Outdoor May Wedding At Briar Ridge Country Club

May 8, 2018 Steve Vansak

Romantic kiss hillside at Briar Ridge Country Club.

It was warm and sunny for Sheri and Ryan's May wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club in Schererville, Indiana. It was also Cinco de Mayo!! However, the main theme of the day that I noticed right from the start was laughter and family....

Mother of the bride looks on as her daughter has her veil put in place.

Groom prep for a May wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Sheri and Ryan had an audience of friends and family as they had their first look. It was a wonderful coming together moment. We then spent the afternoon taking bride and groom portraits and fun wedding party pictures.

The reveal for the bride and groom at Briar Ridge.

The bride and groom take a romantic stroll up a hill.

Fun bride and bridesmaids photos on the golf course at Briar Ridge.

Wedding party during a May wedding at Briar Ridge.

Goofing off with friends and family on wedding day.

As we made our way around the sun filled golf course, many congratulations were sent the newlyweds way from the players.

The sun shines down upon the bride and groom at Briar Ridge Country Club.

A romantic gaze in a vintage tone for the bride and groom.

Wedding pictures at Briar Ridge in Schererville, Indiana.

The ceremony saw an SRO crowd cheer on the couple. Sheri's father escorted her down the aisle as Ryan watched in earnest.

The groom watches his bride walk down the aisle with her Father by her side.

Joyous laughter during a May wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Reception detail photos at Briar Ridge Country Club.

The reception featured some knock out speeches from two small members of the wedding party and the taco truck later in the evening was a big hit.

A May wedding reception at Briar Ridge Country Club in Schererville, Indiana.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Sheri and Ryan's May wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club. Please fill out the Contact Form to inquire about your big day.

Spring Wedding At Briar Ridge Country Club

April 30, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom beneath a sun star at Briar Ridge Country Club.

I spent a lovely day with Rachel and Matt at Briar Ridge Country Club for their Spring wedding. Rachel had her hair and makeup done alongside her mom, daughter and sister and we caught up with Matt getting prepped just before the couple's big reveal.

Bridal prep at Jay Marie Salon and Briar Ridge.

The bridal suite at Briar Ridge Country Club.

It was a stunning dress for a stunning bride and now Matt was about to get a glimpse of both as we did the couple's first look outside the clubhouse at Briar Ridge Country Club in Schererville, Indiana.

Close up portraits of the bride and groom at the piano.

Excitement was building as Rachel came around the corner to take a peek at Matt waiting for her. My assistant commented how much she could tell these two were in love. It really showed in their embrace and the passion as they came together to kiss.

First look for the bride and groom at Briar Ridge golf course.

The wedding party then came out to be with them, including Anna and her baseball bats. :)

Wedding party at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Wedding pictures of the bride at Briar Ridge Country Club.

The groom kisses his bride in the shade on the golf course.

The bride and groom walk into the sun on the golf course at Briar Ridge.

I knew the wedding ceremony was about to start when I saw the flower girl / grandmother of the bride enter the building. The ceremony with officiant Dr. Chickie Wolfe was moved indoors due to chilly temperatures despite all the sunshine streaming in through the windows. As you will see below, Rachel and Matt literally tied the knot.

The bride enters the ceremony at Briar Ridge.

Indoor wedding ceremony at Briar Ridge Country Club.

The reception decor was incredibly simple and elegant. DJ Shaun Kelly had a lit monogram on the ceiling as guests entered the lobby.

Wedding reception decor at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Fun times on the dance floor for a Spring wedding at Briar Ridge in Schererville.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Rachel and Matt's Spring wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club. To inquire about wedding photography for your Northwest Indiana, Michigan or Chicago wedding, please fill out the Contact Form. Happy Spring!!

Windy City Engagement Session

April 16, 2018 Steve Vansak

Chicago engagement portrait on the Chicago River.

I had a terrific Spring day with Erika and Mitchell in Chicago for their engagement session. The wind was actually unusually calm for Chicago until we brought out their wedding date sign and then whoosh, typical Windy City!! :)

We started out taking some street portraits with Erika's lovely skirt on display with the urban background.

When we arrived at the Chicago Theater, it was lights, camera, action...

Movie themed engagement photos in Chicago.

We definitely wanted to get a Chicago cityscape shot with their Save the Date wedding banner. This is when our wind kicked in, but with a little patience we got the 10-20-18 to display. The iconic skyscrapers of Chicago of course, are always a breathtaking backdrop.

Save the date wedding banner on the Chicago lakefront.

Romantic engagement photos along the lakefront in Chicago.

Mitch just happened to have some Chicago Bears jerseys in his duffle bag (wink-wink), so why not stop by Soldier Field for some football themed engagement pictures. It was literally 71 degrees and sunny as we took our first photo and then suddenly without warning, a swirling wind came off the lake and it was 60 degrees with clouds. Ah Chicago - you are beautiful, awesome and unpredictable!!

Engagement portrait in front of the columns of Soldier Field.

Football themed engagement photos in front of Soldier Field.

After some quick football practice we were back downtown and ready to board the train back to Indiana.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Erika and Mitchell's Chicago engagement photos. Be sure to fill out the Contact Form to inquire about your own wedding and engagement photos in Chicago, Northwest Indiana and beyond.

Women's Fashion At The Uptown Center For Performing Arts

April 13, 2018 Steve Vansak

Alex W. modeling the Billowing Clouds Gown

I'm a full time photographer and 90% of what I do is weddings in and around Northwest Indiana, Chicago and southwest Michigan. Part of the other 10% of my photography is shoots like the recent fashion session I did at one of the great wedding venues in the area, the Uptown Center in Michigan City. To see a recent wedding I've shot in this spectacular venue, go here.

For this fashion themed shoot, we not only wanted to show off the grand ballroom but also the bar / cocktail area in which I hear cool jazz playing in my head when I see it. Our lovely model Alex donned the Billowing Clouds Gown with it's sheer fabric and low cut v-neck - perfect for sipping wine and waiting on a friend.

Sipping wine at the bar of The Uptown Center For The Performing Arts.

The Billowing Clouds Gown is much like it's name - charmeuse and long layers of chiffon fabric for creating a soft flowing look. I made sure to take some shots to show off the low scoop back.

Red walls, red wine and a beautiful model in a soft, flowing gown.

Fashion photos along the wall of mirrors at Uptown Center.

The nightclub, ballroom atmosphere of The Uptown Center was the perfect setting to break out some fog and show off our model in the midst of it. We had some old school Prince music playing in the room for inspiration.

A gorgeous model in a chiffon gown surrounded by fog.

On stage at The Uptown Center For Performing Arts.

Showing off the long, flowing gown on the stage during a fashion photo shoot.

Another outfit on display was the Scarlett Obsession - a strapless, heart shaped neckline with a deep v-cut, high waist ballgown with a monarch length train. The beaded sequined lace embellished bodice spills over onto the tulle skirt. It made for a stunning contrast against the elegance of Uptown Center. The balcony seemed like a great place to show off the venue and the train of this gown.

Scarlett Obsession in the balcony of Uptown Center.

Red wine, red dress, red wall in the lounge at Uptown Center.

On stage in the Scarlett Obsession gown at Uptown Center in Michigan City, Indiana.

We finished our shoot with some window light portraits at the entrance of this upscale venue.

Window light portraits at Uptown Center in Michigan City.

I hope you have enjoyed this foray into a a different type of photography other than the weddings and engagement sessions I usually feature here. Be sure to fill out the Contact Form to inquire about your wedding day photography or even your own photo shoot. And yes, these dresses (among others) are available to rent through me for engagement sessions or as part of an Intimate Portrait / Boudoir session as well.