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

This duet session with Ernie and Mary Helen was the last session I shot before baby, done at 37 weeks pregnant. They experienced the fastest turnaround any Jenna Cole client will probably ever see as I was nervous I would go into labor early and leave them waiting far too long for their photos.

We met up at the Dallas Arboretum and spent a few hours exploring (with a few outfit changes thrown in as well!). There were photographers and families everywhere but I worked a bit of magic to make it look like these two were the only ones there. This Duet session was actually Ernie’s Valentine’s Day gift to Mary Helen and I was incredibly flattered to learn that Ernie found me through some internet searching he did, looking for the Dallas photographer who would be just the right fit for them. I love working with clients who hire me based on how much they love my work and not on my prices!

I loved seeing what outfits they were going to walk out in next each time they went back to change. If you want the crowds to be extra nice and make way for you all you have to do is put on a dress that makes you look like a bride. Everyone will assume you are doing bridal/wedding portraits and clear the best spots for you!

THAT SHOT!

I played with flash a bit at this session, something I don’t normally do. I was pretty pleased with the results!

I experimented shooting through the waterfalls a bit. Ernie and Mary Helen were great about giving me a little bit of creative freedom to try new things and I think it really paid off for them.

I adore this one.

Most definitely my second favorite. These were taken in a little play village set up to show kids how people used to live and all of the 7 year olds wandering in this little cabin were pretty curious to know why some grownups were in the tub together getting their picture taken!

The biggest reason I love doing Duet sessions? Watching and working with people who are still so in love even after the trials of life have come their way.

Thank you so much to both Ernie and Mary Helen for being so wonderful to work with. I hope my own husband takes a hint from Ernie someday and gifts me a Valentine’s Day Duet session to celebrate our love!

Best,

Jenna

This month marks the one year anniversary of Jenna Cole. It was back in late February of 2009 that I attended WPPI and called my husband each night wanting to talk for hours about everything I was experiencing. I was in love, but the previous plan had been for me to wait until I had saved up enough spending money to invest in one on my own. After hearing the excitement and passion in my voice my husband told me it was time to sit down and find a way to find a way to fit a photography business into our family budget. I started buying up equipment, did lots of googling to figure out how to set up a  business, and started taking free sessions to build a portfolio. One year later I’m thrilled to be where I am now and I count myself blessed to have worked with so many fabulous people (in so many different places!).

Each weekday through the rest of March I’ll be posting retrospective posts showcasing some of my favorite photos from my Duet, Engagement, Playdate, Bridal, and Wedding sessions. I’m guessing you will find it as enjoyable as I do to look back on my favorite photos and watch my talent grow. Just think where I’ll be next year!

The first set of images come from the sessions I’ve designated as “Duet” sessions. This is an area of my business that I would really love to see grow in the future, as I can never seem to get enough time with couples of all ages. These couples, either married or dating, but none of them engaged, prove you don’t have to be getting married to book a professional photography session with someone you love spending time with. Couples, siblings, friends… I love Duet sessions!

Jasher and Lindsey are two of my favorite friends, and most definitely the classiest and most stylish couple I know. My husband and I (meaning I came up with the idea and somehow husband got credit as well ) wanted to be economical with our gift budget this year so we chose to offer some of our closest friend here in Dallas a free session with Jenna Cole. It was really fun, and definitely a different challenge than usual, to spend time with friends in this “professional” role. We invited their fur-baby Coco along for the shoot as well and took all of the photos you see around and across the street from their apartment complex. I always say that good photo spots can be found almost anywhere!

I first came into contact with Priscilla and Jay sometime this summer when Priscilla emailed me about a unique work request she had in mind. Their story regarding their wedding photos is a painful and complicated one, involving legal action and many tears, and Priscilla reached out to me wondering if I wouldn’t mind helping her add a little bit of pizazz to the few photos they did receive from their special day. Knowing the background of their previous professional photography experiences I felt even more pressure than usual to deliver beautiful images (and lots of them!) to a couple who could really use a problem-free experience when it came to their total experience with a photographer.

If you or someone you know has also had a negative experience regarding their wedding photos, might I suggest setting up a post-wedding couple photography session to provide something beautiful to hang at home or show to friends and family. The current cultural mindset seems to be that photos are for special occasions, like weddings and graduations, or children and families, but I hope that changes because there are few things I love more than taking pictures of couples in love, married or not.

These two have been married about a year, but they’re still absolutely adorable together. I love the way they interact so naturally in front of the camera.

Jay and Priscilla met through mutual friends, at a George Strait concert. She admits that he was a bit intimidated by her strong personality at first (I think this may have been the reason I didn’t date a whole lot in college either ), but conversing through email eventually turned into friendship, and later a relationship.

This is a newly discovered spot in Deep Ellum, and it instantly became one of my favorites. I love the way this old area of town is constantly revitalized through bright color and unique artwork. That’s why it’s one of my favorite places to shoot in Dallas!

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It’s not just the colorful walls, but the quirky treasures found in the nooks and crannies as well.

The murals are gorgeous, but this light blue wall is my favorite. Wouldn’t you love to paint one of the walls in your house this color?

A quick outfit change and these two were starting to get comfortable. I love this pose they settled into and I’ll be encouraging future couples to give it a try as well.

THAT SHOT!

I think this is my fav shot in front of the American flag wall so far. I always love to use classic poses like dips in this spot, but this is a different angle than I’ve used before. I think the cowboy boots help a bit as well.

Another mom shot to end the post. I’ve been doing that a lot lately, haven’t I?

Priscilla and Jay,

I hope that this experience helped restore some of your faith in my profession. I’m so happy with what we came up with and I hope you are as well. If we both stay in the same state long enough I hope we’re able to work together yet again!

Best,

Jenna

My last session in Washington DC was with a lovely lady I call Mrs. Tiramisu, not because she really likes the dessert (although I’m guessing she wouldn’t turn it down if you offered it to her), but because she wrote for the site Weddingbee with me. I’m Mrs. Avocado, she’s Mrs. Tiramisu, and together we’re two wedding-loving slightly nerdy girls who giggle and squee at the chance to meet in person. I was flattered when the lovely Tiramisu family asked me to do some pictures with them on a Saturday evening in downtown DC.

The shot featured both the Tiramisus and some of their extended family.

Mrs. Tiramisu’s niece having fun with a fountain…

and a momma with another one on the way.

But because my business doesn’t focus on family and kids I’m going spend most of this post showing you shots from my time spent exclusively with Mr. and Mrs. Tiramisu. After a whole year of marriage they’re still giddy in love, my favorite type of love to photograph.

I like men who aren’t afraid to let me get right in their face for a shot I have in mind.

We did these photos in the gardens behind the Smithsonian. It was free (my favorite kind of location to use) and full of nooks and crannies that let us get creative.

THAT SHOT!

A little bit of fun with reflections. If you’re going to do something similar at your own shoot (whether you are the photographer or the subject) remember to make your pose as dramatic as possible.

I try to get individual shots of all of my subjects. Facebook, Twitter, Blogging… who doesn’t want a professional headshot of themselves for one reason or another today?

Basic Edit:

Fine Art Edit:

The light at the end of our session was absolutely fantastic. I’m particularly pleased with those killer expressions on the left, given with hardly any prompting from me.

Emily and Liam I had a fantastic time with the two of you. The purple dress was the perfect wardrobe choice (I believe we have Cupcake to thank for that?) and I really didn’t want this shoot to end. I hope we find a way to meet up again soon!

Best,

Jenna