Emma Mullins Photography

Happy 2020, friends!! Some of you know that the period of time between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day is known in the wedding industry as “Engagement Season.” Of course, this is because so many engagements happen right around the holidays! I was lucky enough to start my season with Maya and Amit 🙂

Many of you know that proposals are one of my FAVORITE things to capture. Amit and Maya would be visiting Chicago from New York City the day after Thanksgiving, and she had no idea they’d return with a new relationship status (and piece of jewelry!).

I spotted Maya and Amit sharing an umbrella as they crossed the Lincoln Park bridge in the December rain. As if we’d planned it (okay, maybe we did…), they took shelter underneath that “honeycomb” structure on the Nature Boardwalk. He asked. She said yes (!!). The park lights turned on like clockwork, and we were able to capture some super romantic engagement photos in the park! We even got a glimpse of the colorful Zoolights before the crowds rolled in.

Amit and Maya: Thank you for having me, this moment was such an honor to capture! All the best in your future marriage. CONGRATULATIONS again!!

Planning a Lincoln Park Proposal in Chicago?

It’s true: this park is FULL of picturesque locations!! Amit chose the honeycomb, but here are a few other faves:

South Pond Bridge at Nature Boardwalk (skyline view)
Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool (permit required)
Lincoln Park Conservatory (permit required)
Zoolights (seasonal)

Keep in mind that Lincoln Park is about as picturesque as you can get, and therefore a popular location for couples and photographers. If you’re planning to propose during prime photo time or on a weekend, prepare to have a Plan B or C in case your ideal spot is already taken! It’s not uncommon for Chicago wedding parties to rotate at these locations. The last thing you’d want is to improvise a proposal… especially if you’ve got a photographer on board to capture the moment.

Hope you found this post useful! I’d love to hear from you if you’re planning your own Lincoln Park proposal in Chicago.

Happy NEW YEAR’S EVE, friends! What a year it’s been!! Each year around this time I make a point to review my images from the past 12 months. And as I’m sure you can imagine, picking favorites is NOT an easy task! The following are just handful of moments and memories that stood out to me this year… not to mention some of my proudest portfolio pieces 🙂

Hope you enjoy!

Highlights from 2019 include:

• Travel, of course! I was lucky enough to have weddings and sessions in Utah, Wisconsin, downstate Illinois and New York City.
• An unusually high number of weekday weddings. Wednesdays are for love, right??
• Lots of new wedding venues for me! Some of my faves include Firehouse Chicago, Morton Arboretum, the International Museum of Surgical Science, Lacuna Artist Lofts, North Pond, and the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel.
• New cultural traditions. I got to photograph my first Greek Orthodox wedding and Jewish Orthodox wedding this year.
• My first (and potentially career-only) Flower Gram (hi, Gigi!)
• Jeremy’s first full year as my main second shooter (!!)
• RAIN. Oh my goodness. Chicago weather got me this year… I now consider myself a master at photographing rainy wedding days.
• So many fur babies I cannot even count! Shout out to Hannah, Twill, Guinness, Mama, Phillip, Sunny, and Dolly for all the cuteness (and keeping us well-stocked on lint rollers).
• Being named one of Chicago’s Top Wedding Photographers by Expertise.com. An honor to say the least.

Finally, our most major addition in 2019 has been VIDEO!! We added two videographers to the team this year, and they’ve created the most stunning wedding films for our couples. I could not be happier with their work and can’t wait to see what we create in 2020!

To my readers: THANK YOU a million times for your support! You’ve helped make 2019 a truly awesome year. Cheers to the next decade, all!!!

Patrick and Eliza’s stunning Chicago Athletic Association wedding was much anticipated, to say the least! After a two-plus year engagement, they were ready to tie the knot! (Check out their engagement session from last August here!) Family and friends traveled from near and far to celebrate these two, and believe me: a celebration it was.

When I first heard from Eliza and Patrick, I immediately knew we’d be a great fit. It was clear that the people surrounding them and all the little moments were more important than looking like the cover of a magazine (although they could be… have you seen these two together??! Fire AND style!). Since that’s basically my photography style in a nutshell, I’d say we were a perfect match 🙂

There are so many moments from this day that I will never forget. From their intimate first look in the White City Ballroom to the emotional ceremony… I don’t think there was one dry eye (seriously)! The weather even cooperated for some lovely garden photos at the Art Institute of Chicago. One of my favorite moments was our champagne night cap on Madison Avenue (shout out to Regina for helping make this happen!). One thing’s for certain: this day was all about making memories.

Eliza and Patrick: THANK YOU so much for having us this year!! You two were a joy to photograph and I wish you nothing but happiness in your journey together.

Vendor Team

Venue: Chicago Athletic Association Hotel/Wedding Planner: Regina of Amelia Cole Events/Bride’s dress: Rita Vinieris/Bride’s shoes: Journee, Vans/Groom’s suit: Men’s Wearhouse/Florals: Flowers for Dreams/Hair & Makeup: Bridal Brigade/Invitation: Minted/Bride’s rings: Noémie, Brilliant Earth/Groom’s ring: Bellyssa Jewelry/DJ: Okyne Medialab/Cake: Cake Chicago/Catering: CAA/Dessert: CAA/2nd shooter: Jeremy

Many of you know that New York has my heart. It’s easily one of my favorite places in the world, and if I weren’t living in Chicago there’s a good chance I’d be a NYC resident! Needless to say, I was thrilled that Sarah and Luke opted for New York City engagement photos while I was visiting in October!

These two reside in Manhattan and wanted photos close to home. Originally we had discussed visiting the Met and Central Park… however, the weather had different plans for us! We decided to embrace the rain, and I’m SO happy we did. Not being from New York this was a bit of a challenge, but thanks to Google (and some help from Sarah and Luke) we were able to put together a rain plan with a couple days’ notice.

I was so excited to be in New York, and Sarah and Luke made this session a breeze. We got to visit some iconic locations and create some really unique and romantic photos together! The Harry Potter show on Broadway even made a cameo appearance – Sarah made sure of it 🙂

Sarah and Luke: I’m so happy we were able to get together in NYC!! Can’t wait for your Chicago wedding next spring!

Looking for indoor photo locations in New York City? Here’s where we ended up (and a few other options I considered):

Grand Central Station
New York Public Library (we visited the Schwarzman building)
American Museum of Natural History
Steps of New York County Supreme Court building
Hotel Lobbies
Bars or Coffee shops (check out The Campbell located inside Grand Central!)

Ariel and Aaron’s summer Ignite Glass Studio wedding took place on a beautiful Thursday in August. Their prayers for nice weather paid off – there was not a cloud in the sky! It happened to be the first day of the Chicago Air and Water Show, but these two didn’t need the additional entertainment. This eventful wedding day was filled emotion, tradition, and loved ones from near and far.

Guests traveled from all over the world to join Ariel and Aaron as they entered into marriage. Neither of them native Chicagoans, these two met in our city by chance. Now they call Chicago home, and getting married here was so intentional! After about a week of separation before their wedding, Ariel and Aaron were reunited during their rooftop Bedeken. The courtyard wedding ceremony was immediately to follow.

Some of my favorite details from this day include their DIY ceremony program The Newlywed Times, their lively dance floor (I don’t think one guest remained seated), and of course the epic Donut Wall (Ariel’s favorite!). Guests even got a live glass-blowing demonstration by the artists at Ignite during the reception! How cool is that?! Their only portrait request was to replicate a black-and-white wartime photo

Getting to know Ariel and Aaron was an absolute pleasure. As some of the most friendly, generous people you will ever meet, their wedding day had no shortage of smiles! Seriously – when these two are together, you can just feel the love 🙂 I think each and every vendor who helped make this wedding day come together would agree!

Ariel and Aaron: Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for having us in August!! Your wedding was a joy to capture, I wish you nothing but the best in your future together. Mazel Tov!!

Vendor Team

Venue: Ignite Glass Studio/Hotel: St. Jane/Wedding Planner: Wedicity/Bride’s dress: purchased at Something New Bridal, tailored by Ette/Bride’s shoes: Converse/Groom’s suit: Ted Baker/Florals: YJ Decorating/Hair Stylist: Pin Me Up Chicago/Makeup: Family member/Invitation: Zola.com/Rings: New York Jewelers/Violinist: Ruby Harris/DJ: DJ Chicago/Caterer: Zelda’s Catering/2nd photographer: Jeremy

Nancy and Wade’s Garfield Park Conservatory engagement session was an absolute delight. We met at Nancy’s home just after sunrise with their pup, Dolly (isn’t she sweet?!). Due to thunderstorms in the forecast, we’d changed plans a few days prior and decided to spend the majority of our time at Garfield Park Conservatory. And though it didn’t rain, I’m so happy we did!

These two just radiate when they’re together. We had fun walking through the palms, cacti, and checking out the swimming Koi. It was Wade’s first visit to the conservatory, and since he was in town from Miami he felt right at home! I couldn’t be more excited for their intimate Chicago wedding in ONE WEEK!!

Are you getting married in Chicago? Need a last-minute rain plan like Nancy and Wade?

The Garfield Park Conservatory is my favorite option in the city! A photo permit is necessary (total cost is $80) and they typically require a couple weeks’ notice. Need one in a pinch? I recommend filling out the application found HERE and then calling the offices at 312-742-4786. They’re super nice and should be happy to expedite the approval process 🙂

I had such a blast with Maya and James at their Logan Square engagement session last month! We got lucky with a gorgeous fall day, and these two were all smiles 🙂 For their session, they wanted to showcase their love for Chicago, pizza, ice cream (and each other, of course!). I was definitely into the food-focused idea and luckily we were able to get into a few favorite spots in the city.

Our session began at Spinning J, where these two shared a couple of milkshakes at the counter. If you haven’t been here before, I highly recommend it! These are my favorite shakes in all of Chicago, complete with real whipped cream and all the old-timey, vintage touches you can imagine. Shout out to the staff for accommodating us!

We continued our trek to Logan Square, and a stop at the iconic Greetings From Chicago mural was a must. James and Maya were such a pleasure to hang out with – we even re-created a photo from their engagement day! Finally we made our way to Boiler Room for a couple slices because, well, pizza IS love, guys. We even had time to stop at Humboldt Park for a few photos at dusk in the formal garden. Engagement session = Success!

Maya and James: This was such a fun session, thanks again for having me! Can’t wait for your Chicago wedding next year!!

Alex and Jason’s Lacuna Lofts wedding was a highlight of our summer. Not only are these two super friendly, affectionate, and in LOVE, they know how to throw a party! Guests traveled from near and far to witness these two exchange vows and celebrate into the night.

Jason and Alex wanted to keep things local by tying the knot in their neighborhood. For instance, Jason got ready at their Pilsen home, while Alex enjoyed her morning at The W Hotel downtown. When we all met at Lacuna for their first look, sparks flew! Their stylish wedding party joined us for photos at the venue. We had a blast “staying cool” in the 100+ degree Chicago summer 🙂

These two are so clearly surrounded by love and support. This celebration would not have been what it was without the countless friends and family in attendance! The entire EMP team was present to capture their day, and it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of. One of my favorite things was the furry guest who joined us for champagne at night… you’ll see what I mean.

Alex and Jason: THANK YOU again for having us in July!! We loved your wedding and wish you both a lifetime of happiness together.

Vendor Team

Venue: Lacuna Lofts/Hotel: W Chicago City Center/Wedding Planner: VS1 Events/Bride’s dress: Pronovias/Bride’s shoes: Kailee P/Groom’s suit: J. Ferrar/Florals and Decor: Elegance Decor/Hair Stylist: Pierre Melo/Makeup Artist: Monica Rogers/Invitation: Vistaprint/Engagement ring: Professional Gems Jewelry/Wedding bands: Zales/DJ: Best Life Entertainment/Videographer: Amy Lynn for EMP/Photo Booth: Emma Mullins Photography/Caterer: LM Catering/Dessert: Vanille Patisserie/2nd shooter: Jeremy

Want to see more Alex & Jason? Check out their awesome Highlight Film by Amy Lynn!

Jenny and Michael’s fall engagement session took place on their five-year anniversary (awww!). Because their fateful first date took place on the Chicago Riverwalk, returning for engagement photos was an absolute must! Though the scenery may have changed a bit since then, our evening was full of giddy, romantic nostalgia. Next year, they’ll be celebrating as newlyweds!

Something I love about these two is that everything else seems to disappear when they’re together. Their session had a super playful and romantic vibe, they were a dream to photograph! We talked about wedding plans, whether or not Nicolas Cage would make the guest list, and their honeymoon road trip destinations next summer.

After a stroll down memory lane, the three of us headed to the Prudential building‘s rooftop terrace for a perfect October sunset. If you’re looking to take fall engagement photos, I highly recommend ending at this time of day! Jenny and Michael kept each other warm while enjoying spectacular views of our city. They even started speaking French to each other (I know!!). I’m gonna have to brush up on my Français before wedding day, bien sûr 🙂

Thanks for having me, Jenny and Michael! I cannot wait for your wedding day next June!!

Many of you know that Door County has a special place in my heart. Consequently, I will jump at any opportunity to visit! This summer, I joined a group of mostly local wedding vendors for a lavender-inspired styled shoot at Stone’s Throw Winery. With some planning, a little love, and a LOT of talent, we were able to create an intimate, French countryside vibe in the middle of the Midwest! Yep, a Wisconsin winery wedding is a thing 🙂

If you didn’t know, some of the only lavender farms in the Midwest are located on Washington Island, right off the Wisconsin peninsula. I had been talking with Jenna of Lavender & Co. Events about a collaboration (guess where the idea came from!), and we were both drawn toward this region. Jenna’s business thrives on including lavender whenever possible, and it definitely has a presence in the wedding world. We wanted to utilize as much of the locally grown plant as possible.

Stone’s Throw Winery in Bailey’s Harbor was the perfect venue to host our shoot. We could not be happier with the way this turned out! Our models stunned in mis-matched attire while honoring the lavender/blue color palette. And the florals… don’t get me started! I have known Krista of Native Sage & Co. for a few years now and had no doubt she’s create something exceptional. If you’re looking for a florist in the Green Bay/Madison area, definitely check her out!

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Neil and Stephanie at the winery! Not to mention Jackie and Dylan for playing bride and groom, and the wedding party for making this shoot a breeze. Note the extremely handsome officiant… had my eye on that guy the entire day!

All vendors did an incredible job, it was a pleasure working with you all!

Vendor Team

Venue: Stone’s Throw Winery/Wedding Planner: Lavender & Co. Events/Bride’s dress: Monirose/Groom’s suit: Express/Florals: Native Sage Co./Hair & Makeup: Hair by Kari/Stationery: Emery Ann Design/Table: Vintage Farmhouse Tables/Rentals: Lavender & Co. Events, BBJ Linen/Jewelry: Leffler & Bellamy/Groom’s ring: Manly Bands/Videographer: Falkum Creative/Cookies + Cake: Yield Bakehouse