Amanda & Rich Engagement | Park Ridge, IL | Chicago Wedding Photographers

A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to photograph Amanda and Rich for their engagement session. I had such a great time getting to know the two of them, and was so grateful that the seemingly imminent rain held off for the entire time we were shooting. Amanda grew up in Park Ridge, so the downtown area and the surrounding forest preserves provided not only a beautiful setting, but also one with significant sentimental value. As you can tell from the images below, Amanda and Rich have such a fun and sweet way about them which made them such a joy to shoot. I can’t wait for their wedding later this year at the Metropolis Ballroom!

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jess - i love all of them!!!! the ones in the forest are my fave :)

Axie Russell - What a cute couple! Great pics! Congrats you two!!

Ginny Corbett - The forest shots have my heart. Lovely as always!

Kate Lee - Beautiful Couple!!!

Nadia Marchetti - Sooooo lovely!!!!!

John Williams - Love you both these are great pictures

Veronica - Love them! So beautiful!

Mike Reineck - how awkward is it when they ask you to pretend you’re laughing?

Kelly & Brian’s Engagement | McClaughrey Springs Woods | Palos Heights Photographer

Words are seeming to fall short in describing these last 3.5 months. “Amazing” doesn’t quite seem to do it justice. I’ve traveled 9200 miles in my car, been through 14 states, seen cornfields, mountains, canyons, deserts, beaches, and Redwoods. I’ve witnessed breathtaking sunsets, life-threatening storms, and awe-inspiring coastlines. I’ve reconnected with old friends and made some new ones, while plugging into all the micro-cultures that the beach and mountain towns along the way. For all of this, I’m grateful. It has been a truly life altering experience and one that I hope to expand on in a later post.

As I carry these experiences with me into the busy months of weddings and engagements before me, there’s a renewed creative vision and inspiration. I’d like to say that I’m bursting with with creative juices all day, every day. That would be nice. But if I told you that, it would be a lie. Like any artist, there is an ebb and flow to my creative inspiration. Right now, however, my inspiration cup is brimming, and I’m as eager as ever to pour it into the couples that I have the honor of working with this summer.

I recently returned from Savannah, GA where I kicked off wedding season with a beautiful southern wedding I had the opportunity to shoot with one of my close friends. They’re onto something with that whole southern hospitality thing, and as far as ceremony locations are concerned, it doesn’t get much better than a quaint little white church surrounded by towering oak trees laced in Spanish moss. With wedding season underway, these past few weeks have also been full of engagement sessions. I’m anxious to share them all, but especially excited to get things started with Kelly and Brian’s engagement. All those who know Kelly and Brian know how fun, genuine, and gracious of a couple they are. I have been so fortunate to work with so many amazing people and it’s always such a privilege to have friends ask me to capture such a significant day in their lives. I can’t wait for their wedding in a couple of months!

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Ginny Corbett - This is one of my favorites of yours. I love the editing…I can feel the love…and I love how your creative cup continues to inspire me. Oh….and you know how much I love those trees, right?!

Heather Kozbiel - Oh my gosh,l I love this pictures! You truely capture their love for one another! So amazing.. brought tears to my eyes! So happy for you my sister and can’t wait for Brian to offically be part of our family! XOXOXO!

jen jackson - They are gorgeous pictures to go with a gorgeous couple! Love the one where Brian is lifting Kelly up in the air!!

Gina Gagliano - These photos are priceless…they do such a beautiful job of capturing the essence of your love surrounded by the beautiful outdoors… What a talented photographer!!!!! I will be saving his card for sure!! Can’t wait to see the wedding ones!!! So happy for you two. You look radiant kel! And bri, you look great too!! :)

Brittny Belsan - These pictures are absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I can’t wait for your big day-such a beautiful couple. Love you guys!

Amy Klimkowski - True Love! amazing photos :) xoxo

Cathy - The very first shot here is my fave–so cute. Just came across your blog, and I really love your look! :)

Clare & Jon’s Engagement | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Todd James Photography

This week’s weather attests to the looming shift in season. Despite the fact that this winter has been anything but typical for Chicago, I welcome the warmth with open arms! Along with this change in season comes the growing anticipation of the 2012 wedding season. The other day as I was taking a look at my wedding schedule for the summer, I was overwhelmed by the how many amazing couples I have the opportunity to work with this year.

And speaking of amazing couples, Clare and Jon are no exception! I recently had the opportunity to photograph their engagement session downtown Chicago on one of the beautiful days that the city has provided lately. We began in the River North area and then explored the lakeside beauty of Belmont Harbor. Clare and Jon are such a fun and easy-going couple and it was such a great time getting to know them on the shoot. I can’t wait for their wedding at the Hyatt McDonald’s Lodge in Oak Brook this coming September!

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Ginny Corbett - WOW!! Seriously…..wow!

Linda kay - WOW 2! These are incredibly beautiful and creative too!

Clare Steinbach - Jon and I absolutely love them Todd! Thanks so much!! :)

David & Ashley’s Engagement | Glencoe Beach | Evanston & Chicago, IL

2011 was a great year and I had the opportunity to document so many incredible days in the lives of numerous couples. In fact, if you would have told me all that would have happened in my life and the life of my business, I don’t know that I would have believed you. And though I have often recounted how my latest shoot ranks up there as one of my newest favorites, few rank up there with my most recent.

This past November my younger brother of 23 years got engaged to his girlfriend of 3 years. They met when my brother spent his freshman year at a college in Minnesota and didn’t start dating until after he transferred to a school in the Chicago suburbs. Not the best planning on their part considering Ashely was still up in Minnesota, but they made it work. And I guess to say that they “made it work” does a disservice to how their relationship thrived in these less than ideal circumstances. It’s like the more miles they logged up and down 90, the more their relationship grew. Sure, it wasn’t always easy, but I’ve long respected how they persevered in the midst of a situation that many other couples could have thrown in the towel.

What to say about my brother… Well, there are brothers that you love because they’re family and then there are brothers that you love just because of who they are. And though I’ve always loved my brother because he’s my brother, it’s more accurate to describe him as the later. Over the last few years, he has become one of my best friends. I just flat out enjoy who he is and I’m so proud of the man that he continues to develop into. Whether we’re sitting at a Chicago bar watching a Bulls or Bears game, or we’re stuck in Yosemite National Park sleeping in our rental car for 3 nights straight because we forgot to bring a tent we manage to have a great time together. His friends can attest to his unmatched loyalty, his strength of character, and his commitment to his faith. It’s for these reasons and so many more that I am beyond honored to be standing in his and Ashley’s wedding as his best man this June.

I always give Ashley a hard time because the first time I met her (at a time that I knew my brother was interested in her before they started dating), in the brief interaction we had, I thought she was giving my brother the run-around. I swear she was playing hard to get but she denies it. Once they started dating and I got to spent time with this girl who stole my brother’s heart though, my own heart quickly warmed up to her too – a fact I know to be true of the rest of my family as well. I mean, what’s not to love? She’s fun, she’s cute, and she has one of the kindest and gentlest hearts. What’s more is that she doesn’t miss a beat with my family’s often quirky sense of humor – a prerequisite my siblings have extolled over the years with anyone we’ve dated.

David and Ashley, I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate your relationship and I’m honored to have documented the start of this journey together with your engagement pictures. I’m so excited for your wedding and thrilled to be welcoming Ashely into our family. I love you both!

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Christi Benson - Where’s the “love” button? The camera loves you two! Or is it the man behind the camera . . . or both?! Hugs! Aunt Christi

Ashley - Todd you did such an excellent job, and we had so much fun :) Your words were so perfect and they made me tear up! I am thrilled to soon be part of the family, you’re amazing! Hope you’re having a wonderful time in cali we definitely miss you.

Eva Van Someren - These pictures are incredible!!!!! Great shots Todd!!! And David and Ashley you guys are such a good looking couple!! =] I love these!

Melane Thompson - Beautiful pictures, Todd! Can’t wait for the big day! David is very lucky. I absolutely love Ashley!

Jaclyn Simpson - This is beautiful, Todd!! And so cool for you to get to shoot your bro’s engagement session!

Ginny Corbett - Love it!

V Hinojosa - Love that silhouette of them! It’s a blessing to be able to appreciate family while on the other side of the lens. Congrats to all!!

Linda kay - Todd, fabulous photos, endearing comments and looking forward to you fulfilling those “best man” duties to the utmost! David and Ashley, you are beautiful, inside and out! love you all!

Britton Felber - Dude, I LOVE the life in your creative photos! You’re so awesome! Keep it up, dude!

Joanne - So beautiful, so personal. They are a blessed couple to have you as the photographer!

Vanessa & Pete’s Engagement | Winter Chicago Engagement Photographer

After a short holiday hiatus, I’m excited to get back in the swing of blogging. I can’t think of a better way to kick it off than Vanessa and Pete’s Chicago engagement session. In the process of editing their images, their engagement session has stood out as one of my favorite sessions of this last year.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m happy that winter hasn’t hit Chicago with the full force it typically does. In fact, I’ve almost gotten a bit used to it here in December. So much so, that when the forecast for my shoot with Vanessa and Pete said it would be sub 30 and windy, I assumed it would feel warmer than projected as it has most of rest of the days here at the end of year. And consequently, we planned on a late afternoon, outdoor shoot around various locations in Chicago. The unfortunate thing was the weatherman was right… he may have even underestimated how extremely cold it was going to be, especially along the lake. But the fortunate thing was Vanessa and Pete were so amazing to work with and incredible sports in the midst of less than desirable conditions. What’s more is that despite numerous repetitions of putting on and taking off their jackets, they did an unbelievable job of pretending like they weren’t absolutely freezing in the images.

I had so much with the two of them exploring some various parts of the city including one of the many Christmas tree lots scattered about the neighborhoods. I can’t wait for their wedding next summer at Chicago The School of Art Institute!

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Ginny Corbett - That flare on the last shot is delish!!

Maggie fortson - Holy cow! These are fantastic! So playful and fun!

Ellen Wetel - These are amazing! Do you ever do family photo shoots or just weddings/engagements?

Jaclyn Simpson - Very Nice! As always!

Marlene Senatore - Loved the pictures even more the second time I saw them!!!!

Jonathan Krienitz - Great Pictures!

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