My Big Fat NATO Wedding

Finally, I'm getting around to pulling up pictures from a wedding shoot that was in downtown Chicago during the NATO conference. I anticipated absolute chaos for this event. I was cringing when I heard each news report and hype about street closings, and I so fretted for this event as there was no limit to what logistical mishaps were potentially possible for ruining the happy couple's big day.  


There was absolutely no street parking, no parking in garages, and no bags allowed on any CTA or Metra public transportation. I was scheduled to meet the groomsmen at the W Hotel on West Adams St. by 11:00 a.m. to snap a few shots of them getting ready, and thankfully I had no problems with the cab ride in to get there and made it in 20 minutes early. :)

Prior to the conference, I looked up the media requirements out of curiosity. NATO events were happening along Lake Shore Drive and I couldn't resist day dreaming about getting a once-in-a-a-lifetime picture of a bride and groom touting peace signs and posing with a handful of well-wishing world leaders in front of their motor brigade.....that didn't happen. 

There was no hustle bustle of crowded streets on a nice summer day. In fact, it felt more like a ghost town. Police officers and national security officials we're clustered on corners every two blocks throughout the downtown area. We went to our next location on the Wacker.- LaSalle St. bridge to take a few more photos of the guys at the river walk and "first look" shots of the bride and groom. 










The only problem was that there were so many officers on bikes that they kept riding through the back ground of the pictures.  This was pretty intimidating. During these wedding events I have no problem asking people to move and directing them out of the shot, but seriously now, what photographer do you know is going to ask patrolling cops to move while they are on duty, during NATO? No way! That's what Photoshop is for! 

All in all it was a beautiful couple and a beautiful wedding. They had a lot of fun and NATO's events and protestors were hardly noticed. We we're shuttled out of the city by 2:00pm so that they wouldn't get caught in  the fights and rants of the 2,000+ protesters that demonstrated. Now that was smart planning!