Monthly Archives: November 2012

11.29.12

Survey Says!

Hi Friends! Thank you so much for taking the time to fill out my little survey last week, it has really helped me start to think through what my goals should be for the blog moving forward. I don’t think you all probably care to read line by line results, but I wanted to share a few highlights with you!

» Some of you are men! At least 5, which is more than my Dad and Wil :-) welcome grooms & other friends! Per your request, I promise to try to limit the girly content.

» 60% of you are married

» 1/3 of you are photographers!

» 70% of you have never been photographed by me (How can I incentivize you to change this? ;-))

» 70% of you are okay with 3-4 new posts per week instead of 5. I could kiss you all on the mouth! Change is coming.

» By a vast majority your favorite posts are my life updates and personal posts :-D :-D :-D LOVE you all! Seriously.

» 50% of you want to see more marriage & Chicago related posts, I am so excited to make this happen!

» A solid third of you never interact with the posts by commenting or liking. A couple things about this, first, thank you so much for filling out the questionnaire! Second, please let me know your here sometimes?? :-P Comments mean the absolute world.

» You all read some really interesting other blogs that I can’t wait to check out!

So the first big change coming from this is that I am going to try out taking Fridays off from the blog. I will incorporate some foodie posts on other days, but I have really felt the need for a day of rest from the blog and I am so happy that you all think that’s ok! I’m going to be thinking more through changes for next year but I’m going to implement this right away. Big hugs and lots of kisses! I’m going to leave you with one of my new headshots from Suzy…I promise a full post of them really really soon!

Have a wonderful weekend! XXOO

Comments: 11

Categories: All things Emilia Jane

11.28.12

Chicago Proposal Photographer: Buckingham Fountain Wedding Proposal

I feel so honored to have been able to photograph Kent & Lindsay’s proposal! The night before I left for Paris, I went downtown and tried to blend in with the tourists and runners in Grant Park. Kent wanted to propose by Buckingham Fountain because that’s where he had first said “I love you.” Isn’t that just the sweetest? After she said YES! they went ice skating, and I was so happy to catch a few fun pictures of that too :-)

So much love you two!! XXOO

 

Comments: 8

Tags: ,

Categories: Engagements

11.27.12

Flying Into Chicago

Today we’re flying home! There’s always something magical for me about flying into Chicago and seeing the skyline.
XXOO

Comments: 4

Categories: All things Emilia Jane

11.26.12

Paris Wedding Preview

I’m still here, but I think the wifi should work to get this post up! Hopefully :-) I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! We’ve had a magical trip so far and I just couldn’t wait to post at least one picture. XXOO

Comments: 9

Categories: Weddings

11.20.12

Out of the Office: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy early Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy time with loved ones, and eat lots of pie for me :-) I’ll be out of the country photographing a wedding in Paris until next Wednesday. I promise to try to Instagram as much as possible so head on over there if you want to see more frequent updates from me in the next week! Please have patience if you email me, I’m not sure what our internet situation will be yet.

Have such a wonderful holiday, XXOOimage source

Comments: 2

Categories: All things Emilia Jane

11.19.12

Chicago Beloved Photographer » Portraits for Married Couples in Love

 

I’m so excited to introduce you all to Annie & Grant. It’s so much fun photographing friends! Annie and I were in small group together a couple years ago with Megan. My how time flies! She and her hubby Grant got married in Texas last year so for their anniversary they wanted pictures that showed their love for the city as much as their love for each other (which of couse I love!!). We got together last Saturday morning super early and I couldn’t be any happier about how these came out. Big hugs you two, and a very happy early anniversary!!

Halfway through the session Annie turned to me and asked if they could dance…because they love to dance in their kitchen. I seriously couldn’t think of anything sweeter if I’d asked! Also it makes me want to pull Wil in close, cuddle, and twirl :- )

Big hugs you two and a very happy Monday all around! XXOO

 

Comments: 3

Categories: Beloved

11.16.12

Packing for Paris

Good morning! I was so excited just now thinking that I don’t have any plans this weekend. It’s my first weekend off since (hang on let me figure this out) August 17th when we shuffled schedules so we could carve out a quick weekend trip to Miami. Three months. Sheesh. Then I realized that we leave for Paris on Tuesday and I haven’t even really started thinking about packing. So guess what I’m doing this weekend! Loads upon loads of laundry. And planning. And packing! Yay! These are just a few of my travel essentials.packing for paris1. A flattering belted black coat. Mine is from Gap eons ago but this one from JCrew is the most similar I’ve seen recently.

2. My O.G. bag from Lo & Sons. I can’t tell you how amazing this bag is. But probably eventually I will.

3. My camera & iPhone & rented Mifi device (so we can carry wifi with us!!!)

4. Walking boots & rain boots (& umbrella –only in my dreams is my umbrella burberry ;-))

5. And for this trip especially, a pocket guide to Paris.

Have a wonderful weekend!! What are you going to be up to? XXOO

Comments: 6

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Categories: All things Emilia Jane

11.15.12

Chicago Engagement Photos » Lincoln Park Engagement Pictures

//If you haven’t filled out the reader survey yet, please do! XXOO\\

I met up with Kendra & Eric last weekend to celebrate their recent engagement with photos! They are such a sweet couple and we had so much fun meandering through Lincoln Park taking these pictures :-)

Happy Thursday! XXOO

 

Comments: 6

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Categories: Engagements

11.14.12

7: Purging Possessions

//If you haven’t filled out the reader survey yet, please do! XXOO\\

I had hoped by now that I would have a pretty picture like this to show you of a million things we’ve eliminated from our home this month. The truth is, today is the 14th, we leave for a week long trip that will take us almost to the end of the month in six days. I need to get on it. The first week of this month we got rid of, sold, and donated over 75 things from our “junk” room which is now a music room. I have started a stack of my clothing and accessories to pass down that is also in the 50+ itens range (and I’m just getting started). I have two secret bags hidden of Wil’s old old clothing that I’m going to wait a few months to see if he misses (then I will ask him before donating). So that leaves us with less than 50 items to go. The thing is though that I’m kind of discouraged because I know that last 50 won’t really make a difference. Our home isn’t going to look any less cluttered. I don’t know how many things we’d have to get rid of to accomplish that.

Stuff isn’t important. It isn’t hard for me to part with things. It’s really hard for me to take the time to sort through which things are worth keeping. I don’t want to eliminate anything we’d have to buy again. I do want to say this though, I’m really excited to be noticing this for the first time. And I am happy to be moving my thought process about this stuff even if it doesn’t seem like I’m doing as much as I should be on the outside.

I have to give a HUGE props to Beth from 3UpAdventures who posted her list of 224 items in our 7 facebook group on November 2nd. She and her husband just had a crazy epic wedding and are leaving soon to go live in a van for a year and tour the US of A. If you like adventure, you should check her blog out :-)
picture from Pinterest

**If you’re curious as to why I’m eliminating 210 things this month, you might want to start at the beginning of my 7 adventure**

Comments: 10

Categories: 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

11.13.12

1940s Packard Wedding Arrival

//If you haven’t filled out the reader survey yet, please do! XXOO\\

**If you want to see me LIVE on video, check out ShowitLive at 12pm Central. I’m going to be talking about finding your ideal clients and marketing to them!**

Last month I had the pleasure of shooting this wedding with Erica Rose! The bride arrived in style in a 1940s Packard, isn’t it (and she) gorgeous?!

Just too fun! Happy Tuesday :-)

Comments: 4

Categories: All things Emilia Jane