Alex + Nina: Engagement at the Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

I tried starting this blog post a number of different ways, but all I kept thinking was this: with friends like these, who needs models or styled shoots? Holy cow.

Alex and Nina are two of the most genuinely lovely people we know and to have the privilege of calling them friends, let alone getting to photograph their engagement (and wedding, which we'll share soon!), is a singular honor. There is no amount of directing that can make up for two people who not only love each other, but moreover actually like each other as well. Most of the session we simply had to say "just go stand over there and flirt with each other" and...well, you can see for yourself. We hope you enjoy these images from our time together at the Garfield Park Conservatory and all its tropical splendor. 

The Nicodems do the Pacific Northwest

Last fall we decided to run away from Chicago for a few months. Our lease was up on our apartment, our wedding season was drawing to a close, and the wanderlust was just getting too persistent to ignore. So in November we put our things in boxes, sold our car and anything that wouldn't fit in storage, grabbed our cameras and headed to our favorite place on this green earth: the Pacific Northwest. And it was life changing. It's so easy, living in the city and through the pell-mell dash known as "wedding season," to lose touch with yourself (I know, that sounds super "feely" but bear with me), and when you're married to your business partner, it's easy to lose touch with each other as well. And so we decided to get far enough away, for long enough, to look back at our life (and to look at each other) and just breathe.

It was glorious.

What we found was that 1) we love each other more than ever, and 2) we love what we do and are so excited to keep doing it, all the better. So here's to breathing, here's to running away to green spaces, here's to the crazy, lonesome beauty of the PNW, and here's to living a life we love. We hope you enjoy some of our photos from our time there, we'll be posting more of our journey in the next few months and getting back into blogging our weddings from 2016! It's been an incredible start back here in Chicago, and we can't wait to share it with you. Until then, soak in these beauties (and if you ever want somebody to talk your ear off about where to go/what to do in Oregon/Washington, we are all yours).

Bjorn + Natalie: Married in Staten Island, New York

Here's one of our final weddings from the 2015 season, and what a fantastic way to finish! One of the most beautiful celebrations of the year, Bjorn and Natalie's wedding was an honor to be a part of. We love it when both the bride and the groom have amazing, loving families who play a big role in the day, and their wedding was a true celebration of two lives coming together. 

John + Allison: Wedding at Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (Video)

Last week we shared the photo set of John and Allison's beautiful outdoor wedding at the Morton Arboretum (you can read about it and see the photos here), and now we're thrilled to share their lovely wedding day film as well! Now you can see what we were talking about: these two are crazy about each other, and it was truly a joy to be a part of it all. Enjoy!

Chris + Emily: Wedding in Logan Square, Chicago, IL

It isn't often as a wedding photographer that you get to walk to work. Or that you met the bride in high school but haven't seen each other for almost ten years until she (and her new fiancé) walk into the bar you're working at on a random Friday night in Chicago. But that's a story for a different post...

Chris and Emily's wedding day was the perfect hometown (even "home-neighborhood") celebration, all in our favorite Chicago locale: Logan Square (just a few blocks from our apartment, hence the walking to work). And we use the word "celebration" to the fullest extent of its meaning. It was a joy to be a part of Chris and Emily's wedding, we hope you enjoy these images that reflect what a fantastic and special day it was!

John + Allison: Wedding at Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL

As a city-dweller, it's important to have sacred spaces outside of the urban hustle and bustle. And for the last two years, that place for us has been the Morton Arboretum. With beautiful gardens, manicured hedges, and enough forest to walk through to truly feel lost in nature, it is a diamond in the western suburbs of Chicago. And so when John and Allison asked us to photograph their autumn wedding at the Arboretum, we swooned. It was an incredible day, with a sun-filled outdoor ceremony, a garden party to top any and all other garden parties, and a couple so deeply in love it was tangible. We hope you enjoy these images from their lovely day, and we look forward to sharing the video of John and Allison's wedding in the next few weeks!

Pavan + Shilpy: Wedding At Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL (Video)

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of sharing with you the joy-filled photos from the wedding of Pavan and Shilpy, and today we are thrilled to post their video! To see more about their day, click here. Enjoy!

Sean + Amanda: Engagement in South Haven, MI

Where better to take photos of a newly engaged couple than at a place with years of meaning and memories for the two (and not to mention some of the most beautiful sunsets and lakeside bonfires)? Such was the case for our engagement session with Sean and Amanda in and around the town of South Haven, Michigan, and at the lakefront property near Amanda's family cottage.

And be warned: beyond just the aforementioned beautiful couple, some photos may contain an adorable golden retriever, running through the sand, at sunset, by a breathtaking lake. We know, it's hardly fair.

Oren + Danielle: Wedding at Morgan Manufacturing, Chicago, IL (Video)

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of sharing with you some images from the stunning rooftop wedding of Oren and Danielle in Chicago's West Loop. And without further ado, we're thrilled to share with you the video of their day! To see and hear more about the wedding, click here.

Pavan + Shilpy: Wedding at Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL

There are few more colorful events than an Indian wedding, and as was the case for Pavan and Shilpy, few more loving and joyful couples to be wed. Old traditions mixed with new, family and friends from all over, good food and enthusiastic dancing: these are things that truly make for a fantastic celebration, and that's exactly what the day held. Enjoy these stunning photos from their wedding day, and look for the lovely couple's wedding video in the next few weeks!