Jenna Cole Photography-Chicago, IL » Lifestyle and Wedding Photographer

As a fellow photographer, Mary was a little more willing than most to just “wing it” in terms of location. She told me where she lived, I zoomed in on a good starting point using Google Maps and said “We’ll start here and drive until we find something good.” I’m not quite sure how I would run this business without Google Maps actually…

So I met up with Mary and Mary (hereafter known as Cousin Mary) at 7-Eleven and we started driving, hoping we would find something good before we ran out of light. We passed a few spots that looked okay, and one fenced off wheat field that looked promising (fenced off = trespassing necessary), but we kept driving a little farther, and then just a little bit farther than that, and then we found IT. An old abandoned house with porch, barns, pastures, and the most perfect grove of new trees I have ever lain eyes on.

Okay, obviously I loved this shoot. I think it’s time to introduce you to Mary with a pretty picture. I have a feeling Mary and I are going to be spending a lot of time together in the near future. You’ll have to wait a little bit longer to find out how!

We were shooting on the porch of this old house when I looked over and shouted “Spider!” Tarantula would have been more accurate, since this was the biggest creature with 8 legs I have ever been privilege to witness in real life. Of course I was the smart one who walked on the board across from it, causing the board to raise up and the creature to go shooting across the porch. We didn’t stay in that spot much longer.

I readily admit that I am not a tattoo person, but I do think the back of her dress frames her ink perfectly. And don’t you love the way the red accents on my antique chair match her red shoes?

I realize that this photo and the one below it are almost identical, but I just love them both so much. What an unbelievable spot for this bride, in this dress. Mary, I’m not sure this fabulousness could ever be duplicated by anyone else.

THAT SHOT! x10

I freely admit to stalking my own photos when clients put them up on their Facebook accounts and I laughed out loud when one of Mary’s friends commented on this picture and asked “I’m sorry, did you just pop out of a fairy tale?”

She most certainly made that veil all by herself, and the fascinator came from Craigslist.

Obviously I really loved this fascinator. Awesome find Mary!

I’m also working on incorporating interesting angles and perspectives. I think the alternative framing really works here.

Am I allowed to say I think she has a hot body? Is that inappropriate?

Because seriously Mary, I would love to look like that in any dress, particularly one as unforgiving as yours. You are my own little Grecian Goddess.

On America’s Next Top Model, Nigel always says he is looking for a “muse”. I think I’ve found one in Mary! Purrrrty.

There’s that tattoo again. It’s really growing on me.

Cousin Mary makes her debut on the blog! She’s such a cutie and made for the perfect hair and wardrobe consultant for Mary the Bride.

Cousin Mary also frequently became the pack horse. And she did it with a smile on her face because she is fabulous like that!

Pictured with wheat bouquet that Mary the Bride also made herself. She’s a crafty one I tell you, don’t you think her wedding will be fabulous?

2nd Runner-up for That Shot. Gah! You’re killing me here with your cuteness Mary.

Mary ran through a cow pasture in kitten heels. That deserves some kind of prize, right?

We jumped in the car as the sun was fading to try to grab a few more. Look at the way her dress falls in the back. Dreamy isn’t it? I like it even better than a train!

I said “Props?” and Mary came up with gun, guitar, and aviators. So she’s brave (the spider), crafty (the bouquet and veil), and fly.

SOOC!

Before

After:

My, my, my. This seems like the kind of bridal image a fiance would love most, no?

A little bit of 70’s action felt appropriate here.

I like the irony of the slight pink tint from TRA2 Lith-E-Yum that adds a little bit of irony to this shot.

When she put those glasses on, she BROUGHT IT. I love how committed she was.

Apparently that orange tip lets people know this isn’t really a dangerous gun? I don’t know anything about guns so I was a little nervous to have it pointed directly at me. If I had known what the orange tip meant I would have photoshopped it out, but as it stands I like the pop of color it gives.

I wanted to get close but those darn aviators were so reflective. I tried to hide behind her hair, but Cousin Mary is on the left side as well…

So gave up trying to hide and went ahead and did a self portrait.

And some exciting news to end this post…

I’ll be shooting Mary’s wedding in October! I’m thrilled that she was able to make it work with her budget (she’s very frugal and I admire that!). Mary, it’s going to be a fabulous day and I’m honored to be able to spend it with you. I look forward to seeing you and Cousin Mary again soon!

Best,

Jenna

When Jenn of With This Ring contacted me about doing a bridal session and mentioned that she was open minded about where we could take them, I went a little crazy on her. I was throwing out suggestions for all of the places I dreamed of shooting in the Dallas area, crossing my fingers that she would be interested in making the long drive outside of Dallas to Sugar Ridge Road in Ennis. She was, and even suggested a second location in the area, Galaxy Drive-in Theatre.

Right before we turned onto Sugar Ridge we had to slow down on account of the cow hanging out in the middle of the road. I turned to Jenn and asked “Are you afraid of cows?” We attempted to chase him down and get him to pose with us, but he wasn’t feeling camera ready that day and scampered off before we could get close enough to do anything. Jenn turned back at me and smiled and, my camera went “click!” and this is what resulted. I love image that have a story behind them.

Sadly, most of the fields in the area have “No Trespassing” signs, but we stumbled on a few spots without them (or we didn’t look hard enough to find them.)

Jenn isn’t married yet, but this isn’t her real wedding dress (can you believe she bought it for $10 on Ebay?), so she was up for rolling around in the bluebonnets like I had hoped.

Look at those eyes!

I’m in love with huge old trees, and the combination of bride, bluebonnets, and tree still dead from winter (with a little bit of wind thrown in for good measure) had me swooning.

Jenn made this bouquet her self, the night before the shoot using grocery store flowers. Check out her tutorial on her blog for tips on how to make your own!

We were driving along Sugar Ridge Road when we spotted three beautiful horses next to a fence right by the road. Id didn’t know it at the time, but Jenn loves horses. In fact, her dream job would be to work with them!

Love love love this image. I think it’s the kind a little girl would get excited about. What little girl wouldn’t love to grow up and be a bride surrounded by her favorite animal?

A little self-portrait action?

There horses weren’t afraid to get up close and personal. We have one in back trying to push her off the fence, and another attempting to turn her dress into an early morning breakfast snack.

I love Jenn’s face upon realizing what the horse on the right was up to.

Attention hog (horse?)

We were headed over to the Galaxy Drive-in, thinking that we were done with the bluebonnet shots, when we spotted the most abundant field I have ever seen. Doesn’t it look like they go on forever?

As I was leaving the house that morning I grabbed an old book off the shelf just in case the opportunity to make this image in my minds eye come to life presented itself. If I were to hang it in a gallery I would title it “Floating in a Field of Bluebonnets”.

THAT SHOT!

Jenn is such a fantastic model. I love how relaxed her smile is.

One last unexpected stop before we made it to Galaxy, an old abandoned house on the side of the road. We saw sneakers, cigarettes, and a bible (random) on the property and became a little bit worried that some man was going to come lurching out of the shadows at us!

The Galaxy Theatre is a strange property filled with giant movie screens and amusement park odds and ends.

Swoon. I love this shot so much. A close second for THAT SHOT.

As we were strolling around the property the sun kept peeking out of the clouds (we hadn’t seen it all morning) and I would get overly excited and yell SUN! Except it would only show up for 2 seconds at a time, which meant that as soon as I got my camera ready, it was gone. Love this candid of Jenn checking the sky for the next break in the clouds.

See what the sun can do? So pretty!

This stand was the reason Jenn wanted to come to the Galaxy. I wasn’t really feeling the spot because of the amount of distracting elements around it, but when one of the workers started hanging around talking to us, and Jenn made a “This is kind of awkward” face, magic happened! The sun was shining down on her just right, and she really pops out of the photo.

We ended the session with a few quick ring shots (I had just received my macro lens attachment and I was really excited to test it out!). Isn’t her bling gorgeous?

Jenn, thanks for doing this marathon shoot with me. I don’t know about you, but I collapsed in bed as soon as I got home. You worked it like only a rockstar could, and I know I’ll be using these images all over the place for years to come because you (yes you!) make my work look A+++! I’m so excited to spend June 6th second shooting your wedding day, thanks for giving me the chance to spend some time with you beforehand. Only one more month to go!

Best,

Jenna

Coming soon…

L is lovely and sweet and for a few hours agreed to be my own little Indian princess. I loved her twice as much when she revealed that her sari was her mother’s wedding outfit (I wore my mother’s wedding dress for my own marriage), and that she will be wearing it as well for her own (yet to be determined) wedding date.

When she put on her chudas (bracelets) and dupatta (the jewelry in her hair) I loved her three times as much. She posed like a true model, making slow gentle movements with her head, eyes, hands, and arms, allowing me to focus on capturing beautiful images. I hope you adore the results as much as I do L!

L was my first client to request getting out of the city and using nature as a backdrop. I love the way that she pops out of the neutral background.

We know that L is really an Indian princess because princesses are taught from birth to be graceful at all times, even when bending over to adjust their sari.

I would not be patient enough to wear a dupatta, it needed a lot of adjusting. But do you see how gracefully she does it?

Can you see me in this picture?

Nice gentle wind, will you be my companion for all of my sessions?

L suggested we hang the end of her sari from a tree for a moment. I wasn’t sure how it would look while I was taking the pictures, but I love it because of the completely different shape it brings to her outfit.

2nd favorite shot of the day!

L asked me if I would like her to get in the water for a moment.
Future clients, the answer to this question is always “Yes!”.

SOOC Shot!

Before:

After:

I love the serene quality this photo has when it’s in sepia. And the way the light is falling on her face.

Don’t worry L’s mom, we were careful to take good care of your sari no matter where we were!

I’m usually not a fan of partially desaturated images, but I went with it because of the nice touch of soft pink it adds to an otherwise very dark photo.

That Shot!

Indian princess. Enough said.

L was willing to go anywhere I asked her to. Like shimmying up onto this big log over a cold stream.

This one gives me the shivers. She is so gorgeous!

As we parted, L told me “I hope we meet again.” I hope so too my dear! It was a pleasure to work with you.

Best,

Jenna