lindsay powell photography

Wilder Mansion Reception - Elmhurst IL wedding photographer

John & Amanda had an intimate wedding back in the fall in her hometown.  They chose to hold their reception for family and friends later in the winter after a honeymoon in Hawaii!   Their elegant reception was held at the beautiful Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst, Illinois. 

Bringing in a little bit of her honeymoon, Amanda kept it simple and elegant with orchids, moss, and river stones as table decor, candles lit everywhere.. and my favorite, her portraits!  Since there was ample time between the wedding and reception, she was able to print and frame her wedding portraits to be used in her reception decor on mantles and tables.  Framed in rustic barnwood frames and set among candles, their portraits really made the reception cozy and personal.  If you'd like to do this at your own reception, think about using your engagement portraits, or even staging a bridal/wedding portrait session before your big day! 

 

Congratulations to John & Amanda!

For wedding photography information email lindsaypowellphotography@yahoo.com.

Amanda + John | {libertyville illinois wedding photographer}

Amanda and John had a small, intimate ceremony at her hometown church.  I was so excited to work with them because Amanda shares the same vision for detail, vintage flair, and artistic portraits.  She was a bit concerned about the outdated church colors (think maroon carpet, bright green panels of fabric hanging from the wall, and dark brick).  In these situations I feel it's always best to convert to black and white.  It focuses on the emotion and the subjects and sort of blurs all of that away. 

It was getting dark very fast and we only had about 20 minutes to shoot some portraits as the sun had already set, but shooting just around the church itself worked out great!  The homes in the area were all burning leaves which left this great smokey haze in the background and I really think it adds to the atmosphere!  (Even if we did all smell like burning leaves all night. ha)

Congratulations and lots of love to this gorgeous couple! 

fall wedding beauty | wedding photographer in grayslake, illinois

It was a beautiful day for a late fall wedding in Illinois!  Here's a quick sneak peek of tonight's happy couple!!

Congratulations to John & Amanda!

35 Years | {Lake County, IL Wedding Photographer}

35 years of marriage, what an accomplishment.. but as they told me, they're ready for 35 more!  A planned surprise from their children, they renewed their vows at this beautiful park and left no guest with a dry eye.  They are as fun as they are sweet and it was truly a pleasure to be a part of this special day. 

 

Day After Session | Lake County Illinois Wedding Photographer

What is a "Day After Session?"  This is sometimes also referred to as "Trash the Dress!"   Often times your wedding day is a tightly packed schedule with very little time for wiggle room.  Instead of relaxing and enjoying the moment, you are usually moving from one place to the next, making sure that you hug every guest, spend time with your bridal party, and fit in all the elements of the day.  I highly recommend to every bride and groom to do atleast one of two things:

1.  Have a "first look."  Tradition says that the bride and groom should not see each other before the isle, but that moment can be just as special and actually more intimately captured when it is just the two of you.  The photographer can find a special spot and photograph that moment, giving the two of you some time together on your big day.  These are often the most intimate, highly emotive photos of the day.   However, many want to stick to tradition and that is a-ok!   This is why I also recommend:

2.  Scheduling a "Day After Session" aka "Trash the Dress!"  The next day you are relaxed, the party is over, and it's just the two of you. married.  The sky is the limit with possibilities and we aren't rushed.  We can go to multiple locations, just the two of you, and get those relaxed images that really speak to you as a couple.   Some brides don't mind getting a little messy and want to trash that dress!  Splash through the water at the beach, run through a field holding hands with your new hubby,  etc.  Not your thing?  How about downtown for a contemporary, urban photo shoot?

Lauren & Chris love the outdoors and did their Day After session at a beautiful property owned by a family friend.  Lauren left her hair and makeup to be more natural, and Chris ditched his tux for a purple shirt!   This also gave them some time to take photos with their beautiful kiddos without the distraction of friends and family, and at a time that they were well rested.  It also started raining during the ceremony and this gave them a second chance at those outdoor photos they really wanted! loved it!