Maricel Cruz Photography

Blair & Shanti | Navy Pier Engagement

Maricel — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:47:55 +0000

Blair & Shanti was a referral from an old co-worker of mine, Sharon, owner of Simple Perfect Peace Events. Thanks Sharon! After booking their August wedding, we scheduled their engagement session on a pretty chilly April day. They were brave enough to withstand the chilly lakefront wind, but I think it was certainly worth it! We decided to go to Navy Pier which allowed us to get the feeling back in our limbs from freezing our butts off. I cannot wait to photograph their wedding! They were so much fun to work with, they have such a wonderful connection and the camera absolutely loves them.

Congratulations Blair & Shanti on your engagement! Here are just a few samples from their session.

Isn’t she stunning?

Iveliz & Eric | Chicago Engagement

Maricel — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:31 +0000

I love shooting engagement sessions. Most couples have never had professional photos taken, together. There is always a little awkwardness and I love seeing how it eventually goes away and love takes over.

That’s pretty much how this session started. We went to North Park Village Nature Center for their session. We took a couple of family photos for a quick warm up and then we started their session. Iveliz was a little nervous, but once I told them to enjoy each other they almost forgot I was there!

Here are just a few samples from their session that day. You can definitely feel the love…

Claire & Jason | Chicago Engagement

Maricel — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:46:31 +0000

Claire and I met at work where she assisted my team and I in a 4000 person move. Of course after working closely for 8 months she found out I was a photographer and said to me “When I get engaged, you’re hired!” Ok, not sure if those were her exact words, but that was the gist of it. One day, I walked into work (I’m always the last one there) and said my good mornings. Claire tells me that she might have a wedding lead for me. I quickly turned around, looked at her finger and saw the rock on her finger! She kept her word and hired me for their wedding!

Here are some photos from their engagement session. Congratulations Claire & Jason, I’m looking forward to your wedding in August!

Anne & Baby P | Plainfield Maternity Session

Maricel — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:00:35 +0000

I love the spring for so many reasons. We get longer days, better weather and the photography sessions start to pick up! One of my first sessions this year is with a very good friend of mine, Anne. We used to work together and became such good friends there, we still keep in touch after she left me…oh…I mean, the job. It was really sad day for me!

When Anne told me she was pregnant I was so excited for her and Brad! Even more excited when she asked me to take maternity photos of her. The camera LOVES this girl, we had so much fun. We decided to stay indoors since there was beautiful light coming from her windows and she had this awesome decorative door we could use as our background. Here are just a few photos of her with Baby P in her belly. She has since had the baby, I’ll blog Baby P’s session soon!

Congratulations Anne & Brad! You guys are going to be such wonderful parents!

During one of Anne’s Baby Showers, her guests helped make these letters for the baby’s room! What a great idea!Isn’t that door fabulous?

Lena & Sam | Chicago Engagement

Maricel — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:11:03 +0000

Sam & Lena are such a cute couple, I had so much photographing their engagement session. I met them through my friend Anne (Sam’s sister) and have known them for a few years now, but it was nice to get to know them better when they booked me for their wedding. We had so much fun at their engagement session! These two are a little goofy and just have awesome chemistry it didn’t take too much time to get them comfortable in front of the camera.

We started the session outside of The Nature Museum where we were able to capture some nature scenes. It was chilly out but it was so pretty out there. Afterwards we headed over to Lincoln Square to capture some city scenes. I can’t wait for their Wilder Park wedding in June!

A New Look!

Maricel — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:12:23 +0000

If you are a frequent visitor on my blog, you will see that I have a new look! If not, well, welcome to my blog {smiley face}. I am so excited to launch the new branding designed by Corina Nielsen Designs. I found her amazing work on Google and just knew she would be the right fit for the job. Thanks so much Corina, you were pretty patient with me! I think the end result suits my style very well, great job!

There are a few changes to my website also. For now it will still link to the “old” site until the face lift is complete. For my clients, the links to your albums should still work. Soon there will be a proofing link on the blog so your friends can find your wedding/session.

I hope you all enjoy the new look, please come back soon!

April & Tony | Starved Rock Wedding

Maricel — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:19 +0000

April was referred to me by an old high school friend, Lori, who I reconnected with on Facebook. When April contacted me for her Starved Rock Wedding in October, I have to say I was pretty excited! Last year was my first time visiting this beautiful State Park with my friends & family, if you’ve never been there you really should!

April & Tony had 2 ceremonies, a very intimate one near one of the canyons and another outdoor one near the Starved Rock Lodge, where they had their reception. The hike to the canyon was pretty adventurous for me, but all so worth it! After that ceremony we had a quick portrait session around the park. It was such a beautiful day, sunny and in the 70′s, not your standard October weather. Once we were done there, we headed back to the lodge where April had a little surprise for Tony, a formal wedding dress. The look on his face when she walked down the aisle: priceless.

Congratulations April & Tony, it was an absolute honor to document your wedding day!

Jane & Sean | River Forest Wedding

Maricel — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:18:18 +0000

As you read my blog, you might see that I have a few best friends. Having four brothers, being the only girl and never having any sisters, I have very close friends that are like sisters to me. Jane is my sister-in-law’s sister so we are actually family!

When Jane sent me a text “He went to Jared!“, I was pretty excited for them. Sean proposed to her at home while her favorite movie Beauty and the Beast was playing in the background, very sweet. When they asked me to be their photographer, I did not hesitate and was thrilled to be part of their wedding.

As she walked down the aisle at St. Vincent Ferrer with her father, I did not realize how emotional I would get. I just got through telling someone I definitely would not cry! I think hearing the cry babies in the background (you guys know who you are) definitely did not help and I was sobbing like a baby. Good thing I was on the other side of the camera! We went to a nearby River Forest park for their portraits and then their reception was held at Crowne Plaza hotel. We were so lucky to have such a beautiful day in Chicago in the middle of October, it was perfect! Here are just a few photos from their wedding.

Congratulations Jane & Sean! I’m so happy for you guys, thank you for letting me capture your very important day!

My besties and I!

Sue & Tim | Loyola Engagement

Maricel — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:31:10 +0000

Sue and I have been really good friends since high school. There were four of us, inseparable and pretty much did everything together. So when she told me about her engagement, I could not tell you how excited I was for her! Sue & Tim hired me to be the photographer for their April wedding. Since she graduated from Loyola University they wanted to do their engagement session there. A beautiful day, beautiful scenery and a beautiful, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Congratulations Sue & Tim, I cannot wait to photograph your wedding day!

Sarah & Dar | Wilder Park Wedding

Maricel — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:54:47 +0000

I am so behind on blogging, even though these are from October I didn’t want to pass on posting the fun weddings and sessions from the past few months.

With that said, let’s start with Sarah & Dar’s wedding. They had a beautiful wedding ceremony at Wilder Park in Elmhurst. Sarah did such a wonderful job with the flowers & she made such a beautiful bride! Dar was just so GQ in his tux, Jeb (the dog) was rocking his tux as well. We took a few minutes after the ceremony and took advantage of the beautiful Wilder Park scenery for some of their portraits. We ended the evening at Furama in Uptown for their reception. Here are just a few samples from their wedding.

Congratulation Sarah & Dar, thanks so much for having us capture your special day!

DIY bouquet, so talented!Absolutely LOVED the simple hair with the flower…