Sweet Nothings - Always Loved Photos' Blog

Jennifer & John

2010-10-14T20:34:00.000-05:00

September 19, 2010

As always, brides say it best..even when it's "informal".

Kimberly -
Our formal "Thank You" will be out shortly however....a quick Thank You for capturing our wedding day so beautifully! We just received the pictures - they are amazing!!!
Everyone at the wedding loved you! Thank you for being part of our day and we hope you enjoyed yourself!
Thank you again -
Love,
Jennifer

And just to say, I DID enjoy myself. From my first meeting with J&J, I was soooooo happy to be their photographer. They are a lovely couple in love with each other as well as the beautiful city of Chicago. The feel of their wedding was what can only be described as laid-back elegance, which was such a joy to be a part of.

Our Family Wedding

2010-09-27T18:58:00.000-05:00

I thought this would be my longest blog ever. I mean, my brother is married! Wow. There are 50 million things I would love to say, but all of the words are bubbling forth at once and leaving me incoherent.

What I can manage to say, and not eloquently enough, is that I am truly happy for my brother and his lovely wife, Nisian. I was able to witness their love for each other grow over their two year courtship and to see them express their love in marriage was truly a wonderful moment.

Congratulations you two! Take care of each other.

From Our Bride

2010-09-08T18:01:00.000-05:00

Thought we'd let our lovely bride blog for us this week. :-) Here's an email she sent to us after her wedding!

***

Hi Kim,

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you and to say, "Thank you!" Really, those two words are not good enough to express my gratitude to you. Arthur and I were both reeling on and on about how you went waaayy above and beyond the call of duty to make our day that much more special and perfect. I feel so indebted to you. Nicole and Andrew were GREAT as well. In addition you are an extremely pleasant person.

Again, it was such a pleasure to work with you, as you could expect to see us in the future for family photos. Moreover, I have been asked by people for contact information for you as I have provided to them.

P.S. Thanx for saving my sand ceremony!!!

Sincerely,
-Shovan

Our Perfect Couple

2010-09-03T09:35:00.000-05:00

Like with all of our couples, Patrick & Christine make us feel that the couples who find us are as perfect for us as they are for each other. You know? It's like finding the one person you love more than anything else & thinking, "Who else would I spend the rest of my life with?" Well, with Patrick & Christine we feel the same way! It's like, "Who else but us to photograph your wedding day!" This couple was made for us! From the moment we meet we felt apart of their lives & their celebration.

Psst!

2010-08-24T23:00:00.000-05:00

Brides, give your husband-to-be The Ultimate Gift - YOU!

Find out more at:

Ladylike Behavior

A Piece of Cake

2010-06-25T10:22:00.001-05:00

Choosing the right cake for your wedding reception can be anything but a piece of cake. Even if you already have your perfect flavor in mind, a Wedding Baker can introduce you to more tasty flavors than you ever heard of in your life...not to mention the different fillings available and flavor of the icing! To top it all of, each tier can be a different flavor!!!

Once you have your chosen the flavor(s) picked, the hard part begins - the design. Remember, your wedding cake will be on display at your wedding reception. Your guest will flock to it during the cocktail hour to take in it's beauty and artistry. Your cake will again have all eyes on it when the fun cake cutting ceremony begins.

Cake designs vary greatly. Choose one that reflects your personality and the theme and size of your wedding. Here are a few examples of what a wonderful Wedding Cake Designer can do:

#1. The Traditional with a touch of flare

#2 The Box - the cake was created smaller for this couples intimate wedding of 20 guests

#3 The Traditional: kept a little more simple and elegant by use of roses instead of ribbons

#4 The Traditional Redesigned: Not quite a round cake with a touch of color in the frosting designs

#5 This cake is separated out as individual cakes

#6 The "Fun" cake: This couple really let their personality shine through by their choice in color, frosting and design with wording.

#7 The Dramatic: The box cake with a twist...literally as these box shapes sit at angle on top of each other.

Whatever you choose - have fun tasting all of the flavors possible and picking the design that will have all of guest anxious to have their piece of cake!

Ronald & Geisha

2010-06-14T21:19:00.000-05:00

06-05-2010

I can't say enough good things about these two! Ronald & Geisha...wow!! The joy was written all over their faces every second of their wedding day.

#1.

#2. Ronald's expression says it all! So much love for his bride.

#3. What's so funny? Who cares?!?! They're happy & together.

#4.

#5.

#6. Before the garter came off, Ronald was in the chair and Geisha gave him a dance that would put Beyonce to shame!

#7.

A Very Long Engagement (Season)

2010-04-01T20:05:00.001-05:00

04-01-2010

Wedding season is here again! It comes after a very fun and loving engagment season. We've had the chance to learn a lot about our couples: how they met, where they're from, where they're going and a lot of things in between. Here are a few of the couples we've had the pleasure of getting to know on and off camera.

Engagement Session: Tips for the Couple

2010-01-13T18:57:00.008-06:00

With so many engagements over the holidays, couples are getting a head start on their engagement photographs. (We have 12 booked for January alone!) There are many great reasons to book an engagement session: you can work with your actual wedding photographer before your big day, you can use your photographs for annoucements, invitations, your website and even table decor at your reception.

For most couples, their engagement session will be the first time they will be photographed by a professional photographer & they want to know how to prepare for the experience in order to have the best photographs. Below is the advice we give our own couples to help them along:

1. Time of day: Generally a few hours after sunrise or a few hours before sunset. Mid-day is the least desirable time for outdoor portraits due to harsh shadows and strong light.

2. Location: City or scenic? Maybe a place that is special to the both of you? If you need help deciding, we're here to help.

3. Clothing is up to you! Show your personal style and flair. Keep in mind that solid/subdued colors/patterns work best. They are less distracting and allow you to be the center of attention.

4. Another tip on clothing: you’ll be taking the majority of your photographs as a couple. While it’s not necessary to be “matchy matchy”, try wearing similar colors or similar style. Example: decide whether you’ll dress casually or more formally.

5. Consider bringing accessories: your favorite sunglasses, a scarf, jacket, your car, a musical instrument, anything to make your portraits personal. If you've booked a longer engagement session - over one hour - consider bringing two outfits for a variety. A full change isn't even needed. A different shirt can make a world of difference or adding a shawl to a dress.

6. Don't forget about touch ups. Ladies: apply your makeup before your session and bring the product for touch-ups if necessary. Guys & Ladies: combs and brushes are helpful if touch-ups are necessary.

7. Get a good night's sleep!

8. Day of session: relax and have fun! We understand that you want a variety of portraits: formal, casual, fun and romantic. We'll take care of them all.

And the Winners Are

2009-12-13T12:28:00.002-06:00

posted December 13, 2009

Alysaa and Harry were the 1st couple to find "Waldo" in photograph number 8 in last month's contest. And they did so in only 11 minutes after the contest was announced! Congratulations!

Their prize? A free engagment session in downtown Chicago's Millenium Park area. This couple bravely endured the rain & wind that came along on their chosen day. We had fun as we took a few photographs, ducked into Subway during a sudden down pour, then ventured back outside for more photographs. Alyssa & Harry left with wonderful photographs & fun memories.

The two will marry in December 2010.

Free Engagement Session - Congrats to Alyssa & Harry for Winning!

2009-11-15T20:34:00.005-06:00

Free Engagement Session - Just tell us "Where's Waldo?"

OK, so here's the story: My brother & his lovely financee pick today as the day for their engagement session. Our cousin accompanied us as my assistant. It turns out that he had trouble staying out of the shots & ended up in quite a few of them. As we were viewing the photographs after the session, the four of us laughed as my cousin popped in & out of the backgrounds. We laughed so much that my brother suggested giving away a free engagement session for the couple who could locate him in a photograph. And Voila! Sounded like a great idea. So...

The Rules:

1) In the below 13 photographs, 1 of them contains "Waldo". Locate the photograph.
2) Email the number of the photograph with "Waldo" to: info@alwayslovedphotos.com For subject, write: "Waldo"
3) The first correct entry wins!

Extra Details:

1) Winners must live within 30 miles of Chicago, IL or be able to travel to Chicago.
2) The session will be one hour long & must take place on a Saturday.
3) As soon as the 1st correct entry is recieved, we will update this blog to inform everyone the contest is over.
4) Don't forget you can win a photographer for your 2010 wedding. Click here for details.

Brandon & Nisian - Their Story

When my brother showed me the ring, I wasn't surprised. They had been dating for only four months, but they had been friends for two years. Watch any Diseny movie where birds are singing & bells are ringing & that sums up their courtship. When I asked why he wanted to marry her, his answer, "Because I'm tired of her leaving me." Awww...& I knew was he meant. After a date, it was so hard for the two of them to say goodbye and go to their separate homes & they couldn't wait for the next day to see each other again.

I was out of town on the chosen "Propose Date", October 11, 2009, but my sister & her husband where in town for a visit. According to my sister: The four of them went to Buckingham Fountain in downtown Chicago. My brother & Nisian separated from them, the sign that he was about to propose. Two hours later, my sister called his cell phone. "We're freezing & about to go to the car." My brother's answer, "Oh, I guess I better propose now." And it still took him another hour to get over his nervousness to ask!

It's weird to see my brother in love sometimes, but I absolutely love the way he loves her!

#1 My exteremly handsome brother, Brandon

#2 His lovely fiancee, Nisian

#3 The Love Birds together

#4 My brother picked this location for the water, but the falling leaves stole the show!

#5 At this point, I realized I was saying things like, "Act like you're about to kiss her." Had it not been my brother, I would have said, "Kiss her!" lol.

#10

#11

#12

#13

October 2009

2009-11-08T19:24:00.005-06:00

Omg...is October over already?!? If nothing else, this month taught me that brides are built tough! No matter what the weather brought: 30 degrees, non-stop rain & unrelenting wind, my brides endured it all with grace & a smile. In every photograph the couples looked as though the weather was perfect for a vacation in Hawii.

10-17-2009 Brad & Lindsay

Loved this couple for two reasons: 1) They are very close to their families. 2) They ran Chicago's Half Marathon as a couple! That's team work.

Aww...First time Lindsay's dad laid eyes on her before the ceremony. I set up this moment by having her dad keep his back turned as Lindsay came down the stairs. I kept telling him how beautiful she looked until he just had to turn around & see for himself.

Lindsay glancing back before heading off to be married.

Brad, moments before "I do."

Finally, the couple together! And yes, this was a 30 degree day. I can't tell, can you?

10-23-2009 Luke & Eunice

You may remember me blogging about this very special couple back in September. Luke & Eunice are friends of mine. Luke is deaf & Eunice is not. I took their engagement photographs and now it was time for their wedding...and I was a guest! Luke's mom told me to relax & enjoy myself, which I did. I don't think I left the dance floor for more than five minutes. To my surprise the wedding photographer in me stayed dormant until...

The father/daughter dance. It gets to me everytime!

Take care until next month!

Beloved Prize - Win Your 2010 Wedding Photographer

2009-10-08T19:39:00.028-05:00

Who Can Enter: All engaged couples within 100 miles of Chicago, IL or within 100 miles of Baltimore, MD are encouraged to enter between October 9 - December 31, 2009.*

Who Will Vote: The Twitter world and Facebook community will vote for their favorite couple from January 1 - 30, 2009.

Grand Prize: The winning couple will be announced February 15, 2010 & receive me as their photographer for their wedding day!* The package includes 8 hours of photography and all images on DVD with limited copyrights.

2nd Prize: The runner-up prize for my personal favorite tweeting couple will receive their choice of a free engagement or En Cachette (boudoir) session.

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow LovedPhotos on Twitter. (Always Loved Photos’ username)

a. Send a tweet starting with @lovedphotos and use the remaining characters to tell why you want to win me as the photographer for your wedding. Tough, I know, but in the spirit of my new found love for tweeting! : )

b. Copy your above tweet. (After you tweet it!)

2. Become a fan of Always Loved Photos on Facebook.

a. Paste your tweet under “Boxes” – “Beloved Prize ~ Win Me!”

b. Add the following information above your tweet:

i. Bride’s & groom’s names

ii. Bride’s & groom’s ages

iii.Wedding Date

vi. Two sentences: 1) How you met. 2) How he/she proposed.

In the end, your entry should look like this:

Barbie & Ken

21 & 23

We met on the assembly line at Mattel. He proposed at my doll house with a plastic ring.

@lovedphotos because there isnt a Wedding Photographer barbie.

3. Tell your family & friends to visit Always Loved Photos on facebook & vote for you between November 1 - 30. Here’s how to vote:

a. Read the posts listed under “Discussions” – “Win Me!” Posts will be numbered. (Post 9, Post 33, etc)

b. Enter the post number of your favorite couple under “The Wall” – “Just Fans”

4. Sit back & relax as we tally up the votes and announce the winners on February 15, 2010!

Bonus!
Want to book before the winners are announced? Receive $100 off of your wedding package just for signing with us & an additional $100 off every $1,500 you spend when you complete the contact form at www.AlwaysLovedPhotos.com & enter your entry's posting number in the "Message" box.

*Couples farther than 100 miles from Chicago, IL or 100 miles from Baltimore, MD may still enter, but will be responsible for travel & accommodation fees. Fees are based on distance.
*Entries must be received by 11:59pm on December 31, 2009.

* If I am already booked for your wedding date, one of my remarkably talented associates will photograph your special day.

Don't forget to view my complete portfolio on my website:

www.AlwaysLovedPhotos.com

September 2009

2009-09-27T15:00:00.008-05:00

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!

August 2009 - My 1st Blog!

2009-09-06T00:48:00.001-05:00

August is the perfect month to start my new blog. The weather was beautiful every weekend and so were the brides! With September well on it's way, this blog will focus on two August couples. And, I promise, as my blogging skills improve, I'll document each of my lovely couples for the upcoming months and share more images from their special day.

Ann and Mark 08-15-09

I really enjoyed photographing Ann and Mark. They both contained a calm excitement for their wedding day and their romance came through easily on camera.

Christy and Kevin 08-30-09

Last but not least, Christy and Kevin wed on August 30, 2009. Together, the couple was very classic and so in love. But get Kevin alone with his guys and the sunglasses came out!