Simply Jessie » engagement

Kristine & Nathan | Rainy Engagement Photography

Jessie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:23:22 +0000

I love rainy day sessions. I know for many a rainy forecast for your session can be a disappointment, but they always end up being so personal and a day to remember. Kristine is so flexible and relaxed so this forecast didn’t even concern her. We hopped in a cab and popped around downtown with our umbrellas in tow. Looking forward to their wedding this April!

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Best of Engagement Photography 2011

Jessie — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:24:08 +0000

This collection of images are a few of our favorite engagement sessions of the year. Engagement sessions are some of my favorite memories of the year. Everyone is relaxed, just being themselves and it is when we really get to know you. Its so fun to goof off, chat away and really see how each couple connects. Congrats to each of these lovely couples!

Up next is the best of 2011 Best of Wedding Photography and the last post of the year!

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Jen & Chris | Fall Engagement at Chicago Botanic Garden

Jessie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:54:32 +0000

This session at Chicago Botanic Garden is so full of the brilliant color we have had this Fall. The day was quite chilly and damp but with this glorious color we didn’t let a little rain and chilly temps keep us away.

We went into the greenhouses to warm up a bit!

Then back out for this amazing orange. Favorite shot of the day below.

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Brit & Joshua | Chicago Downtown Anniversary Shoot

Jessie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:31:21 +0000

This session shows off the darker side of Chicago that so many of us know so well…. cloudy skies, strong wind and cool Fall temperatures. How can I tell you about how wonderful these two are? They are dear friends of ours. Brit has known me since grade school and with the most wonderful of circumstances we have come to be in the same city. It is a rare and dear thing to find friends you can be 100% yourself with, confess thoughts of life and celebrate personal victories for one another. We have shared many meals, bottles of wine, the hard things, the good things and everything in-between.

Brit and Joshua I am so thankful for your friendship . I love celebrating the two of you through this imagery and the city you love so much.

Hair and makeup for this shoot done by Shelby Smith. Click here to check out her blog!

See their anniversary shoot from last year here.

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Stacey + Dan | Busse Woods Engagement Photography

Jessie — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:49:03 +0000

Eric and I met these two out by their home in Arlington Heights. We had never been to Busse Woods and it did not disappoint. It had gorgeous woods, prairie and open spaces all for us to enjoy the afternoon with Stacey and Dan. These two are full with kindness and easy going spirits. Their genuine relationship and care for one another is a joy to be around. Can’t wait for these two to tie the knot next summer!

Eric’s two shots below.

We traded the woods and prairie for the wide open spaces.

We then followed these two back towards their home and we wandered a few blocks into Downtown Arlington Heights.

Eric’s shot below.

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Erica & Tony | Fall Engagement Photography at North Avenue Beach

Jessie — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:23:28 +0000

Erica’s sweet personality bubbles over in these late afternoon images. These two are getting married next Fall here in the city so to kick off the celebration we mixed Fall and our beautiful city for their engagement session. We met up at North Ave Beach and had an easy going fall afternoon getting to know them a bit better. Erica and Tony, you are so easy to photograph and see the happiness and deep friendship you two share.

Erica you are so beautiful and can’t wait to see and Tony dressed to the nine next fall!

Eric’s shot below.

Eric’s three shots below.

Eric’s two shots below.

Eric’s shot below. Favorite of the day.

These two hold pinkies. So cute.

Cute idea for their Save-the-Date!

Last shot of the day below by Eric with the last light of the day. What a beautiful city!

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Jennifer + Dave Engaged! | Midwestern Prairie Engagement

Jessie — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:49:07 +0000

Jennifer and Dave love the outdoors. We had such high hopes to escape the city and spend some time in the woods for their shoot. Due to crazy scheduling and all the fun that summer brings we decided on this gem of a location and now I’m not sure we could have even asked for better! It was a SUPER humid summer evening and because of all the rain the wildflowers were dense and singing the glory of summertime.

Eric’s three shots below.

Eric’s shot below.

Field next to Lake Michigan FULL of brown eyed susans!!

Eric’s three shots below.

Eric’s two shots below.

The humidity was so thick and the chance of rain so high the horizon disappeared and gave us this glorious peaceful light. I love this next series.

Eric’s shot below.

Can’t wait for September you two!

One frame outtake Eric took during this session! Looks like a midwestern summer to me!

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Amy + Gary | Chicago Elopement Photography

Jessie — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:26:06 +0000

Amy and Gary have had such a fun celebration! First the private beach wedding in New Jersey, ran away to Greece for three weeks and then back to their city for their Chicago celebration. Eric was not able to come with me, so the talented Jaclyn Simpson came along!

Before heading off to their wedding celebration( blog post for tomorrow) , we strolled around their neighborhood in Bucktown in the lovely afternoon sunlight. Come back tomorrow for their wedding celebration!

Favorite of the day below.

Here’s a little sneak peek of what is coming up tomorrow from their wedding celebration at Volo!

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Megan & Jacob | Engagement Photography in Montrose Harbor

Jessie — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:28:40 +0000

This is one of my favorite engagement sessions Eric and I have shot together. From the moment I met Megan she’s trusted our photographic style. I knew when she walked into the studio with stacks of photo booth film strips of the two of them, this was going to be good…. real good.

We spent the evening with Megan & Jacob at Montrose Harbor. It is a gem of a location that holds so many Midwestern backdrops. We spent time in the protected prairie filled with yellow and white wildflowers and then strolled out to the evening lake. We chatted about their Michigan wedding coming right up and Eric & Jacob got into talking code and application geeky – ness. It was a fun evening indeed.

And….. I love her red dress, like I want one.

Eric’s shot below.

We strolled out to the water to finish up our time together. The blues of Lake Michigan were unbelievable.

Eric’s two shots below.

Eric’s shot below.

And last but certainly not least, we documented one of their favorite Friday night events….. the photobooth. Now they have this evening to add to their collection of film strips.

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Lauren + Joe | Chicago Engagement Session in Pilsen

Jessie — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:17:47 +0000

Glorious green space co-existing with urban texture is one of my very favorite things about Chicago. Lauren and Joe’s engagement session shows off just how fabulous Chicago is in the summer! We strolled around Harrison Park in the culturally rich Pilsen neighborhood. These two are both artists and were so easy to chat with and docuement. They are getting married this September on the east coast! Congrats to you both!

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