Greatful for the giddiness

Michaela & Will are in love. There is no doubt about it. This delightful couple (who I met from my work with the Partners for Just Trade) was so easy to photograph because they needed no direction to look lovingly into each other eyes- they just did it. Same for laughing, smiling, playing, and showing the light-heartedness they had wanted for their engagement pictures.

I read once about a philosophy for engagement sessions that is like a date for three. I loved it! It helps me express to couples that we are going to be engaging with the environment, and that we aren't just looking for a cool tree or wall to photograph by, but we are going to find locations that have meaning for them and that they should behave like they would on a date- smiling, laughing, interacting with each other more than me.

We started at their apartment.



(below: two of my favorite favorites)


To quote Michaela, they are "avid readers" and are students, so off to Subterranean Books for some flirty, funky pictures. Thanks to the staff there for their help and willingness to let us take over for a little while! This stop was full of hilarity as we all tried to find book with good titles to use as our "props" but kept finding all the worst possible titles for our needs. Also, 3-D glasses. Need I say more?

(below: my husband's favorite).


They even look into each others' eyes with their 3-D glasses on. :)
The bookstore is near their house, on the Loop in U-City where they hang out a lot. So we traipsed about the Loop, stopping to take pictures at little nooks and funky walls. Below is an entrance to one of their favorite restaurants on the Loop. Love the shadows!
Happy find!
Small history lesson. The Loop is named for the trolley cars that used to come out to the area and it made it's loop back towards the city in this area. I love this picture with the trolley car!