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I am a wedding and family photojournalist based in Chicago.   I've worked as a photojournalist for fifteen years, including ten years for the Chicago Tribune.

I love taking photographs every day, and this space is for you to view my latest work, outtakes and updates.

WPJA Q4… Wedding Photojournalism Photo Contest

I was pleasantly surprised to see two of my photographs had won awards in the Wedding Photojournalist Association’s year end contest for 2009.

I was even happier that both images were from the same wedding!

Jessica and Tony, thanks so much for taking me to Mexico with you!   I had such a wonderful time documenting your day!

And, regarding the judge’s comments on my ring detail, it is a cliché to put rings on stamens.   It’s also the first and, hopefully, last time I do this.   I had no idea that this particular flower would shed bright red powder all over my hands!  :-)

Jessica - So. Stinking. Proud. of you lady. You worked so hard for us - I'm so glad it got recognized. Piles of love :)

Stacie Olson - Congratulations Candice! We all knew your photos were amazing. We are honored Jessica & Tony's beautiful day could carry through to a higher level of praise by your peers.

Kristy and Pete… a San Diego pregnancy session.

I cannot say enough kind words about Kristy.   She’s a terrific photographer and I was thrilled to photograph her.I also met her husband, Pete!   Who is hilarious!

You two are so lovely together!   Thanks so much!!

And Kristy, thanks for picking me up at the airport, scouting locations with me and showing me beautiful San Diego!

Tracy and Shaun… Married!

This cool couple flew me out to document my first wedding in San Diego, which I loved.   They have actual hills there… quite a change from Chicago!

 Tracy shares a moment with her mother before walking down the aisle.

Thanks so much, you two.   I loved documenting your day!

To view Tracy and Shaun’s engagement session, please click here.

Susan Schaben - Awesome photos! What a lovely day it was. Thanks for inviting us to be a part of it. Hope you are out this way again soon. Sue and Allen xoxoxo

Frannie and Mike…

Frannie and Mike had a great wedding with a lot of love and laughter.

I met Frannie and her family inside her hotel room at the Sheraton Chicago and had a lot of fun documenting them getting ready!

Frannie’s gorgeous dress had so many buttons that a hook was needed!



Thanks so much, you two… I loved documenting your day!

susan kelly-kell - I love these. They look happy, don't they? What a beautiful bride and an adorable couple! Sue(impartial mother of the bride)

Meg - So beautiful!!!!

Frannie - Candice, thank you so much for spending the day with us! You pictures are gorgeous and we now have lasting tangible memories of this day we'll keep forever. I would recommend you to anyone! Thank you again so very much!

Marie Kell - I loved these pictures and the rest. These show just how sweet and loving the whole day was. Thank you so much for capturing such a perfect wedding...

My Christmas…

I last visited this beach in September, where I spent time walking the shoreline, collecting seashells.   These bright beauties currently sit in a glass jar on my desk, taunting me with their colors while I edit photographs.

Over the holiday, I looked forward to returning to the beach and adding to my collection.   I never anticipated a huge storm washing every shell in the ocean onto my private N.C. paradise.   Good thing I purchased another glass jar!

I’m including some photographs I made during my walks in the cold, North Carolina air.

On this day, the wind was so strong that it blew chunks of sea foam across the beach like tumbleweeds.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Jeremy - Nice!!!!

Heather - looks amazing. have fun down there.

Megan and Scott…

Megan and Scott didn’t let a cold, rainy day stop their wedding.    They got married at the Patrick C. Haley Mansion in Joliet, a beautiful venue with vintage details.

I love it when couples meet each other before their ceremony!

Thanks so much, you two!

Kathleen - These are amazing! Beautiful work!

Respect Your Mother…

And have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!

Chase - That's an awesome frame, Candice. Happy Thanksgiving!

Jessica and Tony…

When Jessica and Tony asked me to document their wedding in Cancun, I was honored.   They are, quite simply, so sweet and funny that it is a pleasure to be around them.

The details of their day remind me of their personalities.   Full of love for their friends and family (even asking the enthusiastic wedding party to leap into the pool with their clothes on), passionate and unpredictable (like the massive downpour during their ceremony) and always up for a fun moment and a photograph to prove it (like waking up at 6AM the morning after their wedding to do a trash the dress session before I headed home).

Jessica shares a moment with her father before walking down the aisle.

Their wedding was held at the Dreams Cancun Resort and Spa and had several uninvited, but fun, onlookers.

Including dark clouds that carried the rain right into their ceremony!

The rain vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

The wedding party!   In the pool!   Where else but Cancun?

We took sunrise photographs the following day.   Thoughtful Jessica brought an extra dress to “trash.”

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Jessica and Tony, thank you for sharing your wedding with me.   I wish you nothing but continued happiness!

Jeremy - Just great! I bet you were LOVING it!!!

Rich Chapman - Beautiful, creative and very exciting images, Candice, you should think about doing this as a career!

scott - Your photographs just blow me away!

MK_mckenna@yahoo.com - HOLY HELL THESE ARE AWESOME!!!! I am just like... wow. wow wow wow. The color, the couple... everything. AH-maze-zing. xo.

Ray Pryor - Great work Candice! Really nice shots.

Jessica - Candice...these are unbelievable. I can't express to you enough how amazing it was to have you there. Your talent literally takes my breath away. Thank you thank you thank you for everything!!!

Kevin Olson - Thank you so much for all your hard work at Jessi & Tony's wedding. Your talent, creativity, and imagination are incredible. It wouldn't have been the same without you. We are very happy parents of the bride!

Monsy Perez - THESE ARE REALLY GREAT PICTURES TO BE ENJOYED FOR A LIFETIME!

Patti Perez - Candice, these pictures are AMAZING!!!!! It brings back such great memories of the wedding in Cancun! (I can't wait to see the rest of them & also from the reception here.) You're bubbly personality & extremely creative talents made their special day a joy! Tony & Jessica are so ecstatic with the pics they've seen - I can't put into words how happy that makes me feel. What a BEAUTIFUL way to start their married lives! From a Very Happy mom of the groom!

Uli…

Remember Natalie and Boris?   I spent some time with them recently and it really struck me how much I love my job.   I first met them to photograph Natalie’s pregnancy and returned to meet the cutest little girl…

Uli!

Uli’s rock and roll hair is growing in little fits and spurts.   I think she’s trying to copy my hairstyle…:-)   She loves family dog Buster and giggles when she touches Buster’s ultra-soft fur!

Thanks, you three!   Uli, I am looking forward to watching you grow!

To view Natalie and Boris’ pregnancy session, please click here.

Natalie - Candice! They made me gasp! I LOVE them! Thank you so much!

Justin - Yes! These are great. I love how you revisited the same bench, to make an entirely different image. I'm floored. Love it.

Tara - These pictures just make me happy. Uli is so adorable and each picture is just amazing!

Bao… Wow Wow!

Bao is a feisty boxer who loves a purple tennis ball.   I spent time photographing him on Chicago’s lakefront, and he was pretty excited.  :-)

He never tired of owner Alice throwing his beloved ball!

His body reminds me of a deer in this photograph… except for that mouth!!

Hey Bao!   Love that ear!

And the polka dots!

Thanks, Bao!    Time for a bath!

Donald Peterson - Good use of selective focus to produce very warm and appealing images. Go Bao!

Stella - Candice is simply awesome! She took some photos of me recently for a dating site -- my dance card filled up immediately. And she made it FUN to get my picture taken, an activity I normally try to avoid. She has that gift for capturing one's essence. She rocks! --Stella, a happy customer in Lincoln Park.

Mary Owen - OMG! I want you to photograph my little beagle!!

Jeremy - These are SO great. I really love them!!

Christy - Oh Candice, I love these!!! I so want you to photograph my Lab Maggie Bee. Awe...what a beautiful sky too...

Alice - These are beautiful.. You captured him so perfectly, from sweet to crazy, to naughty, that's our adolescent boy!