It's all about keeping the memories alive...
So back in January, I sent out an email letting my friends and family know that I am starting "Chrismare du Toit Photography" and a few days later I got an email from Holly and Jean. So there is no Holly without Jean and no Jean without Holly! I met Holly and Jean through my husband a few years back. Holly and Jean are both actors in Chicago and being in their company is always a whole lot of fun. Holly is sweet, soft-spoken and has a beauty that makes you look again and again and a whole lot of fun! Her love for Jean is lived out loud and that man is a king in her eyes. Jean is that guy in the corner that will catch your eye and then you never look away. You always wonder what is that kid is up to... in a good way! Jean loves Holly in the most tender way when he looks at her, he REALLY looks at her.
So in the email, they described in detail what they wanted from their engagement shoot. Let's just say I was a bit scared of their need because I am not a fan of shooting in the dark. I love working with natural light and working at night in a bar with only mood light It WAS my worst nightmare.... just because I didn't know what to do.
BUT, now I am so glad that I took on this opportunity because I love their pictures and also the amount of fun we had while taking them.
Their engagement shoot also happened on two different nights at two different locations.
Holly & Jean, Your wedding is right around the corner. Enjoy the next few months of planning & thanks again for all the fun and personal growth that came with these pictures. I am looking forward to celebrating your marriage and to dance the night away... by then we will all be so hungry for a good party!
"WHEN JEAN AND I FIRST BECAME FRIENDS, WE FOUND GUTHRIE'S TAVERN. WE HAD A REHEARSAL TOGETHER ONE NIGHT IN THE SUMMER AND WERE WALKING BACK TO OUR CARS PARKED A FEW BLOCKS AWAY WHEN WE SAW IT. WE DECIDED TO STOP IN BECAUSE THE ATMOSPHERE LOOKED COZY, AND WE SAW THAT THEY HAD BOARD GAMES TO PLAY. I IMMEDIATELY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT WHEN WE WALKED IN BECAUSE IT REMINDED ME OF MY AUNT'S BASEMENT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP (FILLED WITH GAMES, THE WARM-GLASS LAMPS, GERMAN MUGS HANGING UP, ETC.). THEN WE WERE EVEN MORE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WHEN WE FOUND THAT YOU COULD BRING IN YOUR OWN FOOD, WHICH WAS CONVENIENT BECAUSE I HAPPENED TO HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF CHOCOLATE AND SOME JELLY BEANS WITH ME FROM MY RECENT VISIT TO PITTSBURGH (FROM A CHOCOLATE FACTORY IN PITTSBURGH CALLED SARRIS CHOCOLATE -- IT'S SOOO GOOD). THAT NIGHT, WE ENDED UP EATING A LOT OF CHOCOLATE AND JELLY BEANS WHILE PLAYING A GAME CALLED MINDTRAP ON THEIR BACK PATIO FOR HOURS. AFTER THAT, IT BECAME OUR GAME NIGHTSPOT. WE'VE GONE THERE SO MANY TIMES JUST THE TWO OF US, SO MANY TIMES WITH FRIENDS FOR POTLUCKS, WE'VE TAKEN BOTH SETS OF OUR PARENTS THERE WHEN THEY'VE VISITED US, WE'VE HAD OUR BIRTHDAY PARTIES THERE... IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO US. AND MINDTRAP IS STILL ONE OF OUR FAVORITE GAMES! I ACTUALLY BOUGHT IT FOR JEAN FOR the FIRST CHRISTMAS THAT WE WERE DATING."
"RIGHT BEFORE WE BEGAN OFFICIALLY DATING (MONTHS AFTER WE FIRST WENT TO GUTHRIE'S), I INTRODUCED JEAN TO OWEN & ENGINE. I HAD FIRST GONE THERE WITH SOME FRIENDS FROM NEW COM LONG BEFORE I MET JEAN. THEY HAVE A TRADITIONAL BRITISH MENU THAT IS DOWNRIGHT DELICIOUS. WE WENT THEREAFTER THE CLOSING NIGHT OF THE SHOW IN WHICH WE FIRST MET WHILE DOING. JEAN WAS ONE OF THE LEADS AND I WAS THE CHOREOGRAPHER. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT WE ORDERED THAT NIGHT, BUT I DO REMEMBER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE EXHILARATING EXCITEMENT AND SIMULTANEOUS SADNESS OF CLOSING NIGHT. OWEN & ENGINE IS S A BIT PRICEY, SO IT BECAME OUR CELEBRATORY DATE SPOT AFTER WE BEGAN DATING. WE WENT THERE FOR OUR FIRST VALENTINE'S DAY AS A DATING COUPLE FOR BRUNCH, WE'VE GONE THERE TO CELEBRATE BEING CAST IN DIFFERENT SHOWS AND PROJECTS, WE'VE AGAIN TAKEN BOTH SETS OF OUR PARENTS THERE WHEN THEY'VE VISITED... IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO US. WE ESPECIALLY LOVE IT AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME -- THE UPSTAIRS FIREPLACE DECOR MAKES IT LOOK LIKE HOGWARTS FROM THE HARRY POTTER MOVIES, HA!"
