This company's corporate events were the bookends to my pandemic lockdown experience. In late 2019 I photographed their holiday party at 1959 Kitchen & Bar inside The Second City. It was the last big gig I did before the world went into lockdown. Then in the summer of 2021 I photographed their annual Air & Water Show party at Offshore Rooftop & Bar at Navy Pier. It was my first time working with a large group of people after the world opened back up again.
Approach
For the holiday event I took a team photo in front of the venue, candids of the event and portraits of all the guests. For the air and water show party I took a team photo showcasing the venue, group shots of the guests and some food photos.
The Air & Water Show Party - Offshore Rooftop & Bar at Navy Pier
Holiday Party - 1959 Kitchen & Bar at The Second City
Weddings aren't normally in my repertoire, but this couple was planning something right up my alley. They were hosting an intimate gathering of friends and family in a relative's beautiful backyard garden. They were referred to me by their friend, a baker whom I had worked with through another client who also happened to make their wedding cake.
Approach
I started the day with the bride as she did her hair and makeup. Then I headed over to the venue to get some detail shots. There were so many special and unique things about this wedding! The mother of the bride had made an amazing macrame arch for the ceremony. As I arrived, the mother of the groom was literally picking flowers from the garden for the center pieces. There was a tomahawk throwing area rather than a dance floor. Family heirlooms adorned all the little intimate spaces throughout the yard. I photographed guests arriving and then the ceremony. They say rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck. If that's true, then this couple is swimming in it. Right after the ceremony, a thunderstorm swept the area and we all crammed inside a tent to ride out the downpour. After some touching speeches were made during the storm, the sun came out and we did some portraits and group shots in the garden. I finished the day getting some epic tomahawk throwing shots.
