You may remember LeaAnne & Raj from this summer when we took some photos in their Streeterville home. I'm back to let you know they're OFFICIALLY engaged and in the midst of planning their wedding! The two weekends prior to their engagement session, it snowed like crazy in Chicago. One of those weekends was a monster storm that shut down the city and I was out of town and sadly missed it all. However, I thought that since there was over a foot of snow on the ground we would for sure at least have a little blanket for LeaAnne & Raj so it didn't look so muddy out. Boy, was I wrong! The Friday before we were supposed to shoot, ALL of that snow was gone and I was heartbroken. ALL I had wanted for their session was snow. Fast forward to Saturday morning and me checking the weather the second my eyes opened. Miraculously there was a chance for some snow showers later that afternoon. I hoped and prayed all day and then 2pm came and the snow the hourly forecast predicted was nowhere to be found. An hour later, though, it started ever so quietly and by the time our session started at 4:30 we were COVERED in white, wet snow and it was magical. One of my most favorite sessions ever and L & R were fantastic.

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I have always loved sessions in winter, but my first "active snowfall" engagement session was unforgettable and I am so thankful that it worked out so perfectly.

Much love, friends!

xoxo Courtney

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2017 was an amazing year for me and I'm so grateful for all of you for trusting me with your most precious/intimate/honest/real moments. I love what I do. For real. I get to document some of the most meaningful moments in people's lives. As well as the more "everyday moments" but I love every second of it. I like to do an end-of-year website update so I go through all of my sessions from the year and pick my favorites. It helps me see how far I've come, and how much I've grown. This year, I got out of my comfort zone. I took chances. I pushed myself to photograph from my heart; to photograph what spoke to me and to tell more honest stories. In addition to updating the website, I wanted to do a re-cap of the year, highlighting my favorite photos & moments but then this post got crazy long. If you know me, I couldn't narrow it down any further than what I've come up with and this isn't even all of it! So here goes. A selection of some of my favorite sessions, moments and personal treasures from all of last year. Druuuuuummmmmroooooooooolllllllllll, please.

I love love love love love LOVE so let's start with the beautiful couples!

Photographed my beautiful friend getting ready on her wedding morning on a steamy July morning in Chicago at the Langham Hotel.

I second-shot with Jennifer of Angelic Angles Photography for a beautiful Milwaukee wedding. We photographed the wedding party at Villa Terrace Museum and I was BLOWN away by the beauty. I can't wait to go back there and photograph! I really miss shooting with Jennifer. We used to be the dream team when I lived in Madison. She's amazing - seriously, the best.

Second-shot with Melissa Ferrara of Iron & Honey Photography this fall. So much fun to work with a fellow Chicago photographer.

Babies! So many friends had babies this year!!

Boudoir - a few of the ones I can show!

I photographed a few events for PAWS. Also made some portraits of my friends' dogs while they were vacationing because I can't help myself!

High School Seniors

My Family. I went home a handful of times this summer for many birthdays! My sister and her littles did the Bubble Run so I took my camera for that. After that, it was Skyler's first birthday and then Avianna's SIXTH birthday. Squeezed in a quick shoot with all of my nieces with some goats... it didn't go as planned but we still got some beautiful photos!

Photographed all season long for Vintage Garage Chicago. If you're in Uptown Chicago on the third Sunday of the month from April through October, you must check them out. Must!

Grabbed some quick family photos for the best people on earth to celebrate them becoming a quartet!

Purposely took my camera down to the Loop a few times this summer. Normally I'm without it but made a point to take it, especially for the Chicagohenge.