Yearly Archives: 2010

Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross + Hilton Champaign wedding

Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
As promised, here is the full blog post for Lindsey + Chris’s winter wedding from December 4. We started out at Holy Cross Church in Champaign where I immediately found a great little breezeway that was out of the snow and had probably the absolute best light we could have asked for that day. Following the ceremony, we stopped off at a couple places on campus for some more photos in the fresh snow, and then finally ended up at the Hilton Garden Inn for the remainder of the festivities. Some of the images below are courtesy of my second shooter, Jeremy Fenelon of JF Image Design. I’m looking forward to being his second shooter in just a couple weeks!

This is one of my favorite shots of the day just because you can see the snow still falling. It’s so pretty!
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
And here was Jeremy’s view just a couple seconds earlier.
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Here’s a shot of Jeremy’s using the aforementioned breezeway. :)
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Normally snow is somewhat of a nuisance, but it was so new and fresh that day and the first big snow for Champaign for the year, that it was just perfect. It made for some amazing wedding images. I am so thrilled that Lindsey + Chris were such troopers and let us spend so much time outside in it!
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Married!
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris didn’t see each other before the ceremony, so before we took off in the party bus, we took them back out to the breezeway for a few more shots. So glad we did!
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
We (well, I) wanted to use the ampitheater at Krannert for some shots, but there was just way too much snow to deal with, so we just stood away from it a bit.
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Look at these maids-of-honor extraordinaire! They were freezing their behinds off to be at the bride’s every beck and call. That is how it’s done!
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
While I was out with the wedding party, Jeremy was getting a few shots of the beautiful reception room including this snowflake covered cake.
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Greg from Bugbee’s DJ Plus kept people of all ages on the dance floor all night. I have so much fun photographing the guests dancing lately. I have been getting some real doozies!
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL
Lindsey + Chris | Holy Cross & Hilton winter wedding | Champaign, IL

Vendors
Ceremony: Holy Cross Catholic Church, Champaign
Reception: Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign
Coordinator: Nuptiae, Gwen Wilson
DJ: Bugbee’s DJ Plus, Greg Bugbee
Florist: English Hedgerow, Urbana
Cake: The Cake Artist’s Studio, Champaign
Bride’s Dress: Bella Bridal, St. Charles, IL
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxes: Michelle’s Bridal/Jim’s Formal Wear, Urbana, IL
Linens: I Do Events, Peoria
Paper goods (invitations, menus, etc): More Than Memories (MTM), Schaumburg
Limo: Starr Limos
Videographer: Joe Harmon
Photographer: Holly Birch Photography
Second shooter: Jeremy Fenelon, JF Image Design

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Best of 2010 | Wedding images

I was lucky enough to photograph 17 weddings in 2010! Here are some of my absolute favorite images from each one. And let me tell you, it was NOT easy narrowing it down to just one for each wedding!

Cara + Josh:
HBP_0561_blog bw
Married at University Place Christian Church, reception at The Refinery, both in Champaign

Leann+ Wes:
Leann+Wes
Married in Hillsboro, IL, reception in Gillespie, IL

Khamsay + Amit:
Khamsay + Amit | Champaign wedding
Married in Abu Dhabi, reception at CityView in Champaign

Kinnerly + Matt:
Kinnerly+Matt | Lake of the Woods wedding photographer
Ceremony & reception at Lake of the Woods Pavilion, Mahomet

Kim + Brian:
Kim + Brian | Champaign wedding photographer
Married at First United Methodist Church in Urbana, reception at Hawthorn Suites, Champaign

Lauren + Grant:
Lauren + Grant | Memorial Stadium wedding photography
Married at University Place Christian Church, reception at Memorial Stadium, University of Illinois, Champaign

Sallie + Nick:
Sallie + Nick | Faith United Methodist wedding photographer
Married at Faith United Methodist Church, reception at Jupiter’s at the Crossing in Champaign

Michelle + Chris:
Michelle + Chris | Laborer's Union Hall Urbana wedding photographer
Married at Community Free Church in Mahomet, reception at Laborer’s Union Hall in Urbana

Melissa + Kyle:
Melissa + Kyle | St. Matthew Church wedding + reception | Champaign, IL
Ceremony & reception at St. Matthew Catholic Parish in Champaign

Lindsey + Sam:
Lindsey + Sam | Allerton + Memorial Stadium wedding
Married at Allerton Park in Monticello, reception at Memorial Stadium in Champaign

Katie + TJ:
Katie + TJ | Champaign Hilton wedding
Married at St. John’s Catholic Church, reception at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign

Julie + Josh:
Julie + Josh | Starved Rock State Park Wedding
Ceremony & reception at Starved Rock State Park & Lodge in Utica, IL

Haley + George:
HBP_4128
Ceremony & reception at private residence in rural Urbana

Elizabeth + Clark:
Elizabeth + Clark | Ivesdale + Bement wedding photography
Married at St. Joseph Catholic Church and Parish in Ivesdale

Sarah + Kevin:
Sarah+Kevin | University of Illinois Arboretum wedding
Married at the University of Illinois Arboretum (Hartley Gardens), reception at Kennedy’s at Stone Creek in Urbana

Elizabeth + Mark:
Elizabeth + Mark | CityView Illinois Terminal Wedding, Champaign IL
Married at First Baptist Church in Savoy, reception at CityView in Champaign

Lindsey + Chris:
Lindsey + Chris | Champaign Hilton & Holy Cross wedding
Married at Holy Cross Catholic Church, reception at Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign

It’s funny looking back over these how I went all of over the map as far as temperature extremes go. I worked through 100-degree heat for an outdoor wedding in August, to fresh snowfall and below freezing temperatures for a December wedding. There was also one wedding where it rained most of the day and at the 11th hour, the entire congregation was moved quickly outdoors to indoors. We just rolled with the punches though, and got great images all along the way!

I also want to give a shoutout to all my 2nd shooters/assistants/job shadowers for 2010. You all made my job easier and we’re good sports throughout! Thanks so much for your love of photography and weddings, for helping me out, and for your passion to learn more! Here’s to James, Dylan, Kara, Tricia, Laura, & Jeremy!

I still have about half my calendar open for weddings in 2011, so if you happen to get engaged over the holidays, give me a call or shoot me an email right away! I think it will fill up quickly after the first of the year!

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Christmas Deadline + Canvas Sale!

Holly Birch Photography is offering a sale TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY 12/16 ONLY! Order any canvas and get 10% off. Offer is not available on my retail site at this time, so please email me your canvas order by sending me the photo file name and the size of canvas you want. **Canvases may not be in before Christmas, but if they are I will notify you ASAP so you can pick it up. All out-of-town orders will be shipped at a flat rate of $7!

The ordering deadline to receiving prints, books or cards before Christmas is also this THURSDAY, 12/16! Thanks!

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Boudoir marathon sessions coming in January to Champaign

Click on over to the Holly Birch Photography boudoir site for an exciting announcement! It may be just the treat you’re looking for to surprise your sweetie this upcoming Valentine’s Day. I don’t have anymore boudoir session appointments available in 2010, but I have plenty of spots open in 2011. There are also a couple more blog posts up featuring recent sessions, and I will be posting a couple more within the next few weeks!

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Lindsey + Chris | Champaign Hilton wedding sneak peek

Lindsey + Chris | Champaign Hilton & Holy Cross wedding
What, may you ask, did I do to deserve a snowball being thrown at me and my beloved Nikon? Well, the wedding party wanted a snowball fight, and to get good pictures of said snowball fight, I had to get right in the thick of it. No cameras were harmed in the making of this image!

I just loved Lindsey + Chris’s winter wedding so much but I won’t have all of my images edited for a couple weeks yet so here is a sneak peek. Their wedding was held at Holy Cross in Champaign–LOVE the courtyard/breezeway there for portraits! Then after the ceremony, we rode the party bus around for a few stops for pictures before heading to the Hilton for the reception. Thank you, Lindsey + Chris for letting us parade you around in the snow!!!
Lindsey + Chris | Champaign Hilton & Holy Cross wedding
Gorgeous bouquet (as always!) by English Hedgerow:
Lindsey + Chris | Champaign Hilton & Holy Cross wedding
Lindsey + Chris | Champaign Hilton & Holy Cross wedding
Lindsey + Chris | Champaign Hilton & Holy Cross wedding

Full blog post coming soon!

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