Gina + Marc - Engagement Session in Chicago

I’ve known Marc for some time now. We were graphic designers years ago at a company in Chicago. At my birthday party, about 6 years ago now, he met Gina and they started dating soon after that party. These pictures mean a lot to me because I get to be a part of my friends history. They married a bit after this session and luckily they did NOT ask me to be their photographer. Why? Because I was able to enjoy their wedding day as a friend and guest and because it’s hard to drink and dance with a couple of cameras around my neck 😝

Jade + Aaron - Engagement Session in Chicago

Jade and Aaron met me near Navy Pier a few weeks back for their engagement session. I’ve know Aaron for years and had the pleasure of meeting his beautiful fiancée that afternoon. My idea was to walk over to Milton Olive Park which is one of my favorite places in all of downtown Chicago. The views and feeling of that park are incredible and offer some of the best views of the Chicago skyline. Add to the views the connection and friendship of these two and we had the perfect mix for amazing photos and experiences. I cannot wait to photograph their wedding and look forward to seeing them again.

Lincoln Park Zoo Engagement Photos - Alison & Steve!

I've known Alison and her family since high school, so this was a very fun and rewarding engagement session for me. She moved all the way to Australia for work about 4 years ago and we haven't been able to connect as much as I'd like, though keeping up via Facebook helps a ton. She met Steve in Australia and had only seen photos of them together and I could tell she was super excited. Seeing them together last week was great, and listening to Steve speak with that Aussie accent was super cool. You see, I love British and Australian accents and always practice them while alone in my car.

Here are a handful of our engagement session at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, as well as a few from North Ave Beach. It was a super hot July morning, but it's hard to tell since Alison and Steve were totally into the shoot. I can't thank them enough and I'm looking forward to their wedding next year in April. Thanks guys and what an honor for me to photograph your engagement.

Dominican University Engagement Photos - Meghan & Josh

Meghan and Josh are troopers. You see this was our 3rd attempt at this engagement shoot, we kept getting rained out! But we finally got a break in the weather and were finally able to get together. Honestly, I'm glad that we had to wait because it allowed nature to bloom and look all pretty. If we would've done the engagement shoot a few weeks back most of the trees would have looked a bit on the spooky side. So we were forced to wait and it paid off.

Dominican University has a really beautiful campus. It's just full of little nooks and crannies that I love as a photographer. There's the perfectly mowed lawn, the vines on the east side of the building, the arches, the steps, and the cool silver-art-thing (see below). That entire area of River Forest is amazing & made to be photographed. Meghan told me that it was her mothers idea to take the pictures at Dominican because that's where she was married - how freakin' cool is that?!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from Meghan & Joshes engagement session. Thanks guys and I can't wait to see you again in August! 

I love it when my couples are having fun.

Josh is a huge Bills fan. I just love the color Blue :)

I asked them to look tough for this one. I think it worked.

Ana + RJ // University Village Engagement Photos

My wife and I met Ana through a friend of ours. I was pretty pumped to hear that she had gotten engaged and was hopeful that she would have me photograph her wedding. So I was giddy when I received her email requesting my photography information, and we shortly set-up a meeting over at her place. It was cool seeing Ana again and meeting RJ for the first time. He's a good mix of serious and funny (as you'll see in the photos below) and complimented Ana very well. We chatted about their wedding plans and I had a good feeling about the flow of their wedding plans. The next step was to schedule the engagement session. We stayed near their place in University Village and started the shoot at Holy Family Church and St. Ignatius College Prep. The entrance to St. Ignatius is a location I had been wanting to do an engagement session at and was really pumped to see what we shot there. We then stopped by the Showplace Icon Theater, which is their favorite theater in the city. The photos with the green and purple looking light sabers were taken near the theater. We were stopped by security at least twice before we moved along and ended the shoot over at Ping Tom Memorial park in China Town.

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Ana and RJ's engagement photo session:

Well that's it for now guys! Their wedding photos will be up on the blog soon enough! More to come.

Lucy + Ted // Oak Brook Engagement Photos

Lucy and Ted are a really cool couple. I love Lucy's energy and her focus - she know what she wants and goes after it. Ted is a bit more chilled and laid back, which strikes a perfect balance to Lucy's energy. I love seeing how my wedding couples balance each other out! Balance is a great thing in a marriage, sometimes it's more evident than others. I could tell that Lucy and Ted are perfect for each other. I met up with them at a Starbucks in Hinsdale, the one next to the Whole Foods Market. Lucy's mom came along with them, which I thought was great (I love it when the parents are involved in some of the wedding plans). We were able to talk about their weddings plans and we also came up with a location for the engagement session. Lucy wanted to shoot at the Graue Mill and Museum which was only a few minutes from our meeting place, but on the Oak Brook side.

We met at the Graue Mill a few days later and were greeted by a perfect day and an art faire. The actual Graue Mill is surrounded by beautiful little nooks to shoot in or around in. We were able to spend about an hour together since Ted had a flight to catch back to the west coast. I had a great time with them, which got me pumped-up for their wedding. I was able to see how good they are together and was able to capture some really fun photos. My goal was to capture Ted smiling, and I did! My many thans to Effie and Gary (Lucy's parents) for coming out and spending a little time with us.

I'm looking forward to sharing some of their wedding photos, so come back and check those out!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Lucy and Ted's engagement photo session:

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Well that's it for now guys! More to come.

Cheryl + Craig // Adler Planetarium Engagement Photos

Cheryl and Craig - what a calming and loving couple. I met with them at a Starbucks in Orland Park a little before the engagement photos were taken. We talked about how they met, about their wedding plans, Cheryl showed me photos on her iPad, and Craig was as cool as can be. I fell in love with these guys immediately (total "couple crush") and was instantly hoping they would hire me to photograph their wedding. I remember coming home and telling my wife about how I hoped they would hire me - and they did! I would love to go on about how much fun we had at the engagement session. I could go on about how loving, affectionate, and respectful Cheryl and Craig are towards each other. But I think it's best to look at the photos and see the warmth for yourself. It's also fun to imagine Cheryl laughing at my corny jokes. Be careful though, her laughter and smile are infectious.

I have to thank my friend David Fowlie for referring Craig to me and my wedding photography services. Without his referral I would have missed out on one of the best experiences of my photography career. Thanks David!

I'm looking forward to sharing some of their wedding photos, so come back and check those out!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Cheryl and Craig's engagement photo session:

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Thanks for checking out my blog! More to come.

Jen + Terry // Homerding Park

Jen and Terry are getting married at the end of April and I'm really excited for them. They are a fun couple and I enjoy reading Terry's Facebook updates - he's a die hard Brown's fan and isn't afraid of showing it. This engagement session was so relaxed, fun, and full of great conversation/laughs. Homerding Park is a great find for me: it has beautiful trees, its next to a golf course, it has a pretty large pond, and it has a couple of sweet bridges. The funny thing is that it's really hard to see if your driving down Harlem as it's sort of covered up by a few sandy hills. But once you're there it's pretty amazing - having 70 degree weather in March added to that amazing feeling! It's also near Orland Park (which I'm around that area a lot), so taking photos at that park was a win-win situation. Thanks to Jen for thinking of that place.

Here are a few of my favorite images from the Jen and Terry's engagement session. I'm looking forward to seeing them again soon:

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Sarah + Allie // Joliet Engagement Session

It was really a blast spending some time with Sarah and Allie a few weeks back. We were in downtown Joliet taking some engagement photos, though because of the cold I was afraid that we would have to reschedule the shoot. But they were great about facing the cold and were amazing to work with. They just got married on December 30th and I'm sure you couldn't find a more loving couple out there. Having just moved to Joliet I had been wanting to shoot in the downtown area near the Rialto Square Theater. I was also hoping to shoot inside of Jitters Coffee Shop, but we wrapped up the shoot a little sooner due to the cold. Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot:

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Misuzu + Alvin // Jackson Park's Osaka Japanese Garden

Misuzu and Alvin will be tying the know in a few short weeks and I had the privilege of hanging out it with them for their engagement session. It was Misuzu's idea of shooting their engagement photos at the Osaka Japanese Garden - I later found out that Alvin proposed to her in the garden. So it made a lot of sense to go back there and take a few photos of them before their wedding. Shooting in a new location is always a blast and allows for new ideas to flow. I felt like a kid in a candy store the moment I entered The Osaka Japanese Garden. The colors were beautiful and there was a peacefulness to that area that I was not expecting. I couldn't even tell that we were in the backyard of the Museum of Science and Industry. Misuzu and Alvin definitely compliment each other - she is the heart and he the reason. It's was very obvious to me that they really care and love each other and I cannot wait to see what they do once they are married.

I already told them that I'm looking forward to their wedding. See you guys soon! Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot:

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My many thanks to AnnMarie Gilmore for assisting and shooting with me. Her passion for photography is very evident and I look forward to having her assist me at Misuzu and Alvin's wedding. Stay tuned for those photos!

Sam + Rigo // West Loop Engagement Photography

Sam & Rigo are flat out a cool and loving couple. They have to be one of the most kissy-kiss couples (I just made up this term) I have ever photographed, and I love that about them. They are totally into each other and it was easy to see that right from the start. I'm so pumped to be shooting their wedding in a few short weeks! We started at Milton Lee Olive Park, which is near Navy Pier. I really enjoy shooting at that park, as did Sam and Rigo. Olive Park has one of the best views of the city, bar none. Check it out when you get a chance. The sun was setting fast so we started shooting right away. We had planned on hitting up Navy Pier as well, but changed plans at the last minute and then headed out to the West Loop.

I was excited about shooting in the West Loop, as it's the complete opposite of shooting in a park. The textures and feel of the area is awesome. But the sun was gone by the time we arrived and we were hungry, so we decided to shoot for just a few minutes - I had to follow that photographer instinct. The last 3 images are what we were able to get in the West Loop, so I am so glad that Sam & Rigo were cool about staying out there a little longer.

So next is the wedding and it's going to be a blast. See you guys soon! Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot:

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My many thanks to Steven Ryne for assisting and shooting with me. It was great having him along as I whistled Mary Poppins tunes all during the shoot, I'm so glad he didn't judge me. It will be great having him shoot Sam & Rigo's wedding with me.

Araceli + Mike // Navy Pier Engagement Photography

So here is the rest of the post that I blogged last week as promised :) First off, Araceli + Mike were so much fun to work with. Their willingness to try things and forgo the original shooting plan was amazing. Secondly, I loved that they came prepared to be photographed, both in spirit and wardrobe (I mean, C'mon, just look at her dress!). These 2 things made for an amazing experience. That and Navy Pier looks amazing after a day of rain.

The original plan was to meet up at Milton Lee Olive Park, a.k.a. Olive Park, and shoot the engagement photos at the beach. Well, that didn't work out as planned due to rain making the beach look less appealing than usual. So we walked around Olive Park (which I LOVE) and made use of the many nooks and crannies available to shoot in and around. That park is seriously like a candy store for photographers. I had my friend and fellow photographer Jenn assist and second shoot with me. I am so glad that she was there. She is awesome and helped out a ton.

We then headed out to Navy Pier and hung out inside to wait out the rain - yes, it started raining again. A few places were closed off around Navy Pier, which was a bummer. But we were still able to shoot at the indoor garden, the one with the cool water arches. After the rains came and left the dramatic clouds rolled in and the sun came out for a while. Very cool and I could not have asked for a better day to shoot. We went outdoors and finished the shoot to a beautiful sunset.

Here are a few of my favorite images:

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Thank you again Araceli + Mike! This was an amazing shoot and I am glad that I could serve you both. I hope you guys have an amazing wedding in Mexico. I look forward to hearing about it.

            

By The Way: Again, stick to your guns and do the shoot. The rain kept coming and going all day and I was tempted to cancel the shoot. After talking with Araceli we decided to shoot!

When It Rains It Gets Colorful

This past Sunday was pretty wild in terms of the weather. The morning was amazingly beautiful - blue skies and all. By the afternoon the clouds started rolling in. By the early afternoon it was POURING! But then it stopped, but then it started again, and so on and so forth. It was a bit frustrating, but "the shoot must go on" I kept telling myself. And the shoot did go on at Navy Pier and it was an amazing shoot with dramatic clouds and a pretty darn cool couple. Here is a quick sneak peak of sorts. More to come.

            

By The Way: Stick to your guns and do the shoot - that is of course if your client is also willing.

The WINDY City // Jovi & Nedjo's Engagement Session

I love photographing downtown, especially in the early evening. That's when we get that "magic hour" light - the orange/warm light from the setting sun. It's also pretty sweet when we get 70+ degree weather in early April. That is something that rarely happens in Chicago, but we gladly take it when it does. I was shooting the engagement session of Jovi & Nedjo with Ray Pryor of Emotia. Jovi & Nedjo are a loving & fun couple, and so easy to photograph too. There were plenty of smiles and laughter going around, even as the crazy wind kept blowing Jovi's hair all around. I know we live in the "Windy City," but it was too literal that day. It seemed that Ray and I kept making sure that Jovi's hair wasn't in her eyes for a good portion of the shoot. She was so cool and calm about the wind. I feel like we made the most of a beautiful evening at the Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from that portrait session:

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My many thanks to Ray Pryor for having me be a part of this engagement shoot. I am looking forward to Jovi & Nedjo's wedding! Thanks guys.

John G. Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605 312-939-2438

Adler Planetarium 1300 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605-2403 (312) 322-7827

Rock On! info@ottorascon.com | my wedding portfolio | my portrait portfolio | facebook | twitter | 773.430.4785

By The Way: This shoot was a blast. Shooting with my friends is something that I am looking forward to this 2010 wedding season. I am blessed to have such talented friends.

Impromptu Portrait Session - Vegas Style // Christine & Iaan

I was so excited to be going to WPPI 2010. I knew that I would be learning a lot about my wedding photography business. I knew that I would meet some amazing people. I knew that I would see some amazing products at the trade show. I also knew that I would go to a few parties. But the one thing that I was really looking forward to was taking pictures! I pretty much had all of my gear - all of it. So imagine my elation when I saw Feuza Dos Reis photographing Christine and Iaan - a fabulous couple I had just met earlier in the day. You see I was on the 9th floor at The Signature (at MGM Grand) talking to my wife. When I looked down and saw the portrait session in progress. I told my wife I had to leave and RAN downstairs to where the shoot was taking place. I asked Feuza if I can shoot and she said yes. Sweet. I was so excited that I neglected to bring my lens bag. I only had my 80-200mm f/2.8 lens. Good thing that Feuza also shoots Nikon, so I was able to borrow one of her lenses.

Christine Meintjes and Iaan Van Niekerk were an absolute blast to talk to and photograph. They are from Cape Town, South Africa, so I made sure to shut my trap and ask questions that would make them talk. I loved their accents, but ended up loving their warmness even more. I wish that we could have spent more time together.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from that portrait session:

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My many thanks to Feuza for setting this up. She followed her photographers instinct and because of that I have 2 new friends. Christine and Iaan, I hope that our roads cross again. Rock on guys!

The Signature at MGM Grand 145 East Harmon Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89109 (877) 612-2121

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV 89109 (702) 891-1111

Rock On! info@ottorascon.com | my portfolio | facebook | twitter | 773.430.4785

By The Way: This shoot taught me to follow my instinct and approach people with confidence. There have been a lot of times when I see people that I want to photograph. A simple question to photograph them might turn up into a great time.

Wedding Rings are Beautiful - Chicago Wedding Photography

Wedding rings are truly works of art. I have really come to appreciate my bride and grooms rings this year. I remember going to the jeweler to pick out my wife's ring. I was so nervous and very conscience of aesthetics and price. This was a major purchase for me and I wanted to make sure that I purchased the PERFECT ring. This line of thinking has helped me focus more on the rings, placing them in beautiful backgrounds and giving them the spotlight they deserve. Here are just a few of my favorites for this year. [gallery link="file" columns="1" orderby="title" size="large"]

The Set-Up

Nikon D700

Nikon SB-800 - Triggered via Nikon CLS. There was no light modifier on the flash.

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 lens

Rock On! info@ottorascon.com | my portfolio | facebook | twitter | 773.430.4785

Millenium Park Engagement Photography // Vanessa & Luis

I am so excited to be shooting Vanessa and Luis' wedding in July. So this engagement session meant a lot to me. I was looking forward to seeing them both again and working with them. They are a blast (man, I have some really cool clients!). I noticed that they both love to laugh, something that I am attracted to big time. They are also willing to try different/creative poses, something that I am also attracted too.

So we met up at their sweet place in Bridgeport and took off to Buckingham Fountain and Millennium Park. Vanessa's mom was ultra cool and drove us around the city. Seriously, how amazing is her mom?! We set up at Buckingham fountain and the walked around its perimeter. That whole area has some amazing landscaping and we took full advantage of it. If you have never walked around that area then do yourself a favor and check it out!

We then drove off to Millennium Park. This place has so many places to shoot at. We went to the Crown Fountain (aka water towers), the Cloud Gate (aka the Bean) and finally the Pritzker Pavilion. Each of these places have their own feel and look to them. The last image in the series is copmosed of about 8 photographs that were merged in Photoshop. After the series were taken we took off, literally, to meet up with Vanessa's mom who was double parked on Michigan Ave. I am sure that is was a funny site seeing three people running like mad through Millennium Park.

Garfield Park Conservatory // Tim & Faith // Engagement Session

I had the honor of photographing Tim and Faith's engagement session earlier this year. We drove over to the beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory and had a great time shooting indoors. The conservatory is amazing with its large and lush plants and beautiful outdoor park. My many thanks to Tim and Faith!!!