STARVED ROCK: It's the little things...

Wow!  What an amazing weekend!  So I know it's been a while... okay a long while so I'm trying to catch up with blogging and my images, but this past weekend was such a blast!  

On one of my past blog posts I had met with a bunch of photographers at the Dollop Coffee House in downtown Chicago, and since then we've all gotten pretty tight.  So this past weekend we planned a trip to Starved Rock in Oglesby, IL.  It was fantastic!  We started at 9 a.m. in the morning & hiked through the day, spending hours from site to site taking pictures, learning, and helping each other with our own specialties.  Basically it was a great time to, as my aunt would say, "commune with nature."  It was so nice just hanging out with photographers, getting to meet their wonderful families, and really bond outside of the professional aspect of the industry.  The funny thing is that I think pain and agony have a way of bringing people together... especially when we're all suffering through it together!  So I think we were the closest when climbing some of those ridiculous trail steps while lugging our camera equipment!  As tiring as it was, I wouldn't trade it for anything... so much fun!  

I love building relationships with people and I hope that this is the beginning of something awesome!

Here are some of the pictures from that day, sometimes we just need to take time to enjoy the little things of life and be reminded of God's beautiful creation!  Enjoy! :)

It's early as our brave explorers get ready to embark on the... um... rugged... stone path?

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CHICAGO eSession: Crystal & David

Most people would have packed up while the thick clouds rolled in blanketing the sky and subtle rain drops began to hasten; all I thought was; a photographer's nightmare.  But then I looked at the couple in front of me as we were driving in the car, they were giggling over some funny comment and my heart couldn't help but smile.  I asked, "Is it alright to say a prayer?"  While I looked at that deep grey sky, they replied, "Absolutely."  "God I pray that whatever you have planned for this day, let me be able to capture the love these two have for one another, Amen."... and don't let my equipment get wet.  ;)  One of the most fun couples I have ever had the privilege of working with.  Their wonderful personalities, easy going spirits, and the beautiful love that they have for God and each other made this such a special engagement session for me!  I'm honored to have the opportunity to call them my clients and my friends.  

A few months ago on a Chicago night similar to this, in a beautiful church courtyard, this man decided he wanted happiness and to love this woman for the rest of his life.  Lowering to the ground on a single knee, decorative lights came to life around the fountain as he pulled the ring from his pocket.  Her eyes glimmered with happiness as she looked into his and he asked, "Crystal, will you marry me?"  She said... 

..."YES David, I will..."

"Oh my gosh, look at this bus! Quick, fashion pose!"  Talk about funny timing ;)

The BEAUTIFUL Fourth Presbyterian Church in Downtown Chicago! 

Where he knelt...

Navy Pier in Downtown Chicago

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Q's, TIPS & TID BITS: "16:1"

Most of us photographers love attending conferences and workshops, but everyone experiences those times where we run into some road blocks in getting the knowledge we're desiring in order for our business to grow.  Whether it's due to money issues, inconvenient timing, unreachable locations, whatever have you.

But these past two days were absolutely amazing, I had the opportunity to attend a 2 day workshop for FREE and learn from 16 different master photographers including, but not limited to Dane Sanders, Sarah Petty, Kevin Kubota and many more...  oh did I mention it was all in my own office.  Thanks to business owner and photographer Sarah Petty, with her "The Joy of Marketing" Telesummit!  What a treat it was to learn from these master and I am truly a better photographer and business owner because of it!  I am so excited for what the future holds and all the wonderful new changes my business and photography will be going through in the very near future.  So I hope you'll all be excited with me and be on the look out!

Thank you to all the speakers for helping me better myself and my business!  I wish you all success and hope to meet you & shoot with you someday as well.  God bless! :)

 

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630.696.7496

CHICAGO SNEAK PEEK: Crystal & David

What a fantastic couple!  I'm only going to write a short little snippet about my awesome couple and their wonderful eSession, because this is just the Sneak Peak... all I can tell you is that it involves downtown Chicago, cold weather, serious over-cast & cloudy skies, rain; and a whole lot of love, laughter, and good times ;)

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630.696.7496

Photofusion: BOB DAVIS

What a fun workshop!  Sponsored by Calumet photography store and Canon, Bob Davis presented photofusion!  

[some of Canon's goodies ;) ]

A brand new upcoming photo/video splicing technique, basically mixing video with still images using the new Canon 5D Mark II, an amazing camera by the way.  

Bob Davis, an amazing photographer and friend, held a very informative workshop and in true Bob fashion, made it a lot of fun by holding a mock wedding right there in Calumet's event studio where we got to try using the Mark II video capabilities and editing techniques.  

Now be warned this camera and photofusion techniques are not for the light-hearted and easily stressed... it is a pretty difficult technique to try and capture video as well as stills by a single person.  Definitely recommended that if you're going to shoot video, focus on video and have a second shooter be in charge of stills.  But as much of a production that this technique is, it is also a lot of fun, and the end product is really cool! ;)  

I mean come on look at this rig set up!  It's the photographers' transformer, "Optical Prime!" wah wah.  Check out our home-made wedding where (yours truly) got to play the groom!  Haha I met my bride that day, found out her name, and married her, what an experience! ;)  Enjoy my pretend wedding and photofusion ;)

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630.696.7496

"Shoot with Passion": JOE BUISSINK

"I will do what my passion is!" - Joe Buissink

Awesome indeed!  I feel like that's not even a big enough word to describe how much I learned and was captivated by this man and his photographic knowledge and artistry.  The night started out with an introduction by David Wittig and Pictage CEO Jim collins.  

To be honest, before this I had never heard of Joe, my initial thoughts for going were, "Sweet!  I get a chance to network and hey the more you can learn, the better."  What I was not expecting was to learn so much.  A celebrity wedding photographer, Joe has been shooting for 15 years and still shoots all his weddings in film and only uses digital when necessary.  This is a man who knows his craft!  Starting from humble beginnings, Joe is now one of the most sought after photographers for weddings with clients including, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, etc... has been featured in countless magazines, travels the globe and has even shot Steven Spielberg's birthday!  And has been adopted into becoming their personal friends and photographer!  WOW!

But you know it wasn't just his business accomplishments that through me back, but the images that he is capable of capturing was what really took my breath away.  I have never felt such a stir of emotions from looking at an image before, and man can this guy tell a story...

Kenny and Kimmy, thanks for your input guys, pleasure meeting you both and I hope I'll get to shoot or even just hang out with you guys someday :)  That's another reason why I love these things, is not only do I get to learn SO much, but I get to meet some great individuals and network with more people that share my passion!

I apologize for the vagueness of this blog, but there really is no way to describe how amazing of an experience it was to meet him.  In every image he showed us I completely forgot about everyone else in the room and felt as if I was there with him, when he captured that perfect moment.  His photographic work, business savvy and relationships that he builds with his clients are only somethings I hope to be able to achieve someday in my business and as I grow.

This definitely was the most amazing photo journey I've ever been on, and I didn't even have to leave my seat!  Thank you Joe for teaching me how to become a better photographer and how to embrace, seek, and develop my talents, how to be in the moment, but shoot between them.  :)

http://www.stevenrynephotography.com

info.stevenryne@gmail.com

630.696.7496