Gretchen & Todd’s Wedding

I guess the whole rebranding, identity overhaul of Kevin Weinstein Photography may have something to do with it. If so, then what am I going to do with so much free time when this is all over? Just kidding: I won't ever slow down. I have said this before, and I will say it again: a huge thank you goes out to Deb Pang Davis of Cococello and Lindsay Berger of Inkwell Marketing. Next to buying a home, this has been an amazing, life-changing experience. And I am so proud and honored to have you both, working on ... me! I am ecstatic!

Gretchen & Todd's wedding

• August 22, 2009
• Ceremony: St. Benedict's Church
• Reception: Chicago Cultural Center

The B&G flew from the East Coast to celebrate their wedding festivities. My second shooter, Joseph Kang and I started our day at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago. I, of course, went to visit the bride and hang with her until we caught the limo to St. Ben's on Irving Park to get married.

As usual, my stomach was in knots. I don't care how many times I shoot weddings, I am always more nervous than any bride or mother of the bride. You get one shot at this--no redos. No fancy after-effect photoshop actions. And when working in a documentary method, you have to be alert every waking second. My goal is to produce my best work the entire time I am at a wedding. Every time, I want to out-do my previous wedding. And while I can't see much difference from weekend to weekend, I can see huge differences in my work when I reflect on wedding seasons.

By the time we got out of the ceremony at St Ben's, a huge weight was off my shoulders. Though the ceremony was beautiful, it was now time to celebrate. While I was still focused on making the best images possible, I could breathe a lot easier. We took the B&G around town to get that perfect skyline shot everyone loves. Even in the brightest of the afternoon mid-day sun, I override daylight, turn down the lights (the sun), artificially light them from the side, and hand them a picture worthy of putting up on their walls. I hope!

We finally make our way to the Chicago Cultural Center. I have photographed there more times than I can count. It is one of my favorite venues in Chicago. With the worlds largest Louis Comfort Tiffany art glass dome (now fully restored), it is especially difficult to take a bad photo. And hand over custom lighting to Frost, fantastic food from Blue Plate, desserts from Sweet Mandy B's, flowers from A Stem Above, music from the talented Steve Edwards Orchestra and phenomenal wedding coordination from Kara of Magnificent Milestones, you get an evening that played out like a grand celebration.

Thank you to all the vendors who put their special touches into these events so my pictures look THAT much better. It truly is a team effort.

• Venue: Chicago Cultural Center
• Planners: Kara Underwood & Jancy Walker Magnificent Milestones
• Catering: Blue Plate
• Band: Steve Edwards Orchestra
• Photobooth: Photobooth Express
• Dessert: Sweet Mandy B’s
• Floral Design: A Stem Above
• Hotel: Palmer House Hilton
• Lighting: Frost Lighting
• Makeup: Kellyey Pajic
• Hair: Beauty on Call
• Videographer: Modern Image Studio
• Officiant: Fr. Robert Beaven
• Church: St. Benedict's; Chicago, IL
• Transportation: Empire Limo
• Transportation: Antique Coach
• Alcohol: Binny's Beverage Depot