may your days be married + bright!

Winter engagement shoots in Chicago can be either a walk in the park or just the worst... [Chicago weather in a nutshell] !! So when our handsome couple requested a snow filled photo shoot, we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. Last Saturday's foggy, gray morning wasn't looking promising as we geared up for the shoot. But with a little hot cocoa by the fireside paired with Kaitlyn + Dustin's endearing personalities, we hit it off right away at the Chicago Athletic Association. Warmed up with a little of that liquid inspiration that a spiked hot cocoa can provide, we strolled through Millennium Park, past Cloud Gate to Pritzker Pavilion and across the BP Bridge.

Our shoot was quite literally a walk in the park, albeit a cold and misty one, it was lovely! It's really fun to chronicle this chapter of our couple's engagement, no matter what the season. When we build our locations around our their style the imagery is even that more meaningful. As winter in Chicago just gets started, we hold tight to keep warm with the ones we love this holiday season. Any Chicagoan knows the secrets to making it through a Midwest winter includes keeping warm + bright along with a fair amount of that spiked hot cocoa!

To our sweet couple featured here and all of our wonderful Rose Photo fam, may your days be married and bright!

Happy Holidays and stay warm out there!!

love,

Rose + Co

keeping the kids happy!

I often get asked how I keep my tiny bosses happiest during our lifestyle family photo shoots! There is a short answer and, of course, a long answer; especially if you are asking me!  First for the long, professional answer. Keeping the shoot moving, finding fun things to distract these lil managers of my time and always thinking on my toes has a lot to do with keeping the imagery fresh and 'looking' oh so calm. ( I'm pretty sure any parent can attest to these tools being in their back( & front pockets) when negotiating with tiny toddlers aka terrorists that can wreak havoc on your plans at any moment!! The short answer though is simple: bribery.  I consistently carry lollipops,  bubble gum and other age specific tools of concise bargaining for my bossy babes.  Not to worry , I do ALWAYS ask mom first about a) the bribing technique and b) the amount of sugar used to concourse this careful situation in my favor.  Generally though, I approach every family photo session with the patience of the Pope and the tactful skill set of a ninja, never knowing exactly how the session will go but always being certain I WILL GET GREAT IMAGERY, even if I have to have a heart to heart, in gibberish, with a two year old about eating grass. 

These two little buds where actually pretty awesome though. I only busted out the lollipops at the very end, after we had captured most of the photo gems I wanted. However, this new flavor of my favorite brand of lollis threw me a little curve ball by turning these kiddos to a delightful shade of blue!! So glad these brothers were absolute champs through the end of the shoot and we didn't find this out the hard way, mid session as it made for some super cute last captures!!

Jack + Charlie, you two of the sweetest suburban brothers with mad photo style( thanks, Mom!)    I can't wait to see you again next season and keep your picture books current and smiley!!

love,

Rose + Co