And the Winner Is.....

I almost forgot to do the drawing for the iTunes gift card...I actually wrote everyone's names down on little pieces of paper and picked one randomly. Thank you everyone for all of your kinds words of encouragement. I know my blog is not completely user friendly for leaving comments, so I did receive several very nice emails too.

It just so turned out that the winner is my friend Faye who has been an awesome second/third shooter with me at my weddings. Faye is shooting another wedding with me this weekend in the city at Old St. Pat's. I am so excited.

Speaking of Faye, I recently took some headshots for her as she gets her own business off the ground. We have been friends since middle school and have had so many crazy, wild and unbelievable experiences together. I am so happy that the fun times continue...it's always an adventure when we get together ;)

Here is her little cutie Leo who wanted in on the photo action.

LOVE this one!

Sara, Matt & Ainsley

One of the coolest things about starting my own photography business, is getting to re-connect with old friend and photograph them. Sara, Matt and I all went to Eastern Illinois together and I don't get to see them as often as I wish I did. I also got to see their beautiful daughter Ainsley (Sara, I hope I am spelling that right ;) again and observe them interact as a family.

Sara had one, and only one, request from the whole session...she wanted a good family photo worthy of their wall. Sara, I think we got it ;) There are actually more really good ones too, but this one was my favorite.


Ainsley is such a sweet girl. She was so smiley. I think she was just happy to finally be out of the car.



Matt is such a doting dad. Ainsley is crazy about him.

Would you look at those eyes?

Can you tell where she gets them from? ;) Beautiful!

No more photos, please.

I drive by this barn about ten times a day since it is at the entrance to my neighborhood. It has been on the market for years now and everytime I drive by I think that I should shoot there. All the other barns I shoot by are red. I love this gray-blue.

I think Ainsley was done with me at this point.

Another view...

This is one of my favorites from the day.

Sara & Matt it was so good seeing you again and catching up. I hope you love your sneak peek. Ainsley is a doll and was such a good girl. Best of luck to you and keep in touch! :)

Happy Halloween!

I think everyone's favorite holiday is Christmas, myself included, but Halloween comes in a close 2nd. I love traditions, so I am so excited that Brynn is now at the age where she gets excited about holidays. She loved carving her pumpkin and cooking the seeds. We had the Charlie Brown Halloween cartoon on the backround...it got us in the mood for Halloween.

These are all just snapshots...

During the day on Halloween we met up with Courtney, Ella, my mom (Mimi) and my aunt Ann for some trick-or-treating at all the shops on 3rd Street in Geneva. It was a gorgeous fall day...the warmest Halloween in 10 years in Chicago! All my memories of Halloween growing up entail finding a costume for trick-or-treating that would fit over a snowsuit.

Ella was a good little witch. Check out her heels...I got them at a specialty shop in Geneva for a shower gift for Court. They are called "Heelarious." You can get them here.

I was a little worried that people wouldn't know what Brynn was dressed up as...but everyone knew right away. Can you tell??

If you guessed Bindi Irwin, The Jungle Girl you are correct! The Crocodile Hunter's daughter.

Brynn got some great treats...she had to stop after each store we went in to try another piece of candy. Here she is taking a break.

Auntie Ann and Mimi were contributing to her sugar binge by helping her open up the little pieces of candy. Brynn was on cloud 9. She has such a sweet tooth (which she got from her dad). Just look at her face -- she is on a total sugar high.

Did I mentioned it was a beautiful day?

Since Brynn ate all of her candy as fast as she accumulated it, we went to Chad's mom's, Nana's, for some more trick-or-treating and more candy. Her decorations are always top notch.

Their neighbors were giving out WHOLE candy bars! That NEVER happened when I used to go trick-or-treating!

Brynn and her Nana.

Chad and I went to a Halloween Party later that night. Can you tell who he is?

Ha! Can you tell who I am?

Can you tell me apart from the real Amy Winehouse? ;)

There were some GREAT costumes - not entirely politically correct, but isn't that what dressing up for Halloween is all about? Bill & Erin won best couple's costume...

A-Rod & Madonna


Sponge Bob!

I must have been in character here, not sure what I was doing. You may recognize Nicole from our apple picking maternity shoot...what else can you dress up as than a pumpkin when you are that prego?? :)

Guess who won 1st place??? Man, don't I look just like her? Very attractive.

Remember Rerun from "What's Happening"?

Hope you all had a fab Halloween too!