Monday, June 29, 2009

Here Comes the Sun...

Playa del Rey, California
I have wanted to shoot an engagement session in Playa since moving here last year. So I was super excited when Roxana and Claudiu came for their portrait session.



Roxana and Claudiu just moved from Ireland and I wanted to get a couple of photos of them surrounded by green.



We walked further and found some flowers.





Tree branches drape over this sidewalk creating the feeling of a magical secret garden.



We found an unused lifeguard tower.



Roxana shows off her gorgeous ring.



And Claudiu chases the seagulls.





Thanks for a fun shoot! I can't wait for your wedding in September!


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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Salt On C

Salton Sea, California
Michael and I went on a day trip and stopped by Salton Sea. I wish we had more time here - we will definitely be going back. Salton Sea is a former resort area, now abandoned. There are still some people living here, but most of the streets we saw had no houses. A ghost town where the dead fish are the ghosts.



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Monday, June 22, 2009

Where is Polka Now?

I promised you another Where's Polka? contest. Here are your 2 photo clues.

First person to leave a comment correctly identifying this place wins. Previous winners not eligible. Good luck!!!



New clue:

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day!


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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Portrait of Big Ben

Chicago, Illinois
Meet Ben. He just turned two. What a perfect day to take some portraits!


Ben is such a cutie! He's super inquisitive. It's so much fun to watch him see everything and take the world in one piece at a time. And he has the best faces! Here's an homage to the Brady Bunch. It would make a great gallery wrap.


I love dramatic panoramic horizontals or verticals as gallery wraps or as a 2-page spread in a photo album. And I love Ben in these panoramics.



Ben was super serious for most of the session. His mom got him to smile for this photo.



It's time for me to say goodbye. Don't cry Ben!

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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Family Portraits

Chicago, Illinois
The best thing about going back to Chicago is seeing my family and friends. I hung out with my super cute cousins Natalie and Sara, and their dog Lucy. I couldn't resist taking some photos while we were playing.


Natalie is the ham...


but Sara can be just as silly.


Lucy is camera shy, but posed for a few photos anyway.


Thank you for a fun time! And thank you to my cousin Ania and Aunt Basia for dinner!

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Monday, June 8, 2009

My Kind of Town

Chicago, Illinois
Here are some of my favorite photos from the Chicago trash the dress sessions last month. Meet the lovely brides: Kirsten, Celeste, Jenni, Katie and Jackie.


I love the early morning light and Jackie's cool shades.



Jenni is The Rocker Bride.



How cool is she?


Not only is Jenni gorgeous, but she has a kick-ass voice. Check out her band One Night Stand on My Space and try to catch one of their shows. Their cover of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game is awesome!



I had so much fun with all of the brides and tried to really capture their essence on camera. Katie is a teacher so the alphabet graffiti was picture-perfect.


Katie is a natural beauty. I love the bare feet in this photo.


Jackie is Hollywood glamour, especially with the shades.




This is my favorite photo of Jackie. The light and shadows are reminiscent of film noir.


Kirsten's strapless wedding gown shows off her gorgeous tattoos.



When we saw this ladder Kirsten rushed over to climb it.


Celeste has a dreamy quality about her.


She reminds me of times past, as if I had seen her in a painting from centuries ago...


or was it Paris in the 20's?


We walk down Michigan Ave. to Agora, an outdoor art installation by Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz. Kirsten and her husband saw this forest of giant legs as they were driving by to meet me and thought it would be fun. I agree!


Isn't this shot haunting? I watch too many horror films, especially bad ones. There's so many good B-movie titles for this shot: Vampire Bride's Revenge or maybe The Third Bride. Cue the scream.


There are so many different ways to photograph these legs.


It is called the Windy City!


Time to go!


Thank you to all the wonderful brides and to my awesome sister Alicja who assisted on the shoots. I had so much fun!!!

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Polka in Chicago!

Chicago, Illinois
I was in my hometown of Chicago for a few shoots. Roxana guessed correctly and identified the lions in front of the Art Institute, one of my favorite museums. She wins a mini album! Stay tuned for more photos from the windy city AND more Where's Polka? contests.

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