Montrose Harbor Engagement Session with S & K {Chicago, IL}

When I first talked to Staci about her engagement session with her fiancé Kevin, she told me that they love to spend time outdoors & basically just be goofy and laugh together. All the time. She was not kidding - I witnessed this first-hand and got to document it for them & it was a blast! These two have the best time together, no matter what they’re doing. I was able to photograph their engagement session just a few days before their courthouse wedding last summer and I loved getting to know them. Staci even wore her wedding dress at the start of the session and then changed into a gorgeous jumpsuit. They love rock-climbing, hiking and being outside so they wanted to incorporate nature into their photos. Montrose Harbor is the perfect spot for that! It’s got a forest area at the bird sanctuary, it’s got the beach, the boats and it’s got that majestic view of the great Chicago skyline. We met just before sunset and the sun showed off that evening. The harbor photos are some of my favorite couple photos I’ve ever documented! Those colors, that sunset and this adorable couple - it all blew me away! Congratulations, you beautiful souls - I hope you’re loving newlywed life and enjoying your pups!

At the very end, they changed into their rock-climbing gear and we took a few more photos.

Aliya & Jake - Downtown Chicago Engagement Session {Lincoln Park, Lincoln Park Zoo Nature Boardwalk, North Avenue Beach}

I know that to do a blog post well, for all reasons but especially SEO, words need to help tell the story. For this session, I really am speechless and feel like the photos just need to do the talking. But I’ll still talk about how much I am in love love love with every photo from this session and how I adore Aliya & Jake, and love how they adore one another. Aliya is full of joy and light & the way she looks at Jake makes my heart so happy. The way Jake just randomly kisses her and snuggles her in close is straight out of a rom-com. Not gonna’ lie, I usually have to direct most guys to kiss their bride-to-be but Jake made it a breeze for me. These two balance each other out in all the ways and I’m SO happy for them. I’m also so honored they chose me to document this exciting (albeit weird pandemic time to be engaged!) time in their journey.

We started near their home in Lincoln Park with their two silly pups and then headed to Lincoln Park Zoo to the Nature Boardwalk & then across the street to North Avenue Beach. A big rain storm was expected to pass through Chicago just as we were supposed to start that evening so we started a bit sooner to at least get the part in with their dogs. Then the beautiful sunlight disappeared - Thanks, Mother Nature! We accomplished the photos with the pups and it still wasn’t raining & it appeared that the big storm was going to dodge Chicago so we headed to the Zoo! Thanks for real this time, Mother Nature!

While there, that storm did come through after all but it was only a light rain. Ok, Mother Nature, what is going on?! Luckily we were near an area where we could take cover. We waited it out for a bit under the Honeycomb structure because we were waiting for a wedding party to finish their photos anyway and then the sun magically came out while it was still raining! The light was BEAUTIFUL and Aliya & Jake were up for some rain photos so we went for it. It was hard to pick a favorite from this session, but the rain dancing ones are probably the most romantic photos I’ve ever made and I LOVE them! But I also love every single photo from their session… ;)

I also really owe Mother Nature a big apology for all the back-and-forth I’d been doing in my head. Turned out to be the most perfect evening!

Lincoln Park

A&J live in Lincoln Park so we started there and Jake proposed at North Avenue Beach so we finished there! I’ve known Aliya for a few years from back in my PAWS days, but North Avenue Beach has always reminded me of her so it was fitting that that’s where they got engaged! So happy for you, friends!

Lincoln Park Zoo Nature Boardwalk

North Avenue Beach

I’ve started to really reflect on why I love couple sessions so much and this session was the perfect example of why. I love love. I love watching people interact naturally. I strive for genuine emotion and to tell your story in a way that captures you. All I really do is put you in poses together that flatter you and then I watch what you do naturally and go with it! Sounds kind of creepy when I type it out, haha, but it’s how the magic happens! I promise all you need to do is relax and have a ton of fun. Bonus points if you’re willing to dance in the rain :)

Recently engaged?!

Make your session all about you and what you love to do together. Bring your pup(s) for a part of your session if you have any. Stay at home and have a cocktail or cook some dinner. Or head to your favorite patio for a beer. Grab coffee from your neighborhood go-to. Swing by your first date spot, or the spot where you were proposed to. Like ice cream?! Let’s get some! Have a unique car? Bring it along?! You’re into skydiving? Let’s go! Yes, Chicago has a ton of iconic locations for your photo session, but you will make the most of your session when you have fun with it and make it your own & trust your photographer.

2018 - Year in Review - Couples - Chicago Engagements, Proposals & Weddings

I can’t believe 2018 is almost gone - I feel like it just started and I was looking forward to all all of these beautiful engagement sessions and weddings. Now I’m planning for 2019, and packing for my first wedding of the year in the Caribbean & can’t wait to see what this new year brings. One of my favorite end-of-year things to do is this blog post because I get to go through all of my favorite sessions from the year and reflect on all of the love. I get a bit emotional looking through all of the images and seeing how many people trust me to document their biggest moments and let me bring their vision to life. Thanks to all of my 2018 couples for letting me get “just one more” photo “over there in that light” and to letting me push my creative muscles. I adore you all!

Much love, Courtney