One of the best things about being a photographer in Chicago, is that even though the warm weather has a smaller window than many places, when it happens, it’s a thing of beauty.
The beauty was on full display both in the couple I had the pleasure to shoot—Paul and Mindy—and in the locations we used to capture their relationship on “film”. Locations, I must add, that we chose because they were important to Paul and Mindy’s life together.
We started the evening over in the Fulton Market District, grabbing some killer ramen at RAMEN-SAN Whisky Bar. This was one of their staple places to eat when Paul lived in the city. During dinner, we recapped how the shoot would go, modifying the schedule a bit to include a couple of locations that Paul and Mindy wished to include in the images.
Dinner was over, and off we went, starting with some images at the recently-created (2015) Bridgford Mural. Paul and Mindy had noted the mural when we discussed locations initially, citing their appreciation for it after having passed it many times during their walks through the district throughout 2019.
Before leaving the district, we paused at the Fulton District entrance sign near Fulton and Halsted Street. There, Paul and Mindy re-created some dance poses from moves they’ve used on the dance floor. From there, we journeyed over to the western part of the Chicago Riverwalk, where Paul and Mindy spent many a Saturday evening the previous summer enjoying Art on theMART.
One of the best things about the far-most western part of the Riverwalk is that foot traffic is minimal. I took advantage of the freedom to get Paul and Mindy to allow their more playful sides to come out. In addition to the laughs, and the additional history the two provided of their life together, we had a view of the city that is, in my opinion, under-utilized. And we got some killer angles of the city with Paul and Mindy in that under-utilized area.
I wrapped up the shoot with Paul and Mindy just above the Riverwalk, on one of the many infamous steel bridges the city has. By that time, the sun was close to setting. And the only thing warmer than the glow of the sun, was the loving, fun, and happy vibe Paul and Mindy were still displaying, as we wrapped up our two-hour shoot.
And with that, we were done. Thanks to Paul and Mindy’s infectious good vibes, and Lynzi’s essential assistance with lighting and posing, I was able to play with new techniques, and provide Paul and Mindy with a snapshot moment in time that showcases the wonderful life they are building together.
