Weddings | Chicago Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Category Archives: Weddings

Wedding Images and Photos by Memorable Jaunts Photography

Kate and Tim Morton Arboretum Intimate Wedding | Lisle Wedding Photographer

What a perfect way to get back into the blogging sphere! This lovely intimate wedding at the Morton Arboretum was absolutely perfect. Tim and Kate’s special day was not just about the gorgeous dress or the pretty flowers (although they were so beautiful), this wedding was about all about family….it was about Kate and Tim, their three kids, two sets of parents, two sets of in-laws, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews! Nearly 1/3 of the total 38 guests were kids and there were giggles and laughter all through out the day (with a few tears too 🙂 ). Set against the beautiful backdrop of the arboretum, this was a beautiful intimate ceremony celebrating two families coming together.

My heart is so full for these two and their brood of three as they start their life together. Congratulations to Tim and Kate.

Memorable Jaunts Morton Arboretrum Wedding Photos 2016-07-21_0001

Kate was so easy going and calm through out the ceremony. Her only request to me was to capture happy candid moments of Tim, her, the kids and their families. As she was getting ready, we found a beautiful pocket of light in the hallway and that where we took happy photos of the happy girls! Kate’s daughter made the cutest ballerina/flower girl and Tim’s boys were such dapper groomsmen! Kate was unapologetic of her tan lines (I frankly did not even notice it) – she said it was proof that she was having fun this summer with her kids! 🙂 🙂

Memorable Jaunts Morton Arboretrum Wedding Photos 2016-07-21_0002

Morton Arboretum is such a beautiful space. We found gorgeous pockets of light everywhere for a quick portrait of the dashing and dapper looking boys 🙂

The ceremony was held outdoors on the lawn – a small intimate space perfect for this wedding! – the bride and groom’s sisters read a few beautiful pieces and so did Kate and Tim. I don’t think there was a single dry eye in the crowd!

Lunch was an equally intimate affair with five tables of ~~guests~~ family. Kate and Tim toasted their all of their family, something I had never seen before and the fact that each of the five tables had some part of the two of them was so profound!

After lunch, we explored the grounds of Morton Arboretum for some portraits of the couple. Kate and Tim needed no direction what so ever, photographing them was such a breeze – the way they look into each others eyes as if this now and here was exactly how it was meant to be!

Congratulations to Tim and Kate and wishing them a wonderful and happy life together with their kids and family…these two deserve everything good and happy from this day forth! <3

Kelly and Vittorio Oakbrook Engagement Photos – Chicago Wedding Photographer

A couple of week back I had the honor of photographing one of the sweetest couples I have ever met – Kelly and Vittorio. These two love birds are tying the knot at the end of the month and wanted some relaxed engagement photos as a way to document their love and commitment to each other. They were a bit camera shy at first, Vittorio insisted he was not comfortable in front of the camera at all 🙂 but the moment I told him to ignore me and focus of his beautiful bride-to-be, his eyes lit up and he gave me the sweetest of smiles. As we talked and walked around the area, I was able to get a glimpse of the sweet couple – so in love with each other. I cannot wait to document their wedding day in a few weeks – I know it will be magical!

My wonderful world of imperfections – Film Wedding Photography

You know the feeling when you see something and you absolutely have to have it. The feeling of sheer wanting…not need, but want!

A few months ago I got introduced to the world of film photography. Yes, you heard me correct, film…the same film photography from the 80’s and 90’s and prior. I have been a 100% digital Wedding and Family portrait photographer ever since I started Memorable Jaunts. But I was intrigued that people would want to go back to photographing film in spite of having the latest and greatest digital gear there is.

The more I researched and stalked online forums about film photography, the more I came to appreciate the drive to master film. In my mind, the core essence of film is imperfection, the grain – and let me tell you, the feeling of imperfections in one’s work is so incredibly liberating. It is no longer about the perfect light, perfect exposure or the perfect focus – at least not to me. To me, its about capturing the raw and the authentic and film brings out all of that so much more than digital.

There is so much more to film photography that I ever imagined. The outcome of your images are not just a function of the camera, it depends on your skills as a photographer, the film stock you use, the lighting, and the lab that processes your images. I will not go into those nuances – there are so many amazing film photographer who are a lot more qualified to answer those questions. What I do know is that film humbles me. All my experience behind the camera goes out the window and I feel vulnerable. The inability to correct or fix my settings after a single frame scares me but at the same time grounds me. It is no longer a trial-and-error, checking the histogram or even the feeling of ‘I can adjust it in post-production’. I have to really take the time to think of the picture before I click the shutter.

In lieu of this, much to the chagrin of my husband, I purchased a used Canon EOS 1V, some Fuji400H film and lugged it along a recent winter inspired wedding photoshoot that I participated in. I could barely use the entire roll of film, I was so nervous. The film sat on my desk for a good two weeks before I had the nerve to send it in to be developed. But what I saw come out of these film wedding photographs gives me a lot of hope. In my naivety, I like what I see, the tones, colors and the imperfections of soft focus and grain 🙂 🙂 – I am hungry for more and hope to get better at it in 2015 – perhaps it should be one of my goals – LOL

Posting these images on the web for the world to see makes me vulnerable. I know these are completely imperfect – some are soft in focus, some have too much grain and some are not the perfect crop – but this whole exercise was about going back to basics, breaking the rules and loving all the imperfections – I know I have a lot to learn in with Film Photography but I love these imperfections! – isn’t that what life is all about? – LOL

Organized by: Metts Photo and Vision of Elegance

Designed and Styled by: Vision of Elegance

Bridal Dress: Mignoette Bridal, Dress Design: Amanda Archer

Cakes: Magnolia Bakery

Invitation: Amanda Day Rose Paperie

Plates and Rental: Rent Vintage Chicago

Linen: Nuage Designs, INc

Venue: Skyline Loft Chicago

Photography: Memorable Jaunts

Models: Alana and Mike

Featured Fall Garden Inspired Bridal Portraits Chicago Wedding Photographer

You know the feeling when you have an idea in your head and it just wouldn’t go away. The idea that inspite of being buried under the mundane nuances of everyday life seems to rear it’s head in the most inconvenient of times – like 2.00am when you happen to get up to go to the bathroom, 3.00pm when you are in the car line to pick up the kids from school and you know it’s ‘mommy’ time and nothing else or 8.00pm when you are just sitting down for dinner after a crazy busy day. Yes, that idea…that’s what I am talking about. Being a wedding and portrait photographer along with a full-time mom, these ideas can be quite dangerous – LOL

If you have ever had one of those nagging pestering ideas in your head that you know if fulfilled would be great, no wait, better than great, it would be awesome, you know exactly what went into the most amazing photographic experience of my life 🙂 🙂

I literally fell off my chair when I read the email from Lemonade and Lens that they were going to feature this early fall garden inspired bridal shoot. To say a lot went into this photoshoot would be an understatement. You know, if I were to add up all those 2.00am, 3.00pm and 8.00pm conversations with myself, it could easily add up to a whole month of thought – LOL

It started off as an idea, a desire to create something fresh, beautiful and inspiring. Something that I could see myself photographing. I immediately knew it had to be outdoor bridal portraits with simple vintage and rustic elements (if you have been following my work, you know that is totally me). Once I had these elements narrowed down, the powers that be seemed to make everything else come together. I thank all the amazing friendships I have made through my photography – Kelly from A Joyful Occasions had the perfect dress, Denise, the perfect florals to accompany the bridal portrait session and my dear friend Pia from PrettyByPia was already researching fall beauty trends that would be prefect for this photoshoot. A single text message confirmed my model and a simple word about my vision secured one of the most beautiful garden spaces in Naperville Illinois. See, I told you the stars were alined :). A handmade table from recycled pellets that I just happen to buy a week before the photoshoot, a vintage gold mirror and simple gold jewelry from my mother-in-law added the right amount of bling. Martha Steward I am not, but I am quite proud of my simple cake. Hours researching calligraphy techniques gave me the right amount of confidence to pull off a simple poem in gold lettering! – when all else fails, you tube will be your saving grace!!

I am a firm believer that if you want something put it out there for the universe to hear, if it is really meant to happen, it will! 🙂 – A huge thank you to Lemonade and Lens for featuring this fall inspired bridal photo session – you can see the feature here.

Credits

Dress : A Joyful Occasions Bridal Boutique

Florals: Walden Florals

MUA: PrettybyPia

Model: Lydia Schmidt

Cake, Calligraphy, and Styling: Karthika Gupta of Memorable Jaunts

Photography: Memorable Jaunts

Location: Private residence in Naperville, IL

Outdoor Hiking Inspired Engagement Session – Sarah and Jake

Sarah and Jake are a young Naperville couple who love the outdoors especially hiking and exploring in and around Chicago. They wanted something unique and different for their engagement session – incorporating the outdoors in their session. Starved Rock State Park holds special meaning to this couple – not only do they hike here very often but Jake’s dad also proposed to his mom at the Lovers Leap Overlook within the park. Once I heard this story, I knew Starved Rock would be the perfect spot for these two love birds!

We started off with traditional engagement photos, had a quick picnic with hot chocolate and delicious cupcakes and then we hiked up to Lovers Leap just in time to catch the sunset. The custom made fondant his and her hiking boots, hot chocolate and an adorable 7 month old puppy, Penny, made this engagement session unforgettable. Starved Rock is such a beautiful place in Illinois – it’s rugged cliffs and beautiful hiking trails makes it a very special place for us midwesterners 🙂 🙂

My lovely friend Pia from PrettybyPia was my assistant for the evening – thanks Pia!. The adorable custom fondant ‘His’ and ‘Her’ hiking boots are from the talented Reshma Jain – thanks Reshma, they added the perfect touch to this engagement session.

I am eagerly awaiting Sarah and Jake’s Naperville based wedding next year!

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