http://kevinweinstein.com/index.php en kevin@kevinweinstein.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-01T00:21:13+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/juliette_bruces/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/juliette_bruces/#When:23:21:13Z There is something nerve-wracking about shooting a talented graphic designer's wedding.  It is also a huge honor when you get hired by a talented graphic designer.Meet Bruce.  And, his adorable wife Juliette.  Bruce, is a graphic designer.I think it's the appreciation and complete understanding of the visual arts that makes me anxious.  Artists tend to be controlling about their own work and passionate about other art forms.  I worry they might grapple with the inability to just let go and have fun.  You know.  Let me do my job so I can deliver quality work. Weddings 2010-02-28T23:21:13+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/courtney_erik/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/courtney_erik/#When:23:57:44Z Winter weddings.  They are not very popular.  But for some reason, I have shot 4 events in December and January. I was extremely excited to shoot my first wedding event at the Palmer House.  While I have shot corporate events and many brides preparing for their day at the hotel, I have never shot a ceremony and reception in that space.  I am looking forward to working with the hotel more!  In fact, I have a 3-day Hindu wedding this coming May at the Palmer House.  Warmer weather combined with the Palmer House will be welcomed in my book.  I walked into the room where Courtney was getting her makeup done.  Well, actually … she was supposed to begin makeup when I arrived, but she just completed both hair AND makeup.  Arg.  Thanks, Courtney!  Now what? Weddings 2010-01-25T23:57:44+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/lauren_and_todd/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/lauren_and_todd/#When:23:25:18Z Lauren wrote me in February of 2009 inquiring about my services for her wedding in November.I quickly wrote her back, excited about the possibility to shoot at The Peninsula.  She responded the next day and said, "Thank you so much for the quick response. All the info you sent me was very helpful. Your work is quite fabulous and I am very much interested in booking you for my wedding."I truly enjoy simple hirings.  No consultation.  No meeting.  In fact, I didn't ever meet the bride and groom until their wedding day.Slightly nervous, of course, I set my fears aside and tapped into my knowledge database and started photographing.  Holy Name Cathedral and The Peninsula.  Two fantastic spots to shoot with backdrops to die for.The bride and groom met in college 4 years ago.  Lauren says she knew he was the one even before they started dating.  She is definitely a gal with determination, and a strong sense of what she wants.  And, at the same time, a very easy-going young lady to boot.   Weddings 2010-01-17T23:25:18+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/roni_rick_their_baby_boy/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/roni_rick_their_baby_boy/#When:18:02:15Z Three and a half years into their marriage, and they finally birthed a healthy baby boy.I can picture Rick as a "dad," but I am still having issues with my little sweet Miss O as a mother.  Why do I feel as if she is my child?The three of us were trying to get together again for another pregnancy shoot to take advantage of the fall colors and to get some city-scape images as well as park/foliage settings.  However, 1.5 hours before they were supposed to be here, Rick contacted me to say, "Um, we can't make it.  Roni is starting her labor." Roni's birth was an "EVENT."  The two labored at home in the shower for a while before moving that process to a shower stall at Prentice. Eventually, she moved her labor to the hospital bed. She labored everywhere. Ilan Geva Orlina Born: Friday, October 9th, 2009 at 1:47am7 pounds 12 ounces20 inches 100% awesome Pregnancy & Babies 2009-12-21T18:02:15+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/roni_rick_pregnant/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/roni_rick_pregnant/#When:15:07:49Z I hadn't spoken or seen Roni & Rick in a VERY long time.  Maybe since January at another wedding they referred me to?But on August 4th of this year, Roni wrote me an email saying, "hi mr. w.it's your favorite. little miss o.well, not so little right now because I'm 30 weeks preggers. THIRTY. THIRTY! THIRTY!?"This was something I needed to see.  She is already so tiny and compact, so I was curious about how she was carrying around a baby in her stomach area.Roni & Rick have it down.  They know responsibility, respect, patience and commitment.  After 3 years of building a stronger foundation they decided it was time to add a little person "to spill the love onto."  Considering Roni is an actress, she was not in town much.  So this did make things a little difficult.  Obviously in the end, they figured things through.    Pregnancy & Babies 2009-12-14T15:07:49+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/roni_rick/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/roni_rick/#When:22:06:13Z Last week I posted Roni & Rick's engagement session.  Posting two of this couple will feature their wedding. Roni was working the box office at IO (formerly Improve Olympic) when Rick came in and tried to finagle a free ticket (which he claims he should have received). He never got past the entrance mainly because he spent the entire night talking about everything with Roni. At the end of her shift, she asked him if he wanted to finish the conversation over coffee and cake at the Pick Me Up. At 3:30am, they were asked to leave. But that didn't stop the two from moving the conversation to their car. Eventually, all good things must come to an end. And they said their goodbyes. No kiss. No numbers were exchanged. The two just hoped they would see each other again around IO. 2009-12-07T22:06:13+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/roni_rick_engagement_session/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/roni_rick_engagement_session/#When:17:52:17Z In the summer of 2006, Roni & Rick married.  During the past three and a half years, they never went away.  And that's a good thing.  They have continued to be active with my business in many different forms.But you all must be curious --- Why am I blogging about former clients from a long time ago?  The two were special from the beginning.  To know Roni means you know how to go from a simple smile to a gut-busting and knee-slapping laughter.  She is a hoot.  Odd (in a fantastic way).  Honest.  Direct (related story about this in next week's blog). Caring. Giving. Appreciative. A fantastic listener.  And, she burps.  Loudly.  With theatrical body movements to boot.  Engagment Sessions 2009-11-30T17:52:17+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/sylvia_marcellos_engagement_session/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/sylvia_marcellos_engagement_session/#When:20:00:15Z Sylvia & Marcello met through a blind date via a mutal friend. Four years later, the two are going to marry on June 26, 2010.  Sylvia was referred to me by a former bride and groom from October of 2004.  Funny, it doesn't seem as if I have been shooting weddings longer than 3 years.  But 8 years later, I am about to begin my 9th year.On Wednesday, September 24, 2008, Marcello proposed to Sylvia in their home.    Engagment Sessions 2009-11-23T20:00:15+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/shawn_and_tyler/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/shawn_and_tyler/#When:16:47:45Z Two of my favorite portraits for 2009 were taken at Shawn & Tyler's wedding on July 31.One is of the bride and her bridesmaids dressed in green dresses against the bright blue sky and cumulus clouds.  What attracts me to this image is the surreal quality as if the people have been cutout and placed into a backdrop. The depth of field of the lens, the additional off-camera lighting, along with the color of the sky and clouds, is what makes this image delicious. The second picture is the two of them kissing outside the Lincoln Park Conservatory.  This was some more fun with off-camera strobe, overriding daylight with my shutter speed to make the ground go black, bringing the sky down to a deep blue, and once again, those Simpson-esque clouds.  These are some techniques I learned while studying off-camera lighting using small flashes with Joe McNally this past April. Weddings 2009-11-17T16:47:45+00:00 http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/regina_jon/ http://kevinweinstein.com/blog/article/regina_jon/#When:15:13:15Z Regina & Jon's meeting story is truly "by chance."Jon works for Puma Running division, and Regina works for a hotel downtown.  That specific weekend, Jon was working a Puma running booth for the Road Runners of America conference at the Embassy, and Regina happened to be working (she only works one weekend every quarter).  When he set up shop at the hotel, he noticed "a dark-haired beauty carrying four cups of coffee in a Starbucks coffee tray. Looking back I would bet that one of the cups contained a grande non-fat vanilla latte with a Splenda and a straw."  The event was SLOW.  And after a few days, he realized that "dark haired beauty" was the manager on duty.  "My goal was to see that smile as much as possible over the weekend. She would periodically walk around the hotel to make sure that everything was in order. Me being me, I would crack jokes and show her my favorite videos of jumping lizards, sports mascot bloopers, and TV clips."Luckily, Regina had a good sense of humor.  She laughed. Weddings 2009-11-09T15:13:15+00:00