Michigan City Wedding: Sneak Peek

Natalie and Greg were married just last week in Michigan City.  The above image is from Washington Park beach where the bride and groom huddles up to keep warm.  This is just a sneak peek with many more wedding photos to follow,

The day started out at Bullettes Hair Salon in Chesterton, Indiana with the bridesmaids toasting champagne as our bride Natalie was getting her hair styled.

Natalie's dress was waiting for her at her parent's home in Chesterton which was a flurry of activity with make up and dress and tux fittings, etc.  

The mother of the bride certainly looks happy as she assist her daughter with her wedding dress...

The Catholic wedding ceremony took place at Saint Stanislaus church in Michigan City.  This vintage church has a spectacular view from the balcony...

- click image to enlarge -

The Father of the bride beams with pride as he walks his daughter down the aisle...

We took family photos within the church and then went to Washington Park beach where the groom requested a shot of him and his new bride with the NIPSCO power plant in the background.  The billowing smoke and ominous clouds made for an edgy backdrop for the spiffed up groom and beautiful bride...

- click image to enlarge -

The reception took place at the Senior Center banquet hall within Washington Park.  the groom and his mother share a few laughs on the dance floor...

A little later in the night, the happy couple took to the dance floor surrounded by friends and family.

Be sure to subscribe to this Journal via RSS on the right side of this page and to like SBV Photography on Facebook for more updates and images from Natalie and Greg's wedding in Michigan City, Indiana.

Newborn Studio Portrait Session

- click image to enlarge -

What in the world is going on?!!  Studio baby pictures on a wedding site!!  Well, yes.  Every once in awhile I like to show my studio work here and since my past clients Thomas and Jo have been featured here before in a Chicago engagement session, this was the perfect opportunity to tell their story.

They were married in the Philipines last summer and I was unfortunately unable to photograph their wedding.  However, we had a great time at their winter Chicago Session.

A couple of weeks ago we were about to schedule a pregnancy session at my portrait studio in Crown Point.  On Easter Sunday, baby Kenzo just could not be contained any longer and they told me it was too late for the session - a new baby boy had now entered this world.  I was extremely honored that they chose me to photograph their newborn for the very first time.

The new mom and Dad certainly doted over their new arrival.  The portrait session didn't go uninterrupted though as Kenzo's feeding time came an hour before if you get the drift!!  That's okay, we do request that the baby be fed before hand as the newborns tend to be happier and more calm when they are not hungry.  If a mess occurs, that's life!!  Besides, it was Dad who got sprayed and not the photographer!!!

Only two weeks old, Kenzo's little hands are something to see next to his parents...

The image we were striving to get was the resting baby in a white basket surrounded by multi colored yarn ( he loved to grab that stuff).  It was a lot harder than it looks, but after several tries and a lot of patience, we finally got what we wanted.

Congratulations and a big thank you to TJ and Jo for bringing their bundle of joy to my studio to photograph.  Can't wait for the one year images next Easter!!

Back to more brides and grooms starting tomorrow!!

- click image to enlarge -

Wedding Ceremony at St. John the Evangelist

- click image to enlarge -

Stacey and Steve were recenty married at Saint John the Evangelist Church in Saint John, Indiana.  This vintage, old church on Route 41 has some amazing architecture.  The bride and groom's family and friends filled the pews as the excited bride walked down the aisle with her parents on each arm.

Catholic ceremonies tend to give me enough time to take shots from all vantage points, like this photo of the wedding party all lined up off of the altar taken from the balcony of the church.

- click image to enlarge -

Although most Catholic churches have restrictions on where the photographer can shoot from and external lighting is prohibited, classic wedding photos can be obtained.  The area where the bride and groom were praying was cloaked in darkness, but by shooting a silhouette and then adding some toning and vignette in post production, I was able to produce one of my favorite ceremony picture below.

The same technique was applied to this image of the groom assisting his bride off of the pews and back to the altar.

The focus isn't always on the bride and groom as this selective color image of the bridesmaids illustrates.

The sleepy flower girl was too cute to pass up.  She and the groomsmen get the vintage treatment on this wedding photo.

The bride and groom smile as one of their readers says a few words at the podium...

- click image to enlarge -

The bride and groom made a fake getaway in the limousine before coming back in for formal family photos inside the beautiful church.  Check back soon for images from the formals of Stacey and Steve's Spring time wedding.

For more wedding images on the go, fire up the mobile browser on your iPhone, iPad or Android device and download the free Region Wedding Mobile App:

Download the free Region Weddings Mobile App:
http://moblalbum.com/124/gallery/1495  

More Engagement Photos from Downtown Crown Point

- click image to enlarge -

Michele and Nick ordered a large 16x20 Wall Print of the above image to display at their wedding reception this June.  As I had them outstretch their arms toward the Courthouse shoppes sign, they had no idea I would be placing their wedding date within the sign itself.  I saw the look of surprise as Michele watched their highlight video of the engagement session we did in the Crown Point Square.

We had discussed before hand of doing a lot of vintage scenes in the old downtwon area.  For the image below, we went for an antique effect of the young couple kissing with the old courthouse for a backdrop....

The bride to be really liked the idea of strolling around window shopping.  We did this engagement photo shoot on Easter Sunday so we practically had the Square all to ourselves.

The courtyard across from the old courthouse was empty and the couple embraced as we waited for the occasional car to pass by out of frame.

- click image to enlarge -

We had a nice dramatic sky as the sun began to set.  Once again, a couple in love with the streets of Crown Point all to themselves.  Okay, a photographer with an assistant and a lighting rig as well.  Doesn't mean it was any less romantic!!  :)

The south east corner of the Square has a great little mini park in front of the What's the Scoop ice cream shop.  Perfect for some vintage looking, couple on the park bench type of photography.  This one has an early 1970's vibe to it.

As you can see from this street sign, I'll be seeing Michele and Nick again on June 9th for their wedding. Looking forward to a fun day with a terrific couple.