Portfolio sites are cool, and you’re more than welcome to take a look at Jay’s full wedding and portrait photography portfolio by CLICKING HERE.  However, if you’re looking for the most recent up-to-date content from Jay, be sure to bookmark this blog and check back often.

If you clicked on this page for Jay’s “official” bio, here ya go (but if you’d like some more “real” info about Jay, just scroll down a bit):

Jay’s photography career began with a focus on sports action photography and photojournalism news coverage.  His work has been published in a variety of national publications including Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, The Sporting News, and USA Today.

Despite having the “privilege” of constant travel, meeting and photographing interesting and dynamic figures, and a front row seat at some of the biggest sporting events in the county, Jay’s work has now taken a new path, applying that same curiosity and energy towards documenting the intimate beauty and connections of your wedding day and family life.

Interactions between brides and grooms, mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, fathers and sons are no different than a football player scoring a touchdown, or a basketball player scoring the winning goal.  They’re all fleeting and spontaneous moments that gain a timeless life of their own through photography.

Jay is a proud member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), as well as an award winning member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA), and the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP).  Jay also generously donates his time and service to non-profit causes such as the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Flashes of Hope.

Jay and his wife, Amy, live in the Chicago area with their two sons, Jack and Conner, and their Border Terrier, Otis.

That’s the official Bio, if you’re like to learn a bit more about jay, keep reading for a few more interesting facts in Jay’s own words……

25 Things
In order to let you know a bit more about me other than the the fact that I’m some random guy who takes pictures of pretty brides and cute kids, here are 25 things that I love as well as 25 things that I can’t stand……

I love….
1. My wife Amy and Sons Jack and Conner, even though Jack’s precocious 3 year old personality makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes!
2. Still, clear, quiet, cold nights outside. Like really cold, so cold that when you breathe out you think your breath is going to crystallize in mid air. Add any hint of wind though…..different story.
3. People who are always trying to be part of the solution to problems.
4. Riding my bike on a crisp fall morning in the country.
5. Downtown Chicago at night.
6. A perfectly struck golf tee shot (doesn’t happen very often).
7. Spicy wings and cheddar chips from Buffalo Joes in Evanston.
8. Driving through the Napa Valley tasting wine. Well, not tasting WHILE driving, but you get the idea.
9. The way our dog, Otis, cocks his head to the side when he looks at you.
10. Lionel trains.
11. Curious George.
12. Listening to novels as audiobooks and trying to visualize the stories as movies, trying to decide which actors would be good for certain roles, visualizing where to stage certain scenes.
13. Storytelling based singer/songwriters….lately people like Five for Fighting and  Mark Schultz .

14. Road trips.

15. When my Son points to a picture of Big Bird or Elmo holding a camera and says “Da-Da.”
17. My clients.
18. “The Office.”19. Just about anything on the Discovery, History, or Military channels.
20. The smell of whole bean coffee immediately after it’s been ground.
21. Most foods that will clog your arteries and raise your cholesterol. Some people have a sweet tooth….I have a grease tooth.
22. Cherry, grape, orange Tootsie Pops.
23. Old school “90210″ not that new stuff…

.I can’t believe I actually used the phrase “old school” in conjunction with 90210!
24. Being able to figure things out on my own no matter how long it takes and/or wastes.
25. Receiving comments on my blog *hint* *hint* *wink* *wink*

I’m not so fond of….

1. Impatient people.
2. Wind chill.
3. Humidity.
4. Coffee drinks that you need a translator to order properly.
5. Mayonnaise.
6. Post-it notes.
7. Negative vibes.
8. Shoveling snow.
9. Yard work.
10. Hospitals. I don’t know why, but they seriously give me the creeps.
11. Television shows/channels that are not high-definition.
12. Paying any kind of Illinois state tax or fee that supports a government as corrupt as Illinois’.
13. The electoral college.
14. The stupid dancing robot character on Fox NFL games….what does a robot have to do with football?
15. Being a fan of Chicago sports teams….they all are terrible and not worth watching, but yet I continue to watch?

16. The way actors in movies hold coffee cups that are supposed to be full as if there’s nothing in them…..at least ACT like there’s hot liquid that will spill all over when you flail it around like a conductors baton!17. When my Son points to a picture of Telly (the fat, grumpy, worry-wart muppett) and says “Da-Da”
18. Heidi and Spencer.
19. Decaf. Coffee.
20. Most movies and TV shows that my wife likes to watch, which usually ends up being most of the shows on TLC such as “19 kids and Counting,” “Hoarders,” “The Little People,”
21. Going to the gym only to find the Food Network on the TV…I don’t understand the point of working out while watching someone prepare fattening food…just seems a bit counterproductive.
22. Chocolate Tootsie Pops.
23. Life moving too fast.
24. Drivers who find it cute to “buzz the tower” when I’m out riding my road bike by passing dangerously close, only to pull up next to them at the next stoplight…..since you’re stopped at the light…did you really pick up any time by almost killing me?

25. The sound of a vacuum cleaner that I’m not the one operating….it’s like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Thanks for visiting, please come back often!

Or even better…forget what Jay has to say about himself……see what others are saying!