Ashley & Kyle: After Par-tay!

Man you guys, I feel like I have been a terrible blogger, but in reality I've just been working on things that I can't necessarily post. Still, it feels like it's been forever and I just want to say that I miss you all and I've got more stuff coming, so hopefully it won't be so sporatic around here in the next few weeks. :)

Alright, so you probably remember Ashley and Kyle as the cutest couple ever, and we did some shots around Indianapolis in their wedding finery after the big day, and we had a serious amount of fun AND we squeezed this whole shoot into ONE HOUR, which was insane! I'm not used to doing portraits in such a small window, but we made it work and I was so happy with how much awesome stuff we were able to get. Shall we?

Wow, could this get any cuter? LOVE.

Same scene but a totally different picture. Also, I love these weird little nooks and crannies that you find just by wandering around. I was thinking the other day about how much time I spend with clients just walking or driving around, waiting for something to jump out at me, but it's how I work most of the time. I just like the adventure and the inspiration in the moment, and the time that I get to spend with clients chit chatting and hanging out, which especially good for engagement sessions since we really loosen up with each other, but it's also a great way to get relaxed, comfortable looking portraits.

Somewhat similar place, but different. Also, this is one of the few morning shoots I've done, but I really like doing them. I usually shoot more in the late afternoon (since everyone--okay, me--likes to sleep in), but it's nice to switch it up and the light here is so lovely.

Oh, this was SUCH a fun picture. Ashley saw the misbehave graffiti and wanted to climb up that sloped wall (NOT an easy task, I can assure you), so she was posing all cute when her skirt blew up! (It's dark, but you can only see knees anyway, pervs!) She looked so shocked and cracked up, and I loved how the dress looked, so I was over there just click-click-clickin' away. :) There were several other really cute ones immediately following where she was still just cracked up by the whole thing, but seriously, how perfect is it that your skirt would fly up in front of the word "misbehave"? Sometimes, you just can't ask for better.

Love the mood of this. Anyone recognize where we are yet?

I think I posted this or something very similar as their sneak peek, but I loved it so much that I thought it was worth a second showing. :) Soooo cute and late summery!

I love this and something about it feels really old to me ... possibly because we were on the world's oldest and least stable rocking chair? Yeah, maybe. But I think it's more the pose. I really like it, and thank you Ashley and Kyle for totally perching on that thing precariously in the name of good pictures. :)

This is so great you guys--I love what the writing on the wall behind them says, but I especially love how they've got their hands. That's a totally natural moment--I had nothing to do with it. And as a photographer, I love that.

Beautiful murals all over the place--we had to wander through a couple alleys to find them, but they're there and they're awesome.

Gooooorgeooooous! You guys are so pretty, and Ashley, you have such sparkly eyes!

Ashley loved the diner sign so much that she wanted to go back and requested this specific picture (of the two of them walking away). Lucky for her, I love requests!

Here we went into the diner and took some cute pictures. Seriously, I love Ashley's face--she is ADORABLE here (and everywhere).

Posed action shots! Hee! I made Ashley look up at Kyle all cheesy and flirty-like, and I like the cheesy flirty results!

Definitely one of my faves, but then, how do you pick a fave? They're all gorgeous, and again wiht the sparkly eyes.

And this one is so good too! And look how dapper Kyle is looking! So many favorites to choose from! It's a good problem to have. :)

So we kept thinking we were done, and then I'd see something and be like, one more, one more! I just get excited. :) But we really did have to go back to this sign, because it's too perfect (and too true). There were a bunch of cute pics, but I liked this one the best--I like her hair in her face, and I like her "badass" face. :) Ashley was telling me about how she laughed at her cousin for having a bunch of pictures of her looking badass, so I think it's only fair that her cousin get at least one chance to return the favor. But seriously, she's rockin' the look and I'm loving it.

Thanks again for doing this with me, Ashley & Kyle! I love after party sessions, and Kyle, I'm glad you got to hold onto the suit. You lovebirds are some perfect models!

They "wanna rock and roll all night, and part of every day."

I know, that's not how it goes, but I loved that scene in Role Models where Paul Rudd says it, and it's so fitting for The Relics, Evansville's Premiere Old Man Band. Not my words! I think that was the drummer's idea, if I recall, but I could be wrong.

At any rate, Billy's dad plays in this band and they do classic rock covers and are generally pretty awesome. The lead singer sounds very much like (and looks a lot like, in some ways) Kid Rock, and we all know how much I love Kid Rock, especially since Joe Dirt.

Anyway, these guys are in high demand lately and the Evansville News 4U is doing a story on them, which I didn't find out until I got there. Billy's dad had asked me to bring my camera when we visited, and I thought he just wanted some pics for Facebook or something, but it turns out they wanted pictures to go with that story. Yikes! It was DEFINITELY challenging, but in a totally good way--it's really good and important to stretch your photography and creativity muscles in different ways occasionally, and I enjoyed this.

I've been exceptionally busy lately (it's always feast or famine around here, I tell ya), so just a few pics of the highlights of the show. I know it's been a little sparse around here, but the last session I edited was a boudoir that was understandably kept private. But I promise you it was gorgeous. But there's lots coming, and for now, feast your eyes on all THIS gorgeousness!

Alright, now I loved this one. Billy's dad (also a Bill) is in the middle, and he's not really that short, he's just bent over or bending his knees or something. Brian is the lead singer, to the right in the photo, and I'm not sure of the bassist's name, but he's on the left and he was really entertaining. SUCH a bassist, and I know that all of you who either play bass or know someone who does or really enjoy concerts know what I'm talking about. The band has had a bit of shuffling around with their bassist and this guy was filling in--I haven't seen the regular one yet but I'm sure he's good too.

Cracked me up.

Now this ... is Joe. Joe Baby to some. And he is a CHARACTER. And you know I love me some characters. At any rate, he loves spinning his drum sticks (and he's good at it! I'd poke an eye out--mine or someone else's), and I was SO excited to get this shot. It's PERFECT Joe.

This picture is dark, but cool. And I'm sure with how dark it is, it'll show up differently in everyone's monitor. On mine, the focus is obviously on Brian, but you can see bits and pieces of what's going on to the sides. I just think it looks like a concert, and awesome.

This is Mac, who plays keyboard, guitar, and harmonica (and maybe other stuff I don't know about, but that's just what I saw at the show), and he can sing the hell out of some country songs too. He's very, very talented, and hates having his picture taken or people looking at him. I pointed out that most people don't join a band to be "not looked at", and he said he likes the music stuff but the being on stage takes some getting used to. Seriously though, you'd NEVER know it. However, he did keep himself shrouded in darkness, much to the chagrin of his friendly neighborhood photographer. Nonetheless, I got some good shots of him, including this one of him smoking. I did my level best to get shots of all the guys smoking on stage since it's so them ... Brian and Joe eluded me, but there are some of Bill smoking and playing guitar where Billy thinks he looks like Keith Richards minus heroin, so that's cool.

(I feel like I should say that I am not personally a smoker, in case anyone wouldn't want to hire someone who is. And also, in case any of you kids are reading this, smoking is bad! But if you're a rocker, smoking is probably the least of your concerns so carry on.)

Okay, now I love this picture of Brian. I know it's a little out of focus but it's so awesome that it needs to be shared. It LOOKS like rock 'n' roll, and I love it.

Whoa, speaking of looking rock 'n' roll!

I really loved this picture ... the tones are good and I think it has a really great mood, and I don't know if it's the glasses or the acoustic guitar or what, but it just puts off a different vibe than some of the other shots. Very cool.

Another really great shot--Bill was definitely in the best light. Anyone want to take a stab at who set up the lighting? :) I kid--it wasn't on purpose, I think he just happened to have the blue light pointed his way, and it was a little easier for me to tweak than some of the others, like red or green. But it definitely made for some cool pictures. And I loved how when he saw this one in the camera, he was like ... "This one isn't awful." I just laughed because I knew it was a compliment because that is EXACTLY how Billy comments on pictures of himself. He never just likes it, or thinks it's good, it's always, "I don't hate that one," and then it's like a compliment on par with, "This is the greatest thing I've ever seen and I must nominate you for awards and sing your praises from a mountain" or something. You've gotta take what you can get! :)

Bill kept calling this "the evil picture" and I suppose, especially with the green backlighting, but I really liked it and thought it looked cool. The coloring was tough, but it really lost something in black and white. I might keep playing with it a bit.

And finally, I loved this shot of Mac and the bassist. In fact, I told Bill that it would really be good for me if they could let this guy into the band because I like this shot of him lighting a cigarette and if he sticks around, the picture can stay.

Alright, that wraps us up for now. What do you guys think? Suggestions for improvements that can be made? This was my first concert shoot, so I'm totally open to ideas, especially if anyone has experience. But it was really fun and I think they have some fun stuff for their facebook pages if nothing else, right? :)

There should be more stuff coming up soon--I'm hoping by the end of the week, so come back and visit soon!

Janina's Senior Pictures!

Alright, everybody! It's been a hectic couple of weeks since I moved and was without internet for about a week (THE HUMANITY), but I'm back up and rolling and today we have Janina's senior pictures! They were really fun to do--we hit up Navy Pier and then spent a good chunk of time at a beach, which is where we got most of my favorites, and then headed over to Millennium Park for a couple at the bean.

Janina's cousin came along with us, and the funny thing was that she was totally like my friend Amy, who always knows where she's going and helps me find stuff. It was SO helpful. And Janina's little bro came along too, and he was probably my favorite 12-year-old boy ever, including all the ones I knew when I was 12 myself. He and I bonded over Harry Potter, which I just read in the past year and which, obviously, was awesome.

Well, as you can see, this was a really easy job for me. Janina is completely BEAUTIFUL and about as sweet and mellow as they come.

I showed this pic as her sneak peek, but it was so cute I thought it warranted a second viewing.

OMG THE CHEEKBONES. In the words of Rachel Zoe, I die.

This was something we gave a shot at the stained glass museum on Navy Pier, and it did something kind of weird to her eyeballs, but I love the light and I thought it was a really cool picture. I showed it to Janina and she and the entourage that day, and they totally oohed and aahed over it and made me feel good. :)

Well, it probably goes without saying, but I would totally kill for that hair.

Man, it was a gorgeous day. And, so long as you're not judging by the past few days, fall in Chicago is gorgeous and it's not too late to get your senior pictures done! Hint! :)

Okay, now does this, or does this not belong in a magazine? (Hint: it does.)

Janina has probably one of the most gorgeous smiles to ever hit my camera.

I loved this--something about it seemed very European for me.

I know I'm not really commenting as much as usual, but it's because everything is just so gorgeous that it's speaking for itself. And everything with Janina and company was just so easy, and such smooth sailing, which is kind of rare, actually. :) Normally when you're out and about in public, at least one or two weirdos are requisite, but that day, Chicago was on its best behavior.

STUNNING. This is a GREAT example of a lot of expression being conveyed without a big, over the top kind of face. Tyra would be proud!

Another one that seemed European to me ... or maybe Mediterranean! (Funny that I say these things since I've never actually left the country. But I want to, and I will someday!)

Alright, seriously, she's SO FREAKIN' CUTE! But I'm going to shut up about it for a minute and just let you look at the pictures. :)

Unshutting up to say ... does this not look like the side of an American Eagle shopping bag? Loves it!

Unshutting up again, for good this time, because WOW. I love this. Most of these pictures look like they could be in a magazine, but this one looks like it belongs on a full-fledged billboard. AMAZING. Love the model wind, and love the expressions that she makes with her face. She was an absolutely perfect model.

Awww, I thought this was fun! Love that lens flare, too! But the bean is hilarious to take pictures in front of because it's always surrounded by people, so you're pretty much guaranteed a lot of random butts in your picture. But it's also SO fitting because that's what the bean always looks like, you know? So here I like it because it's her front and a bunch of backs, with a neat shot of the bean and the sun coming through, and she's just a little removed from the craziness! Very fun picture, I think. :)

And the last one! I full-on tortured this poor girl, and had her bouncing her ball on her racket, which yeah, she makes look easy, but it was not. Friendos, I can barely walk up a flight of stairs without incident, and here she is, smiling, bouncing a tennis ball on a racket, making eye contact with the camera, ALL WHILE WEARING A DRESS! It truly boggles the mind!

Thanks, Janina, for a very fun session! The full gallery is at my Instaproofs site, and the password is Janina's last name (which should be easy if you know her, and tough if you don't)! Online ordering is available, and enjoy the pics! They're super amazing!