LEAPFISH Search Engine

CHEERS!!! I'm celebrating. Check it out: www.leapfish.com. It's great... it's like a mega search engine b/c it will search Google, Yahoo and MSN all at the same time. AND it's really fast too. For example, YouTube videos load faster here that on YouTube. Go figure.

Well, the point is, I've jumped into this digital world with more than just my photography. It's tough on the internet, getting up the list to where people can find you in a search. I've decided to put myself on top of a new search engine that I'm counting on taking me to new heights to reach all those awesome brides and grooms.

I'm just one click away now when a bride and groom search for chicago wedding photographers. It's really a leap of faith and I'm trusting that it is God-sent... that I'll soon be connecting with awesome brides and grooms that want a great photographer who will capture the special moments as they happen on their special day.

Of course, Leapfish is great for other searches too so check it out and see how it works for you!

AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA - SCHAUMBURG CHAPTER

I blogged before about when I had the opportunity to shoot these wonderful kids. The chapter has put together a video and is promoting the sale of their 2010 calendar. Check it out at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dIKuP47Sr0

Please help. Buy the calendar. www.autismillinois.com

HOORAY FOR ANGIE AND KHALID

Wow! You know those brides that look like movie stars... And... she even had an old Hollywood-style dress too... that was Angie. Gorgeous! You know, awesome couples like Angie and Khalid make my "job" so easy. They were really great and it was fun to photograph their special day.
I met Angie only a few months ago and it wasn't to shoot her wedding. We met through Bulldog Bootcamp... a military-style group workout at Grant Park at 6 a.m. M-F. Actually, I am only a "sometimes bootcamper" but it is an awesome workout. Everyone is very supportive and our instructor is pretty low-key compared to what one could be like. Angie, on the other hand, is faithful in her attendance. While she's in the front of the line on all the exercises and drills, I bring up the rear and am usually lagging far behind.

I'll be posting some photos for bootcamp in the next couple weeks. Stay tuned.

CONGRATS TO MISSY AND JON!!!

Sending a shout out to Missy and Jon of congratulations on your wedding at the W Hotel Lakeshore surrounded by friends and family. And to top off the night, viewing the Navy Pier fireworks from the top of the W... awesome. You two are great and wishing you all the happiness.

Weddings Weddings Weddings

Full season ahead and fun fun fun every wedding.

Sometimes when people find out you're a wedding photographer, they ask, "do you really like doing that?" First, I usually think what makes you dislike weddings? Bitter about love?

But then I think, I have a chance to impact their thinking on this with my response. My response usually goes something like this... "Of course. How can I not? It's a party every weekend, right? But... it's really great to be part of such a happy occasion for people. How I experience their wedding day is how they will remember it. I take that role very seriously."

They usually don't quite know what to say and respond something like... I never really thought of it like that. And I feel good about what I do and I want it to be a great day for the bride and groom. And this past Friday was definitely a great day that I feel good about.

Congrats to Lindsey and Josh!!! It was fun - just look at the photo with their bridal party. And Lindsey and Josh's pug, Autumn, was their ring bearer. It was his first birthday. What a cutie pie!

MOTHER'S DAY - WALK TO EMPOWER

Were you there? Did you see the 30,000 people who had come out to walk in support of one common cause? Pretty amazing site. Survivors, friends and family, those walking to remember a loved one. Inspirational! Had to share a few of the images I'd captured but you can see more at http://www.networkofstrength.org/ and http://profile.to/nataliephoto/. Really, I am so glad I could be there. It was a privilege.

HAPPY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS OUT THERE!!! WE LOVE YOU! WE LOVE YOU! WE LOVE YOU!

Also, CONGRATS to Michelle (and Brian), the pregnant lady a few entries down from this one, who last week had a beautiful healthy little girl, Isabella!!!

Lil Pampered Bridal Show

This past Sunday, I got to participate in an intimate "Pampered Bride" gathering (www.pamperedbridechicago.com) with some other folks. It took place at the Loft of Lake (www.loftonlake.com) which would make a great venue for so many occasions.

All brides got complimentary hair and make-up (from Robyn Joy from Blooming Brides, Maryam Bokhari of Inspirational Beauty and Wendy Woodside as well as others). There was complimentary food and beverage from Taste America (www.tasteamerica.net). And there were even more freebies from the publication Wedding Guide Chicago (weddingguidechicago.com) of which the new one about to come out will feature... one of my brides and grooms from fall 2008. Be sure to look for it.

Brides could also check out fine stationary and great design with Lambert Letterpress (www.lambertletterpress.com) and Erickson Design (www.ericksondesign.com) respectively. Any rental needs? Classic Party Rental was on the scene. There was even a photo booth set-up that can be rented for receptions from www.Shutterbooth.com.

So glad I got to be a part of it... just had to share about the people I got meet and the services they provide to the industry.

MOTHER'S DAY - WALK TO EMPOWER

Mother's Day is next Sunday and like so many Mother's Day in the past and in so many cities across the United States, the Network of Strength (formerly the YMe Foundation) will be hosting it's WALK TO EMPOWER.

Do you want to be a part of it? Last year I helped to photograph the event, in the rain and mud, with thousands and thousands of others, celebrating mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters. Well, guess what? I'm doing it again this year but I hoping without the rain and mud.

Would you like to participate in the walk? OR VOLUNTEER? I'm working to get a team of volunteers together who are available to do whatever is needed to make the day a success. Is that you? Please consider it. It's an inspirational day that shows the strength of the human spirit and the power of community.

Little Daniel Mendez

I wanted to post a follow-up with the link information about the local feature on CBS 2 Chicago about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. In case you missed it, you can watch it at http://cbs2chicago.com/local and please check out the organization at www.nilmdts.org. Over 10,000 professional photography volunteers around the country provide bereavement photography for families going through this difficult time. As another volunteer said, it's not like our being there will change anything that is happening, but those photos will change the future for that family.

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/.