Beach Wedding at Portage River Walk

Chris and Tabitha have what I call "the gaze".  I spent their entire wedding day with them and it was ever present.  They would just look at each other and the smiling  would begin.  Their love for one another was very apparent.   It showed in both of their families as well.  I'm very grateful for the way they welcomed my assistant and I and the tremendous hospitality shown to us.  

A newly married couple gazes at each other amongst the wildflowers of the Portage River Walk beach front.

Chris and Tabitha's day started out at the Blue Chip Casino hotel where we took a few bride and groom portraits.  A sweet and tender moment occurred as they rehearsed their self written vows to each other in the lobby of the hotel.

The groom poses for his wedding portrait in front of the hotel bar at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City.

The bride smiles as the casino lights of Blue Chip in Michigan City shine behind her.

The bride and groom gaze lovingly at each other as they rehearse their vows at the Blue Chip Casino Hotel in Michigan City.

Due to the extreme heat and for the health and safety of some family members, the ceremony was held inside the Portage River Walk Pavilion that looked out onto Lake Michigan.   Afterwards we took many family photos in addition to wedding party photographs all along the beach front.

A dark and dramatic sky looms over the bride and groom for their wedding photo at Portage River Walk.

The wedding party was fun and easy going enough to climb up on the rocks for me for a unique wedding party group photo.  Thanks guys.  Hope I didn't get you all too dirty!! 

The wedding party climbs atop the rock formation at the Portage River Walk for a group photo.

Time for a spontaneous group hug from the best man and maid of honor.

The best man and maid of honor engulf the bride and groom with a group hug on the beach of the Portage River Walk.

The bride and groom embrace as they look across Lake Michigan imagining their new life together.

The reception was a family affair in every sense with an intimate (and delicious) dinner at Water's Edge restaurant in Michigan City.  Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends - everyone was there.   The night was capped off by the bride and groom dancing in the aisle as friends and family looked on.  Once again they were gazing into each other's eyes.  What a wonderful night!!

The bride visits with her Uncle at her reception dinner at Water's Edge in Michigan City.

An intimate dance by the bride and groom as friends and family look on.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Chris and Tabitha's beach wedding at Portage River Walk.   For more photo updates, please give a like to the Region Weddings Facebook Page and stay tuned to this Journal.beach

Engagement Session at my Crown Point Portrait Studio

As the photographer, it's my job to keep the flow and positive vibes going no matter what type of session I'm doing.  They say the camera looks both ways and since I'm not a sour person I have no problems bringing a littler personality out of my clients.  Maggie and Joe were recently in for an engagement session in my Crown Point studio and they turned the tables on me!!  At one point I had to put the camera aside as they had me laughing so much.  In short, it was a fun session...

A couple laughs it up for a fun engagement photo in a Crown Point portrait studio.

A cute couple poses for an engagement photo in studio.

I will be photographing the fun loving couple's wedding this November and they wanted some nice portraits to display in the lobby of The Patrician where their wedding and reception are being held.  They will also be using a few in video slideshow that will chronicle their lives together.

A bride to be shows off her ring in a studio engagement photo taken in Crown Point, Indiana.

We took a variety of images on simple backgrounds of white, black and blue.  This is merely a sneak peek with many more to come.  I'll end with one where I told Joe to whisper in Maggie's ear which brought a big old cheesy grin to her face.  I can't wait to photograph their big day!!

For more photo updates, please visit the Region Weddings Facebook Page and subscribe to this Journal.

The groom to be whispers into his bride to be's ear during a studio engagement session.

Wedding Ceremony at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church is tucked away amongst the many fields and farms in the southern portion of Valparaiso, Indiana.  I've shot many weddings there with Evan and Stephanie being my most recent.

 

Light rays stream through the windows at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church during a wedding ceremony.

After spending time with bride and bridesmaids taking Getting ready photographs, I will often meet up with groom and his groomsmen at the site of the ceremony for pictures.  I took Evan and his guys to a farm field in back of the church for a Reservoir Dogs like image.  The black and white treatment worked really well for the tough guy look we were going for.

The groomsmen walk in an Indiana field for this black and white wedding photo.

Stpehanie and Evan requested what i call the bride and groom peek-a-boo shot before the ceremony.  It was an emotional, yet fun moment as I placed them on each side of the door while holding hands.   Soon he would be seeing her walking down the aisle in her dress for the first time.

The bride and groom hold hands on each side of a door for their peek-a-boo almost first look wedding photo.

As Stephanie prepared, I was able to sneak in some family wedding photos on the groom's side as guests were arriving...

The groom poses for family wedding photos with his parents and brother.

I always meet with the pastor or priest at any wedding to go over their rules.  At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, the wedding photographer must shoot from the last pews during the ceremony and not fire any flash.  This was no problem as I was able to zoom in on many wonderful candid moments of the bride and groom as well as family.

The bride and groom share a laugh during their wedding ceremony in Valparaiso.

A family member does a reading during the a wedding ceremony at a Valparaiso church.

An important part of capturing photographs at a church wedding ceremony, is showing off the architecture of the building in wide angle shots such as this one.  I love too capture the up close moments as well as the granduer of the wedding day. 

A view from the pews of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Valparaiso, Indiana. 

The bride places a wedding band upon the groom's finger during their church wedding ceremony.

After Evan and Stephanie exited the church amidst a sea of bubbles, we immediately started family photos.

The bride and groom exit the church as family and friends shower them with bubbles.

Formal wedding photo for the bride and her parents.

For this dramatic looking shot, I simply put our beautiful bride on the edge of the altar and shot upwards to reveal the rays of light streaming in through the windows of this wonderful church.   My assistant illuminated the bride with some soft light just out of range of the camera.

A dramatic looking wedding photo of the bride alone at the altar of a Valparaiso church.

For wedding party pictures inside a church, I will organize everyone for an elegant looking photo with the idea that afterwards we will go to another location for some fun group shots.

Wedding party group photo at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

The wedding party has fun on the bridge at Deep River County Park.

I hope you have enjoyed my article on this fantastic church wedding.  for more updates on all types of weddings, please give a like to the Region Weddings Facebook Page.