Springtime! Outdoor Photoshoots! Fun Props! With Jennifer Baird and Elizabeth McQuern!

These are from a photoshoot last Spring, when I had a longtime friend (and the person who's hired me the most times to do her headshots - we think it's either 6 or 7 times), Chicago writer and comedian Jennifer Baird.

My frequent creative partner Kristin's sophisticated, intricate papercraft had inspired me to at least try to make simple props with simple materials, and I thought this would be a good time to try using props outdoors for the first time.

In this case, it was simple construction paper hearts taped onto popsicle sticks, and some artificial rose petal props I thought we could have throwing into the air, but I loved the effect.

It showed off Jennifer's playfulness and spontaneity, as well as her tattooes. ::emoticon wink::

These photos were a gift for her grandmother, and we wanted them to be cute, light, airy, and playful. Jennifer's comedy experience and our longtime rapport made things that much easier.

Once again, I used my favorite Chicago public park, named Loyola, which has sloping hills, gorgeous green space, benches, a beach, a colorful mural bench that runs for maybe 1/8 mile, a freshly remodeled playground, and lots of character.

I use this park so much I know where all the sweet spots are - benches with beautiful backgrounds, shady spots under the trees, and I even know where the light will be at certain times of day.

The Golden Hour for Loyola Beach Park is in the morning, when the sun comes peeking up over the horizon 6:30 AM as I type this.

In the evening, the last few streaks of sunlight peeking through tall buildings from the West also creates interesting light patterns on my subjects, and even if I need a little help with secondary light with my flash on a low setting, and I like experimenting with that, too.

Since we seem to have skipped winter this year almost altogether, I'm hoping to start booking outdoor photoshoots soon. Hey, how about YOU?

Thanks to Jennifer Baird, and feel free to peruse more of my work at elizabethmcquern.com.

Hey Dancin'!

Another new thing I did! I was the director on this video. I wish I could say I did the editing on this short-but-awesome promo, but in fact the shooting and editing wizardry is compliments of Mike Tutaj, who is marvelously creative in countless art forms.

A few weeks ago Sarah Rose Graber and the Factory Theater folks had Mike and me come hang out with the cast of Hey Dancin', a new play about a 1986 Chicago cable access dance show, and shoot this promo. So fun.

My pix from Peek-a-Boo: An Ooky Spooky Halloween Burlesque Revue

The show is at the Greenhouse Theater in Chicago, all this month! Full Flickr set here:

Mr. Bones, AKA Chris Biddle:



Naughty Natanya:





Siren Jinx:





Natasha Minsk:









Dr. Acula:



Very Bond girl-y!

Sarah Haskins, David Cross at the Late Night Late Show Just For Laughs reunion show

Chicago comedy is still recovering a bit from the week of awesome that was the Just For Laughs festival. Big names came in, and lots of our local pals (including 4-5 of my show's cast) got some stage time at some fantastic showcases. After the two super fun Don't Spit the Water shows Saturday night (pics to come, see 'em on Flickr sans commentary if you want), a bunch of us rode up the street to iO, where they were having a special reunion show for the Late Night Late Show.

The Del Close theater was packed full of more people I've ever seen in there before, with extra rows of chairs in front of the stage and bar. Everyone was excited about the show's special guest, Bob Odenkirk - except he didn't show up, but David Cross was there instead! He was really cool and (of course) funny. He did a recurring bit where the host would ask him to tell the audience what his upcoming book was about (or whatever), and he'd go up and down the rows, briefly explaining it to every individual person. He did it several times and the audience was nerding out at the concept of David Cross interacting with them. When he got to me, he described Arrested Development by saying "It was a show, with people, and comedy..." then he moved on.

Another special guest, for whom the audience woo'd and cheered like mad, was Sarah Haskins, Chicago native and writer/star of the excellent, excellent "Target Women" videos on Current tv. So smart and funny, and so nice. I interviewed her for the Bastion awhile back, and said a quick hello to her right before the show started. After three comedy shows in one night, and knowing I'd need to spend all of the following Sunday writing, I started to wind down at 1:30 am and left the show before it was over, heading home on my bike. Bryan stuck around and ended up joining Sarah and a bunch of our mutual friends for a spontaneous party until the wee hours of the morning. Of course! I always miss all the fun. Anyway, some of my pics:

Sarah Haskins and Steve Waltien:


Seth Weitberg and David Cross:


Seth Weitberg, David Cross, and Jordan Klepper:


And, just for fun, one of my favorite Target Women videos:

My Pix from The Lincoln Lodge, March 12, 2009

All pix by me, full set here.

Allison Leber, looking the shiniest and prettiest I've ever seen her. She's moving to LA in six weeks and we're all going to miss her tremendously. She's incredibly warm and caring, besides being marvelous onstage.


Bryan was doing man on the street as Timekeeper Willis (a character who wears no shirt) and it was 20-23 degrees last night. I held his sweatshirt between segments. We rode our bikes there, too. My nostrils are still semi-frozen.


Reilly Lambert behind the camera:


Eliot Rahal - could he be more photogenic? He'll always be Han Solo to me.


Joe Kilgallon - it was "good looking Chicago dudes" night at the Lodge:


Marty DeRosa is a favorite cutie of several girls I know - he does a lot of funny things with his mouth, this is one of them:


The Listening Zoo:


Mikey Manker - I don't know how it's possible, but he looks like a cross between Joe Kilgallon and Marty DeRosa:


CAKE!:


Lincolns, Lincolns, Lincolns:


Comedy tonite:

My Write-Up of Big Jones Restaurant on Chicago Metblog

I just posted this review of Big Jones restaurant on Chicago Metblog. Long story short: YUM.

My Pix From the Feb. 7 Maria Bamford Show at the Lakeshore Theater

All pix by me, full set here. This was Saturday night, and it was great fun. Dan and Adam had the audience in the palm of their hands! Bryan and I sat with Dan's wife Victoria up front so I could take pix (thanks, Tony Blanco!), but we also met up with Keith, Crank, Katie, Nellie, and Teresa. Watching my comedy BFF's open for our comedy hero (to a wildly appreciative audience, no less) was a thrill. Also, thanks to the Lakeshore Theater for giving me and Bryan "anniversary of our first date" passes to the show. Ritter and Blanco, merci.

Maria Bamford




Dan Telfer




Adam Burke




Tony Blanco and audience members

My Pix of the Feb 4 Young Chicago Authors' Encyclopedia Show at Chopin Theater

(All pix by me, full set here.)

My Chicago Underground Comedy co-producer Dan Telfer (who's opening for Maria Bamford at the Lakeshore Theater this weekend, holy crap!) has a little brother named Robbie Q. Telfer. Robbie is a big-deal slam poet and writer and works with Young Chicago Authors. Last night was the third installation of his and Shanny Jean Maney's monthly Encyclopedia Show, which is a great fun. Each show has a theme -- this one was the visual spectrum -- and each performer has written five minutes of material on the theme. (Except for hyper-achiever Dan, who writes, designs, and publishes an original book on each theme!)

Performers include kids associated with the YCA who have already cut their teeth at competitive poetry slams, and Chicago creative notables including writers, poets, visual artists and musicians. The show was really fun, and funny, and there were lots of hilarious and poignant moments throughout the night. If you're looking for a night of invigorating creativity and lots of laughs, I highly recommend heading to the Chopin Theater for the next show.

Robbie Q. Telfer and Shanny Jean Maney


Dan Telfer


Shadell Jamison


Jilted Emily Rose


Leena Trevedi-Grenier


Robbie Q. Telfer and Shanny Jean Maney


Joel Chmara


Annalissia-Kiana "KeeKey" Itson


Cameron McGill


Robbie Q. Telfer


Jonathan Messinger


Alex Petruszak


slam poetry legend Marc Smith




Final bow