A Festive Chicago North Avenue Pier Queer Couple’s Portrait with Rescue Dog

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A Festive Chicago North Avenue Pier Queer Couple’s Portrait with Rescue Dog

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Published on Chi Thee Wed!

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About North Avenue Pier in Chicago, IL

THE PORTRAIT SESSION LOCATION

One of the most classic Chicago photography locations, North Avenue Pier has a stunning view of the Chicago city skyline. It is just a little bit north of the downtown loop area so it makes it really accessible via public transit. The pier connects to a great beach area and the Lakefront Trail. To avoid the crowds, come at sunrise, otherwise the sunset is gorgeous as well. With the sun setting just behind all the buildings to the west of the pier, you get some fantastic filtered light passing through.

Meet the Couple

MEET RAY (THEY/THEM) & LEON (THEY/THEM)

Ray, a wedding videographer through their business Replogle Studios, is no stranger to love and documenting love stories. This time though, it was their love that was highlighted. For their holiday card, Ray and Leon wanted festive family portraits featuring them and their four-legged family Pockets the rescue dog. They will be offering these cards to their loved ones and they have started another new tradition together by asking friends & family to send them ornaments that they think they would like. Whether the ornaments directly remind them of the couple, or they’re just for fun, each one will forever remind them of the friend who gifted it.

Dressed in coordinating 50s vintage long coats, they were not only fashionable but also warm for their winter Chicago session at North Avenue Pier. To not only celebrate their love for each other, but also for their love of their home city, the couple wanted to really take advantage of the iconic Chicago location for their portraits. It was a beautiful winter evening full of that anticipatory holiday season cheer.

The Meet-Cute

WEDDING PARTY MEMBER MEETS WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER

Leon attended their friends’ wedding as a member of the wedding party. It was already an exciting time for them to celebrate their friends’ love. Ray, on the other hand, had a great couple to film and document their day. They were on their A-game and focused on being a great wedding vendor. Little did Ray know, Leon was immediately smitten. (There may have been a wingman by the name of alcohol involved, we’ll never tell). Completely oblivious to Leon’s flirting and attention, Ray just thought they were super nice. Fast forward to now, they have moved in together, are dog dads together, and will be celebrating their first Christmas full of their friends’ gifted ornaments. Soon they’ll be moving into a brand new place to begin a whole new chapter of life together.

About Their Four-Legged Family

MEET POCKETS (HE/HIM) THE RESCUE DOG: PROFESSIONAL PINTO BEAN

Through Ray’s local theatre organization, they worked with a local animal rescue to help get more adoptions in the area. Pockets, the pocket-sized Chihuahua/Terrier mix, immediately caught Ray’s attention and they knew they were going to be lifelong family. Before Ray officially moved to Chicago, Pockets came along with them on their many temporary visits so that by the time it came to be a full time venture, Pockets was already acclimated to being a city dog.

Pockets adores the sand and took much needed photo breaks to chase his fabric disc across the North Avenue Beach. When not unleashing his energy on the beach, Pockets can be found being carried around in one of his parents’ backpacks while they bike around the city (wishing he could just run alongside them).

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The Creative Team

Photography | Mei Lin Barral Photography
Location | North Avenue Pier/Beach in Chicago, IL

Ray’s Chicago LGBTQ+ Wedding Videography: Replogle Studios!