September 2009

Wow! September flew by & it's time for my promised monthly blog. September's weather felt like spring rather than fall to the delight of my couples. Speaking of which, here they are (Well, three of them. I shot two engagement sessions and six weddings this month...not yet skilled enough with blogging to blog about all of them - this is only my second blog! - but here are ones who's stories are fresh in my mind):

09-07-2009 Luke & Eunice - A Unique Couple (1 deaf, 1 hearing)

'First comes loves, then comes...engagement!"  Luke and Eunice are friends of mine and were engaged in June.  Luke is deaf and Eunice is hearing. I'm fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) as are they & we have a blast when were together.  My gift to them, as Luke's mom describes as, "The best gift ever," was an engagement shoot.  Extra plus, they invited me to be a guest at their wedding! I haven't been a guest in years. As the saying goes, "Always a photographer, never a guest." Ok, so I paraphrased that a little. : ) I'm so excited to be able to share in the joy of their day as an observer and celebrate with all of our mutual friends.  I'm going to buy a new dress - & possibly a date - get all dolled up, dance all night, & smile for someone else's camera! :) 

09-13-2009 Andrew & Samantha - An "On the Run" Session

Andrew & Samantha are such a sweet couple and have a way of handling with ease any situation  that is thrown at them.  A problem rose with their original engagement photographer the night before their scheduled shoot & I was called to fill in. I was glad to help with one request: the shoot had to be in the evening because that morning I was running the 13th Annual Chicago Half Marathon. (My first ever! 13.1 miles, 2 hours, 32 minutes & 21 seconds...ran the whole way.) Samantha & Andrew graciously accomidated my request and we had a great time...so great that I'm sure the cancellation of the previous photographer was a blessing in disguise.

09-19-2009 Tiffany & Jason - "Totally Fierce!"

I'm learning that quite a few brides view America's Next Top Model as a training guide for how to pose for their wedding photographs. lol. Personally, I don't think Tiffany needed any help at all as she shined naturally all night. Loved everything about her! Tiffany, you were "Totally Fierce!" (Jason, you too, of course!)

By the way, I cried this month thanks to Amanda and her dad! I decided after my first year of capturing memories as a wedding photographer that I wasn't going to cry at any more weddings.  (Two to three weddings a weekend equaled a lot of tears each month.) Five years later, Amanda made me break my no-crying streak.  The formula? Father/Daughter dance + "Butterfly Kisses" + dad & daughter crying = me in tears.  This just happened last night, so I don't have the photographs ready, but I'll post them on a future blog.

I'll blog again next month! Until then, take care!