12 Years Ago I Photographed My First Wedding!

May 17th is a date that will always be incredibly special to me. May 17th, 2008, 12 years ago today, I (begrudgingly!) photographed my very first wedding and started my journey into portrait photography.

Begrudgingly?

Yes! I was on a photographic journey that involved things that didn’t speak; flowers, sunsets, nature, etc. But then a coworker hounded me for MONTHS to photograph his wedding and I turned him down for months. Fast forward to a few weeks before the wedding and he’s still hounding me with no other photographer lined up. I reluctantly agreed. I had no experience, I had no desire to photograph weddings. I took photos of plants, nature and landscapes, for goodness sake! For fun. That was all! People were too complicated, especially high-pressure weddings. I wanted no part! At least that’s what I told myself. I mentioned all of this to him. He still persisted. I caved because I couldn’t bear them not having any photos of their day. I showed up to photograph that wedding, sweating the whole day because I had NO idea what I was doing. Seriously, no idea. Zilch. Zero. Nada. But something happened that magical day. I fell in love. With portrait photography. With weddings. With documenting people, and the big moments in their lives. That day kicked off my career and brought me to where I’m at today.

Shane knew that I had wanted to be a photographer for years, and I think he knew that I needed to be pushed in order to take a chance on myself.

While my journey into documenting people’s lives may not have started in a conventional way and I pushed the idea away for years, I know now that it was purely my fear (of both failing and succeeding) that kept me from pursuing my dream. But he and Victoria saw something that I was too scared to see, and took a chance on me. Yes, I made mistakes that day and I cringe when looking back at my work from the beginning. And yes, I have made many more mistakes along the way but I’ve come a long way, baby! I’ll keep making mistakes. We all do. You can’t grow without making and learning from your mistakes, and it’s all part of the journey.

Happy Anniversary Shane & Victoria!

See my first wedding and my last wedding (2019) below.

I’ve always been all about the details!

For the first time in my career, I’m extremely relieved that I did not have any weddings booked for 2020. My heart goes out to all couples, as well as my fellow photographer friends and all vendors, trying to navigate this stormy season of life right now in what was supposed to be the happiest times of your lives. I’m thinking of you - we’ll all get through this stronger, together.

Chicago Maternity Session at the Lyric Opera House & Fulton Market/West Loop

I am completely in love with this session and all of the images that came from this gorgeous mama’s maternity session in the Fulton Market area & at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Isn’t she a stunner?! We both wanted a session filled with color and I think we made some magic. It was so nice to see some sunshine among all of this colorful beauty after a dreary winter and all that’s been going on in the tumultuous world we’re living in. I’m so thankful we got this session in the week before Chicago shut down.

Please share this post with a mama-to-be who might be interested in my services once the world resumes.

I hope you’re hanging in there!

Hugs, Courtney

Gratitude Sessions for Essential Workers - Purchase One, Receive One to Gift

I am honored to be introducing Gratitude Sessions!

All sessions booked between now and the 30th of April 2020 will include an additional photo session for you to gift to an essential front line worker of your choice and their family. 

Essential workers are sacrificing their time with their own families so that others can spend more time with theirs. I am grateful to be able to stay home, but I am also struggling like so many others. I have two sisters that are on the front line of this and I worry about them and their littles every day. I’m also struggling with having the privilege of staying home knowing others do not. I’m struggling with the fear of the uncertain financial future myself (and my business) are facing. I’m heartbroken that I can’t photograph the maternity sessions I had on the calendar, and even more heartbroken for those mamas who may have to deliver babies alone. For the grandparents who can’t meet their new grand-babies. I weep daily for the ones who have already left us, especially the ones that didn’t have anyone with them when they left this earth. It’s a trying time that every single person is affected by, and I believe all the more reason to give back. All the more reason to document this life.

I’m incredibly hopeful that we’ll get through this and come out stronger, together. We’re all learning to let things go, and also to expand and let love in. To ask for help. To grieve. While this gesture is not enough to repay the debt we owe to ALL of the essential workers and health care workers on the front line, I hope for it to be of some help.

If you’re not in a position to invest at the moment, but would love to be a part of giving back, please feel free to nominate an essential worker anyway that you’d like to see receive a complimentary family photo session. On April 30th, I will choose one of the nominated families to receive their free session. 

I know it's a tough time right now for everyone. This will eventually pass and we will be gathered together again. Until then, in this time of grief and fear, please keep cheering each other on. Your love and resilience are powerful.

*All photo sessions to take place (of course!) when physical social distancing guidelines have been lifted. Donated sessions will receive a free session of their choice & 10 mounted gift prints. They have the option to purchase additional prints, but it is not required.

Thanks to Anastasia Creative for starting this initiative. If you’re a photographer interested in participating, please see her website.