I am super excited to be their wedding photographer. And in preparation for their wedding day, we went around Chicago for their engagement photo session! We were up on the north side for a bit, but the bulk of our engagement photo session was done in the West Loop, an area that means a lot to them. The weather had finally warmed up and we even got the sun shining for an hour! And while most couples get tired of taking photos after about 40 min, Stephanie & Marek were up to shooting into the night! We took advantage of the gorgeous weather and this couple…who are so madly in love. =) I hope you enjoy the photos!

***be sure to check my facebook page in a few days where I will be posting even MORE photos from the session! Feel free to friend me and let me know you want to see more photos of these two!***

Nothing says Chicago than steel bridges- I love their expressions AND the sun flare in the background! A great photo…almost like an ad out of a magazine!

Chicago has a deep history of manufacturing and blue collar jobs. It’s one of the reasons we love our Chicago athletes to work hard and hustle- So yea, we were able to incorporate this into the photos!

Great smiles in this photo!

One kickin photo of Marek. Almost a scene out of the movie! I almost want to make a bold statement…Marek…this might be the best photo of you in your whole life! That is…until I take portrait of you on your wedding day. =)

I love my clients- they truly value photography and they let me have fun and to try new things! I am always trying to push myself as a photographer, and this shoot is full of fresh photos!

A neutral portrait- yet so classy and beautiful

Joy…calmness…serenity…comfort…friends… Just some different thoughts and emotions I feel when I look at this next photo.

He knows how to make her laugh and smile- I am thankful to be able to portray that aspect of their relationship through photography!

Chicago at night. The perfect time to shoot- we got a nice blue sky! Night photography is a bit more difficult…definitely more challenging, but the reward? Unique…one of a kind photos!

Love love love this photo.

This structure is new…I’ve only read about it in the Chicago Tribune…and it looks freaking cool at night! An EPIC shot right here. Gotta love the Sears Tower in the background. The photo screams Chicago. And yet…it’s not your typical Lake Michigan photo.

And if you haven’t noticed by now…I don’t do too much photoshop to my photos. Just nice clean imagery. 20 years from now…these photos will still be able to stand on their own. They don’t need photoshop to make them ‘better’. A great classic look. A suit…no tie…paired with a black dress and black high heels. Love!

An another photo of their smiles. They make me smile. =)

Then I decided to get a little more creative with their photos. A little more artsy…but cool nonetheless.

Possibly the second favorite photo from their engagement session.

And one last photo from their Guess Advertisement *I mean* from their engagement photoshoot!

Thanks Stephanie & Marek for your energy and love! We were really able to come away with a variety of photos that help capture the different complexities of your love! Can’t wait until the wedding!

with love,

Kenny

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New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
301 North East Water Street
Chicago, IL 60611

As with most Indian weddings, there were soooooo many photos taken! It is really hard to narrow it down to 40 to post here on the blog! Next week, I will be posting more photos on my facebook page! So if you want to see more, be sure to check them out!

One thing I love about Indian weddings are the details.

And getting ready with all her jewelry and sari is a team effort! Such an important process…and I am thankful to be able to photograph this special time for Shruti!

She looked absolutely amazing!

And while the ladies were in the huge suite at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel, poor Sudeep was getting ready in a ‘normal’ room! =)

I think he looks pretty good in this photo!

Before the barat ceremony, we took a few photographs around the Chicago Sheraton Hotel.

And as I mentioned earlier, we took advantage of the fog that had rolled in!

Another cool photo with the fog-

The Barat- I’m not sure all the meaning behind this Hindu ceremony, but is a fun time of dancing while the groom sits on an elephant/horse…or in our case, a Chicago trolley!

The Chicago Sheraton has their own private driveway for the Barat. So they can dance all they want!

Inside, the bride’s mother awaits for another ceremony-

The gorgeous room set up at the Chicago Sheraton! Great job by Yanni Design Studio!

Yanni had great metal work and flower arrangements-

Shruti makes her entrance!

So many details in a Hindu wedding! And so many moments to capture in a photograph!

A photo of mom and dad with their hands over the couple

Again, I just love the work of Yanni Design Studio on this wedding!

My favorite bridal party photo from the day! They look great in their saris!

Smoking hot! Loved this little sweet spot for a photograph!

The beautiful room setup! The Chicago Sheraton Hotel can host large weddings. Flowers and centerpieces done by Yanni Design Studio.

A great job on the ambiance (I love the blue lights!) done by Chicago Sound and Lighting

I also love the blue uplights! Lighting adds so much for ambiance!

A photo of the wedding cake

Shruti changed saris for the reception. Which means…more photos of course! =)

Love this photo!

While they were cutting the cake, I saw this shot. Perhaps the gutsiest wedding cake cutting photo I have ever taken. =)

First dance photos~ Look at her smile!

One thing I took away from the evening’s festivities. Sudeep is one talented dude. This guy can sing and he can dance. Here he is singing to Shruti with his boys backing him up on vocals

And then he sang in another group!

A fun dance routine- and as I mentioned, more photos will be posted on my facebook page early next week! Stay tuned for more!

Fun photos from the dance floor!

Thanks Shruti and Sudeep for an amazing time! Congrats once again! Your day was filled with so many special moments, and I am thankful to have been your wedding photographer! Best wishes as you move out East and start a new chapter in your life!

with love,

Kenny Nakai

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New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

90% of my clients who step in front of my lens…are nervous!

Anastasia and Patrick are no exception. This couple is so full of life…they love to travel and participate in all kinds of activities! In fact…while were talking about their engagement session, I was taking notes on all the different activities or places I haven’t done or visited yet (especially in Chicago)! And while they are great friends and love to spend time with one another…they were nervous about the photoshoot! And as I assure all my clients…this is normal. =) But it is my job…to make you feel comfortable during the engagement photo session. This is one of the reasons I strongly encourage couples to book an engagement photo shoot with their wedding photographer. They need to know that they can ‘be themselves’ with their wedding photographer! I hope through these engagement photos, you can really see but more importantly…feel…the love and emotions shared between Anastasia + Patrick!

When looking through my engagement photography portfolio, A + P were drawn to my Chicago urban industrial photography. So we decided to head to the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago for their photos!

Great smiles in this photo!

A gorgeous yellow background in the West Loop~

A larger, wider, creative photo…almost like landscape photography – really highlighting the urban industrial vibe of Chicago

A more creative crop- such strong graphical elements in the photo, but yet I love the moment shared between the two-

This building in the West Loop represents the economical climate in Chicago and our nation during this period of time. And yet while there are so many incomplete projects and many are in difficult financial situations…love remains. And the future is always brighter when you are on a journey with your best friend.

Her face is glowing. =)

We headed indoors to one of their more favorite chill spots in Chicago.

It was great to see Patrick smile and laugh throughout the afternoon –

One of my favorite photos from the engagement session

What a great couple-

I definitely try to maintain a clean and modern look to my photography. This photo is an example of that…And as before, I love their emotions!

Nothing says Chicago like the Willis *ahem* Sears *ahem* tower.

So many great elements to this photo! And being in the west loop, there is an urban industrial vibe in the decor!

Something new for this year…photos in my photography studio! (located in Lincoln Park, Chicago) This is a new option for my wedding couples! A+P are the first couple to take advantage of this new type of engagement photography! Check out the gorgeous soon-to-be bride!

Patrick makes her smile. =)

A studio photo of the happy couple!

Favorite photo of Patrick- almost belongs in GQ or the W magazine!

Not to be out done…This photo of Anastasia..blows me away. I had to ask her if she has done any modeling before. Um…Vanity Fair anyone?

And one last photo of the beautiful couple!

Thanks so much Anastasia + Patrick for a great afternoon! You guys were soooo great to work with, and I hope I was able to put you both at ease throughout the photo session! Your relationship and emotions really shine in the photos…and I am privileged to have been apart of it!

Looking forward to the wedding! =)

with love,

Kenny

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New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

In the sports world, the champion is crowned when they defeat all the competition. In the wedding photography world…16,000 wedding photographers gather in Las Vegas, NV each year for the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) convention. Part of the convention is the prestigious 16×20 print competition. Thousands of prints are submitted and judged by the finest, most creative, and best wedding photographers in the WORLD. In the past two years I am thankful to have garnered 10 Accolades of Excellence. These winning photographs are hung on display in a gallery for all to view.

This past year, the judging was pretty fierce. It was humbling to see some of my favorite photographs of the year not win…but at the same time, I saw other phenomenal photographs shot by amazing wedding photographers fail merit an accolade. I have never been so thankful to have these two photographs represent Nakai Photography in a gallery full of the best wedding photographs of the year.

So without further adeu, here are the winning wedding photos!

This photo was from Brittany & Vaido’s engagement photo session back this past fall. It was a perfect day with the leaves a perfect color and hue- You can see more of their engagement session at their engagement photo session blog post.

Titled: A New Season

This is a re-edited photo from Theresa and Bobby’s wedding this past year. Bobby loves comics and kung-fu. So I had this fun and creative photo in mind during our creative portrait time on their wedding day. You can see more of their wedding photos at this blog post.

Titled: Drop Dead Gorgeous

It was great to hear two photographers I really respect, Roberto Venezuela and Michael Greenberg both comment on this photo.

You can see my previous blog posts highlighting past award winning wedding photos. 2010 award winning photos and my 2009 award winning photographs.

Thank you again to all my friends and family who have supported me and believed in my vision and talents as a wedding photographer! I truly am so thankful for everyone and the photography community as well!

with love,

Kenny Nakai
Nakai Photography
855 W. Blackhawk St #104 Chicago, IL 60642

After a blog post with wedding teasers, and a whole blog post about the pre-wedding activities…we have arrived to Brittany & Vaido’s destination wedding photos from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! It was an honor to be flown down to Cabo San Lucas from Chicago to be their destination wedding photographer. I was treated like family and I absolutely loved every minute of paradise that is Cabo San Lucas.

We stayed at the Fiesta Americana, on the Cabo del Sol resort property and the ceremony and reception were held at the Clubhouse elsewhere on the Cabo del Sol property.

Cabo Del Sol: Los Cabos Mexico
Km. 10.3 Carretera Transp.
Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S.
C.P. 23410

Luz was the event manager and she was wonderful at providing a great atmosphere and taking care of all the little details involved in this destination wedding. Roxanne from Baja Weddings worked with Brittany and Vaido in coordinating EVERYTHING so that the bride and groom could really sit back and enjoy their time in Los Cabos!

Here’s a photograph of the Cabo Del Sol clubhouse entrance- I love the architecture and the palm trees! Can you tell that it was a perfect day for a beach front wedding in Mexico?!?!

I brought my invitation down to Mexico to take a photo of it with some Mexican decor…such as this masonry work.

A ring shot…Nakai Photography style! We are in Cabo San Lucas, and we are definitely utilizing any Mexican artwork we find.

A photograph of Brittany’s Jimmy Choo shoes, on top of a wooden trunk.

A gorgeous dress. We took the standard ‘hanging the dress in the window’ shot, but I love the Mexican decor and I much prefer this one!

A little make up getting applied-

Brittany took a break from all the pre-wedding festivities to enjoy a moment on her balcony. That’s one thing I LOVED about Brittany and Vaido…they were continually soaking everything in…

Some detail photos-

Grooms details-

Vaido getting ready photos

A nice timeless image of Vaido. A photo that is clean and simple…yet highlighting Mexico and Los Cabos.

I love this photo of the groomsmen-

But this was how it really was throughout the whole wedding day! These guys were always laughing at something. And you gotta love a photo with a reflection!

Vaido’s Rolling Stone photo op-

Another photo with these blooming pink flowers. They were so colorful…we just had to utilize them in the photoshoot.

Brittany’s phenomenal bridal bouquet. I love the colors and the flower selection. So unique!

The ladies helping Brittany into her wedding dress

Mom got a little emotional when singing ” going to the chapel and we’re…”

Cheers!

A photo of the beautiful bride and her bridesmaids

It was such a relaxing day and the ladies were really able to enjoy the time together-

We had to grab a couple photos of Brittany by herself. She was stunning!

I loved her earrings. Gotta have another photo of those.

Though the bride and groom opted to not see each other before the wedding ceremony, this is a unique way to incorporate both of them in the same photo!

Their wedding program.

Once Luz and Roxann told me the wedding ceremony set up was complete, I got driven out there to grab some photos of their fabulous job! Destination wedding on the beach…ridiculous! And I love the rock formations in the water…it just screams Los Cabos!

When you have a wedding at the Cabo del Sol property, you are driven on these limo golf carts-

The bride and her father making a grand entrance!

Vaido was grinning ear to ear-

Beautiful sun…I did mention that it was a perfect day for a wedding? Not too windy, not too hot, and not too cold.

When they were planning their wedding, B & V wanted a beach front destination wedding. And while they had their pick of locations (bahamas, aruba, etc) they chose the gorgeous location of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I hope this photo always reminds them of their dream wedding come true on the ocean..at the tip of Baja California.

Real laughs and real smiles. =)

And it’s done! Let the goodtimes begin!

Before the creative portraits began, we just started with a nice photo of them on the beach with a warm sun setting behind them.

One thing Brittany and Vaido appreciate about my photography (among other things) is my ability to capture the real emotions and to allow my clients to really shine in my photographs. This photo is one of those. I LOVE this moment.

A photo of the groom checkin out his bride!

Another wonderful moment between the two of them in the middle of a photoshoot!

Crashing waters in Baja California!

The sunset was just perfect. Roxann from Baja Weddings really knew how to time everything!

I love Vaido’s personality coming out in this photo

And I LOVE this photo

AND I LOVE THIS PHOTO! =) Though not award winning by any means, I love the emotion I feel when I look at this photo.

The B&G had a surprise for all the guests as they began cocktail hour…a live Mariachi band!

You have got to love the Mariachi band outfit details

Just married in Los Cabos, Mexico! Whoo hoo!

Reception details at the Clubhouse on the Cabo del Sol resort property.

The room setup

A photo of the centerpieces.

Some cuban cigars for later on-

A photo of the wedding cake

While we waited for all the guests to get seated, I stole Brittany and Vaido to take more creative portraits!

I love the sky changing colors and the palm trees-

As they waited for the last guests to be seated at the reception, they started dancing and enjoying another moment on their wedding day!

I love this warm toned black and white interpretation of this moment.

The first dance!

Party time!

I apologize for the monster blog post, but I absolutely loved my stay in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was my first time, and I am so thankful to have such wonderful clients who take such good care of me!

Brittany and Vaido: Your love for each other is so apparent. It almost made shooting your wedding too easy. =) It was an unforgettable weekend and I am thankful to have shared it with you and your family!

***for anyone interested…there will be more photos posted in facebook next week…so check that out next week for even more photos!***

with love,

Kenny

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New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

All the guests stayed at the luxurious Fiesta Americana Hotel on the Cabo del Sol property. Fabulous views of the ocean and amenities made for a relaxing atmosphere away from the busy touristy downtown Cabo San Lucas. To help kick off the wedding…Brittany and Vaido had a small intimate bonfire on the beach. A great time to catch up and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere that is Cabo.

The cliffs on the shoreline in Cabo…

Bonfire w/the girls on the Fiesta Americana beachfront

A quick photo with Jeff and Inga…a former bride and groom of mine from 2009! Vaido was actually a groomsmen at that wedding…and that’s how they heard about Nakai Photography!

Cheers!

Stealing a moment away from everyone for a quick moment

The following day…all the ladies were decked out for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner~

We met up at the Cabo Del Sol clubhouse where we took “limo golf carts” to the beachfront where the ceremony would be held.

Father and daughter enjoying a laugh together

As we were waiting to return to the Fiesta Americana for the rehearsal…the sky just lit up on fire. It was pretty ridiculous to witness!

It was a fiesta at the Fiesta Americana- the party area had an ocean view…sweeet!

Lots of photos of the details. Cabo San Lucas is in Mexico…why not have a Mexican themed party?

And of course…live Mexican music!

Warming up on the dance floor

All the sisters put together a fun game for the bride and groom to play. I love this photo all of them laughing in the background

One of the highlights of the night was a video compiled by by Brittany’s sister who was unable to make it to Cabo. It was heartfelt slideshow…and I didn’t even watch it…I was watching Brittany the whole time…a photo tells you just how much it meant to her.

And of course, we couldn’t end the night w/o a creative photo. We headed down to the beach and captured this photo using a Fiesta Americana beach umbrella! Love.

Stay tuned this week for the actual wedding photos! I loved Cabo…and there are so many amazing photos, it’s really difficult to narrow it down!

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I fell asleep to the crashing waves echoing up through my balcony doors. I saw whales spouting water through their blowholes. A gorgeous wedding dress. Beautiful flowers. Perfect weather. Photography was a cinch. It was like I could close my eyes and click the shutter on my camera and still create fabulous photography!

Uh. The beach. The sand. The sun. Oh…and for those of us in Chicago…there is a blizzard approaching that could dump 18 inches of snow tomorrow evening. I gotta find my red shoes and click my heels. There’s no place like Cabo. There’s no place like Cabo. There’s no place like Cabo.

Darn. I’m still here. But I wanted to share with you three ‘teaser’ photos with you guys from this past week! And I hope this will warm us all up in the midst of the blizzard. C’mon and dream “destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas” with me.

A quick shout out to Roxann from Baja Weddings, who helped coordinate this beautiful destination wedding! Another shout out to Luz from Cabo Del Sol for a great job of execution and making us all feel so welcome!

And one last thought: B + V are still down there in Cabo…for another WEEK! So feel free to comment here or on a facebook link and leave these two honeymooners some love! This way when they get back…they can read all the comments!

On the beach front where the wedding ceremony was held. Cabo Del Sol resorts…

Beautiful bride and an alright looking groom.

Destination wedding in Mexico in January? Um….yes please!

Thanks so much for reading! Come back soon for some more photos from this Cabo San Lucas, Mexico destination wedding!

With love,
Kenny

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New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

The twins were soooooo cute! And being an uncle two 2 nephews and 5 nieces, I love taking photos of kids! I really try to capture as many ‘looks’ as I can…b/c we all know how quickly children change! It’s great to see how a photo can really capture a kid’s thoughts and personality traits. Anyhow…enjoy the photos!

A fun moment-

Like most 1yr olds, he is teething and wants to put anything and everything in his mouth!

A cute portrait

A photo capturing where their progress towards walking. They can stand…and that’s it…for now! =)

In Korean tradition, the 1 year birthday is important. They typically dress the kids up in a ‘hambook’ (am I spelling this correctly?)

And one last photo of the two of them together!

And a slideshow with more photos from the portrait session!

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New Studio – 855 W. Blackhawk St Chicago, IL 60642

As I mentioned in the previous post, I am a wedding photographer available worldwide for destination weddings! But for fun…I’m also available for destination engagement sessions too! Like this trip to New Orleans. It was my first time in NOLA, and I had a great time exploring the city. I was inspired by the culture, architecture, and of course…the food. =)

To start things off for part 2 of our destination engagement photo shoot, we returned to the Warehouse district after the sun had set. I love Jason’s natural smile in this photo.

And then by accident…I was bending down changing some camera gear, when I saw this…and I had to take a photo-

One of the more technically difficult photos of the night. I love the motion blur caused by the moving vehicles. New Orleans architecture all around them. And of course…they look good too =)

Since this was my first time in New Orleans, I was told I have to eat a beignet. Fried dough? ummmm yes please! So we headed to the famous Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarters. Even though it was late after dinner…Cafe Du Monde was still crowded, and the ‘heart-attack-in-a-napkin’….I mean ‘beignets’ were still fresh out of the fryer! Oh. my. good. ness. It was good.

If you are ever in New Orleans, be sure to stop by – here’s a photo of the place…with Jason and Hannah relaxing and having a good time. This photo reminds me of a famous American painting. Though at this moment, the name of it is slipping my mind. Let me know in the comment box if you know what I am talking about! =)

More French Quarters at night photos

When people visit New Orleans, they usually head out to Bourbon street….We were there on a weekday, and I was told it gets packed on the weekends.

More French Quarters photography

The next morning, we headed back out to the French Quarters to grab some photos during the day.

I love all the balconies in the French Quarters…well they are all over NOLA. This one was getting remodeled, but I thought it looked cool and thought to grab a photo-

Love this black and white photo. Yes…that would be the French Quarters. Here in Chicago, we don’t have architecture that looks like this.

And to close out our day, we had a photo shoot at a bayou! We have lakes, rivers and streams in Illinois, but no bayous. I love the symmetry of this photo-

A photo of them on the bridge

This was a fun photo. I love strong composition of the X behind Jason…and I think their pose and smiles are a nicely juxtaposed.

And for our first meal in New Orleans, we had charbroiled oysters from Dragos, which was featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” show from the Food Network. Well….the Food Network’s recommendation was so good, that we headed out to another spot as featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate“: Domilises for a shrimp po’boy! This place was a real hole in the wall! No larger than your average dining and living room! And it was in a residential area! Our GPS took us there, but we didn’t even see it! It turned out, Domilises was remodeling, and their sign was on the ground. The only way we knew it was there was by the influx of people into the establishment.

But yes…the po’boy here was pretty amazing. The bread was so soft and not chewy. The sauce they used with the shrimp….sandwich heaven. So yea, it’s a little out of the way, but if you want a great shrimp po’boy, I have to agree with the chefs on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”…well, don’t take my word for it…take theirs! =)

Thanks again to Jason and Hannah for flying this frigid cold Chicago Wedding photographer to warmer weather down in New Orleans! I had a great time with you guys and can’t wait until the wedding! And a shout out to Hannah’s friend Lisa who helped with so many location recommendations for us!

with love,

Kenny

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Studio: 855 W Blackhawk St #104 Chicago, IL 60642

Since they are only in Germany for a little time more, we wanted the photos to reflect ‘Germany’ as this was where their marriage started and where their first child will be born.

We headed out to a local ‘castle’ where royalty used to live. I love the architecture and color in this photo….but I LOVE the shadow of the bump on the wall! Make sure you check it out!

Chris likes to pretend he understands the ‘pains’ of labor- what a funny photo!

Carolyn & Chris love good photography and I always enjoy working with them….this was a pretty photo-

In Illinois, everything is flat…but in Germany…there are a lot of hills- a cool silhouette photo showcasing her maternity phase- =)

Love the sun rays shinning through in this photograph

The ‘glowing’ soon-to-be parents!

America is relatively young. Europe and Germany have lots of cobblestones- something you definitely realize when you are pregnant….so I’ve been told. =)

Love this moment-

One of my favorite maternity photos from the day-

Pregnant and growing? Yup!

Thanks for another great time in Germany guys! It was fun just hanging out and spending time with you guys! Can’t wait to see the new addition on skype when the time comes!

with love,

Kenny

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855 W Blackhawk St #104 Chicago, IL 60642