• Happy first day of fall! 🍂🌾🍁⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ This year I’ve made a bucket list to check off, and I’ve gotten to check quite a few off already! Here’s my list: ⁠⠀ - buy pumpkins √⁠⠀ - host annual chili cookoff⁠⠀ - bonfires⁠⠀ - pumpkin patch √⁠⠀ - apple cider √⁠⠀ - mums mums mums! √⁠⠀ - decorate for fall (inside)⁠⠀ - corn maze⁠⠀ - break out the sweaters and boots⁠⠀ - fall camping trip⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ What's on your fall bucket list?! #hellofall #firstdayoffall
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    Happy first day of fall! 🍂🌾🍁⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ This year I’ve made a bucket list to check off, and I’ve gotten to check quite a few off already! Here’s my list: ⁠⠀ - buy pumpkins √⁠⠀ - host annual chili cookoff⁠⠀ - bonfires⁠⠀ - pumpkin patch √⁠⠀ - apple cider √⁠⠀ - mums mums mums! √⁠⠀ - decorate for fall (inside)⁠⠀ - corn maze⁠⠀ - break out the sweaters and boots⁠⠀ - fall camping trip⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ What's on your fall bucket list?! #hellofall #firstdayoffall
  • Is it acceptable to social distance from our children?! 🤷🏻‍♀️⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Not really. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ But seriously. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ We had a rough afternoon. As I've said many times before, I'm running on a LIMITED schedule these days trying to keep work hours between the same hours Bexley's in school - and most days it's fine! ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ But today, I had a phone call with a dear bride that couldn't fit within those hours, but normally a phone chat isn't a huge deal with a five-year-old who behaves 90% of the time. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ TODAY WAS NOT THAT DAY. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ She played perfectly fine and on her own while I puttered around the house doing misc. chores, but the MINUTE my phone rang, she needed something every 5 minutes. Then it was a MELTDOWN when I told her she couldn't go outside and play with friends because we'd be leaving as soon as I got off the phone. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ SHE STOOD OUTSIDE MY OPEN OFFICE WINDOW AND SOBBED WHILE TELLING THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD SHE COULDN'T PLAY. My poor bride probs thought I was torturing my kid. 🤦🏻‍♀️⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Thank god for my brother and sister in law who saved the day by picking Bex up for me so I could actually plan #allthethings with my bride. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ I know some of you HAVE to feel me here, because there is NO way we can keep our shit together 24/7 (if so you better spill your secrets NOW) and I know some of you have it worse, because you're navigating the world of remote learning on top of it. I'm so thankful for the few hours of day I have to myself but sometimes juggling working from home full time and mommy-ing would be easier if I could enforce in-home social distancing... 💁🏻‍♀️⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Have you had days like mine? Feel free to vent with me below because I knowwwwwww it feels good to just let it all out at times. 🙌🏻 #momlife #mompreneur #thestruggleisreal
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    Is it acceptable to social distance from our children?! 🤷🏻‍♀️⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Not really. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ But seriously. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ We had a rough afternoon. As I've said many times before, I'm running on a LIMITED schedule these days trying to keep work hours between the same hours Bexley's in school - and most days it's fine! ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ But today, I had a phone call with a dear bride that couldn't fit within those hours, but normally a phone chat isn't a huge deal with a five-year-old who behaves 90% of the time. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ TODAY WAS NOT THAT DAY. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ She played perfectly fine and on her own while I puttered around the house doing misc. chores, but the MINUTE my phone rang, she needed something every 5 minutes. Then it was a MELTDOWN when I told her she couldn't go outside and play with friends because we'd be leaving as soon as I got off the phone. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ SHE STOOD OUTSIDE MY OPEN OFFICE WINDOW AND SOBBED WHILE TELLING THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD SHE COULDN'T PLAY. My poor bride probs thought I was torturing my kid. 🤦🏻‍♀️⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Thank god for my brother and sister in law who saved the day by picking Bex up for me so I could actually plan #allthethings with my bride. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ I know some of you HAVE to feel me here, because there is NO way we can keep our shit together 24/7 (if so you better spill your secrets NOW) and I know some of you have it worse, because you're navigating the world of remote learning on top of it. I'm so thankful for the few hours of day I have to myself but sometimes juggling working from home full time and mommy-ing would be easier if I could enforce in-home social distancing... 💁🏻‍♀️⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Have you had days like mine? Feel free to vent with me below because I knowwwwwww it feels good to just let it all out at times. 🙌🏻 #momlife #mompreneur #thestruggleisreal
  • Seven years. SEVEN FRIGGIN’ YEARS. If you swipe, you’ll see my first ever headshot taken while second shooting a wedding for another photographer. This was actually taken the summer before my first wedding of my own. I wanted practice, experience, and knowledge in the wedding industry before I allowed another couple to trust me with such precious memories. I worked HOURS for no pay at all just to take in everything I could. I couldn’t get enough. You’ll notice the cheap, entry level camera around my neck. I had NO idea what I was doing. But I was putting in the work to learn that little guy backwards and forwards and countless hours spent reading, shooting my friends, family members, and pets to learn the ins and outs of what I could do. I wasn’t the photographer who picked up a camera one day and said, “I’m a wedding photographer!” - fact of the matter is, I wasn’t sure. To be sure, I interviewed, shadowed, assisted, and second shot for MANY professionals. It was with their help and guidance that I learned that I wanted to photograph weddings, and after putting in over a years’ worth of work, I learned I COULD. PHOTOGRAPHERS: it’s hard to say no If you don’t have backup gear, if you can’t recover time lost when makeup runs long in the morning, if you don’t know what to do in dark reception lighting if your one flash doesn’t work, then I encourage you to LEARN FIRST. No matter how much that couple tells you they want a beginner because they’re not worried and need to save $. Take the job seriously and learn examples of real-time weddings to see what to do, or not to do, in certain situations. COUPLES: be sure you hire someone who you can trust to keep those memories safe. Someone who has backup gear, who can catch up a timeline when you’re running 45 minutes behind schedule (or better yet, one who keeps you ON time), and find someone who can shoot in a dark room with or without flash. I could go on for daayyssss about what to look for, just find one who takes you and their job seriously enough to know what to do in just about any situation. Memories will fade, flowers will die, but photographs last MORE than a lifetime.
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    Seven years. SEVEN FRIGGIN’ YEARS. If you swipe, you’ll see my first ever headshot taken while second shooting a wedding for another photographer. This was actually taken the summer before my first wedding of my own. I wanted practice, experience, and knowledge in the wedding industry before I allowed another couple to trust me with such precious memories. I worked HOURS for no pay at all just to take in everything I could. I couldn’t get enough. You’ll notice the cheap, entry level camera around my neck. I had NO idea what I was doing. But I was putting in the work to learn that little guy backwards and forwards and countless hours spent reading, shooting my friends, family members, and pets to learn the ins and outs of what I could do. I wasn’t the photographer who picked up a camera one day and said, “I’m a wedding photographer!” - fact of the matter is, I wasn’t sure. To be sure, I interviewed, shadowed, assisted, and second shot for MANY professionals. It was with their help and guidance that I learned that I wanted to photograph weddings, and after putting in over a years’ worth of work, I learned I COULD. PHOTOGRAPHERS: it’s hard to say no If you don’t have backup gear, if you can’t recover time lost when makeup runs long in the morning, if you don’t know what to do in dark reception lighting if your one flash doesn’t work, then I encourage you to LEARN FIRST. No matter how much that couple tells you they want a beginner because they’re not worried and need to save $. Take the job seriously and learn examples of real-time weddings to see what to do, or not to do, in certain situations. COUPLES: be sure you hire someone who you can trust to keep those memories safe. Someone who has backup gear, who can catch up a timeline when you’re running 45 minutes behind schedule (or better yet, one who keeps you ON time), and find someone who can shoot in a dark room with or without flash. I could go on for daayyssss about what to look for, just find one who takes you and their job seriously enough to know what to do in just about any situation. Memories will fade, flowers will die, but photographs last MORE than a lifetime.
  • By far the most intimidating adventure to take to date. ⠀ ⠀ Let me tell you a story about the woman standing atop this cliff bridge. ⠀ ⠀ She. Was. TERRIFIED. ⠀ ⠀ And as a woman who also hates heights, I get it! 🙋🏻‍♀️⠀ ⠀ BUT SHE STILL HIKED OVER IT. ⠀ ⠀ She didn’t let fear stop her from getting that photo (we’re both photographers and if you are too you know you do what you have to) and she may have been scared but I 100% promise you she doesn’t regret a thing. ⠀ ⠀ Don’t let things stop you from trying, you’ll never know if it was worth it in the end if you give up before you start. ⠀ ⠀ I know I’ve done this before, and they’re some of my favorite experiences to date! What have you done that you didn’t let fear stop you? Cause I know I’m not alone!! 💁🏻‍♀️ #icelandadventure #arnarstapiiceland #fearless
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    By far the most intimidating adventure to take to date. ⠀ ⠀ Let me tell you a story about the woman standing atop this cliff bridge. ⠀ ⠀ She. Was. TERRIFIED. ⠀ ⠀ And as a woman who also hates heights, I get it! 🙋🏻‍♀️⠀ ⠀ BUT SHE STILL HIKED OVER IT. ⠀ ⠀ She didn’t let fear stop her from getting that photo (we’re both photographers and if you are too you know you do what you have to) and she may have been scared but I 100% promise you she doesn’t regret a thing. ⠀ ⠀ Don’t let things stop you from trying, you’ll never know if it was worth it in the end if you give up before you start. ⠀ ⠀ I know I’ve done this before, and they’re some of my favorite experiences to date! What have you done that you didn’t let fear stop you? Cause I know I’m not alone!! 💁🏻‍♀️ #icelandadventure #arnarstapiiceland #fearless
  • Is the Mager Image “signature” a silhouette photo with a badass sunset behind it? ⠀ ⠀ Maybe. ⠀ ⠀ I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a sucker for those just-set sky photos. But when you’re surrounded by corn, what else do you really get? 😂 ⠀ ⠀ I’m ready for an adventure! Picture a sunset shot like this over the mountains or along the ocean! ⠀ ⠀ Speaking of adventure, my 2021 calendar is looking to be full of them! If you’re up for an adventure or want to see if I’ll be closer to where you are (we’re talking coast to coast here), shoot me a message. I’m always down to meet up with new couples in new places to explore a bit more!
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    Is the Mager Image “signature” a silhouette photo with a badass sunset behind it? ⠀ ⠀ Maybe. ⠀ ⠀ I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a sucker for those just-set sky photos. But when you’re surrounded by corn, what else do you really get? 😂 ⠀ ⠀ I’m ready for an adventure! Picture a sunset shot like this over the mountains or along the ocean! ⠀ ⠀ Speaking of adventure, my 2021 calendar is looking to be full of them! If you’re up for an adventure or want to see if I’ll be closer to where you are (we’re talking coast to coast here), shoot me a message. I’m always down to meet up with new couples in new places to explore a bit more!
  • Summer’s almost over, can you believe it?! #imready
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    Summer’s almost over, can you believe it?! #imready
  • It’s officially September 1st, you know what the means! #imissedthetraintohogwarts #harrypotter #september1st #hpfan
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    It’s officially September 1st, you know what the means! #imissedthetraintohogwarts #harrypotter #september1st #hpfan
  • Fall vibes are coming! 🍁 Who’s ready? #fallengagementsession #falliscoming #illinoisengagementsession #centralillinoisweddingphotographer
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    Fall vibes are coming! 🍁 Who’s ready? #fallengagementsession #falliscoming #illinoisengagementsession #centralillinoisweddingphotographer
  • I’m in northern IL today with @creatememoriesnow for a wedding at the gorgeous @gardensofwoodstock - it might be hot as hell but it’s going to be SO pretty! #northernilwedding #chicagolandweddings
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    I’m in northern IL today with @creatememoriesnow for a wedding at the gorgeous @gardensofwoodstock - it might be hot as hell but it’s going to be SO pretty! #northernilwedding #chicagolandweddings
  • Have I ever mentioned I LOVE color?! Esp. those rich jewel tones!
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    Have I ever mentioned I LOVE color?! Esp. those rich jewel tones!