Monthly Archives: October 2012

7 Dresses: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

Here we are! It’s the last day of the second month of my 7 challenge (I promise it’s worth reading back if you have no idea what I’m talking about). Well last time I checked in, I’d only worn five of my seven dresses for the month. That lasted until my birthday on the 20th. Crazy, right? I wore the dress up top on the left for my birthday (I purchased that dress from Caché in Vegas to shoot Jeremy & Ashley’s elopement in!)  and then last Monday (the 22nd) I woke up and was over this whole wearing the same things over and over and over bit and wanted to wear something new! Thankfully I still had one spot left, and last week was warm, so I picked this cute short-sleeved number (purchased at Club Monaco on our Miami trip).

As a general wrap-up I think this month went really well. It was WAY easier than giving up coffee last month, it didn’t inhibit anything about my lifestyle, and I don’t think anyone would have actually noticed if I didn’t tell them about it. I did cheat once, last Saturday night, I was just dying to wear jeans and a gold sweater out…so I called it a “Halloween” night to dress up, gave myself the one free pass, and had fun.

I just want to quickly remind both you and myself that a big part of why I’m doing this is because there are millions of people in this world who have even less than what I’m limiting myself to in these months. The amount of excess we live in is both astonishing and kind of disgusting. I’m going to bet right now that after eliminating all the things next month (210 to be exact) that our house won’t even look different. As I get further into this  I realize even more-so how much stuff we (both Wil and I, and we as a culture) really have and it’s appalling. I’m going to do my best to think about this even more, and go beyond what this challenge originally called for. I always find peace in simplicity, and since that’s a huge goal of mine for this year…let’s get to it! Happy Wednesday friends :-) XXOO

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Categories: 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

Chicago Elopement Photographer » Elope in Lincoln Park

When Heather inquired with me, it read “she’ll be in a short gold cocktail dress, and he’ll be in something that goes with his cowboy boots.” And folks, I was smitten right there from the start! Even before I knew her dress was from BHLDN (the most gorgeous place in the world) and even before I met her. But then we met, and rallied around finding sane people online (thank you APW & the Hairpin). And this last Thursday I had the absolute honor to photograph Heather & Tim’s marriage. Seriously, it was the sweetest celebration. We met at their apartment and walked to the beach. Their two brother’s officiated. We took a couple pictures, walked back to their apartment to pop champagne! And then snuck out for a few more pictures before dusk. Perfection. Okay I’ll stop talking now and just let you enjoy!

All my love to both of you! XXOO

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Categories: Intimate Wedding, Weddings

Constantly Challenge Yourself

I’ve been thinking this weekend about my photography. My technical knowledge, my posing. And I think it’s time to kick it up a notch. I only have a few weddings left (and a couple more really fun sessions!) and I really want to make the most of them. I think I switched gears a couple (or several–time flies) months ago and it’s time to push myself even further.

Like in life, I need to relax into the pauses and think. To breathe and figure out what I want to do instead of just jumping straight into the next thing so as to not seem awkward.

Does this pose reflect what I want to show as EJP work? What’s an easy adjustment to make it even better? Are my settings not close to what I want, but as good as I can get them in this setting?

And then I saw this pin! Yay! So here’s to today, to pushing ourselves, to growing together.What’s one thing you want to grow in? Where are you going to challenge yourself this week?

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Categories: All things Emilia Jane, For Photographers

Foodie Friday » Traditional Champagne Cocktail Recipe

Happy National Champagne Day!

(If you’re in Chicago, you might want to check out RM Champagne Salon tonight, it sounds like a blast!)

In honor of this very important holiday, I’m cheersing with the traditional champagne cocktail! Here’s what you’ll need to celebrate too ;-)

Angostura bitters, a white sugar cube, and champagne.

Place the sugar cube in your coupe or flute (the coupe is the original glass for sipping champagne) and slowly let the angostura drip onto the cube until it is evenly soaked as you can see below. Then fill your glass with the bubbly and enjoy!!

Cheers to a fun holiday and a very happy Friday!! I hope you all have an amazing weekend! XXOO

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Categories: Kitchen & Cocktail Fun

Pinterest in Real Life

This morning I’m bringing pinterest back to real life and finding inspiration in the magazines! I love when I can just sit in the living room, sip my coffee, let the sunshine stream in through the windows, and be inspired. However fun pinning is (which you know I’m completely obsessed), there’s something real about ripping pages from a magazine and piecing them together yourself.

How do you get inspired?

This afternoon is Heather & Tim’s intimate wedding and I couldn’t be any more excited to walk from their apartment to the beach so they can say I do! I can’t wait to show you all pictures too :-D

Happy Thursday! Tomorrow is National Champagne Day so you know I’ll be celebrating with at least one champagne cocktail recipe ;-) XXOO

 

 

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Categories: All things Emilia Jane

In this year

I’ve been thinking through plans and goals for the next calendar year but really there’s no need to wait for January to start these things! Because really, why should life goals wait?! In this year I want to learn to be still. I want to spend more time being grateful, I want to actually get a tan from hours in and by the pool, I want to take more walks, have more date days, read more, and relax more under twinkly lights.My life has been GO GO GO GO GO GO GO for as long as I can remember. And however fun this is, honestly, it’s exhausting. And frankly I don’t think I’m spending enough time valuing the things that really matter to me. My husband, my faith, and my dear friends. So in this, my twenty-fourth year, I will strive to be still and appreciate the things in my life that matter most.

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Categories: All things Emilia Jane

Chicago Wedding Photographer » Hotel Monaco Wedding Photos

Val & Theron were wed in a beautiful intimate ceremony at the stunning Hotel Monaco last weekend. You probably remember them from their epic engagement photos this spring ;-) I couldn’t begin to do their celebration justice with words, I hope I can take you their with these images. I just have to quickly thank the talented Jacqui Cole for second shooting! To Val & Theron, HUGE hugs to you two, it was an incredible honor to document your day!!

» Please listen to this fun song while you enjoy the images! «

and what would a wedding be without really fun food?! ;-)  <3 cake pops!

I hope you’re having a rad honeymoon as you travel through Europe! I can’t wait to hear about all of your food adventures!! XXOO

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Categories: Intimate Wedding, Weddings

24 Bottles of Champagne to Celebrate my 24th Birthday

Happy Monday! I can’t thank everyone enough for such a wonderful birthday on Saturday. It was a gorgeous day and I felt really blessed. All pictures are from instagram because I took the whole weekend off from my real camera :-) I did very little work, spent a lot of really nice time relaxing with Wil, and enjoying the company of friends. Friends who are incredibly sweet and know me way too well! I have to give a shout-out to Christina for teaching me how to saber a bottle of champagne too!! There’s a super silly little video at the bottom if you’d like to watch. Thank you to Tiffany for the video ;-) 

Back tomorrow with Val & Theron’s wedding!!!!!

 

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Categories: All things Emilia Jane, Kitchen & Cocktail Fun

Chicago Foodie Engagement Photos

When Brooke and I first spoke about her and Brian’s engagement photos she said they wanted to be sure to capture their love of fine food and drink. I couldn’t think of a better spot in Lincoln Park than Perennial Virant! I just had to post these separately from yesterday’s fun fall engagement photos because I thought this foodie fun deserved it’s own post! You two belong in a lifestyle magazine!

You two are classicly stunning. XXOO!

As an early birthday present to myself, I’m taking tomorrow off the blog ;-) See you all with some champagne cocktail party goodness on Monday!

 

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Categories: Engagements, Kitchen & Cocktail Fun, Lifestyle

Lincoln Park Chicago Engagement Pictures

I think this is my favorite fall engagement session to-date. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Brooke & Brian! I literally am SO excited for their wedding next June!! We met in Lincoln Park for a few pictures with their adorable pup Leecy (who seriously couldn’t be cuter!) and then made our way to the North Ave beach! I won’t give away the rest, but I’ll just say this. You have to come back tomorrow for part two!!!

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow!! XXOO

 

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Categories: Engagements