Through the Rose Photo partnership with Modern Luxury Brides, we've been spending a lot of time at the newly re-opened Chicago Athletic Association, just a step off of Chicago's Magnificent Mile. This gorgeous gem of classic Venetian-Gothic architecture with dark cherry wood, very detailed accents and tile floors that date back to the late 1800's when our fine city celebrated such occasions as the World’s Colombian Exposition is now open to the general public for hotel bookings, wedding celebrations and the occasional happy hour in any of their 4 watering holes! The founding architect, who was a club member in the initial days of the CAA, was well known for his designs for the Chicago Historical Society (now a club called Castle in River North), the Newberry Library, and several buildings at the University of Chicago. The building itself is marked as a Chicago Landmark District building.

After capturing such wonderful shots in the White City Ballroom recently, we were thrilled to to be invited back to capture Sarah + Mike's engagement session. The CAA has some of the most gorgeous site lines in the city. With the amazing view looking out over Millennium Park from Cindy's rooftop bar to the cozy booths in the Cherry Circle Room where libations are carefully crafted by Chicago's own Paul McGee ( formerly of Three dots and a Dash, now at his own Lost Lake in Logan Square) we found plenty of perfect photo ops. There, in the Cherry Circle Room, we started our shoot with the signature Rose Photo toast to their engagement and then headed to the Game Room for a bit of boccie! The Drawing Room serves as both the hotel lobby and great space to thumb through the CAA's library of art books, Chicago history and architecture where we captured a few straight forward portraits for our handsome couple.

This couple, though! On top of their fantastic fashion and good looks, these two where such a thrill to work with on their first of many Rose Photo ops. I strongly suggest engagement photos as a great 'dress rehearsal' before the big day. Everyone feels a little bit differently about having their photograph made so it's always super helpful when working together to make great imagery to get to know one another as well as we can. I'm so glad I had this occasion with Sarah + Mike to get to know them and create a first set of lovely photos for their next chapters of life. Really though, they nailed it on the first run. Maybe it was our banter, maybe it was the stellar backdrops that where oh so charming, maybe it was just the sweet Chicago summertime! In any case, I am honored to be working with these two love birds and can't wait for our next photo op!!

love,

Rose + Co