If you have been a client in the past, you know that I usually have a female assistant accompany me at all my wedding shoots and sometimes on engagement photo sessions as well. In addition to holding my lighting and other equipment related duties, they are also there to look after the brides. They will attend to your dress as well as the groom's crooked tie and help me gather up family members for group shots, etc.

Winter is still hanging on in Northwest Indiana so we all had our coats on for a recent training session. I met the girls at Deep River Country Park in Valparaiso to go over what their job will entail fror wedding and portrait sessions in 2011.

Let me introduce the girls one by one.

First up is Amy, who has assisted me on many wedding, engagement and high school senior sessions. She has always done a great job and I'm glad she is on board this year as well. My other assistant from 2010 - Brooke is busy with her own wedding taking place this summer. Congratulations Brooke!!

Our first newbie is Mya. She will be assisting me on the first Chicago Sessions Engagement shoot of the year. She is dressed for the cold, but her warm personality always shines...

Mya is also pictured in the first photo above with with Leslie, who will be on board for Angela and Mike's wedding in Valparaiso, Indiana in April. We intend to have a lot of fun while making some great wedding images this summer.

Next up is one of my favorite baristas - Kristine. She has a friend who is a photographer in Muncie, Indiana and has the distinction of being the only assistant to ever fold up one of my lighting reflectors on the first try!!

Due to a great amount of weddings booked (and more coming) for the year I will have 5 assistants on call for weddings in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and Michigan.

Our final assistant to spotlight is Melissa who is a friend of my family...

So look for us all this summer at various venues around Northwest Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. Chances are you will see a bride and groom or two as well. :) Hopefully no winter coats!!