Li & Raphael Engagement Teasers

What an amazing time I had with Li & Raphael down in St. Louis for their engagement session! I enjoy working with my couples create something they can call their own and something they would be excited to have enlarged on their wall. Because, who doesn’t want something beautiful!

I hope Audi calls! ^_^ Cause we just made them look awesome.

Here are a couple teasers!
Please Enjoy!
Chris

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Becky & Davin Married!

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Dress: Doris Bridal
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Hair: Ann-Marie Bautista
Make-up: Izha Zylvanni
Bouquets: Vale of Enna
Ceremony: Galleria Marchetti
Reception: Galleria Marchetti
Photography: Chris Kim Photography
Wedding Coordinator: S. Chung Weddings
DJ: Momentz Productions
Slow Motion Video Booth: Momentz Productions
Associate Photographer: Hoang “Quickdraw” Lam
Assistant: Matt “Hotsauce” Villanueva

Day Dream – Susan & Eugene Engaged!

Hello again! It’s been a while since I’ve been back around here! But I’ve got some amazing stuff in store for you so keep checking every so often!

I had so much fun photographing Susan and Eugene out in Milwaukee, Wisconsin back in May for their engagement session! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed photographing this couple. They are so sweet, humbling, and have tons of positive energy to photograph with.

The idea we came up with was of Eugene in a “Day Dream”, meeting and being with the perfect girl. Going on dates, picnics, hanging out, finding a dog, to even a badass 007 Bond look. We even got to incorporate their beautiful dog Bbang (Bread in korean) in the mix too! The very cute ending may be incorporated or not depending if they want to use it as their reception poster.

It was fun hanging out and photographing you two! I can’t wait til your wedding!

I love my couples!!
Chris

P.S Thank you to my beautiful girlfriend, LC for assisting us! Visit her blog after!

Everyone has a story, this is theirs.

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Christa & Mike Engaged!

I love shooting engagement sessions, it gives a chance for both the wedding couple sand the photographer to get to know each other. Also allows a chance for brides to take a break from wedding planning and to really make something original. ^_^

Christa and Mike are an awesome couple. Both are CPD and I couldn’t feel any more safer taking photographs when I was with them. 🙂 We took some photographs at the CPD station, where they had first met. After that we then proceeded to Gary, Indiana. Then shuffled off to the Country Line Orchard to go apple picking and grab some super awesome donuts. #nomnom and wrapped up at the Chicago Theatre ^_^

Please Enjoy!

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Baby Ethan

Kids are awesome but infants are truly a blessing to work with. I love photographing kids/infants because as I always have said, they’re our greatest link to our pasts. They’re so fragile and dependent with not a care in the world. When coupled with two wonderful loving parents, these babies are in the best hands possible with their unconditional love.

Congrats to parents of Ethan (photographed @ 3 months), Ashley & Michael!! He’s definitely gonna be a stud and a heart breaker when he grows up 😛 It was such a pleasure hanging out with you guys and feeding me so much food. I look forward to your future years with Ethan 🙂

Please Enjoy,
Chris

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Friendsgiving 2012

 

As the years go by, people grow up, we get married, we have families, and some of us move away. This yearly tradition gives us the chance for our UIC friends come together to have Thanksgiving dinner potluck together. A perfect time to catch up with friends and eat amazing food.

What’s also great about this annual potluck, is that EVERYONE knows how to cook!!! Legitly. From green beans and veggies to amazing pasta’s to chicken AND pork Adobo to Turkey to even WHITE CASTLE STUFFING!! Yeah…. life doesn’t get much better than this. (There would be more pictures of the food if I wasn’t starvvvvving). Thanks Patrick for bringing that dozen of Doughnut Vault’s mouth watering donuts for dessert!! It’s amazingly sooooo good!! I’ve decided, I’ll be going to the Doughnut Vault for and sit in line to get more! Totally worth it. #nomnomnom #doughnutvault #mouthwatering

Last one in the door to do prayer was Ronald Iglesia this year. Thanks for running on Filipino time! 🙂

Big props for hosting this year RJ & Patrick, you guys deserve a round of applause!! For those unable to make it, you were truly missed!

Please Enjoy ^_^ & Don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom!

Ciao~
Chris Kim
















Jackie & Socrates

I first did my first destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico in April 2011. Right after I posted the photographs, I got an inquiry for another destination wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Just starting out doing wedding photography, I was totally stoked someone recognized and LOVED my photographs, it’s such a surreal feeling and I still get it every time. My wedding couples are the ones that love and respect my work and excited to work with me. They fuel my creativity.

This is a wedding story of Jacqueline and Socrates worth remembering for a lifetime… (Sorry this story is a little long, won’t happen again! PROMISE!)

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So where do I start! What an amazing eventful wedding weekend this was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The night of the rehearsal dinner, a random patron eating at the restaurant had collapsed into a seizure. The young teen, turning purple suffocating from the lack of oxygen because his tongue was obstructing his airway, the teen’s father screaming and yelling while pounding on his chest, helpless of the situation and trying CPR had unknowingly almost killed him. Socrates, without hesitation, pulled the teenagers father aside, and went to action, rolled the teen over and had restored breathing. Socrates had stayed with the teen til the morning making sure he was alright.

Being in a 3rd world country, hospitals and care are few and far between. I felt it was necessary to mention this even though he took an oath, and not wanting any credit for saving someones life. I felt he should be recognized because when does something like this happen the night before your wedding?! He truly showed genuine concern and compassion for the teen. I would love to have him as my doctor ANY day.

Their wedding day… — 100 degree’s 100% humidity

When do you ever sleep the night before your wedding? Well the photographer didn’t, I was TOO excited. I had slept about an hour. So I went to check on the bride Jackie and ended up starting a little bit earlier. This couple is definitely a power couple, something I definitely envy. They are kind, gentle, genuine, and they always have a smile for you.

** Another thing to note while destination wedding planning, please be mindful of the Hurricane Season! (June 1 to Nov. 30)

My oh my did the bride Jackie look ever so stunning in her mermaid style wedding dress! Not many people can pull this wedding dress and she did it beautifully… But just as we were ready to head out to the outdoor ceremony, the clouds started rolling in, loud thunder and lightning started appearing. (The best thing for a bride to do when this happens is DO NOT PANIC and just be happy.) Jackie was just that, she kept calm and collected and smiled, I told her, the most important people in your life flew thousands of miles just to be here for your special day, so whatever happens today, you’re here with family and that’s all that matters. So what we did while it started pouring is get some portraits out of the way and try to wait the storm out.

After about being delayed an hour and half, there was a short break in the storm. I headed out to the gazebo and boy it was beautiful. They had ended up replacing all the chairs, unable to wait any longer they start with the ceremony (drizzling), then magically just as Jackie walks in for the procession, the rain had completely stopped. It stopped for literally a good 2 minutes just up until she got underneath the gazebo and then it started a torrential downpour again. It was as if someone from up above was watching over her for just those short moments.

The rain had continued on and off for the rest of the day. I was drenched along with my equipment. But weddings are once in a lifetime and I’m a true believer of that, knowing my could potentially lose all my equipment to water damage, I set aside those feelings and just kept shooting on. Things just have a way of working itself out. I managed to get every shot I needed, photographed their portrait session after the ceremony in 30 minutes (Normally 2 hrs), soaked, exhausted, I had made it through the night.

An amazing weekend with such an amazing family. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a memorable experience and welcoming me to share your special day. Please enjoy these pictures.

Quick shot out to my MUA/Hair stylist, Toni Scott who did all the hair and make up at the wedding. Thanks for being clutch.

Hair: Toni Scott (Chicago)
MUA: Toni Scott (Chicago)
Resort: Gran Bahia Principe (Punta Cana)
Videographer: Florian Koetter (Punta Cana) — Awesome guy! Edited the video within 24 hours!

http://www.bahia-principe.com/en/hotels/punta-cana/resort-punta-cana/

Ciao~
Chris