almost 3 months later!  Last week I shot Rhea and Tim’s day after shoot and it was a blast!  (here’s a link to the wedding pics from November) Tim, I know you loved it :)  What a trooper he was and I think he will be quite happy with the results.  I mean really how many times in your life are you going to get all dressed up and look this good?  Might as well take advantage of it and get all the photos you can!  We went to downtown San Diego and the beach for these.  I’m looking forward to doing more of these as the year goes on.  Sometimes they are called day after sessions, sometimes trash the dress session, but whatever you want to call them, I love them.  It creates a chance for some really fun, creative and sassy pics that there isn’t always time for on the wedding day.  So if you’re on the fence about this, I say get off it and have some fun.  Here’s a preview and of course a slideshow! I will be in touch in about a week with the rest.  Thanks again guys!

You may remember Nicole and Jeff from their engagement pics.  Since the day they asked me to shoot their wedding I have been so excited for a number of reasons – one being that they are just so fun and full of energy and another because Nicole’s mom, Nurse Ronnie, was my neighbor and just one of the funnest people to be around when I worked as a therapist at Children’s Hospital.  When I was making the switch from being a full-time therapist/part-time photographer to a full time photographer, Nurse Ronnie was so supportive and awesome.  She actually is responsible for helping me get my first engagement session and one of my first “real” weddings.  And she and her husband Jack were 2 of guests at my wedding in 2005 :) I do miss being a therapist but love the connection I make with my clients now and the fact that I get to spend such an important day in their lives with them.  So being there to see all these folks who I already know celebrate was even more special.  So enough going on…..here is a preview of pics from the day! Hope you both had a great time in Hawaii!  When am I going to be able to convince some of the couples to take me on the honeymoon too?

The ceremony was at this little Chapel on the Navy base in Coronado.  Probably my shortest drive to a wedding ever!

 

I always love the chaos of the few moments before everything gets going!

 

Nicole was beaming all day long.

 

This picture really made me laugh and I’m sure won’t be running in an ad for this perfume.

 

This is one of my favorite photos from the day.  Nicole’s mom looks on as she and her dad “rehearse” for the handoff. 

 

Check out all the cameras!

 

Hmmmm….are these two happy?

 

And they’re off…

 

Of course being in Coronado, we couldn’t miss the beach.

 

This picture says everything you need to know about Nicole….she’s just this happy!  I should give Jeff some props for that!

 

Do I always love the first dance? yes or no???

 

This was such a sweet moment. 

 

One of Nicole’s best ladies gave a toast and told Jeff to enjoy this moment.  It was the last time he was going to have the upper hand :)

 

Nicole’s dads wishes to the couple.

 

Nicole’s sis, Kathleen and her guy.

 

Nicole’s sister Christy and her hubby Brian.  In case you missed the story and their pic in Nicole and Jeff’s engagement session post, these two were my first engagement session. 

 

Not many weddings I shoot have cake cutting with a sword.

 

Nicole reminding Jeff who’s in charge.

 

The beginning :)

While I was in Chicago I got to shoot some boudoir photo for a few brides to be.  It was so fun.  They found me through Ann whose wedding I’m shooting in Puerto Vallarta and whose engagement pics are here and here.  Boudoir sessions are something I’m starting to get more and more requests for and it really is a lot of fun for both me and the gals.  It’s something I think every woman should do at least once in their life.  I already have a few sessions set up later in the year in different cities and a different country even! So if you are looking for a boudoir photographer I will be in the following areas with shoots scheduled and spots available-  

Cape Cod, August 23 – 2 openings left

New York City, August 27 – 2 openings left

London, September 2 – 2 openings left

And here are the lovely gals from Chicago and a little slideshow! If you have a request for a certain city be sure and let me know. I will be back in Chicago before too long as well – leigh@leighmillerphotography.com Thanks!

                                                                                            

I had a blast shooting Ann and Paul’s Engagement session in snowy Chicago! It was something fun and different for me, being a California gal and all.  So I decided to play a little with the cold theme and make them a slideshow – all black and white pics – all with a cooler rather than warmer tone. (This is also great Ann cause now you can show Paul the slideshow without going to the blog and he won’t see what I’m going to post later this week – hehe!) What I really like about these pics is, at least to me, they have a very timeless feel.  When I look at them I think Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw in Love Story – sappy, I know! And honestly I’m not really a sappy person, ask anyone who knows me. So on with the show.  Ann and Paul’s cool engagement session slideshow. I can’t believe I have to wait all the way until June to hangout with you two again.

Probably the highlight of my trip to Chicago was getting to see and stay with my good friend Stacey and her family.  Stacey and I have been friends since we were about 16.  And believe me, that’s a looong time!  I haven’t seen her and her husband Eric for a few years and hadn’t got to meet baby Nora yet.  It was so fun just to hangout with them and take pics throughout the day.  Here are a few pics from the day of baby Nora and Spencer the wonder dog who, believe me, will not be ignored :)  And if you want to see more here’s a little slideshow I put together of the day!  Can’t wait to see you all again in May at auntie Steph’s wedding!

Here’s Spencer, making sure I’m going to get up and take his pic.

And baby Nora!  Good morning.

You will have to watch the slideshow to see what happens next.

Check out those baby blues!

Spencer was feeling left out I think.  See you guys soon and we will do it again :)

Saturday morning I met up with Ann and Paul who live in Chicago and are taking me with them for their June wedding in Puerto Vallarta – woohoo!!! At least it will be warm there :)  But really these two were so fun and I think these shots out in the cold, windy chicago winter will be a great contrast to the wedding in Mexico.  I’m so excited to be working with these two.  We really had a great time despite the chill and they warmed things up really fast.  I know I say this all the time but I do have the best job in the world.  I get to meet the most fun couples and I already feel like Ann is a good friend from all the emailing, etc… we’ve done in preparation for this wedding.  So nice to spend the morning with you two.  See you in June!!!

 

We stopped at this indoor garden to do a few shots that weren’t outside.

 

I really like this photo.  Ann has the bluest eyes.  You’re cute too Paul :)

 

Since they are moving away from Chicago in the not too distant future and this is Paul’s hometown we went down on the Pier and got some pics with the Chicago skyline in the background.

 

In the parking garage.  We did have to be a little creative to keep from getting frostbite.

 

 

I don’t get much of this in Cali.  I love the snow and bare trees.

 

Snowball fight on the beach. 

 

Warming up.

 

 

Can you tell how crazy these two are about each other?

 

 

Thanks guys! I had a blast.

I just returned from Chicago and while it’s a beautiful city that I love, man oh man was it brutal!!! I mean the wind and the cold just about did me in.  Despite it being so cold, it was a very productive trip for me and you all know I love that. So come back all week to see what I did in Chicago.  While I was there I shot some just for fun, 4 boudoir sessions, 1 very cold engagement session, and a bit of a day in the life of baby Nora and Spencer the wonder dog.  I can’t wait to share all the pics!  Here are just a few to get the weeks started.  These are from my first few nights there and a get together with some fellow photographers.  It was so nice to talk shop with these great women from all over.  Thanks for making it so fun everyone.  See you in Vegas baby!!!

The view outside my hotel window.  No way was I going outside to take pics that first day.  It was beyond freezing.

 

I have to admit it was pretty though.

 

Our favorite person at the Hilton.  He gave us advice on where to go the entire week.

 

 

More lights.

 

At dinner.  Here Missy gets the bad news that Stacey isn’t going to Vegas this year for the big convention.  We are all sad Stacey!

 

One last pic of the pretty snow.  I wish I was tougher.  It was so pretty but so cold and windy it knocked your breath out.  Isn’t there warm snow anywhere?

guess who’s on it? That’s right the super cool wedding planning site Wedding Bee has named my blog as one of their favorites.  I want to thank Miss Ant for naming me as one of her favorite blogs and for creating this list of great blogs for couples and photographers alike to check out.  I feel so honored to be included in this list, especially with all these photographers whom i’ve either worked with, admire, or know personally.  I can’t believe the number of referrals I am getting from the Wedding Bee each day.  And just a few weeks ago I booked a couple who found me on this list.  Thank you Wedding Bee!!!

Also if you haven’t already check out some of the great wedding planning websites, forums, and blogs I’ve listed in my links section.  Happy Planning!