I had such a fun time at this wedding! I was shooting alone, which sometimes can be a lonely day, but this couple + bridal party made me feel so welcomed and the day was full of laughs and tons of smiles! 

Kerri got dressed at home, and it was such a calm, fun atmosphere. I wasn’t even there an hour and I was in tears as I watched her dad continuously break into tears as he watched her transform into a the most beautiful bride. When it was time for his first look with her, I just kept the camera over my face because I completely teared up! Following the first look with dad we did some bridal portraits, a couple family photos and I was off to the church! 
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I met up with the guys at the church and we did their group/getting ready photos, and what a blast! They were all up for whatever I wanted to do and were such a fun group to work with. Ed did a little modeling for me before it was time for Kerri to arrive at the church. She arrived by foot, since she lived just a few doors down! She looked so stunning as she walked into the church, I couldn't wait for Ed to see her! 
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The ceremony was absolutely lovely. Seeing Ed’s face as Kerri walked down the aisle was of course my favorite part. They have been together for 12 years, and they were finally getting married and the way Ed looked at her on that day, even 12 years after meeting just made me think she was such a lucky gal! The ceremony ended with a huge kiss and the two of them just admiring each others' look as the church cleared out. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen! 
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Although it was a mid October wedding, the leaves hadn’t changed much yet, so I suggested heading to a train station for their formal photos. I’m so glad we did! We stopped at the train station on 111th in Morgan Park, one hidden gem spot I love to shoot at. We did all the formals there and then headed to Georgio’s in Orland Park for their reception. 
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As much of the rest of the day was, the reception was a blast! The room was stunning, the toasts were so sweet and kind, and I loved watching Kerri dance - that girl has some moves! It was such a pleasure to be there to capture this day - wishing these two nothing but the absolute best!! Congratulations!!! 
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On the day of the wedding I met up with Jamie, my helper for the day. We went over our game plan and headed straight to the bride's room where we not only met the bride, bridesmaids and mothers, but also met their amazing hair and makeup team, Patty McGuire Hair & Makeup Artists. It was a fun crowd and they made us feel right at home to get the beautiful detail shots of her invites, dress, etc. 

We made a few trips back and forth to photograph the guys getting ready, as one awesome thing about this venue is that they have a gorgeous bride's room, but also space for a groom's room which allowed us to have ample time to get getting ready photos of both the bride and groom. Once our bride was ready we couldn't help but continuously photograph her, as her gorgeous look matched with this vintage charm of a venue and her stunning flowers provided by Shamrock Gardens were just a photographer's dream. 

Amy and Tony decided to do a private first look. They wanted it a little more natural and less forced so we set them up on the rooftop of The Haight and just let things naturally unfold. Amy's face as she heard Tony's footsteps come closer and Tony's face as he got closer to Amy of course made me tear up behind the camera. Whenever the bride and groom see each other the stress of the day always melts away. 

We tried to go out into downtown Elgin and use the architecture for some wedding formals, but due to rainy weather we decided to just stay put at the venue. We have brick, we have bulb lighting - you can't go wrong! On the bottom floor of the venue there are also some really fun signs and corners to use for photos - they turned out awesome! One thing I think is so important when choosing a venue is to choose one you can use for photos incase of inclement weather. The Haight is definitely one of those - the photos turned out beautiful and everyone stayed nice and dry. 

One nice thing about doing everything in one place is it made the day really relaxed and calm. After photos everyone had a chance to relax before it was time for the ceremony. Amy was able to have some time in her bride's room with friends and as everyone began to arrive it was fun to see everyone's reactions as they walked into this awesome space. Amy and Tony's ceremony was lovely. It was beautifully lit with lanterns down the aisle and a huge chandelier above. They read their own vows to each other, exchanged rings, and they were finally wed!

The reception space was a stunning set up. True Cuisine handled the catering and sweets, Jarosch Bakery handled the cake, and the staff did an exquisite job making sure every detail was perfect before the guests were invited in. The reception to follow was filled with lots of love and laughter with toasts and a great dinner. Sounds Abound handled the announcing and music and were a great DJ who also paid attention to our needs as photographers. All around everyone involved did an amazing job at making this event completely perfect for Amy & Tony. 

A very huge thank you to Amy & Tony for inviting us along to capture your day. Although we had never met before the wedding day, we felt welcomed, trusted and are sending you guys lots of love and best wishes for your beautiful life together. cheers! 

     Without fail multiple times a day someone calls or texts and asks for outfit advice. Every day I think about how I need to get all my advice written for everyone...for years I've thought about how I need to do this. Well, here I am! I’m not going to lie, I did this QUICKLY, which pained me because it's one of my favorite topics, but my goal is to simply steer you in the right direction. Whether you're new to family photography, or we've been doing it for years and you need a refresher, here are some of my favorite tips from my closet, to yours!

Coordinate

     It’s been trendy for awhile to have dresses for girls that match mom, which is super cute, but let’s stay away from that for the whole family! We of course want to keep the family unified and can do that by coordinating colors. Pick two to four colors and work those into everyone’s attire in varying degrees. (Ex. Blue, Maroon, Beige, White) When choosing these colors also think where will these photos hang?! Is it important these colors match my decor where I will be hanging them? I always think varying degrees of blue always look good, with many different locations! The family below did just that and I loved how they looked coordinated, yet were able to dress to everyone's personality. 
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Texture

     Texture adds interest and a bit of personality to an outfit. It can also elevate the family photos a bit by adding interesting elements to the eye. A textured dress, bulky sweater, a fur vest, fun scarf - anything of the sort provides visual interest. You can add pieces into your outfit in unexpected ways - think like a denim jacket paired with a more feminine Lacey top. Patterns can also create texture in a photo. You don’t want anything too huge, but smaller patterns can add elements of texture. Add prints in small ways, and stay away from anything with wave prints. The little girl seen below has an eyelet dress and mom has a simple summer dress with texture on the chest and straps. Both dresses when posed together added more interest to the eye in the photograph. The family of four also shown below used prints to add texture. The prints weren't too distracting but added an element of interest to the photo. 
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Shoes

     If you have a well put together wardrobe for everyone and then just toss on dirty gym shoes it can really change the entire photograph. Have everyone wear their best footwear and bring walking shoes for in between locations if worried about ruining them. Statement shoes always add a little something to the photos and heels always help a woman's silhouette. IF shoes are not an option in everyone’s closet, spend a bit of time grooming feet and go barefoot! The family below did their photos in their yard and I loved their barefoot look. 
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Flatter

     You’re essentially going to have your outfit on display forever… So make sure it looks it’s best! In particular for mom or those who are going to be more critical, take the time to move in the outfit you choose. Sit on a chair, look at yourself from different angles in the mirror. Especially in my photo sessions, dance parties often happen! You'll be moving, sitting, standing, walking. As a universal tip, most bodies look great in wrap tops, a-line skirts and jackets + tops cinched at the waist. Proof of dance parties below! Mom's dress moved and it felt comfortable and looked effortless to pick up her kids and move with them! 
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Be Current 


     Trends come and go, but some of them are incredibly date-able. Skip those, unless you are doing photo sessions often. Timeless doesn’t have to be boring! You can accessorize and add statement pieces that tie in the classic look and make it look modern. Whether it’s a colorful cuff or set of bangles, a cap for dad for a few, or hat for mom. Adding sentimental pieces is always a nice touch in photos. If you’re going to wear earrings, make sure you can see them with your hairstyle. Keep hair more natural, save the updos for special events. The mom below always has a piece of jewelry that is subtle, but adds something to her look. She always looks effortless, comfortable but so striking in every photograph! In this year's session her watch with a small bangle, her metallic shoe and her textured dress made her look current, but in a simple way that didn't distract. 

Pick a Theme

     If you feel lost, sometimes it helps to plan your location first or pick a theme. You can go more black tie and do a formal look on your couch or at a location with columns. You can go more countryside and wear corduroys and tweeds and muted colors, you can go loud and head to a fun location like a park or carnival. Sometimes choosing location can help you come up with the vibe of your look. I have gotten an enormous amount of compliments on this carnival session! They picked a vibe, they went with it and it totally worked! 

     In the end, my motto is always "no stress". You have my number. Lay everything out, see if it works, and if you aren't sure... send me a text :)  

​luv, ed

​We didn’t use backgrounds, but a fun area on the dock of the school that I went and planned out with a faculty member prior. And at another campus we used their garden. To limit waste, we did not pass out order forms, the school was sent a password protected link where parents could access their children’s photos - safely. Home room composites were made, so kids could remember their classmates and orders were placed a la carte. If you only wanted 2 prints, you only had to buy 2 prints. Every parent had 5 photos to choose from, and had the option to just purchase the digitals if they didn’t need prints. And yes, the school received a percentage of the profit.


So I might be crazy, but now that I have a system down, it’s official and on my website, LuvEd is on board for school photography! Schools under 300 students, unless we can work out multiple days, and I will limit the number I take per year because well... sometimes I need to sleep ..... and travel 😉. ​

At this point, I’ve been in the photography game for quite some time, and if I can remember one product being a constant, it’s the folio display. While I always thought they were a little old fashioned and well.. blah, I did a deep dive to find a modern take on of photography’s oldest displays….and here she is! ​

The sizes are completely versatile. If you want to pop one into a basket to add to a gift they come in smaller sizes all the way up to an 8x10, so depending on where you will display them, we can make that size happen. My FAVORITE part, is while The Folio Display’s distant cousin usually one held a couple photos, we can add multiple, even a couple multiple photos in this. It still opens as a book with two sides, but more photos can be added. For my samples, I did only one photo on each side because again - I live for light and airy! The photo sides are printed on the same satin paper that spans across the cover which gives it that seamless look and that soft feel across the whole piece. The paper soaks up color for a gorgeous, saturated display of your favorites from your session. The inside spine is a black fabric, with almost a linen feel. It’s a muted surface so the focus stays on the images. ​

Everyone that knows me, knows that one thing I love is giving gifts and wrapping them beautifully, which is why I ADORE this weeks print product. I'd like to introduce you to...the print box. 

Basically, this is a gorgeous wooden box. The cover can be customized to have a photo, a series of photos, a quote. It is simple, yet gorgeous, and well constructed. The cover slides off to reveal a box of 4x6 prints. 

What I love love love the most is that when you order the individual box, you can order ANY number of prints. Which means using this as a gift is PERFECTO for grandmas, godparents, etc. You can get the box as a gift and then add photos to it as add on gifts in coming years as your child grows. The box is a 4x6 size, so even casual phone photos you print elsewhere can fit into the box, you aren't obligated to order through Luved. But if you do.... the physical prints are lovely. They can be printed on a felt feeling paper that give this gorgeous matte, soft finish with or without a white border OR they can be printed on regular photo paper. The quality is stunning. With the first set of prints, the company even gives you the perfect little sized tissue & twine for pretty wrapping! 

These can also be used across other types of sessions as well, not just babies and kids. Having products that can be used across multiple styles and vibes is so important to me. ex... It would be a great parents gift for after a wedding :) 

Great quality, stunning delivery, thoughtful. Sounds like a perfect gift to me!

Canvas wraps are pretty, but let me introduce you to the print wrap. IT. IS. LUXURIOUS, in my opinion. It is the same concept; your art is one piece - no fuss, no hassle, ready to hang out of the box…BUT…
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First… the paper these are printed on is a high quality photographic paper, with color tones and contrast controlled by yours truly, which means skin tones look pretty and nothing is over contrasted. The deep matte sheen on these things is like butter. So smooth, so beautiful. The image prints crisp and the finish elevates it. No more details lost in the criss cross of the canvas. (These also do have a high gloss option, but most people know me + high gloss vivids aren’t friends…BUT the option is there if you wish) 

They can be created with new photos, old photos (as long as you have print release), and restored antique photos..and are a welcome to guest to any and most gallery walls. Every time I open a box of these I am in awe of their loveliness, I am so excited to have these as a part of my new product line! 

Cheers! 

The past couple weeks have been a little crazy...well...more like a lot crazy. 

As life got back to some semblance of normal as things “opened”, I started to work again. Navigating how to run my business despite all the concerns of Covid was a bit of a hurdle but I figured it out. And as most, I started revisiting the dentist, the doctor, and everything that had been put off for months. 

At one of those appointments I learned I would most likely have to have surgery again, for a long battled issue I’ve dealt with for the past ten years. I had gone through this surgery not even two years ago. I was so frustrated, but was starting to look at my schedule to plan ahead for another month off at some point in the future to take care of it. As that week went on, I very unexpectedly got worse and worse and headed back to the doctor where I would be told I had to have surgery the following week. 

UMMM WHAT?! 

I had literally JUST in the car got done planning an extended family session where people were flying in from New York. Another gal who I have practically photographed every life moment for since her wedding had me on standby so I could hopefully be there to capture her bringing her baby home from the hospital, and she was due next week! I had JUST mulled over various shirt colors that matched with camo for an upcoming session with a SO excited mama, and one of my very special  little clients was about to turn 4.5!  While this wasn’t totally the end of the world, it’s my world, and it’s the world of moms and families who want to capture very specific moments in time. And as a people pleaser, I wanted to throw up. 

What I’ve learned through all this happening in this way, is that so many people who frequent my services are the kindest, most loyal and understanding friends. As I feverishly reached out to everyone I would have to reschedule, everyone was willing to put off their moments and wait for me to be back to 100%.  Unless it was a case with people only being in town for certain days, not one person accepted a referral for another photographer. 

Life works in weird ways, and while these past couple weeks have been frustrating, emotional, and downright hard, I have felt so loved from my family, my friends, my clients. I never once felt alone, or felt like I let anyone down. 

Positive news came from the doctor yesterday, and while I’m still stuck on the couch for a few more days, I see the end of this in sight, and am grateful for the way it worked out. In hindsight, this ended up being the perfect time. THANK YOU to everyone who so graciously understood that life happens, and knows that this isn’t just a job for me. It’s my world, and I can’t wait to be back!

If you were to walk into my home, every single thing has a meaning - some sort of story behind it. Even every house plant came from a piece of another houseplant from someone from my history. It’s borderline ridiculous. But if you pointed at anything, I could tell you the story.

When it comes to buying cars, it’s harder to buy something brand new that has a story attached, but the story that unfolds while in my possession is so special. It’s you! 

I am leaving Monday morning to drive my car to Denver to give to my niece. She was born on the night of my senior prom and now I’m handing her the keys to my car. Yikes! It will be the last adventure in my Blue Fiat. Not really a huge deal, and I didn’t think much of it until yesterday when I was in my parents driveway scrubbing it clean for her. 

The Blue Fiat has driven 125,000 miles, with 95% of those being for shoots, it is 5 years old. It has endured many, many, many flat tires - 3 of which were on days I was driving to weddings. It has gotten in one major accident which too was on the morning I had a shoot and a wedding, and the number of small accidents it has endured - the time a coyote ran out of nowhere into the street, the time I backed up into my brother’s Jeep, the time I was rushing home to edit and slipped on ice. But it also inside, has about a million tiny little scratches. And as I tried to buff them out I just started tearing up.  So many times have I shoved a big red wagon, a vintage chair, 9,000 blankets, and the most random of things into the back of this car for props to use in photos. So many times I shoved up to 25 balloons into the back, and got so many laughs in the parking lots of Party City throughout Chicagoland. It has served as a way to know I’m “in the office” when I had my studio and was parked outside. It was a way to connect with clients when they would text me and say they saw me driving around.  And the enormous number of times little kids giggled and asked “Is that your tiny car?” always made me smile. So many of you saw this little car as a representation of Luved Photography, even more so than my logo,  as I saw it as more of my office than any studio could ever be. It was my safe space. 

As life has changed for me so much recently, as I was cleaning up the car I reminisced on all the happy times I had in that car and all the sad ones. So many times I had bad moments because of what was going on behind the scenes in life. All the times I literally felt like my only solace was riding around in that car doing my work. But most of the happy moments I remembered, all had to do with you guys, my clients, my friends. That car always took me to a place of peace, a place where I could have fun and not worry about what was going on in life - it took me to all my sessions. Thank you, for being the story, the joy behind that piece of my life. 

A new car has been purchased, another Fiat. This one has less room, as I try to force myself to stick to the type of photography I love - less props, more moments. There is no studio to park it in front of this time around, and not as many overly sized props to shove in it, but I just know that it will lead me through a new season of life, of my career, and some of life’s best moments - which I truly find in my work, in you!  


Xoxo,
​ed 

Hello, hello, and ohh do I miss you all!
This weekend would have been the start of my wedding season, and instead of picking out what lenses to use, I'm picking out another set of jammies for the day. UGH! My heart literally aches for those who have had to cancel their special days. In addition to missing all those happy tears at weddings, I am so missing cuddling all your babies and giggling with your kids. The quiet in my home is just a bit too much. 

I am cooped up with my pup, who is my little quarantine companion, and I basically only leave to pick up groceries and visit my parents. My days are spent working on a puzzle, reading, and working on projects that I have put on the back burner for years. New website, business cards, etc. It's really nice to have the time to get these things accomplished, and one of my 2020 goals was to live a more low key, slower life. 2020 really delivered. lol. 

As our stay at home order was just extended today, I know many who are on my May calendar are probably going to reach out to reschedule. I am trying to be incredibly careful for the sake of loved ones and really, for everyone, so we can get back to normal life, so rescheduling is completely ok! With weather getting nicer outside, my process will be to interview everyone individually. If you are hoping to still have your session and we can both find a mutual way to feel comfortable doing it from a distance, we can of course discuss proceeding. For most though, we will reschedule and find a time when we can feel more comfortable. While yes, I can photograph from a distance, a lot of my methods are in a tight vicinity of your children, so it's best to play it safe for all. 


For now, know that I miss you all so so much, send all your kiddos my love, and I hope sooner than later we'll all be saying "CHEESE & PICKLES!!"

luv, ed

PS - currently have binged on Unorthodox, Caliphate, (Sadly)Love is Blind, Derby Girls, Feel Good, and in the middle of A Handmaid's Tale. Iliza Schlesinger's comedy is pretty funny for background noise (Netflix). I get my daily dose of news from the podcast The Daily, from the New York Times. And I've read Buy Yourself the F***ing Lillies by Tara Schuster (LOVED) and Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo (Liked).
I also tried to make pancakes for the first time ever and they're pretty awful without milk. Hang in there friends! ​