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

Sandra and Andrew made my day (week even!) when they contacted me about the possibility of a double engagement session, which meant twice the amount of time spent with an awesome couple, and to make it even more exciting, they wanted to end their session at the Texas State Fair, a venue I was really hoping to shoot at this year. Thanks to Sandra and Andrew I got my wish!

We started out at The Shops at Legacy in Plano and I think Andrew was feeling a bit camera shy.

After a little bit of encouragement from me (and a new angle so I could see his face better) we were on our way to getting beautiful portraits of not just lovely Sandra, but Andrew as well!

There was some kind of festival happening just behind them in this shot, which helped keep the mood light and fun.

THAT SHOT!

This was the kind of spot where I just couldn’t stop taking the photos. The light was wonderful and these two really settled into some great poses. The best interaction between subjects is always client led.

We were worried about spending too much time at the Shops and missing all of the light at the Fair so we hopped in the car and drove down to downtown Dallas. We were all pretty hungry by the time we got there so we indulged in a “Corny Dog”. I haven’t indulged in a corn dog in a very long time and so I was practically drooling in between takes. Sandra and Andrew were nice enough to give me a break and let me munch on one of own for a few minutes as well.

The swan, the swan! I love that swan behind them almost as much as I love the look on Sandra’s face and that pretty backlight.

Super cheesy but I couldn’t resist.

These two have known of each other since elementary school, but they didn’t spend much time together until they both worked on the high school newspaper together. She was the editor in chief and he was the slacker who only signed up for the class to spend more time with this then-girlfriend. Last Halloween they ran into each other at a party and the connection was made. When I asked them what really describes them as a couple one of the phrases they used was “friends-till-the-end”. These two know they can count on each other for anything.

I saw these pumpkins and just couldn’t resist. What is it with photographers and directing clients to hold items up in front of their faces?

I tried to use a few different processing techniques with the next three photos to try to give the shots a different “look” for the location. Sometimes I do processing that’s a little bit different than my usual style but clients always get the Basic Edit as well, just in case they don’t prefer what I came up with!

Although this isn’t my favorite from the entire session, it is my favorite from the time spent at the Fair. By the way, shooting people on a moving carousel when you are out on the pavement is really hard! Those rides move so fast, I haven’t had that much fun trying to get a shot in a long time.

As the light flitted away the rides lit up. I didn’t have a flash with me so I placed these two in the most well-lit spot I could find, held my breath, and hoped I could hold my camera steady enough for some clear shots.  I think the resulting colors and lights in the background are beautiful!

I’m so sad to say I won’t be shooting their wedding, occurring in Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mexico, Sandra’s birthplace. Why not? Because they are getting married on my baby’s due date! We’re both going to have more than enough to celebrate that week and I wish them the best in the rest of their planning and married life.

Sandra and Andrew,

I LOVED brainstorming this shoot with you, and watching everything come to life the day of. Many thanks for your creativity and especially your willingness to spend a little money to get some fun shots at the Fair (I still can’t believe how much everything costs at that thing!). I was so sad to see the sun go down that evening. I had a great time with you and I wish you all the love and happiness you deserve together.

Best,

Jenna

Janie and Ryan were my last session in New York City, a session that almost didn’t happen due to icky weather and busy schedules. After a rainy Friday (the session I posted right before this one with Josie and Florian was done that night) we decided to move things from Saturday morning to Tuesday, the day I was leaving town. They agreed to wake up extra early to squeeze the shoot in before work, and my frist-trimester-pregnant-self secretly celebrated the extra sleep I was going to get on Saturday after a long day of flying!

By the time their session arrived I was an old pro at navigating the subway/bus system in NYC and had some time to sit at the central park entrance and watch the joggers go by while I ate my breakfast. What dedication those New Yorkers have! Do you think I would be better at exercising each day if I lived next to Central Park? Probably not, but it’s fun to pretend that would be the case. While all of those dedicated runners were working hard and sweating like mad, Janie and Ryan and myself were having an easy, playful time making our way through Central Park, laughing and smooching all the while (they were laughing and smooching, I was just smooching).

We started out trying to catch the attention of some ducks swimming nearby. Morsels from my half-eaten granola bar wasn’t enough to tempt them so we gave up and focused all of our attention on taking pretty pictures instead.

Like this one!

Janie and Ryan are a match.com success story, and Janie has titled her bride blog “Matched Love”. Cute!

They’re getting married on April 17, 2010 in Brooklyn, New York. The only thing missing from the photo below is their fur babies, Barley and Zoey. I love shooting with peoples pets, but it’s also nice when they are left at home because it gives the couple a chance to focus only on each other.

This shot is a bit busy for my tastes, but I like the way it gives some insight into their relationship. I haven’t pulled this move on someone since high school, but I think I’m going to have to pull one on my husband soon!

THAT SHOT!

Which one? I don’t care, you choose.

This is my husband’s favorite. I’m always a suck for the sun flares as well.

Those three birds at the top of the frame crack me up.

My favorite part of any session is when we’re almost through (not because my time with the couple is up, of course!) because everyones feeling much more relaxed and the couple really let their personalities shine.

Today we’ll end with a “mom shot”. Straight on, smiling faces, both looking right at the camera. I try to get a few of these at every session because “if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”. Same thing goes for Grandmas as well.

Janie and Ryan, I’m glad we could make this session work, with all of the dreary wet weather New York City was having that weekend. Good luck with the rest of your planning, I know from experience that the big day will come faster than you could have imagined. You two are wonderful, thanks for working with me.

Two weeks after I was in Washington DC, I flew up to New York for a Weddingbee party. Why am I such a lucky girl, able to fly all over the country? My husband thought it was a great idea for me to go *if* I could fund my trip with photography sessions booked for the time I was there. I agreed with these conditions, begged the internet for sessions (you might remember a post on here where I noted my travel dates and asked for referrals!), and booked my ticket!

I’m a little farm girl from central Washington so the entire adventure was rather humorous. I relied 100% on my beloved iphone to get me all over town, and tried my best to avoid the scary parts of town when I was carrying around my camera equipment. I had to make the most of my time because I was only there for a few days, so when I showed up on Friday night I was really bummed at the thought of canceling. Luckily Josie and Florian were more than willing to play in the bad weather, and we found some beautiful spots down around the DUMBO area. They brought a big pink umbrella, some creative ideas for poses, and were more than willing to throw the umbrella out of the way for a few shots and really get into things. The sessions was short because I wound up getting a leeeeeetttle bit lost on the way there, but we ended up getting some beautiful stuff nonetheless!

All credit for this shot goes to Josie, I adore it and have used it several places already. It’s so nice when clients offer up suggestions, letting me focus on getting the best composition/exposure I can instead of worrying about posing them creatively.

I was worried this one would come out cheesy, but I kind of like the “hands in each other’s pockets” pose. What do you think?

The rain in their hair looks a bit like frost, doesn’t it? Josie is awesome for letting me put her out in the rain with no cover for a few shots. I would have been holding my hands above my head trying to protect my hair the whole time.

The light disappeared all too quickly and so we were forced to get creative for the last few shots working with slow shutter speeds and very steady hands in the near dark.

It’s always fun to see random effects like this being produced in-camera. A big thank you to these two for throwing their umbrella and dashing out into the middle of a busy Brooklyn street in an attempt to get the shots above and the shot below.

Enjoy planning your wedding you two. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me!

Best,

Jenna

A 1940’s style engagement shoot is the perfect day-before-Halloween post, don’t you think? This shoot was the first of my Washington DC sessions and it really only worked out after a Duet I had scheduled fell through because of the husband’s works schedule. At that point a deposit had been made (and my trip was scheduled only when I determined that I could pay for it with the money I made while I was there) and so I was hoping the client could come up with something other than cancellation. Boy oh boy she did!

Dan and Michelle are the fabulous couple you see pictured below. They are planning a vintage-esque March wedding just outside of Washington DC that any photographer would be lucky to photograph (did you know photographers love clients who get creative, whatever type of session they might be having?) and I count myself lucky to be the one who photographed their engagement session.

Michelle and Dan met at a Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie night and they share a love for art, design, and cheese. Basically these two are oozing stylish and cool from every pore.

Interesting fact: Michelle found this veil/hat combo at a thrift store, originally in white. She took it home and spray painted it to create this fabulous black creation you see below! I was so impressed!

Dan was giving me the BEST faces. I may have pumped his ego up a bit too much because I couldn’t stop gushing about how natural he was in front of the camera!

THAT SHOT!

As you might imagine, historic buildings with interesting details aren’t hard to find in the DC area. Dallas has nothing like this.

The tie clip kills me every single time I scroll past this picture. What fantastic attention to detail!

I believe they will be using this photo for their Save The Date cards. I’m so excited to see what Michelle comes up with for the design, and I’ll be asking if she minds me doing a follow-up post so I can share it here!

Big thanks to Dan and Michelle for being such cool cats and giving me the opportunity to add shots of this unique style to my portfolio. I hope to have more clients like you in the future. Good luck hunting down the victrola and classic getaway car for the wedding!

Best,

Jenna

Mary contacted me with an interesting proposition. She wanted me to photograph both her bridal shower and her engagement session at the Stoneleigh Hotel in Dallas. On the same day. Back to back. “Great idea!” I told her, and it was, since it gave me the chance to grab my best ring shot yet.

You know Mary’s wedding is going to be exquisite when even the bridal shower is filled with picture perfect details. I love brides with an eye for detail! (As I was one myself, it’s fun to work with kindred spirits.)

Mary and her momma.

The entire group in attendance that day.

Just as the party was breaking up John made his appearance and the engagement session began.

Mary and John started a business together,  a boutique public relations agency called MPL Public Relations. I think anyone who can survive the stresses of running a business together knows how to make a marriage work as well.

When asked what attracted the two of them to each other the response was “I thought he/she was hot.”

These two love to travel. John proposed in front of the Basilica Notre Dame in Montreal. Romantic, no?

I like to try to take an individual portrait of each client at each session. It’s a good chance for a quality Facebook profile photo.

SOOC!

And the edited version.

I went for something a bit out there and dramatic with this one.

THAT SHOT!

This shoot was a challenge for me because I didn’t have as many outside locations to work with, plus we wanted to make use of the Stoneleigh decor however we could. I didn’t want to use my flash (something I usually avoid at all costs) and so I experimented with a video light and reflector, taking my shutter speed as low and my ISO as high as I dared. I really liked how it made their skin glow.

Happy wedding week John and Mary! Thank you so much for giving me the chance to work with you. Mary I can tell you’ve learned a lot from all of your time spent watching America’s Next Top Model. I wish you both the happiness you deserve. (And if Jenna Cole ever starts making money I know where to go if I need a brand makeover!)

Best,

Jenna