Chicago Destination Wedding Photographer. Creative Artistic Photojournalism. Nakai Photography

Love the colors in this engagement session w/Lauren + Michael!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The holidays are here! I’ve been working non-stop trying to get up all my shoots online before Sunday! I wanted to wish Lauren + Michael a Happy Hanukkah with their Chicago engagement photos!

Both Lauren + Michael (and their families) have a strong appreciation for the arts and I am honored to be their wedding photographer! They appreciate so much of what I do…my creative portraits, landscape portraits and my ability to capture real moments and emotions!

Chicago Engagement Photos in Lincoln Park!

Michael + Lauren have both spent a lot of time in Lincoln Park, and so it was only fitting that we took their engagement photos there! But before we headed out- we took a few photos in an old warehouse!

And as I say sooooo often…my clients are ‘normal’ people who get nervous before a photo shoot! It’s my job as your engagement photographer…to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera so you can be YOURSELF! Lauren was sooooo nervous…she was almost shaking! =) Michael was great at keeping her loose and smiling!

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I LOVE their smiles! I feel their love and joy when I look at this photo!

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Love this silhouette photo and the colors around them!

We climbed into an old freight elevator for this cool photo!

Love the colors and the moment-

We left the warehouse for our Lincoln Park Photos! I made sure the Chicago Skyline was in the background for this photo!

What a fun moment!

I love how their clothing colors just ‘pop’ in this photo!

And I love the contrast of their colors with the brown prairie grass! And their is so much life in their facial expressions – juxtaposed with the dormant grass-

This feels like something out of a fairy tale or a Tim Burton movie! Oddly enough…it’s just a building in Lincoln Park!

Like I said…so many fun moments throughout!

LOVE the colors! Brown hydrangeas, purple lilacs with the orange scarf and red jacket!

Getting that purple lilacs in the foreground and their great smiles in one photo!

A great photo of the engaged couple!

Last photo of the day – in front of the Lincoln Park Conservatory – one of two conservatories in Chicago!

Thanks Lauren & Michael for a great engagement photo shoot! And great idea to take photos in Chicago’s Lincoln Park- it turned out great! Thank you for opening up to me (your photographer) during this session- you guys really made the photos!

Happy Hanukkah!

with love,

your Chicago wedding and engagement photographer,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

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Lincoln Park & Lake Michigan for Maureen + Chris’s Engagement Photos!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Lincoln Park Engagement Photos!

For Maureen & Chris’ engagement photos, we headed out Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood! One thing I love about Lincoln Park…is the variety of locations to shoot! Since Maureen & Chris will be getting married in a more rural environment, they thought to start their engagement photos at the petting zoo in Lincoln Park!

Smiling and having fun!

Maureen & Chris are ‘normal’ Chicago residents. They aren’t models and spend most of their time in the courtroom or processing paperwork! Like most of my clients, they were apprehensive before the session started…and thankfully, they warmed up and were able to be themselves! It’s part of my job as a wedding photographer…to make my clients feel comfortable in front of the lens!

Did you know there was a petting zoo in Lincoln Park? It’s a great way to get away from the urban Chicago environment.

Taking advantage of the red ‘barn’ in this fun photo!

You almost feel like they were in a far away prairie!

The sun had come out after a cloudy morning and created some magical light!

Some tree leaves turning colors in the background of this engagement photo!

And Lincoln Park is right on Lake Michigan- so we headed out to the beach!

I LOVE this photo! So relaxing and chill!

Such a beautiful couple!

Something serene and beautiful about this image. I went a little more creative with this photo- so peaceful! In this moment I stopped being a wedding photographer…and became a landscape photographer!

Chris loves to wrap his arms around his fiance!

A great ‘in between’ moments photo

The wind was pretty fierce and I loved how it helped to create this photo

The city of Chicago in the background of this photo

A different type of engagement photo- I almost feel like it belongs in a Ralph Lauren ad!

The Chicago skyline is in the background! Thanks for a great photo session Maureen & Chris! The wedding is going to be a ton of fun! I can’t wait!

with love,

your Chicago wedding and engagement photographer,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

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A Cathedral, Oscar de la Renta dress & Fall Colors Wedding! Roseanne + Joshua!

Monday, December 12, 2011

If you are living in Chicago – happy cold season! As the winter holidays descend upon us, I wanted to share a wedding from early November! Though most of the fall leaves shed…I managed to find a few trees with amazing color! I really enjoyed working with Ro + Josh as they were so willing to travel all over Chicago for their creative portraits!

There are plenty more creative photos in this wedding blog post- but here’s one of my favorites up first! We took this photo in Millennium Park – and as a Chicago wedding photographer, I don’t want a ‘cliche’ photo of Millennium Park…I want to do something creative and different. And I love the little added dimension the bicyclist added to the photo!

We started their wedding day at their condo- I saw this cool bulletin board on their wall and I thought to incorporate it into their ring photo!

Ro’s wedding shoes by Badgley Mischka

I LOVED this belt that Ro added to her Oscar de la Renta wedding dress! The belt was made by Maria Elena Headpieces.

And um…wow…an Oscar de la Renta wedding dress? Yes please!!!!

Ro having assistance with her garter- kudos to bridesmaid Stephanie for stepping up to the task!

Some last touches from her hair stylist

A gorgeous bride-

Wedding bouquet and flowers done by Yanni Design Studio

Their wedding ceremony was held at Chicago’s famous Holy Name Cathedral!

A photo of Josh getting helped by his brother-

A groom’s portrait!

The bride walking down the Holy Name Cathedral aisle wearing her Oscar de la Renta wedding dress…an epic moment!

Holy Name Cathedral is so photogenic. I had to post another wedding photo from the rear of the church!

Lighting of the unity candle photo-

After finishing up at Holy Name Cathedral, we headed around Chicago for their creative wedding photos! I love their smiles and laughs in this photo-

I got a little elevation for a unique perspective –

A cool photo of the groomsmen in Chicago’s financial district

The bridesmaids- The car in the foreground adds that little ‘extra something special’

After the financial district, we headed to Millennium Park where there were some amazing red leaves! I really enjoy ‘stepping back’ from the moment to capture something larger…more dramatic!

The happy bride!

Love this photo of the groomsmen and the colors behind them!

Another famous part of Millennium Park…the bridgeway to the Art Institute!

And not only did we find red trees in Chicago- we found yellow ones! I LOVE the color combination with the bridesmaid’s dresses and bouquets!

Another groomsmen photo

A creative crop for a different emphasis

Their wedding reception was held at the Schaumburg Renaissance Convention Center! A large venue with great decor! Here’s another piece by Yanni Design Studio.

As I mentioned, the Schaumburg Renaissance has some great interior decor…which makes for some great wedding photos!

A relaxed wedding portrait before their reception starts!

I love the colors I found in a corner at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel-

Gigantic centerpieces by Yanni Design Studios-

A wider shot of the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center room

Their wedding cake!

Their grand entrance!

First Dance photo!

Don’t ask me what’s going on in this photo- something about a Heisman Trophy pose/dance?

The dessert table put out by the Renaissance staff- yum!

Thanks Ro & Josh for a great time! We came up with some AMAZING photos! Thanks to an awesome bridal party for being willing to walk around for all these photos! They were epic! It was my privilege to be apart of a wonderful celebration! Enjoy these photos over the holidays!

with love,

your wedding photographer,

Kenny

And for good measure: One last shot of the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center!

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

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Fall leaves in Michigan for Kristin + Solomon’s Engagement Session!

Monday, December 5, 2011

The University of Michigan Connection

I met Kristin and Solomon through my fiance, as they are all UofM and Harvest Mission Community Church alumni! I’ve always wanted to visit Ann Arbor through the years and I finally had an opportunity to photograph an engagement session on their campus!

Ann Arbor Engagement Photos!

It was the PERFECT fall day for an engagement photography session! The yellow, orange and red leaves were all around! We started our engagement session at the University of Michicagn Arboretum! I’ve been to my fair share of arboretums and botanical gardens…and I really enjoyed walking around of UofM Arboretum! You have to remember…I come from Illinois…where everything is FLAT. The UMich Arboretum has great elevation changes!

Right from the get go…Kristin and Solomon were great and making each other smile and laugh! This was from the first set of photos we took! Again- I love the colors!

Kristin wore the perfect fall sweater!

A photo of them enjoying a walk in the park-

A cute photo! I love the background -almost like a painting!

The most unique graffiti ever. But the word ‘pray’ holds a lot of value to this couple-

A photo with a Michigan river/stream…

The fall foliage looking like a painting with my Nikon 50mm 1.2 lens!

A great moment caught in this photo! I love the connection these guys share- it’s so apparent in the photos!

I couldn’t get enough photos with the fall colors! =P

The happy couple!

Possibly the most photogenic spot on campus? Everyone from University of Michigan seems to tell me about this spot!

One last photo on campus!

Thanks you guys for having me as your wedding – engagement photographer! I can’t wait til this summer! After hearing your story and getting to know you both better, I’m so thankful to be apart of your lives! And thank you for giving me a reason to take photos in Michigan! =)

with love,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*