family dinner night {oak park, il family photo session}

“How often have the greatest thoughts and ideas come to light during conversations with the family over the evening dinner?”
― E.A. Bucchianeri

I can never say no to an invitation to family dinner night.

I’m not even talking about my family…I’ll bring my camera and be a fly on the wall at YOUR family dinner. I love to witness the rituals, hear stories, and just be there to document the moment.

Tonight I got to spend time with my friend (and client) and her family during their Sunday family dinner. I loved hearing her grandparents stories and being able to let the kids be silly for the camera…there’s a level of comfort for clients’ that comes with being in a space that’s familiar to them. Everyone can relax a little and just let things unfold.

How about you? What does your family session look like to you? Let’s chat & make it happen…

a month of mamas: day 8 {oak park, il photo sessions}

“So how on earth can I bring a child into the world, knowing that such sorrow lies ahead, that it is such a large part of what it means to be human?
I'm not sure. That's my answer: I'm not sure.” 
― Anne Lamott

To the mamas whose kids are grown and raising children of their own…

(Read the blog post about the mamas in these images)

happy NEW year! {oak park newborn photographer}

“Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” 
― A.A. Milne

It’s January 14 and my new year has been filled with new life.

My first clients of 2019 were a family of 4, whose newest member was a beautiful 6 week old boy. After that, I had the pleasure of photographing a long time client & her 3rd baby…a baby girl who was less than 24 hours old when I got to photograph her. Today, I got to photograph Tina Harle, a friend and fellow Oak Park photographer, and her family of 4, including her newest addition: a baby girl who was a little more than 24 hours old when I got to the hospital.

It’s always a little nerve-wracking when I’m photographing another photographer. You never know how it will all play out, especially when small children are involved. I know that my kids are terribly uncooperative with me, but they do ok with other photographers (usually). Tina and her family were amazing though…there’s nothing I love more than a client who tells me to do whatever I want & that nothing is off limits. I can just shoot what I see & document the moments as they happen.

Tina has a 6 year old who was there for the session. She was so sweet & caring towards her new baby sister…”teaching” her the alphabet, talking to her, combing her hair, and giving her lots of kisses. I was able to capture so many loving gazes from her…these were genuine moments! My newborn sessions aren’t staged, so what you see is what was occurring naturally. It was beyond adorable! It was not the experience that I had with my kids…Oliver wouldn’t go anywhere near Milo in those early days…I think he was terrified of him! HA! (We should all be a little terrified of Milo…just saying!)

It’s truly a gift to be invited into people’s lives, homes, and hospital rooms during these early, hazy, sleepless days. I do not take it lightly and I am so thankful that I get to be an observer of these real and special early days.

How’s your new year going?

here comes the bride {oak park, il documentary photographer}

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” 
― Eleanor Roosevelt

A little over a month ago, I came across this post on a local Facebook page:

"Wise Moms, I'm looking for advice and recommendations for a wedding dress shop in the area for my Mom, who's nearly 70 and living with Parkinson's. Short of the long story: my parents were broke as a joke when they got married in 1968 and my mom wore a dress she made herself. (She had bought all the material and her college roommate was supposed to make the dress, but roommate dropped out of school and left town with the dress half-finished. My mom can't sew, but cobbled it together.) She's always hated her wedding dress. My sister and I want to make up for it by buying her a wedding dress she loves for their 50th anniversary this year. We'd love to take her to a shop that has a selection for "older" brides and a staff that will make her feel special and fabulous, despite her age and shakes. She never had any of the experiences she gave to my sis and I, and we want to pay it back!"

So many people posted comments to this sweet daughter with advice & words of encouragement. I did not, but I read & re-read the post a few times. I couldn't stop thinking about it. 

The next day, I sent a private message to this stranger who had been on my mind. I won't bore you with the planning & chatting, but I will tell you that I'm so glad that I made the decision to reach out.

Being a fly on the wall during this beautiful day was such an honor. These are the moments when I can say that, without a doubt, I am doing what I was meant to do. 

I loved meeting these amazing women & spending a few hours with them at House of Brides in Glen Ellyn! Here's a little sample of their magical day... 

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

it's official...summer is here! {oak park, il family photographer}

“Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.” 
― Henri Cartier-Bresson

I often hear that one should be "living in the moment", taking it all in, and bearing witness to that which is happening around us. In a world full of smart devices that are meant to make our lives easier, we often seem preoccupied and overwhelmed by "it" all. 

I've heard it said that people spend too much time photographing their lives to share on social media, but they aren't actually living their lives. I'm sure there is some truth is this statement, but in general, I totally disagree with it.

Documenting our lives, and all the minutiae therein, is a gift to ourselves and those who come after us. I can spend hours sifting through old photo albums at my mom & grandma's house. I can't possibly be alone in this... 

This past week, I finished a photo book I've been working on. It will be gifted to a friend & I can only hope that it brings them as much joy as it brought me, while putting it together. It covers a 3 year period and it's full of images from various stages and ages of my boys' lives.

These are the moments I want to remember. I want to be able to look at these photos in 20 years & smile or cry happy tears or both!

So, I'll keep carrying my camera with me...to all the places life takes me: a walk around the neighborhood, a vacation, a backyard bbq, or local park. No moment is too insignificant...they all matter. 

Interested in booking a documentary/lifestyle session? Let's chat!

once around the sun! {oak park lifestyle photo session}

Today I got to help celebrate the first birthday of Rhys!

It wasn't that long ago that I photographed his baptism...

Just a couple of years prior to that, I documented the wedding of the 2 lovely humans who made Rhys! 

It's truly such a gift to be able to tell their story as the years go by...it makes my heart happy!

and baby makes 3! {chicago newborn lifestyle photographer}

“The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.” 
― Elliott Erwitt

With that quote in mind...enjoy a recent day in the life/newborn session!

rain, rain...go away! {oak park family sessions}

“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.” 
― Vladimir Nabokov

Fall weather has been elusive. It's mid-October and the midwest is still very green. 

We haven't even put our shorts away yet...but, it seems like autumnal weather is just around the corner. Last weekend, several sessions were a wash. LIterally...it rained so hard, that even after it was finished, the ground was so wet that I didn't even attempt to drag my clients out. 

This weekend, I kept my calendar clear so that I could do family stuff, including celebrating my husband's birthday. We were planning a trip to an apple/pumpkin farm and maybe a trip to the arboretum, but guess what? It's been raining since before we woke up. Non-stop, hard rain. 

The boys are making indoor obstacle courses & Jeff is playing baseball (on the xbox). The good news is, it's the perfect weather for me to stay in my pajamas & catch up on editing!

So, that's what I'm doing today...editing!

Here are a few peeks from galleries that I'm working on...more to come...enjoy!

riverside family photo sessions {riverside, illinois}

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."

[Notebook, Oct. 10, 1842]” 
― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The American Notebooks

Today is the first day that has actually felt autumn-like and it is heavenly...

This year, I made a promise to my family that I would make at least 1 weekend a month work-free. No clients, no editing. 

The coming weekend is one of those work-free weekends. But, guess what? Everyone else has plans. Milo has 2 birthday parties and Oliver has 1 birthday party. 

So...my big plans for the weekend will involve weeding, planting bulbs, and moving at a slow & relaxing pace. Maybe we'll go pick apples on Sunday, but we have no serious plans, which is lovely...

I'll get back to editing client work on Monday, but in the meantime, I'll share a few favorites from last weekend's family sessions. 

Have a lovely weekend!

ready, set...fall! {oak park and chicago fall photo sessions}

“Time stands still best in moments that look suspiciously like ordinary life.” 
― Brian Andreas

Even though it's in the high 80's outside, fall is here...

In spite of the weird weather, some of the trees are beginning to turn & leaves are on the ground.

Tis the season for non-stop family photo sessions! 

Last weekend kicked off the start of my official fall season & I am almost completely booked for the remainder of 2017! (Huge shout out to my amazing clients!)

As bloggers go, I'm not always on my A-game. But...I'll stop by & update occasionally, because I love you guys!

Now it's time to edit, so I'll leave you with a few sneak peeks from the past 10 days/10 sessions...until next time!!

day in the life photo session {oak park, il family}

“Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?” 
― Stephanie Perkins

A couple of weeks ago, a lovely family contacted me to ask about our neighborhood. They were considering a home nearby and wanted some first hand thoughts on the area. I love our neighbors, neighborhood, and school, so of course I had all good things to say! I think everyone should live in our neighborhood and I look forward to having them as neighbors. 

As they look forward to a new adventure, they will leave the only home their young children have known. Bittersweet, for sure...but...a house is just a house. The people who inhabit the space make it a home. (cliché, but true)

So, as they prepare to pack & leave their current home, they reached out again to schedule a "day in the life" session. These sessions are my absolute favorite, hands down! For anybody who follows my personal, family work,  "day in the life" sessions are really just a condensed version of what I do with my family & close friends every day, all the time (just ask my 7 year old...he's over it).

It's such a wonderful feeling when someone trusts me enough to invite me into their home,  to follow them around with my camera. There is no direction or posing, just watching & documenting what unfolds organically: giggles, tears, and everything in between. It gives me the chance to get to know people a little more and to really see their personality. I had a great time being a fly on the wall & capturing some memories for them.

I've got a bit of editing to do, but here's a little taste of the session.