Sometimes I run on autopilot. Besides changing my camera settings, I just go….. shouting out instructions like “Everyone look here, Put your hands in your pocket, Give her a kiss.” Not that I lose focus because I am always aiming to capture our clients personality, love, family, & emotions, but I forget what it’s like to be on the other side. To look at the images captured as if they were my brother, sister, niece, mother, or father.

This was a great reminder. To look at the pictures of my little brother and see how handsome he is and what an extraordinary man he’s become. To look at him and remember riding bikes up the dirt hills in Colorado or him selflessly playing Barbies on the mere (and usually unfulfilled) promise of the exchange for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I love looking through these pictures and seeing his beautiful wife and her smile and looking at him in love and devotion. There is one Seth took of her on a bench where she is laughing at something John said in the background that I just love. It’s just her.

Last year we took family pictures for our good friend, Josey and he said to me, “It’s one thing to see really good, artsy pictures of other people and think, ‘Hey-that’s a cool picture.’ and a totally different thing to see you capture my daughter, my wife, my family with such beauty.” And it’s true & how I feel about these special images.

So, while you may look through these pictures and think, “Whoa-Chicago-cool”. To me, to my mom, my brother & sister-in-law, they are so much more meaningful. They capture a moment in our family’s life, when Rachel joined us….officially.

Also, one more sidenote-we take a lot of pictures of the couple looking at the camera but I don’t usually post those since the other ones are more fun. But I know Rachel wanted a bunch of them since they don’t have a lot from the actual wedding day so I included more than usual. But sorry folks- she’s the only one who gets to make special requests like that.

 

Also, extra credit for anyone who knows the reference from the title “Oh lil brudder”. Actually Seth and I will give a photo session to one person who can tell us who says it. Email me your answer through the contact form above and I’ll draw from all the correct answers. {Stipulations: photo shoot must be in the Peoria area in May 2012 and you gotta get your answer in by Wednesday (May 2)at 5.00pm.}

And for anyone wondering, yes, we travel. As long as we can drive to you, we’re game!! We are actually wanting to move to the Chicago area so if any of you Chi-towners want pictures, let me know! We’ll give you a sweet deal to help us build our portfolio and reputation up there!! Chicago or Bust!! Find me on facebook or email me through the contact form!!

Here we are again, at the next installment of Pinterest says, “ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER”. If you missed Questions 1 or 2, click on the numbers and you can catch up.

And on with it…..

#3. Do you bring an assistant or second photographer?

Why, thank you for asking, yes we do. Seth & I shoot weddings together. I guess I am considered the assistant. Once he introduced me as his secretary. Ask him how that went over……But we like to have two people for several reasons.

1. I am bossy. Seth is not. Haha….we laugh, but it’s true. I am great at running the show so Seth can focus on the pictures. Though I take pictures as well, Seth can really get creative and make sure everything (light, settings, ect) are perfect while I get everyone situated. We both can focus on our roles and let the other handle their job. While I don’t have pictures of me bossing people around, here are a couple of the bigger (crazier) groups!! Somebody has to reel these people in!!

Plus during family photo time someone has to turn this:

 

 

 

 

into this:

 

 

 

(This is the groom and his immediate family. Yes, immediate only. Parents, brothers & sisters!!)

2. We can get two shots at once. Since we use different lens, we can get two different angles on one pose without having to switch lens.

3. We have different points of view.

Above Seth’s shot is the full body one (first) & I captured the second two with a zoom. The couple hugging on the right is the groom’s parents watching them dance. I thought it was sweet and I was across the room, so I could get the shot without them even noticing. I’d hate to run over and ruin their view of the dance just to take a picture of them. They’d probably be rolling their eyes at me in disgust and I wouldn’t be able to use the shot anyway!

4. And finally, we like each other. Typically at a wedding, we don’t know anyone. Sometimes we’re friends with the other wedding vendors, like Mark from Top Hat Productions, Josey from Wenger Media or Sara from So-Chic, but more often than not, we’re just hanging out together. It’s fun for us. It’s like a little mini date night where we work really hard, eat really well, and write off our mileage.

Here is us at the zoo at our first wedding of 2012. It’s a camera phone picture, people. That’s why the quality isn’t terrific!!

And so, that is why we stick together to shoot weddings. Now that we have a kid, I probably won’t always stay too long at the reception in order to relieve the babysitter, but we don’t really need two people getting pictures of people dancing. Usually we take turns at receptions anyway. And there are other reasons why we have two of us, but above mentioned baby is down for the night and I’m ready to party!!!! Meaning, a quiet, peaceful bowl of lucky charms & maybe even an uninterrupted cup of decaf! Woohoo!!

Stay tuned for more Q&A….