Chicago Wedding and Elopement Photographer

2014: Year in review

February 23, 2015

2014…. where do I even begin?! It should tell you something that it’s almost the end of Feb 2015 and I’m just now getting to writing this post. That’s how amazingly busy 2014 was! I just caught up on editing last week for the first time in almost year!! I look like I’m 95 now when I edit as I’ve had to start wearing wrist supports to survive haha.

But I can’t complain because 2014 has been the most amazing year my business has ever had 🙂 I’m smiling like a fool as I type this just thinking about all the amazing couples and families I got to work with. I always like to sit down at the end of the year and look back through my images and blogs to remind myself how truly blessed I am to do what I do and how lucky I am to be surrounded by such beauty all the time!

A couple of HUGE things happened in 2014. The first being the launch of my second business – Elope to Chicago. I started the site (www.elopetochicago.com) in April and as I’m writing this blog I’ve shot 21 elopements and weekday weddings and I haven’t even hit the year mark yet! I absolutely love elopements. They are so intimate and special – nothing compares! We’ve had couples come to Chicago from all over the US to elope or have a small ceremony with a few guests. I’ve gotten to play tour guide quite a bit and show our couples some of my favorite places in the city which has been so fun for me well!

I know 2015 is only going to be an even more amazing year for Elope as we are already getting floods of emails coming in daily. I have to thank my amazing team – Christine (Florist) , Kate (Hair & Makeup) , Marian (Officiant) and Eva (Officiant) for believing in this idea and dream and helping me make it a reality! I’ve already got new and exciting ideas brewing for 2015!

Here are some favorite elopement shots from 2014!

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Don’t worry I still LOVE a big wedding as well! I’m just geting the best of both worlds now! Here’s a few random favorites from this year!

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The second bit of giant news that came in 2014 was the addition of a shared studio space!!! This is something I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember! No more meetings at Starbucks next to a crying baby haha. I share the space with two wonderfully talented ladies : Christine Janda (who is also my florist for Elope) and Lindsay Brown (no we aren’t related, but we sometimes tell people we are!). Christine is a florist and planner (her website) and Lindsay designs custom invitations and paper goods (her website) . Basically I’ve just surrounded myself with talented people who create beautiful things! It’s a tough job I have!

Here are some shots of the studio and the grand opening party.

Me, Christine and Lindsay!

Me and my two wonderful assistants Sami and Robyn.

Me and my boyfriend Chris 🙂

Now it’s time to thank the people who I really would not be here with out and that is my family. Mom & Dad you are best in the world and I can’t thank you enough for your support over the years. My brother Dan and my sister Sarah – I love you both and thank you for your love and support as well. Thank you to all my family for listening to my stories and for putting up with me editing during Thanksgiving and Christmas and helping me haul all my gear around all the time. Thank you to my amazing boyfriend Chris who continually has to listen to me talk about weddings and all things wedding related…. I’m sure he loves it 😉

Thank you to my amazing assistants that I worked with in 2014. I had the chance to work with a couple new second shooters this year as I shot in different area and they were all amazing. Robyn, Sami, Allie, Jen, Regina, Renata and Naomi thank you all!! I don’t know what I would do without my second shooters. They keep me sane, make sure I stay on time, are incredibly talented photographer as well and overal just wonderful people that I’m lucky to have. Please don’t ever leave me 🙂

Here are some behind the scenes shots – it’s seems some of my assistants escaped my camera as I don’t have shots of them all!

Thank you to all the wonderful wedding vendors we got to work with this year! There are so many talented people in this city and we were lucky enough to work with many of them in 2014. From hair & makeup artists to florists to wedding planners, videographers, officiants, bands, dj’s and more our jobs are so much more fun when we get to spend them with fun and talented people. A big thank you to all the vendors we worked with in 2014!

Thank you to everyone who has liked a photo on facebook, told a friend about my business or been in front of my camera. And last but not least thank you to all the couples who trusted me to capture their wedding days!!Whether it was 2 people or 200 I treasured them all and without you I would be doing what I do!!

Cheers to 2014!!! I can’t wait to see what 2015 holds and if you know anyone looking for a wedding photographer I might know someone 😉

Love,

Becky

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Palmer House Chicago Wedding : Vladana + Eli 11/1/14

February 5, 2015

This wedding was SOOO much fun. I didn’t want to leave when our time was up!

The Palmer House is such a gorgeous, historic place Chicago and the perfect setting for a wedding. Did you know it was originally built as a gift for a bride to be?!

When we arrrived at the girls suite things were already in full swing with hair and makeup… and lots of selfies! I sent Robyn to hang out with the guys and she was greated by a group of shirtless meen (no complaints there)…. don’t worry there are photos haha. When everyone was ready we did first look at the hotel before heading off to Millenium Park for photos. It was chilly, but the wedding party didn’t complain a bit.

Then it was back to the Palmer House for their gorgeous ceremony that blended traditions from both of their backgrounds. After the I do’s it was party time… and boy was it a party!!! I love when couples do “East coast style” weddings. Meaning that there is dancing before dinner and in between courses. It gets everyone out moving earlier and keep things flowing.

The dance floor was PACKED all night and still going very strong when we left!

Thank you to Vla and Eli for allowing us to be a part of your wedding day and to your friends and families for being so welcoming and a blast to photograph!

Ceremony & Reception Venue : The Palmer House

Wedding Planner : Mindy Gurwin – Atmosphere Events

Makeup Artist : Kelly LaBlanco

Flowers: Blumgarten

Invitations : Wedding Paper Divas

Bridal Gown : Monique L’huillier

Band : Becca Kaufman Orchestra

Videographer : Xpress Video

Wedding Painter : Rosemary Fanti

Second Photographer : Robyn Cybulski

Ok seriously…. these shoes are amazing!! I might have gotten a little carried away with photos of them, but can you blame me?!

Meanwhile in the guys room…..

Have I mentioned how much I love the lobby at the Palmer House?!

I usually only do a jumping photo if requested, but if you can nail it like the groomsmen on the right did I’m all for it!

Putting the party in party bus 🙂

Ceremony time!

I think Empire Room might the most elegant and gorgeous rooms in the city. It’s a tough job shooting in such beautiful locations 😉

Again why I love East Coast Style! As soon as people got into the room the dancing started!

And then we slowed it down for their First Dance.

And then it was time for some toasts.

And back to the dancing! Now do you see why I said this wedding was a blast? This is probably more dancing shots than I normally blog, but there was so much going on I couldn’t resist.

My favorite dance shot of the night… maybe of the year 🙂

I have never seen this done, only heard about it, but it was so cool. Rosemary (info at the beginning of post) live painted the reception throughout the night. We weren’t there to see the final, but what a cool piece of art to have!

And last, but not least, me with the newlyweds!

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Clifty Falls State Park Wedding : Cindel + Kent 10/18/14 – Madison, IN

January 13, 2015

You may remember Cindel and Kent from their amazing Chicago engagement session! If you missed that check it out HERE.

Although they live in the city they decided to have their wedding celebration closer to home in Madison, IN. I actually went to high school with Cindel so it’s always nice to shoot in Indiana and see some familiar faces! It doesn’t hurt that they chose the gorgeous Clifty Falls State Park which has an amazing views and fabulous fall colors.

They actually got married in Jamaica a few weeks before, but gathered friends and family to celebrate. Instead of a true ceremony they played the video of their beach ceremony! I loved that we had a lot of photo time and I was able to spend some time with just the two of them around downtown Madison. I highly recommend this to all my couples. I love big wedding parties, but it’s nice to get away even if it’s just for a few minutes. Thanks to Russell for being our driver!

There are so many favorites from this day, but here are a few (okay more than a few) for you to enjoy! A big thank you to Renata for coming up from Louisville to be my photo assistant! She is amazingly talented. You can see more of her work here – http://renatapavam.com/

Wedding Venue : Clifty Falls State Park – Madison, IN

Florist : Kim Smith

When I arrived all the girls were doing old JCHS cheerleading routines haha. It’s always fun to walk into a room and know most everyone there!