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

Find your session

be well {oak park, il family photographer}

“A good half of the art of living is resilience.”
― Alain de Botton

Good morning, friends!

I've had several people reach out to ask how they could help during this uncertain time of social distancing and I'm so grateful to every one of you! I know that so many people are dealing with drastic changes to their daily life right now & we will all need to do everything we can to power through... together❤️

So...how can you help?

1. Continue to be the amazing and concerned clients and friends that you are! This is more than enough right now. We are all blindly navigating this “new normal." This is huge & gives me hope that you will be here when life gets back to "normal"(whatever that may be...).

If you haven’t previously, this would be a great time to leave a great Google review for my business.

2. Book a session! (you can book & hold your session by paying only the deposit or full session fee, whatever is most comfortable for you).
I've added a handful of sessions to my booking calendar, including much-coveted October sidewalk session dates that usually aren't released until late summer & typically sell out pretty quickly. I've also added a week of discounted sunset mini sessions in July.
For the next 2 weeks, any booked non-commercial sessions will receive a $75 print credit.
To receive the credit, enter promo code SOCIAL when filling in your online questionnaire at booking.

Summer Mini Sessions: http://bit.ly/summersunsetmini
October Sidewalk Sessions: http://bit.ly/sidewalksessions
Full Sessions, including October dates: http://bit.ly/photosession2019lbp

2. Purchase gift cards for future print or session use.
http://bit.ly/2020gclbp

3. Place print orders. Maybe you plan to spend some of this quarantined time cleaning out your house or organizing things. Now would be a great time to organize photo files and order those prints you've been meaning to purchase.
I am happy to re-load past galleries if you'd like to place print orders.

Being a small business owner is tough under the best of circumstances so when the shit actually hits the fan...let's just say that things get real...and it happens pretty quickly.

As previously posted, I'm postponing all sessions/events until at least April 1. As this situation changes by the minute, plans will very possibly change. All I can do is watch and wait. It's a very uneasy holding pattern to be in but I will remain optimistic and hopeful.

Thank you for your continued support. Be well!

new beginnings {oak park, il studio portrait sessions}

“A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense and is thereby a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety.”
― Ansel Adams

As most of you have figured out by now, I’ve recently moved into a shared studio space. With this new dedicated space, new opportunities present themselves and I’m excited to share a little of what I’m up to.

It has never been my desire to spend my days in a traditional studio, churning out posed family photos. I’m happy to do them but I will always be better at allowing moments to unfold while I document and catch the candid moments.

These are the moments that bring me joy. They are the images that my clients love.

Beginning in September, I’ll be offering in-studio portrait sessions. Not headshots (though, I continue to shoot tons of headshots in studio and on location), but simple and beautiful portraits.

These portraits sessions will vary from single sittings to families and will still feel very much like the images that my clients expect from me: fun and modern.

So, without much chit-chat and blathering on from me, I’ll share a few images from recent studio sessions…

new addition! {oak park lifestyle newborn photo session}

“I don’t trust words. I trust pictures.”
-Gilles Peress

I'll never be accused of being the most eloquent person in the room.

Writing doesn't come easily for me.

The one place where I have always been comfortable is behind the camera, any camera. Put a person on the other side of the lens and it always feels right.

Quick shoots are great & I can almost always capture a great portrait, but I love nothing more than a slow, laid back lifestyle session. These are the sessions where I am able to relax, observe, and let the photo reveal itself to me. I can chat, engage, and help my client relax.

On the other side of these sessions, I am almost always in love with the images. They bring me joy and, hopefully, my client feels the same...

go home

“One day you will do things for me that you hate. That is what it means to be family.”
― Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything Is Illuminated

Whenever I feel overwhelmed by client work or unsure of how my work is being received, I turn my camera towards home. To capture the everyday, the ordinary, the mundane, the authentic in my own life.

The work I create for myself doesn't have deadlines. I don't have to worry about how the work will be received...I know it will be loved. And so it is.

a few more of connie & thom...

these guys are too cute not to share...so, here are a few more!

weekend family session

just a little peek from this past weekends family session...

sneak peek from this mornings family session...

If you haven't been outside today, you should go NOW. It feels amazing. The sun is shining...all is right...

I had a morning family session that was close enough to my house, that I decided to walk. It was a lovely walk, despite carrying my gear (I hadn't really worked that into my equation).

After this morning, I've decided that 2 to 3 year olds might be my favorite age to photograph. They are fiercely independent & don't really want to do what you ask of them, but that's what is so wonderful about photographing them. They are genuine. Their smiles, or lack thereof, are true. You know exactly how they feel at any given moment. You just have to ride the wave...

Sometimes there is magic & other times...less magic. But there is always truth and that is a lovely thing.

a warm & windy family shoot

Yesterday, we had sleet and snow.

Today, it was warm, sunny and incredibly windy.

When you spend a lot of time photographing outdoors, you just have to go with it...make it work.

Here's a little peek at a few of my favorites from today's family shoot.

winter weather special

While the weather outside may be frightful, we are offering a warm & cozy deal.

From now until the end of March, we are offering $50 off photo sessions (excluding wedding packages). Are you feeling toasty yet?

To receive the discount, the session must be paid in full at the time of booking. To book your session or ask a question, send us an email! joey@littlebittyproductions.com

rainy day head shot session

Today was a cold, wet, & kind of dreary day. Luckily, the photo session I had scheduled was indoors and I was able to utilize one of my favorite light sources: natural, window light. So simple & so beautiful...I am quite happy with the results & I hope that my client is too!

I had the pleasure of photographing Jung and her lovely family this past spring, so I was happy to have the opportunity to reconnect with her.

some favorites from yesterday

Editing is complete...here are a few images. Enjoy!

morning head shot session & a change of plans

Did you know that little bitty productions shoots head shots? It's true...corporate, casual, actors...you name it! Let us know what your particular needs are and we'll do our best to make it happen!

Head shots don't have to be boring. In fact, they can be a lot of fun. I had plans for an outdoor, location shoot this morning, but the weather had other ideas. Instead, we found a lovely indoor space & I got to spend the morning with Maeve, creating some head shots that I hope she will love. She has been involved in theatre from a young age, so it makes sense that she is a natural in front of the camera.

riverside and home again

Another beautiful weekend and 2 beautiful families to photograph. Here's a sneak peek...

sam & evangeline

I know I take a lot of photos of these guys. That's not going to change any time soon...

Sam is old enough to tell me that he doesn't like photos, but I still have time with Evangeline. Even though one kid was tired & one wasn't feeling well, they put up with me long enough to get a few snaps.

catching up

I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the editing tunnel & that is a beautiful thing. Let's just say that 7 shoots in 1 weekend might have been a bit overboard...but it's all good and now it's on to the next round! I'm trying to complete all edits from this past weekend so I can head into next weekend with a clean slate. I'm looking forward to a laid back weekend of make-up soccer games and a manageable schedule of 3 shoots. The weather has really been on my side lately...and I've been so lucky to be able to meet and photograph so many great families! Here's a peek from 2 recent family shoots...

bj & veronica...part 2

after lots of editing & still more to do, here are a few more pics from v & b's day...enjoy!

veronica & bj

this past weekend, jeff and i had the pleasure of spending the day with a dear friend and her family & friends. the weather was beautiful & the bride was stunning...

just a little taste from veronica & bj's wedding...