Metropolitan Imageworks

Here’s just a sampling of what’s to come!  I am working on a couple new projects with some of my engaged couples . . . yes I am that possessive, they are MY couples.  Hilary and Wayne and I met up for a half day of fun a few weeks ago to work on sort of a Day in the Life.  I’ll be photographing their wedding in the fall and I wanted to do something different and creative with their engagement session.  Which means I have a lot more editing to do!  In the meantime check out some of the still images I captured.  Stay tuned for the finished piece!

Don’t they clean up so nicely?!

* And note to self, next time you are out in the woods photographing a client racing by on a single track and you ask him to jump a puddle and he warns you that you will get splashed with mud . . . you will indeed get splashed with mud.

Way back in the mid 1990′s when I was a photojournalism student at Columbia College Chicago one of my favorite PJ teachers ingrained in me the mantra, “It’s the kids, pets and old people that make a photograph.” I have to agree, Indy totally stole the show during yesterday’s shoot. These teasers are only a very small sampling of what’s to come from the half day I spent with Nancy, Christian and Indy. Stay tuned!

Karyn and Brian sitting on a bridge, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then engagement pics . . . or something like that. Karyn and Brian’s city engagement session was originally scheduled for last Tuesday evening, the night of the ferocious wind storm. I’m very thankful for flexible schedules and that Karyn and Brian were able to meet with me Monday evening instead and together we traipsed around the city on a particularly balmy late October night.

We started at a hidden oasis.

Then cabbed it to Michigan Ave.

Next we played on the bridges.

Finally we took a cab back to our cars in Lincoln Park. Karyn’s feet really thanked me by that time.

See you guys in June on the wedding day!!!

Diana called me two weeks ago to enquire about wedding photography and I was leaving for my East Coast visit the very next day. As luck would have it, she and Rob lived in the same neighborhood where I had already scheduled another new client meeting for that evening and they were available to meet with me. We all hit it off and they booked me for their wedding next July.  Diana and Rob also decided to do engagement photos and they will be using them in their Save-The-Date cards.  We met up with near Lincoln Park Zoo on the day I returned from my trip and we covered a lot of ground around Chicago during the wonderful early evening hours. After spending this much time with them, I feel like we’ll be old pals by the time their wedding rolls around.

Who loves Disney? Juli and Wayne do! So much that Wayne surprised Juli with a layover at Disneyworld and a proposal in front of the Magic Kingdom when they were originally en route from PA to Atlanta for a baseball game!  Of course they’re now planning a Disney wedding for 2012. We met up in Reading, PA at the Pagoda on top of Mount Penn, little bit of kitschy Americana, and spent an evening photographing in and around the Pagoda and grounds. Even though the weather was cold and wet, we had a blast and got some great moments!

Juli was so considerate since we scheduled the engagement portrait session at 5:00 pm, right around most folks dinnertime, she packed a picnic for the three of us and had baked some yummy chicken sandwiches. Such a nice treat and while we hung out and chatted the skies turned dark and the red lights of the Pagoda came on allowing for yet another photo op.

Jayme and Rob are getting married in Madison, WI next May and Jayme learned of me from a few different people, one a former bride and the other a former groomsman from a completely different wedding in a completely different geographic location. I love it when that happens!  I met up with Jayme and Rob one Sunday in July and we tooled around Madison taking pictures, dancing and talking about their wedding day.  The moody clouds kept a close cover, which is a photographer’s dream because it acts like one giant diffuser, and fortunately the rain stayed away the entire time we were outside.  Thanks for a wonderful afternoon and see you guys in the Spring!

Spending the day with Liz and Mark was incredible. Seriously. I might have to rethink engagement session offerings and consider adding a day in the life type session. We met up in New Buffalo, Michigan, where they spend a lot of time, and hit many of the fun spots. I immensely enjoyed myself, not only because I am happiest when I am photographing but also because I got to partake in the beauty of the scenery, at the wine tasting, a delightful lunch and my own scoop at Oinks!

Spending time with clients during an engagement session is a real getting to know you opportunity, regardless of how long or short the session lasts. I honestly feel like we are old friends now, which makes me even more excited for their Chicagoland wedding in October.

Liz and Mark graciously met me at the campgrounds where we parked the rig for the weekend. The following activities ensued:

We hiked a short trail in the Warren Dunes State Park.

Stopped by the Round Barn Winery and did a wine tasting. (HINT: go there during your engagement session and they’ll give you extra tasty samples!)

Walked the vineyard and stopped to dance a bit.

Lunched at the marina and explored the piers.

Then we had Ice-cream at Oinks, an absolute must when visiting New Buffalo.

Finally we took some time to play at the beach.

Oh yes, I did take pictures all along!!!

I think we lucked out with yet another temperate fall day last Wednesday when I met up with Anjali and Paul downtown to photograph their engagement session.  The weather was mild as we posed and pranced down Michigan Ave. and it was even warmer at the lake on Oak Street Beach. Not at all what I expected for the day before Thanksgiving.  I did see a few raindrops on my way back to the suburbs, but it held off the entire time we were outside!

See you guys in June, I cannot wait for the full day of festivities!

Cancan and Nhan hoped for some great fall colors during their engagement session with me last weekend and the weather came through for us. The grounds at Cantigny were just bursting with color!  We were worried about rain and wet, but the skies were blue and the sun was shining. So we had to find other use for their umbrellas, like sword-fighting.

Can’t wait to work with you guys on the wedding day in 2010! And Nhan, you have almost a year to work on the relaxation face that comes before the smile!!

Carolyn and Jason are getting married next April at the Chicago History Museum, one of my favorite Chicago venues!  We spent some time Sunday morning doing a “warm-up” session aka engagement session! It’s a great way to get used to each other and for my brides and grooms to experience what it’s like to be in front of the camera. Although we’ll be doing a lot less posing on the actual wedding day.