Cassie Schott photography

Eeek

2010-04-23T16:35:00.003-05:00

This poor blog. I've completely neglected it. Good news is I haven't fallen off of the face of the earth, and there is a new site in the works! Until then, check my facebook page for some recent pictures.

Houston Portrait Photography - Jen and Cage

2009-12-16T21:05:00.002-06:00

This past weekend I did a photoshoot for my best friends down here in Houston, Jenny and Cage. They might look familiar - I shot their "Day After" session after they were married about a year and a half ago. We found a few really great spots near the Galleria, and had some gorgeous sunlight working to our advantage! Everyone asks me what made me move to Houston, and when I say that the weather had a huge influence, they usually think I'm only half serious. But really...my decision was completely based on the fact that I would be able to shoot outside in the winter and get gorgeous shots like these! I guess the fact that Jen and Cage are here also played into it as well as a few other things...but just thinking about how cold it is in IL right now makes me so happy that I don't have to deal with months of cold weather and snow!

Anyways, here are a few of my favorite shots from our shoot!

See what I mean about the great light?

Love this one.

Product Samples: Gallery Canvas Wrap vs. Float Wrap

2009-12-16T20:38:00.003-06:00

Malorie decided to order a gallery canvas wrap of one of her favorite images from her senior session. It came in last week, so I decided to share a few pictures of it on here. These are my absolute favorite out of all of the products that I offer!

Your image is printed on a canvas and then is stretched around a 1.5 or 2.5 inch frame. You can see the slight texture of the canvas in the picture below.

The photo continues around all four sides of the frame, which creates some depth and dimension once it is hanging on the wall.

Gallery canvas wraps come with sawtooth hangers on the back, making them really easy to hang!

Another type of wrap that I offer is a float wrap. This product is similar to a gallery wrap, but is a much thinner wrap. Float wraps also add depth and dimension to your photos, but in a different way. A small block of gatorboard is attached to the back of the wrap, and once the wrap is hung on the wall, it looks as if it is actually floating. Here are a few pictures of one I ordered for Melissa and Rob awhile back.

Contact me for information on available sizes and pricing for these products.

Mike & Nicole - Blumen Gardens Wedding Reception

2009-11-18T19:32:00.005-06:00

I recently flew back to Illinois to shoot Mike & Nicole's wedding reception. They were actually married last summer in an intimate backyard wedding before my cousin Mike was deployed to Afghanistan. He is now back home safe, and Mike and Nicole got to finally celebrate their marriage with all of their friends and family!

We spent about an hour or so before the reception walking around downtown Sycamore taking portraits of the bride and groom. We really lucked out with a sunny, warm November day. I really loved having a nice chunk of time for relaxed pictures of Mike and Nicole by themselves. We found so many great spots!

When we were walking along the street here, a guy came out of the bar to spy and checkout what was going on. You can see him in the background in the slideshow. He was clearly invading my shot!

After a little while we headed over to Blumen Gardens for some more pictures. It was like a photographer's dream! I almost didn't know where to even start. I could easily spend an entire day shooting there.

Mike and Nicole are so cute. This day was probably the most I've seen Mike smile EVER! You can just see how happy they are with each other, and I am just so, so happy for them. :)

To see more of Mike & Nicole, watch the slideshow below, or click HERE to open it up in a new window.

To view the full gallery from their reception, click HERE.

Sam & Darren - Just Because - Dekalb, IL

2009-11-18T17:33:00.005-06:00

I took these pictures of my sister Sam and her boyfriend Darren a way long time ago and just realized that I never got around to posting any more of them on my blog! Here are some of my favorites, followed by a slideshow.

Sam recently started creating hand crafted jewelry, and made the necklace she is wearing. She needs to open up an Etsy shop!

Click play to watch the slideshow below, or click HERE to open it up in a new window.

Mike & Nicole - Sneak Peek

2009-11-07T15:53:00.004-06:00

A few shots from my cousin's wedding reception yesterday...more to follow soon!

Kim & Ronnie - Engagement

2009-10-19T21:18:00.003-05:00

I went to high school with both Kim and Ronnie. I was friends with Kim, but only knew of Ronnie, mainly because he has a sister my age, and I have a sister his age. You know how you tend to "know" a lot of people who you don't really know, because of your siblings? I could go off on a tangent here, and this post is probably starting to sound random and off-track, BUT this just happens to be exactly how Kim and Ronnie first met! Kim and Heather (Ronnie's sister) are good friends. After college, Ronnie's and Heather's groups of friends all started hanging out together, and then Kim and Ronnie started dating.

We met up a couple weeks ago in Naperville, IL near the Riverwalk for their shoot. It is such a pretty area, and a perfect location for photos.

We had decided to reschedule the original shoot date due to rain, and it's a good thing we did because we ended up having some gorgeous sunlight!

Aren't they cute?

I love the movement in the next shot.

To see more from Kim & Ronnie's engagement shoot, watch the slideshow below or click HERE to open it up in a new window.

I am thrilled to be shooting Kim & Ronnie's wedding next April!

Stephanie & Nathan - Engagement

2009-10-19T19:46:00.003-05:00

I shot Stephanie and Nathan's engagement shoot a couple weeks ago, right before I moved. When I first met with Stephanie a few months ago, I knew she was going to be a ton of fun to work with! She was cracking jokes nonstop at our client meeting, and after hearing her tell me all about Nate, I couldn't wait to meet him too. As it got closer to the shoot, Stephanie emailed me to tell me how excited she was, and to warn me that Nate may not be as enthused. In fact, when Steph told him that he might have to flirt with her and show emotion during the shoot, his response was, "This is going to be the worst day of my life." Haha. Luckily, Nate ended up having fun with it, and even picked out some really great spots for pictures! I am so glad they chose the farm as their location - it was meaningful and provided us with plenty of pretty scenery to work with. I can't wait for their wedding next June, which will take place at Stephanie's parents' orchard.

I loved their outfit choices! They compliment each other well without being too matchy-matchy.

Nate is a farmer, and Stephanie requested some shots with the cows. They actually lined up in a ring around Steph and Nate, as if they knew what was going on and were posing for us!

To see more of Stephanie and Nathan's engagement shoot, watch the slideshow below, or click HERE to open it up in a new window.

Kim & Ronnie - Sneak Peek

2009-10-04T22:16:00.004-05:00

I shot Kim & Ronnie's engagement pictures tonight in Naperville, IL. Here are just a few for now:

Two engagement shoots in one day = a lot of fun! :)

Stephanie & Nathan - Sneak Peek

2009-10-04T14:43:00.004-05:00

I had so much fun with these two this morning on their farm in Lanark, IL. Check back soon for more photos from their engagement session!

Sam & Darren - Sneak Peek

2009-09-30T23:35:00.005-05:00

My sister Sam wanted to do a photoshoot with her boyfriend, Darren sometime before I move, and tonight turned out to be the perfect time to do it. We lucked out with some really great light! Here are just a few for now. I'm really tempted to edit more of them, but they will have to wait until after I'm settled in Texas because I still need to pack! I have two engagement shoots before I leave, so check back for those soon.

The Stuckerts - Family Shoot

2009-09-30T20:52:00.003-05:00

On Sunday I met up with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and their spouses for a fun little family shoot.

My cousins decided to do the shoot as an anniversary gift for my aunt and uncle, who celebrated 30 years of marriage this year.

They're cute. :)

My cousin, Melissa, and her husband, Rob.

Their first anniversary is coming up real soon!

My cousin Mike recently returned home from Afghanistan. He and Nicole got married last summer before he left. Their wedding reception is this November and I can't wait for them to be able to celebrate with family & friends!

I'm also really looking forward to shooting their reception!

Kristy & Mike - Engagement

2009-09-18T11:16:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I met up with Kristy and Mike in Geneva, IL for their engagement session. They had been there for a wedding awhile back and thought it would be a good location to do their shoot. We found a lot of great spots walking along the Fox River and downtown Geneva.

Kristy and Mike met while working at the same high school. Kristy is a science teacher, and Mike teaches Driver's Ed. I think it takes a person with tremendous patience to teach high school students to drive, and I think Mike is perfect for it! He's not only patient, soft-spoken, and gentle, but also strong, confident, and intelligent. His students must have a lot of respect for him. And Kristy is so bubbly, animated, smart, neat, and orderly that I bet many students look at her as their favorite teacher. Together, Kristy and Mike make such a great pair. They are down to earth and fun, and I know they will share a happy, fulfilled life together.

I've known Kristy for several years (she is my friend Jenny's sister), but I really got to know her better last summer during our road trip to New Orleans for Jenny's bachelorette party, and all the other wedding festivities and planning. Now it's her turn, and I'm so happy I get to be a part of her day!

Kristy and Mike, I feel so honored to be your wedding photographer, and can't wait for next June!

To see more pictures from Kristy & Mike's engagement shoot, watch the slideshow below, or click HERE to open it up in a new window.

A New Chapter

2009-09-17T14:15:00.003-05:00

It's official. Three weeks from now I'll be packing up my car and making the drive to Houston, TX to..... move into my new place! (AHHH!!) :)

I've lived in Illinois my entire life, and have always wanted to move to a completely different state, and just see where life takes me... but those were just random thoughts. Daydreams. Something I never in a million years thought I would get up the guts and courage to do!

But I've decided to go for it.

After starting my photography business, my outlook on life has changed. This past year has really opened my eyes to the possibility of chasing your dreams without holding back - and actually making them a reality. So, I'm ready for a new adventure, and although it's a little scary, I couldn't be more excited!

Some of my best friends live in Houston, and I can't wait to be able to see them all the time. I'm also really looking forward to being able to shoot outside in the winter without having to deal with frigid temperatures and snow! Definite plus!

I'll be back in IL next summer and several other times throughout the year to shoot weddings and visit family. The great thing about photography is that I can do my job anywhere. So, if you were thinking of contacting me about shooting your wedding, or another type of shoot, don't hesitate to get in touch with me! I would love to have another excuse to come visit my family in IL, or travel anywhere else for that matter!

Kristy & Mike - Sneak Peek

2009-09-12T22:48:00.006-05:00

Here are a few sneak peeks from tonight's engagement session in Geneva, IL. More coming soon!

Out of Office

2009-09-01T20:02:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to post a quick heads up that I will be in Houston for the next week. I'll do my best to check email every so often, but if you don't hear back from me in a day or two, I'm not ignoring you - I will email you once I get back! Any orders placed while I'm gone will also be processed next week when I return.

Michelle, Greg, and Abby - Family Session

2009-09-01T11:19:00.004-05:00

This past weekend I met up with such an adorable family at the Ellwood House in Dekalb for a family session. They live in Florida, but Michelle is originally from the area and wanted to have some photos taken while they are up here visiting family and friends.

This first shot is one of my favorites. Years from now I bet Abby will love it too. I wish I had a picture like this of me and my parents!

Isn't she such a doll?

Such a cute little family!

I love this next series!

Children's Photography - Elgin, IL

2009-08-31T17:42:00.004-05:00

Here are some more pictures of these cute kiddos from their session last week.

Sneak Peek

2009-08-29T16:50:00.003-05:00

Just a couple from my shoot this morning...

Product Sample: Custom Photo Book

2009-08-28T16:54:00.002-05:00

Megan and Jeff decided to order a custom book with their engagement photos to use as their guest sign in book for their wedding next summer. I loved how it turned out, and thought I would share a few pictures on here. I love this modern trend, and personally think that the traditional sign in books are outdated and BORING! I get the fact that they have historical value in documenting who attended your wedding, but... they just remind me of bathroom stall writing in a "Joe Smith was here" sort of way.

Photo sign in books are more personal, allowing plenty of white space for guests to write messages and well wishes. They also become a one of a kind keepsake from your wedding that is more fun and meaningful.

Here is a picture of Emily & Ryan's book from their wedding this past June.

I can't get over their cuteness...

2009-08-26T16:52:00.002-05:00

They have the same smile! I think it's contagious because I can't stop smiling back at my screen. ;)

Malorie - Senior

2009-08-14T00:16:00.004-05:00

A few sneak peeks from tonight's session...

Tara & Ryan - Wedding

2009-08-10T12:13:00.003-05:00

Tara & Ryan's wedding was nothing short of fabulous. I still can't get over it! After their amazing engagement shoot, I couldn't wait to get Tara & Ryan in front of my camera again. And not just for the fact that they are ridiculously good looking. But, they are beautiful people on the inside as well. They are the type of people you just want to be around. Both carefree and lighthearted, they know how to have a good time. This energy just radiates from them. There's also something in the way they look at each other, that makes you feel their love for one another. (Whatever - as a wedding photographer I reserve the right to sound cheesy!) But it's true.

There were also several aspects of the wedding plans that, from a photography standpoint, I was really looking forward to. The outdoor reception under a huge tent being a big one. Also, we had planned several fun locations to go to for portraits of the bride and groom, and the bridal party, and had a two hour block of time set aside for these! (Downtown Dwight is like a photographer's dream! I just may drive down there sometime again and shoot allll day there!) So I definitely couldn't wait for this wedding. There was only one thing that had any chance of putting a damper on the day: the forecast.

The day before, I was constantly checking the weather, hoping that the blob on the radar would magically disappear, and the scattered thunderstorms would morph into sunshine. When I woke up Saturday morning to rain, my stomach was in knots. But I knew we would make it work, rain or shine. It ended up raining on and off most of the day, but the rain held off at all the right moments! The rain even stopped altogether about midway through the reception, and the sun came out. It was perfect!

But enough about the weather...

Some of Tara's details:

The stunning bride:

And handsome groom:

The fun bridal party:

And a couple more portraits:

This wall and door were my favorite finds in downtown Dwight!

I LOVE this candid shot!

Stephanie Salisbury was second shooting with me, and she took this next one. I love the angle. Awesome perspective!

The tent and head table:

Some of my favorites of the detail shots:

The tables had different types of cakes on each of them. Guests were encouraged to go sample the cakes at different tables. I thought that was so cool!

I just adore this shot I took during the toasts. I love the details!

The first dance.

And...THRILLER! I've heard of a lot of people doing Michael Jackson dances at weddings this summer. Just an FYI, Tara had planned it before poor Michael passed away, and taught it to the whole bridal party. It was pretty awesome!

I stole Tara & Ryan away for a few minutes for a couple outdoor shots during the reception just before sunset. I'm so glad I did, as these are some of my favorite shots!

To see more from their wedding, watch the slideshow below, or click HERE to open it up in a new window.

Meet my new assistants....

2009-08-07T14:03:00.002-05:00

They loved that Ratatouille camera!

My cousin from Virginia is in town, and I got to spend some time with her and her three beautiful daughters the other afternoon. This was the first time I got to meet all three of them. I wish I could see them more often! I took a bunch of pictures of them, and these are a few of my favorites.

They got to go swimming in Aunt Robbin's pool, and loved it.

The dogs had fun too!

"One more picture. Then leave me alone and let me swim!"

Marjean & Nick - Engagement

2009-08-03T11:10:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite things about engagement sessions is getting to know the couple. I love to people watch, and I feel that my job allows me a privileged in-depth look at who a couple really is. I love the inside jokes, special glances, and playful banter - all of the nuances that make them unique as a couple. After spending only a few hours with a couple, it's surprising how you can walk away feeling like you really know who they are & what makes them click so well together.

After spending time with Marjean & Nick, I could easily see that they are head over heels for each other. They look at each other with complete adoration in each glance. Marjean is so upbeat, bubbly, and talkative, and Nick listens admiringly and intently - hearing every single word. Adorable!

We met in Barrington, IL for their engagement shoot, and found some great locations downtown.

We had some nice sunlight working with us!

After a bit, we headed back towards Marjean's house where we found some absolutely gorgeous locations! We went for a walk down the road by her house and the surrounding properties, and I could not get over how serene and peaceful it was! We even saw a deer about fifteen feet away from us as we were walking on the path that leads to her driveway.

I love the light and their expressions in the next two shots.

To see more of Marjean & Nick, watch the slideshow below, or click HERE to open it up in a new window.

Tara & Ryan - Sneak Peek

2009-08-02T13:25:00.004-05:00

Marjean & Nick - Sneak Peek

2009-07-27T14:33:00.003-05:00

Megan & Jeff - Engagement

2009-07-22T19:34:00.007-05:00

Megan found my blog through a childhood friend of mine (Thanks, Katie!) who just so happened to be her roommate. I always think it is interesting to hear how people find me!

When I first met with Megan a few months ago to discuss her wedding, we quickly discovered it probably wasn't the first time we'd met. We both stared at each other with that dumbfounded, "How do I know you?" look for a few minutes before realizing that we most likely had a class together at U of I, or at least crossed paths many times in the education building where we practically lived. U of I also happens to be where Megan & Jeff first met as they both pursued their degrees in education.

I didn't meet Jeff until the engagement shoot, but as soon as I did, it felt like I'd already known him as well. Megan & Jeff are both such warm, energetic, fun-loving people with strong character that just rubs off on you right away. I just love this couple! I have all of my couples fill out a "Get to Know You Survey" along with their contract so that I can (duh) get to know them better! This is my favorite line from their survey - I just had to share it because it is such a good depiction of the heart of their relationship.

"We've never had a fight that lasts more than 10 minutes, friends say we act like we're 80 because we love to go to bed early and read books side by side, we laugh uncontrollably at each other and no conversation is too disgusting. We drive for hours with no music because we hate the radio." Aren't they adorable? I can't wait for their wedding next June!

Now for the pictures...

We started at a fun little ice cream shop in Streator, IL.

I loved Megan's cute little blue dress!

Then we headed to Jeff's parents' farm for an outfit change and some more pictures.

I love these two!

"Laying in the grass" shots will never get old to me.

To see more of Megan & Jeff, watch the slideshow below, or click HERE to open it up in a new window.

Megan & Jeff - Sneak Peek

2009-07-15T11:38:00.004-05:00

Emily & Ryan - Wedding

2009-06-29T14:47:00.004-05:00

I had been anticipating Emily & Ryan's wedding for what seemed liked forever! I can't believe it has already come and gone. This wedding will definitely be an unforgettable one. Not only because it was such a fantastic wedding where every detail seemed to be just perfect, but also because as I've gotten to know Emily & Ryan, I've discovered what beautiful people they are, both inside and out. They are such genuine, kindhearted, fun-loving people that I truly felt honored to be able to capture their day. Just to give you an idea of how thoughtful Emily is - my second shooter, Jake, and I were greeted with hugs and gifts! Emily put together photographer gift bags for us complete with water, snacks, a detailed handmade map of the town, and a gas card. We were blown away by her thoughtfulness!

I had a hard time narrowing down pictures to put in this post, as we took an INSANE amount of pictures! Here are some of the favorites, followed by the slideshow.

A couple details..

Ryan's brother, Tyler, played his guitar both during the ceremony & at the reception. I love when people incorporate special touches into their day.

I love these next few shots of Emily's sisters & flower girl watching Emily as she got her makeup done.

Emily & Ryan each leaving for the church:

A candid moment during the ceremony:

Cutest ring bearer award. Hands down.

Mr. and Mrs. Sweitzer!

A couple classic portraits of the bride and groom.

The bridal party was so much fun. I love that they requested a jumping shot!

These are a few of my favorites of Emily & Ryan from our portrait time before the reception.

I took this from across the room during dinner. I love the blurred framing of their faces.

I'll end with my favorite from their first dance.

Watch the slideshow below to see more from their day! Click HERE to open it up in a new window.

Emily & Ryan, I hope you had an AMAZING time in Jamaica! I can't wait to see the pictures from your new camera! ;)

Kaitlyn & Mike - Navy Pier

2009-06-22T14:28:00.003-05:00

Mike first contacted me several months ago and shared his plan to schedule a photoshoot with Kaitlyn for her birthday gift. I was so impressed with his thoughtfulness and creativity. When he said, "I don't think there is a thing in the world she loves more than pictures," I couldn't wait to meet them both! We met up at Navy Pier last weekend, and found a lot of great spots for their shoot.

We stopped at Ben & Jerry's for some ice cream.

I loved how fun & playful they were with each other. They warmed up to the camera right away.

This is one of my favorites. Isn't Kaitlyn gorgeous? She reminds me of a celebrity, but I can't figure out who...

Kaitlyn & Mike, thanks for such a fun shoot!

Emily & Ryan - Sneak Peek

2009-06-21T11:13:00.002-05:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Kaitlyn & Mike - Navy Pier

2009-06-15T12:41:00.003-05:00

A couple of sneak peeks from yesterday...

Stevie - Portraits

2009-06-13T12:42:00.004-05:00

This shoot was one of my favorites for several reasons:

1. Stevie is my sister and I love her ;) Duh.
2. I got to style the shoot. (Unfortunately the humidity got the best of her curls within the first ten minutes though.)
3. Stevie thinks she is auditioning for ANTM and brought allll sorts of fierceness! She actually exclaimed, "Yo TY-RA, wuudddupp?!?" after looking at the back of my camera! Oh geez.

Jenny & Tony - Wedding

2009-06-09T11:23:00.003-05:00

A couple weeks ago, Laura Dart (another one of Sarah Barlow's past interns) and I went along with Sarah to help her shoot Jenny & Tony's wedding. It was a full day celebration complete with TWO receptions! AWESOME!

We started shooting the girls getting ready at a quaint little house at Cantigny in Wheaton.

Jenny's first pair of shoes:

These are one of my favorite kinds of flowers - which you can probably tell by the number of flower pictures I've included in this post!

Jenny looks so elegant and glamorous in this shot.

A couple more flower details - sorry. I just love them!

I think it's funny that only one girl is actually trying to catch the bouquet!

I caught these candid moments of Jenny and her mom and just ADORE these two shots.

We had about an hour or so for pictures of Jenny & Tony and found so many great spots at Cantigny. It was crazy how many other wedding parties were there at the same time though! I counted at least 7!

Love this shot:

Annnnnd this would be Jenny's second awesome pair of shoes, and of course, Tony's awesome pink argyle socks!

The bridal party was so much fun!

Haha I love this.

Jenny & Tony had a traditional Korean tea ceremony. I had never seen one before, so it was extra cool!

I'll end with a couple of my favorite pics from their first dance:

Check out Sarah's blog to see her full post and slideshow!

She's back!

2009-06-07T21:23:00.003-05:00

I had a shoot scheduled for today, but the weather was so "iffy" that they wanted to reschedule. I was still in the mood to get out and shoot though, so I made my sister Stevie come out and model for me. Here are just a few for now... I'll post more later!

Bobbi + Frankie, the sequel

2009-06-03T19:34:00.004-05:00

After our winter photoshoot got cut a little bit short, we decided to meet up for round two this past weekend! Here are some of my favorite shots from Bobbi & Frankie's summer photoshoot.

Immediately after taking this, I just knew it would be one of my favorites.

You wouldn't believe the size of the mosquitoes in this little forest! Seriously. They were HUGE. Like killer mosquitoes. I still have the bites to prove it. Bobbi & Frankie didn't seem to mind them as much though! They were up for anything - including trekking through the bug-infested forest, laying all over the grass, and climbing a massive tree stump. Thanks, guys!

Desiree & Nels - Just Because

2009-05-25T11:07:00.005-05:00

Desiree had emailed me awhile back wanting to schedule a shoot, but decided to wait until the weather would be nicer for us. She and Nels have been together for about three years, and thought it would be fun to do a photoshoot as their anniversary approaches. They met in class at NIU, and thought it would be fitting to start our shoot there. I've done several shoots on campus before, and I just love how every single time I find some awesome new spots! Here are my favorites from their shoot.

I LOVE this one! Isn't Desiree gorgeous?

Desiree had some awesome purple shoes:

We ended the shoot at Hopkins Park where we had some yummy light to work with!

Tara & Ryan - Engagment

2009-05-22T12:20:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I met up with Tara & Ryan at their home in Dwight, IL for their engagement shoot. Ryan's grandparents own a dock, and Tara & Ryan spend a lot of time at the boat club during the summer, so we chose to do their engagement session there. It was actually one of the first places they went together when they started dating, so it was also a meaningful place to start! The surrounding areas at the boat club were GORGEOUS! We had plenty of pretty scenery to work with.

Not to mention pretty models! Tara and Ryan are so photogenic, they made my job so easy!

We made our way down to the dock to grab some images.

I love these next two:

The neighboring dock had a perfectly placed overturned canoe that made a nice little bench.

We ended the shoot in downtown Dwight. We probably spent about fifteen minutes in one little area, but got so much variety in the shots! There were tons of cool walls and an alley with perfect light to work with.

I think Tara has a perfect profile! Isn't she going to make a beautiful bride?

Tara & Ryan, thank you so much for being so fun & natural in front of the camera! It was an absolute pleasure to spend the day with you. Your love for one another radiates so effortlessly, and is such a beautiful thing! I can't wait for your wedding in August!

To see more pictures from the shoot, watch the slideshow below. You can also click HERE to open it up in a new window.

Jesse & Dan - Just Because

2009-05-18T14:02:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday, I met up with Jesse and Dan on NIU's campus for their photoshoot. These are my favorites:

I think it's funny when clients insist that they are so not photogenic at all! I just laugh because pretty much everybody tells me that...and it's obviously not true. Jesse you are gorgeous!

I loved this wall:

I know I already posted one from this series, but I really like these two as well.

We found the best little spot that was just asking for us to take pictures there. It was like our own little private forest.

LOVE this one!

Jesse & Dan, thanks so much for such a fun shoot!

A couple more sneak peeks...

2009-05-17T23:21:00.002-05:00

I have lots of pictures to edit from my shoots this weekend, but here are a few for now.

Tara & Ryan's Engagement Shoot:

And a couple of Desiree and Nels from their shoot tonight:

Check back soon for more of these two couples, and some more from Jesse & Dan's shoot!

Jesse & Dan Sneak Peek

2009-05-14T22:02:00.004-05:00

A couple that caught my eye as I was going through my images from tonight's shoot:

More coming soon!

Modern Guest Book Sample

2009-04-10T19:21:00.004-05:00

I loved Emily & Ryan's engagement pictures so much that I decided to order a sample guest book for myself. I'm so happy with how it turned out!

The hinged pages lay flat.

A few of the spreads from the book:

The books are designed with plenty of white space for wedding guests to write messages and well wishes to the bride and groom.

I also offer these coffee table style books for any type of session. Contact me for more info!

Bridget - Senior Pictures

2009-04-08T22:35:00.002-05:00

Here are a few sneak peeks from the senior session I shot today.

I found that little chair at a thrift store earlier today while I was prop shopping. Isn't it cute?

NIU Metals Art Show

2009-04-07T10:47:00.004-05:00

This past weekend I went to my sister's art show for the NIU Metals Department. The show featured the works of my sister and three others who are graduating with a BFA in Metals. The show was fantastic! It was so great to see my sister in her element, beaming with a sense of pride and accomplishment. I had seen her pieces individually, and had heard of her plans for setting up the displays, but to see it all come together in the show was very impressive. I'm SO proud of you, Sam! :)

Here are some pictures I took of her work at the show, and her artist statement describing her work.

"Rather than being merely ornamental, I intend for my jewelry to invoke the idea of growth or a mutation from the body, an additional appendage or parasitic form that has attached itself. Because people are both drawn to and repulsed by abnormalities, I want my work to be simultaneously intriguing and repugnant. This is accomplished by the crude, yet tactile surfaces and the biomorphic forms the work takes. In a world where people strive for a single, idealistic body type, I find it comforting to make work that is purposely disfigured." - Samantha Schott

Emily & Ryan - Engagement Shoot

2009-03-31T12:50:00.002-05:00

I first met Emily & Ryan back in August, and immediately fell in love with them! As they sat there holding hands, telling me about how they met and their plans for their wedding, they kept stealing glances at each other & grinning uncontrollably. And I couldn't help but smile uncontrollably as well.

These two met in 7th grade, are high school sweethearts, went through a long-distance relationship, and are still absolutely smitten! I got to know them a little better during their engagement shoot, and can tell that they are perfect for each other. They are both SUPER nice, fun, and down to earth. Emily is a little more upbeat, and Ryan is a little more laid-back, and they balance each other out so well.

We had great weather, GORGEOUS light at North Avenue Beach, and good luck with pretty much every aspect of their shoot. The only minor mishap occurred after Ryan changed his pants and discovered he had stepped in some black goop. It got all over Emily's hands and a little on her shirt, so we had to make a short detour to a 7-Eleven. We found a random sink in the middle of the store (literally like a random kitchen sink in a 7-Eleven) and tried to wash it off. It wouldn't come off at first, so I was looking around the store for napkins, or paper towels of some sort. Under the coffeemaker, I found a rag/towel (that may, or may not have been questionable) and gave it to Emily. Hey, it got the job done! Their clothes weren't ruined, so we can just laugh at the whole experience! It was a little entertaining!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from their shoot:

AND THE SLIDESHOW! Click HERE to open it up in a new window, or press the play button to watch it below.

I can't wait for their wedding in June! :)

Houston Part 2

2009-03-27T13:24:00.004-05:00

When we were roommates at U of I, Jenny and I were the self-appointed photographers responsible for documenting our college lives. We both shared a love for photography, and even joined the photo club. Although, since we hadn't originally packed our 35mm cameras, we didn't make it too far into the darkroom! But, the two of us always had our digital cameras with us wherever we went. One of our favorite things to do was lounge in one of our rooms looking at pictures, rehashing memories and laughing at ourselves. Looking back, I'm sure there were times when our other friends and roommates were a little annoyed by the massive amounts of pictures we took (and rightly so - we were a bit obsessed!). At the time, they seemed like ordinary random pictures of everyday occurrences. But now... now they piece together our college lives and bring back memories that could have otherwise easily been forgotten. One night while I was in Houston, Jenny and I looked through some of her college albums and had a good laugh!

This is why I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY! :)

Anyways, Jenny just got a new Rebel XSi and of course wanted to get out and use it. Two of the days while I was in Texas we spent our time exploring parts of Houston, and of course, taking pictures. Here are some of my favorite shots of Jenny:

We loved this colorful wall!

My beautiful friend:

I definitely felt a little awkward being on the other side of the camera. It is a bit intimidating, isn't it? I like these shots Jenny got of me though.

Emily & Ryan - Engagement Shoot

2009-03-23T01:15:00.003-05:00

A few sneak peeks from the engagement session I shot today...

Houston Part 1

2009-03-21T22:13:00.004-05:00

Last weekend I went to Houston to visit some of my bestest friends in the whole world. This vacation was much needed and was SO refreshing. Although it rained most of the weekend, Monday and Tuesday were gorgeous and Jenny and I spent a lot of time hanging out around Houston taking pictures. I absolutely love it down there! Here are a bunch of random photos from my trip.

The street signs are so cool!

A fun bright wall & cute little bug:

LOVE these trees!

A cool water wall landmark by the Galleria:

Me & Jen:

We took a ton of pictures of each other, so I'll save some of those for another post.

Sam - Portraits - Slideshow

2009-03-11T15:11:00.004-05:00

My older sister, Sam:

I like the way her hair is blowing in the wind in this one, even though it's covering her eye.

Her cool turquoise boots from Urban Outfitters:

We found all sorts of little gems at this location. My two favorite were the stick with heart shaped etchings where the branches had been broken off, and the fish graffiti pictured below.

However, seeing this fish only caused us both to have the "Gimme That Filet-O-Fish" song stuck in our heads even more so than it already has been. (Sorry for getting it stuck in yours.)

Press play to watch the slideshow below, or click here to open it up in a new window.

Look at those eyes...

2009-03-11T14:55:00.002-05:00

Sam - Sneak Peek

2009-03-05T20:36:00.003-06:00

I can't believe it is already March. Craziness! Here are just a few shots from a shoot I did today. It was probably my favorite shoot to date, and I am SO excited to edit the rest of them! Warm weather (nearly 60 degrees WOOOO!), perfect light, an awesome location, and a purty little model. This is what I live for! I can't wait for spring & summer! :)

Breege & Wyatt - The Slideshow

2009-03-01T21:34:00.002-06:00

Press the play button below, or click HERE to open the slideshow in a new window.

To view the entire wedding gallery, use the CLIENTS link at the top of my blog, or click on the link below. The password is Breege's maiden name - all lowercase.

Feley Wedding Pictures

Bobbi + Frankie

2009-02-23T22:47:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I met up with Bobbi + Frankie at the Ellwood House in Dekalb for a couples shoot. Here are just a few for now...

What started out as a fun shoot ended with a very scary experience - I'm still a bit shaken up from it. It was realllly cold out - like -2 with the wind chill. But it was sunny, so it didn't seem THAT bad. Well, after about an hour, my hands were pretty much numb and all of a sudden I started to get really lightheaded. We were walking in the snow and I suddenly felt like I was going to faint. I felt so weak and limp and then my sight started slipping away. It was as if everything started to cloud over and go dark. My hearing also started fading away and there was a buzzing sound like TV static that drowned out everything else. I was fighting my body to pull it together and not fall in the snow. Somehow I managed to make it over to a miniature house (that we were walking towards for a picture) and was able to prop myself against it, but I was slipping in and out of consciousness. Bobbi and Frankie helped me sit down and got me water and pretty much saved me! I've had fainting spells in the past when I was much younger, but haven't had one in a long time. This one was definitely the scariest.

Please take this as a caution to be careful when you're out in the cold! I definitely underestimated how cold it really was and didn't prepare myself properly. Wear a hat to help prevent your body heat from dropping. Also make sure to drink PLENTY of liquids and eat lots of carbs - the wind can really suck all of your energy out of you very quickly.

Breege & Wyatt - Valentine's Day Wedding

2009-02-16T22:50:00.004-06:00

Here are just a few from the wedding I shot on Valentine's Day.
The rings:

I caught this adorable little girl dancing in the back of the church!

This is my favorite dance shot. I love their expressions.

And how cool is it that we could see Air Force One at O'Hare right from the window at the reception? (I know this is not the best shot. Don't hate.)

Janelle & Matt - Wedding

2009-01-25T16:10:00.003-06:00

Yesterday one of my college roommates, Janelle, got married. I was a guest at the wedding, but of course I had to bring my camera along to take a few shots!

Congratulations Janelle & Matt! Enjoy Vegas AND Hawaii!

My New BFF

2009-01-23T14:20:00.002-06:00

Can you say UPGRADE! :)

I am SO excited about my new camera! I have been saving up and planning to get a new camera for awhile. I was originally going to get a 5D, but when Canon came out with the Mark II, I knew I just had to have it. I was going to wait a bit to get it, as they are backordered pretty much everywhere - but I guess it was just meant to be. ;) I lucked out and got one on Amazon - directly from Amazon - not one of those crazy sellers who are trying to sell them for $1000 more than the list price! I ordered it on Wednesday....and got it THE NEXT DAY! I did normal shipping and was expecting to get it next week sometime, so that made my day! I must have caught a string of good luck or something.

Just by taking random test shots of anything (and everything) around the house, I can already tell that I LOVE this camera! I won't bore you with any of those lame pictures, but I'll have some new pictures up soon!

Liz

2009-01-14T20:38:00.003-06:00

My sister Liz wanted to do a winter photoshoot for awhile. Of course the day we finally decided to do it turned out to be one of THE coldest days! With the windchill it was below zero, so unfortunately our shoot didn't last too long. We found a cool parking garage to shoot at, but ended up spending most of the time in the stairwell.

I love shoe shots...

I can't wait to shoot here again when it is warmer!

On another note, I am switching over my hosting right now. If you have any trouble accessing my slideshows and other links, they will be fixed in a couple of days.

Thank you

2008-12-29T13:56:00.002-06:00

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. For me, this year has been a year of great discovery, and great accomplishment. If you asked me one year ago today, where I would be in a year, I never would have thought that this crazy dream of taking pictures for a living would actually be starting to unfold before my very eyes. I'm truly amazed at how things have fallen into place this year, and so grateful for everyone who has been there for me along the way. I can't thank you enough for believing in me, supporting me, and trusting me to capture "you."

Thank you a million times over. I can't wait to see what's in store for next year!

day 12 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2008-12-25T08:26:00.002-06:00

The big winner is.....Kelly K! Kelly wins a FREE photoshoot and a $100 print credit!

Thank you to everyone that entered! I had so much fun picking the prizes, and was so excited to find out who would be the winner each day.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a day filled with joy, laughter, and family fun!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

day 11

2008-12-24T12:42:00.003-06:00

Jesse P. wins a disk of the high resolution files from her shoot! Merry Christmas, Jesse!

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

day 10

2008-12-23T11:41:00.000-06:00

Jenny K. wins 50% off a gallery wrap canvas! Merry Christmas, Jen!

2008-12-22T11:17:00.002-06:00

My sister left this comment on my blog last night: "I feel like spreading some holiday cheer Cassie. Here is something special I made for you...It's basically a re-enactment of the photoshoot Al and I did with you at the pumpkin patch in the barn. Enjoy :)"

I wanted to share it, because her re-enactment of the shoot is pretty much DEAD ON. ;)

This is a picture from Stevie and Al's shoot back in October, and HERE is Stevie's holiday version!

day 9

2008-12-22T11:00:00.001-06:00

Bobbi R. won a 50% discount on her session fee! Merry Christmas, Bobbi!

day 8

2008-12-21T12:12:00.001-06:00

Mike A. receives 20% off a book or album! Merry Christmas, Mike!

day 7

2008-12-20T11:39:00.003-06:00

Michelle P. won a custom storyboard (choice of 10x20 or 12x12). A storyboard is a great way to display several images in a collage type format. Merry Christmas, Michelle!

day 6

2008-12-19T09:07:00.001-06:00

Emily M. won a free 11x14 print. Merry Christmas, Emily (and Ryan)! :)

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas...

2008-12-18T20:03:00.003-06:00

It officially feels like Christmas now that the tree is finally up!

I love Christmas light bokeh.

And this fat little ball of fur just melts my heart.

day 5

2008-12-18T11:52:00.002-06:00

Amanda M. won fiiiiiive 5 x 7s....Merry Christmas, Amanda!

day 4

2008-12-17T11:44:00.001-06:00

Peggi T. won a $25 print credit! Merry Christmas, Peggi!

day 3

2008-12-16T16:08:00.003-06:00

Desiree S. won a free 8x10, and two free 5x7s! Merry Christmas, Desiree!

day 2

2008-12-15T11:52:00.003-06:00

They say it is better to give than to receive...and I agree. But, I also think it's pretty fun to get gifts too! Today's winner not only wins something for herself, but something to give to a friend as well. Since two turtle doves were given on the second day of Christmas, and since "Turtle doves are a symbol of friendship and love," according to Mr. Duncan (Home Alone 2 for those of you who need a reference haha), Ashley B. gets a $25 gift certificate to Cassie Schott photography, and one $25 gift certificate to give to a special friend as well - just as Kevin McCallister shared his special turtle dove with the pigeon lady!

Day 1

2008-12-14T08:58:00.002-06:00

Sam C. won two free 8x10s! Merry Christmas, Sam!

In case anyone is curious how I am picking the winners, I assure you it is done fairly! Each entrant is assigned a number upon receiving their email. Each day I will use the random integer generator to pick the winning number for the day.

It's not too late to enter! There are still eleven days of Christmas left...

Holiday Giveaway!

2008-12-08T19:54:00.005-06:00

Enter to win free prints, discounts, and a big prize you won't want to miss! The Twelve Days of Christmas will begin December 14th with a daily drawing from email submissions.

Want in on the receiving end of this holiday spirit? To be eligible, all you have to do is send me an email titled "Holiday Giveaway." Please include your name, contact info, and the type of photoshoot that interests you (newborn, child, portrait, family, couple, engagement, etc.)

Whether you are a past client, or someone who has been thinking about doing a photoshoot with me, enter right away!

My email: cassandra.schott@gmail.com
*Prizes must be redeemed by June 30, 2009.

Litte love expert

2008-12-08T12:35:00.003-06:00

If you haven't seen this yet, check it out. This fourth grade charmer, Alec Greven, has written a dating advice book for boys, called "How to Talk to Girls."

Image source: New York Post

This Borders interview with him was cracking me up! Watch it.

Some of my favorite parts:
"and you're like ummmmmmmmm..where'd you go?"
"If you're brave enough, you could walk up to the girl and say, Hi. If the girl says, Hi back, then you're off to a good start."
"If your crush doesn't work out, then you have to be able to get over it, because if you can't, it will surely ruin your life and it will like haunt you forever."

I also found a video of him from the Ellen show. The type of girls he likes: "The straight-haired girls, blondies, dirty blond is ok."

His best advice: "Life is hard. Move on."

Amanda & Thomas

2008-11-29T11:16:00.003-06:00

When Amanda told me that she and Thomas were bringing their skateboards, I knew it would be a fun shoot! We started out at the skate park, and they showed me some of their moves. ;)

It would have been fun to play around with all the cool graffiti backdrops, but the park was a little crowded, so we found some other awesome locations for the rest of the shoot.

This is one of my favorites.

I just love the look on his face in the next shot.

We lucked out with great weather and gorgeous light. It was actually warm for being nearly December!

We found a little area with some snow on the ground though.

Amanda & Thomas, thanks for such a fun shoot! I hope you love your pictures!

Sneak Peek: Amanda & Thomas

2008-11-26T16:54:00.004-06:00

2008-11-24T19:38:00.004-06:00

The sky was so pretty tonight, I had to take a few pictures!

I guess I have been a little M.I.A. lately, but I've been working on a lot of projects behind the scenes, and doing a lot of planning on where I want to take my business in the next year!

I'm going to make an effort to blog more often. I have a fun shoot coming up this week, so stay tuned for that!

2008-11-05T16:48:00.002-06:00

Here are a couple of my favorite non-people photos taken recently:

Jenna & Ryan - Just Because

2008-10-25T10:30:00.005-05:00

Tuesday was day one of three couple shoots in a row - this week was so much fun! For Jenna & Ryan's shoot we hung out on NIU's campus, and found a bunch of good spots. The light was also PERFECT, and these two are one of the cutest couples I know, which made for an awesome photoshoot!

Hello blue eyes!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A SLIDESHOW OF MORE OF JENNA & RYAN!

Sam & Carl

2008-10-24T15:09:00.005-05:00

Here are a few pictures from a photoshoot with Sam and Carl from yesterday. We managed to squeeze in a quick shoot before it started raining. The first drops started to fall right as we were just about finished up. Perfect timing!

Kristin and Greg

2008-10-23T08:43:00.003-05:00

I've never really liked fall. The first bit of chilly fall weather always stings so much more so than it should - because lets face it...it really isn't that cold! I've always sort of despised this season because once fall rolls around, winter is right around the corner and it is only a signal of the worse to come. I HATE WINTER! The freeeezing cold weather, dealing with snow, the dreary days, the lack of sunlight - UGH its so depressing just thinking about it. The only good thing about winter is Christmastime, and if I had my way, it would snow on Christmas morning and that would be it! But I guess I shouldn't get ahead of myself here...

Even though I hold a grudge against fall, there actually are things I DO love about this season - the fall colors, crunching leaves, a SLIGHT chill in the air, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. The changing leaves really are gorgeous at this time. Here are a few pictures of Kristin and Greg enjoying the fall weather yesterday:

The Pumpkin Patch with Stevie & Al

2008-10-22T15:15:00.002-05:00

Last Thursday I went to the pumpkin patch with Stevie and her boyfriend Al. They wanted to pick out their pumpkins and do a photoshoot while we were there too. We had some fun going through the haunted forest, seeing the farm animals, playing in the hay, and picking out 30 lb. pumpkins!

Here is a short little SLIDESHOW with more of their pumpkin patch pictures!

Jenna & Ryan

2008-10-21T20:09:00.004-05:00

Just a few shots from tonight's photoshoot:

More of these two coming soon - plus two more couple shoots, so check back ;)

Melissa & Rob - The Slideshow

2008-10-20T20:34:00.003-05:00

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SLIDESHOW!

Note: Since I was a photographer and a guest at this wedding, the majority of my shots from the day were getting ready pictures with the bride, detail shots, and reception photos. The main photographer took all the bridal party shots, so if the slideshow seems lacking - I hope that explains it!

Melissa & Rob's Wedding

2008-10-19T14:03:00.004-05:00

Melissa & Rob's wedding was this Friday up in Fontana, Wisconsin. I had the pleasure of being both a guest, and a photographer at the wedding! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day.

Melissa getting ready at Salon 180 in Lake Geneva:

I absolutely loved the back detail of Melissa's dress!

The fall colors at the Abbey Springs Country Club matched perfectly with Melissa's colors and decor.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Melissa and Rob towards the end of the night.

SLIDESHOW COMING SOON!!

Stevie again

2008-09-23T00:58:00.003-05:00

Here are some shots from another photoshoot with my little model of a sister.

Jenny & Cage - Album Design

2008-09-16T17:01:00.003-05:00

I delayed posting about this because I wanted it to be a surprise for Jenny and Cage, and wanted them to see their album in person first. HOWEVER...I did not anticipate hurricane season! I shipped their album three weeks ago, and they have yet to receive it. About a week ago, I called the post office to inquire about their package because tracking was unavailable, and was told that with Gustav and Hannah, mail delivery in the south has been extremely slow. Now with the wrath of Ike, I can only imagine that it has come to a screeching halt! Jenny and Cage live in Houston, so this package is the least of their worries right now. But since the album very well might be destroyed from the storm, I wanted to post a few pages, so that if we need to reorder it, they don't have to wait FOREVER to see some! In a time of extreme devastation and grief, I hope that this sneak peek can brighten their day just a bit!
Jenny & Cage - love you both SO much and I'm so glad you are safe. When you get back to Houston, keep me posted!

Fast Track Photographer

2008-09-11T15:49:00.004-05:00

I just finished reading Fast Track Photographer by Dane Sanders, and this book was SO good! For someone who is brand new to running a photography business, I found it extremely helpful! This book is like a coach in that it puts you in the right mindset in order to help you succeed. The pDNA assessment tool, and the exercises in the book really make you take a look at yourself - your strengths, your weaknesses, who YOU are as a person - and really help you to visualize how YOU can run a successful photography business. What works for someone definitely doesn't work for everyone. This book is so encouraging and inspiring because it helps you to focus on your strengths rather than your weaknesses and to discover what makes you unique and valuable as a photographer. I definitely recommend reading this book if you are in the photography business - or any other business for that matter! As I was reading this book, I was reminded of a lot of things I have heard before - from Sarah Barlow during my internship, and from David Jay and Jasmine Star at the Free to Succeed Tour. The key points really hit home the more you hear them! Each one of these photographers has found their own unique path to success, and now they are all about helping others find it for themselves! I am so thankful they are so generous in sharing their knowledge and the "secrets" of the industry.

Add a Favicon!

2008-09-04T14:56:00.005-05:00

In the process of redesigning my blog, I got kind of interested in the HTML coding. I actually think its kind of fun to figure out how to do stuff with it! (I must have gotten part of a computer nerd gene from my dad). So I was searching through sites to help me with coding for the navigation links at the top of my blog, and I came across this cool blog post - how to create your own favicon!

A favicon is the little picture that appears to the left of the website in the address bar at the top of the page. Mine looks like this:

Call me a loser, but I thought this was sooo cool! So in case anyone wants to know how to do that for their own blog, I thought I'd share how to do it!

NEW BLOG!

2008-09-02T00:25:00.002-05:00

WOW. I can't believe how much I got done today! For awhile I have been wanting to change my blog around to give it more of a streamlined look, with easier navigation. I loved my old background, but I felt like there was too much going on and it made my blog look cluttered. So, I had a vision in mind, but I wasn't exactly sure how to go about creating it! I was determined to figure it out myself though! So after spending a few hours messing around with blog code, voila. I introduce you to my NEW BLOG!
**So, I realize it kind of looks dumb right now with the last few previous posts, but I had to post them in order to use them for my navigation links. Once I post a few more things and they disappear, it will be just how I want it!

The Girl Behind the Lens

2008-09-02T00:20:00.003-05:00

Slideshows

2008-09-01T21:16:00.013-05:00

Click on the names/dates to watch the slideshows!

Stevie - August 25, 2008

Klees - August 10, 2008

Melissa & Rob - August 15, 2008

Shannon & Mike - June 14, 2008

Melissa & Rob - October 17, 2008

Mike & Nicole - August 9, 2008

Maureen & Matt - June 7, 2008

Jenny & Cage - July 13, 2008

Contact Info

2008-09-01T21:07:00.002-05:00

STEVIE

2008-08-26T22:30:00.006-05:00

Stevie has always loved being the center of attention and is definitely the "ham" in our family. When she was about seven years old, a Barbizon mailer prompted her to decide she wanted to become a model. For weeks this was all she would talk about, and she begged my parents to take her to model searches held at the local hotels. Well, even though my parents weren't all gung-ho about the whole modeling idea, Stevie was determined and decided that the next step would be to have a portfolio. So one day we had the fabulous idea to take pictures of her to use as a portfolio. We picked out tons of outfits and took pictures in a bunch of random places throughout the house - with a disposable camera no less! And at the time we thought that this would be totally legit! I'm laughing now just thinking about it! I wish I would've found some of those pictures to post just to show how far off the deep end we were to think the pictures would NOT ONLY be perfectly acceptable, BUT - would spark the beginning of her modeling career! HAHA

Anyways, when we did her photoshoot yesterday, both of us were reminded of this story and we laughed at how dumb we were! So even though Stevie never pursued her childhood dream of becoming a model - she got to pretend yesterday.

When were done shooting at the first location, we were in the car just about ready to leave and a cop pulled up behind me. My first thought was that we were in trouble for trespassing or something. He was actually just making sure we were ok - which makes sense as we were pulled COMPLETELY off the road and parked perpendicular to it on the grass by a deserted cornfield!

Whenever I'm driving around, sometimes I space out when I see things off the side of the road and think about shooting there. I see this clearing and pile of cement blocks every time I drive to work, and I have wanted to shoot there for awhile.

Well, in order to get to it, we had to walk through some prairie grass and Stevie was so afraid there were snakes in there! She was so freaked out and jumpy from worrying about snakes, that when she heard voices coming from behind some trees she almost peed her pants! She didn't realize there was a bike path behind there!

For the rest of the shoot we just went around downtown Dekalb and found some cool walls.

HERE IS THE SLIDESHOW!!

Stevie

2008-08-25T22:16:00.002-05:00

Ummm hello. My sister is absolutely gorgeous! We had the best time ever tonight doing a photoshoot! I will have more with a slideshow up soon, but for now here are just a few shots.

Melissa & Rob:::Engagement

2008-08-23T09:08:00.004-05:00

Melissa (my cousin) and Rob met on match.com, although Melissa thought this was one of the last places she would meet her future husband! After much coaxing from friends who had success stories of their own, Melissa caved and made a profile on the website. After some time had passed and she had gotten a bunch of responses from guys that were deemed either total losers or huge creeps, Melissa was just about ready to delete her profile and forget about the whole thing! Then she received a "wink" from Rob. They began exchanging messages, and then decided to meet in person. From there they started dating, and one thing led to another. Now they are planning their wedding! We decided to take some engagement pictures in Lake Geneva and Fontana, Wisconsin, which is where they will be married in October.

Rob knew the area well, and was so helpful in finding all of the best places to take pictures! Towards the end of the shoot, we saw a big statue of a guy wind surfing (I think?). Rob wanted to jump up there to take some pictures. As he was debating whether or not to do it, I just started taking pictures. Once I got home and was looking through all of them, I came across this:

Just thought I'd share that - I thought it was pretty funny! Ooops!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SLIDESHOW!

Rob and Melissa - I had such a blast taking pictures of you two! I CAN'T WAIT for your wedding!

Klees Photoshoot

2008-08-20T13:21:00.004-05:00

One of my best friends Johanna is leaving next month for the Peace Corps. She'll be teaching English for two years in Azerbaijan. She decided she wanted to have pictures taken with her brother, Andrew, and sister, Meryl, before she leaves. They haven't had any sort of family pictures taken together in a long time, and she thought it would be something nice to have, especially with her family being spread apart across the globe. One thing you should know about Johanna: She is an absolute RIOT!

She is one of the funniest people I know. Ok, scratch that. She is quite possibly THE funniest person I know! There is rarely a dull moment when she's around! She's loves being the entertainer, and has even said to me that one of the reasons she became friends with me is because I laugh at all her jokes! Ha.

Johanna said she had always wanted a picture like this in the grass, and was jealous of people's senior pictures that were like this. So Jo, I hope this is what you envisioned!

Johanna saw this tree and told me to get ready because she was going to poke through it. She thought it was sort of like a cheesy tv sitcom's opening credits.

Meryl wanted in on the action! She was cracking me up!

Andrew was not having it! He was a good sport though!

CLICK HERE to watch the slideshow!

Mike and Nicole's Wedding

2008-08-16T01:07:00.009-05:00

Last Saturday, Mike and Nicole were married in Mike's parents' yard. The wedding was very small, with only immediate family in attendance. Unfortunately, Mike is being deployed for a second time. Although he knew Nicole before he went overseas the first time, they only dated briefly because Mike didn't want to get serious with anyone while he was in the service. This time, he couldn't leave without marrying her.

I had actually never met Nicole before Saturday. Mike tends to be very quiet and reserved, and once I met Nicole I could see that she is the perfect compliment for him. They are so cute together!

Mike's mom is a judge and she performed the ceremony. With the day being emotional enough, I was surprised at how composed she was during the ceremony. She only got choked up a few times! As mother of the groom, I bet it was hard to speak eloquently without turning into a blubbery mess!

It was actually POURING rain a couple hours before the ceremony, and I was a little worried with the ceremony and reception being outside, but it cleared up and the weather was absolutely beautiful! All of the details created the perfect atmosphere.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A SLIDESHOW!

Mike and Nicole, thank you so much for allowing me to share this special day with you! It means the world to me that you chose to have me as your photographer. This wedding will always have a special place in my heart, as it was my first time shooting a wedding on my own! I hope you are enjoying the last days of your honeymoon, and your time together. Mike, you will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers while you are overseas! I love you both!

Sneak Peeks

2008-08-16T00:52:00.002-05:00

I have been super busy this past week, shooting a wedding last Saturday, a sibling shoot on Sunday, and an engagement shoot tonight, on top of working 30+ hours at my other job! I've been editing away, and will have more to post really soon, but until then, here are a few pictures for an update!

I should have a slideshow of Mike and Nicole's wedding up tomorrow!