A VISIT HOME

In November, I took a trip "home" to Louisiana to see my family. More than a quick trip, I stayed almost 2 weeks. Spent some really good time with my 2 sisters and their families. You see, right now, my brother-in-law is fighting a brain tumor. And there's no other way to say that cancer is an ugly word. So you fight it, deal with it and just keep living your life and that's what they are doing. We laughed, we cried. We listened to each other a little more attentively than times past.

My brother-in-law was raised on a farm in northern Louisiana. As an adult, he worked for New York Life for almost 40 years before the cancer made him go on disability last year. He is one of the most stand-up men I have ever met. Straight shooter through and through.

He recently had surgery to 'debulk' the tumor but they couldn't get all of it because it has 'fingers'. Now he'll spend some time at a rehab facility. And a new treatment is supposed to cut off blood flow to the remainder of the tumor.

Strong will, fighter that he is, it does become very tiresome for my sister. But she's been there with him all along. One night while I was staying at their house, I heard them laughing and teasing like to youngsters in love... made me smile... seeing how they still love each other like crazy almost 40 years later. Ain't love grand?

ANNOUNCING MR. & MR.

Yeah!!! Congrats to Jack and Tony on their union surrounded by close friends and family. Was great. I met Jack a few years ago... another Starbucks customer. He recommended his friend, Jared, who has his own company, Little Green Cube, to do my new website... yes, the one that linked you to this page. Then I got to meet Tony at their house-warming party. Then Jack and Tony moved to Washington (the state). And I wondered if I'd ever see them again.

And the next thing you know, he is calling me to photograph their wedding. How awesome is that!?!?!?! Now I have 4 connections in the Seattle area... looks like no hotel costs for me when I travel there, right? It was a pleasure for me to capture the special moments for them. I wish them all the happiness.

The funny thing (not ha ha funny) to me about the opposition to gay marriage is not about the differences between 'straight' and 'gay' people but rather, how people miss our similarities... how alike and not different we are... gay people want the same thing straight people want... someone to love and grow old with, build the American dream complete with the white-picketed fence and dog in the yard (1.5 children optional).

I fail to understand why that is so hard to grasp... as well as how religious and morality have been turned into something about legality when first and foremost, GAYness is all about biology.

But I digress, there's no way I couldn't include some images of this wonderful couple in love...

Me and the details; I love them... especially through the eye of my Lensbaby Original....

Does this look like a happy Grandma or what?

VENTI COFFEE SARAH

TK AND SARAH
Ya know what's fun... when ol' friends call you to say that they are getting married. And that you are the only person they could possibly even consider to photograph it for them. How awesome is that?

I've known Sarah for as long as I've been doing photography... because I've also been working at Starbucks for as long as I've been doing photography and she was one of my customers. She was teaching dance at Joel Hall across the street from my Starbucks in Andersonville. Venti coffee. Venti coffee. Venti coffee. Yep, that was her drink, venti coffee.

Then she moved to another part of the city and we hadn't spoken in a while. Next thing you know, I'm meeting her at another Starbucks so we can discuss her wedding plans. I could hardly wait to meet this guy that had captured her heart. And I was looking forward to meeting her family and friends that would help me know her better.

At the reception as I met people, they asked me how it was I was there. I said I was friends with Sarah. And I in turn would ask them. All of TK's friends said they same thing... what a really really awesome guy he was... kind and sincere AND crazy about Sarah. His sister said that the first time he met Sarah, she "knew" because of how TK looked at her.

Isn't that cool? I love hearing those stories. I mean usually, brides gush pretty easily when they are talking about their grooms. And grooms show some emotion but usually, try to be pretty stoic about it.

But this is when I like to start asking questions about his bride, how they met, how he's feeling, how beautiful does she look today. AND then, he can't help himself... he's going to 'gush' even if it's for just a moment... that look on his face says what words cannot express that is just for her.

That's just one of my favorite things about photographing weddings... that soft spot in his heart that he holds for his bride. Gets me every time and to tell you the truth, I think it's a good thing to be gotten by.

So to TK and Sarah, I wish them "Happily Ever After!" It really meant a lot to me to be there. THANKS!!!

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.