Liesl Diesel Photo » Portraits

Iram & Salman’s Wedding Portraits

Liesl — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:15:05 +0000

Iram & Salman were wed at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg this past November.

You can see their Mendi from the evening before at this link, and their preparation at this blog post.

This is their formal portrait on the stage designed by Amer Design Studio. I highly recommend Amer, he is a delightful person and he knows how to transform a room!

I know this sounds cliché, but I really think it would have been impossible to take a bad photo of these two!

Iram is so incredibly beautiful, her make up was styled by Mehwish Khan.

What does YOUR love look like?

Liesl — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:41:21 +0000

Love sessions just might be my new passion. Am I aloud to have several passions?

What is a love session?

It is a portrait session for a couple AFTER their wedding.

After the rush. After they settle. After they’ve had some trials and after they’ve found support in one another.

I enjoyed recording what Nikki & Pete’s love looked like after they had some time to learn more about one another after marriage.

I am even more in love with them now!

You can see their wedding photos here.

And all the photos from their love session are here.

We had SO SO much fun together, and I hope that shows in the photos. These two have inspired me so much since I photographed their wedding last May.

Always kind, always giving back to the community and supporting their friends.

I think their playfulness with one another really displays how they love and click together!

I love you both, look for a surprise in the mail soon!!!! <3 <3 <3

Liesl Diesel

My Sister & Company!

Liesl — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:22:16 +0000

Although I live in Chicago, IL, I LOVE my trips to the beach!

Not only because it’s nice to take in some sunshine from time to time and shoot amazing destination weddings by the ocean or on various islands on the coast, but because my family lives there!

My visit to the beach this past fall was very short, but we squeezed in this quick shoot at Brookgreen Gardens right before I headed to the airport and I am so glad we did!

So what do you do when you have 5 subjects and ten minutes to shoot them?

Find a shady backlit spot and go to town!

This is my gorgeous sister and her family!

Her husband makes the most ridiculous silly faces . . .

I love these kids!!!

Levi is on the run!

Jeff finds a good place to keep Levi in tow . . .

All the ladies!

Smiley sisters!

silly sisters!

Look at this pretty girl! I can't believe we are related!

She looks more like me in this photo . . .

They let Levi down from his treehouse for a quick headshot =)

I love his toothy grin!

Surprise! it's Naomi's headshot time!

These cheeks are no joke!

Sweetly Running Bank of America

Liesl — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:13:02 +0000

Kristine & Jonathan have a pretty fun story!

They are high school sweethearts and now they both work at Bank of America and are also into running. The real kind of running; the kind most of us look at as some kind of super hero power because they do it for hours and hours on end. This can only lead me to believe that, since they are both sweethearts, love running, and both work at Bank of America, that within a couple of years they will be Sweetly Running Bank of America!

Hey, it makes sense to me!

We started our portrait session at the Chicago Board of Trade

As we walked toward the intersection of Jackson & LaSalle I saw this light dancing back and forth between the buildings, I love it!

I love this expression!

After Jackson & Lasalle we headed to the BP Bridge

This canvas will soon be on their wall!

Bench at the Lurie Garden

You two are so wonderful, I can't wait to shoot your next big life event!!

Twist Out Cancer

Liesl — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:37:04 +0000

Have you ever had to force yourself to smile to try to change your mood?

Have you ever started dancing in hopes that your spirit would rise?

Have you ever had to Twist Out Cancer?

Tiny Twister has been an inspiration to me for nearly a year, and I finally got to meet her a few weeks ago!

I found her blog through mutual friends and became enchanted by her open and real style of writing, and encouraged by her stories that are so full of hope, pain, honesty, fun.

Today is her Cancerversary.

What does one say to someone who is “celebrating” their one year diagnosis of cancer? Honestly, I don’t know what to say. All I can really say is thank you, Tiny Twister, for taking this year to encourage and inspire.

And thank you so so much for letting me photograph you.

You are beautiful.

So beautiful, in fact, that I really can’t even choose which images to blog. You can see all my favorites on facebook.

Liesl Diesel

On a tightrope!

Liesl — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:14:20 +0000

After their ceremony at Zed451, Jamil & Carrie and the entire party jumped into the Zed Van and toured the city!

The first stop was the Tightrope Sculpture on North Lasalle.

Balance found!

love this sculpture!

The next stop was the opera house on Michigan Avenue, what a beautiful facade!

A quick walk on the BP Bridge with Pritzker pavillion in the background

I love Jamil's expression

Carrie. simply perfect.

beautiful and natural updo

Jamil & Carrie at the head table

Dawn & Mark’s Rose Garden Engagement!

Liesl — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 12:29:14 +0000

Congratulations to Dawn & Mark! Today I will be shooting their wedding at the Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, SC!

I photographed their engagement session back in June at The Little Theater Rose Garden in Raleigh, NC and designed a custom guest book from the images.

Here are a few of my favorite images, as you can see this wedding is going to be SMILE CITY!!!

Can’t wait to see you both!

Liesl Diesel

Dawn has a contagious smile! I love it!!

Mark is such a joker, he can make Dawn laugh and keep his poker face at the same time :) oh it's going to be fun!

The arena at The Little Theater in Raleigh, NC has some fun graphics to work with!

and of course rose gardens are always à la mode!

True Chicago-Style Engagement! Urvita & Shital!

Liesl — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:01:38 +0000

If you follow my blog you will see that I am behind on my posts!!

Not only is this because I have a normal busy summer, as would be expected of most wedding photographers, but also because of my recent move to the GORGEOUS city of Chicago! I am excited to catch all of you up with everything I have had the opportunity to witness over the past few months! It has been RIDICULOUS!!!

Back in May I photographed Urvita & Shital’s engagement session at Navy Pier and Union Station.

Of course the weather cooperated PERFECTLY!

And so did my models!

It was Memorial Day weekend and the crowds were out in true Chicago fashion!

What a charmer!

Our perfect weather did not last all afternoon, so we headed to Union Station

These two were so much fun to hang out with, as you can see!

I love Urvita's expression!

The inside of Chicago Union Station is so beautiful!

faint!

Thanks for spending so much time with me that afternoon, you two were so fun!!

Have You Ever?

Liesl — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:59:28 +0000

Renee & Roosevelt

Have you ever met someone you were so jazzed to be with?

You think they are such an ace!

even when they need some space . . .

Whether you see eye to eye

They face your heart

and heart your face.

They think you're too cool for school.

You think they just rule the pool.

You hug

and kiss

and fool around

You both feel free to act like clowns

He's got your back

You've got his neck

You both figure "what the heck!?"

You take one another by the hand

They choose you

And you choose them

To dance

Until

Your dance

is done.

Canandaigua, NY Wedding Portraits

Liesl — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:54:56 +0000

Before heading to their reception at Steamboat Landing, Anna & Rich stopped at the beautiful Park by Canandaigua Lake.

Dress from Peggy’s Bridal

Hair by Megan Brusseau of Adore Hair Studio

The whole crew! Not a bad looking bunch!

The weather was so beautiful!

And the boys were so nutty :)

I did finally get them to straighten up!

This image was made possible by my beautiful green Alien Bee. Thank you, greenbee!