Showing posts with label chicago. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chicago. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Why I love shooting outdoors...

Although I got my start as a "pro" in a studio, and now shoot primarily indoors - and with hospital room lighting! - I love to shoot outdoors with natural light. Its simple. Its beautiful. Its less editing on my part (haha).

This week, Mother Nature has given us a break from this horrid Chicago winter we've been having. 45 balmy degrees on Monday led us to a short trip to the Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, Illinois, where some of the following pictures were shot. On our trip home, I stopped to take some photos along the Fox River in St. Charles.

Even better was the 60 degree day we enjoyed yesterday! I arrived home from work at 1:30, ate a quick lunch, and got the girls in the car for the 45 minute drive to the Brookfield Zoo just outside Chicago. It was one of their February "free days" (every Tuesday, Thursday and weekend this month!), so it was worth it to go for just 90 minutes as we did.

Anyway, we got some time outside, and I got some pictures of my girls!! Enjoy!


Friday, November 21, 2008

{FOUR} My lucky number...

Bug turned four on Wednesday (can you believe it?!), so we celebrated with a trip into the city and a surprise visit to American Girl Place. She had no idea where we were going, what we were doing, or why she was so dressed up. She just knew it was her BIRTHDAY! and that we'd left Lou home with Heidi...

Anyway, it was a great time. Tiring and exhausting and emotional and so, so, so much fun. I never thought a tomboy like me could have so much fun at a DOLL store. Anyway, I have a ton of pics to share, but not a ton of time... so a couple of my favorites.

Happy Birthday Bug!!!


Monday, November 3, 2008

A teaser: Heidi & Matt

The real reason for going downtown yesterday: to shoot Matt & Heidi, who have been married a year and a half now and never had engagement pictures done. They don't even have wedding photos that they feel inclined to display!!! How sad... My mission, to give them one or two (or ten) photos worthy of adorning the walls of their new apartment!

Hope you enjoy these few...trust me - there are MANY more. And for my fellow photographers and photoshoppers, please feel free to CC. I could use it, as these are still early attempts at professional processing, as well as on-location shooting!

A Day In the BIG CITY...

Yesterday, we went into the city to take pictures of our close friends, Heidi & Matt (sneak peek of their fabulous pics soon to come). I tried to focus on taking their pictures while Russ watched Lou & Bug, but at one point, H&M walked away to scout another photo location and I couldn't help but snap a couple quick ones of my girls playing (and stop a freak from trying to take pictures of them!!!!!). Chicago is such an amazing backdrop for pictures, but with my girls, the backdrop just doesn't matter... I want all the focus on my beautiful girls!!!!

Here's my 2 favorites!!!

Monday, September 1, 2008

Summer is over...

and I can hardly believe it. But, I took advantage of a beautiful labor day weekend to take a wide variety of pictures. In the past seven days I've been to Menominee, MI; Marinette, WI; Green Bay (and a Packers game!); back home to Chicagoland; and finally up to Lake Geneva, WI and the surrounding area (including the Walworth County Fair, where I took this image).

So, once I catch my breath (did I mention I start at Bella tomorrow!?), I will be a flickr'ing, blogging madwoman. So, keep your eyes peeled.
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Sunday, August 17, 2008

Something new...

I've been taking quite a few pictures in the past couple of weeks. And I'm trying to take pics of something other than my kids... so, here's some of what I've been up to:

On August 2nd, we went to the N.E.W. (NorthEast Wisconsin) Zoo in Suamico, WI. We saw a lot of animals, including this giraffe, whom my daughters fed.


We also got to meet a box turtle...up close and personal. She was very shy, but let me take a couple closeups.

The next day, we took a drive up to Sturgeon Bay, WI. We sat by the marina, watching the boats come in and out; watching the bridge lift up to allow the taller yachts and sailboats through. My daughters were pretty interested in the canadian geese (which, of course, we see all the time around home anyway!). So, here's a picture of one getting all riled up.

After our short drive to Sturgeon Bay, we returned to Green Bay to visit Lambeau Field for the Green Bay Packers' Family Night. Rather than obsess about the drama surrounding Brett Favre (my favorite player of all time), I busied myself with learning to use my father-in-law's 70-300mm lens. Thanks, Ray! This picture of Brian Brohm was taken from the 58th row. In 10 days, I'll be sitting in the 13th row of Lambeau Field to watch the preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. Can't wait to see how much better those photos turn out!



On Saturday, August 9, we visited the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. I quickly filled my memory card, but had to narrow it down to choose one to share here... this is a good one of a monkey. The lighting was challenging (the monkeys live in the "monkey house", a dark, dank windowless building).

Then, finally, this past week I had family in town (Mike & Mara, it was nice to see you! Hope you had as good a time as we did!). So, on Tuesday night, we went to watch the Schaumburg Flyers baseball team. We had great seats that were unfortunately obscured by the net that protects the fans from foul balls. So, I took a bunch of pictures before the game started. Here, one of the pitchers warmed up with his catcher.

I also took some pictures of my girls that night (you knew I'd share at least one, right?!).



On Wednesday, we took the train downtown and visited Navy Pier. Besides walking around and eating too many treats, we also took an architectural boat tour of Chicago courtesy of SeaDog. Despite the rain, it was an amazing excursion. We saw the city in a way we'd never seen it before. I'm no architecture buff, but there's something about those buildings that makes my breath catch in my throat. So, I took a bunch of pictures, but here are my favorites.


Upon finishing the boat ride, we were all exhausted (and wet!), but we stopped near the ferris wheel to allow Bug a ride on the carousel. So, I took the opportunity to take a couple more photos. Notice how blue the sky was! This was maybe an hour after the downpour we experienced on the boat. Amazing how the weather can change in an instant.
While waiting for the train to take us into the city, I took this picture of my girls. I was very pleased with this capture. They weren't fighting, they weren't talking, and they were actually smiling. A rare capture of both my girls at once!


I start my training at Bella Baby this Tuesday! I'm very excited (and a little nervous). My last day at Picture People is Wednesday. I'm honestly going to miss that place (and a few of the girls - and Steve! - that work there). I've learned a lot and I credit my newfound self confidence to working there...

In the meantime, check my flickr for more photos. I upload lots more there, and on a more frequent basis. And also tell your friends to check out my photos! Thanks for reading (and looking!).

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Feeling doubtful...

I'm not begging for compliments... well, maybe I am. I'm just feeling a little down on myself. Not so sure of my abilities. I know I shouldn't, but I compare myself to my fellow photographers. Yeah, I don't have formal training, but neither do most of them! I get frustrated with my inability to capture exactly what I see... my photos don't have the color, the emotion, the "pop" that some of those I see on flickr and the blogs I read.

So, I'm here to share some out of the ordinary shots. You've become accustomed to seeing my kids (and will see Lou in this post, as well), but I'm sharing some other subjects as well. Some from a recent trip to the Field Museum in Chicago, a walk along the Chicago lakeshore, and a visit to a local petting zoo. I have others I would like to share, but Blogger is acting up, so I'll add them to my next post...

Enjoy! Comment! Come back and tell all your friends. To my fellow photographers, I can use the CC. To all the others, just tell me you love my pictures. Haha.