Fine Art Wedding Photography by DWP

Introducing Rachel, our new Studio Manager

We're thrilled to announce that we've hired a new studio manager - Rachel. She's originally from Boston via the wilds of western Massachusetts. In Boston she studied Photography with concentrations in Fine Art Black and White Photography and Digital Arts (one of the many characteristics that made her a uniquely good fit). Upon moving to Chicago, she came to the realization that she found much more satisfaction in reading about photographs than actually taking them and decided to go back to school, earning her BA in Art History. She is passionate about preserving old photographic processes, Art Nouveau, and discovering delicious places to eat and drink in Chicago. 

A Brief Sabbatical

Every year Nancy and I try to take a break from everything we do at DWP to take some time to focus on other creative projects that might get put on the back-burner during our normally busy work year. Aside from actually giving us time to complete those projects, these sabbaticals also give us time to focus more on the things that inspire us and our work: poetry, travel, books, films, and the company creative people. 

All this is to say, that we might be a little slow in answering your call or emails, updating our blog, and otherwise attending to business until after April 22nd. However, we promise to come back with some exciting news, new people, new products, and a bunch of new blog posts from shoots in places as diverse as Dallas, San Francisco, Boston and Paris.

A Wedding at The Ivy Room | Ernie + Agnes

We love shooting in the suites at the Trump both because of the beautiful natural light that streams in from the huge windows, and the stunning views of downtown Chicago. Initially I shot this as a silhouette, but as I continued to watch the moment unfold, I was drawn to Ernie’s reflection in the window which creates this sort of bridge between the foreground and background. 

When I’m not shooting from 3 blocks away, I’m usually shooting really close to fill the the frame with the action, but I really like how Nancy uses the space in this frame to give atmosphere to a really emotional story. Ernie is overcome upon first seeing his bride, and looks away to try and stop his tears. The gold light on the pillars adds to the warmth of this moment. 

We found this wall in an alley, and though we have no explanation for the mysterious painted squares, Nancy used it as contrast to Agnes’ movement. I also love the movement and flow of her dress in this shot.

When you meet Agnes, the first thing you notice about her is her eyes. We had to capture that. A simple composition, good light, and no discernible background is all it takes sometimes - oh and a beautiful subject. 

At dusk, the Ivy Room’s courtyard becomes this hidden enclave full of greens, and blues, and warm yellow light that causes you to forget everything but that moment, then and there.

I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of photography’s magic ability to freeze time and show us moments we’d miss otherwise.

This picture is special to me because of what was going on at the moment. The band was playing, friends were doing shots, and talking, and dancing, and in the middle of all of that, this quiet space just opened up and he kissed her, and the world was still for the 1/30 of a second it took to make this photo.

Event coordinator: Rachel De Marte

Venue: The Ivy Room

Music: SWAY Chicago

Florist: Event Creative

 

Click here to view the full gallery of favorites.

 

Destination Engagement Session in Paris | Dena + Zach

Dena and Zach couldn’t decide if they would rather have Paris or Chicago as a backdrop for their engagement pictures, and so they simply chose both. They had been planning a trip to Paris before booking us, and decided to have us capture their time there. We spent a beautiful afternoon (is the light always this perfect there?) and evening shooting along the Seine, and then in Le Marais.

Cesare Pavese, an Italian novelist and poet, who’s influenced in many ways, wrote: “we don’t remember days, we remember moments.” While we didn’t literally document their whole stay in Paris, we hope these pictures capture what it felt like for Dena and Zach to be in love, in Paris, one winter before their wedding. As a photographer it’s strange to say this, but I don’t care what Paris looks like, I care what it feels like. I hope they can show these pictures to their friends and family and say “that’s what it felt like.”

How they met:
Dena and I have known each other for the past eleven years as I have been friends with her twin brother since the start of high school. We dated a little bit at the end of high school and the beginning of college, but we officially were on the path to wedded bliss when Dena was living in Charlotte after college. While staying in touch for a number of years and talking almost daily for a couple of weeks, we had a rather stressful night over our distance apart. I summed up all of my courage, and probably all of my money at the time, and bought a plane ticket to Charlotte for that night. I boarded my flight at 6:00am, got to her apartment by 10:30 and we never looked back from there. 
The proposal:
Dena’s birthday fell in the middle of the week and I had gotten her a couple of smaller gifts telling her that I wanted to make her birthday special and celebrate a little each day with little gifts that would get better as the week went on. It started with a birthday card on Monday, a Lululemon outfit on Tuesday, and a mini J Crew shopping spree on Wednesday…to which Dena told me “I don’t know how it’s going to get better than this”. On Thursday, after having to sit through the longest meeting of our lives, we went back to our apartment where I told Dena that I didn’t have time to wrap Thursday’s gift so she had to close her eyes. I went and got the ring, telling her that Thursday’s present was something I knew was only for her…I asked her to marry me, and after hugs, tears and kisses…she said yes! 

 

A portrait session | Erin + Jeff | Chicago

Though I work in a lot of high-pressure situations, I think shooting for another photographer is at the top of that list. At the same time, being asked by photographers to make photos of them is one of the most fun and validating experiences I've had. So I was obviously really excited (and quite nervous) when Jeff and Erin Youngren, a renowned husband-and-wife team asked us to make their portrait. Even more fun was that they requested we only deliver B&W photos from the session. Erin then decided to really put me to the test by wearing a wonderful burnt-siena coat which contrasted so perfectly with the water and sky. (That might have forced me to deliver some photos in color). 

Erin and Jeff were also the first of three different couples this year that we’ve gotten to do two sessions with in two different cities. So watch for the second session in the coming weeks.

These are some of our favorites from the session:

How they met:

I was the hot freshman librarian on campus working at the circulation desk in the university library and Jeff was a nerdy biology major always studying in the corner. He spent a few months checking out super smart, thick, spiritual books until he finally got the nerve to ask me out. 

The proposal:

A girlfriend of mine took me to a fancy hotel for a 'walk' where Jeff was waiting on a balcony overlooking the place that I first said "yes" to be his serious girlfriend. I, however, didn't realize that it was my Jeff that was on the balcony and only saw a random guy in the corner. I immediately thought that I was ruining this poor dude's proposal and that his real girlfriend was going to show up at any second. 

I turned and ran away down the hotel hallway. Jeff ran after me. He called my name. I turned around- felt instantly stupid- burst into tears. He led me to the balcony and proposed.