-ing... the Ralph Wilder Orchestra. It was a long day but gosh, it was a fun one too. Congrats to Brigid and Dan!!!