The holiday season brings many traditions, and one of the most magical is a photo session at a Christmas tree farm. These photos capture the joy, warmth, and excitement of the season, making them perfect for family portraits, holiday cards, or simply to cherish the festive moments. But planning your outfits for these pictures is essential to get perfect, timeless images.
Read MoreI like to photograph newborns before they are 14 days old. This is because they grow SO FAST. In the first 14 days they are brand new…scrunchy, sleepy, and easily pose-able. Although I don’t really “pose” babies, I actually like them unposed and in natural positions. My newborn photo shoots are baby-led, meaning the baby is the boss basically.
Read MoreThe Garfield Park Conservatory: This is my favorite winter spot! It’s super warm and you kinda feel like you’re somewhere tropical with the heat and all the plants. It’s especially nice to visit on super cold days in Chicago. In fact, a lot of photos I’ve taken here look like they were taken outside…or in Hawaii. A client told me once that a friend saw one of their photos taken here and thought they went on vacation!
Read MoreWhat is the best time of year for a family photo session? I guess that’s up to you and what you are looking for in your photos and what you want them for. Do you want a session inside your home? That can be done anytime of year. Do you want greens and flowers in the background? A summer photo shoot might be best for that. Maybe some nice fall foliage? Do you want holiday photos? Is this a birthday milestone session?
Read MoreEdinburgh is such a beautiful, interesting city, with so much history…I didn’t mind spending our three days just walking around. The gothic style architecture and cobblestone streets in Old Town are stunning, and the little winding streets we found ourselves on revealed hidden shops, pubs, and restaurants. The Royal Mile, a bustling street that links the iconic Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, is lined with quaint shops, cute restaurants, and street performers.
Read MoreI promise a photo session with me will not stressful. It will be laid back, fun, and easy. I strive for relaxed and easy sessions…posing will mostly be guided and directed, and you don’t have to practice smiling or anything…just be yourself and know that you will have fun and we will capture some great shots. Read on to learn how my maternity, newborn, and family sessions go from start to finish.
Read MoreWe spent about 6 days in London. The first time I was there was only for 2 days and I didn’t do a ton except for a few really touristy things. So I had a bunch of things I wanted to do. Museums, Camden Town, Abbey Road, Portobello Market…and some touristy things to see for my husband because he had never been.
Read MoreThinking about booking a fall family photo session? Imagining the pretty leaves changing color and beautiful soft golden hour light? But it’s only April…you want a session in October. Might as well wait a few months to book, right? WRONG! Summer and fall are both very busy times for photographers. Specifically August-December, with September, October, and November being the busiest for me personally. It’s best to book your session as early as you can.
Read MoreYou’ve scheduled the date for your family photo session, and have an amazing photographer booked (if you’re in Chicago, hopefully it’s me!). Now what? How do you prepare for your photo shoot? Here are some things to consider and ways to prepare…
Read MorePersonally, I think it’s important to document your family and your life through family photo sessions as often as you can. You could do it every couple of years, but then you’re missing out on all the big changes your little ones go through. Ideally I think once a year is great.
Read MoreIn September of 2022 my husband and I traveled to Iceland, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Iceland was our first stop. I had been wanting to visit Iceland for YEARS…it looked so beautiful and I had heard great things. It absolutely lived up to the hype…the Land Of Fire And Ice, as it’s known, was pretty amazing.
Read MoreAround the holidays I did a really special family photo session here in Chicago, in Lincoln Square. I was told ahead of time that this family had a two and a half year old son, and daughter that passed away shortly after she was born in early 2022. They wanted to include their daughter’s photo and a container with her ashes in our photo session… and of course, I said we could absolutely do that and I thought it would be great to honor her in that way.
Read MoreIt’s that time again! Summer is here and outdoor family photo sessions are in full swing. I love getting outside for family sessions…and Chicago has so many great spots (click the button below to check out my blog post about locations!). I mainly offer two times of the day for my outdoor sessions…morning around 9-10am, and later in the day, about an hour before sunset (golden hour).
Read MoreDo you know that having family photos up can boost a child’s self-esteem? Really! According to actual research, when kids see themselves in photos that are hung in their home it can help them feel like a valued and important part of the family. Seeing their photo on the wall every day, lets them know they are loved and helps them develop a positive self image…more so than kids who grow up in homes without any family photos up. Great reason to order some prints and hang them up.
Read MoreTen years ago this month (I can't believe it's been ten years!) I moved to Barcelona Spain. I quit my job, sold my car, got certified to teach English (TEFL), and bought a one way ticket.
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