2009 in review | pictures!

taking a cue from my friend johanna price photography. 2009 was my year of learning. i started with a nikon coolpix, upgraded to a d80, invested in a photography class, started religiously following photobloggers, did a few engagement sessions, family sessions and a wedding (all for free... that's what you gotta do before people ask you to do anything!), made a book, entered a contest and got published in another book.

and i still feel like there is SO MUCH TO LEARN!

i've never had a "passion" for anything before, but i can say now i really do absolutely love making beautiful photographs. so i think this is here to stay!

so here's the progression throughout 2009...enjoy...


making it home before sunset, chicago. january 2009.


a cold cold lonely day wandering around north avenue beach


my first experimentation with depth of field


ahhh... paris! february 2009.


and a little more paris


esta colombia! march 2009.


me gusta colombia!


photowalk along wells street, chicago. april 2009.


a furious lake michigan


last assignment of photography class: take pictures from a different angle and tell a story. may 2009 (p.s. to remind myself in case i want to move back, it was a freaking cold memorial day weekend!)


first attempt at "people" photography. my friend's son, orlando.


first attempt at "food" photography. june 2009.


DoF! lincoln park conservatory. (this one ended up in the book!)


trying to figure out suncircles/sunflare, graceland cemetery, chicago. july 2009.


the-lovehandle.com was born! dinner party at elaine's. august 2009.


brick chicken


hasma. look it up.


my first engagement shoot in destin, fl. it was a surprise! september 2009.


playing with a polarizing filter, picnik, and realizing i need to buy lens cleaner


attempt to shoot grafitti/posters, new york city


attempt to be sneaky and take photos of people while they weren't looking, new york city


my second engagement shoot (not a surpise). attempt at shoot-through. garfield park conservatory, chicago. october 2009.


more lovehandle!


first family shoot, chicago.


second family shoot, chicago.


third engagement shoot, london. attempt at silhouettes. november 2009.


third family shoot, marietta, ga. december 2009.


first wedding! marietta, ga.

still editing these pictures, so come back for more!

well i thoroughly enjoyed that! i have learned so much from following flickr photographers, some amazing wedding photographers and photobloggers, pestering photographer friends with questions and other friends to 'please! pretty please pose for my portfolio!', trying and failing and trying again.

thank you to everyone who sat on the other side of my camera, made goofy faces, got outside of their comfort zones, offered invaluable advice and guidance.

specifically, thank you:
- aimee & scott for being my first "clients"
- elaine for hosting weekly dinner parties so i could practice my food photography
- danielle & mason for being so willing & creative at the conservaory engagement shoot
- erin & joe for really getting out of your comfort zones for my camera
- margaret & cory for asking me to photograph your wedding
- jessica for letting me borrow your lenses & tripod
- shannon stellmacher for spending over an hour on the phone scaring the crap out of me before the first wedding (but i was well prepared after that!)
- johanna price, katie stoops, and ashley jones for answering my photography questions
- the gerbers and patels for letting me photograph your family
- my cousin for letting me take her kid's christmas photos this year
- my small group ladies who bought my book and supported my habit
- my own family for never telling me to 'put my camera down!' and laura & brad for making such cute kids who are the subject of a lot of my photos
- christine & michael who are flying me to houston to taking engagement photos in january 2010

- future friends and clients who will be on the other side of my camera!