Tag Archives: Event Photography

Behind the Scenes Wedding Photographer | Chicago, IL

Unscripted Moments Wedding Photographer

Sometimes I have the pleasure of being hired to be the “behind the scenes” wedding photographer while another photographer is responsible for the portraits and “expected” moments. I love when I get this opportunity because I am there to catch the “off moment” moments and the fun stuff that happens when no one is looking.

Weddings are often filled with so many scripted things we know to watch for that it’s a true joy to look for the little moments that make up the bigger story. And Lisa and Jim’s wedding at the Eaglewood Resort in Itasca, Illinois, was the perfect place to look for those moments!

The Groom Opening his Gift from the Bride
Bridesmaids Watching the Bride Get DressedPre-Wedding Baileys ToastQuick Visit with Grandpa Before the Ceremony
Last Few Moments with Dad Before Walking Down the AisleThe Main EventFamily and Friends

Would you like to see more examples of my event photography? Click here and here to see weddings I have photographed. Click here, here or here to see bar mitzvahs I have photographed. Click here for my Bar Mitzvah Photography Client Guide.

Interested in “day in the life” style photos of families? Click here, here and here to see examples of my family storytelling photography.

Ever thought about having a photographer capture the relationship between the grandparents and grandkids in your life? Grandparent Sessions make a great gift for any occasion. Click here, here and here to see examples of my Grandparent Session storytelling photos.

Would you like to talk to me about photographing your wedding? Please email me at susanrkphoto@gmail.com with the date and location of your event and lets talk!

Instagram event photos: @SusanrkphotoEvents

Instagram family photos: @Susanrkphoto

Facebook Business page: https://www.facebook.com/SusanRyanKalinaPhoto/

Gene and Beth’s NSCI Wedding | Glencoe

Small Wedding Charm

There’s something so lovely and intimate about a small wedding. Not that a huge bash isn’t great too! But when everyone in the room is truly someone very special in your life, you can literally feel the love enveloping the bride and groom at their ceremony.

Gene and Beth had a lovely wedding at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe with their nearest and dearest followed by a luncheon at Froggy’s in Highwood.

Then, they had another party a couple weeks later in Chicago for their friends to celebrate and toast their nuptials.

Ceremony at North Shore Congregation Israel

Would you like to see more examples of my event photography? Click here, here or here to see bar mitzvahs I have photographed. Click here for my Bar Mitzvah Photography Client Guide.

Interested in “day in the life” style photos of families? Click here, here and here to see examples of my family storytelling photography.

Would you like to talk to me about photographing your wedding? Please email me at susanrkphoto@gmail.com with the date and location of your event and lets talk!

Instagram event photos: @SusanrkphotoEvents

Instagram family photos: @Susanrkphoto

Facebook Business page: https://www.facebook.com/SusanRyanKalinaPhoto/

Bar Mitzvah Party at riCHIe Town | Viper Alley, Lincolnshire, IL

I love when I get an opportunity to photograph a bar mitzvah party at Viper Alley. Of all the Chicago area venues, it is one of my favorites.

I even had my oldest child’s bar mitzvah party there myself in 2015!

And Richie’s party at Viper Alley did not disappoint!

Mitzvah PreShoot

A few weeks before the mitzvah party, I met Richie downtown for our preshoot. Who doesn’t like an awesome skyline background?!

Mitzvah Party Time!

Once Richie displayed his hard work on the bima, it was time to have some fun! We met a little before the party at Viper Alley to grab this cool shot in front of Jimi Hendrix.

Lance from Freelance Studios transformed Viper Alley with a Chi Town vibe.

Once Brent and the crew from Bizar Entertainment started kickin’ it, there was non-stop dancing for the night.All the vendors did such a great job at the party! Viper Alley is a fantastic mitzvah party venue (as well as for any other kind of event!) Freelance Studios designed gorgeous decorations. And Brent and the crew from Bizar Entertainment had the crowd on their feet dancing all night.

Like what you see here? Check out other bar mitzvahs I have photographed here, here, here and here. Want to hear about my pricing and process for photographing bar mitzvahs? Check out my Bar Mitzvah Photograph Client Guide here.

Interesting in “Day in the Life” style family photography? Check out my blog posts here and here.

Ever thought of doing a Grandparent Session? Photos of grandparents and grandkids spending time together make a great gift for any occasion. Take a look at a couple Grandparent Sessions posted here and here, or check out my Grandparent Photo Session Client Guide here.

Want to connect and talk to me about photographing your family or an event for you? Email me at susanrkphoto@gmail.com .

You can also find my event photography on instagram @SusanrkphotoEvents .

My Family photos are on instagram @Susanrkphoto .

Hope to hear from you!

Chicago Bar Mitzvah Photographer | JRC Temple Photography

Chicago Bar Mitzvah Photographer| JRC Temple Photography

The S family was such a treat to photograph at the temple before Katie’s bat mitzvah.

And the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, Il, is definitely one of the most beautiful synagogues I have ever had the pleasure of photographing in.

I started my day by meeting Katie and her family at their home while they were getting ready. After photographing Katie getting the finishing touches on her gorgeous, golden hair, Katie and I went to the temple to take some photos while her family finished getting ready.

After her immediate family got to the temple and we were able to take some photos with her siblings, parents and grandparents, the rest of the family and relatives started to arrive.

You could literally feel the love in the room as Katie, Carrie, Andrew and the family were greeting family and friends.

And while I was not allowed to photograph during the ceremony (this is a pretty typical rule I encounter as a Chicago bar mitzvah photographer), everyone told me afterwards what a touching, lovely ceremony it was and how fantastic Katie did.

Getting Ready

At the Temple

I am so thankful I met Katie’s mom a couple years ago. I did a candid family photography photo shoot for Carrie and her family. After that, she invited me to document Katie’s bat mitzvah.

Carrie is a wonderful blogger and author who writes about adoption and bullying, among other current issues facing girls and women. You can read more about Carrie’s work here. You can read her blog about adoption here.

If you would like to see more of my work photographing Chicago mitzvahs, please click here and here.

And my favorite thing to photograph is Grandparent Sessions. There is nothing quite like the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. To see examples of a Grandparent Session and hear why those are so important, click here, here and here.

To follow me on Facebook, click here.

To follow me on Instagram, click here.

Susan Ryan Kalina is a Lake County, Il, Family Photographer, Lake County, Il, Event Photographer, Chicago Bar Mitzvah Photographer, Chicago Event Photographer, Newborn Photographer, Grandparent Photographer, Day in the Life, Documentary, and Candid photographer servicing Chicago, Deerfield, Glencoe, Highland Park, Libertyville, Lake Forest, Buffalo Grove, Northbrook, and Glenview.

Deerfield Bat Mitzvah

Photographing Jessica A.’s Deerfield bat mitzvah was such a treat! From the before photos at Shir Hadash Synagogue to the party at Highland Park Country Club, her family and friends were so much fun. I could tell from the minute I walked through the door that this is one loved, special girl.

Thanks for choosing me to document your big day!

To see more event photos by Susan Ryan Kalina, click here.