What to blog about… I’ve been striving to post a new blog every week. The next blog on the agenda was going to be a couple of gorgeous images of a bridal portrait that we photographed at The Acorn Theatre; however, after consulting with the bride, we thought it would be best to hold off until after the wedding being that the groom has yet to see the dress.

With that said, for this particular blog, I decided to post a pic of me that I just recently posted as my new Facebook profile pic. The image that I used came from a stack of Polaroids that I have saved over the years from back in my assisting days. I was the official stand in to test the lighting, composition, etc. for every job that I assisted on. After graduating from Columbia College in 1995, I was an intern as a photojournalist in Michigan, and I assisted commercially in Chicago, until I eventually started my own business.

Talk about paying my dues! I paid them, and then some! I had moved from Florida to Chicago to attend Columbia College. My sister was attending the Art Institute at the time, and had recently lost a roommate, so I had a place to live. Sold my car, furniture, and everything else that wouldn’t fit into my mother’s car and headed north. It was January and I was a Florida girl who had nothing more than a jean jacket and tennis shoes for winter gear. I slept on a futon for two years, ate a bunch of Snack Ramen noodles, and managed to graduate three and half years later with a BFA.

Assisting is the next logical step after acquiring that “piece of paper”. I assisted so many photographers I can’t even remember all of them! Let’s see…. A food photographer that was so mean he practically made people quiver with fear every time he walked by. A photographer whose studio was on top of a marble factory. Every night before leaving the entire studio had to be swept and mopped due to the amount of dust that would float up through the cracks in the floor from the marble cutting going on below. A photographer who would photograph chicks on bikes for a biking magazine. The girls were chosen from images that they submitted of themselves to the magazine. I wont expound on this one, just visualize. I once showed up to assist a wedding photographer who was drunk when I arrived, this was mid morning before the wedding mind you. I particularly loved working as an assistant to wardrobe stylists. It was a blast to buy and return thousands of dollars worth of clothing. You got to see all of the latest fashion and imagine that you were buying all of these items for your own wardrobe with the swoop of a piece of plastic (even if they were a size 2). I could go on, there were countless others. I have made life long friends with some of these people. They played a huge role in my development as a photographer.

So there you have it, a small glimpse into the humble beginnings of the photographer that I am today.

I had the pleasure of photographing my niece, Addison Wagner, last week. She was eleven hours old when these images were taken. LOVE, I repeat, LOVE, photographing babies! I think babies are so amazing. To watch their curiosity and wonder towards the world is incredible. To know that I will watch this tiny human being as she grows, witness her achievements, the first time she talks, her first steps, gives me a sense of awe and perspective.

Brrrrrrrr! Any of you that have been along Chicago's lake shore in the winter, know why they call it the windy city! Engagement photos are usually done at the location of the couples choice. For this session, Kristen and Jeff, made the call. I love working in the rare enviornment, and so did they! Kristen and Jeff could not have been more delightful! We can't wait for the wedding!