Jessica Gwozdz Photography - Chicago maternity, newborn, child, and family photographer » glenview photographer http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog Blog Thu, 17 May 2012 04:33:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 John’s Place http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/05/johns-place/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/05/johns-place/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 21:16:42 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=2178 Last year I had the pleasure of meeting John Hoppe from John’s Place in Glenview. John’s advertising agency contacted me because they needed some marketing photos of John. John’s Place  is a personalized auto care shop specializing in European models.  John wanted marketing images that represented the way he feels about his business and about his customers – that he personally stands behind all work done at his shop and that he is “at your service.”  I loved this idea because this is also the way I feel about my business and my customers.  I also really loved John’s idea of wearing his tuxedo and holding customers’ keys on a silver platter.  (You can see that the advertising agency added the silver platter later in production…LOL!)   Today I had the opportunity to check out the lifesize “cardboard John” that is up in the shop.  It was really fun to see the final use of some of the images we captured that day.

John’s Place is very comfortable and family-friendly.  John was kind enough to allow me to put up a canvas display of childrens’ photographs in his waiting room.  He also has some of his amazing travel photography on display.  If you are near Glenview and you need your car serviced, stop by John’s Place!

]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/05/johns-place/feed/ 1 Gorgeous Mom-To-Be http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/chicago_maternity/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/chicago_maternity/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:37:56 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=2149 My good friend Paul is a retired wedding photographer.  When he found out his first grandchild was on the way, he talked to me about taking some maternity portraits of his daughter Karen.  Karen really wanted to do some outdoor maternity pictures.  I have done many maternity sessions but all of those sessions have been in the studio.   I thought that if Paul and I put our heads together we could come up with a great outdoor plan for his daughter’s pictures.   We started out the day with lunch at Gumba Joe’s in Park Ridge (Paul’s pick, totally a “guy place” with sandwiches as big as your leg…ha!) and then proceeded to explore various photo spots around town.  Here are some highlights from a fun day with friends.


 

]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/chicago_maternity/feed/ 1 Family of 3 http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/familyof3_chicago/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/familyof3_chicago/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:02:32 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=2129 It was so nice to meet this gorgeous family recently.  Their 1-year-old daughter is simply a doll.  She was so easy-going and just went along with whatever we wanted to try.  Here are a few highlights from our session.

And I am thinking about making a studio sample of this black-and-white one because her cute little gentle smile here makes ME smile whenever I look at her.   :)

]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/familyof3_chicago/feed/ 2 Cute siblings http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/cute-siblings/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/cute-siblings/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:44:38 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=2111 These two were so patient with me a few weeks ago, modeling while I was testing out some new equipment.  They were featured on the ClickinMoms blog  as part of the equipment review I wrote, and I really wanted to feature them on my blog too.  Aren’t they so cute?

]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/04/cute-siblings/feed/ 0 a harp, a frame, and a fuzzy hat http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/03/harpframehat/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/03/harpframehat/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:06:39 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=2086 I am catching up on blogging past sessions and wanted to share some highlights from a great session with a gorgeous 15-year-old.  It was totally snowing on the day of her shoot, but I was so glad she still brought her harp so we could incorporate it into a few shots.  And look at those beautiful eyes – to die for!  Her parents ordered a 16×20 canvas of that close-up portrait for their home.  I can’t wait to see how it looks once it’s on display.

 

]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/03/harpframehat/feed/ 1 18 months http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/03/18-months/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/03/18-months/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:28:40 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=2068 I am catching up on blogging client sessions and just wanted to share a few highlights from a recent 18-month session.  Pretty in purple!

]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/03/18-months/feed/ 3 Congratulations to Joan and Kent! http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/02/congratulations-to-joan-and-kent/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/02/congratulations-to-joan-and-kent/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:51:43 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=1978 glenview-portraits-111111 wedding-couple-111111 morton-grove-photographer-111111 mother-and-adult-son-11111 silly-puppets-111111 glenview-wedding-portraits-111111 formal-couple-111111 glenview-family-portraits-111111 father-and-daughters-11111 family-with-adult-children-111111 chicago-sisters-111111 silly-family-chicago-111111 family-groucho-glasses-111111 evanston-photographer-111111 confetti-couple-111111

 

Joan and I had worked together in the past on some professional headshots.  I was so happy for her when she called me and told me that she was getting married!  She and her future husband wanted some family portraits done in studio before the wedding ceremony so they came by that afternoon with their kids.  We really had a good time.  Thankfully I had a needle and thread and thankfully Joan had some sewing skills to deal with Kent’s shirt button emergency.  While she was sewing, the guys got into some of the tools I use with younger subjects (ie: puppets).  Then Kent discovered the box on my prop shelves labeled “groucho glasses.”  You can see where that silliness headed in the pictures above.

Joan and Kent, I wish you a lifetime of happiness!

]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/02/congratulations-to-joan-and-kent/feed/ 1 Little Skater Dudes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/01/little-skater-dudes/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/01/little-skater-dudes/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:42:57 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=1918

 

I had this idea about trying to write this whole blog post in skater lingo but then I realized that I don’t know any skater lingo other than the word “dude.”  Ha! Therefore I am just going to talk like I normally talk and tell you that these are some highlights from a really fun family session we did right before the holidays.  A couple of the images were used on a custom holiday card and once the chaos of the holiday season died down, we finished up by selecting some wall art and gift prints.

You know how sometimes you talk to someone new on the phone and it’s so relaxed and natural that it’s like talking to an old friend?  That’s how I felt when the mom of this family called me.  I just knew we were going to have a great session.

K, I am glad you found me and I look forward to working with you and your beautiful family in the future!

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]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2012/01/little-skater-dudes/feed/ 0 Happy New Year! http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2011/12/happy-new-year-chicago-childrens-photographer/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2011/12/happy-new-year-chicago-childrens-photographer/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:45:34 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=1839 A heartfelt note of thanks to all of my clients, family, and friends for another fabulous year.  It is because of you that I am able to do what I love.

Wishing you health, peace, and happiness in 2012!

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]]> http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2011/12/happy-new-year-chicago-childrens-photographer/feed/ 2 Merry Christmas! http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2011/12/merry-christmas-morton-grove-photographer/ http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/2011/12/merry-christmas-morton-grove-photographer/#comments Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:00:39 +0000 Jes http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog/?p=1815 I used a Norman Vincent Peale quote on my personal holiday card this year.

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”

I really wanted to add my own addendum to that quote that said “Even my kids.”  LOL!

Merry Christmas everyone!

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