Anniversary Photos On Lake Michigan

October 15, 2015 Steve Vansak

Soft, romantic photo of a couple on the beach with Chicago in the background.

Ashley and Cordale decided to return to the scene of the crime for their Anniversary Session. The scene being the shores of Lake Michigan at Marquette Park where we did their engagement session. This time around they had some of the decor from their wedding on display. You can also see some of the wedding photos of the hopelessy in love couple at this link.

Before we set up a picnic area on the deserted beach, we strolled around the Aquatorium and the park area adjacent to it. I wanted to get some natural candid photos of the two lovebirds snuggling and laughing. It didn't take much prompting...

A couple in love share a few laughs at their Anniversary Photo Session.

Now, Ashley and Cordale did something I encourage all clients to do. They brought me cookies!! The delicious sugar high has now made their images at least 10% better than before!! :)

I did skip the wine, but the happy couple stayed as the sun set enjoying their picnic to celebrate their one year as husband and wife. It was great to see them again and I'm so proud that they once again chose me to capture their lives together.

A couple celebrates their one year Anniversary on the shores of Lake Michigan.

High tide rolls in during a one year Anniversary picnic.

Romantic Engagement Photos at Marquette Park Beach

September 4, 2014 Steve Vansak

Romantic kiss along the Marquette Park Lagoon

On my way to Marquette Park beach to photograph Ashley and Cordale, I had sunset photo on my mind. I can't control the weather, but I had a feeling we would have a nice orange hue in the sky at least and that we needed to be ready - sunsets are fleeting.

We began our session along the lagoon at Marquette Park Pavilion. The soon to be married couple kissed romantically with the iconic lagoon bridge in the background. Thank you Mr. Fisherman guy for moving to another spot!! :)

I will be photographing Ashley and Cordale's wedding this November and they wanted to have some beautiful images to display at their reception. I know Ashley was quite taken with my Wedding Wish Books that enable guests to answer questions on various pages with photos of the couple shown throughout. These are more personable than guest books and better for display than giant signing boards. Definitely ask to see a sample at our consultation.

Indiana Dunes beach engagement photo collage.

We were still a good 45 minutes from sunset so we used the wonderful lagoon bridge for some of our images. I love that we were able to capture the Simpsons-esque puffy clouds as the couple relaxed at the top of the bridge.

A couple holds hands atop the Marquette Park lagoon bridge.

The lagoon itself has very reflective water and made for a great, dramatic image as the couple embraced.

A young couple is about to kiss as the sky reflects into the lagoon water at Marquette Park Pavilion.

We took many different photos on our way toward the beach, on the dunes and finally the lakeshore itself. Suddenly I saw the sun starting to dip and we all got into place to not only capture a gloriously shining ray of light in the sky, but also the wonderful light emenating from this warm couple. We had hugs all around after the session and I'm even more excited to photograph their big day later this year.

This is merely a sneak peek with many more romantic engagement photos to come. Subscribe below and follow the Region Weddings Facebook Page for more images.

Sunset engagement photo off of Lake Michigan.

Romantic and Dramatic Black and White Wedding Photos

April 21, 2014 Steve Vansak

A dramatic sky overlooks the newlyweds as they embrace at Willow Harbor Vineyard in Three Oaks, Michigan.

I'm primarily known for the color in my wedding photos as clients tell me this all of the time. The majority of photographs I deliver to my clients are in color. However, black and white can be equally, if not more effective for certain images. For Kelly and Mat's wedding at Willow Harbor Vineyard in Michigan, the sense of drama of the overhead clouds lurking above the bride and groom was better served in black and white. The color version is very striking, but the romance brought out be eliminating the color and adding texture seemed to blend perfectly with the head to head embrace of the newlyweds.

A bride looks out the window of her parent's home just before leaving for her wedding in this sepia toned wedding photo.

The Getting Ready portion of the day is especially well served by black and white and sepia toned images. Jewelry especially can look very old world and make great additions to the wedding album.

The bride's bracelet shown in a sepia toned wedding photo.

The bride looks off in the distance surrounded by Illinois farmland.

Rural landscape scenes can look especially good in black and white. Whenever I decide to take away color in an image I never just simply desaturate for a boring, flat looking photograph. Every element of a black and white photograph has a color within it that can be brightened or darkened as well as texture and sharpening added.

The groomsmen in dark suits are especially good candidates for a high contrast image.

Groomsmen walk along the open farmland in Valparaiso, Indiana.

When I photographed Stacey and Steve's wedding at the old St. John the Evangelist Church in St. John, Indiana certain moments were perfect to bring out the vintage look and feel of black and white. The same thing as they waved from the limo as they exited the the church.

The groom helps the bride up from kneeling during their wedding ceremony at St. John the Evangelist Church.

Bride and groom wave from the limo as they exit their church in St. John, Indiana.

As I was photographing a summer wedding at Centennial Park last year, I wanted the shots we took on the golf course area to not look like a golf course. Don't get me wrong, for some playful shots we accented the golfing and those were great fun, but for the following image I wanted an "edge of the world" look and feel to it. This was best done in black and white. It feels like they are somewhere in a land unto themselves and certainly not a block off of busy Calumet Avenue.

The groom is about to kiss his new bride in this romantic black and white wedding photo.

A little brown tone for Fall is especially nice...

The groom dips his bride in front of Our Lady of Grace Church in Highland, Indiana.

I don't offer any all black and white weddings although I'm open to the idea. However, I do offer The Chicago Sessions for engagement photos. Take a look at that if you are intrigued by an engagement session that has the look and feel of vintage street photography.

I'll leave you with two more black and white images to end today's post. The first is the beautiful Amanda done in an old world sepia tone with dark vignette and a fun one of the entire wedding party taking over the street in Three Oaks, Michigan. I hope you have enjoyed today's look at romantic black and white wedding photographs. I will be sure to post more in the weeks and months ahead as wedding season starts in earnest.

A sepia toned portrait of a bride on her wedding day.

The wedding party takes over the streets in Three Oaks, Michigan.

Fall Engagement Photos at Lemon Lake

October 25, 2013 Steve Vansak

Couple is perched in a tree at Lemon Lake Park in Crown Point, Indiana for their fall engagement photos.

When I discussed engagement photos with Rachel and Dustin, I encouraged them to pick a location that would best portray who they are. As people who enjoy the outdoors and nature, they chose Lemon Lake Park in Crown Point. We took these images on a windy October day hoping for Autumn colors and boy, did we ever get them. When I arrived at the spacious Lake County park, I immediately noticed the deep orange leaves on a nearby tree.

A man smiles toward his fiancé for their Fall engagement photo with a tree with bright orange leaves in the background.

We broke out the fishing poles for a few shots and Rachel joked that it would be funny if they actually caught a fish during the shoot. No fish took the bait, perhaps next time.

A couple fishes on the edge of Lemon Lake.

A couple relaxes on a lake pier with their fishing poles in the foreground.

Nothing beats a lazy afternoon in the park....

A couple kisses all alone on the pier of Lemon Lake in the Fall.

I'm one of those photographers whose a bit of an instigator so I encouarged this leaf fight while staying out of harms way. I'm not sure who won here although I think Dustin got the brunt of it...

An engaged couple has fun throwing leaves at each other during their engagement photo session at Lemon Lake County Park.

A couple playfully rolls around in a pile of leaves during a romantic walk in the park.

I love taking these fun photos of couples, but I also enjoy the romantic images too...

A romantic engagement photo of a couple laying on a blanket at Lemon Lake Park with Fall leaves all around them.

Lemon Lake Park is so vast and we were able to get many different types of scenes ranging from the open sky to a kissing spree deep in the heart of the woods.

A couple embraces between trees and underneath the open sky for an Autumn engagement photo.

A couple in loves kisses romantically while walking in the woods.

We ended our day at the playground where we caught Rachel off guard when the swing decided to take a sudden dip!!

A couple plays on a swing set at the playground of a local park.

For me, it was an incredibly fun session and I think it was for Rachel and Dustin as well . These are just a few of the many images taken at Lemon Lake Park. Stay tuned here and the Region Weddings Facebook Page for more images.