Liesl Diesel Photo » portrait

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!!

The beginning of a dream day.

Liesl — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:44:32 +0000

Kristine & Jonathan had such a beautiful wedding, it was perfect right from the start!

Kristine prepared for her wedding day at the Fairmont Chicago

Flowers from Zuzu’s Petals

Make-up & hair by Morgan Blaul

wedding gown from Priscilla of Boston

I am a little backed up on blogging, so I will post more of there story soon!

Liesl Diesel

The view from the Fairmont is gorgeous!

Morgan Blaul puts on some finishing touches

Garter, shoes . . .

A Vibrant bouquet from Zuzu's Petals

and voila! The masterpiece is complete!

Kristine was the most elegant bride!

Nashville Wedding for Jeremy & Joy!

Liesl — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:44:27 +0000

Jeremy: God will raise up. God will set free.

Joy: Jubilation. Jewel or delight.

Joy & Jeremy: Delightfully uplifting one another in joyous love.

Joy & Jeremy wed in August in Nashville, TN. I was so thrilled when they hired me to shoot their wedding because I have known Joy since I was very young, and it also continued the awesome tradition of me photographing weddings for her family. I photographed her brother’s wedding in 2010 and her sister’s wedding just a handful of months’ before Joy’s!

Here is her brother’s wedding:

Josh & Maryanne

And here is her sisters!

Jamie & Ryan

Ceremony site: Church of The Redeemer

Portrait location: The Parthenon & Shelby Street Bridge

Reception: Amerigo

Cake: Publix

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

Bob & Joanna’s Lima, NY Wedding

Liesl — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:20:18 +0000

Bob & Joanna hired me to photograph their wedding all the way out in the little village of Lima, NY at the Elim Gospel Church.

When I used to live in Rochester, NY Bob was my photo assistant, and I was so happy when he emailed and asked if he could hire me to fly out and shoot his wedding!

Enjoy their story in photos, and if you want to see more you can view all my favorites on their facebook album!

Thank you for having me come out to shoot your wedding, love you both!

Liesl Diesel

Bob was so confident and calm

I love how he is looking at her in this shot!

I know this looks set up, but their wedding party really did gather around and cheer like this, it was awesome!

sweet little bridesmaids bouquet

I loved the lively colors!

The man who owned this property was so nice to let us use it, such a cool old abandoned bridge!

Joanna, under the bridge.

The straight face!

what a beautiful couple!

But they can't hold that straight face for long, who can!

Not only did I love the colors they chose, but the decor was really fun. The vases at the tables were pink antique ball canning jars!

The sun was really pounding that day, which mean, of course, AWESOME SHADOWS!!!

The cake was shaded in a cute little gazebo!

And there was colorful candy all over the place. pretty much like heaven, I think . . .

Urvita & Shital’s Wedding Portraits

Liesl — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:23:03 +0000

Urvita & Shital hosted an all day event for their wedding at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Rosemont.

In the morning I took some portraits of them in their traditional red and gold wedding clothing. The mosaic tile at this Hyatt, combined with the gorgeous sky dome ceiling, made my morning portrait crunch time easy and beautiful!

I had to put them in front of this glittery wall! As my assistant put it, they simply look like movie starts! <3

stunning jewelry set

such an elegant design

Such a looker!

one of my favorite shots from the whole day! I love hands!

Shital is one of the most stylish guys I think I have ever shot.

The dome skylight ceiling made a fun background for the formal portraits

And of course it helps to have stunning subjects as well!

And the entire party!

After the morning ceremonies, Urvita & Shital changed for the evening reception

Another mosaic wall in the Hyatt! love it!

reflection off a black marble bench

Urvita's bridal henna

her gorgeous evening updo!

Shital donned a white tux for the evening, that man is always dapper!

love to the fourth degree!

sexy gold shoes and henna!

After evening portraits they headed up to the Ventana Sky Deck for the cocktail hour with their guests

what a character! love her!

Cheers!

I will be posting more very soon from their evening reception.

View all my previous posts from their love story!

Engagement Party

Engagement Portrait Session

MacGregor Downs Wedding, Cary NC

Liesl — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:17:50 +0000

Congratulations to Kim & Caleb!

We had quite a surprise storm during their wedding, but of course the sun broke through and made some amazing light for everyone to enjoy!

Thank you for choosing me to photograph your wedding!

Liesl Diesel

Venue - McGreggor Downs

Cake – Sweet Memories

Tent – Classic Party Rentals

Shot for Shane Snider, one of the coolest dudes on the planet.

Stephanie & Jonathan, North Carolina Museum of History

Liesl — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:06:15 +0000

Stephanie & Jonathan were married in Raleigh, NC at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

I really enjoyed the art and architecture of the Universalist Fellowship, and of course that was topped off with a gorgeous reception at the North Carolina Museum of History!

Ceremony – Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh

Reception – NC Museum of History

Flowers – Catering Works

Cake – Catering Works

Food – Cafe Luna

Centerpieces – Table of Contents

Linens – CE Rental

Music – Mitch Woodword of Bunn DJ Company

lights in the ceremony room.

the design of the meeting room was very natural and open, and the windows have a beautiful view of the woods.

precious!

I love how happy Stephanie's father looks!

Stephanie blushes from emotion! so sweet!!

Stephanie smiles during Jonathan's vows

But she cannot keep it together when she gives her own!

sealed!

sparkle power!

north carolina museum of history

I shot a few from the balcony for the first dance, I loved the shadows I could create with my off camera light from up there!

I love their faces here! so playful!

Such a great party! Thanks for choosing me Steph & Jonathan!

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

Jamil & Carrie – preparing for Love & Style!

Liesl — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:03:27 +0000

Meet Carrie.

Carrie models her elegant Nicole Miller gown, with a touch of vintage, by a colorful painting in the ladies power room at Zed451

Meet Jamil.

Jamil and the boys sport their Hendricks Park suits, with bouts made by Carrie!

Jamil & Carrie both have style, taste, hospitality, and the ability to listen, not just speak.

I truly felt like a guest at their wedding!

Their wedding was at Zed451, and Carrie got ready there in order to keep the rainy morning off her dress!

Who knew a bathroom could look so cool?

peacock theme!

yes, Carrie made these!

I loved all the children at their wedding!

No, I was not encouraging him. Promise.

And so it begins! I love the tension in this photo, right before the big line up for the ceremony. I will post ceremony photos very soon!