Emma Mullins Photography

Today we’re throwing it back to Katherine and Robb’s epic Chicago fall engagement session! These two are getting married in ONE WEEK (!!!), so I thought this would be the perfect way to start the countdown 🙂

I met Katherine and Robb downtown on a beautiful November afternoon. We started near the Wrigley Building and Chicago Riverwalk, which is where they got engaged only weeks before! These are some of the most iconic city photo locations, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. We talked about their favorite desserts, Robb’s surprise proposal, and all the times Katherine has been a bridesmaid (15!!). I had such a blast hanging out with these two!

After our downtown adventure, it was time for ice cream! We stopped by Jeni’s in Lincoln Park for a quick treat and stroll around the neighborhood. When the sun began to set, we headed to the park for some of my favorite golden hour photos of all time. Seriously – take that golden glow, prime foliage, skyline view, and then add Katherine and Robb… this was a dream Chicago fall engagement session! I cannot wait for their wedding next Friday!!

Looking to schedule your own Chicago fall engagement session?

I don’t blame you! As you can imagine, fall is an extremely popular time of year for engagement photos. If you have your heart set on prime colors, I recommend scheduling with your photographer ASAP!

Juliette and Matt’s romantic Chicago engagement session last summer was one for the books! When I first heard from these two, they were recently engaged and wanted to celebrate with photos in our great city at night. Of course, I was on board! Matt and Juliette had been together for over a decade, and were taking their time with wedding plans due to the state of the world. Spoiler alert: They DID elope this past March (in Hawaii!!), and get to celebrate with family and friends in Chicago this weekend! I can’t wait to see these two again and capture it all.

Our session began with cocktails at Frasca, the same place Juliette and Matt had their first date! We then headed to Lincoln Park for nature and skyline views. Truly, these are some of my all-time favorites from this location. Maybe it was the timing, or the fact that we basically had the park to ourselves… but I’m pretty sure it was the romance between Juliette and Matt 🙂

Sidenote: If you’re looking for a photo location with a mix of city and nature, Lincoln Park is a win!! Not only does this park have a variety of backgrounds, it always looks picturesque no matter what time of year, and whatever the weather. Highly recommend!

As the sun began to set, we headed downtown for some epic night photos in the city. Juliette and Matt were naturals in front of the camera, and I’m so happy they were into the nighttime vibe! After a stroll along the riverwalk, we headed to Grant Park for our final destination. A night photo at Buckingham Fountain was the perfect way to end our evening! Fun fact: As of last weekend, the fountain is officially on for the season!

Juliette and Matt: Thanks again for having me last summer! Can’t wait to finally celebrate your marriage this weekend!!!

Happy FALL, friends! Even though summer is officially over, I can’t help but reminisce over Kenia & Bobby’s stunning Chicago summer engagement session. Emma C had a blast with these two in August, and we are so excited for them to tie the knot in THREE DAYS!!!

Emma met these two at one of our all-time favorite photo spots, Lincoln Park. You can’t go wrong with this location! Bobby and Kenia are naturals in front of the camera… aren’t they adorable together?! I absolutely love their outfits, too – Kenia looked stunning in her summer hat and dress! After a lovely stroll in the park, they ended up at the lakefront for sunset with the Chicago skyline. I can’t think of a better way to end a perfect summer evening!

Kenia and Bobby: Your Chicago summer engagement session was a dream! Can’t wait to see what Emma creates for you on wedding day 🙂

Julia and Dan’s summer Chicago engagement session was one for the books! Not only did we get lucky with perfect July weather, these two officially tied the knot less than two weeks later! I knew Dan from my theatre days in Chicago – he actually acted in a play I directed years ago (it’s true!). When he told me he and Julia were engaged and wanted an epic photo session to capture their love, I couldn’t have been happier for them!!

We started our session at the 606 in Wicker Park, making our way to North Avenue Beach at dusk. I was definitely a fan of their locations and outfit choices (can we talk about Julia’s hot pink dress?!)… but the way these two look at each other is what really stole the show. We talked about Dan’s Christmas Eve proposal, their Las Vegas honeymoon plans, and upcoming wedding, of course! These two couldn’t be happier together, and that makes my heart so full 🙂

Dan and Julia: Thank you again for having me capture these moments for you. I hope these photos bring you great joy in the years to come! CONGRATS again to you both!!!

Looking for more summer Chicago engagement inspiration? Check out these other sessions on the Blog!

Brigette & Michael | Claire & Mark | Angie & Mike | Tommy & Elissa | Minal & Drew

I had such a lovely time with Terrence and Shawn for their Montrose Harbor engagement session last month! I met these two at sunrise with their sweet pup, Clover for some photos at the lakefront with that gorgeous morning light. You may have noticed that most engagement sessions are scheduled around sunset… but if you’re a morning person, sunrise is a perfect alternative! Especially in Chicago, watching the sunrise over Lake Michigan is such a treat 🙂

Montrose Harbor is one of those locations that I don’t get to visit often, but I’m always so excited when I do. There’s such great variety here with the lakefront, wildflowers, and skyline view – it’s easy to spend hours here without even noticing. Shawn and Terrence were a pleasure to stroll with, not to mention happy Clover! She really let loose when we got to Montrose Dog Beach… it was one of the highlights of our session!! Shout out to Kayla for keeping Clover company so I could spend some alone time with these two.

After the beach, it was time for donuts! The three of us met at Firecakes in Lincoln Park, one of their favorite places to visit together. We explored the neighborhood a bit and came across this LOVE mural down the street! Of course, we had to stop for a few – and they’re some of my favorite photos from the entire session!

Terrence and Shawn: You two are adorable together, I had so much fun at our session! Can’t wait for you to tie the knot in September!!!

Last month I got to hang out with Hannah and Keith for their Chicago spring engagement session! I met these two at Burwood Tap in Lincoln Park – the place where they had their very first date! If you haven’t been to this classic Chicago dive, it’s definitely worth a visit. After a couple Bell’s Oberons and a trip down Memory Lane, we headed to nearby North Pond in Lincoln Park!

If you can’t tell already, I absolutely LOVE Lincoln Park in the springtime. We had more than our fair share of greenery and spring flowers – the perfect place to spend our Friday evening! Keith and Hannah were up for anything… some of my faves are with the purple flowers outside the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Oh, and the picturesque bridge – and North Pond itself! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I could spend all day taking photos in this park, any time of year 🙂

Hannah and Keith were super easy to photograph (just look at them!) – not to mention Hannah’s Salt and Pepper Diamond engagement ring! Can you tell I was a little obsessed?! Our evening stroll took us to the lakefront where we caught the sun setting with the city skyline. I had a blast hanging out with these two, and can not wait for their Chicago wedding day next May!

It’s no secret that surprise proposals are one of my FAVORITE things to capture. I just love the excitement of it all – the planning, the anticipation, and of course the moment of surprise! This surprise proposal, however, was a little different: I got to be a part of the cover story.

Kevin and Brandon found me last month and ended up booking their 2022 wedding… before they were officially engaged! I knew that they were planning to propose to each other, and secretly hoped I’d get to capture one of these moments. I was SO excited when Brandon asked me to capture his proposal to Kevin!!

After weeks of secret emails and phone calls, Brandon and I came up with a game plan. Their friend Allie (shout out to Allie!) suggested Game Night Out as a perfect place for Brandon to propose. Because the party room would be empty, Brandon could decorate to his heart’s desire! And – with the help of friends and family – that’s exactly what he did!!

We got Kevin to Lincoln Park under the pretense that they were modeling for a new video on my web site. Oh – and by this time, Kevin had already proposed to Brandon!! He expected Brandon to pop the question during their mini session, and when that didn’t happen, we KNEW he’d be surprised. I ran to the party room at lightning speed, and when the two of them arrived, it was perfect. Brandon finally asked Kevin to marry him, and Kevin said YES. To top it all off, a group of friends and family were waiting in the next room to congratulate them!

CONGRATULATIONS, Brandon and Kevin!! I’m so happy I was able to be there for this moment. Can’t wait to capture more memories very SOON 🙂

Are you planning a suprise proposal in Chicago? Check out these other favorites for inspiration!

Gabriel & Sueyi’s Millennium Park Proposal
Rob & Amy’s Ice Skating Proposal
Alex & John’s Harold Washington Library Proposal
Erik & Claire’s Chicago Lakefront Proposal

This week’s “retro” post is dedicated to Allison and Jason! These two were scheduled to tie the knot in Evanston last fall, inevitably deciding to postpone the festivities. I’m so happy we had a chance to meet in person before things changed! Allison and Jason currently live in Florida, and we made sure to schedule their Lincoln Park Zoo engagement session while they were in town that October.

On a romantic and rainy afternoon, I met up with these two at Lincoln Park Zoo. The location was no accident… They spent lots of time here together during their student days at Northwestern University, so of course we had to visit! We took a stroll along the Nature Boardwalk, stayed warm inside the Reptile House, and even caught a little Chicago rain. Jason and Allison were a treat to photograph, and the weather didn’t faze them at all 🙂

Looking back at these sessions from the “before times” has really helped put things into perspective. It’s no secret that the wedding industry has changed fundamentally over the past year, and it’s not over yet! I cannot speak for every vendor, but as for me: safety is a priority. I will continue to adapt to the needs of my couples, and am always excited to share their stories.

Allison and Jason: Thank you for having me capture these memories for you! Can’t wait for you to finally make it official this year!!

Feeling nostalgic for Lincoln Park Zoo?

Great news! After a two-month “hibernation,” the zoo is set to open back up TOMORROW!! Reservations are required. You can find more information, COVID safety guidelines, and book your visit HERE.

I had so much fun with Lindsey and Griffin at their Lincoln Park engagement session this month! We met on one of the last warm days of the season and got to enjoy the most beautiful fall colors. These two are adorable as can be… thanks for making my job easy, guys!

We took a stroll around South Pond and the Nature Boardwalk – a loop that Lindsey and Griffin walk together frequently. Honestly, I have been to Lincoln Park so many times, and each time I find something new that I love! Whether we get lucky with perfect weather (ahem, Lindsey and Griffin), or your session is in rain, sleet, or snow, Lincoln Park will not disappoint. Want to see what I mean? Links below! It’s no wonder this is one of the most popular photo locations in the city 🙂

After our stroll, the three of us headed to the lakefront for a few sunset photos with the Chicago skyline. These are some of my absolute faves from their session! We couldn’t have asked for a better day – so excited for them to tie the knot next year!!

Want to see more sessions in Lincoln Park?! Check out some recent favorites on the Blog:

Claire & Mark | Erica & Eric | Sausha & Jose | Amit & Maya | Stephanie & Jimmy