A Week with Rodney Smith

Even before I became a photographer, I would stare endlessly at beautiful images… mesmerized by the magic that is a well composed and thoughtful photograph.  This habit became almost an obsession when I started my journey as an amateur photographer, and one of the names I happened upon during my visual journey was RODNEY SMITH. Mr. Smith, as he is known, seemed to take everything I was feeling in my soul and put it on a film negative.  I was at once in love and in pain… haunted by the beauty captured by him.

ALL IMAGES BY RODNEY SMITH

Pinch me I’m dreaming… but this week I get to spend four days in New York learning from a living legend and my photographic idol, Rodney Smith. I’m hoping to come away, sprinkled with just a bit of photographic fairy dust… even if it is just silver halide from the film inside his Hasselblad.

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Melyn - Wow, Kina, that is so awesome. I can only begin to imagine how excited you are. I would probably feel the same if I had a chance to learn from some of my photography idols. Thank you for introducing me to a new one today. Mr. Smith’s photography is, indeed, incredible.

Anna - How wonderful! I love his images too and I’m happy you will have an opportunity to meet Rodney and learn from him!!! Have a great trip Kina!!!

Simone Anne - Ahhh! That is so exciting! Congrats :)

Julia & Jonathan- NYC Engagement

Isn’t spring the perfect time for LOVE? Spring and love is a combination akin to peanut butter and jelly, ice cream and hot fudge, cheese and wine… OK, now I’m just hungry, but you get the picture! Something about photographing couple in the spring surrounded by soft blooms and even softer light just gets me. It takes the way I feel about love and brings the dream to reality right before my eyes. Julia & Jonathan were so fun to work with. They participated in a shoot at the Jen Huang Workshop last year in NYC and since they had recently gotten engaged, the timing was perfect!

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Laura - SO incredibly lovely! :)

It Had to Be You


I wandered around, and finally found – the somebody who
Could make me be true, and could make me be blue
And even be glad, just to be sad – thinking of you
Some others I’ve seen, might never be mean
Might never be cross, or try to be boss, but they wouldn’t do
For nobody else, gave me a thrill – with all your faults, I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you

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Jessica Oh - just perfect. so sweet + romantic <3

Salvage One- Spring Wedding Inspiration

I can’t believe it’s already May! I have been basking in the delicious light and warmth that May 1st brought on it’s wings yesterday… that’s for sure! I’m also so excited that May means the start of full fledged wedding season for me! From now on, I barely have a free weekend until November, and you know what? Bring it ON!! I can’t wait.

Another of the glories ushered in by spring are the soft hues that start to creep into our world again. It’s all so fresh after the winter gray and brings a renewed sense of happiness into my soul. To celebrate the my favorite season, I collaborated with some incredible vendors to capture a spring wedding inspiration “scape” at the amazing Salvage One.

Thank you Your Stylist AJ,  Shannon O’brien Makeup Artist, Eva’s Bridals of Oak Lawn, Ipomea Floral, and our lovely model, Meredith Gilbertson, for lending your amazing talents to this shoot!

Florals: Ipomea Floral

Hair: Your Stylist AJ

Makeup: Shannon O’brien Makeup Artist

Gown: Private Label, Eva’s Bridal of Oak Lawn

Venue: Salvage One

Model: Meredith Gilbertson

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Nicole - Kina!!!! These are stunning!!! You outdid yourself my friend!!! I just LOVE love love your work!!

Sheila - These images are spectacular! It was a wonderful day and so fun to work with you. Amanda, thanks for the compliments! The hanging florals smelt so incredible! :)

Kelly nevitt - Simply beautiful!!!!

Amanda - Gorgeous! And that hanging floral piece is amazingggg!

Allison & Craig – Belle Mer – Part Two

Earlier this week I blogged the FILM images from a gorgeous wedding I second shot for alongside Mandy Mayberry Photography in Newport, Rhode Island at Belle Mer.  You can see the post HERE, and read all about this fabulous couple.  This day was so special, I really can’t get enough of it, so I decided to extend the love and blog some of my favorite digital images from the day as well today<3 I hope you enjoy the love permeating this day as much as I did.  XOXO

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Urška Majer - Such a beautiful wedding! Love the tones!

Rachel - What a beautiful wedding, I’m obsessed with her bouquet!!

Allison + Craig – Belle Mer – Part One

What a blessing to be able to travel to Rhode Island and shoot a wedding with Mandy Mayberry Photography.  Mandy is just a special person… sweet, UBER talented and so fun.  I had a blast hanging out and during the wedding… I only wish she lived next door to me and we could shoot together all the time!  Mandy shoots film, so I got to shoot film all day.  You can imagine the joy in my heart.  The feeling I get when I shoot film is a feeling of oneness with my art.  I feel thoughtful, I feel in control, and I feel mostly as if the medium I am using is like having high quality oil paints instead of cheap acrylics while painting a masterpiece… just ahhhh.  The colors, the grain, the bit of imperfection… my heart almost can’t take it!  What you see above are all shot on my Mamiya 645 & Canon 1N with a mixture of Fuji 400h, Ilford 3200 and Tmax 3200.  I will be doing another blog post with my digital images from the day next week!

The couple, Alison + Craig, have a connection that was truly incredible to behold.  They must have smiled from ear to ear when they were together EVERY . MOMENT . OF . THE . DAY.  I couldn’t help but fall in love with their energy after spending a day with them.  Of course, the wedding had to be epic… their engagement went VIRAL after Craig proposed with a flash mob AND a marching band in New York City.  Want to see?  I thought you’d ask;)

I mean C’MON!!!!  I am not ashamed… I cried watching this video. haha  Mandy, thanks again for asking me to come along on such a special day.  Allison + Craig, I have a feeling you’re going to have an amazing life together.

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Alison & Craig – Belle Mer – Digital » Kina Wicks Photography . Fine Art Weddings & Portraits . Chicago & Destination - [...] alongside Mandy Mayberry Photography in Newport, Rhode Island at Belle Mer.  You can see the post HERE, and read all about this fabulous couple.  This day was so special, I really can’t get [...]

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