Vrai

Aaron shoots Shannon and Paul's engagement session

2010-01-03T00:02:00.003-06:00

It was so great to spend some time with Shannon and Paul just before they get married next weekend. Can't wait for the wedding!

Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!

2009-12-25T22:23:00.003-06:00

Wishing everyone out there their own special holiday. Hoping you are enjoying the time set aside to spend with your loved ones. Celebrating the good times of 2009 and looking forward to the adventures ahead in 2010. Also, thank you for letting us share some special times with you this year. Can't wait for more exciting weddings in 2010.

From all of us at Vrai, happy, merry, special days ahead!

And as a special treat, some smiles from our newest Vrai member...

Impact Tip - eco-fun stockings

2009-12-17T20:19:00.002-06:00

I found these on etsy while looking for stockings for us for Christmas. Of course I wanted something eco-friendly and cute and found the perfect thing! I can't wait to get mine in the mail. It's too late to get some this year but buy early and have them ready for next year. They also have a great blog full of interesting hand made goodies. Check out the wall tree on the blog, love it!

Thank you for your votes!

2009-12-12T19:24:00.004-06:00

Thank you everyone for your votes to make my image #1 for People's choice! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful job (though its almost hard to call it that) and work with such great people and make such fun images. Here's to many more!

Sarah and Colin

2009-12-07T17:07:00.005-06:00

Michigan Avenue was the perfect backdrop for this couple. The lights made the scene like one out of a movie and we braved the cold for some fun winter pics! Thanks guys, can't wait for the wedding!

More on facebook, go now!

Impact Tip - Green Diva finally here!!!

2009-12-03T09:25:00.004-06:00

I have mentioned the Green Diva website in the past but Kathy has relaunched and it is better than ever. She is now featuring eco-couture bridal line, truly one of a kind. Worthy of a double posting Impact Tip day and too awesome to wait until next week to share :) Go there NOW!

And special thanks to Jewel, Adam, Nicole and Kristin, Vrai friends and featured models on the site!

Impact Tip - interesting gift idea

2009-12-03T09:17:00.004-06:00

My friend Kathy, who just launched the green diva website, just told me about these give-a-ways. I had no idea billboards took up so much landfill space but its cool to see how people are finding ways to reuse and avoid the landfills and still make things that are stylish and functional. Check it out, enter and maybe win!

Click here

or here

ISPWP Contest

2009-11-25T17:04:00.003-06:00

I am so honored to be voted in among so many outstanding photographs! I had 1 winner and 2 others that placed and considering how phenomenal the photos are, I was glad I did that good! :) Congrats to David Wittig Photography too who got 19th overall!

They are having a people's choice award so if you want to vote for this photo, just click the photo in this post, go down to the bottom of the page and type "VOTE: 1st place - engagement" Just vote once until Dec 7th, and thank you for your vote! If you want to vote for this photo, just click the photo in this post, go down to the bottom of the page and type "VOTE: 14th place - framing the subject" If you want to vote for this photo, just click the photo in this post, go down to the bottom of the page and type "VOTE: 14th place - kids will be kids"

Molly Grace shoots Kristen & Bill

2009-11-25T15:58:00.004-06:00

Hanging out with Kristen & Bill was so fun on Sunday, until I told them to go in that awesome waist high field that ended up getting burrs all over Kristen's clothes. Hilarious, well sort of...ya it was, it is a story to tell.

I loved hearing in full detail about how Bill & Kristen got engaged, and loved hearing what they like to do together. I absolutely, love how cuddly and happy they are with one another. I am really looking forward to their wedding in September!

Molly Grace shoots Kelly & Rob

2009-11-25T15:03:00.005-06:00

I so enjoyed spending a bit of my Saturday with Kelly and Rob this last weekend. First of all, I love how calm and cool they are, I love how personal they are too. I love that I have no idea how they got engaged either. I ask all my couples that, because I want to be there, I want to get to know their story, I want to get to know who they are together. When I asked Saturday for them to remind me, I heard that actually I hadn't forgotten as I thought I might have, I heard that actually no one knew, that they decided to keep that moment between them. I think that that is so neat. What a rare and perfect moment to just keep intimately safe between each other, you know. Today, I admit, I snuck a glimpse at Oprah and she was interviewing Ted Kennedy's wife, Vickie, and Oprah just plainly asked, "What were his last words to you before he died?" Vickie, thought about it, and said, " You know, I think I'm just gonna keep that to myself." I was proud of her, and I am proud of them. The reason I always ask my couples that question is to really get deep and to begin to understand them as the couple they are, so that I can portray them as they are, in a true way, and what I found was truly amazing to me. I found a love and admiration so big between the two of them, that that, was enough... I found within them a moment so intimate that no amount of retelling would ever do it justice. It's awesome to sit and imagine their sacred moment. I think that bit of curiosity will inspire me for their day!

Climbing in Kentucky

2009-11-23T16:37:00.004-06:00

We couldn't have asked for better weather for a much needed break to KY for climbing with our very best friends! Ayla's second climbing trip and she got to meet her friend Cooper, the son of our great climbing friends Mandy and Frank...they are going to be great climbing buds :)

Everyone be sure to enjoy their friends, family, and loves this Thanksgiving!

Chad on Autumn Aaron onsighted the gift, 12.a scary! Aaron on B3, a really amazing 11.c trad Ayla hanging out with Uncle August while we climb Steve with the onsight Liesl on Wadcutter 5.9 at Torrent Ayla's new friend Cooper, just a tad bigger :) They are going to be on the rock early :)

More to come on facebook...soon

Impact Tip - Thanksgiving eco tips

2009-11-19T08:35:00.003-06:00

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I don't know where this year has gone...again! :) Here are some pretty good tips actually for making your thanksgiving experience a little more eco-friendly from MercuryNews.com

1. Break out the fancy fabric napkins this year. Or, if you're using disposable napkins, try ones made from recycled materials.

2. Serve at least one local food. Root vegetables and squash are in season, so make your mashed potatoes, your sweet potato casserole or your pumpkin pie from a local source.

3. Starting today, save plastic containers and lids from products like sour cream to send home leftovers with your guests.

4. If you're going to someone else's house and you know you'll be sent home with leftovers, take your own reusable containers so your host doesn't have to use plastic bags or other disposable items.

5. Delete one item from your menu. There's always too much food anyway, right?

6. Carpool to dinner with someone close by.

7. If you're hosting dinner, turn your thermostat down 2 degrees. The heat from the kitchen and your guests will help warm your home.

8. Serve organic or locally made wine or beer.

9. Compost your food scraps.

10. Don't buy any new decorations. No one will notice. Really, they won't. (this one is for my mom! haha)

Most importantly, travel safe and enjoy your time together!

Baby Colton

2009-11-18T12:45:00.004-06:00

More babies! Colton is the 6 mo old son of Sarah and Chad, who some of you will recognize as the bride who got wanded by security in her wedding dress ;) An all time fav of mine! And the groom who so pulled off the reservoir dogs look with his buddies, another vrai fav! Check out our fan page for these and more pics!

Anyway, I was thrilled when they wanted me to shoot this time in Colton's life, especially being so close in age to Ayla, it was fun to see what is in store for me! Enjoy!

Look at this sweet guy, nice teeth! If you have kids you know, anything in arms reach is going in the mouth!

Baby Cole

2009-11-16T22:59:00.007-06:00

This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting baby Cole, just a couple weeks old! I love seeing the new babies of previous wedding clients. It is such an honor to see their family grow. Check out this little cutie! I guess I shouldn't say little, he was a 10 lb baby!

Ann and Brent

2009-11-13T15:34:00.003-06:00

Ann and Brent are getting married in June and they have a fabulous celebration planned that I can't wait to be a part of. We squeezed this session in before fall leaves for good and had a great time!

Brittany and Bob

2009-11-04T20:37:00.003-06:00

I found another great spot that I wanted to check out and Brittany and Bob were up for some fun. Brittany is a natural climber and when I looked at this art installation, she read my mind and started climbing. We were cracking up, it was just too funny! Especially when she told me they were the tall couple in their family, now what will they say! Can't wait for the wedding!

Kate and Jo

2009-11-03T08:16:00.005-06:00

My last wedding of the season couldn't have been spent with a more lovely couple. It was literally a hi-fiving, fist pumping good time! haha And the grooms family was from France so I got to listen to french all night, not a bad way to spend some time. I was so honored to be a part of their day.

Venue: The Herrington
Cake: The Cakery
DJ: DJ Chicago
Photo booth: Chicagoland PhotoBooth

First meeting...
A couple last moments with dad

Christy and Eric

2009-11-02T19:52:00.003-06:00

A beautiful day at the arboretum to spend some time with Eric and Christy. Looking forward to the wedding!

Impact Tip - ideas for your bouquet

2009-10-29T14:46:00.004-05:00

If you are looking for a way to preserve your bouquet but don't want to use the chemicals to have it preserved just to have it sit on a shelf, check out this idea. Baubles by Maclyn in Naperville provides the service of taking pieces of your bouquet and putting it into jewelry. Just another way to recycle :)

Morgan and Alex

2009-10-27T11:34:00.010-05:00

Morgan and Alex met and fell in love in Chicago even though they do not live here anymore, it had to be here that they married. So it was also important to get lots of photos of them in this city and it couldn't have turned out to be a more beautiful fall day! I don't think I stopped laughing all day...oh wait, except when I was crying during the daddy daughter dance!! Thanks guys! Anyway, what a blast, thank you for choosing us!

Makeup: Tracy with Chicago Bridal Makeup
Hotel: The Sutton Place
Venue: Peggy Notebart Nature Museum
Catering: Berghoff
Flowers: A New Leaf

Their first meeting, you can't fake happiness like that!

more to come on our Vrai Fan Page, check often :)

Herk and Jill

2009-10-20T17:39:00.004-05:00

Herk and Jill were such a fun and laid back couple enjoying every minute of their day with no worries just love for each other and their families and friends that shared the day with them. I loved how they took the little moments to hold each others hands and the looks they exchanged throughout the day that showed the how much they love each other!

Venue: Rhapsody
Catering: Blue Plate

This was so sweet, Jill couldn't help but give Herk a hug after hearing his vows. Herk equally moved! The snort! haha
More to come on facebook!

We've been spotted!

2009-10-19T09:38:00.002-05:00

Check us out on jb made, a fun blog filled with tips for hand made and fair trade! Did you know it was fair trade month? Thanks Jill!

Aaron shoots Jessica and Cecil's wedding

2009-10-18T22:54:00.004-05:00

Last weekend Cecil and Jessica got married at the beautiful South Shore Cultural Center. They combined their Christian and Indian cultures into one beautiful ceremony. There was such great emotions, customs, and color.

I love this moment!

More coming soon on facebook!

Molly Grace's shoots Carolyn & Chad's e-session

2009-10-15T15:11:00.003-05:00

This monday I photographed the engagement session of Carolyn & Chad, though it was kinda gloomy outside these two made it bright because they are super cute together! I am looking forward to their day!

Molly Grace Shoots Sherri and Michael's Wedding

2009-10-14T22:28:00.010-05:00

I adored this couple, I loved their sweetness to each other and their thoughtfulness in planning a wedding that reflected them, their style and the fun they have as a couple. I knew this wedding would be hilariously fun after I did their e-session back in smoking hot July when the three of us sweat it out on Chicago's Navy Pier and they were being all silly. However shooting the wedding increased my knowledge of their story, as individuals, as a couple, and so therefore my images got the whole spectrum of emotion, I noticed they got deeper and sweeter and more real like the moment below when Sherri wiped her tear, and yet continued to show their elation for the day's arrival, and their all out silliness. What a fun day! I loved this bridal party too, they rocked and were awesome even though it was a tad bit chilly outside.

Church: Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
Venue The Odyssey Country Club
Cake: Fleckenstien's Bakery
Flowers: Bella Flori Flower Shop
DJ: Max Davis of Style Matters DJs, Inc.

I loved this weddings thoughtful details!
Sherri made these for everyone in her bridal party.
Love this moment

A perfect way to finish the night!

More on Facebook!