Lisandra + Ferdiam

January 22, 2024

San Juan, Puerto Rico | Destination Wedding | El Condado Vanderbilt | Photo & Video by Jaime Del Rio

I finally got to shoot a wedding in PUERTO RICO!!!!!

When I tell you I was excited from day one, I mean I was secretly jumping for joy. The excitement has yet to subside.

via GIPHY

After 16 years the day finally arrived. Sana and Fredy are married!!!!
Their dream wedding at El Condado Vanderbilt in San Juan, Puerto Rico was more than perfect. I honestly didn’t expect anything less from Sana and Fredy. plus they were working with with the islands most renowned event planner, Rosalina Torres!!!
I’ll admit that I was a bit star struck, since she is very well known in the wedding industry. I kept my cool around her but Later, I was hit with another dose of stardom when the one and only, Reggaeton sensation, “Bad Bunny” made his appearance and performed for everyone. (kind-of) - keep scrolling to see the pics and GIFFs. It was awesome and hilarious!!!

The night before I scouted out some gorgeous spots for the first look and then revisited them in the morning to make sure I could work with the light in those areas. Everything looked great and I was feeling excited for the images I had in mind. Unfortunately, it began to rain heavily and then continued to drizzle sporadically throughout the day. Since it was 91°, the sun dried up a few spots of concrete between sessions of rain and I was able to create some beautiful images and video. The downside is that we couldn’t move much or that beautiful wedding dress would have surely been soaked.

You can’t tell from the pics but everything around us was super soaked. (especially the floor) I was so nervous that her dress would be ruined before the ceremony. Sana stayed calm and just went with the flow of the day. Despite the rain, the wet floor, limited moment, 91° heat and 78% humidity.
Hands down, no debating it, she is one of my FAVORITE BRIDES of ALL time.

Having a FLOWER MAN is getting more and more popular but I think this might have been the best flower man performance of the past 2 years.

Congratulations to Sana and Fredy. Thank you for trusting me and letting me play this role in your wedding.

There are hundreds of images in their wedding gallery but these are a few of my favorites.

——-
Wedding Planner: @rosalina_torres -Momentus Special Events & More
Flowers & Decor: @jatlozano - www.jatlozano.com
Bad Bunny & Pleneros: @elite_luxury_entertainmentpr -
MUA: @angelfernandez_mh
DJ: @joelbigj - www.joelbigj.com
Venue: @condadovanderbiltweddings - www.condadovanderbilt.com

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Kara + Nolan

January 8, 2024

Kara + Nolan | FALL Outdoor Woodsy + Cabin Vibes | Indiana Wedding

What a day…. Officially - Theeeee MOST laid back wedding I have ever shot. Kara & Nolan’s approach to their big day broke a few of the classic wedding expectations as they carved a unique path. To me it was refreshing and inspiring. No rushing in the morning while getting ready, no big wedding party and a gazillion opinions to juggle. Just a relaxed and low stress day. AWESOME!!!

So what did they do?
Well… I know for sure they didn’t let themselves get emotionally bullied by others opinions. I can tell by how unique the day looked and felt and by how relaxed they were throughout every part of the day. One thing that played a huge part was that they planned a healthy amount of time into their wedding day itinerary. They had “down time” to enjoy each other and guests. Another decision was that they planned time for the guests to wonder, enjoy and explore the grounds. They literally called it “WONDER TIME”. Which was an awesome idea because every part of the day was hosted on a beautiful and spacious private property. This place was different to say the least and it has wonderful little surprises too. You’ll have to scroll further to see what those are. Its Completely unexpected.

Take a closer look at the picture above. on the right side is a green slide that brings you from the room the bride got ready in down to one of the hang out areas of the reception. So cool…. Another big thing they did was to be honest with themselves and allow only what aligned with their vision of the wedding day. Nolan & Kara had the strength to push past the cliche, over done, and expected wedding norms. So they cut out the bouquet toss, garter removal, garter toss, cake cutting, and even the wedding party. Yeah… Ya read that right!!! No brides maids or groomsmen either. I think more people need to know that this is even an option to consider.

And guess what…
We all had a BLAST!!!!!! So many smiles, laughter, mingling, and dancing. None of what they cut out ever felt like it was missing. It just flowed and before I knew it, it was time to leave.

At times it felt like I was shooting a destination elopement but if I just went down the trail a bit further, suddenly I would be amongst one hundred people. It was so awesome!!!!

The majority of images of these two show Kara laughing. That’s because Nolan is unapologetically hilarious, quick witted, and always clowning around. Which makes for great pics and light moments with him laughing too.

Scroll further to check out some of my favorites. I tried to pick only 50 but that was IMPOSSIBLE.

Congratulations to the newlyweds!!!!

Thank you for letting me play this role, for trusting in me, and for letting me mold your families memory of such an important piece of your life.

———————————————————————-

Dress: Something Blue Bridal (My favorite bridal shop in Northwest Indiana)
DJ: Local Sounds DJ (Jordan & Taylor Love)

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Jeff + Jannette | Munster Indiana Wedding | Hybrid Photo & Video

December 3, 2023

Center For Visual & Performing Arts + Centennial Park

Jeff & Jannette have known each other for 20 years… Finally, life caught up to where their hearts had already been.

As a hybrid shooter, covering photo and video at the same time I get to tell more of the story versus just doing one medium. Jannette and Jeff are playful with each other and that is exactly the type of couple I most enjoy working with. The results you see are a mixture of my suggestions, their personality, and the relationship we were able to build prior to their wedding.

Their wedding was at the Center For Visual & Performing Arts in Munster, IN. I enjoy working at this venue because of the staff and the gorgeous stair well, and if its raining outside you can still shoot outdoors because of the large porte cochere (covered drive up area) in the front of the building.

When I met Jeff he told me something along the lines of: “Our people are older, sooooo… This wedding is not going to be like most weddings you do.” Turns out…. HE WAS SOOO RIGHT. Jeff & Jannette’s Crew partied a bit harder and they even had their own personal dance instructor come out and teach a quick dance class. The dance floor stayed PACKED ALL NIGHT.

Look at these couple of GIFF’s. So many insane moments.

Before we went to the reception hall, the wedding party stopped at Centennial Park in Munster, IN for some fun pics and of course the tender, timeless and classic pics with our newlyweds.

Below are about 50 of my favorite pics from the day
but 1st…

You have GOTS to watch a few more GIFFs. Ya just might giggle.

Congratulations to the wonderful Jannette & Jeff Curatolo and thank you so much for letting me play this role in your wedding memories.

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Amanda + Mitch: Maternity

January 26, 2023

Maternity Session | The Design Barn | Hebron, IN

MY COUSIN Amanda and Mitch are expecting. Woot Woot!!!!!!

HUGE THANK YOU to Alexandra at The Design Barn for accommodating my last minute request and squeezing us in. Anyone that knows me also knows that the cold and I are not friends. - No Shame Here - Sooo to have access to this caliber of a venue, last minute, and treated so warmly, was such a life saver.

My goal for this maternity session was to catch these too in casual moments but still within the structure of a pose that works. This tends to work very well for the majority of couples and also ties in nicely with the way I flow through a session.

Planting seeds of perception that bloom into organic moments, all without the couple even knowing it’s happening is another technique that has taken me over 10 years to refine.

The Design Barn has very large CLEAR garage doors that are basically the same as giant windows. They also have stylized vignettes that offer variety of backgrounds, mood, and depth to images. I really want to shoot a couple weddings here because I have too many things I want to do and there is no way we can do them all in one day. The whole venue feels like it was made for a photographer. Seriously.

Amanda’s skin was glowing, so putting her in front of the window and letting the light fall across was going to work wonderfully for her. This next pic is one of my top 3 faves from this session.

Once again, CONGRATS to Amanda and Mitch and thank you sooooo much to Alexandra at The Design Barn for ensuring no body parts were frozen during the making of these images.

ALSO…. KUDOS to The Design Barn team on their beautiful venue.

Here are a few more of my favorites from the session.

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Rosi + Greg Tennessee Wedding

December 24, 2022

Gatlinburg, Tennessee Destination Wedding | The Venue at Greenbrier Estate

My sister Rosi and Greg got married!!!!!!!! —— Woot Woot!!!!!!!!!!!!

They both swore it would never happen… But life is so interesting that ya just never know the bigger picture. Honestly, I think my entire family fell in love with GREG WAYYYYYYY before Rosi and Greg ever even uttered those magic words to each other. We love how good Greg is to my nieces and to my sister, despite her… How can I say this???… “UNIQUE personality, tendencies, and quirks”.

Rosi is Loud, Crazy, Opinionated and Pushy. Greg is Not loud, Not crazy, keeps his opinions to himself, NOT pushy, and totally a laid back person. Their relationship cracks us all up and NONE of us really understand how it works but it does and it works very very well.

Once again I was shooting Photo and Video for this wedding so I had my work cut out for me.

Rosi & Greg had their Destination wedding in Gatlinburg Tennessee at The Venue at Greenbrier Estate. What an amazing venue. The view was breathtaking and the caliber of customer service was equally on par with everything else. There were so many twists and changes and last minute things that needed to be taken care of that we were honestly not ready for, but Melanie and Trev handled all of our chaos with ease. We felt so spoiled by them. It genuinely felt like we were amongst very attentive family.

After the ceremony, I was setting up lights to begin Formal Family Group Pictures when Melanie ran up to me and said “Jaime…. The rain just stopped”. We both knew it was now or never. If we didn’t get Pics and Video of Rosi and Greg outside right now, this second, we might not ever get them. We also knew we had a very small window of time because it was supposed to rain again, + The sun was setting and to make my job even more difficult, IT WAS SOOOOOOOO DAMN HOT & MUGGY outside that it was almost unbearable to be out there. NONE of what you just read bodes well for pictures and video.

It was so hot and humid that we only managed to get a few natural light pics and video clips before they started to melt in front of my eyes. My poor sister looked like she was going to faint so we had to go back indoors.

When it was time for the grand introductions to kick off dinner, the best move we made was to TRUST DJ Trev and do the intros in a very specific way that works for this venue’s layout. Trev and Melanie own the venue but Trev is also the main DJ for Rock The Party DJ service and I’m so glad he was our DJ and Master of Ceremonies. SO MUCH ENERGY!!!!!!! So articulate!!! So on Point!!!!!! Our guests ATE IT UP!!!!!

One of the most BEAUTIFUL things about Rosi & Greg’s wedding guests, is how diverse this crowd is. This diversity is reflected in the palette of music too. A less experienced DJ could have easily been intimidated. However, Trev delivered on point and made sure we had our musical generes covered. From our English Oldies to the our new school Country,Pop, Rap, and Hip Hop, + our Cumbias, Rancheras, Quebraditas, Bachatas, Merengues and Reggaeton. He did such a great job.

Rosi & Greg had family and friends come in from Arizona, Boston, California, Illinois, Indiana, and Texas. The love is deeply felt for these 2. Over 100 people showed up for their destination wedding. So happy for them.

At some point I passed my camera to my Sister in-Law so that I can do what I always want to do at other peoples weddings but never get to because Im a professional… Duh. Go CRAZY!!!!!! —— LMAO!!!

ROSI & GREG - Such an awesome couple with an awesome family and group of people behind them, supporting them in their marriage as they move forward into the next chapters of life. We Love You both and wish only the best for you. Thank you for letting me be your Photographer and Videographer.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Newly WEDS!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you to everyone that stopped their entire life to join Rosi and Greg on their Tennessee destination wedding.

Also… A huge THANK YOU to Melanie and Trev at The Venue at Greenbrier Estate and Rock The Party DJ service for every ounce of energy, attention, intention, and affection you gave to accomodate us and make it such an unforgettable wedding!!!!!!!!

Please comment below to let us know you read this whole blog post and watched their video. Let’s continue their celebration.

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Kristin & T

December 8, 2022

Wedding at Plymouth Congregational Church Plainfield, IL & Reception at Allegra Banquets, Villa Park, IL

Tj & Kristin had their wedding ceremony at the historic Plymouth Congregational Church in Plainfield, IL. So much history in those walls. After the reception, we took the entire wedding party to Settlers Park which is not too far from the church…. AND THATS WHEN I FOUND OUT, that I was going to struggle to get my shots. There had to have been at least 200 people there taking pictures of their children for some high school dance… I dont know what the school event was but it was definitely going to make things difficult for me.

BAM!!!!! — I turned on the charm (experience) and was able to convince a HUGE group of protective “MAMA Bear” type MOM’s to relocate their kids and give us the spot in front of the pond and water fountain. Woot Woot!!!! That was a big win!

Later on, as we moved through a series of shots, the wedding party and I sent a very clear LOUD message to the rest of the park with our cheers, shouting, and belly aching laughter. The message was pretty much saying “Watch out, we need space and we are coming.” Honestly…. I doubt anyone picked up on the message but in my mind it was obvious communication. Regardless… The positive and fun vibe we were emitting pretty much did most of the work for us that day and I was able to set up and nail some truly great images. Scroll to the bottom to see over 50 other images.

Things got a bit CRAZY/HILARIOUS during open floor dancing at Allegra Banquets. Probably because the combination of EPIC DJ and awesome people can only =FUN TIMES!!!! DJ Travis Jackson had this thing LIT!!!!!! (574)358-1513

I am actually hesitant to post some of the shenanigans that unfolded. LMAO!!!!! — Soooo I’m going to just post the following one to give you an idea and let Tj & Kristin’s family review, laugh, and mock each-other for decades to come. So many good ones for them to enjoy in their private online gallery.

When I say this group had it ALL, I mean they would go from hysterical laughter to Sasha Fierce Girls and Stone Cold Guys. Then from goofing off to soft and sweet, in seconds. We did so much this day and they never complained. —EVER — The WORST THING is when the wedding party complains or starts huffing and puffing that they are tired or just want to go drink or Smoke. It just ruins it for the couple, others, and me. Huge Vibe Killer.

However… That was NOT the case with this GROUP…. I wish we had more time. I had a few other things we could have done because this group was truly capable of ANYTHING!!!

I have to mention that TJ and Kristin hired me 2 years prior to their wedding. Every SINGLE interaction with them felt like family. They have a very special way about them that just makes you feel so familiar and welcome. At the end of the night TJ was talking to me about something and then said “YOU’RE FAMILY NOW”… — Same here TJ —
Sooooooo turn up the Fito Olivares tracks or Ramon Ayala and make some room at the dinner table for my Tacitos de Birria con Cebolla y Cilantro. Woot Woot!!!!!!

Below are some of my favorites from the hundreds of pics in their online gallery.

Congratulations to the newlyweds!!!!!!!

Thank you for letting me play this role, for trusting in me, and for letting me mold your families memory of such an important piece of your life.

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Ana & Roger

November 24, 2022

Ana & Roger | Hellenic Cultural Center | Merrillville, IN | Photo & Video

Roger and Ana had a large Greek style wedding at the Hellenic Cultural Center in Merrillville, IN and it was awesome!!!!!!! The music, traditions, and the famous SWEETS TABLE from the heavens were all on full display. I probably ate 20 distinctly different delicious delights before I left that night. The feeling was just overwhelmingly joyous for a couple that had this day in the making for 20 years.

THE SUN WAS SETTING…… and we were super pressed for time because a few things had already set us behind schedule….. I had a choice to make…. PUSH to get the couple the type of pics and video they love before the sun sets, but delay the introductions,
OR…..
Completely SKIP sunset pics and video and make sure things run as punctual as possible because we were already behind schedule.

The choice was clear to me -NEVER SKIMP on PHOTO & VIDEO -
I’m so glad Ana & Roger agreed.
Now they have these beautiful images and video clips that will last for ever!!!!!.
—— Not a bad trade off for a small 10 minute delay huh? ——

Below are some of my favorites from the hundreds of pics in their online gallery. Be sure to watch the Cinema Highlight video shown at the top of this post.

Congratulations to Ana & Roger!!!!!

Thank you for trusting in me and letting me be a part in your big day.

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Rachel + Kade

November 23, 2022

Rachel + Kade | Kemil Beach | Beverly Shores, IN | Photo & Video | Jaime Del Rio Hybrid Shooter

I met Rachel and Kade in Cancun Mexico at my cousins destination wedding. That is a very long way from home to meet people who live less than 45 minutes from Crown Point, IN…. Crazy huh?

A year later, Rachel scheduled a basic photo session for her and Kade. Immediately…. I had a hunch that this was most likely an engagement session. Soooo…. Since I had a feel for their vibe from our time in Mexico, I knew they were going to be fun and easy going. (My kind of Peeps)

Instead of shooting the basic promotional session they booked, I wanted to do something nicer and bigger for them. After a quick phone call it turns out they were totally willing to put in more time, effort, and also able to wait a bit longer for the results. Their flexibility and willingness allowed us to create photos that were more relaxed and a video that shows the playful, tender, and casual sides of their relationship and I LOVE the result.
Kemil Beach is one the nicer Indiana Dunes beaches and its one of my favorites. The tall grass and two elevations of sand help to get shots like this one of Rachel & Kade sitting in the sand aisle.

In the video at the top of this post and in the pics below, there are a couple shots of Kade carrying Rachel on his back and I swear it shows exactly the kind a person he is and what it is like hanging around him. Easy going, trusting, happy, supportive, and won’t let you down. Rachel’s vibe literally mirrors this perfectly. These 2 are meant for each other. There is another part that shows Rachel looking at Kade and brushing her hair off behind her ear. BAMMMM!!! Right there!!! … It is the same look I noticed her giving Kade in Mexico.
Its not just a smile, its more like she was saying “I love you” but with her expression. I knew right then and there, that they would be getting married. — I called it. (Just saying) — They definitely have a sweetness to their love that will be so beautiful to watch unfold as time does its thing.

My favorite pictures are shown below… Notice how easy it is for them to laugh and be silly with each other and then flip to a tenderness in a blink of an eye.

YES… I totally prompted and guided emotions to flow naturally… Ain’t my first rodeo! I know exactly what I’m doing, but….. I have to share that it doesn’t always pour out of couples as effortlessly as it did with these two. I’m so so so happy for them.

CONGRATULATIONS Rachel & Kade on YOUR engagement and THANK YOU soooo much for letting me play this role in celebrating and announcing your engagement.

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Ariana + Landon

November 9, 2022

Wedding at the Lake County Fairgrounds | Photo & Video | Jaime Del Rio Hybrid Shooter

I know Ariana’s parents. We actually all went to the same high school together. Time flies and Boom… I get the call for her Quinceañera. Fast forward some more and BAM!!!! Little Ariana is getting married to Landon. What the WHAT?!?!?!???… Why does time do that to us?

I Love Ariana to the bone. She always seems to be laughing and looking on the bright side of a situation. I’ve seen how she gets lost in Landons eyes as he sweeps her off her feet and it makes me so happy for her and her family that she is in good hands. Landon seems quiet at first but he is full of surprises and an equal match to her sense of humor.

I am sooooooo fortunate to have been the photographer for 2 very huge moments in this young ladies life. I look forward to being there for whatever the next big milestone is for these two as they begin their lives as husband and wife.

Below are my favorites from the day. The Video at the top of this page is a highlight of all the video clips I captured for them while shooting photo too. This hybrid approach to the wedding day is officially a part of my shooting style. There is just so much more emotion I can give back to my couples when I have my hand in both Photo & Video.

Congratulations Once again to Ariana + Landon!!!!

-ENJOY

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Megan + Erik Snedden

October 12, 2022

Wedding at the White Hawk Country Club | Crown Point, IN | Photo & Video | Hybrid Coverage

White Hawk Country Club is sooooooooooooo on point with their service. The event manager even acted as a personal guide for us and took us to key spots on the golf course to make ensure bride and groom got the shots they wanted. I wish I shot there more often especially since it’s right in my backyard. For some reason most of my weddings are like 2 and 3 hours away so when I get to be close to home and at one of the top venues in our market, it’s a win.

The beginning of the Eric and Megans’s day was so calm. Theeee Entire Morning was just so relaxed. I even started to get nervous, because it is not normal for the morning of the wedding to be so chill. However, Megan and Eric are just that, CHILL. ——— HOWEVER… That didn’t last long after the ceremony. — As soon as this crew was done with the ceremony, it was ON son!!!!!!!! They were itch’n to let loose and this very well mannered and behaved crew unleashed a whole different side of them. No one held back, not Eric, not Megan, Bridesmaids, or Groomsmen… Shoooo…. Even the damn DJ was going buck wild, with his Backstreet Boys performance and Kung Fu Kick to the air. (as seen in the video above and the pics below) These calm cool and collected bridesmaids let out a whole other A-M-A-Z-I-N-G side of them!

At one point, I was so moved by the collective vibe on the dance floor, that I found myself mid-air jumping into the arms of (Sandy) one of the groomsmens. I had to join in on the fun. It kind of sucked me in. I will admit that knowing many of the individuals there and having just seen them a month prior at a mutual friends wedding, may have allowed for an elevated degree of comfort and allowed for the shenanigans mentioned above, but still…. I regret nothing. If anyone sends me the video of me doing the aforementioned activity, I will happily edit this blog to include it, as I am certain it is hilarious.

In the giff below, you can kinda get an idea what they were like. NO holding back, 100% willing to act silly, LOUD, Crazy, and Soooo much damn FUN…. My kinda Group. Watch the video above to see the groomsmen catch Eric FLYING through the air. It was nuts. I want to do it all again.

Below are my favorites from the day and the Fusion Video at the top of this page is a highlight of all the video clips I captured for them while shooting photo too.
This hybrid approach to wedding day coverage is officially a part of my style of shooting. There is just so much more emotion I can give back to my couples when I have my hand in both Photo & video.

Congratulations to the beautiful newlyweds!!!!

-ENJOY

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Brisa + Nazahy | Chateau Del Mar, Hickory Hills, IL | 7.15.2022

September 2, 2022

It was literally 3 days before the wedding when Brisa and I spoke on the phone. Her Photo and Video company canceled on her and then left her in the dark. No communication, No information, and worst of all, no help to find someone else. By coincidence (or fate), my info was shared with Brisa. Obviously it all worked out beautifully, but I have to mention how impressed I was with Brisa’s ability to keep her composure through all of the stress. Chu-Go-GURL!!!! I’m am so grateful that I was able to jump in and play this important role.

Shooting Photo + Video at the same time is definitely something I am enjoying more and more and I totally understand why most do not want to do both at the same time. It is literally double the work before, during and after the wedding. However, the feeling I get when I deliver a finished gallery of wedding images, complete with a video highlight, is just soooooo much better than just delivering pictures. I don not think I can ever go back to just shooting Photo alone. Dual coverage/Hybrid shooting is soooo much more fun and full filling, despite clearly requireiing double the work, stress, planning, and editing… Its just worth it.

Their Wedding reception was held at the Chateau Del Mar, in Hickory Hills, IL and OH EM GEEEEE that place is beautiful. The stair case and front area have so many photo opps but we were so limited on time that I couldn’t only do a few but we made them count thats for sure.

Bride and groom at Chateau Del Mar Hickory Hills, IL

These two danced the entire night and at one point I swear I witnessed Nazahy Break Dancing. It was such a fun night.

Below are just a FEW of the favorites I have from their big day. FEEL FREE to screen shot and share on your favorite socials, just please give me a photo credit. ——Example —- “PC: Jaime Del Rio”

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Bridgette + Justin Kissee

August 25, 2022

Wedding at the Ogden Gardens | Valparaiso, IN | 7.23.2022

Theeeee BEST Best best weddings for me…. are when I know the couple.
Hands down, for sure, sign it, seal it up, and send it. No debate. DONE SON!!!!!
—— WHY???? ——
ONE word….. “CHEMISTRY”.

About a decade ago my family met Bridgette’s family and the 2 became one. Shortly after, I met Justin and almost instantly great conversations began. So for about a decade our house holds have intertwined. From holidays and birthdays to kids football games and special events. Knowing them at this level not only allowed for more fun but also gave me an advantage because i knew little things like Bridgette will always look towards and laugh with her mom when ever something funny happens or get emotional when they look at each other for too long because they have such a great relationship or that Bridgette will ALWAYS lean on Justin if he gets close enough. These are just a couple of the tools I had in my belt for this day. PLUS they know Im a goof ball so it was totally OK for me to be myself with no restrictions. So wether it was a photo or a video we were shooting we were always at 100% comfort. Despite the 88 degree weather.

PHOTO & VIDEO…. WTH???
Yes… Both. All day. At the same time. By Myself. Why????… because technology said so. Soooo why not?
For this wedding I was shooting Hybrid coverage, also known as double coverage. This approach is not something most shooters care to do, but it has quickly become my absolute favorite way of shooting. The level of emotion I can capture and create is much more powerful and feels more like a complete service for my couples. I am not trying to brag here but I’m like really proud of their photo and video production. Just take a look at how much fun we had during the wedding party session. The video above shows more but the next photo is just a sample of the shenanigans pop’n off on this day. There were so many hilarious moments.

Soooooo little Bridgette and Justin are all grown up now but they still laugh together the same way the did back when I first met them. Playing this role in what is clearly one of the most important days of their lives, is forever an honor. I’m looking forward to being their photographer when the babies start pop’n up.

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Brandy & Kenny

August 5, 2022

Wedding at The Lakes of the Four Seasons, Club House | Crown Point, IN | 6.25.2022

I’m a huge fan of the laid back approach to weddings. Even though I love having a timeline/Itinerary planned out for the day, I’m very much in favor of working with couples that are down to earth and not going to loose their cool if something doesn’t go the way they hoped for. Brandy & Kenny are literally the fun loving and level headed people I speak of. I can totally hang out with them on any day and we’d probably laugh our asses off about everything and absolutely nothing. Always laughing and always easy going. My kind of people. Their relationship is 19 years in the making and it officially now gets the crowning title of “Married”.

Below are a few of my favorites from the day. Click on any image to open see the full image. Also I hope you watched the video above. I shot Photo and Video on this day and was able to produce what is becoming my signature style of double service coverage.

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Cristina + Tony MEXICO Destination WEDDING

May 17, 2022

Destination Wedding | Dreams Natura Resort and Spa | Tulum, Cancun, Mexico | Time Shots Photography

My entire family knew that my cousin Cristina’s wedding was going to be an awesome time. To make things even better, her and Tony decided to make it a destination wedding in MEXICO!!!! ——Woot Woot!!! ——

If you have ever been to my "About Me Page" then you already knew that I had not ever been to Mexico and I really wanted to go there for a destination wedding. However, truth be told…. I wanted to go there as a hired photographer. So technically, this Mexico trip would not qualify me to check this line item OFF from my professional photographer bucket list, but hey… I was still super excited/geeked to be going to Mexico. PLUS… my cousin was getting married to Tony… who our entire family really approved of. Sooo Let’s Goooooo!!!!

Spoiler Alert —— Cristina eventually asked me to do a photo session on the day of the wedding and even cut me a check. Sooooooo…. BOOM BABY! —- Line item officially CHECKED OFF!!!!
Although I would not be the main photographer, I was still a hired photographer… and honestly, that’s enough for me. I was and am still, to this day, soooo damn frigg’n grateful and happy.
C’mon now… look at the pics we made. They’re pretty Bad Ass… “If I do say so myself, if I do say so myself” (Que Jay Z/Beyonce, Drunk in Love audio track.) These are some of my faves from the day!!!

A Blue Butterfly

How do you NOT, right?!?! Not seen, are my sister-in-law and brother pointing/holding wireless flashes to make this shot pop.

Shooting a wedding but not carrying the stress of shooting a wedding, was AWESOME!!!!
+ My cousin and Tony are 2 of the most laid back type of people you can find, soooooo… Obviously that made this whole experience even more enjoyable. I must admit though… 13 years of shooting weddings, really, really, really, had me feeling weird, like I was supposed to be doing more. The instinct in me was pulsing!!!!!….. But that was soooo NOT what I was there for. I was supposed to be enjoying myself. Especially since the resort’s staff photographers were the main photographers. So I could just sit back a bit and actually enjoy things for once. It was actually very nice for a change.

Fortunately, I speak fluent spanish, so breaking the ice with the staff team was easy and they were actually very cool about letting me shoot alongside them hear and there. I ended up shooting more than just a session that day. I just couldn’t do a quick photo session only. It felt way too weird.

Such a great trip and such great memories. What a great first trip to Mexico.

Below are some story telling images of the day.

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Savvy + Julian Prom 2022 | Hamstra Gardens Wheatfield, Indiana | Time Shots Photography

May 16, 2022

Hamstra Gardens is ONE of my TIPPY TOP 10 favorite spots P E R I O D !!!! Typically, I’m the only photographer there. Once in a while, I come across one another photographer while I’m shooting there but I usually have it all to myself. However, on the day of this prom session, there were about 10 photographers there plus all the parents and there camera phones trying for a good shot. No joke, had to have been at least 100 people visiting the garden at that exact time. Students and their families swarmed the place It’s insane that the pics do not reflect this. Maybe that reflects my skills or maybe that reflects the Gardens strategic layout… I’ll be humble on this one and vote for the later option. LOL… Crazy Huh? Somehow, I managed to avoid other photographers and people in my shots. I did feel the pressure to move faster than normal though. I felt bad taking too long in just one spot. Despite the overflow of people and the semi-tense situation, I came away with a BUNCH of shots that I believe are portfolio worthy. These are my favorites from the day, but if I absolutely HAD to only choose ONE, then it would be one of the last images, because I’m a SUCKER for Sun Flare, Haze, and that Dreamy look. Even better when there are some nice shadows too. Actually now that I just typed that….. I’m instantly perplexed… IDK anymore… Maybe the one of Savvy looking like a supermodel would be the winner since it’s a power portrait of her and we get a peek at the confidence and strength that sits quietly inside. Ugh…. It’s a tough call for sure. Which would you choose? If you have a favorite please comment. -Enjoy and please share to help get the word out about me and my photo and video work. Every little bit helps. Thanks.

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Jen + Brian’s Baby Shower and Maternity Session

April 22, 2022

Jen + Brian’s Baby Shower and Maternity Session | Mistwood Golf Club | Romeoville, IL

Maternity Belly in flower patern dress by Jaime Del RIo of Time Shots Photography

I had the honor of photographing Jen and Brian’s wedding a couple years ago. Fortunately I was available for their first child’s baby shower because it feels so good to be brought back into your past wedding clients lives.

I’m not a huge “keep in touch” kind of person. I’m a very caring and emotional person, but from a distance. I keep to myself and I’m just not a random call or text “Just Because” type of person. Even if I thought of you a couple times this week…. NOPE…. Still not gonna do it. WHY? IDK… but I’m happy.
Plus, I’m honestly not the cheapest photographer around. Soooo I honestly NEVER expect to get hired for ANY family events after the wedding. Once in a while it does happen, and when it does, I do my best to make it absolutely worth it for my couples. So we made sure to set aside time to for a quick Maternity Session that same day.

The venue is on a golf course sooo trying to avoid golfers and flying golf balls was a concern but Brian is an avid golfer and made sure we were out of the way.

The staff at Mistwood Golf Club were so friendly. It wasn’t long before we were cutting jokes while working together. I must also comment that they went out of there way to accommodate me so that I can get the shots I needed. If you are still looking for a wedding venue, then ya just might NOT want to skip over this one. Mistwood Golf Club

I’m looking forward to meeting baby Alexander, but until then, here are a few of my favorites from the day.

Thanks again to Jen & Brian for bringing me back into their world.

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William + Brianna

April 21, 2022

Spring Wedding at Aberdeen Manor | Valparaiso Indiana | March 20th, 2022

Bride and Groom Dip in front of the Aberdeen Manor Chapel in Valparaiso, IN. -Jaime Del Rio of Time Shots Photography.

William is a Photographer!!!! Sooooooo… Yeah, naturally I was a bit nervous to be the photographer for the wedding of a photographer…. and I was also honored.

The wedding was at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso, IN and they are NOTORIOUS for running a “tight ship” on the day of the wedding. I always recommend this venue to anyone who places their highest value on having a STRESS FREE wedding. They have a system over their and it’s pretty damn flawless to say the least. Beautiful venue + proven system, + excellent food + top notch staff = PERFECTION. Needless to say everything flowed perfectly.
One of my favorite parts of the day was after the ceremony. I was the only person allowed to join them and forever be a part of their personal and private vow exchange. Full transparency: I cried. I couldn’t hold it back. I mean, I kept it together ya’ll, but my eyes were surely tearing up. Thank God my expensive ass Sony camera has excellent focus because my vision was a bit blurry towards the end of these vows and I needed the extra help there. Take a look at Will and Brianna’s faces in the pics after the ceremony. -Enough Said.

I teared up again during their first dance. You’ll see it and I bet you will feel it too.

Then they got me again during their last dance of the night. Their relationship rings loudly of truth and it just resonates deeply. I looked around to see if anyone else was teary eyed too and sure enough, everyone was. Sooooooo Yeah…. it was such a vibe of a night.

Whether it’s with their hugs, little touches, quick whispers, or through their deep soul piercing gaze, they always seem to be Laughing and Love’n on each other in one way or another. I would say #GOALS… but I’ve actually been blessed with this exact type of marriage since 2003. So I can easily recognized familiar ingredients to their Love.

Lastly I need to give these two some props, credit, pat on the back, whatever ya want to call it but they deserve it, because they totally gave me the time I needed to create this caliber of imagery. The dark blue silhouette pics, the dip shot in front of the chapel, the smoke pics, the pics by the pillars, and others that I didn’t even include here, were ALL possible because they agreed to intentionally carve out little pockets of time from their day and pull away from their reception.

It’s the only way to make these happen. Not every couple wants or needs this level of involvement from me but I’m so happy to deliver when its requested/needed.

Enjoy the gallery and feel free to share any pics on the socials. Just give me a photo credit and I’m happy.

CONGRATS to William and Briana and thank you so much for letting me be your photographer.

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Joann + Olusanya | Wedding | Small and Intimate | Gary Indiana | Victory Overcomers Outreach Ministry | February 19th 2022

April 21, 2022

Gary Indiana, Wedding couple, Blue wedding dress, Winter

I went to school with Joann, so when she called for her wedding, I was excited to say the least. Her and Olusanya had a small wedding in Gary Indiana at the Victory Overcomers Outreach Ministry. Pastor Arison (who is also a close friend of Joann’s) officiated and had us all in our feels with his powerful words.

It was a freezing cold day and we could barely handle being outside for more than 3 minutes without coats. Fortunately Olusanya and Joann braved the cold enough to get at least a few pics outdoors.

The lighting was challenging because of the cool winter day light bouncing off the Yellow walls in the getting ready area. This made getting a solid color balance complicated. Busy Backgrounds meant I was limited to only one angle more than once. Unless i was willing to interrupt the natural unfolding moments. As soon as I moved to another angle I would lose my shot.

Most other photographers would have just let things be and would NOT get involved, but that way of thinking is just contrary to what feels natural to me. I CAN do it, Im perfectly capable of leaving well enough alone, however I prefer to get involved. Soooo, naturally, I asked individuals to stand in strategic places and I created little vignettes and planted tiny seeds for moments of life to unfold.

If I’m not getting enough of what I want, then yes, I do get involved… Selfish??? Maybe… True documentary style? — NOPE!!! — Sometimes the best option is to guide and coach things along. Especially if you know what the couple is looking for.

Here are a few of my favorites from the day plus a few extra to help paint the story of the day.

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Madison + Daniel's Colorado Destination Wedding

September 8, 2021

Destination Wedding at Boettcher Mansion-Lookout Mountain | Golden Colorado

The excitement I feel for destination weddings is similar to starstruck, teenage fans, cheerfully screeching for their favorite pop star. So when Daniel (a.k.a. Brandon) & Madison asked me to fly out to Golden, Colorado. I was elated, to say the least!

Shooting Photo & Video at the same time can be challenging so I’m extra happy that I was able to shoot enough video clips to create the Video Highlight you hopefully watched above. Madison & Brandon didn’t even know I was intentionally shooting more video than they planned for. So I’m sure they will appreciate this upgrade from the shorter Fusion Video they were expecting.

Mowgli: A dog of a million kisses… I hadn’t even walked through the door of the hair and makeup room, when I was warmly welcomed by Mowgli. (Madison & Brandon’s dog) Doggy hugs and kisses where generously given. It was like he remembered me from the engagement session. I thought this was awesome but what happened next floored me. While Madison introduced me to her bridesmaids and family, she told them that I was the one who did her engagement pictures and Fusion Video…. and they actually started applauding and thanked me for flying in.

—-W H O A—

I honestly didn’t know how to act. So I just blushed and did something silly to add some comedic relief to the amount of attention on me. In the past I have been a Dancer, DJ, Drummer, and Singer, so I’ve experienced being applauded, but this was the first time my work as a photographer was ever applauded. Whoa! Right?!?

I was cheesy and I wish it was on video. It was clear to me that this day was going to be more amazing than i had imagined.

The couple hours before the ceremony, were lining up to be insanely rushed, sooooo to hopefully aliviate the time strain, the plan was for me to pick up Madison’s dress, jewelry, (even the rings) and take it to the venue, which is where she had envisioned her detail pics would be photographed. This meant an earlier start time to the day — and— assuming the huge risk associated with moving the brides dress and priceless family heirlooms. I was flat out honored to be a trusted member of team “Madison & Brandon”. So I was happy to accomodate. Check out the dress shots and other details shots below!!!! Soooo glad we decided to take the details shots at the venue.

The Boettcher Mansion in Golden Colorado was so accommodating to me as a photographer. Especially Bernadette, who went out of her way to help me get these images early on in the day. She even showed me key areas of the mansion that I should consider. I fell in love with the Ballroom area so the dress pics had to happen in that room. I’ve shot hundreds of wedding dresses hanging in windows so so when I get the chance to change it up, you better believe I’m going for it.

So many epic moments on this day. I would love to spill out every detail of the day in a play by play approach, but I really really really want you to just check out the pics so…. I’m going to shut up for now so you can enjoy, but I will update this blog later.

CLICK on any image to enlarge it. When you are done here you can see hundreds more in their Online Gallery by CLICKING HERE.

Congratulations to the Newlyweds!!!!

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Arielle + Tylor | Indiana Farm Styled Wedding | Modern Bride

July 18, 2021

Planning a wedding is no easy task. Going through nursing school, working, and planning a wedding could make anyone go insane, but Arielle did it with grace. (Chu Go GURL!!!)
These two families put together a picture perfect day along with the right personalities and characters to make the day unforgettable. (I had a BLAST!)

—No matter what I asked of this wedding party they delivered.—
There are a few pics of the wedding party running in heels and dress shoes at full speed towards Arielle and Tylor! One of the groomsmen slips, falls, and gets right back up to finish for the photo!!! This was priceless and one of my favorite moments of the day. Nothing could stop this group from having a great time and Yes they did just that.

I can tell that Tylor is Arille’s rock. They fall into each other with such comfort and warmth. You can see this for yourself and all of its sweetness during their first dance pics. the way the look at each other is what sooo many couples aspire to. You see it again during the short sunset session. We only had a few minutes but DAAaaammmnnn… did we make it count, HUH!??!?!?!?!. It’s a rhetorical question… These two did an amazing job of just being themselves on camera. When you are around them, you can’t help but say Aweeee!!!

Further down the chain of pics you will see what I refer to as “EPIC dance scenes” with hands in the air, faces of Excitement, Energy, and Joy. I am so damn grateful to have been their photographer and videographer.

The pics on this blog post are my own personal favorites but there are literally hundreds more in their online gallery, that is available right now until the end of this month.

Just click the link at the very bottom of this blog post to see for yourself.

You can view, share, download, and even order prints from there.

A very warm and special Thank you to Arielle + Tylor, and Arielle’s mother Julie, for allowing me this honor.

Enjoy the pictures and the video.

-Jaime