Lynn Renee Photography

Farmhouse in Indiana

2011-05-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

One weekend in March we headed to visit my friends Alexis & Geordy, who recently moved to this gorgeous farmhouse style home in an adorable community in Indiana. I swear, Craig was practically property shopping when we were there. We stayed overnight and when we woke up Sunday morning it was a pajama playdate with their two boys, Zachary and Isaac. And since Craig is such a great playmate, there was never a dull moment. Enjoy just how adorable these two boys are!!!

Egel's Nest 2011

2011-02-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

Our friends the Egel's hosted a group of us at their house for an afternoon of snacking and playtime. Craig played pied piper and had them all running around all over the house, while I captured it all from eye level. Thankfully Bradley pulled out his guitar and we had quite the musical crew with Zak on guitar, Mak on keyboards and Stella on vocals. Band manager Sammy, Bradley's son, watched over the set list carefully. Jonah, only 9 months old, stayed busy looking adorable since we know that's hard work.

Valko Family

2011-02-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

I ran a special with Plum District and was fortunate enough to meet fabulous families like the Valko family, who's 2-year old was dying to help me move my gear when we went from the outside to the inside. Having recently moved into their home they wanted to capture the fabulous red door, and since this was for the holiday card, I couldn't agree more. Thankfully it was a balmy late November morning and the rain held up for us so we could begin our shoot outside in the morning light. Mom was just glowing holding up her new baby girl and their boy reminded me of a young Haley Joel Osmont, he charmed the pants off of me and look how sweet he is with his baby sister.

Goldberg Trio Plus

2011-02-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

With 8 month old triplet girls, and a 4 year old boy these parents have their hands full!! Good thing dad's youthful energy and the mom's warmth and exhuberance are limitelss, because they've got a lot on their plate. And seriously, doesn't she look amazing for having 8 month old triplets? I certainly was exhausted after this shoot, went straight home for a nap.

Enjoy!

Burke Kids At Play

2011-02-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

After my whole ordeal over the summer, I decided to escape, with camera, for a day in the 'burbs with my good friend Christina and her three adorable monkeys. Now, most people thought I wouldn't want to see their children so close to my loss, and sometimes that was true. But these three were so much fun that I forgot all about my own heartache and soaked in their amazing energy.

Enjoy!!

Hara Family Playtime

2011-01-31T08:35:00.000-08:00

Noel and I were good friends during our high school years and we reconnected when him and his wife were looking for photographers to capture their family dynamic. Our first time was in the studio, but since I wanted to get rid of my studio I talked them into doing the shoot in a nearby park. All of us had an amazing time and I am now totally in love with these twins, Nate and Jordan certainly have a piece of my heart.

Enjoy!!

Brianna G

2011-01-28T09:29:00.000-08:00

This woman contacted me over a year ago about wanting pictures of her daughter taken for modeling. At the time I offered them the $100 portrait package and couldn't figure out why they didn't jump at the amazing price, especially since her girl was only 11 at the time. Instead Iris explained to me that she wanted to save up for the full comp card, so I was floored when she did call me again, ready to buy the complete comp card package. When I met Brianna I could see why she wanted to save up for the full package, what a gorgeous girl!!!

Enjoy!

Haley Love

2011-01-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

I came over to see Haley at her grandparents house in the suburbs to hang out with her mom and help her with some stuff around the house. But of course, I arrive with camera in hand, and since this little one is such a ham, I don't think I was much help at all. Of course, distracting someone's child so they can get stuff done, is helpful, right?

Ron & Erika

2011-01-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

An old friend of mine from high school thought it would be a terrific surprise for his first anniversary with his wife to surprise her with a portrait session. We worked out an exchange in trade that worked for both of us, and I showed up at his Wicker Park condo, camera in hand. It was a beautiful fall day and the three of us had a great time together. Ronny's a hilarious guy and it seems that Erika is a charismatic match. Together they had me in stitches!

Enjoy!

Cory Oliver

2011-01-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

This adorable school basketball coach and Chicago based actor tapped me for an entire comp card session. I called in one of my favorite assistants and we had a blast designing different looks to showcase Cory's talents. After all, he's at least 6'4!!

Enjoy!

Sly & Jack in the Studio

2011-01-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

I just love it when my niece and nephew come for a session at the studio. My shooting area is set up like a play space so they have plenty of room for fun and goofing to make the shoot more fun from everyone. And one of the best games to play is "So Big", which makes for some arm raising smiles.

Enjoy!

Hurricane Sasha

2011-01-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

As part of my promo portrait sessions I had this one little boy who came in, not with his parents, but with a friend of his parents, like a surrogate uncle. Sasha clearly loved his uncle but getting the boy to sit still was next to impossible. But he's impossibly cute so I guess it all works well.

Enjoy!!

End of 2nd Grade

2011-01-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

After posting these pics on Facebook someone made the amazing comment that I work for Billy Madison. I mean who else throws a party at the end of every school year, and at the beginning. But I certainly can't complain, it's more work for me and these kids are so much fun to chase around. Of course I prefer the pool parties because it's a gorgeous backdrop for shooting and I can get up and close to the kids while they play.

Enjoy!!

Jack's 2nd Birthday

2011-01-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

A small gathering to celebrate Jack's 2nd birthday at the Persin household. Everyone kind of did their own thing and Jack collected lots of love, especially from his Uncle Craig. Sylvia designed her perfect party outfit before diving into a great game of hide and seek with Craig. Jack isn't the most verbally expressive but his face has a million things to say.

Enjoy!

Stepan Love

2011-01-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

I thought this was a fun way to document one family's portrait session, especially a family with such a fun dynamic like the Stepan family. Lately I've been experimenting with new ways of sharing photo sessions, so feel free to let me know if you like the set-up. And since this family has been a regular at my now defunct studio for castings they insisted on doing a girls picture with their favorite mascot, Sadie!

The Egels Fly...

2010-08-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

Craig and the mom, Jody, have been friends since the 80's...woah. And we finally dragged them from their nesting post waaaay out in the 'burbs to join us for an hour of fun in the studio. Sammy brought his own balloon, but who needs toys with a dad like Brad! We marveled at Hannah's bitty toes and sucked in the cuteness while she rubbed noses with her mommy. Enjoy!!

The Zivins

2010-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

We had met the dad of this terrific twosome a few months before they walked into the studio. Their family moved close to good friends of mine in the 'burbs, and they had known each other years before. Great parents tend to yield some pretty awesome kids, one with a passion for pirates, and the other with twinkling eyes. Next time, their gorgeous parents must join in the picture fun. Enjoy!

Sylvia's Birthday

2010-08-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sylvia's 5th birthday party was a "Fancy Nancy" themed soiree. Everyone donned their best, then put on smocks to decorate matching purses for the girls, and manbags for the boys. Our nephew Jack watched on and collected kisses from his uncle in exchange for a solid high-five. Intermission consisted of dancing in the basement in order to make room for all that birthday cake about to be consumed.

Stutlands

2010-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've known both of them since college right before they met each other (collective sigh). His parents became friends with my parents while we were away so I always get the updates and knew they now had two children, their son with his passion for cars, and their daughter with the amazing pink skin. Bribing the boy with everything I got was able to buy me some face time in front of the camera, note a new item in each shot. Mom and daughter led me to this fabulous trio of sequential images as they simply love each other. Enjoy!!

Welcome to 2nd Grade

2010-07-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

Back with my favorite family again, this time to celebrate the beginning of 2nd grade at the fabulous Pinstripes. Watching kids bowl is great fun especially when the bowling balls are almost as big as they are. But they had this fabulous contraption that allowed you to set the ball and roll it down a ramp for better aim. Even those who couldn't lift the ball still had something to celebrate. Enjoy!!

Father's Day

2010-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

On the Monday after Father's Day I posted these images on my Facebook Fan Page honoring some of the fabulous Dad's I've shot over the past year. I purposely took images that I felt went together, gave the viewer a sense of energy, images that added character to my subjects. For a long time I've loved grouping images together to tell stories, I'm not much on fancy retouching or special effects. Some people say it's because I used to be a writer who now uses photography to tell stories vs. being a visual artist who manipulates images. Either way, everyone loved these shots and it helped my Facebook Fan page very well for the week. Enjoy!!

Greenfield Family

2010-07-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Another great family celebrating their two adorable kids, came to my studio for a fantastic photography shoot. In fact, during the shoot, the parents had to attend to their baby girl so Craig and I were left to keep their son occupied, playing airplane and running around the studio together. Of course the little truck toy is every boy's favorite item and sometimes you just have to shoot them on whatever works, even if I might be tired of looking at that silly truck. Enjoy!!

Katz Family

2010-07-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

A big family reunion in Hoffman Estates brought me out for a morning of shooting with this energetic family. They had a huge grassy area behind their house which made for a terrific setting for portraits. First we knocked out the large groups, using chairs to make sure everyone was captured and so the matriarch had a place to sit down. Then it was onto small groupings which gave me flexibility to loosen up and have a little more fun with the images. Enjoy!

Race Part 4

2010-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Another sampling of my $150 portrait sessions. Only one person allowed in each session, all shots are done in studio on a charcoal gray sweep, cash only for the session, the session only lasts 1 hour and the subjects top 5 images are retouched and emailed to them. Contact me directly if you are interested. Enjoy.

Gapp Family

2010-07-20T10:36:00.001-07:00

This is a sweet family who came in for the special portrait session last summer. I felt that combining some of the images created a deeper idea of what the session was like and added to the character of the subjects, or maybe I'm reading too much into this and it just made everything sooo much cuter. You decide! Enjoy.

Sammy's 7th Birthday

2010-07-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

If you follow my blogs you'll notice some faces that come up at least 3 times a year and I've been shooting them for the past 7 years. I refer to them as "My Family". They have two sons who each get a birthday party each year and now they also have beginning of school year parties and end of school year parties. One day this is going to make an amazing book since I've been following them for so long. For Sammy's 7th last summer they threw a party at his school, using the computer lab, which was then followed by outdoor activities including a rousing game of Gaga(Israel's answer to dodgeball). Don't you just love the cupcakes! Enjoy.

Burke Family December 2009

2010-07-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

Christina has been a very good friend of mine for at least 7 years and I started shooting her when she was pregnant. If you go to my website www.lynnreneephoto.com, she's very pregnant and wrapped in red fabric, looking quite stunning. That first photo was when she was pregnant with Aria, her first baby girl. Now she's got Aria who turns 4 this year and twin boys, Archangelo & Lorenzo(can you tell she's Italian). They came in for Christmas Card pictures and it was a crazy fun session for everyone. Enjoy!

Event at Soldier Field

2010-06-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Getting to cover fabulous affairs in unique spaces in the city is one of the best things about being a photographer. Access to the United Club in Soldier Field definitely qualifies. Shooting people enjoying themselves as the sun sets over the field, the stadium of empty seats in the background, has it's own undeniable appeal. Now this crowd certainly likes to have fun and they tore it up on the dance floor. An overall terrific event.

Pockross Family-Rained In

2010-06-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

The shoot was supposed to be outside on a beautiful day, but you can only prepare so much for Mother Nature. Luckily I always have my travel lighting kit with me and set up some beautiful light in their family room. After getting the list of group portraits out of the way I got to have some fun with all the kids as they played around, with their toys, with each other, and with me. Of course many kids only have limited patience in front of the camera, so sometimes you have to improvise, just to get the shot, even if it means walking to the beat of a very different drummer ;). Enjoy!!

Klein-Butman Family

2010-06-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

An old friend from my high school days invited me to come to her house in the suburbs to capture the life and energy of her family. With four boys under the age of 13 I had my work cut out for me, but they had such wonderful personalities, and we had a ton of fun. Instead of saying "Cheese" we chose "Cheeseburger" which prompted all four of them to sing their version of the the Buffett classic, "Cheeseburger in Paradise." Shooting families like this one make it feel like I get paid to play!!! Enjoy.

3 Gorgeous Kids-300 Tons of Energy

2010-05-21T15:20:00.001-07:00

A family that I've gotten to know over the last few years finally came in to the studio, after years of talking about it, to have their children photographed. I'm always fascinated by siblings, their different personalities and their different relationships. As you can tell they are quite a barrel of monkeys and I think they enjoyed me almost as much as I enjoyed shooting them.

Ike's Pool Day

2010-05-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

Last summer, right before their big move out west, my good friends brought their 1 year old over to my parents house for a little pool time. Besides loving the retro swimsuit he was wearing, the energy between father and son was simply amazing splashing around in the beautiful blue water.

The Race Continues...3

2010-05-11T13:59:00.000-07:00

After stopping my $100 promotion I added a special $150 portrait package that has continued even now, with restrictions of course, but it's been really successful. A fabulous local talent agency throws me their new people who need pics but aren't ready to drop a lot of money to get themselves into the industry. In this batch you might even recognize a face, one that looks quite like my own. My daddy needed a new picture for his Facebook/LinkedIn profiles so he joined the party with terrific results. Enjoy!!!

Amelia Milner

2010-05-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Friends of mine came in with their daughter for her one year portrait session. She made it pretty well through her first set of photos but started loosing it as soon as we put her in that adorable dress. I'm totally in love with her eyes, and the sweetness that simply exudes from her angelic face. Even through the tears she was such a darling.

Young Chicago Boxers

2010-03-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

This past summer I was hired to cast some local athletes for a video promoting Chicago for the 2016 Olympic Bid. Obviously we didn't get the bid but I had a wonderful time meeting a group of young boxers at a gym in the Ukrainian Village. The manager of the gym was so excited to have his talent be considered for the shoot, him and the trainer were also happy to pose for the casting. Everyone had a great time making the final video and of course were all bummed when we heard the news in November. But it gave me the chance to tap into a terrific resource here in Chicago.

Sylvia Weekend

2010-03-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Over the summer we had our niece, Sylvia for a sleepover. It was the first one and we laid out tons of activities, almost too many. We painted, we made necklaces, we baked, we watched movies, made dinner and played with the neighbors. She even slept beautifully through the night, though I was up worried that she'd be up soon. It was certainly nice practice for what's to come for Craig and I. Enjoy!!

Ari

2010-03-10T10:03:00.000-08:00

As part of the Race to 100 this summer a woman came in with her 3 month old baby boy. I was lucky that she left Ari's twin older siblings at home and we had a wonderful session playing with how small his features are, his tiny hands, his little feet. His mother had recieved this humorous onesie that she wanted to capture appropriately, I think his expression matches the statement just perfectly. Of course with a 3 month old it's rough to get a big smile on command but a cuddle from mommy finally elicited the reaction she was waiting for. Enjoy the images!

BWM 7 Series

2010-02-25T09:54:00.000-08:00

I got hired to shoot the BMW Series promo party at the Chicago Illuminating Company. The event was in conjunction with Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics(tear). Not really being a car person myself even I couldn't help but admire all it's curves and appeal. Enjoy!

Jordie's 2nd Birthday

2010-02-25T09:37:00.001-08:00

With the approach of his 3rd birthday and a baby brother, I'm finally posting Jordie's 2nd birthday party, a celebration of musical mayhem and young love. I mean look at all the girls who want to give this birthday boy a hug. Is it his effervescence? His excitement for all things balloon related? No matter what the theory, he is undeniably adorable and we are so excited to meet his newest addition. Enjoy!

Ike's First Birthday

2010-02-25T09:31:00.000-08:00

In honor of that special day when a young child can first indulge in the art of refined sugars there was a celebration at the grandparent's house. Special friends and their little ones were invited while Ike sported his special crown. Now Ike is preparing for an even bigger role, he'll be a big brother this summer, but for now let's enjoy his excitement from July and wish we all had cookies bigger than our heads with our names on them. Yummy!

Ban Family

2010-02-23T11:26:00.000-08:00

Through a family friend and those fabulous Camp Ramah connections I was hired by Moe Ban to take portraits of his family for his mom's birthday at Francesca's in Chicago. His brother Joel and I had been friends at Camp Ramah and it was great seeing the entire family. Since this shoot their sister Amy had a baby boy and hired me to come to her house to shoot the new baby, her & her husband, their older son and the grandparents. It was a wonderful though exhausting shoot. Stay tuned for those images.

Jacob's Got the Moves

2010-02-23T10:09:00.000-08:00

Spending an afternoon with Jacob and his mommy I had the camera ready but I certainly wasn't prepared for this. Watch out Burt Reynolds, this boy's got moves. I swear, we just put him down on the bed and he was like, "Check me out". And bath pictures are a personal favorite of mine, always tasteful and a prop like a classic rubber ducky can't be beat.

Enjoy!!

Father's Day with Jordie

2010-02-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

For Father's Day this summer, yes that long ago, we went and hung out with our dear friends at their new diggs in the 'burbs. Running around, chasing their little one, and enjoying a wonderful meal of mussels and fish listening to them argue over where the keggerator was going to go(He thought family room, she thought back to the store). Enjoy!

Fly Over State

2010-02-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

While I was shooting like an absolute madwoman all summer I figured why not venture in the arena of "Band Photos". They always look like fun, a group of people emoting some kind of an attitude in a gritty urban landscape. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon. These were for a friend of mine, Jessica, and her band, Fly Over State. She told me where they meet for rehearsal and thought we'd just shoot wherever but I went out to the area and found some sweet spots that I thought would be perfect. And like any good band, you've got to have some great pics of the sexy chic!! Enjoy!

Race to 100

2009-09-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Since the beginning of July I've been offering up $100 portrait sessions as a way to raise some fast cash and to get my name out to as many people as possible. Funny enough, Facebook has proven to be a fantastic tool and I've gotten a lot of clients from there plus friends have taken advantage of the offer as well, getting to know me as a photographer in addition to our friendship.
I'm not making it to 100 but I made it halfway and I'm really happy with the results. It's been a huge learning and growing project for me and I feel like I've come a long way as a photographer.

Enjoy!!

Ella&Aaron

2009-09-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

My friends Eytan and Josh came to hang out with us this past spring at my parents' house and brought with them Eytan's two kids, Ella and Aaron. We spent a good part of the afternoon ignoring the Bull's game and running around the backyard with the 3 dogs. Ella is afraid of dogs and Aaron wasn't quite sure what to make of them but by the time they left they had some new furry friends. Then we cooked up hot dogs and hamburgers and watched the Bull's blow their chance for the season. Enjoy!!

Sly and Jack-March 2009

2009-08-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

I love hanging out with my niece and nephew. They are so freakin adorable, I want to eat them up. It's hard sometimes for me to just interact with them because I constantly want to capture their cuteness. What was super sweet is that my sister in-law took pictures from this session I did and made us really cute books that I now have on display in my living room. I so rarely print photos that it's always a bonus to see my images in a tangible format.
Enjoy the pics!

Burke Chillin'

2009-08-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Before getting the kids all soapy and sudsy we ran around the house with them, preparing bottles, and watching Aria put on her dress up clothes. Luckily we got all 3 kids on the couch for a sweet picture moments before Miss Aria was up and running again. Being the big sister of two twin brother's takes a certain strength in character and believe me, she has it. Enjoy the pics!!

Burke Bathtime

2009-08-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

My friend Christina has twin boys and a two year old which means bath time is a 3 person job. Good thing Craig and I came by to help out. Of course my idea of helping out is following everyone around with my camera.
Aria loves that her bathtub is the size of a swimming pool. You can barely distinguish her from all of her toys. Too cute. She also has a great time with the surrounding mirrors.
Enjoy the pics!

Callie

2009-08-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

After doing head shots for a local law firm one of the lawyers contacted me about taking some pictures of her daughter. Callie is in high school and had just done her first pageant recently and was asked by people there whether or not she was a model. That got her thinking that maybe she should try it out. I had met her mom, Jenna, but had no idea what Jenna was going to look like. The pictures they sent me of her didn't do her justice, she is beautiful. I told her to study Paulina Porizkova since they have very similar jaw lines and it's always a good idea to try to find a very successful model with a similar look. The 2 hour session lasted for 4 hours, we were all having such a good time. Jenna compensated us for the extra time and everyone was thrilled with the results. Enjoy!!

Jade Golla

2009-08-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

These parents, high school friends of mine again, just wanted me to shoot their daughter Jade, this past spring in my studio. She was an absolute hootenany! What expressions, what energy, and those eyes...just like her daddy's. Her parents were a huge help in getting the shots set up, doing the wardrobe changes, and making sure we didn't have too many shots with the red clacker which she absolutely loved. Enjoy the images!

The Hara Family

2009-08-18T06:43:00.001-07:00

My old friend from high school brought in his wife Betsy and their twins for a portrait session at the studio. I was in awe of how together this husband and wife team had to be, what great senses of humor they had to have in order to get through the 2 hour shoot, let alone everything else I'm guessing. When one was running here, the other was running there, and of course they've learned from watching Daddy that sometimes the chaos must stop for that important phone call. My favorite 2 shots together are the parents on the floor with each kid on their backs, a great shot for about 2 seconds and then the next seconds chaos in sued and we all just cracked up. I know I was exhausted at the end of the shoot, I can't imagine how tired Noel and Betsy must be on a daily basis. Enjoy!

Jazmine & Jordana, March 2009

2009-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of my great girlfriends has two of the most adorable little girls you'll ever meet. Their heads full of brunette curls, personalities that'll knock you over immediately and their absolute love of princesses make them terrific subjects anytime. Of course, I have to endure a good 30 minutes of dancing in circles, and end up running all over the studio just to keep up with them. Jordanna has these eyes that just make me melt as she's adjusting her dress while standing on one of my stools. Jazmine has more moves than most aspiring models that come into the studio, though some may be a little risque for her tender 5 years. And they love their mom who does an amazing job balancing the personalities. Enjoy!

Papa's 93-The Party

2009-07-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant close by- I have no idea what it was called. I was lucky I made it!! Of course my parents came up with great ideas like making t-shirts and slideshows and then wanted to hand it all off to me. I did the t-shirts but let Dad handle the slideshow since I'm technologically challenged despite my profession. We had a lovely evening and ended it with fun group portraits of the birthday boy and all his fans!!

Papa's 93-Part 1

2009-07-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

I love this family tradition of gathering in Michigan for every one of my grandfather's birthdays. Of course it would have been a little easier if Michelle and I hadn't gotten home the Wednesday night before after 3 days on the road from San Diego to Chicago. Her expression here says everything. And since Michelle had moved home that means that her puppy, Millhouse, would also be attending the celebrations. With McKinley and Sadie as well my uncles quickly dubbed the event, "Three Dog Night" and many renditions of Jeremiah were sung. We also got to meet Adam's girlfriend(and now fiance-woo hoo), and marveled how Ben and Leanne were able to juggle law school work and the event. I do think the picture of Craig on Papa's couch clearly illustrates that he makes himself at home there everytime we come. Enjoy!

Tuesday

2009-07-14T19:00:00.001-07:00

I'm definitely one of those people who believe in energies and during this point I could feel Michelle's energy from her beach house in La Jolla to my condo in Chicago, and she definitely needed her sister. Some photographers I admire take their camera to their dark moments, their difficult places, I always have trouble doing that. During our drive to Chicago a few weeks later I didn't even take it out of it's case. I just knew that neither one of us wanted documentation of that drive. We were there, we know how it went, and we made it in plenty of time. Here are images from the last time I hung out with Michelle and her puppy Millhouse in La Jolla. The man with the smile is Vahik, the sweet man who makes the best coffee ever!

Temecula

2009-07-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

After letting off a ton of steam in the LA area, a little Hermosa, a little Manhattan, a little Hollywood, I headed down the I-5 to visit Michelle and see her amazing new restaurant. We spent an entire day drinking our tushies off in Temecula, a great little wine area just outside of La Jolla. The first winery we went to was disappointing from the start, but the second winery we went to was so amazing we were tittering to the 3rd. Of course we had to fill out stomach's with food in order to get back to the house. I just loved the way the colors hit my sister as she held the glasses of red wine and let her take a few pics of me testing it out. Enjoy the pics!!

Manhattan Beach, CA

2009-07-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

My very good girlfriend Julie won a trip for 2 to Manhattan Beach and was begging me to come along. Knowing how low my cash flow was I didn't think I could do it, but we made a deal and all I had to pay was for my plane ticket and incidentals. Lodging was free and with the right crowd, drinks were free too! We had a wonderful time shopping, I introduced Julie to fish tacos, we ate a huge thing of cotton candy and watched the sunset off the peer. Plus, I was only 2 hours away from my sister in San Diego so I was going to head there next. At Wahoo's I got a little obsessed with the decor but also with the different people coming in and out. In workout gear, in no gear, on their cell phones, in bikinis, without most of their clothing...go to love the West Coast! Enjoy!

VFish-Februay 2009

2009-07-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

I had a regular gig going for while shooting for this fun husband and wife clothing company called "V-fish". This time the head designer, Mandy, came in armed with ideas for the editorial looks that they would use at the marketing events and on the website. It was a rough day, I didn't sit down for a second, but it was worth it for these fantastic shots. Enjoy!!

I Heart Lisa Madigan

2009-05-19T08:57:00.001-07:00

She's just an all around cool woman. Fun to shoot, full of smiles, hugs everyone, and speaks with girl scouts as if she is one! I shot her years ago at a Democratic Rally in Springfield(I also shot Blago, Obama, Gov. Quinn, & Jesse White), but not only has she grown into her own, I have as well. What a fun personality, proudly showing off her Girl Scout Alumni pin and enjoying the free cookies handed out as a thank you.

Look for the rest of the pics from this event and enjoy!!

Our Gerber Baby

2009-05-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

So, everyone's babies are cute. Let's face it, nature knew that if she made these creatures super cute then it would be so much easier to deal with the poop, the peeing, the screaming, the crying, the sleepless nights, the lack of an accurate internal alarm clock. However, Michael and Risa's baby, well, she's the cutest. Sorry everyone, but she's the cutest!! I love all my friends and family's babies, but this is the Gerber baby. Here she is with her parents and her best friend, Laila!!
Enjoy!

The Final X-Mas Product

2009-05-19T07:28:00.001-07:00

And here we go. Everyone in the studio dressed and ready...well, almost ready to go.
Enjoy the pics!!

Getting Ready for Burke X-Mas Portraits

2009-05-19T07:24:00.001-07:00

For the twins first X-Mas(yes, I'm still catching up from 2008...last post from last year) the whole family came to the studio. I had explained to Christina, the mommy, that we would need her hubby Damien to be in the final shot of the whole family in order to get the twins, her and Aria in the shot. They ignored my heed and Damien arrived not ready to be shot(looking uber hot here). While everyone got dressed and fed I ran around and captured the energy all around me.

Enjoy!

The Modern Wing

2009-05-14T08:18:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to score a press pass to the opening of the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, which had it's press breakfast during the rainy Wednesday morning of May 13th. The event began with speeches from the director of the museum and a representative from the Greater Chicago Food Depository since they are part of this grand opening.
What to dedicate your time to is the biggest challenge when visiting this amazing new space, an entire museum of it's own. It's easy to forget that there is a whole other part of the museum when immersing yourself in this beautiful new space. Old friends that I remember from being dragged to the MOMA in New York more times than I ever wanted as a child, have a new home here in Chicago. The views of Millennium Park and the Chicago skyline are outstanding and will be even better once the bridge is open.
Don't miss the last room of modernists including works by Pollack, Picasso, and my favorite painting, "Excavation" by Willem De Kooning.
On your way out, spend some time with the exterior of this sculptural building, a piece of art in itself, and hope your day is sunnier than mine was.

Enjoy!!

USHMM VIPs

2009-04-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

The featured speaker for the event was Father Patrick Desbois, a man who has devoted many years of his life to uncovering mass graves, remnants of the Holocaust, in remote parts of the world, mainly in the Ukraine. He was a very warm man, most men in cloth make me feel very removed, but he spoke to everyone and prepared hard for the event. During the cocktail reception we get the word that Mayor Daley is arriving at the hotel, at a quiet entrance, and we bring Father Desbois downstairs with us to take some photographs. It's all very hurried and rush, rush, and over before I even know it. Daley has his own photographer who follows him around, it's always the same woman, I've seen her three times now, and we never have time to exchange a word, barely a glance. Still, it's a lot of fun and I enjoy shooting a Chicago personality like Richard Daley. Of course, how could I forget our now Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn. Last time I met him we were sweating it out at the Illinois State Fair, him, showing us the the way to the large items carved out of butter. He's a pretty funny guy.

Enjoy the pics!

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Luncheon

2009-04-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

November marked the second year I was invited to shoot the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Risa K. Lambert Luncheon (whew), with featured speaker father Patrick Debois(see link above). I spend my time during this 3,000 person luncheon shooting VIP's of the event with the event VIP herself. The people who attend this event are pretty fabulous. Character's and big energy everywhere as people hug and kiss, and work hard to keep the afternoon on track.
My mom is in the picture of the two women with short hair, one of the women in pearls.
Enjoy the pics!

Sammy's 6th Birthday at Navy Pier

2009-04-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

For Sammy's 6th birthday he didn't really want a big party this year, or so I was told, which makes a lot of sense, since his mom throws 2 class parties a year. He got smart and asked for a big ticket day of birthday fun at Navy Pier and it was an absolute blast. Best friends, Evan and Ari, along with his little brother Tommy, Uncle Avi, Aunt Elisa, Mom, Dad, two nannies and of course, me, the family photographer. The day started with a ride on the Sea Dog, followed by another ride on the ferris wheel where I was in the car with the kids while everyone else rode on another car. Sammy and his buddies had tons of fun waving at the car full of loved ones while over looking the Chicago skyline. Then it was off to a delicious lunch with a very sophisticated dessert for a 6 year old, who completely enjoyed it!
The grand finale were matching t-shirts to commemorate their fabulous day!
Enjoy the pics!!

Birth of the Burke Twins

2009-04-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

At the end of November my girlfriend Christina became my 3rd friend of 2008 to give birth to twins, but the only one who had them naturally. With a 2 year daughter already running the show, Christina knew that she had quite a rough road ahead of her. In the middle of all the Thanksgiving brew ha-ha, Craig and I ran to Northwestern to see the two boys, Lorenzo Ernesto and Archangelo Brendan, resting comfortably. The delivery of these two boys was something straight out of biblical times, both boys wanted to be the first one out of their mom's womb. Was their some sort of birthright awaiting them, Jacob & Esau anyone? Since they were fighting for the first born male title the delivery had to be stopped and Christina was given an emergency C-section. Lorenzo proved to be the bigger of the two boys, weighing almost 2 pounds more than his brother, Archangelo, who was the little one out of the womb. Enjoy the pics!

Sailing on Lake Michigan

2009-04-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Brian brought a group of us for a ride on his sailboat, he refers to it as his "Dingy" which always brings laughter when he invited me to ride his "Dingy". Of course, Craig is invited too, and so were a few other friends. We drank, we enjoyed the sunshine, we talked about our love of the White Sox, and knew that winter would be approaching soon. We are eagerly anticipating summer and more rides on Brian's "Dingy". Enjoy the pics!

Rosh Hashanah

2009-04-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

For the Jewish New Year this year my cousins came in town from New York and New Jersey, along with my Aunt Lois, Uncle Larry, and my Papa who arrived from Michigan to celebrate the holiday with us. We've decided that we will make it an annual tradition to enjoy these high holidays together, switching off between Chicago and New Jersey each year. Friends also joined us for the holidays, The Cohens and the Hoffmans who are always a part of our family gatherings, and my Aunt Rochelle who had been living in Chicago while we were still living in New Jersey. I just love how all the men are basically wearing the same outfit and three generation of Cohen girls, Lynn, Jessie and Lynn's mom looking lovely for the holiday. Enjoy the pics!!

Construction Company Portraits

2009-03-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

I've been shooting interiors for this major construction company in the city. Yellow is a signature color for them so everyone was to be shot on yellow. For their purposes, they will crop in on these images, but they wanted them 3/4 length so they had room to play. Memos went out, everyone in the company was told, but with 100 men and women who work in construction, putting on a suit was no ordinary task. Many buttons couldn't be buttoned, and many came with their jeans and work boots underneath. They even still had their keys and tools attached to their pants. Too funny. I chose a few to represent the shoot. Unfortunately I don't have a pic of the room we were in. It was a workout room from the 70's, equipped with Jane Fonda's workout VHS collection. In between takes my assistants and I worked on our pecs and lats. Chester was one of the best dressed of the bunch. He has been the manager of their building for the last 60 years and jumped at the chance to have his portrait taken. Check out the cuffs, he looked like a sharp dressed man. Enjoy!!

The Twin Oakes

2009-03-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

I got a gig shooting interiors for a local construction company(sweet), and had an assignment this September to shoot the interior of the Spertus Museum on Michigan Ave. It's an amazing new building, if you haven't seen it, and the architecture and design both inside and out is worthy of a visit. While I was on the roof I saw these guys, down below, and when I left the Spertus I had to find out what they were all about.
Well, twin brother, Ryan & Trevor, were drawing the exterior of the Spertus and the view down Michigan Ave. They do perspective tracings, focusing on a single vertical slip of paper at a time, tracing over the lines that already exist in the enviornment. It's an all day process, to do a strip or two, and an entire landscape is about a week. Unfortunately, I was swamped during this time and missed seeing their opening at the Spertus. Regardless, Trevor and Ryan Oakes are two people to be watched in this Art World, they may have well struck gold! Good luck boys and hope to see you in Chicago again very soon. Enjoy!

Tommy's 4th Birthday

2009-03-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ah yes...another Mitchell family event. And, of course, it's at Pump It Up in Glenview. I have to get ahold of the owners, I've shot 8 parties there!!! I'm starting to get creative, more to keep me on my toes. Instead of shots where you see a small blurry person going down a huge slide I was trying to be there for the reaction shots, waiting until they get a little closer and capturing the end expression. And don't Sammy & Tommy look awesome in their matching Puma tracksuits...if I'd had known I would have worn mine. Enjoy the pics!!

Susan & Jason

2009-03-29T13:45:00.001-07:00

I really enjoy shooting pregnant couples. The energy, the anticipation, being a part of this special time and documenting it, what's not to like? Aaaah...here...I like to shoot close to the actual birth of the child and that means often that the couple doesn't pick out the images they like until much later. After all, they are a little busy! Susan and Jason are busy with Amelia right now and I just couldn't wait any longer to share these images. I've know Susan for a long time and she looks so beautiful here. I know they say pregnant women glow but Susan could have lit up an entire city. Jason looks extactic. I haven't know him as well for as long but I don't think I'd ever seen this smile. Enjoy the pics!

Family Portrait-Outside

2009-03-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

Through friends of mine I met this family who would all be in town for their mother's 60th birthday party. Her son and daughter in-law live in Minneapolis with their two kids and had just arrived from a long trip to Northbrook to then go out to this reserve in Libertyville for pictures. It was a rough session, the mother kept insisting to be shot in areas of extreme sunlight and shadows and I ended up chasing her all over this park. Just exhausting. But at the end of the day we hit some good positions and got some beautiful images. Whew! The two boys were a lot of fun.
Enjoy!

Sly & Jack Celebrate

2009-03-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Since my niece and nephew's birthdays are just a month apart and lets face it, who really remembers their first birthday, my brother and sister in-law held a joint celebration. The main event was a one woman act, music and puppet show, and of course, balloon animals. One of the little girls was hearing impaired and was very frightened of the puppets since she couldn't tell where the noise was coming from and what they were saying. Her big blue eyes you can see peeking just over her arm. Otherwise, smiles were big and everyone, in the end, had a wonderful time. Enjoy!