River Forest, Il Fall Photo Sessions
“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."
[Notebook, Oct. 10, 1842]”
― Nathaniel Hawthorne
Fall Family Photos, River Forest, Il
“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!” — Humbert Wolfe
Fall Family Photo Session, Oak Park, Il
My fall sessions wouldn’t be complete with out Jill and her beautiful family! I love, love these folks and always have the best time with them.
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it but…my favorite thing about their sessions is that Jill has always incorporated individual portraits of herself with every session. With most family shoots, I’ll take individual shots of each kid but the adults don’t usually want to do the same. Jill started this tradition with their 2nd photo session and it’s become a tradition that I LOVE. In fact, I think I end up taking more photos of her than the kids…because why not?!? Moms deserve their own portraits, ya know?
Fall Photo Sessions, Wabash Arts Corridor
Well…it’s officially fall. Temps have been in the high 70’s and low 80’s…are you feeling autumnal yet?
I love green. LOVE IT…except in photos. What do I mean? Bright green grass, bright green trees, bright green color casts on everyone’s skin. Yes, I can set my color balance and color correct and all that but there’s just something about it. Personal preference for sure but I look forward to the de-saturation of fall.
So. Until the leaves begin the process of senescence, I opt for locations where I won’t be fighting green chlorophyll…like sidewalks, parking garages, and other areas that aren’t necessarily “nature” (parks, yards, etc).
City sessions are quite popular & I love them for the abundance of options offered. Going from block to block, I’m able to have a variety of backdrops to choose from. This is especially nice for mini sessions…variety is the spice of life, right? (that’s a saying, no?)
With so many repeat clients, it’s nice to mix things up from year to year.
Documentary / Storytelling session
One of the things that was lost in 2020 was the ability to safely shoot indoor, storytelling sessions. From Fresh 48’s (in hospital) to in-home sessions, they disappeared from my calendar overnight.
In recent years, they’ve slowly made their way back and I could not be happier. Yesterday I had the opportunity to join a beautiful family in their home for a few hours and I loved every minute of it!
If I’m being 100% honest, these types of sessions feel most authentically “me”. From a high school student just learning how to use my camera to a college student who was finding a deeper understanding of the craft to a new mom in my late 30’s, I have often carried my camera with me, ready to capture whatever unfolded.
I’ve always had a deep appreciation for character studies, photographing people as authentically as possible, being themselves. I think it’s important, especially in a time of highly curated social media feeds, to let go of the idea of the perfect, polished family portrait and see what reveals itself.
These types of sessions work well for all ages but I find them especially wonderful when children are 10-ish and under. Anyone who has ever attempted to pose young kids and make them sit still for 30+ minutes knows what I’m saying…it’s often like herding feral cats. When all is said and done, parents are exhausted and kids are not at all happy. Is that perfectly posed photo worth it? I guess it depends.
There’s a time and place for all types of photography and as long as you have realistic expectations, then all will be well.
I can tell you that my children have had a heavily documented childhood. There are very few posed photos of them on display in our home.
As they’ve gotten older, now 16 & 12, they are much less cooperative. To be fair, the level of activity and time spent meandering and building forts, lego, mag-tiles, etc has also changed. I’m less inclined to photograph them as they close themselves up in their bedrooms to play on their computers, lol.
Though the moments are fewer, I remain ready to document at any given moment. I treasure the images of my kids just being kids…muddy from the backyard slip n slide, hanging with friends in a hammock while camping, swimming in Lake Michigan with friends, building Lego creations, living room dance-offs, and game nights. These images bring me so much joy.
When you invite me into your world/home, my goal is the same…I hope to create images that will bring you joy (now and later!).
Latest newsletter and fall photo session updates
*newsletter recap…want to be the first to know when new events and sessions are posted? subscribe to our newsletter!
Hey friends!
Now that back to school is in full swing (mostly), it's time to finalize all things fall.
Still need to book family, children, or high school senior photos? My calendar still has some availability.
Our classic photo session.
Up to 1-hour photo session during prime, golden hour at the location of your choice.
These are perfect for a high school senior portrait session or a family session.
These 30 minute sessions can take place at or near your home sidewalk, front porch, and/or backyard.
These sessions are perfect for anyone who prefers to stick close to home and avoid having to drag their family too far out of their comfort zone! It also makes it easier to include all family members like…pups, cats, and birds (I welcome any and all pets!).
These sessions have become a client favorite & I get it! They're quick & fun…and the results are almost always stunning and full of energy…these are becoming a favorite for me as well. I'll be scouting a few different locations for this year so we will likely be in another area of the city, though Wabash Arts Corridor is still a fave of mine!
Mini sessions are perfect for anyone who doesn’t need a full session and only needs a few updated images. We offer a few different versions of mini sessions…most mini session locations are chosen by me.
If you’d prefer a mini session but also want to choose your location, an Anywhere Mini is perfect! If you don’t mind a location being chosen by me, our Weekday or Weekend Mini sessions is the way to go!
While Sara Jean and I attempted to find dates for a summer happy hour, we (mostly I) just couldn't make it happen.
Don't worry though…we've got some options for fall! (see below)
In other news, I recently discovered a dozen emails that ended up in my junk/spam mailbox. The emails were somehow routed there via the contact link on my website so if you emailed and never heard back from me, that's probably why. I'm so sorry & what a nightmare for me. I have no clue how many potential emails I missed.
And that leads me to this…
I've spent a ridiculous amount of time attempting to clean up and refresh my website (and fix bugs). If you have a chance to peep it, please let me know if you come across any issues. I'm certain there will be snafus so if something doesn't seem right, please reach out!
So happy you’re here ❤️
xoxo, Joey
Back to school and headshot happy hour events!
Hey, friends!
Well…after a fairly uneventful summer break, we’re slowly slipping back into routines over here.
Our summers have always been pretty laid back and routine: pool passes and several days a week at the pool, quick road trip to Texas to visit family, trips to various ice cream shops, and we typically finish summer with a long weekend in Michigan and Warren Dunes.
This summer was different. Three of us got pool passes but we didn’t even make it to the pool enough times to pay for those passes. We did make a very quick trip to Texas and got to see a few family members but not everyone. Sadly, we didn’t make it Michigan at all…we usually make it there at least 2 times. We did hit some ice cream shops though…we aren’t complete monsters!
It feels like this is just a natural transition from having “little” kids to having tweens/teens and I’m not sure how I’m feeling about it.
Time is strange…
Anyway…back to your regularly scheduled programming.
If you’ve been thinking about scheduling that headshot…now is the time! I’ll be hosting happy hours in September and November (potentially December).
Pricing starts at $150. Details and links 👇
And…my gal Sara Jean Stevens will be back to enhance your gorgeous face*! (only 2 spots with the option to add professional makeup/hair remaining for both dates!)
Got questions? Let’s chat! joey@littlebittyproductions.com
*Limited spots available for hair and makeup, additional fees apply
Preschool Picture Day! (River Forest, Oak Park, Illinois)
“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Will I ever tire of photographing these tiny, adorable humans? I can’t even imagine that happening…
Though I’ve cut back on the amount of preschools that I photograph each year, there are a few that I get to come back to year after year. I love documenting these growing kiddos and it’s especially fun when a sibling or 2 is in the mix.
I know that many parents & caregivers are hoping for the perfect smile…I do have some tricks to make that happen but there are no guarantees, ya know? I will never force a smile and I will never force a child in front of the camera if they are clearly distressed. I would never want to make photography a stressful or traumatic experience for anyone, but especially young children! If a smirk or a serious face is how your child is feeling on picture day, that’s great. Wouldn’t you prefer to document who they are in this moment?
They’re perfect…just as they are!
Headshot Happy Hour Booking is Live! {oak park, il headshot photographer}
Hey, y'all!
I’m working on my 2025 booking calendar…hoping to have it live by the end of January or early February!
In the meantime, if you’ve been thinking about scheduling that headshot…now is the time! I’ll be hosting happy hours in February, March, and April (more to come but these are live now!). Details and links 👇
And…my gal Sara Jean Stevens will be back to fix yo’ face/hair*!
Got questions? Let’s chat! joey@littlebittyproductions.com
*Limited spots available for hair and makeup, additional fees apply
“There are no bad pictures; that’s just how your face looks sometimes.”
(but I think you’re gorgeous!😘)
Hope to see you soon!
it's been a minute...{oak park, illinois portrait photographer}
I am often asked if I photograph high school seniors. The answer is YES! Am I a senior photographer? Not specifically but I am a portrait photographer.
What’s the difference? I guess it depends on who you ask…
For me, it just means that high school seniors are part of my clientele but aren’t my only clientele. I don’t have packages geared solely toward senior sessions…any of my portrait sessions can be a senior session!
Is your senior a minimalist who doesn’t want a big to-do when it comes to photographs? A fine art session or Anywhere Mini might be a good fit.
Does your senior want at least one outfit change & a little more time in front of the camera? An hour-long session is probably the way to go. This session also works if your senior is a minimalist but you’d also like to spend part of the time capturing sibling or family photos.
Maybe your senior is interested in multiple outfits and locations…an extended portrait session or Day in the Life session is perfect!
If you’re looking for a portrait photographer to capture your senior and any of these scenarios sound good, give me a shout. If you don’t see a scenario that fits your needs, reach out, and let’s chat about it!
I can’t wait to hear from you!
-Joey
too cool for school (photos)? studio portrait session booking is live... {oak park, il photographer}
“There are no bad pictures; that’s just how your face looks sometimes” – Abraham Lincoln
School picture day…the day when kids are forced into awkward poses, wear clothes they'd never choose, and smile as if they're being tortured. I suppose it’s a right of passage but if you find yourself wondering why they never quite look “normal”, maybe a studio session is the answer.
Skip the school picture order & bring your kiddos into the studio for a quick, updated yearly portrait. I promise not to force anyone to smile & I can almost guarantee that the photos will actually look like your kid. Wild, right?
There are 2 types of sessions to choose from: Tiny Studio Sessions and Fine Art Portrait Sessions.
Fine Art Portrait Sessions: 1 Child | Fine Art Portrait Sessions: Up to 3 Children
What is the best session for you? So happy you asked… as always, if you have further questions or concerns, send me a message! joey@littlebittyproductions.com
it's september, y'all...time to think about fall photo sessions {oak park, il family photo sessions}
“I never put off till tomorrow what I can possibly do - the day after.”
― Oscar Wilde
Hey, friends!
Whether or not we care to admit it, another summer is wrapping up. Soon we will be pulling out our fall necessities: sweaters, warm socks…snow boots (I know…I know.).
It also means that fall photo sessions are beginning to fill up…have you booked yours or have you been putting it off?
(tick, tock…)
Maybe you’re a planner and you’ve already booked your session. I tip my hat to you! Maybe you like to fly by the seat of your pants & wait until fall is a little closer before you can even THINK about scheduling. I think you’re fantastic (and I relate)!
If you’re still thinking about booking something this fall, now is the time.
I look forward to seeing you soon❤️
Joey
happy belated new year...
“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but for potential.”
― Ellen Goodman
Just a quick note to say thank you so much for another great year! I'm so grateful for all of my amazing clients, past and present.
I know that the new year usually brings talk of “new year, new me!” or any number of proclamations focusing on improving ourselves somehow. If that’s your thing, I will enthusiastically cheer you on! If you’re like me & have decided that resolutions aren’t your thing, I will applaud you with the same enthusiasm…and maybe we can grab a slice of pie? The point is…y’all are all great❤️
2022 Highlight Reel
…and now that we’ve established how amazing you all are, let’s talk shop (I mean…this is my business blog so I’m gonna talk about business, ya know?)!
Have you been thinking about updating your headshot? What’s holding you back from doing so? Is it nerves, lack of time/inconvenient session times, or cost? I’d love to hear your feedback!
If you’re ready to get a session on the books, I’ve got several options for the new year.
Since January's weekend headshot date seemed to be a hit, I'm opening up another weekend date for Social Media Headshots. If you missed out on the January date, you can grab a weekend session in February! I’ve also added headshot dates for March and April, including some evening hours for those who can’t make it during the day…
The Social Media sessions are short & sweet (15 minutes)! If you are uncomfortable or need time to get comfortable in front of the camera, our regular session might be a better fit.
Up to 15 minutes in the studio | One look/One location | Includes 1 low-resolution, edited digital file* | $100/150
Question: What's the difference between Social Media 1 and Social Media Plus?
I'm glad you asked!
Social Media 1 includes one file, delivered in color and Social Media Plus includes 1 file, delivered in color AND b/w. Each session will include a gallery of images in which you will choose your favorite shot!
Find your session here:
Social Media Headshot 1: https://bit.ly/socialheadshot1
Social Media Headshot Plus: https://bit.ly/socialheadshotplus
Regular Headshot session: https://bit.ly/lbpheadshots
If you’re not quite ready to book but are looking for ways to support me right now, I’d love for you to leave me a google review…these go a long way in helping clients find me! (link below)
I look forward to the year ahead and seeing you in front of my camera soon!
fall updates, y'all!🍁 {oak park, il family photographer}
“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”
― Lauren DeStefano, Wither
Happy fall, y'all!
Outdoor photo sessions are in full swing & the busy fall season is upon me.
I wanted to take a minute to send out an update on the remaining sessions for 2022.
Here's a quick breakdown of the remaining October sessions:
Weekday Mini Sessions - 4 sessions (10/24 & 26)
Sidewalk Mini Sessions - 2 sessions (10/11 & 18)
Weekday One-Hour Sessions - 4 sessions (10/20, 21, 27, and 28)
There's also a handful of outdoor dates for November...
By popular demand, I've added two days of children's studio sessions. Two options are available this year...these sessions are perfect for updated children's portraits!
Find all available sessions here: Fall Bookings
I'm excited to see returning clients & meeting new clients in the coming weeks!
See you soon!
Be well.❤️❤️
social media headshot sessions are back! (oak park, il headshot photographer)
Ok, y'all...
You've been asking for it...Social Media Headshot Sessions, formerly Headshot Happy Hours (we're not quite ready for crowds just yet...sad trombone), are back!
Is it time to freshen up your professional profile? Grab a session here: https://bit.ly/socialheadshot
These sessions are short and sweet. I don't recommend them if you typically find that you need a lot of time to warm up to the camera but I can usually accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Just saying! I'm not magic but I do my best to put everyone at ease.
Good to know...
location: my Oak Park studio
length of sessions: 15 minutes
cost: $150
What's included? I'm glad you asked!
Each session includes 1 final, low-resolution image file. Clients always have the option to purchase additional files, including B&W color conversions and high-res files.
Questions? Give me a shout: joey@littlebittyproductions.com
fall photo sessions are live!🍁 (and a few summer sessions remain!)-Oak Park, Il Family Photographer
“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”
Hey, y'all!
It's that time again...fall session dates are live!
*For those of you who prefer a warmer session, I also have a limited number of summer sessions in June and July...beach sesh? city sesh? Let's mix it up!
Heads up-There are only a few weekend dates remaining but there are plenty of weekday sessions!
As always, I'm grateful for your continued support and trust.
Be well.
1-hour Session
Up to 1-hour session outdoors
20 hand-edited, high-resolution image files
4x6 prints of your chosen image files
print release with rights to make prints for personal use
Option to purchase additional files, print products, and full gallery upgrade.
$600 weekdays
$700 weekends
Sidewalk Sessions
Up to 30-minute session on the sidewalks in your neighborhood, your front porch, or backyard*
10 hand-edited, high-resolution image files
4x6 prints of your chosen image files
print release with rights to make prints for personal use
Option to purchase additional files, print products, and full gallery upgrade.
$425
*due to time constraints, sidewalk sessions must be in or very near Oak Park
Headshot Sessions
Headshot sessions take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the package
Pricing is for one person only
Additional files & prints are available for an additional fee
Location: our Oak Park Studio*
Pricing starts at $250
*We can also come to you! For non-studio location headshots or office events, please reach out to plan your session
Want to be the first to know when we have openings? Join our mailing list! We promise not to send too many emails…we usually only send 2-4 newsletters a year. That’s not so bad, right?
new year...
The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings. -- Okakura Kakuzo
Well, hello. Here we are again…
Another year is behind us. So many things were supposed to be better by now and yet, so much is still upside down.
Don’t get me wrong…I’ve got plenty for which to be thankful. I really try to focus on the good things, the positive stuff…but, damn…some days it is a challenge.
2021 tested me in new and “exciting” ways.
In my personal life, the biggest challenges were the unknowns surrounding school, lack of after-school care, and not putting the boys in some sort of summer camp which left me very little time to have a normal workload from June-August. On the plus side, I spent a lot of time at the pool with my boys & we even took a couple of quick trips to Michigan.
In business, the challenges were…well…I’m not even sure where to begin. Let’s just say that there were good days and there were awful days.
As always, my clients continue to be the highlight of my work. My clients keep me focused when I want to pack it all in and call it a day.
The normal struggles of running a small business will always exist. Now add in the uncertainty of a pandemic, mix in unexpected damages to my work studio, sprinkle increased prices from every single vendor I use, and the cherry on top…studio rent increase.
That’s right. After months of waiting for our landlord to repair an ongoing leak from the ceiling & then dealing with a couple of months of terrible communication (avoidance) & delayed repairs after a car drove through the front of the building, our rent increased. During a pandemic. Cool, right? I mean…it is what it is but it sort of felt like a punch in the gut ya know?
But we must roll with the punches, right? We readjust. If we get knocked down, we pick ourselves up & figure out our next steps.
That’s what I’m working on, friends. Next steps.
I got knocked down a lot in the fall of 2021 & it’s forcing me to take a step back and readjust some things. I know that change can be hard but growth is often uncomfortable…and necessary.
So…I hope you’ll come along & stick with me through some necessary changes and adjustments. I understand that not everybody will and that’s okay.
If you are a current client, you’ll be receiving an important update regarding booking for 2022. You should have an email by the end of the month❤️
If you’re looking for ways to support me right now, I’d love for you to leave me a google review…these go a long way in helping clients find me! (link below)
As always, thank you for your continued support and trust in me. I look forward to better days ahead!
spring is coming...are you ready?
“That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.”
― L.M. Montgomery
Hi friends.
How are you?
Today is the day.
On this day last year, our lives were about to change in a way that I don't think many of us could have possibly imagined.
On this day last year, I spent the morning photographing a preschool full of beautiful children.
On this day last year, I walked into Costco for my normal supply run & was taken aback by the crowds of people who were filling up their carts with toilet paper and bottled water (still haven't figured out why folks were hoarding water but you do you...).
On this day last year, I picked my boys up from their afterschool program and was told that they had been advised to take home ALL of their belongings and anything they might need for the foreseeable future.
It's hard to imagine that a year has passed since this all began and yet...here we are.
Like many of you, I’ve spent the past 12 months navigating strange and unfamiliar waters. I've learned to be flexible with my time and energy even when I desperately want to give up from the exhaustion of trying to manage ALL THE THINGS.
But I'm still here, y'all. There are days when it feels like I'm hanging on by a thread but I am still hanging on!
My amazing clients (that's y'all!) have helped me get through this and I'm so thankful and grateful.
And because you all are the absolute best...you get first dibs on prime Fall 2021 session dates! These sessions fall during what is typically peak Autumn colors in Chicagoland.*
*I obviously cannot promise or predict the future...I have no personal intel on the comings and goings of Mother Nature but based on many years of shooting, these are the dates when colors tend to be the most beautiful.
Not ready to commit? No worries...my normal fall dates will roll out sometime in July/August & you'll be the first to know!
In addition to sharing these prime Autumn sessions, I have a few Spring sessions available including more Tiny Session School Portrait and Social Media Headshot sessions. Oh...don't forget about Motherhood sessions! I have a few openings for those as well
Don't see what you're looking for? Give me a shout (email, yo!) & we'll set something up!
I hope that everyone is doing well and staying safe and remaining hopeful…❤️
Find Your Fall Session
Find Your Tiny Session
Find Your Social Media Headshot Session
Find Your Motherhood Session
wrapping up 2020...{oak park, il photographer}
“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
I really try to wake up each day without the heaviness of past missteps on my shoulders. I fail quite often but life goes on, as the saying goes.
I know that we won’t wake up to a problem-free world on January 1, 2021, but something about a new beginning feels very different than it has in past years. I would actually love to skip past all the holiday hubbub and go straight to 2021.
2020 has tested me in ways I never could have imagined. I know I’m not alone in this.
As a small business owner, the uncertainty of what lies ahead has been a lot to manage. Trying to plan for tomorrow when tomorrows limitations are not known can feel impossible. There are a lot of “what ifs” and “maybes” but the truth is, I’m not sure when I’ll be able to work again in any “normal” capacity.
So I take it day by day. What option do I have? Every day is a new day.
I’m grateful for the health of my family and friends.
I’m grateful for a business that will crawl across the finish line this year. It isn’t the year I expected but I’m sure I’m not alone in that.
So…as I wrap up the year and prepare to take some time off, I just want to say thanks.
Thank you to everyone who supported my small business. I am so grateful to all of you!
I look forward to better days in 2021!
it's time...{oak park, il family photographer}
“Life is at its best when everything has fallen out of place, and you decide that you're going to fight to get them right, not when everything is going your way and everyone is praising you.”
― Thisuri Wanniarachchi
Hi friends.
It’s been a minute.
Like many of you, I’ve spent the past 6 months navigating strange and unfamiliar waters. I can’t say that it’s been great but since I’m still here and my family remains healthy, I can say that we are doing our best to remain positive and forward-moving. Is it easy? Nope.
School started this past Tuesday and our school district is fully remote. We are juggling our work schedules while being home with our boys and assisting with e-learning. My husband and I take turns (sort of) working from home…It’s going to be an interesting time and I’m hopeful that the coming months are not as hard as I imagine they will be.
Hopeful.
It’s become my go-to adjective.
With hope in mind, I’m ready to open up some fall session dates. October is partially booked but I’m hopeful that I’m able to offer enough options to fit most schedules.
I’ve had several inquiries about school photos & I’m working out details to offer studio and outdoor options.
At this time, I’m unsure of holiday studio sessions but I will revisit the idea by the end of October.
I hope that everyone is doing well and staying safe and remaining hopeful…❤️
click on the photos to find and book sessions
To find and book a session, check my full booking calendar here.
Questions or just want to drop me a line? Send me an email: joey@littlebittyproductions.com