Oh friends, I am giddy over getting to share some beauty from 2016! When I started my business 8 years ago, I could only hope and dream that I would get to work with so many of the beautiful couples, families, and creative entrepreneurs that have since become very dear to me. I began that journey with optimism and a prayer, armed with a lot of support and sage knowledge from mentors and friends. But I didn’t have very much direction. I did a lot of things right and just as many things wrong. In that process I was lucky enough to connect with some of the most wonderful clients and create some gorgeous images. I began wondering if there was a way I could really hone in on what it was I had in common with those dream clients and find a way to work with more of them. In 2016,  I took some time to really focus on my core values – authenticity, trust, intention, communication – and then ways to build those things into the JKP experience. It came back to me one hundredfold in getting to work with some of my most amazing clients ever. While I am looking forward to all that 2017 has to bring (including an upcoming new website that hones in on these values even more), I want to take some time to share and celebrate all of the lovely people that came into my life and trusted me to capture their love and relationships this past year.

I will be sharing my favorite moments (the emotional shots) and my favorite details (the pretty decor) as well as my head shot and branding imagery in subsequent posts, but for now, I hope you’ll enjoy these lovely portraits.

You may have already seen Jill and Tim’s Rookery wedding in a previous post. It remains one of my favorites – not only because of the aesthetics, but because they are two of the kindest and funniest individuals I know. I feel so lucky to know them and to have been able to celebrate their day.

I met Tara and Ludger through the River North Business Association, and I loved getting to photograph their Gold Coast Chicago wedding reception!

Anna and Vino are truly the most beautiful souls, and photographing their Indian American wedding was one of the highlights of 2016. They have the most amazing community of friends and they care so deeply about everyone in their lives.

 

I met Rachel and Mike through my good friend, Courtney who is now traveling the world with her husband! Rachel and Mike’s City Winery wedding so much fun, and I loved spending time with them.

From my first conversation with Ed and Alessandro, I knew their wedding day was going to be amazing. Having met online and cultivated a long distance relationship between Chicago and Italy, their love story is one that brings tears to my eyes.

Dorian and Lester chose the Chicago Athletic Association and Salvatore’s as their wedding day venues, and after nine years of dating and engagement, their celebration was another tear-filled one surrounded by an intimate group of friends and family.

Shelby and Brian have a vibrancy, kindness, and love about them that is unmistakeable. It is a warmth shared by their friends and family, and their Chicago Athletic Association was so special.

Britt and Ryan have become dear friends since their wedding a few years ago, and they make a point of doing an anniversary session each year. They are just the cutest!!

Ryan also has the kindest family, and I just cannot get enough of the Fennessys! I was so grateful to have photographed his sister, Katherine’s wedding last year. Katherine and Eric have hearts of gold and they truly made each person at their wedding feel so cherished.

Morgan and Nick are full of youth and playfulness, and I cannot wait for their 2017 Adler Planeterium Wedding with SQN Events!

Elizabeth and Verne chose to have their wedding at The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and I’m so grateful to have captured a few sweet moments of them together before the festivities!

A few years ago, I photographed Nora’s cousin Elizabeth’s wedding, and so when she reached out about hers, I was elated. I spent an afternoon with them at Merit Golf Club for their engagement session, and I cannot wait for their March wedding!

When I met Meaghan and Chris last year, I knew they were going to be so lovely. Their wedding was an absolute dream and I am so glad to have been there to capture every beautiful moment!

Susan and Evan had already said their “I Do’s” but they knew they wanted to fly back to Chicago to have their party. When they told me they were getting married at The Publican and that food was really important to them, I knew we’d get along REALLY well. I cannot wait to share more from their reception!

I am so grateful to my former clients Patrice and Peter connecting me with Kevin and Marianne who celebrated their wedding the same night the Cubs won the NLCS Championship! It was a night to remember and full of much laughter and celebration.

Suzie and Jeff met while at University of Illinois in Champaign, but it wasn’t until years later they started dating and knew they had found their true love. It was so fun to spend an afternoon with them at the U of I campus, and even more exciting to be in Memorial Stadium! I am so grateful to my friend Tamara for connecting us, and I am thrilled to be photographing their Lyric Opera wedding in the fall!

Brittany is a talented jewelry designer who hired me in 2016 to photograph her gorgeous new line in New York. It ended up being a rainy autumn day, but she and Eric met were still up for some some gorgeous anniversary photos in Central Park. It was pure magic.

Photographing friends is always so special, and even more of an honor when it’s a photographer friend! I am so grateful to have Rebecca and Kevin in my life. We spent a chilly December morning taking some engagement photos at Lyric Opera to document this special time in their lives.

Anna and Matt are those friends that have truly become family, and I cannot imagine my life without them. I photographed sweet baby Lincoln when he was born, and I was thrilled to do another photoshoot for his first birthday, which was right after the Cubs won the world series!

Whitney and Vince have become the dearest friends since photographing their wedding, and so when they asked me to photograph their maternity session before sweet baby Penny was born, I was elated.

Getting to photograph my friend Alaina at DL Loft during her pregnancy was such a beautiful honor! Isn’t she stunning?

In 2012, I photographed Mark and Jessika’s amazing culturally rich Mexican Assyrian wedding, and we have remained friends. When sweet Atorina was born, they knew they wanted to do a family session together and so we planned a first birthday photo shoot.

My friend Allison from LK Events connected me with these lovelies to celebrate the birth of their daughter with a family photo session. Being a part of this new and exciting time was so wonderful.

Ami invited me to photograph her and Scott with their precious Charlie before he passed to get some last memories together. It was bittersweet and emotional, but I know they will cherish these for years to come.

And just a few weeks ago, I flew out to Philadelphia to photograph my brother, sister-in-law, and sweet nephew Henry. I just cannot wait to meet nephew number two, baby Jack, who is due next month!

I am so grateful to each of you, and I wish you so much love and light!