Stephen Narens Photographer from Wheeling, IL

Hello, my name is Stephen Narens and I have been photographing events since 1980. I wanted to take this opportunity to reach out to you to tell you a little bit about myself and my company. People say we are born into our future, and since I've held my first Kodak Brownie camera at age ten I would have to agree. I have watched my grandfather and my uncle, both photo enthusiasts, at the art of recording their families' memories. I have trained under some of Chicago's premier photographers, Phil Farber, Brian Kaplan, and Joel Schachtel, learned from all of them, and developed my own style and techniques. Each of my associate photographers share this same passion as I do. No mater what associate professional photographer that covers your event, be assured you will be very happy. I normally handle all the temple photographs during the week personally. I count myself as one of the luckiest people in the world, as I get to capture and share with people the proudest and most loving moments of their lives. The look of a mother as she zips up her daughter's wedding dress and hands her the bouquet they picked out together. The love and desire in the groom eyes when he sees her in that dress before they leave the hotel. Their best friends toasting to their life together at their most perfectly chosen reception. The smile on the face of the Bat Mitzvah girl as she dances with her best girlfriends and that one cute boy she likes. The pride on a father's face as he welcomes his son into manhood in the temple that he himself was once a boy. On location or in the studio, focused on creating artistic images, we connect instantly with my clients. They feel the connection, too, and our images are, indeed, art. I am passionate about creating outstanding photos and love the relationships developed with people – the trust, instant feedback while shooting, and satisfaction of clients cherishing the experience together and the final product they hold in their hands. I've won many awards for the technical merits of my work, but the long-lasting client relationships last much longer than the medals. My wife, children, family, and friends – these are what mean the most to me, and they make my career even more meaningful. I've always been passionate in life, about my art and business, but today these mean so much more because they represent the pride I take every day in making my family proud and setting an outstanding example for them. That pride drives me to find even better angles, see the perfect light, smile after the 11th hour, and please my clients. Enjoy your day and thank you for your time. Stephen Narens Narens Photography