Metropolitan Imageworks

There are times when I really connect with my clients and become more than a photographer, I become a friend and part of their family.  This is just one of those examples.  I have been working with Hilary’s family for the past five years and they have welcomed me to special events and milestones with open arms.  I joke that I am an honorary family member, but really it’s not a joke, it’s true!

Hilary and Wayne are totally a Happily Ever After and it warms my heart to see them together. I was incredibly honored to be the one to capture their day, forever.  I know in my past interactions, both in a professional capacity and in a friend capacity, I have laughed and laughed with the two of them.  I love it when people have a great sense of humor and can laugh at life.  These are also the two crazy kids that I went winter camping with in Illinois two winters ago.  It was a frigid December night in Rockford and the low was 19 degrees.  Yes we can laugh at how nuts we were!  But we survived!

Thankfully their wedding day in October was much more pleasant weather-wise!  In fact the lovely blue skies and comfortable fall temps were ideal for a wedding day in the Midwest, if you want my opinion.  I was the first one to arrive where Hilary and her mom and sis were getting ready and I felt like I had just arrived at home, that’s how comfy I am around them.  And that’s exactly what I did, I made myself at home and began my photographic journey of documenting Hilary and Wayne’s wedding day.

Here are just of a few of my favorite images:

Weddings are great with all the emotion, action and detail packed into one day.  They’re even better when you are friends with the bride and groom.  Increase the level of greatness by another million when they have a pretty awesome wedding party.  And on top of that we made it into the city for three photo locations despite the weather and everyone was a trooper!  I admit, I was obsessively checking the weather as the big day got closer and not liking the outcome.  I instructed the bride to make sure the wedding party brought along some golf umbrellas and confirmed we were cruising into the city for photo ops no matter what; that I hadn’t had a bride melt on me yet!

After arriving at the hotel on a muggy morning, I found the Renee getting her hair done and her make-up had already been flawlessly applied by Nikolina with Moya Make-Up.  She was grinning from ear to ear as the day had finally arrived!  I worked the room and met her friends and family and worked on detail shots and joked around with the girls, we all knew we were in for a fun day!  As we all boarded the limo bus, there was absolute delight in realizing it not only had stocked bars, a video screen and a light show but also a nice pole smack dab in the middle.  Good thing Renee’s mom was being chauffeured to the church by family!

Saint’s Cyril and Methodius is stunning on the inside and very well lit (photographers tend to think in different lighting scenarios) and I was very excited!  Just seeing Renee walk down that aisle with yet another huge grin on her face made me realize what a fantastic job I have.  Seeing Jim watch her walk with his eyes lit up and a tight smile as he kept emotions in check made myself and all the guests proud to be there for these two who are so much in love!  One of my favorite parts was during Flowers to Mary when Renee’s Matron of Honor sang Ave Maria, while it’s always a very powerful and moving portion of the ceremony, to have one of your closest friends sing during this tradition is just incredibly heartfelt.

About halfway through the formal family and wedding party photos at the altar after the ceremony, I heard some loud and deep rumbling, which I attributed to someone messing with a mic and the sound system.  It was later mentioned that it was really coming down outside and what I really heard was rolling thunder!  Fortunately the monsoon only delayed our departure from the church by about 10 minutes as the groomsmen had to help the bridesmaids out to the limo bus one by one, and then a crew joined together to help get our lovely bride out without getting her drenched.  I personally had to wring out the hems on my pants after a couple trips out carrying gear.  Many thanks to the kind gentleman whose umbrella I totally borrowed!

Our itinerary consisted of stops at US Cellular, Union Station and the Chicago Board of Trade – and we accomplished it all!  By the time the limo bus rolled into the parking lot at US Cellular it has stopping raining and we were able to do a great number of wedding party portraits with the stadium in the background.  Since Renee and Jim are die-hard White Sox fans it was only appropriate this be the main reason we trekked into the city from Lemont and it was totally worth it.  We also had the beauty of a lightening show just to the South of US Cellular as we were out taking pictures.  Upon finishing up there we all hopped back on the limo bus and headed towards Union Station, the light drizzle started up again so we spent time playing beneath the columns and out of the rain.  Our third and final stop entailed me having Renee and Jim gallivant around the middle of the street in front of the Board of Trade and we got some lovely umbrella shots, which not every bride and groom get to have!  Finally it was back on the bus to head towards the reception venue back in the ‘burbs.  Renee and Jim and their wedding party did a great job stocking the coolers and it was like all the time on the bus between ceremony and reception was another party just for the VIPs. (And the photographer and videographer, of course.)

When we arrived at the Crystal Grand, earlier than expected to boot, the room was completely decked out and one of Jim’s friends even did some elegant up-lighting on every wall giving it a completely different and colorful atmosphere.  My associate photographer had also set up a Photobooth and one of the bridesmaids supplied a bin of hats and other fun accouterments for dressing up.  It was a huge hit with the guests, myself included!

Click here to view the Photobooth pics.

Guests mingled and cocktailed and Renee and Jim were toasted by their closest friends with some of the most heartfelt speeches I have heard.  All around a job well done!  Finally, after a scrumptious dinner and the opening dances it was time to get the party started!  Their DJ rocked the house with dance songs, oldies and some 80′s throwback songs and there was not one single lull in the commotion on the dance floor. That’s the sign of a successful wedding reception!

I have a challenging job.  And I love it!  What happens when you have a lovely summer day, a beautiful bride and handsome groom, an equally good-looking (and fun) wedding party and a photographer’s eye-candy in terms of backdrop and location?  You get a heck of a lot of images.  The actual day-of the wedding is second nature to me in terms of timeline, activities, emotions, working with families and capturing all that I need to capture to tell a story and document the day for my clients.  Throw in a little weather, be it humidity, rain, direct sunlight, snow, no matter as I have seen it before and I have conquered it before.  The real challenge is working with the images after the day is over and the last guest has departed.  Part of the reason my clients place a high priority on their wedding photos and choose me is for my vision and ability to capture the day for them.  The other part is my ability to take the many images myself and my associate photographer have captured and cull through them to find the best of the best and pare it down to a reasonable number so as not to put anyone – bride, groom, parents, guest – into sensory overload with an unreasonable amount of final images in that story.  When we have a beautiful day with a beautiful crew such as on Diana and Rob’s wedding day, it is a much harder and longer process. But well worth the wait when all is said and done.

My 2011 wedding season is midway through and I must brag about how much I adore my Metimages clients.  Diana and Rob found me through a referral (which is still how 95% of my clients find Metimages) and we had a fantastic meeting last fall and then met up again a few weeks later for a city engagement portrait session.  Starting at a hidden oasis in the heart of Lincoln Park and ending downtown after dark was a perfect adventure and a good warm up for all of us.  Diana and Rob each earned an A+ and I didn’t notice any issues with them as Metimages subjects.  Well done!  I was asked to join the crew for the rehearsal dinner on the eve of the wedding and I decided to start a little earlier during the actual rehearsal of the ceremony.  It was a blazing hot day, direct sun blaring down with barely any breeze and we all suffered through.  Thankfully their friends and family follow instructions well and only had to run through it once.  The rehearsal dinner was held at Hugo’s Frog Bar in downtown Naperville and the private room was wonderfully air-conditioned and provided a nice respite from the heat.  Many of us were checking weather updates for the following day and were excited to learn it would be about 20 degrees cooler and have much less humidity. Game on!

Diana and the girls did their getting-ready prep at the Dairyman’s Cottage on the grounds of Cantigny, where the ceremony and reception were to take place, and it was the perfect suite of rooms complete with a fully functioning and modern kitchen.  The girls were able to spread out and relax all morning.  I arrived just as Diana was sitting down in the make-up artist’s chair.  As soon as all the bridesmaids floated down the stairs in full wedding day attire and Diana’s smile lit up the entire room, it was her turn to don her wedding day dress and accoutrements.  Another reason I get excited for weddings is because although there is a similar format  - girls get ready, bride and groom say I Do, we take photos, celebration commences – many of my clients work very hard to put their own touches on the day. Diana was no exception with the selection of flowers, bridesmaid dresses and her incredibly unique and perfectly fitting bridal gown, complete with pockets!

We headed out for some bridesmaid and then groomsmen portraits around the grounds of Cantigny and then all convened on the East Lawn for the late afternoon ceremony. As we anticipated more movement of the sun, you can imagine our delight right as the ceremony began when a cloud cover blossomed over the entire area.  It was like a giant diffuser and not only provided the right atmosphere for the ceremony it also provided the most perfect condition for outdoor photographs. After a touching ceremony with elements from each of their faiths, Diana and Rob were married and ready for some family formals and fun wedding party photos. In the meantime, the guests headed back to the visitors center for cocktails and to await the arrival and introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Rob Springer!  First dances, heartfelt toasts, a delicious meal and general guest socialization all took place before the DJ opened the dance floor and an all out dance frenzy broke loose!  I’m talking packed floor, dance-offs, spin the bottle, double dutch, the worm and all out good times were had by everyone, young and old.

Here are just a few of my favorite moments from throughout the day:

Pockets!

Visual eye-candy!

Maid of honor.

Best man.

Diana is a teacher and some of her students attended the ceremony and stuck around for a quick photo op!

I love it when a dad gets emotional.

I had to hold on to this post for a long time, namely for selfish reasons because I wanted to continue to savor everything about the day.  From the first moment I met with Karyn and Brian last summer, I totally fell in love with them and knew I wanted to photograph their wedding day!  We had so much in common, such as blending Catholicism and Judaism (my parents had a ceremony with a priest and rabbi in 1972), an age difference between bride and groom (my husband has over a decade on me), growing up in the North Shore (Karyn and I) and the list goes on.  Not more than 15 minutes after the initial meeting was over and we had parted ways, I received a phone call from Karyn to send her a typed contract because they wanted to book me!  Now that’s the stuff that photographer’s dreams are made of!

Karyn, Brian and I met up a couple months later, in September,  for one of the last good weather evenings to traipse around Chicago and photograph their engagement session.  It was a fun few hours with them and a chance for me to really get to know their personalities (and photo nuances, like for instance Brian likes to talk during photos) and for them to see me in action.  The evening was incredibly pleasant weather-wise, in fact it was balmy!  Of course being Chicago, a few hours after we ended the session a storm blew through and the temperature dropped and fall has begun.

Finally the perfect June day had arrives and I was so excited to work with Karyn and Brian and capture all their special moments.  I had a small treat, the photographer I was bringing with to second shoot with me for the day was my good friend, Candice C. Cusic, a Pulitzer prize winner and wedding photojournalist.  I need to figure out a way to provide this type of treat for all of my clients!  Talk about inspiration and having a real live voice over your shoulder pushing you to keep working a situation until you get the perfect capture!

As a last minute addition, Karyn added extra getting ready coverage to the day because the Palmer House had upgraded her to the Penthouse Suite AND there was fantastic art on loan from the Art Institute.  I was even more excited about the layout, the space and the reflective dining table!  After Karyn was all set, we headed down to the mezzanine level for the first glance between her and Brian.  I love this part of the day, when it happens.  I always leave the seeing each other beforehand decision up to my clients, never pushing for one way or the other.  But if they do choose to see each other prior to the ceremony, than I will be right there to capture the emotion and joy in the first sighting of each other all decked out in wedding attire.

Immediate family and the wedding party soon joined us for some formal pics and then we boarded a limo bus with the wedding party and headed out for some Chicago photo ops.  Originally we had planned to hit Wrigley Field first, right after the start of the game but we had observed a parade earlier and were concerned about traffic so we scrapped that idea and headed to location #2, the Financial District and then over to location #3, Michigan Avenue by the Chicago River.  I like to have fun with the wedding party and bride and groom photos but I also like to keep it short and sweet.  We decided after wrapping up at Michigan Avenue that we still had enough time to head North to check out Wrigley Field.  So we did.  And I was filled with immense joy that we were able to hit that location, seeing as the bride and groom are pretty intense Cubs fans.  I love it when a plan comes together.

After our photo ops were fulfilled we headed back to the Palmer House for the Ketubah signing and ceremony.  With the blending of families and blending of religions it’s so refreshing to see how interested everyone is with new traditions.  Some of my favorite photos are the overwhelming joy on Karyn’s face right after the Ketubah signing, because at that point they are indeed married!  The ceremony was stunning, walking into the Empire room and seeing the layout, the Chuppah on risers and the gorgeous aisle with dramatic lighting really re-affirmed why I love my job.  I love to experience beautiful moments and I was not disappointed.  Karyn and Brian had both a priest and a rabbi and incorporated traditions from both religions, complete with Brian breaking a glass at the end of the ceremony.  Guests were asked to enjoy cocktails and appetizers throughout the mezzanine level while the Palmer House staff worked their magic turning over the Empire room for the reception.  Everyone danced the night away and it was happily ever after!!!

Ceremony & Reception Location: Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL

Make-up Artist: Brie Aarin Make-Up,  Chicago, IL

Day-Of Coordinator: SQN Events, Chicago, IL

Officiants: Rabbi Michael Sternfield, Chicago IL & Father Richard Jakubik, Wilmette, IL

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.

Amy and Todd re-affirm that the little (or even somewhat big) things don’t much matter. What really matters is their love for each other.  They found out halfway through their wedding planning that their chosen hotel venue closed!  Fortunately for them, the hotel wedding coordinator quickly moved to another hotel in the same area and their date was available.  So what could have been a huge stressor was just a little blip on their planning radar.  Though, in the end, what really mattered is the love they had for each other and the commitments they made in front of their family and friends.

To say everything worked out perfectly is an understatement, the day just flowed from one event into the next.  Everyone was on time and ready for the momentous occasion and celebration.  The weather held out and we were able to photograph the family and wedding party formals outdoors prior to the ceremony.  The cocktail hour that followed the ceremony was also outdoors.  And of course we captured a fabulous end of the night sequence with Amy and Todd outdoors right before we ended photography for the night.

This is my third wedding out of approximately 325 weddings that I have photographed over the past 12 years where a parent of the wedding couple officiated over the ceremony.  I’m in awe of how special that makes the ceremony, having one of the closest people in your life leading one of the most important days of your life.  It just brings an additional level of love.

Not only am I fascinated by shoes, I am also fascinated with wedding dresses and I love finding the tiniest details and learning the textures of the fabrics and the way they flow both on and off the bride. Amy’s dress had an elegant simplicity but I just love the little detailing around the waist.

Winner of the most humorous groomsman award – Aaron showed up in a T-shirt with a bride and groom on the front and the text, Game Over.

Amy’s “Something Old” was her grandmother’s ring that she wore attached to a “Something Borrowed” anklet from her sister-in-law.

Amy has seven nieces and nephews and she made a special point to let me know how important pics of all of them were to her.

Amy’s dad officiated the ceremony.  I have chills just thinking about how special and intimate that makes a wedding ceremony.

In 13 years of shooting weddings and multiple events at Danada House in Wheaton, I finally got to shoot my first outdoor ceremony.  All the other times I was rained out!  Allison and Nick had a very large wedding party with 10 bridesmaids, 10 groomsmen, 2 ushers and 2 beautiful flower girls and it was perfect for the venue and to fill up the space with their closest family and friends.

Allison knows me well, I had already photographed one of her bridesmaid’s weddings and that bridesmaids sister’s wedding and a few more of the sister’s friend’s weddings!  As soon as I arrived she showed me her stunning wedding day shoes, a pair of blue Christian Louboutins.  I entertained myself for the next 15 minutes finding the perfect space for the perfect shot of Ali’s perfect shoes! I just love how they peeked out from under her dress for the rest of the day!

Guests were welcomed into the garden with bottles of cold water and flutes of champagne, Ali and Nick had the right idea by making part of the cocktail hour come first before the ceremony!  Nico, a good friend and former coworker of Ali’s officiated the ceremony and he made the kindest gesture and brought out some pre-ceremony tears when he shared his handiwork with Ali (which I personally am thankful for because I love to capture real emotion!)  Nico had Ali and Nick’s vows inscribed onto a gorgeous scroll.  Anyone would tear up at such a thoughtful gift!

The ceremony was perfect with the backing of late afternoon sun and the manicured grounds at Danada, as soon as it was over we took a few more wedding party and family photos and then the celebration began!  Guests dined in the atrium and tore up the dance floor for hours.  I was able to grab Ali and Nick for a few night shots right before I left.  Total wedding day success!

Enjoy your honeymoon in Hawaii!

Ceremony and Reception: Danada House, Wheaton, IL

DJ: Toast & Jam, Chicago, IL

Jayme and Rob’s wedding day dawned a bit cloudy and threatened rain.  Thankfully the only drops we encountered was a slight splattering on the way to church and for the rest of the day we were graced with sunshine and lovely spring temps.  FUN PARTY FACT: This is the 3rd time I have photographed a wedding at a St. Maria Goretti in as many states within the past 13 months!  I cannot recall the last time I laughed so hard and so often in church, their priest was lively and kind and he really focused in on Jayme and Rob’s personalities, as they really seem to laugh their way through life.  After the ceremony the wedding party, a few spouses and myself boarded a limo bus to cruise around Madison and stop for some photo ops and of course a beer at the Union on campus and a visit with other guests at the Old Fashioned on Capital square.

BEST LIMO BUS RIDE, EVER!!! Seriously.  Hats off to whomever came up with passing a coconut a la Hot Potato – you are a genius!  I need to find a way to carry around a coconut in my camera bag, just in case I’m ever on a limo bus or trolley that needs a little livening up.  Now to work on my coconut passing dance moves while also toting a camera and flash!

All the guests re-convened at the East Side Club for further celebration of Jayme and Rob’s union.  I think it’s a three-way tie of the biggest hit of the evening – the pig roast on display, the amazing tower of cupcakes with eleven different flavors (all fabulous, I know because I sampled four – in my defense I did split each one with my assistant photographer so that really only equals two full cupcakes) or a surprise visit by Bucky and the University of Wisconsin Marching Band!!!  Bucky and the band tore up the dance floor, it was PACKED and each and every guest was out there enjoying the live music and Bucky’s dance moves.

From here on out I might put in special requests to my brides and grooms for wedding day necessities that might entail coconuts, cupcakes and Bucky . . . just sayin’!

This little flower girl was FAST! I had to wait until she sat down to put her shoe back on to get this image!

Coconut on the Limo Bus!

During our quick stop for a beer at the Union, we counted no less than seven other bridal parties. And what happens when an area is overrun with brides and grooms? Some head smooshing I believe!

In case you always wanted to try a pickled egg, the Old Fashioned is your place!

Can’t find the garter for the toss? No worries, as long as there is a coconut available!

One of our weddings is featured on the Wedloft Blog today! Take a peek and relive Liz and Mark’s Indian Summer wedding day at the Morton Arboretum last October!

Reem and Haitham planned a lovely wedding day in a short amount of time from a few states away. Fortunately they had the help of friends and family in the area.  I received an email requesting my availability for a date I was already booked in September but luckily for Metimages and Reem and Haitham, of course, Elizabeth was available and excited to step right in and shoot.

Elizabeth met up with Reem and Haitham at Cantigny on a cool, cloudy and somewhat damp fall afternoon for a portrait session of the two of them around the grounds. No matter the weather, Elizabeth was able to capture some beautiful moments and the backdrop was stunning. Suffice it to say the weather was also in favor of not a lot of strangers milling around in the background. It always works out!  They all headed over to the Marriot in Oak Brook for a fantastic reception with family, friends and lots and lots of dancing!!!

Congratulations Reem and Haitham!