Audrey kelleR phoTography

In the Studio with The Sunken Ship!

2011-01-04T13:11:00.000-06:00

After many years of building a great rapport between Audrey kelleR phoTography and the band The Sunken Ship, (being engaged to the drummer helped, too!) it was a thrill to be able to join them in part of their first LP (full album) recording session at Uptown Recording Studio. Dan Stock, the Sound Engineer, was equally as eager and enthusiastic to be working with these talented musicians as they were with him. Looking for the best of the best, The Sunken Ship met with many recording studios before deciding that Uptown Recording was the perfect fit.

It was exciting as a photographer to capture this musical magic behind the scenes in the intimate confines of the studio. It was truly remarkable to photograph each musician individually, as with recording music, each instrument and vocal is laid down separately--giving each member of the band the opportunity to shine on his own as we continually replayed his track. After several weeks of hard work and dedication in the studio, The Sunken Ship is still not finished recording the album. For all you Sunken Ship fans, stay tuned for the release of this exceptional LP!

Below is a selection of our favorite photos showing several aspects of the recording process. Please enjoy!

An Autumn Affair!

2010-12-30T13:16:00.000-06:00

It was a chilly autumn day when Kim and Luke said "I do" on October 2nd in Palatine, IL. However, you'd never be able to tell just how cold it was from the beautiful and intimate photos that we captured of the two. True love radiated from the couple with each embrace and kiss on this momentous day.

We were thrilled to work with Kim's family again, as we photographed her sister Erin's wedding and Engagement Session a few years back. The day's events began with a traditional and heartfelt ceremony at Prince of Peace Church in Palatine, IL. Kim and Luke were gathered by many family and friends as they tied the knot seamlessly. It was a truly touching moment to see the groom choke up at the sight of his beautiful bride (one of our favorite moments to capture). The newlyweds glowed as they exited the church and joined their bridal party to continue the celebration of their love. The enthusiastic group braved the cold weather, and we were able to photograph moments of romance, love, and fun. Upon the arrival to the reception hall at The Seville in Streamwood, IL, the couple entered the beautiful ballroom as they were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Piszczek! We were excited to be apart of a celebration that not only honored their love, but the veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps as well. Luke is a veteran, and there were many details that recognized the groom's services and his fellow marines (his cuff links, her garter, and the groom's cake). It was a magical day for all. Congratulations to Kim and Luke!

Please enjoy the selection of our favorite photos from the day!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2010-12-21T17:06:00.000-06:00

This month the studio had our third Sweet Pea portrait session with Jacob Paris! It has been wonderful to see him grow over the months since his first studio portraits! Jacob Paris was adorable bundled up for the chilly season in his winter garb of hats and sweaters. At one point we even had our own little snow angel complete with angel wings! It was a great time of year to capture this sweet pea - just in time for the holidays! We look forward to his next Sweet Pea visit to the studio!

The Sweet Pea Program is a customized photo package documenting your baby's first year. The program includes 4 custom portrait sessions along with a "Baby Look Book". The "Baby Look Book" contains a collection of images from the year's photo sessions along with personalized notes of your baby's growth and development. It is the perfect keepsake and future heirloom! Gift Certificates are also available for a great baby shower gift!
For more information about the Sweet Pea Portrait Program please contact Audrey kelleR phoTography at 773.8.STUDIO (777.878.8346) or visit us online at www.audreykellerphotography.com

Meet Arwen!

2010-12-14T18:20:00.000-06:00

Meet one of our latest models from the studio: baby Arwen!

At just 6 months old Arwen was a natural in front of the camera as she posed (with help from Mom and Dad!) for her portrait session with Audrey kelleR phoTography. She was all smiles in her adorable outfits which included the perfect holiday dress. The studio recently wrapped up it's first holiday sale so it was the perfect time for Arwen's parents to capture their beautiful daughter on film!

Take a look below to see images of the studio's latest cutie!

Look at Arwen dancing away!

We have a Gerber baby!

Playing with bubbles!

A Wedding to Remember!

2010-12-07T17:37:00.000-06:00

It was a momentous day on September 18th as Justin and Allegra were stylishly married in downtown Chicago. From their engagement to the wedding day, the affair was one for the books! It all began while backstage after a Nine Inch Nails concert. There, amongst the band, Justin knelt down on one knee and proposed to Allegra. What a magical moment!

The day of the wedding was just as memorable as the story of their engagement. The Bride's preparation took place at the grand Westin River North. There she was adorned with the beautiful works of The Left Bank, a Parisian jewelry boutique in the heart of Chicago. The jewelry pieces were the perfect finishing touch for the already exquisite Bride! (brides-to-be The Left Bank is a shopping must for accessories and bridal shoes of all sorts, check them out!)

Following Justin and Allegra's preparations, the ceremony and reception were held at Fulton's on the River. The venue was ideal for the occasion. We had some time following the ceremony for photos on the bridge. This couple's fun and playful attitude was a delight and lent to capturing unique shots during the perfect lighting of "the golden hour". The golden hour is the time of day during the last hour of sunlight, the sun is setting but there is still light in the sky. The lights of the buildings all turn on and it perfectly achieves a beautiful effect due to this quality of light. The joyous mood continued into the reception. There, live music was provided by the talented TVK Orchestra. It was a beautiful celebration for the newlyweds!

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Below are a sampling of images from the couple's big day. Please enjoy!

A jewelry photo shoot with Rapt in Maille!

2010-12-04T16:33:00.000-06:00

Audrey kelleR phoTography was so pleased to once again team up with Rapt in Maille! Rapt in Maille is a cutting edge jewelry line designed by the talented Melissa Banks. The jewelry designs include necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. If you know Audrey, you have defiantly seen her wearing some of Melissa's amazing jewelry!

As big fans of her designs, the studio staff was so excited to view and photograph her new pieces once again this year. Each year, just before the holidays, Rapt in Maille hires Audrey kelleR phoTography to photograph that years new line of designs. Melissa has been coming to us for 8 years now!
Viewing the latest creations from Rapt in Maille filled us all with inspiration for the day! The model, Neda, looked beautiful and edgy draped in the newest designs. What a thrill it was to work with a model as talented as Neda. She moved with ease and grace and looked ravishing in all the designs. The day was a creative thrill!

Be sure to check out all of our great photos from over the years and all the amazing jewelry at the Rapt in Maille website, by Melissa Banks.

In addition we'd like to give a special thank you to Melissa Banks, one of our longest standing commercial clients - since 2002! Thanks gal!!

For a look behind the scenes and to view some of our favorite images from the photo session please look below!

Ravenswood Art Walk!

2010-11-23T13:40:00.000-06:00

The weekend of October 2nd and 3rd, over 300 artists from around the country joined together for the 9th annual Ravenswood Art Walk: A Tour of Arts and Industry. Audrey kelleR phoTography was proud to participate in this great event for artists. It was a great opportunity to join the studio's own Ravenswood community in promoting local talent.

All along Ravenswood Avenue, buildings housed artists and their work. The studio was pleased to have two locations open for visitors. The first was a great spot indoors, amongst other artists, for the local crowd to view and purchase photographs. Besides a venue to sell and promote the studio and Audrey kelleR phoTography fine art, the studio itself held an open house all weekend (listed as a satellite location on the event maps)!

It was such fun preparing the studio for the crowds. The studio was decked out with an array of costumes, fabrics, and other props from the Me Boudoir inventories. It was definitely a hit, as the studio was flowing with traffic from the art walk! This annual art festival is one Audrey kelleR phoTography will participate in again. It was great meeting so many different artists and being able to enter into the different studios along Ravenswood. What an honor to be a participant in such an amazing event. So if you missed it this year, don't worry you'll have another chance.

Take a look below to see all the fun set ups the studio had at both locations!

A Fall Engagement Portrait!

2010-11-02T17:57:00.000-05:00

Another happy couple booked Audrey kelleR phoTography for their wedding! Engaged August 14, Mike and Lynne awaited the colorful Autumn season to capture their engagement. It was a gorgeous day in October for capturing the happiness and excitement of their engagement.

The photo session took place on Evanston's Northwestern campus. This location held special meaning for the couple as both were connected to the school and it was the perfect backdrop for their photographs. Lynne and Mike thrived in the Autumn environment, connecting with the trees and beautiful falling leaves.

Everyone here at the studio is so excited for the happy couple and are looking forward to their wedding which is set for May 29, 2011. Be sure stay posted for updates and photos of their special day! Meanwhile, here is a taste of the fun they had during their engagement photo session!

Congratulations again to Lynne and Mike!

A Halloween Maternity Session!

2010-10-26T16:43:00.001-05:00

With the help of parents-to-be Christina and Jeremy, on September 9th the studio underwent a Halloween transformation! The theme was perfect for the expecting couple's maternity photos, as their little one is due on the magical day of All Hallows Eve!

Both Christina and Jeremy were glowing with excitement and anticipation during the photo session. Their fun personalities were on full display as the photo set was filled with fun Halloween themed toys and props. The variety of settings ranged from adult and baby costumes, to spiderwebs and pumpkins! Along with the playful themed photos, there were several tender moments captured of the expectant mother and father.

This Halloween will truly be a special one for Christina and Jeremy!

Please look below for variety of our favorite moments and moods captured that day.

salonblonde celebrates ten years!

2010-10-19T18:49:00.000-05:00

On September 10th, 2010 Audrey kelleR phoTography was thrilled to be a part of the celebration as salonblonde marked their tenth anniversary with a party to remember! Announced previously, salonblonde and Audrey kelleR phoTography have teamed up combining glamourous hair styles, makeup and Me Boudoir photography. The night's chic celebration was a great opportunity to introduce the collaboration to the public.

The event was held at the Mercedes Benz dealership located in Chicago. Stemming from the salon's own stylish qualities, the venue of choice brought the celebration to another level of sophistication. It was definitely the place to be that evening, as guests quickly filled the showroom.

Throughout the evening party goers were treated to a one on one hair and makeup touch up by salonblonde professionals. Once styled, guests were invited to our photo set for a portrait session to capture the excitement of the evening. The studio and four of it's current staff members provided a full fledged photo set which included a nine foot gray seamless backdrop, three strobe lights, furniture, and a variety of props, all perfect for a Me Boudoir photo shoot. It was a joy to photograph the variety of guests, who were encouraged to show their personalities during their photo sessions. Many great moments were captured, all of which were made available to guests for later viewing and purchase.

The evening came to a close with a bang, as salonblonde's hip, creative visions of beauty were showcased on a runway. The styles shown were cutting edge and were a true testament to the talent found at salonblonde.

The night was a great success and fun was had by guests, salon stylists, and the staff of Audrey kelleR phoTography.

For a complete feel of the event we welcome you to view a variety of images from the evening, including photos of salonblonde owners Dawn Koch and Margaret Pasiennik and the staff of Audrey kelleR phoTography!

Congratulations again to salonblonde on their ten year anniversary!

For more information on portraits from the salonblonde event, please email Audrey kelleR phoTography at info@akphotodesign.com

Congratulations Tina and Mark!

2010-09-30T18:02:00.000-05:00

Newlyweds, Tina and Mark, celebrated their love for each other in grand style! After the great experience with them on their engagement photo session in December 2009, it was an honor to have been a part of their special day.

The day's events began with a trolley ride for the Bridal Party, transporting them to the ceremony's location in Park Ridge, Illinois. Upon their arrival, Tina and the Bridal Party discreetly entered the church as to not be seen by the guests or her groom, as Mark was to see his bride for the first time walking down the aisle; It was truly a beautiful moment filled with excitement.

The couple was radiating, not only with love, but with a stylish elegance. The wedding fashion was exquisite. Tina was radiant in her wedding gown. With lace trim detailing, a chic open back, and a soft pink sash adorned with a jeweled brooch, Tina dazzled. Her look was completed with a beautiful bouquet of soft pink roses, created by K.LA Designs. This color was also present on Mark, as he handsomely donned a matching tie with his tuxedo.

The wedding ceremony then took place at Mary, Seat of Wisdom. The church provided a wondrous setting for the occasion. Following their nuptials, the newlyweds were joined by their parties for a Bridal Walk in Chicago's Randolph Park, where great moments of love and celebration were captured.

The festivities continued at the reception, held at the Mid-America Club in Chicago. Once there, wedding planner Katie Goggin of Designer Event Chicago created the perfect celebration for Tina and Mark. Contributing to the magic of the evening, Bittersweet designed a beautiful wedding cake, while Toast and Jam played "You and Me" by Dave Matthews Band for the newlywed's first dance. The reception concluded at midnight, as the song "Sweet Home Chicago" filled the air.

It was indeed a marvelous day for all. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Here is a selection of our favorite photos from the day, please enjoy!

Sweet Pea - Baby Ava

2010-08-19T16:45:00.000-05:00

We just love when baby Ava comes into the studio for one of her Sweet Pea Portraits! We have seen her twice already and we look forward to the next shoot in a few months.
Her Mother wants to have photos of her in a tutu for each of the four sessions included in the Sweet Pea Portrait Program. Her are the first 2. The first one at 4 weeks and the other at 3 months. You can already see her growing - adorable!!

This unique photo package, The Sweet Pea Portrait Program, documents the first year of your baby's life within 4 custom photo shoots. Starting at 4 weeks or younger up until the baby's first birthday. After the birthday bash session we create a look book with the photos from the past year along with baby details (i.e birth weight, when baby can sit up, favorite toy, etc.). This becomes a beautiful and unique keepsake for the parents to remember how tiny their baby once was. Also, a great heirloom for the child themselves to pass down to their own children one day!
See below for a few other images from Ava's 2 shoots!
For more information about the Sweet Pea Portrait Program call the studio! 773-8-studio (773-878-8346) or visit our website: www.audreykellerphotography.com

We also offer gift certificates for expecting mothers, a very popular and great baby shower gift!!

salonblonde & Me.Boudoir!!

2010-08-13T16:14:00.004-05:00

We are thrilled to launch our new partnership with salonblonde, 1643 W. North Ave, in Wicker Park, IL 773-235-4085. Me.Boudoir clients will receive special rates to have salonblonde on site styling their hair in a Retro pin-up girl hairstyle or any other sassy look to go with their individual preference.
"salonblonde redefines the concept of a hair salon. The result is an environment where the mind is teased, as well as the hair, a place where people connect, share ideas and opinions and exchange information on anything and everything -- from business referrals to fabric sources to the name of an eclectic late night cafe. Through their devotion to enhancing each client's lifestyle, salonblonde fosters a dynamic setting from which our clients emerge -- full of energy and ideas, looking and feeling fantastic." (salonblonde)
Congratulations to the owners of salonblonde , Dawn Doerfler Koch and Margaret Pasiennik, on their upcoming 10 year anniversary! We will be at their prestigious celebration, held at the new Mercedes-Benz dealership in Chicago, this September. We will have a mock studio set to photograph the clientele getting their hair styled and posing the gals in the Me.Boudoir style! An exciting event with a fashion show to wrap up the evening. Keep posted to see event photos.

Call now to book your Me.Boudoir session and celebrate what make you....you!

773.8.studio (878.8346)

*all Me.Boudoir sessions are confidential and images are only used for promo with client consent.

Lincoln Park Arts Fest

2010-08-05T17:42:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful turn out at the 2nd annual Lincoln Park Arts and Music Fest this past weekend. Thanks to everyone who came out to visit and a special thanks to the employees, intern, and my fiance who helped out to make this a successful weekend.

Below are a few images of some of the visitors and us hard workers. Our next art festival will be RAW (Ravenswood Art Walk) held the first weekend in October.

Jonah & Katie tied the knot!

2010-07-14T17:46:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to photograph Jonah and Katie's intimate wedding ceremony! The many tiny details of their day made this wedding truly one of a kind.

The pre-ceremony activities were held in Jonah's Grandparents home. I was thrilled to have found a beautiful antique wardrobe in one of the rooms! It became the perfect background setting for the bride to get ready. The groom's sister designed and made the bride's gown and to have the bride put it on in front of the Grandmother's wardrobe gave a special quality to the images. Katie even had custom monogrammed cufflinks made for Jonah as a personalized wedding gift. Another unique detail of this couple's wedding.

The emotion and closeness that is found at an intimate backyard wedding is so heartfelt. I just loved their ceremony held in the tree lined yard of the Grandparents home. They had the wonderful idea of putting their wedding rings on a ribbon so that each guest at the ceremony could see, hold, and give their blessing on the wedding bands before the bride and groom's ring exchange. I captured many guest's reactions and have included a few images of the ring blessing in the blog below.

After their ceremony we went on a lovely Bride and Groom walk. We spent an hour walking through a beautiful college campus near the ceremony. We choose the location based on the ambience, proximity and a sweet memory. The couple once had a date and watched fireworks there. Now they created their own fireworks as they walked thru the grounds as a newly married couple!

Mazel Tov!!

Jacob Paris has arrived---Preemie!

2010-07-06T13:36:00.004-05:00

Our newest "Sweet Pea Portrait Program" model has arrived! The long awaited 1st baby of our very own studio assistant, Kathy. Little Jacob Paris was born a healthy baby boy and 6 weeks early! The first preemie to visit the studio.These photos were taken at 4 1/2 weeks and he was just 5lbs.....a tiny cutie! His father had the idea of putting him in his cowboy boot.... Mom, not super keen on the idea, but we executed it with much care and the results, well tell us what you think!

A baby's growth within their 1st year is so extreme that we created this unique program to capture this special time in their lives. We will be documenting the 1st year of Jacob Paris's life within 4 photoshoots (newborn, 3/4 months, 6/7 months, 1 year) for our "Sweet Pea Portrait Program". We then create a studio designed look-book including custom text that records the baby's 1st year milestones and selected photos from all the photo shoots. This is an adorable one-of-a-kind keepsake that will be cherished throughout generations! Contact us for pricing and more details.

Also, this program makes a GREAT baby shower gift for any new mothers, gift certificates are available for purchase.

Keep posted for Jacob Paris's next session in a few months!

A beautiful couple just got married!

2010-06-30T17:55:00.010-05:00

Marisa and Carlos are a great couple who are so in love and had a gorgeous wedding!

They look like professional models making my job seem effortless! Ok, not really effortless, I busted my butt that day, but they certainly made my images extremely nice on the eyes!

Overall their wedding day was amazing. The church, St. Stanislaus Kostka, was breathtaking and the reception, held at The Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown/Lakefront, was fun and a great venue! The weather was sunny and beautiful and everyone was so happy.

I love my job!

I just loved Marissa's blue Stuart Weitzman shoes! A trendy and elegant touch to her look on the wedding day. Even Carlos was sporting a unique look. He had a detailed tux that was so elaborate, I was quite impressed.

Here are just a few of my favorite shots from their day!

Joanne and Phieu get hitched!!

2010-06-22T16:29:00.018-05:00

It was a perfect day for a beautiful wedding at The Chicago Botanic Gardens. One of our favorite venues! If you haven't been to the gardens please take a trip, you will not regret it. The Gardens are filled with beautiful greenery, roses, flowers, lakes, etc. You can spend an entire day there if you wanted. There is a lot of ground to cover so you can spend your day walking around or there is also a train that takes you on a guided tour thru the park. There are several benches you can just sit and relax while listening and watching birds or just read a book. I like to go there with camera in hand because the scenery is breathtaking. If your hungry there is a restaurant on the grounds and you can dine either in or outside. There are also bike trails and the Ravenswood Metra train goes there! Admission is free but there is a parking fee. Please go the The Chicago Botanic Gardens website for more info.

Back to our newlyweds!

Joanne and Phieu are so in love and their intimate wedding was a reflection of this. It was so much fun to take them through The Gardens for a photo shoot after their ceremony and lunch reception. The grounds of The Botanic Gardens made for exquisite scenery for their bridal walk.

You may remember this couple from an earlier blog when we photographed them in an urban setting prior to their wedding day. They choose to do this so we could have as much time as possible in the Gardens while still being able to capture the scenery of Chicago while Joanne was in her wedding dress. They got their cake and ate it too!!

Thanks to Joanne and Phieu for including Audrey kelleR phoTography on your stunning wedding day. We loved being a part of your day!

We love to hear your comments, so please speak up! So don't be shy........whats your favorite photo?

Musician Headshots

2010-06-15T14:53:00.012-05:00

Photographing musicians is not a new thing for Audrey kelleR phoTography. The studio has many clients in the music industry. We have had opportunities to photograph many live shows and several bands for their promo shots too. In fact, there is an entire gallery on the studio website showcasing some of past work with musicians.

Recently we had the pleasure to photograph our friend and fellow photographer Max Anisimov. With his many talents, including photography and recording music, he is also an amazing Classical Guitar Musician. He hired Audrey kelleR phoTography to have his portrait taken to celebrate his recent accomplishment of earning his Doctorate in Classic guitar performance (dissertation on the violin genius Paganini as a guitarist) from Northwestern University. --- Additional and very interesting info on his dissertation following the photos.

Max knows how special portraits are for us to document these great milestones in our lives. Lucky for me I had a private concert, since I asked Max to play a bit while in the studio. The intention was to capture these great images of him actually performing but I also got the pleasure to hear some beautiful live music while working. I wanted to create for Max not only a traditional straight on portrait of looking into the camera, but to really capture his essence as a musician within my visual art.

It is the studios mission to portray our clients in the most beautiful light (literally and figuratively), while capturing their spirit and personality within the images.

Max was extremely pleased with the photos he received from the studio and that comes as quite a compliment coming from a fellow photographer. Thanks Max!

When asking Max about his degree his response was the following:

My doctorate is in Classical Guitar Performance (2009) from Northwestern University. I also hold a Master of Music in Guitar Performance (Northwestern, 2002), and a Bachelor's in Violin and Guitar Performance (Carroll University, 1999). I don't know how much more info you need, but to summarize - my doctoral dissertation was titled "Paganini: An Examination of his Activity as a Guitarist through Works, Dedications and Other Surviving Evidence". A hundred and seventy years after his death, Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) remains the single most famous violinists of all time. The Caprices for violin solo, which were published during his lifetime, were immediately declared unplayable by all leading violinists of his era. (Today, although very difficult, they are considered standard repertoire). Paganini is also often associated with the devil - his style of playing was so novel and impressive that people often thought he must have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for the skills he possessed. In fact, this myth was so present during the time of his death that the Catholic church refused to bury him for almost forty years. That said, not many professional musicians nowadays realize that Paganini was also a great guitarists and that most of his compositional output was either for guitar solo, or for chamber ensembles that included it. Judging from the dedications of his guitar works, he often used that instrument (with great effect apparently) to woo the ladies. Identities of some of his lovers remain immersed in mystery, but others included personas like one of Napoleon's sisters, Elisa Baciocchi, at whose court he was employed for several years. Paganini willed his famous Guarneri violin (which he nicknamed 'Il Cannone' for its loud sound) to the city of Genoa, where it is kept to this day. Only the best of the best are allowed to play it, and only on special occasions. Although it is pointless to assign a monetary value to an instrument made by one of the greatest violin makers of all time and played by the most legendary violinist, but a similar Guarneri violin is currently being sold by the Bien & Fushi violin shop here in Chicago for $18,000,000 (which I have the honor to have photographed during a book interview with Mr. Fushi). One of Paganini's guitars was given as a present to Hector Berlioz, who then left it to Musée de la Musique in France, where it currently remains.

Here are a couple of Paganini pieces that may be easy to recognize for an average listener:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh3D_ujMjtM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaxHZxvmSwQ

In memoriam: Marvin Andrew Keller, Oct. 29, 1920 - May 17, 2010, my Grandfather.

2010-06-08T15:04:00.013-05:00

Official Photograph by US Army Air Corps 1944

It has been a rocky road for the past few weeks with the death of my Grandfather, Marvin Andrew Keller; Oct. 29, 1920 - May 17, 2010.

With family in town for his Military funeral service and several days of mourning, peace has now been found with his passing and life within the photography studio is flourishing once again. Blogs will be back to the regular weekly posts and I thank you for your continuing support in following the studio blog.

Today I want to share a few great images from my Grandfathers life. I came across many old photographs from his estate and it once again reminds me of how important my job as a portrait photographer is. Now that he is gone I have all these amazing memories from his life preserved through photographs. I also realized the importance of labeling photos with dates and names and printing to actual photographs! I have many amazing photographs that need to be labeled and some of the images, sadly, no one remembers who they are. But looking through these photos have brought me peace with his recent passing and I treasure and hold close to my heart his old photographs.

All of this is a great reminder that digital files need to be printed out! The digital world moves so fast and compatibility changes rapidly. Old files from zip drives and floppy discs can no longer be read. VHS tapes now need to be transfer to DVD at high costs. Digital files may become corrupted over time and DVDs and CDs become scratched and unreadable. Who knows what type of digital changes are to come that will make other current backup devices dinosaurs. Photos that are printed can always be looked at and handed down thru the generations. So please don't lose your digital photos and memories to scratched discs, corrupted files, or outdated media types, PRINT THEM!! (Then label the photos with dates and names)

These are just a few images from my Grandfathers life, more to come in the upcoming months as I scan some of these amazing photos!

Marvin and Marjory standing on the bumper of a new VW at the Sand Dunes 1938

Marvin and Marjory on their wedding day! Sept 6th, 1942

Marv and Marg, year unknown

Marv and Marg at Irwin Keller's Bar Mitzvah, 1973

The baby here is Audrey and toddler brother Ben, 1975

Audrey and Grandpa Marvin, May 2005

More photos to come and comments always appreciated.

Thank you for sharing in the memory of late Marvin Keller's life!

Joanne & Phieu - Getting Ready for the Big Day!

2010-05-11T18:54:00.006-05:00

Joanne & Phieu are getting ready for their wedding day on May 21st! They choose to have a bridal shoot downtown Chicago prior to the wedding. They wanted to have an urban feel and have some photos near Lake Michigan so we spent a few hours moving about the city and took advantage of the beautiful late afternoon lighting.

Their actual ceremony and reception will be held at The Chicago Botanical Gardens . We will certainly have beautiful photos on the wedding day as well since The Botanic Gardens is an absolutely gorgeous backdrop for a wedding. If you have not been there before it is open to the public so defiantly check it out.

We are looking forward to their wedding so please come on back soon to view their wedding photos! If you like any of the photos please feel free to leave a comment, we Love your comments- Thanks!

The Sunken Ship

2010-04-27T20:12:00.006-05:00

My favorite band and client The Sunken Ship has placed FIRST from last weeks "Ambassadors of Rock" Battle of the Bands competition at the Hard Rock Cafe Chicago.

Tomorrow, Wednesday April 28th at 9pm sharp, they will have their final LIVE performance to possibly be the only of Chicago bands to be moved to the next and National level of the competition.

Come and support if you can!

The following are the photos from last weeks competition! Will they move to the next spot to have the opportunity to open for Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam , and Paul McCartney in London?!?! I certainty hope so!

Emma's Portrait Session

2010-04-15T14:00:00.003-05:00

Cute baby portrait alert! Dana and Rick brought 3 month old baby Emma in for her second session as part of our Sweet Pea Portrait program. Read more about the program details here. With 4 sessions during the first year, the program is a great way to show the growth of your baby during the first year and a custom-made book captures all of the photos from the first year in an album that lasts forever.

Dana and Rick love dressing her girly in pink so we used a lot of pink accessories and accents wherever we could. We love to tailor the photoshoots to each client as much as we can. Rick loves buying her bows so she has such a big collection that we had a hard time picking which ones to use! With the photoshoot the day before Easter, we put her in a large Easter basket to help her sit up since she's still working on that!

We hope you enjoy them as much as we did! Check back soon for her 6 month session.

Paula's Promotional Fitness Portraits

2010-04-13T19:01:00.004-05:00

As the owner of Energy Fitness Active Arts Center, Paula Lazarz came to Audrey kelleR phoTography for photos for her website and promotional brochures. Audrey and Sifu Paula used to train together in Kung-fu years ago so Audrey was excited to see Paula's success in the martial arts world. Paula was also able to see Audrey hard at work with her own company so the experience was inspiring for both of them.

Paula's studio offers martial arts, yoga, fitness and personal training so we wanted to get a variety of poses, locations and apparel choices in order to illustrate the breadth of her range of services. The traditional Kung-fu stances in the Shaolin uniform were taken on location in a local park. Shaolin monks are always photographed outside, although Sifu Paula is not a monk, she is in a traditional uniform, so we wanted to honor the tradition. The casual professional health and fitness poses were taken in various locations in the studio.

You'll see these images up on her website soon, but meanwhile, if you have any interest in yoga, martial arts or fitness, please contact Sifu Paula or visit her website.

Jen's Modeling Session

2010-04-02T17:23:00.005-05:00

Jen recently moved to Chicago and wanted to enter a career in modeling. She came to Audrey kelleR phoTography to have us shoot images for and create a comp card.

We chose to photograph her both in the studio and outside to show versatility and a range of positions.

Check out some of the shots that made her card and contact us today if you would like to schedule a portrait session!

Newborn Granger Portrait Session

2010-03-31T14:00:00.001-05:00

A couple of months ago we featured Kiya and David's maternity photos and we're happy to show off their newborn baby boy Granger who was born in January. He is so beautiful and we look forward to seeing him grow.

We're so excited they are participating in the Sweet Pea Portrait Program so we'll get to see 4 sessions of Granger throughout his first year of life. Newborn is the first session, followed by 3-4 months, 6-7 months and they will come back on his first birthday to round out the program. Then they will receive a custom book featuring Granger's first year!

Check back in a few months to see how Granger is growing up.

Pet Portraits

2010-03-24T14:00:00.004-05:00

A few of our clients hired the studio to do these great pet portraits for Christmas gifts back in Dec. My oh my, did we have a great time with these amazing animals! Luckily our commercial building is a pet friendly space so we had no problems with these models walking the halls (actually, we hear the neighbors dogs barking right now!)

Above you'll see the adorable yellow lab, Jasmine and below are two beautiful persian cats, Somona and Logan. We just wanted to snuggle up with them because they are so cute and fuzzy! We love their lions cuts!

Pet portraits make a great gift for the pet lover in your life so contact us if you'd like to schedule a session.

Hilary's Boudoir Session

2010-03-22T14:00:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple of our favorite photos from Hilary's boudoir shoot. We loved the way her eyes looked behind the birdcage of this vintage hat she was wearing from our costume collection here at the studio.

We always want to tailor the boudoir sessions to show the unique woman in the photo. We do this by sending a quiz to each gal so we can get to know her better and also recommend bringing any props that have to do with their personality.

She's an amazing bass player so we had her bring her bass to the shoot to get this real sassy image!

Check out the Me.Boudoir website for more samples of our boudoir work! Or email us to book your own session!

WPPI

2010-03-16T20:13:00.003-05:00

Every year for the last four years, Audrey has attended the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) convention in Las Vegas. This year she brought along Jeanette Bond, the marketing director for Audrey kelleR phoTography. The two attended the 30th anniversary of the convention last week along with 14,000 other photographers from 35 different countries worldwide.

The team is pictured above with Mark Fensome, a European Product Specialist for Canon.

With a week full of business classes, photography and marketing seminars, and the tradeshow, they brought back a lot of knowledge and new found inspiration. This new information can help create better photos, business practices and improved experiences for our clients. We're excited to put their new ideas into motion!

To any other photographers out there, we highly recommend becoming a part of this amazing organization and attending the convention next year in February 2011!

Tracy's Boudoir Photos

2010-02-23T17:59:00.006-06:00

We're so excited to show you Tracy's fabulous pin-up images! She was one of the first Me.Boudoir Premiere Party attendees who took advantage of the "one-night-stand" Valentine promotion.

Tracy is a hula dancer and loves the 1940s pin-up era. She brought in some of her favorite vintage images of Varga girls as inspiration and we selected a few to recreate in sailor and Hawaiian costumes. Our favorite image is above with a statuesque pose showing off her beautiful long legs.

Check out the Me.Boudoir website for other new images we posted and additional information on how to book your own session!

Kristin and Eric's Wedding

2010-02-09T20:30:00.006-06:00

We photographed Kristin and Eric's wedding last April but we have been busy around here and we're just now getting the photos up! They live in Florida so a lot of their planning was via email, but we were always excited to see them when they came to town.

They chose some romantic venues that made for beautiful images despite the rain! We started out at Hotel Allegro where they got ready. The picture above was taken just after they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day.

Then to keep dry, we headed to Union Station for the bride and groom walk where we were able to get grand photos with the magnificent backdrop.

The ceremony and reception were at Fulton's on the River, where we captured Eric's mother wiping her tears while her son stands in the background.

We hope you enjoy some of our favorite photos. Check out our facebook album for more!

The Importance of Professional Hair & Makeup

2010-02-03T21:40:00.011-06:00

Here at the Studio, we are often asked if it is really "worth it" to have a professional hair and makeup artist style you for a portrait session. We've always known the value of professional makeup application, but we decided to put it to the test yesterday so you can see for yourself.

Above, you will see Beth, one of our stylists, posing for a boudoir session. In the image on the left, she applied her own makeup and styled her hair as she would to prepare for a night out. On the right, our makeup artist Kelly Bush applied professional makeup and touched up her hair to accentuate her best features on camera. This allowed for a much more inviting, youthful and polished look that brought out the beauty in her eyes.

To the naked eye, a woman's normal makeup application looks great, but because of the intensity of a professional camera lens and strobe lighting, a professional artist knows where to highlight and contour to look your best on camera.

Below Wil, an actor who had never used makeup in his headshots before, allowed us to apply makeup and found that the tone of his skin looks much better on camera. The texture is smoother, less shiny and more even.

Read more about the benefits of professional hair and makeup application in the article below by Mandarich Media Group.

The Importance of Professional Hair & Make-up

Mandarich Media Group Article

The professional photographer utilizes a variety of tools to make his/her trade successful. Among the most important and least talked about is the definitive color and flair offered by a professional make-up artist. His work can make the difference between success and failure. Or perhaps, more accurately, professional makeup can make the difference between a stunning set of photos and a ho-hum set.

Many models apply their own makeup and feel comfortable doing so. However, the expertise and insight offered by a third person, who is also professionally trained, can make a contribution not available otherwise. For example, often a model uses an application that she developed over time, not realizing it may have become outdated and is not appropriate for the unique requirements of a photo shoot. The professional makeup artist is always current on fashion makeup and is able to use that information to lay the groundwork for a successful ‘look’.

Every model, whether male or female, has something unusual and unique about her/his appearance. It may be bone structure, or contour of eyes or mouth, or shape and tilt of nose… or some other eye-catching feature. The model’s hair may be unusually striking in color or texture or length or shape. Whatever features the model brings to the photo shoot can be emphasized and strengthened by a professional makeup artist. And that emphasis can then be highlighted by the photographer with light, pose and angle.

The professional makeup artist introduces herself to the model, creating a sense of trust and comfort with her expertise. She asks what the model likes and dislikes about her appearance, and discusses what visual effects they want to create together. The makeup artist knows he cannot accomplish his work without the cooperation of the model.

‘Looks’ are also created with makeup. Innocent, foxy, inviting, beguiling, stern and scolding, and many more, can all be generated with makeup.

The photographer knows when to snap the shutter to achieve a striking photo that captures every element in a ‘just right’ place. Equally important, the makeup artist knows how to bring out striking qualities in the face and hair to make the total look ‘just right’. Color added to face and around eyes in the right way will make a feature look larger or smaller, depending on how color is applied; cheeks can be made to stand out or recede; eyes can be made to look larger or smaller; a round face can be made thinner and a thin face rounder. Outlining eyes or mouth will create emphasis, again depending on application and heaviness or thinness of lines.

He/she also knows how to minimize physical attributes that could detract from a quality photo. Makeup can camouflage all kinds of physical sins! But the makeup artist knows whether the ‘sin’ should be camouflaged or emphasized and her work is completed accordingly.

The model and photographer often cooperate with the makeup artist in decisions regarding how makeup is applied and hair is designed. The professional makeup artist isn’t a prima dona; she knows input from others is important to the total success of the photo shoot. The combination of her people skills and professional expertise contribute significantly to the success of the work.

Baby Lucas Turns 1 Year Old!

2010-02-03T19:49:00.004-06:00

Lucas turned 1 year old last week so we celebrated in the studio with a cake bash! You may remember seeing him last year when we posted photos of him at 4 weeks old.

Baby Lucas and his family participated in our Sweet Pea Portrait Program and received 4 portrait sessions during his first year for $495. We're currently working on the end-of-year album that is included in the program to showcase all of the photos from his first year.

The Sweet Pea Portrait Program makes a great gift for mothers-to-be so contact the studio at 773-8-STUDIO or email us for details. Check back soon to see how the book turned out!

Kyle and Natasha's Wedding Portraits

2010-01-26T18:40:00.009-06:00

A few weeks ago we showed you Kyle and Natasha's engagement photos so we're excited to show off their beautiful wedding pictures! Their reception was downtown Chicago at the House of Blues so we photographed the couple at various locations throughout the city, including the Crimson Lounge in Hotel Sax.

The photo above is one of our favorites, taken at the golden hour as the sun is setting and the city lights are coming up. The couple stood at State and Wabash with the river in the background.

The beautiful flowers below were by Forget Me Not Flowers & Gifts.

Check out our facebook album for additional pictures.

Kiya's Maternity Photos

2010-01-26T18:04:00.005-06:00

Kiya and David came in a few weeks ago for her maternity portraits and they are back in the studio today with baby boy Granger for newborn photos! They are participating in our popular Sweet Pea Portrait program which they received as a thoughtful baby shower gift.

The Sweet Pea program is the perfect way to document the amazing growth of your little bundle of joy during the first year of life. The special offer includes 4 sessions: newborn (1-4 weeks), 3-4 months, 6-7 months and 1 year old, making it a perfect gift for a mother-to-be. At the end of the year, the parents receive a "Baby Look Book" with images from the entire first year.

We hope you enjoy their maternity photos. Check back soon for the newborn photos of Granger!

Me.Boudoir Premiere Party

2010-01-25T16:30:00.008-06:00

The Me.Boudoir Premiere Party was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who joined us! Special thanks to Gretchen Reachmack of Wildflowers Lingerie for bringing some beautiful pieces of intimate apparel for the party guests to peruse!

Many guests took advantage of the exclusive Valentine's Day package, but it's not too late to spoil your man with beautiful pin-up pictures of his girl! There are still a few spots available before the big day. Click here for more information on our packages or contact us to set up a session.

We hope you enjoy some of the photos we took that evening. Above, you will see the Audrey kelleR phoTography staff pictured with two of our favorite makeup artists who were on hand to give makeovers to attendees. What a fun evening! We plan to have another event soon so check our blog and facebook pages for details!

Video Footage of Gina's Shoot

2010-01-23T16:39:00.004-06:00

Behind-the-scenes video footage from Gina's boudoir session! Visit www.MeBoudoir.com to book your own session!

Gina's Boudoir Photos

2010-01-12T21:30:00.004-06:00

In honor of the launch of our new boudoir site, we're posting pictures from one of our favorite boudoir sessions!

We photographed Gina in three different vintage pin-up styles to get a large range of photos and we loved the way they turned out. Her husband is a mechanic so we even used his shirt in some of the photos to personalize her gift for him.

If you come to the boudoir premiere party on Thursday, you can see behind-the-scenes video footage from Gina's session! We hope to see you there!

Behind-the-Scenes Video Footage

2009-12-29T19:22:00.007-06:00

Every November for the last 8 years Melissa Banks, owner of Rapt in Maille handmade jewelry, comes to Audrey kelleR phoTography to shoot her new collections. As one of Audrey's longest standing commercial clients, we always look forward to working with her and seeing her new merchandise. Audrey even buys some every year and has a pretty good sized collection!

Audrey's work throughout the years can be seen on the Rapt in Maille website. Melissa has also uses the images for her promo cards and posters. Because of the many different uses, all of the images have the same background for a clean and consistent look across the line.

This year, we took some behind-the-scenes video footage so you can see what it is like to work with Audrey. Special thanks to our makeup artist Kelly Bush, photography assistant Dean Ponce and models Shelly Kaplan and Tamara Westfall for making the shoot a success. We had a great time!

Custom Framing Now Available on Our Website!

2009-12-19T15:43:00.004-06:00

We've been custom-framing your images for a while, but you can now purchase personalized works of art directly through our website! Users can purchase custom frames for their images through the Audrey kelleR phoTography website by following the CUSTOM FRAMING link on the home menu.

When you know what images you want to purchase, contact us and we will retouch, color correct and upload them to the site for you in a password protected area. We'll also make recommendations for making your photos into works of art.

Or, if you have your own images you would like framed, you can also upload them and purchase a custom-made Audrey kelleR phoTography frame.

Jenny's Break Into Modeling

2009-12-15T19:43:00.005-06:00

From dancing to modeling, one might say she's a "Jenny of All Trades." Though she's currently an experienced Modern Jazz Dancer with Joel Hall Dance Center, Jenny wants to break into modeling and came to Audrey to show off her many talents.

Audrey chose to photograph Jenny in different looks throughout multiple locations within The Studio and surrounding building area. Audrey chose the industrial staircase with brick walls and steel tube railings to contrast the soft lines of the ballet poses. The freight elevator proved to be an interesting background for some of the fashion photos.

We were happy with the great variety of images, 4 outfit changes and 3 different makeup applications we were able to produce during the 3-hour session. We hope you enjoy the photos and we wish Jenny the best of luck in her search for agency representation!

Tina and Mark's Engagement

2009-12-08T19:30:00.006-06:00

We had a great time photographing Tina and Mark's engagement session earlier this fall. After meeting them at their wedding consult, Audrey knew they were a great couple, but working with them proved how perfect they really are for each other.

Tina is a California girl and loves the beach. Audrey wanted to simulate a West Coast beach photo shoot locally in Chicago, so they headed to Northerly Island for some coastal scenery.

We're excited to work with their wedding planner Katie Goggin of Designer Event Chicago (www.designereventchicago.com) as their big day approaches. The wedding will be on September 4, 2010 so check back to the blog for more pictures of this awesome couple!

Emily's Headshots

2009-11-28T15:57:00.005-06:00

These photos are of Emily Gray Tedrowe, an author from New York who recently moved to Chicago. Emily contacted Audrey kelleR phoTography to shoot her headshot that will be featured in her new book that will be published by Harper Collins in June, 2010.

The book is a darker literary novel. So she wanted her portrait to match the tone of her writing style. We chose a location with just a touch of color to show off her personality.

Grand Opening Soirée

2009-11-18T19:06:00.011-06:00

The Grand Opening Soirée was a great success! Many thanks to our clients, friends and family who came to support Audrey kelleR phoTography and see the new studio.

Above, Audrey celebrates with a couple staff members and a glass of champagne. Below are a few of our favorite photos from that night, including one of the delicious vegan cupcakes we served from TipsyCake. For additional photos from the event, please visit our Facebook fan page.

Dawn's Boudoir Shoot

2009-11-11T18:19:00.005-06:00

We were so excited to shoot Dawn's boudoir photos! Our favorite thing is to show the beauty of all of the women we work with. We decided to showcase Dawn's natural glamour with a regal background, style and set of props. We were quite pleased with the way they turned out and received positive feedback from Dawn as well:

Hi Audrey,

I hope all is well with you. I wanted to take the time to say that I could not believe my eyes when I saw the photos... you have an amazing talent for capturing beauty. I know it's wrong for me to say, but I didn't realize the beauty that I have... I was in tears (happy tears, of course!) when I saw the photos... so a BIG THANK YOU to you and the makeup artist for making this a great session. I have never felt so comfortable about myself or my body... this was an amazing experience!!

Thanks again,

Dawn

We hope all of you enjoy her photos as much as we did!

Paul and Allison's Wedding

2009-10-27T19:23:00.011-05:00

Paul and Allison got married downtown in Chicago on October 3rd. We were excited to shoot their wedding because the old world theme of her dress and our locations made it easy to capture the romantic vibe of the day. We loved the different tones we were able to create with some of the photos to elaborate on the old-fashioned theme Allison wanted.

Their love at first site portrait was shot near the train tracks to give an old world feel and show off Allison's vintage couture dress from Paris.

The ceremony took place at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church (www.lppchurch.org) on Fullerton, which made a beautiful and romantic backdrop for their photos. The reception was at Bistrot Margot (www.bistrotmargot.com) on Wells.

Our favorite image of the day is above, shot outside Allison's old apartment building to reenact the couple's first kiss! While the rain on their wedding day was not ideal, it allowed for some intimate shots underneath an umbrella.

We hope you enjoy the photos!

2009-10-06T19:43:00.009-05:00

With the Holidays soon to be in full swing, this is the perfect time of year to book your children for portrait sessions here at Audrey kelleR phoTography! I recently did a photo shoot of three beautiful young siblings: Ryli, Jude, and Skye (3 months, 7 years, and 10 years old). Photographing young children is such a joy because of what those photos provide their loved ones; A glimpse into not only who they are, but the men and women they will become. A particular favorite moment of mine is a sleeping baby, and I was glad to capture little Ryli napping during the shoot. Jude and Skye were great models too, and they had such a great time in front of the camera. Having your child's portrait professionally taken serves so much more than just a yearly card for the holidays, it's a great way for parents to really hold on to those moments in time when their children are so young. It allows for a precious keep-sake that both parents and their children will hold on to for years to come. (And remember, it may seem like it's months away, but the Holi-daze come fast, so be sure to call the studio and book your child's session before the season begins!)

Natasha and Kyle's Engagement Portrait Session

2009-09-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

Engagement Portrait Sessions are a great way for a couple to get comfortable in front of the camera before their wedding. It's also good for them to understand how I work and what to expect from me on their big day. A beautiful young couple, Natasha and Kyle, are getting married in late November, and we took some incredible photos of the happy couple on Northerly Island (which is a 91-acre peninsula near Soldier Field that juts into Lake Michigan). The soon-to-be bride and groom were so great to work with. In the photo above, Kyle jumped up to grab a tree branch and shook it in order to shake off it's flowers. It made for a unique shot, as it looks like it's raining flower pedals. Natasha and Kyle love the beach, so I wanted to show them being with each other at a place they both enjoy. As cold as Lake Michigan was that day, they were still willing to run through the water on the shore-line for some great shots! Northerly Island allowed for unique pictures using the Chicago skyline as their background. It's always good to get some urban shots with the couple because it portrays a sense that through all the people in the world, these two found each other. I'm really looking forward to working with Natasha and Kyle on their wedding day. Enjoy.

Alison and Samit's Wedding

2009-09-22T10:58:00.019-05:00

I am really excited to share some photos from Alison and Samit's amazing wedding. What a beautiful two-day event that was both a traditional Hindu ceremony (on Friday) and a Catholic ceremony (on Saturday). It was incredible to participate in such an elaborate and detailed weekend. The Hindu ceremony was held at the European Crystal Banquet Hall http://www.europeancrystalbanquets.com in Arlington Heights. What a gorgeous banquet hall! On Saturday, the Catholic ceremony was held at St. Nicholas Church http://www.nickchurch.org in Evanston. For the bridal walk, we took photos throughout the Northwestern University campus. The bride and groom had met while attending college there, so it was really fun for them to walk around the campus taking their wedding photos. The reception was held at the Women's Club of Evanston http://www.wcofe.org I had such a great time not only with Alison and Samit, but with their wedding party. A big thanks to Alison and Samit, and their families; What a beautiful weekend. There are a lot of photos in this blog, so have a look and enjoy!

2009-09-14T11:32:00.023-05:00

This past Saturday, I shot a wedding for a beautiful couple, Clare and Tom. The day started out at Sonia Roselli Esthetique, (http://www.soniaroselliweddings.com) an amazing Parisian-style salon here in Chicago, that has been featured in Allure Magazine, Brides Chicago and Time Out Chicago, to name a few. After leaving Sonia Roselli's, we were off to take photos of the bridal party in Millennium Park. This was a very cool wedding party, as each brides maid wore a different black dress of their choice. Also, they each carried a different bouquet containing one flower from the brides bouquet, which gave the entire party an old-Hollywood feel. Clare chose a birdcage wedding veil, in place of a more traditional style veil, which looked so beautiful, and was so much fun to photograph! Is was very hot and sunny on Saturday making it difficult to find good lighting; It is always best to have a little cloud coverage to soften the sun light. Luckily, I was able to find a few shady areas to take the portraits. The bridal party really appreciated this as well since standing in the sun was brutal, and after having makeup done at Sonia Roselli, we didn't want sweat!

What a gorgeous ceremony Clare and Tom had at The Chicago Temple, 1st United Methodist Church (http://www.chicagotemple.org). It was beautiful. After the service, we quickly stopped at the Chicago River for a few more photos, then off to the cocktail hour and reception party! The reception was held at a great location, the Townhouse Restaurant (http://www.redstartavern.net/restaurant/?restID=7) on South Wacker Drive. The Townhouse is only open during the week, and it has never hosted a wedding reception before, making this a truly unique experience. It was an honor to photograph Clare and Tom's Wedding! Enjoy the photos, I sure do!!

2009-09-08T13:14:00.005-05:00

So, it's been some time since we've posted a blog, here at Audrey kelleR phoTography. The past few months have been quite hectic with moving the business into a new Studio Loft, here on the North side of Chicago in the Andersonville neighborhood.

The Studio is gorgeous, and proves to be a great addition to the Audrey kelleR phoTography name. With exposed brick, 9' tall windows facing West, and a 14' high ceiling, the space itself has allowed a flood of natural light to lay over each client when doing photo shoots. The building itself is a modern commercial building that bosts an industrial urban feel. We've tried our best to continue that feeling within the Studio by installing quarter-inch conduit as our curtain rods over the windows. The Studio has been a great joy for everyone here at Audrey kelleR phoTography, and we look forward to hosting a "just moved in" party later this fall for our Clients, family and friends. A save-the-date notice will be sent to our email list within the next month, so please, if you are not on our list, go to the website and join!

Lastly, we would like to take the opportunity to welcome three new employees to the Studio! Because of our clients, and word-of-mouth, the need for additional employees made itself known over the past few months. So, we officially welcome Kathy, Wil and Janette to the Audrey kelleR phoTography family. They are all working hard to help the Studio grow, and their efforts are much appreciated!

With all that said, please take a moment to look at the Studio photos posted. We are very excited about this expansion, and hope to share that excitement with our clients.

Be sure to check the blog in the upcoming weeks, as photos from our favorite photo shoots of the summer will be presented. One of which was an amazing day we shared with Baby Lucas, who is halfway through his Sweet Pea Portrait Program (a unique year-long program that documents a newborns growth over the first year of his/her life)!

Thanks so much for checking in, and we look forward to updated you in the future!

Fountain Square Art Festival

2009-07-16T15:07:00.003-05:00

I finally have made my debut to art festivals in Chicago! Attending several art fairs year after year I have always wanted to have my own tent with my art work. What a great way to get my name out there to people I wouldn't reach through the current form of advertising, mainly word of mouth.

I applied to the two best and most prestigious art fairs in the area, to my surprise I was accepted at one of them. From what I was told by the other artists there, it was pretty amazing that Fountain Square was the first art fair I got into. I guess there are so many artists who try to get in and cannot. So that was exciting!

I found the festival to be quite different then exhibiting in galleries, as I have done for many years around the city. First of all the presentation of the art work is defiantly downgraded. I saw many photographers displaying and selling their work in cardboard mats! UGG! This will destroy the art work fast. I also found out that this is why a lot of the photographers have their stuff priced so low. Cardboard is MUCH cheaper then museum archival rag mat board. I decided regardless of what a lot of other artists are doing, I will still continue to use acid-free and archival materials with my photographs. This keeps me priced a little above the masses, but you get what you pay for.

Secondly, weather has a large contribution to an art fest. Yes, it was warm and sunny. Perfect weather I thought. But the wind was the real problem. Eleven artists lost their tents at the show and had to leave early with no tent and damaged art work. Luckily I was warned by my friend and client, Melissa Banks (http://www.raptinmaille.com) to weigh down my tent with 40lbs per leg; which I did. Although, I did lose one piece of art work. One of my favorites was blown off an easel and shattered. It was an old window with the original glass, no longer in tact and irreplaceable. But the good news, I sold my favorite and most expensive work of art. YAHOO

Having only one negative thing from the whole weekend I look at this as a success and will continue to apply for the art festivals in the future! Keep posted for announcements for upcoming shows! Heres an image of my booth and the piece that was sold titled "Enchantment"

Baby Tavin is Born!

2009-06-08T16:09:00.004-05:00

I had the privilege of being at the hospital as baby Tavin was born. Very soon after his birth I was able to take these very special photos of Tavin and his new first time Father, Jared.