For me..but also for you.

Sometimes, I just need to shoot and edit images that are just for me. When my niece Taylor is around, those are the times. Taylor has had my camera in her face from the moment she was born. She has been my perpetual project and it seems that she will be surpassing my record for Bullis baby with the most baby pictures and she's only two. This is confirmed by my Lightroom collection that's at 535 and there are even negatives that I haven't scanned in yet.

So, today, here are some pictures for me, but also for you, because I like to share.

*See these photos and more on H|Photography's Facebook Page!*

The Paetzolds and Pavliks

A couple weekends ago I packed up my camera gear and made a trek to Yorkville, IL to see some of my cousins. I don't get to see my cousins very often, but when I do, it's a guaranteed blast! My cousins, Andy and Megan are no strangers to this blog, either! (You may remember them from a family shoot I did for their son, Sam's, first birthday! (Also here on Facebook))

Back in December when I launched my Christmas promo, Megan was one of the first of my clients to jump on the deal, along with Sam's godmother, Erica, and her family! So it was a double family shoot, four parents, and four kids!!  I was so excited to see all of them again!

We decided schedule the shoot around the warmer months, We chose May and the infamous Illinois weather pushed us into June, and even threatened to rainout our rain date shoot with hail and pouring rain. But, the clouds parted and we had a great session with lovely changing light and even some powerful clouds for a background. Best of all, we had the fading sun to cast a gorgeous warmth over everyone! I just loved it!

Thank you, Paetzolds and Pavliks, for sticking out the weather with me!! I had one of the most enjoyable shoots ever! You all are just awesome!

Here are some of my favorite photos of the day. Be sure to checkout more on Facebook and leave comments as well!

CS Brides

So I'm sure I've mentioned, more than once, that there are things in the works for H|Photography. Lots of things... One of which, was Elise Hofer, Editor of Chicago Social Brides, contacting me weeks ago about using one of my images in their Fall/Winter Issue. The photo would supplement an article about Kitchen Chicago. They thought my images, from the Oprah Bride Tasting with Pure Kitchen Catering, showed off the space rather well. Well, I've been published!! I am a newcomer at such things and I am very excited!! As I'm sure you can tell by the many, many, exclamation points... :) Anyway, below is a screen capture of the article, but if you visit CSBrides and flip to page 96 you can read the full article.

Yet ANOTHER project

In one of my summer classes - History of the American Working Class - we are making a music video to benefit the Congress Hotel maids who have been striking for almost 8 years because they are making little over $8 as non-union workers, while the union maids at other hotels are making almost $15. Quite an injustice!

We are using all of our talents to Produce, direct, film, photograph, and publicize this music video, and when it is finished, we will be sending it to the president.

To quote my teacher, we are making history!

Here are a couple behind the scenes photos which I took when our class went to the Congress to talk with the strikers and learn more about them. Eventually, I will post the actual video.

Sneak Peek! Language Stars Chicago

I did a recent project with Language Stars Chicago, an immersion learning center which has locations all across Chicagoland. I had a ton of fun photographing the kids and their teachers!


More about all this to come, but for now, here are a few pictures!

What to say when you have nothing to say...

If you follow my Facebook fan page, you probably already know that I didn't know what to blog about today. I've been pretty involved with summer school and the holiday, this past monday, that I didn't have time to prepare anything for my weekly post.

So, I guess, I'm technically winging it, because I promised myself that, as long as I had time away from school projects, I would blog every Thursday, no exceptions! And here I am, blogging and therefore behaving.

Something very random happened to me today. I headed over to our campus Starbucks to pick up a "Grande Raspberry Passion Tea." Usually, I hit Dunkin Donuts for coffee, but today I wanted to be awake for class, rather than jittery. Anyway, as soon as I walked in I saw a teammate from my a junior high soccer team behind the counter. I guess that's not that random, considering we're only 45 mins from our hometown, but still a little crazy.

I remember her for always having the coolest hairstyles. One time, her mom did her hair with mini fishtail ponytails forming what looked like a crown or a headband. I always wished I could have my hair done the same way... I even tried a couple times, but my hair was always too frizzy for all that intricate stuff. She was so cool, and she was a really good soccer player too.

Surprisingly, she remembered me too, mostly because of my name (I always knew it would come in handy for something....), and we had a bit of a chat. I had seen her around campus so I knew she went to Columbia, and found out that she is a Marketing Communications major, similar to what Yassine does. Funny - I'm surrounded by Photographers and Marketers... Everywhere I turn, there's one or the other!

So, that's my post of the day - Moral of the story, when you don't know what to say, head to Starbucks! You'll be sure to find something!  How's that for logic? ha!

Now I'm left dreaming about fun hair styles...

Check these images I found on Pintrest from Hair Romance!