J. ANNE

I just delivered Jake & Ashley their engagement photos and I received a follow up email from Jake that said, “Love them, they are spectacular!!! She looks like an angel with that light! You are unbelievably good.”

I responded by saying, “You are an unbeliveably hot piece of sexy man meat!!!  ;)  Can’t wait to see you in a couple months!!!  xo.”

He responded, “LOL (insert laughing face with tears).  Wow.  Thanks.”

This is why they’re my clients.

Jake and Ashley showed in for their first set of engagement photos in Chicago crazy late.  They were driving in from Champaign, IL… and it was a rainy gross day, so traffic wasn’t at its finest.  They came to our meeting spot full of apologies and kindness, and we went straight to work shooting through dark Chicago clouds that were spitting rain on us.  Throughout the entire shoot we laughed hysterically as though we were old college friends… except, I’m way older, so maybe I’d be more like the sorority sister who took 10 years to get though a Bachelor’s degree, but whatever.

I knew from the moment we got started shooting that these two were going to be an absolute dream to work with on their wedding.  They are smart and charming, witty and full of banter…. and not to mention they’re freaking nails in the looks department.  The photos in Chicago turned out beautiful and worthy of a midwest fall season, but when these two darlings hopped a plane to spend a weekend doing some wedding planning , I whisked them away into our sunny Vegas desert to show them what engagement photos could really be!!

On the side of mountain we stood.  Ashley and Jake stood before me in beautiful winter sunlight.  Ashley looked radiant, but I could tell that there was something missing.  I tried to order wind for the shoot, but somehow nature didn’t oblige my request… so it just seems that Ashley’s skirt was laying too flat and lifeless.  As luck would have it, Ash had asked me to bring a pair of scissors to cut some tags she had in her shirt that showed through.  I asked Ashley if I could take these scissors and cut a slit up her skirt, and I’m pretty sure she said… “You want to what?!!”  And then she said yes…. And then I chickened out…. And then she said, okay… And then I said… “No!  It has to be done!”  And then…. a little snip was made and the Project Runway star in me came out as I grabbed the two sides of the material and separated them up her leg.  I’ve never done that before in my life, but Tim Gunn would be so so so proud.

And, I do have to say myself… it was the RIGHT decision.

Exhibit A.  Jake, Ashley, and Leg.  What a beautiful family of three.  ha ha ha!

Ashley and Jake are getting married this March at Mandarin Oriental and I can’t wait!!  Hair and Makeup done by Amelia C. & Co!!