Outdoor Engagement Photos

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As I type this, the weather outside is close to 70 degrees and it's only the second week into March!!  That's got me thinking about outdoor engagement photos!!  These sessions are great as it gets soon to be married couples a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera.  This makes them old pros by the time the wedding day comes.

The above image was part of a Chicago Session Engagement Package and they had a large Stand Out print displayed at their reception hall, The Patrician in Schererville.  Many of my wedding clients order a large print and mini album to put on display for guests to look at when they enter the party.

Shooting a beach silhouette during the magic twilight hour is one of my favorite images.  We have a LOT of great beaches along the Indiana Dunes to use for romantic engagement photos.

Another idea is to stroll an old part of town such as the downtown Crown Point Square.  The many antique stores their are great for that vintage look we can apply.  Perhaps the local ice cream shop 'What's the Scoop' will be open and two of you can share a milkshake together.

Many couples choose the classic, cinematic black and white look of The Chicago Sessions.  We meet at the train station in East chicago and we shoot as the train arrives, on the train and then stroll around downtown Chicago.  All images are available in color, but the idea is too turn them into vintage looking black and white film shots from the 1960's.

This same retro look was applied to this beach shot at Washington Park in Michigan City.

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Another one of my favorite destinations for photographing brides to be and their future grooms is Coffee Creek Park in Chesterton, Indiana.  If you live in Valparaiso, Portage or even La Porte - this is a great place to walk and get away from the daily grind.

I always encourgage my clients to be themselves when they dress for the shoot, but to avoid logos and things like that.  You are always welcome to bring a change of outfits as well.

Portrait Studio Grand Reopening

I have a brand new portrait studio opening in March.  Photography clients who have had sessions at my former portrait studio can attest that the quality has been superb, but the room a bit cramped.  All that changes in a few weeks when I will have a grand reopening of the larger studio - now located in Crown Point, Indiana.

As before, sessions will be booked by appointment and the results will be what the big box retailers cannot offer.  Just as I strive to make my wedding photography unique, my child photography and family photography will have the same guidelines.

For high school seniors, I will now have many more sets and backgrounds along with an App for iPhone and iPad in some of the packages.  There will even be a rock star set up to revealed soon.

My Crown Point portrait studio can also be a destination spot for engagement photos as well....

I hope to have things complete in the next few weeks so I can post some images and reveal the exciting new studio packages.  Of course, things have been crazy busy with the move and booking wedding clients for 2012 and 2013.

More news about my new Crown Point Portrait Studio coming soon.  In the meantime, enjoy these images from past sessions.  

Winner of Chicago Engagement Session

What a great crowd at the Wicker Park Bridal show today!!  Special thanks to Bride's Guide Magazine for having me and a big thank you to all who stopped by the booth.  I hope myself and my assistant Leslie were of some help in answering your photography questions.  I encourage you to fill out the Contact form and set up a meeting so we can discuss your wedding in a quieter setting.

Before I announce our winner, let me tell you a little bit about the prize itself.  The Chicago Sessions Engagement Package is a favorite of mine and is always a fun day for clients as well.  It's a special engagement shoot with the Windy City as our backdrop.  All images are taken in color and then turned into classic, cinematic black and white.  I add grain to make them look like film.  Think 1960's street photography or old hollywood romantic films. 

The color versions will be available just in case there's an image or two that is just begging for a spectacular color rendering like this Chicago Theater collage...

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The Chicago Sessions Engagement Package includes:

• 3 hours of photography
• 7x7 Hardcover Photo Book
• 8x10 Wrap
• Train Transportation

We will meet at the South Shore train station and take the initial shot of the train arriving and then onto the city.  The entire session will last about 5 hours including train travel.  We will stop for a coffee and snack break and discuss your wedding as well.

So, without further delay - the winner from the Wicker Park Bridal Show is.....

Meghan Maloney!!

Congratulations!!!  I will be contacting you to make arrangements to claim your prize.  For those of you who did not win, when you hire me to shoot your wedding photography, I will be adding a complimentary 11x14 Premium Print into your package.  Be sure to remind me that you found me at the show.  Please fill out the Contact form and set up a meeting today.  We have been booking dates very fast lately.

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Thanks again for a great day!!

Engagement Pictures at Portage River Walk

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Mike and Heather will be having a winter wedding in New Buffalo, Michigan this February.  I will be the photographer for their celebration!!  We recently did some engagement photos at Portage River Walk.

It's a hidden away gem of a place with access to Lake Michigan and opportunities for many different scenes for photos.  The opening image has a From Here To Eternity, edge of the earth feel to it.  A few steps in another direction can give you a marina like scene complete with a lighthouse as background.

One of Heather and Mike's favorite photos from this engagement session is this "love on the rocks" shot taken with the couple gazing out at the boats on Lake Michigan.

A few moment later I placed the happy couple on some beachwood and they new exactly what to do.  A great, loving moment for the soon to be bride and groom.

These guys were great sports as this field was a bit of a trek for them.  I wanted to make sure we utilized all of the scenery at this hidden away scenic spot.  Had to get those nice Fall colors in there as well.  I often "shoot for the album" so to speak.  This change of scenery makes sure that the book doesn't get boring page after page.  I like to see new backgrounds appearing as we go along.

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One of my favorite photos of the engagement session is this playful one with the soft blue background.  I like these type of candid moments best.

The Portage River Walk is off of Rt.20 and Rt.249 and is hidden by an industrial mill.  If I were to pan to the right for this next image you would see smokestacks just beyond the river walk.

Soon it was dusk with a temperature drop.  Time for some snuggling to keep warm...

Our last photo of the engagement shoot is this winding walk image of the couple holding hands.  I just like the way the scenery sort of frames them.

Be sure to subscribe to this Journal and follow me on Facebook this winter for updates on Mike and Heather's wedding this February.  Stay warm...