Jenna Cole Photography-Chicago, IL » Engagement

Teaser: Candice and Brian

Jenna — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:41:43 +0000

I’m shooting the wedding of some dear friends in March. These two are beyond fabulous in front of the camera, and I’m a lucky girl to get to spend an entire day following them around taking their picture next spring.

The only sad thing about this session… it was my last one in Deep Ellum. Actually, it was my last one in Dallas for awhile. I’m really going to miss it here!

A Brenizer method shot. These are so fun to create!

More to come. These two babysat for me twice so I could spend some baby-free time with my husband so I think they deserve some extra special treatment.

Engagement: Denise and Josh

Jenna — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:30:21 +0000

Denise and Josh met me at one of my new favorite spots in Dallas, Dragon Park. They told me they would be bringing their dog along for the session and I quickly realized that this wasn’t just their dog, it was their dog-child. A ball of energy bundled up in a 70 lb English Bulldog named Stanley. It was only natural that Stanley should come, as he was an integral part of their engagement, trotting over to Denise with a box, within a box, within a box, with a ring inside (Josh packaged it up extra secure in case Stanley tried to eat it!). We started this session at Dragon Park and then moved over to the Reverchon Park area to finish the evening.

These two are some of the most relaxed couples I’ve ever met. I won’t be shooting their wedding, as they are heading off to Vegas at the end of July with a few close friends. Denise must love Josh a whole lot because she is letting him get away with no official wedding photographer! I told him that wouldn’t have been something I ever agreed to for my own wedding, but it’s the kind of ceremony and celebration that will be the perfect fit for these two.

They met when Denise was working at a bank. She admits to stalking Josh a bit, waiting for him to come in to work each day. When they ran into each other while out on the town one night. She offered him her phone number, and confided in her friends that very night that she was sure they would get married one day!

Meet Stanley. I didn’t ever offer to hold his leash because I wasn’t sure I could keep him from pulling me over. He’s so big and so energetic!

I am not sure I’ve ever seen eyes as bright and blue as Denise’s are. I assure you, this was not the result of any special photo editing, I’m not even sure my camera really did them justice.

THAT SHOT!

Everyone needs a good quality shot for the newspaper, right?

What did I tell you about those blue eyes?

Denise and Josh,

I so enjoyed getting to know all three of you! Good luck on all of your home building adventures, and if you end up changing your mind about a wedding photographer in Vegas you know right where to find me.

Best,

Jenna

First Anniversary: Engagement

Jenna — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:30:03 +0000

Lucky me, I’ve been able to do more engagement sessions than any other type of session over the past year. I’ve said it many times, and I really mean it… if I could run my business solely on engagement/duet sessions (and maybe a few bridals thrown in there as well!) I would definitely do so. Each location, and the couple I meet at that location, are so unique and I adore the excitement and sweetness that I find waiting for me at each one. A big thank you to the many couples who were willing to give me 2 hours of their life over the past year!

Engagement: Natalie and Jeramy

Jenna — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:02:46 +0000

Natalie and Jeramy were the first engagement session I’ve photographed in months, and the last I’ll do before baby comes. I have this couple to thank for sending me into my maternity leave with a bang, I loved working with them! I’ll see Natalie again in May for her bridal session, and I’ll spend June 11th of this year with both of them as it’s the day they are set to get married!

We did this session at one of my favorite locations, Deep Ellum. I’ve been there several times over the course of my one year career (it’s Jenna Cole’s one year anniversary this month!) and I always find new spots to explore and use when I visit.

They brought their dog Luke along for the photos. I really enjoyed all of the funny faces he made.

Jeramy has a really terrific smile, and he displays it readily.

Love that tongue!

THAT SHOT!

How did I get Natalie to smile like this? At first I asked her to think about her wedding day, which got me a bit more of a nervous smile (I think she still has a lot of planning to do!) The secret? I told her to think about how she’ll feel when the wedding is over and they are getting on the plane for their tropical honeymoon. I think she’s excited about it!

I have a feeling that this is going to become a new favorite engagement photo pose of mine.

SOOC:

Fine Art Edit:

I asked the couple if they wanted to do a “street shot”, dashing out into traffic and grabbing something with a bit of the skyline in the background. We were almost hit by a bus to get this one but we laughed so hard while doing it that I think it was worth it.

I like to try to get at least one headshot of each person at each session. Who doesn’t want a good headshot of themselves to use?

These two got a little bit lovey-dovey as the light faded. This wall used to be electric yellow but I like this green color a lot better. That’s another reason why I love Deep Ellum, the walls are constantly changing and I never know what to expect when I show up with my clients.

Natalie has a beautiful, simple solitare.

As we walked back to the car I decided to have a little fun with the flash I had packed along. For the photogs reading this, these were done with my flash on camera, with a diffuser, and the flash head pointed at about my 2 o’clock, over Natalie’s right shoulder. Thanks to the couple for letting me play a little bit!

Natalie and Jeramy,

I had such a wonderful time with you. Thanks for being patient during my bathroom breaks and all of my moaning and grunting as I hauled my 8.5 month pregnant self up off the ground.

It’s going to be a fabulous wedding, I can tell.

Best,

Jenna

Engagement: Heather + Kyle

Jenna — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:40:44 +0000

This engagement session resulted in some of my favorite images ever. All of the elements seemed to come together perfectly, a darling couple, gorgeous light, and a few expected and unexpected visitors to boot!

Meet Heather and Kyle, aren’t they sickeningly sweet?

This SOOC to Fine Art conversion is one of my favorites ever. I’m constantly working to improve my editing skills, reading up on new tricks and tools to use and I was pleasantly surprised to see the difference between the before and after of this image. My ultimate goal? To capture the best image right in camera, time in and time out. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the magic of Photoshop as demonstrated below!

SOOC:

Fine Art:

These first shots were done in the courtyard of Heather’s apartment complex in Dallas. I always enjoy working in new locations and realizing, once again, that beautiful photos can be created almost anywhere, as long as the light is right!

Color or….

Black and White?

The reason we started at Heather’s apartment complex finally made her appearance. Isn’t she sweet?

Soon this won’t be Heather’s dog, this will be Heather and Kyle’s dog. Both of them. Because they’ll be married!

After spending some time around Heather’s apartment we moved to my all-time favorite shooting location, White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. Remember Daci and Yoni’s engagement session at White Rock way back when? Heather and Kyle’s session made me realize that there isn’t just one peacock wandering around this neighborhood. That day we spotted three grazing in the same yard!

This location can be a hit or miss, as flooding and puddles can be a problem but I’m lucky to be blessed with couples willing to trust my vision and tiptoe through the puddles to find the perfect spot.

The yellow flowers all over the ground matched Heather’s sweater perfectly!

I wish I could say I’m going to be shooting their wedding as well (who wouldn’t want more face time with this couple?). Unfortunately for me they are getting married in Arkansas and had already signed a contact with a local photographer to that area. Lucky guy!

That Shot twice over. I love them both equally, especially when grouped together like this.

So far this shoot has featured a super sweet canine, a trio of peacocks, and now… a horse! Perfectly appropriate for this couple in particular because they met on a dude ranch. She was a waitress in the diner and he was a ranch hand.

I don’t do many sepia conversions but I couldn’t resist with this couple and the horse. So fitting for this particular couple.

Getting that horse to stick his head through the fence and hold still (well, as still as a horse will be) for this kissing shot was surprisingly easy!

These two were about done by this point, but I begged them to head out to the docks at White Rock Lake for some sunset shots by the water.

I took the shot above with the light quickly fading and then the lovebirds and I switched places and I did the shot below. I’ve got steady hands, if I do say so myself.

Heather and Kyle, I look forward to seeing your wedding photos on Facebook in the coming months (yes I admit to Facebook stalking my clients every so often!)

Best,

Jenna

P.S.-Thanks to Ami of Elizabeth Anne Designs for featuring Heather and Kyle’s engagement session on her fabulous blog last week!