Emma Mullins Photography

While vacationing in St. Thomas in January, I had the opportunity to photograph Jennifer and Daniel’s intimate Virgin Islands elopement on the beach! Jeremy and I were swimming in Magens Bay when I saw someone setting up what looked like white curtains in the sand. A few minutes later it dawned on me: “Someone’s getting married here today! There’s going to be a wedding on the beach!!”

I jumped out of the water, introduced myself to the groom and officiant, and asked if they wouldn’t mind if I grabbed my Fujifilm to capture their ceremony. As I predicted, the festivities were scheduled around sunset. The light was getting softer, and the bride was on her way! To my luck, they agreed.

Daniel and Jennifer’s ceremony was brief but intimate, surrounded by a handful of their family and friends in paradise. There is something so personal and emotional about an intimate wedding ceremony. With all eyes on this couple, you could feel the support for the love that they share. Even never having met these two, I still got teary-eyed behind the lens! I have no doubt that they are meant to spend the rest of their lives together.

I captured their champagne toast and cake cutting (it was piña-colada flavored!), and then left the newlyweds to celebrate with their guests. How lucky I am to have been a part of this! Daniel & Jennifer: thank you for the opportunity to capture these moments! I wish you all the happiness in your future together.

Want to have your own Virgin Islands Elopement?

There are several companies on the islands who assist couples in their own intimate beach weddings. Packages may include a variety of perks, such as your bouquet, wedding cake, and newlywed champagne toast. Remember, even if your package includes a photographer, you can always provide your own!

For more info and inspiration, check out the following:
Island Bliss Weddings
Secret Harbour Beach Resort
Flawless Weddings and Events

Vendor Team

Ceremony Location: Magens Bay Beach/Officiant: Michael Motylinski/Bouquet: Roses Too/Cake: Island Sweet Stuff

I have known Dana as long as I’ve lived in Chicago (a whole decade!). Over the years we have shared many conversations regarding art, dreams, food, boys (men)… and most recently, babies! She and her husband Jordan have one of the most extraordinary love stories, going their separate ways and defying odds to return to each other, where they clearly belong. As they welcomed their son this week they became a family – and I truly couldn’t be more happy for them.

It was such a treat capturing Jordan & Dana’s maternity session. Since the two were in town from Nashville for their baby shower, we chose Loft 305 in West Town for its gorgeous natural light. An artist herself, Dana’s vision for our session and mine were pretty much on the same wavelength. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: my friends are pretty talented. Want to check out Dana’s work?http://www.danaolsonart.com/

This was not the first time Dana had modeled for me – I believe my final college project was a series of black and white fashion images of her that I had photographed on film and developed in the dark room (ah, those were the days!). Believe me, this girl can work the camera! Although technically this was a couple’s session, I couldn’t help but get some solo images of my model Momma-to-be.

Jordan and Dana, I am so excited for you two (now three!) and what your future holds. I am positive you are already amazing parents. Thank you for allowing me to capture this important time in your lives – I can not wait to meet the little guy!

I met Lani pretty soon after she and Justin moved to Chicago last year. She gets so excited at every opportunity to talk about her upcoming wedding, and I can’t help but ask her about it! Their destination wedding plans have been in the works for some time now, and it’s all finally coming together. When she asked me to take their engagement photos in their new city, I was thrilled!

We started in their neighborhood of Logan Square, and hit some stops that were meaningful to them. It was a cold (very cold) January afternoon, so our plan was to stay indoors. I met Justin & Lani at Bric-A-Brac Records, one of my favorite spots in the city. So much music, and nostalgia galore (So. Many. Toys). Lani even left with a California Raisin figurine! Plus, there is always an awesome graffiti mural on the side of the building. Mural pictured is by local artist Sick Fisher.

We headed down the street to grab a cocktail at Reno, where Justin and Lani had their first Chicago date. Two whiskeys later, we decided to play tourist and went to the top of 360 Chicago (formerly the John Hancock Observatory) for some killer sunset views of the city and frozen lake! I even got to play around with double exposures – thanks for the inspiration, Lani 🙂 I had a blast playing tourist for a change!

Finally, we made a quick decision to brave the 16-degree weather and stop at North Avenue Beach for some icy beach images at dusk. Lani’s dream was to recreate the feel of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Honestly, these may be my favorite images from our entire session. Were we freezing? Yes. Was it worth it? Completely.

Justin, Lani: thank you so much for having me tag along on this adventure! There is no doubt you two share something special and unique, and I’m so excited for you to make it official later this year.

Hey guys! Guess what?! I finally got to visit Salvage One, and the rumors are true: it’s FANTASTIC! Such a unique space exploding with photo opportunities, complete with an oh-so-tempting shuffleboard table. Emily and John are tying the knot there in March, and we were able to spend some time in the space during their engagement session. Our first stop, though, was none other than Garfield Park Conservatory – one of my most favorite spots in Chicago (even moreso this time of year…). Seriously, it’s prime season to visit this magical place! Have you been there recently? I encourage you to treat yourself, learn something new, and pretend you’re in a tropical rainforest for the afternoon. You can thank me later.

Emily & John met years ago while working at the Field Museum together, and got engaged this past summer. They stumbled upon Salvage One quite by accident, and happened to love it so much they snagged their wedding date for 2017! I am so excited to photograph their wedding day, especially after spending this time with them in December. They clearly have a lot to be excited about, too.

It’s always a joy to photograph a couple whose vision reflects my own. Emily & John – I am thrilled with the way your engagement session turned out, and your wedding day is going to be all kinds of awesome. Looking forward to what we’ll create together this spring!

When Rachel and Jonathan asked me to photograph their Cozumel, Mexico destination wedding, I couldn’t contain my excitement! My passport was ready, I was already familiar with the island, and couldn’t think of anything I’d rather be doing the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Clearly, the answer was a resounding YES! And the result was more than I could have imagined.

One of the first things I learned about Jon and Rachel was they had a Chihuahua mut, Vincenzo. There was no question as to whether Vinny would be included in their destination wedding weekend – they had already cleared for him to fly! Even though it didn’t work exactly as planned, Rachel gave Vinny the honor of escorting her down the aisle 🙂

The Destination Wedding Experience

Yes, destination weddings are gorgeous and unforgettable – there’s no denying that. But something I didn’t expect from this experience was getting to know the couple better through their friends and family. It made me think: as photographers, we take the time to get to know our couples before their wedding day. Rarely do we have the opportunity to hear other perspectives, but when we do, how wonderful that is!

For instance, I knew that Rachel and Jon were best friends in high school. They told me they were together for 13 years before tying the knot. What I wasn’t aware of were the in-between years, and the sacrifices they made for each other early on. What I’m trying to say is: this is LOVE. What an honor it was to be a part of this wedding day!

Rachel and Jon – Thank you again for inviting me to spend this time with you and your group! I wish you nothing but more love and happiness in the years to come.

Vendor Team

Bride’s Dress: BHLDN/Bride’s Shoes: Guess/Groom’s attire: Tommy Bahama/Ceremony and Reception: Playa Azul/Vinny’s sombrero: DIY by the bride

Ah, the first snow of the season. This brings mixed feelings to many of us. Either you’re dreading the long winter (and supposed return of Chi-beria) ahead, or you welcome snowy weather with open arms. Mary and William’s December engagement session was the perfect opportunity to embrace Chicago’s weather!

We began at Lincoln Park before dusk. Mary arrived with freshly curled hair, which I tried to capture before Mother Nature got the best of us. Miraculously, these two remained dapper as ever in spite of the wetness falling from the sky. I mean – they may have been a little bit distracted…

We had a blast playing on the Nature Boardwalk before dark, and even got a little rowdy (two words: snowball fight). As the day turned to night, we headed to Zoolights to explore and dance and listen to ever-present ‘NSync and Trans-Siberian Orchestra tunes. We even got to see some animals! I learned that William’s mother helped gather penguins from Iceland to introduce to Lincoln Park Zoo back in the day. Way cool. The original penguin’s habitat is now home to the pink-faced, pink-reared snow monkeys, who we had the pleasure of hanging out with between the glass.

Finally, we concluded our session at Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza. This is one of my favorite things to do in the city, hands-down. Turns out, I’m not alone! Mary and William brought their own glühwein mugs from Vienna, which were promptly filled upon request. We did some window-shopping, encountered a $1,200 German boot stein (sadly, none of us made the splurge), and fed each other roasted nuts (okay, THEY fed each other roasted nuts). A most pleasant end to an unforgettable winter session.

Mary and William – thanks for embracing the weather with me! I had so much fun with you both, and my head is spinning with ideas for your wedding next year. Fingers crossed the snow is melted by June…

Angie and Sam are two of the most wonderful people you will ever meet. Obviously very much in love, kindness and happiness just radiate off of them. The couple describe themselves as “still newlyweds” after being married two years ago in their home state of Michigan. They wanted some photos to remember their time in Chicago before they return to the Mitten State some day (and I don’t blame them – have you seen our skyline lately?!). Also – it was very important for them to rule in the Christmas card department this year. Angie, Sam: I think we got you covered.

Fellow artists (Angie is a dancer and Sam a musician – you may recognize him from Season 5 of NBC’s The Voice), it is no surprise their session seemed to go flawlessly. They were instantly at ease in front of the camera, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. We talked beer, the recent Cubs parade, and all about their Michigan wedding! We ended our time together with an impromptu leaf fight and the city lights at dusk (my absolute favorite).

Angie and Sam – it was truly a pleasure meeting you both. I know you will continue to do great things together wherever your next stop may be!

I was absolutely thrilled when Alice asked me to document her destination Chicago elopement. She and Harry planned to visit from London and get married at City Hall… without telling a soul. This is so my style – I thought. How spontaneous! How romantic! And to top it off, she was the first bride to discover me through Instagram! Of course I wanted to be a part of it.

We met in person for the first time on wedding day. Appointments are not accepted at Cook County Marriage Court, so we were prepared for anything. Luckily, the wait was not long, and we had a chance to get acquainted before their ceremony. After a few minutes with the judge, these two were officially married!!

This was Alice’s first time in Chicago, but not Harry’s. In fact, he’s a seasoned Cubs fan! Needless to say, there was quite a bit of excitement in the air (okay, for several reasons) – we even took some Newlywed photos near the fountain at Daley Plaza. Of course, the blue water was in honor of the Cubs!

I scouted a photo route based on ideas from Alice and Harry. Locations pictured include Cloud Gate, Chicago Theatre, and the Chicago Riverwalk. We even had time to break for a Chicago dog at Lillie’s on the Park! Our session concluded in Logan Square with some street art and a Just Married cocktail. Shout out to Estereo for accommodating us!

Alice and Harry – it was so wonderful meeting you both, I’m honored to have shared in your destination Chicago elopement. Can’t wait to catch up next time you’re in town!

Amanda and Rob’s downtown Chicago engagement session was quite an adventure. These two tie the knot in our city next September, and I couldn’t be more excited for them! They had so many great ideas for this session, and it was not easy to narrow down. But – lucky for us, we made it happen!

I met Amanda and Rob at their West Loop home for photos with their adorable pup, Chloe. There was no question as to whether Chloe would be included in our session – and the reasons were obvious. The three of them make a perfectly happy family! I always love including pets in engagement photos, especially if they’re not able to make an appearance on wedding day.

Our next stop was Mary Bartelme Park, down the street from their home. We arrived to find the misters going on the sculpture – and then realized it was Chicago Marathon day! If only we would have begun several hours earlier, we could have crashed the race (…or the runners would have crashed our session?)! We were able to get a few photos with the misters before they turned themselves off.

The rest of our evening consisted of location-hopping downtown. Finally, we came to Olive Park to watch the sun set! This was such a fun downtown Chicago engagement session at some favorite locations in the city. You’d better believe I’ve got plenty of ideas for wedding day 🙂

For the second year in a row, I was asked to photograph CASA of Cook County’s annual fundraiser that took place in September. For those unfamiliar, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding safe and loving homes for children in the foster care system who have experienced abuse and neglect. 2016 marked the organization’s 30th birthday, and I was there to capture the big celebration!

This year the event was held in the Winter Garden at The Harold Washington Library Center. Those in attendance included volunteers, sponsors, Circuit Court judges, Special Advocates, and foster children themselves. Though I am no expert on their services, it doesn’t take long to realize the impact this organization has on so many lives. The amount of growth CASA has achieved over the past year was also apparent – between 2015’s fundraiser and the one in September there has been a noticeable increase in amount of guests, speakers, auction donations, and venue size. Way to go, CASA!

The event featured a number of keynote speakers, including Circuit Court of Cook County’s Chief Judge Timothy Evans. Also, similar to last year, both a silent auction and live bidding took place. (This was one of my favorite parts of the evening – from both a personal and photographic standpoint!) Shout out to Jim Miller of Charity Auctioneer for keeping those bidding wars alive!

Also special thanks to Mark Dinglasan, Wendy Williams, and everyone else who helped make the evening such a success. Already looking forward to next year’s event!

For more information on CASA of Cook County, visit http://casacookcounty.org/

Want to get involved? Volunteer or Make a Donation

Florals: Alexine Mudawar, CASA Associate Board

Furniture: M&M Rentals

Sound and Projection: Sound Investment

Cake: Jordan’s Food of Distinction

Event Sponsors: aLawCenters.com, Allstate, DLA Piper, Don Gimble, Katalyst Technologies, The Kirch Foundation, Lana Vukolajk, Locke Lord, Mary Hasten, Quarles & Brady, Wells Fargo