What do you get when you mix a sweet and beautiful couple, a moody morning along the Chicago River and a photographer with a brand new camera? Magic, my friends. That’s what!

Baylie and Conner are perfect together.

I met this lovely young couple on the shores of Lake Michigan just outside of Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium on a perfect day in May. What had started out as a gray, foggy morning suddenly transformed into a glorious, cerulean and golden morning that couldn’t help but put you in a cuh-razy good mood. ..

I met this wonderful pair on St. Paddy’s day downtown (one day post parade so it wasn’t the green apocalypse you may be imagining) and the sun seemed to be shining just for them. Having both grown up in the Chicago area, they wanted their engagement session backdrop to be representative of the backdrop to their love story. Sweeping skylines, dazzlingly blue skies and the shimmering waves of Lake Michigan lent even more beauty to this shoot. Scroll on down to check out some of the magic!

You hear this piece of advice so often that it is basically a cliche at this point: Your wedding day flies by in the blink of an eye. Like most overused phrases, it’s a cliche because this is so very true, my dear brides!

Trying to predict the future and nail down a timeline months in advance can be tricky. If you’re looking for some tips to make the planning process easier, you’re in the right place!

Looking back at this past year, I am absolutely floored by how fortunate I have been to work with so many incredible couples on some of the happiest days of their lives. Witnessing soo much love, laughter, tears of joy and top-notch dance moves amidst some of the most beautiful venues Chicagoland has to offer has been an amazing thing to behold.

“Non-stop side-splitting laughter”.

Those are the five words that Brittaney and Marcus used to describe their relationship when asked, and let me tell ya, a description so apt there never was!

These two are truly the embodiment of class: they’re kind, they’re incredible dressers (a skill I have yet to master so I have the utmost respect for those who do!), they’re super beautiful (I mean, obviously) and are so full of love for one another that the typical pre-ceremony nerves couldn’t touch ‘em. The beautiful Brittaney was incredibly cool, calm and brimming over with quiet grace before exchanging vows with her handsome groom.

“Oh Agnes, won’t you go with me? We’ll be married in style. And we’ll cross Lake Michigan so blue and so wild”. – lyrics from the song“Lovely Agnes”

My dad used to sing that song to my little sister and I when we were little (and it was every bit as agonizing and mortifying as you would imagine), but for some reason that beautiful (when not performed by my father (sorry, Dad!)) song kept trilling through my mind throughout the duration of Taylor and Dylan’s beautiful wedding day.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to capture Melanie and Dave’s engagement session at one of my favorite new spots in the area, per their suggestion. Throw in a healthy dose of fall colors, gorgeous light and a lovely and beautiful couple who are tying the knot next July and, well, I can’t possibly imagine a better way to spend some time on a Sunday afternoon.

Bonus points for their “Save The Date” creativity! Scroll on down to see some of the magic for yourself <3.

On an EXTREMELY  hot July afternoon, I spent an hour or so strolling along Chicago’s beautiful shoreline with Shannon and Matt during their engagement session. Because we are warriors!

Shannon and Matt (who are every bit as sweet as they are gorgeous, by the way. Sometimes the lord gives with both hands, I tell ya!) …