The Most Adorable Mommy-To-Be

This past weekend I had the honor of shooting maternity pictures for the cutest mommy-to-be ever! This was my first "official" shoot - but it couldn't have gone smoother. My model was fantastic and easy going, not to mention the most adorable pregnant person ever. She is at 33 weeks and looks like she could be 24! Congrats to the new-almost mom and thank you so much for a day of fun!

Puppy Eyes

While visiting my parents, I once again couldn't resist snapping pics of their adorable pup. I mean with eyes like those how can you resist? He is so flipping adorable that after every visit I find myself trying to con Evan into thinking now is the right now for us to get a puppy! Alas, my plea continues to come up short, as I am reminded of the fact that we live in a 900 square foot apartment in the city. One of these days I will succeed...

A Close to Summer

Well... I can't believe it, but once again Summer has come to a close. This past weekend a few friends got together in Michigan and said goodbye to Summer in style. I am still a bit groggy from the festivities but wanted to post some amazing sunset shots. Thanks to the group for a fantastic weekend as always and hope you enjoy!

Self Portraits

The final assignment for my photo class was to take self portrait pictures. One had to tell a story about yourself and the other was to be more 'traditional'. I played around with many different images in my head, trying to visualize how they would turn out. It's amazing how difficult it is to take a self portrait. Setting up the shot in a unique way is a far greater challenge than I originally expected. Here are a few that are my favorites. I wanted my 'traditional' picture to still tell something about myself; so I did a few yoga poses to create interest. The self reflection picture is my favorite, as it truly captures my "guilty pleasures" in true form.

 

Around Chicago

I've lived in Chicago for more than 4 years now and still have so many things to see and do. This city really has so much to offer. This summer we took a weekend to be "tourists". We walked around downtown snapping pictures of all the hot spots and seeing things that we had never really appreciated before. It was fun to see your own city through a new lens. Here are a few of the pics:

That is some Canadian pride

Fun With Shadows

When I was a child I used to love playing games with shadows. I think we all did. There is something innocent and pure about the way light plays tricks on on us. In a recent photo assignment, we had to find and capture shadows. It was amazing how mysterious and puzzling shadows instantly became. I started analyzing the different shapes formed out of everyday objects. Objects that I pass by everyday became puzzles, adding layers of curiosity. As I completed my assignment, I noticed that my eye is drawn to deep contrast. The shadows that had the highest intensity were the ones that sucked me in. Below are a few of my favorites:

 

Who are you looking at?

My nephew is the most hilarious little person to photograph. I can't stop looking back at pictures I've taken and laughing out loud. He has one of those smiles that lets him get away with anything (well, from his Aunt at least)...

These pictures below show how this little monkey just melts my parents. They just can't get enough of their grandchildren!