The engagement session season doesn’t have to end if the weather turns cold in Chicago. As a matter of fact some of my favorite engagement sessions photographed during my career took place during colder months. There’s something really magical about that soft winter light that can’t not be replicated during summer or spring. It has that cuddly feeling and I always think the cooler weather outside makes the couple become even more intimate with each other during the portrait shoot. The big bonus is also that the places which are typically full of folks are simply deserted. Places like North Ave Beach can feel almost surreal and magical at the same time.

When Nicole and David decided to do their engagement session late in December we brainstormed locations for the shoot. We wanted part of it to take place inside for practical reasons of not getting completely frozen and part of it outside. Among a few places we considered, the International Museum of Surgical Sincere appealed the most to us. It’s proximity to Lake Michigan (simply crossing over Lake Shore Drive) and it’s beautiful and mind altering decor, along with a moody light couldn’t be beat. We started at the museum, strolling through different rooms and exploring beautiful decor then went over to the lakeshore for some outdoor portraits. Lake Michigan felt so peaceful and the light was magical. This was certainly one of my favorite engagement sessions I photographed in Chicago.