Wherever I am, there’s usually a camera nearby. Because I’m a photographer. And a model. And so, this blog is a collection of some of my work on both sides of the camera (peppered with some musings and reveries). Please check out my complete photography portfolio at: www.petraford.com. (*Wondering where my “HOME” button is? Click on my name, above. Voila.*) var sc_project=6095434; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="998eaff2"; Tumblr (3.0; @petraford)http://petraford.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/86ed0e211cc8db4af619533cece85a7c/tumblr_mm9z81Dlh21qd2w4to1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Caught in the act <strong><em>doing that thing I do</em></strong></p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/49589539548http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/49589539548Sat, 04 May 2013 08:09:00 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/3c95bd4963c9cbe73e943351390b7a09/tumblr_mm4xihVHsH1qd2w4to1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Behind the scenes snapshot from Sunday’s (super fun) shoot with photographer Ashton Ray Hansen. Can’t wait to see the photos!</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/49377810792http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/49377810792Wed, 01 May 2013 14:44:00 -0500Chicago fashion models<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/948e1d9aa1706a9396a38ccde36d70a6/tumblr_mm4xypMKku1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I first met Adam two years ago while shooting some modeling photos for his portfolio with Chosen Mgmt. I was flattered and honored a year later when he asked me to shoot his engagement portraits with his fiancee Carolyn….and even more honored when they asked me to be their wedding photographer for their nuptials this past weekend.</p> <p>This is one of my favorite moments from their big day… </p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/49378499284http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/49378499284Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500Chicago wedding photographerPetra Ford wedding photography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/786bdab41d8e1f5e51b64724edb56390/tumblr_mlo8t1TXOb1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Such a sweet email I just got in my inbox from an actress/dancer whose headshots I photographed recently. Especially sweet because our shoot was a couple of months ago and she had already thanked me nicely before.</p> <p>Stuff like this totally makes my day! Thanks, Derin!</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/48629648601http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/48629648601Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:29:25 -0500thank you note<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/90e4d3ab51351e64e59faf16bfc7026e/tumblr_ml1qpdjdtl1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Behind the scenes snap from a modeling job I did this week for a furniture catalogue</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/47625049152http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/47625049152Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:51:13 -0500Whenever I see other photographers out in the field, I realize that I&#8217;m probably the only one...http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/46981251089http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/46981251089Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:48:00 -0500camera casecamera musing<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/e7a7621c66c424f27eadb78e7b826ae0/tumblr_mke318fthj1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Yeah.</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/46533293434http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/46533293434Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:15:08 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/ac9095040ef1cd3ca3b1ea261540ab34/tumblr_mkbvpeViSL1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>©Petra Ford 2013, <a href="http://www.petraford.com" target="_blank">www.petraford.com</a></p> <p>Another great shoot with the talented new artists at Media Makeup Academy!</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/46428413890http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/46428413890Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:41:37 -0500Chicago fashion photographerChicago beauty photographerPetra Ford Photography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/74ca03bd5462672bcbdf7a71e7d1e9c1/tumblr_mkqpdms2x21qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>My friend Elias and I after a recent shoot for Budweiser.</p> <p>Without giving anything away….look for our faces during the ‘Made in America’ music tour this summer!</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/47115843119http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/47115843119Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/3388507c52f3ef340022a709d77b4b73/tumblr_mjj10gMI1T1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Self-portrait, March 2013</p> <p>(Totally hiding a terrible haircut I got today for a modeling job)</p> <p><a href="http://www.petraford.com" target="_blank">www.petraford.com</a></p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/45161610619http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/45161610619Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:45:52 -0500self-portrait<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/cbd6a45a1e60c9637c2119ff0fe05bd2/tumblr_mjapdxxNJp1qd2w4to1_500.png"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/15f500ff22790f74861b4810fc289b6a/tumblr_mjapdxxNJp1qd2w4to2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>With my friends Eileen and Chernise at last Thursday’s <em>Project Captured: The Invited</em> event.</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/44784872563http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/44784872563Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:53:55 -0600Chicago fashion scene<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/3a148304e5e3adfed8282ee7029ce2d6/tumblr_mj72r8T7jA1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>©Petra Ford Photography, <a href="http://www.petraford.com" target="_blank">www.petraford.com</a></p> <p>Hair/makeup: Mary Guthrie</p> <p>Model: Chloe @ Factor Women</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/44631628686http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/44631628686Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:52:00 -0600Chicago fashion photographerChicago black and white fashion photographyChloe Factor Women<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/a733e7e08235497b7ee33d9888b6e2d3/tumblr_mj3cmmQ5Uf1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This one seems appropriate for a lazy Sunday morning. Not trying to say much here other than, “Smile” :D</p> <p>©Petra Ford, Copenhagen, 2012</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/44458015739http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/44458015739Sun, 03 Mar 2013 09:35:00 -0600dog in window<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/f1701913f32ce3744feab426d59d18f1/tumblr_miusynF0Px1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Found this one on my hard drive, where it’s been collecting cyber dust for the past two years. Kinda dig it though.</p> <p>Alex @ Chosen Mgmt<br/>Photographed by ©Petra Ford, <a href="http://www.petraford.com" target="_blank">www.petraford.com</a> </p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/44101537955http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/44101537955Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:49:35 -0600Chicago model photographerPetra Ford photographyChicago male model<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/24/olivier-voisin-dead-syria_n_2754162.html">R.I.P. Olivier Voisin, Photojournalist </a>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43927565302http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43927565302Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:06:00 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/888daeef73238e53d67fc09ddd078390/tumblr_mimn0gE1kr1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f9789402354ebfa427654145b83d714e/tumblr_mimn0gE1kr1qd2w4to2_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>I love it when aspiring models bring tons of energy and totally nail their first shoot!</p> <p>Nick Rizzo, photographed by ©Petra Ford</p> <p><a href="http://www.petraford.com" title="Petra Ford Photography" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.petraford.com" target="_blank">www.petraford.com</a></a></p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43724298215http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43724298215Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:00:00 -0600Chicago model photographermodel test chicagoPetra Ford photography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/31b009ab1965353f811063540745a403/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/07b8962858f960a469f070d4d5e77d9b/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to2_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/317b8d9391099bc2824baa2ba061977b/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/60b01a3b6d9b4e1d450aadd52eb0831e/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/5550658cf12cd4aad00b41526be3bf75/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a30c59d2e9e9197d9a6762a01dde2276/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c8f4f44dca4038e3f7529757e38d5562/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/e3ab40836776d731becae340919c5ce6/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to8_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/72e17f577c312f1cec2c3abe4c1e4eaf/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to9_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/22f8a2a14bae29933cba634849623dc6/tumblr_mijayuVuir1qd2w4to10_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>My boyfriend lost his uncle Tim, his hero, this month.<br/>While cleaning out his office he came across Tim’s old slides, which chronicle his life in the ’70s, including his trip around the globe with his wife. </p> <p>There are several hundred—probably thousands—of slides, and we’ve only had a chance to look through a few dozen so far. But what we’re finding is FANTASTIC. These snapshots of a few of the slides don’t even begin to do the slides justice (I only took these snaps in order to help us organize them). The originals are beautifully sharp, perfectly exposed, and dripping in rich, vibrant color. And this is to say nothing of the subject matter.</p> <p>I can’t wait to go through the rest of the slides, and possibly help my boyfriend put together a book. His uncle was an artist and didn’t even know it.</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43581739784http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43581739784Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:47:00 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7ebdc5366100c974e9d635d78b318813/tumblr_mih3z2giUj1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/09d698bc5339fbf6e69ee8d684157a9d/tumblr_mih3z2giUj1qd2w4to2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/fa7674a58bf59d032b473410aa9b4609/tumblr_mih3z2giUj1qd2w4to3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/0b74cf79519ae4117bb116be09484b3e/tumblr_mih3z2giUj1qd2w4to4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Ended up having an impromptu photo party on Sunday morning with a few of the cast members from “<em>Alt for Danmark</em>.” Katy Bisby and I both posed for photographer Shelly Mosman (while Ted Savage held the flash!), and then Katy posed for me as well. Here are my photos of her.</p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43487972516http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43487972516Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:21:01 -0600tattoosb&amp;w portraiturePetra Ford photographerChicago portrait photographer fashionChicago musician portrait photographerCameron Russell: Looks Aren't Everything. Believe me, I'm a Model: Smart woman. This is worth a...http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43016911373http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/43016911373Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:31:26 -0600Cameron Russelladvice for aspiring modelslooks aren't everything<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/69ec6c118c8613b36dd25a3fa966e852/tumblr_mi4mkdUTfJ1qd2w4to1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>©Petra Ford, <a href="http://www.petraford.com" target="_blank">www.petraford.com</a></p> <p><em>Chicago, IL</em></p>http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/42947781599http://petraford.tumblr.com/post/42947781599Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:33:48 -0600Chicago street photographymullet