One of my favorite perks of being a wedding photographer is when I get to reconnect with past bridesmaids and sisters-of-brides to photograph their own weddings. Shaeffer is both of these things! She’s actually the beloved sister of Taran, who got married earlier this year. I will have the distinct pleasure of photographing the second Smith wedding next year in Chicago!

But first, it was time to create some magic for Shaeffer & Adam at their engagement session 🙂

There’s no other place than Chicago that would have made sense for S&A’s engagement session (and ultimately their wedding). It’s the city they now call home, and it was the city that brought them back together after years of long distance dating after college. Now they’re well on their way building a life full of fast-paced careers, friends, and countless fun in the streets of Chicago.

We began their session exploring some of the most photogenic spots right in Shaeffer & Adam’s backyard – the downtown loop! First we visited the iconic Chicago Theatre. Usually I like to let my couples “warm up” and get comfortable in front of the camera. But when you’re photographing in a fast-paced city, things get fired up very quickly! It didn’t take long before I graduated Shaeffer & Adam from sweet walks down the sidewalk to darting in and out of the middle of the street. It was all in the name of the perfect shot, and I promise no one was (really) in danger of getting hurt 😉 Then we explored the Riverwalk area! This is one of the few spots where you can capture beautiful views of the skyline!

And our final stop was our absolute favorite! Shaeffer knew of this great spot along the shoreline where we could magically feel away and a part of the city all at once. And our sunset glow was perfect! I wish we could have spent hours more walking along this stunning spot, maybe with a refreshing drink in hand. But not to worry! We made sure to cap off our adventure with cocktails and dinner before Shaeffer kindly drove me back to the airport.

I’m over the moon excited to be a part of this adventurous couple’s celebration! Cheers to Shaeffer & Adam!