Still Life

09.29.13 - Chicago, Illinois - As most photographers know, the best moments always seem to happen when you are without a camera. I was cruising down I-90 yesterday going to film an interview and passed the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile. Not that it's a good idea to shoot photos while driving, but still I'll be thinking about that one for a while. 

Anyway, I did have my camera around for these simple still life shots from August and September. Two are from my trip to Boston for Brett and Gen's wedding and the other was just walking through Edgewater the other night. 

Thanks,

Will

Government Center.

Caffe.

Edgewater.

Anthony and Erin's Wedding

08.24.13 - Channahon, Illinois - Anthony and Erin's wedding was in Joliet with a reception near their house in Channahon along the Des Plaines River at the Four Rivers Environmental Educational Center. It's a great site at the meeting of four rivers (don't as me which) with lots of prairie grass and marsh and general excellence. I had a great time cruising in their Hummer limo and partying with their families late into the night. Also, if you're looking for flower ideas, sunflowers = awesome.

Cheers,

Will

Flower girls. 

BTW, best kiss of the season. Also, complete surprise.

Cocktail hour.

We had some fun with bridal party photos. Something tells me Erin could've thrown it 50 yards easy. 

Father's speech.

Anthony's mom on the dance floor. 

First dance. 

Shout.

Meriem's Headshots

08.17.13 - Chicago, Illinois - I had the pleasure of shooting some headshots and general portraits for Chicago based costume designer Meriem Bahri. She was so much fun to hang out with and talk about Chicago theatre, baroque opera costumes and her time as a biologist. Very cool and gotta love exposed brick backgrounds. 

Cheers,

Will 

Uptown Opera Photo Call

07.25.13 - Chicago, Illinois - Every now and then I have the pleasure of shooting photo calls for theatre companies. My friend Amanda and a company she works with, Genesis Ensemble, called me in to shoot some production shots for their latest show, Uptown Opera. 

The concept was a bluegrass opera about Appalachian migrants that moved to Chicago in the 1950s. It was set in the amazing Preston Bradley Auditorium, which is a stunning church space built in the 1920s by a pastor who had a large radio following. 

Cool Show + Cool Space = Cool Photos. You get the idea.

-Will

P.S. - Just to get your bearings, the audience sat on the stage and looked out onto an empty auditorium that was creatively used as a stage for the performers.

This one made the Sun-Times (you know that paper that fired all its photographers). I'm a sucker for clips.

Neil and Sarah's Wedding

07.20.13 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Over the weekend I had the great pleasure of shooting Neil and Sarah's fabulous wedding receptions in Milwaukee at the Villa Filomena on Friday and at the Milwaukee Historical Society on Saturday night. They met at a beach bar in Goa, India and the rest is history. Neil's family hosted a traditional Indian reception (with some great food, I might add) Friday night and they held a more formal dinner on Saturday. 

I always love shooting the dance party that follows the wedding and this time I got to do it two nights in a row, which was awesome. I've always felt that shooting the reception is a lot like my experience shooting sports in that it's all about setting a trap and waiting for the perfect moment. Here are some of my favorite moments below. 

Cheers,

Will

Sarah's father plays around with some of the props.

Neil's mom performs a dance for the couple.

Dessert, the scene.

Neil.

Sarah.

The Treatment, based in Chicago, played a two hour Soul and R&B set to kick off the night.

Breaking it down.

This was the last thing of the night, Skyping with a relative back in India. Technology. Wow.

May - Shooting from the Hip

05.01.13 - Chicago, Illinois - After the wedding things were a little slow around here as the flowers started to pop up and Spring finally sprung. Below is a little of what I saw walking around Chicago, camera in tow. 

-Will

Lets just say being Miss Heart of Illinois is not nearly as glamorous as it sounds.

Quinceanera, Rogers Park.

El Nelson.

File this under: "It Gets Better."

Jefferson Park.

Along MLK Drive in Bronzeville, formerly Ida B. Wells Homes.

Tulips, Chicago Theatre.

Pablo and Mira's Wedding

04.07.13 - Evanston, Illinois - Pablo and Mira got married in a small backyard ceremony with friends and family. You'll probably remember them from an engagement photos posting a while back. Fortunately the weather was much warmer that Sunday and we were able to be outside. Afterwards we shot some photos around Northwestern University's campus, at least as much as we could stand in the 50F weather.

-Will