After an absolute WHIRLWIND month and a half filled with many sessions yet to blog, a ton of family time, a fair amount of home decorating, and celebrating our new girl’s first Christmas, I am trying to get back into the cycle of blogging those sessions! One of my big business goals for 2015 is to start blogging more consistently, and also to start blogging about MORE than just this business that I adore- more on that later!
For today…HAPPY NEW YEARS! I can’t believe it is January 1st, 2015. And I could not think of a BETTER session to ring in the new year with than this engagement session, which marked a wonderful beginning for me. I grew up near the beautiful city of Chicago, and have spent much TIME there, but I hadn’t gotten to photograph there. Enter Laura and Tim!! Laura contacted me about photographing her Springfield wedding next year (on Mike’s and my FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY- And truly, we are so excited to be spending that day together in that way!!) and mentioned she was interested in a Chicago engagement session since her and Tim live there. I was immediately elated–I have been just waiting and waiting for one of my couples to ask for that, and knew we would be traveling there over Christmas. After much discussion of locations and what we were looking for, I think we had the BEST day possible for this, and I am thrilled with the images. When I showcase a couple, I try to show “pretty” images, and a few portrait shots of them smiling at the camera- but the thing I really love are images that make me feel something…and this session is full of so much JOY. I loved it!
Meet Laura and Tim:
Laura and Tim were SO much fun to be around. There is an ease about them, a comfort in how well they know each other. They are so free to be themselves around each other. Tim jokes about Laura’s fast driving, Laura laughs at Tim’s silly expressions…and my camera LOVES them. I told Laura that I think she has a bit of SJP in her…and who doesn’t love photographing a girl who looks a little like Sarah Jessica Parker?! Do you see it??
Beautiful.
They make each other laugh. A LOT.
One of my FAVORITE bloopers of the year happened right after that shot–but I will just save that image for them to share if they want! 🙂
Those feelings I was talking about? Here is the joy.
And here.
We went to warm up inside one of my FAVORITE buildings in all of Chicago.
I end with the last frame I took, in a very quick moment…I love it, and I love how if I hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t know that it was freezing and windy and crowded and loud. It is just Laura and Tim. I cannot WAIT to capture their wedding next fall–Happy New Years you guys!!!
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I'm Jill, a wedding and portrait photographer based out of Chicago and Central Illinois, and available world wide! I'm also a photography educator, wife to my favorite person on the planet, mama to 3 amazing kids and an energetic Aussie, and obsessed with statement jewelry and all desserts (especially fruit pies!).
As a past high school teacher, I have a major heart for education. After going full time in my business, I have built a business I love that gives me an almost 6 figure salary and allows me to be home part time with my kids. I dream for you to run a business that enhances your life and lights you up, and I believe I can help you learn how to do it with a little hustle and a lot of heart!
click to learn more about me
You're in the right place! As a past high school teacher, educating others is my life's work and a HUGE part of my business! I have been teaching moms and hobbyists how to use their camera from first purchasing it all the way to coaching them into businesses of their own, and I'd love to help you as well, wherever you are (and whatever camera you have!).
I'm so glad you are here! Teaching Photographers and other small business owners how to run more joyful, successful, and profitable businesses is one of my favorite parts of my business! I specialize in working with photographers to make their goals a reality (or figure out what their goals should be in the first place!).
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