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

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)

Take me to google!

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

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

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…

fall booking is going, going...{oak park and chicagoland fall photo sessions}

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
― Albert Camus

Fall booking is underway!

If you haven’t already booked your session, now is the time…Many of the weekend options have been booked but a few have been added.

As usual, mini sessions are limited and there are only 3 fall days with mini sessions remaining.

Find your session here (hover and click on the session you’d like more info about)…

Outdoor Sunset Session

In-home/Indoor Session

Mini Photo Session

If you’re interested in booking other types of sessions and don’t see a link for booking here, send me an email and let’s chat! joey@littlebittyproductions.com

family road trip from wyoming...not me, my client! {elmwood park, il baptism photo session}

“I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.” 
― Charles Dickens

Today I met with new clients who drove a little over a 1000 miles to have their sweet 11 month old baptized. The ceremony was intimate and sweet, followed by a fun dinner at a German beer hall…

Are all baptisms this fun? If so, sign me up…

a month of mamas: days 28-31 {oak park photographer interrupted!}

“There are invisible lines
connecting everything together,
and I am particularly fond of
the one that connects me to you.” -Brian Andreas

I realize that it’s June 3 and May is behind us…

Speaking of being behind, I dropped the ball in keeping up with my “month of mamas”, which is not surprising as I’ve been killing it over here, doing all the momming! LOL, as they say…

So, today I will talk about something that I don’t enjoy talking about: myself.

I’m a woman. I’m a photographer. I’m a creative. I’m a mom. I’m a daughter. I’m a wife. I’m a friend.

I try to do all these things and I don’t always do them well. Every day, my goal is to do better than the day before.

I have good days and great days and bad days and sad days.

My motivation to create is sometimes off the charts. Some days though, it is barely noticable.

The struggle is real…every day and in every way. But I wouldn’t change a thing…

Today, I celebrate the fact that I made it through the weekend on barely any sleep, shot a 10 hour wedding on Saturday, spent all day Sunday (11am-7pm) watching my boys play their sports ball of choice: T-ball & Baseball, respectively.

I celebrate the fact that, after that weekend, my entire family woke up at 7:45am (in a full blown panic) but I still made breakfasts (to go), lunches, and managed to send them out the door fully clothed and ready to kick ass (not literally, I hope).

After the morning chaos, I met with 1 of my partners at our new space and went over floor plans and general business stuff and I had tacos for lunch. #winning

How about you? Are you celebrating yourself today?

going to the chapel, part 1...{holzer-hall wedding, oak park, river forest, il}

"Some day, when I'm awfully low

When the world is cold

I will feel a glow just thinking of you

And the way you look tonight” -Frank Sinatra

Yesterday, I spent the day documenting the wedding of Anna & Matt. These 2 could not have been sweeter or more gracious from the beginning of our talks of working together until we said our goodbyes last night. What an honor to witness such a lovely day!

I have a lot of photos to pore over, so I will share a little at a time…relax & enjoy the slow roll out of their day.

Huge thanks go out to:

Tina Harle Photography, who second shot for me and captured the groom & groomsmen while I was with the bridal party!

Hair and makeup by the fantabulous Sara Jean Stevens!

a month of mamas: days 25, 26, and 27 {oak park photographer, oak park photo sessions}

“You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. 
What mood is that? 
Last-minute panic.” 
― Bill Watterson

So. My goal of posting a month of mamas has gone pretty smoothly. There have been a couple of late entries & some combining of days, but all in all…I’m feeling pretty good about mostly keeping up with it.

This year has been my busiest and for that, I thank you kindly! Blogging has never been something that I have consistently kept up with because I am a photographer first and all of the other stuff gets done when I am able to manage it.

In a perfect world, I am able to do all the things: shoot an amazing session, edit the session in record time, post a blog that is engaging and witty and maybe brings a tear to one’s eye…lather, rinse, repeat. All while being the best mom, wife, and friend that I hope to be.

In the world I currently inhabit, aka “the real world”, I work full time running my business and have 2 young boys, a husband, and a dog who all need my attention. At this very moment, my 6 year old is telling me about his Beyblades (is that how you spell it?) and I’ve had to stop typing multiple times and re-read the same sentence at least 20 times.

Since the end of April/beginning of May, we’ve also added T-ball/baseball to our rotation. This consists of 2 kids in 2 different locations (sometimes on the same day) for 2-5 days a week.

Let us not forget the end of school chaos. It feels like a years worth of activities and celebrations are stuffed into the month of May. I know that this must be a survival tactic for teachers, but it is A LOT for parents, working or otherwise.

This is my life. Sometimes stuff falls through the cracks. I would probably call myself an “okay-ish” mom, wife, and friend…but I try. I really do.

All of this to say…I’m “cheating” a little but I want to continue my month of celebrating mamas!

So, here’s to the mamas who are doing their best everyday! I salute you! I am you! We are the same!

jamie & alex {chicago wedding photographer, back of the yards}

“They came to sit & dangle their feet off the edge of the world & after awhile they forgot everything but the good & true things they would do someday. ” 
― Brian Andreas

Today, I had the honor of photographing a lovely, intimate wedding at The Plant, which is located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. The space is housed in a former meatpacking plant & full of natural light…a dream for any photographer.

Enjoy this quick look at a few of the images…

Congrats to Jamie & Alex!

a month of mamas: day 23 {oak park family photo sessions}

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” 
― Marcel Proust

Wishing this beautiful mama a happy birthday!

a month of mamas: day 21 {oak park family photographer}

“My mom smiled at me. Her smile kind of hugged me.” 
― R.J. Palacio

To this mama who does ALL THE THINGS but always has a smile, a hug, a shoulder, or a lap for her babies (and her friends!)…and she does it with very little sleep!

a month of mamas: day 20 {oak park family photo sessions}

“Mothers are all slightly insane.” 
― J. D. Salinger

To the mamas who are warriors…holding it all together…

a month of mamas: day 19 {oak park family photo sessions}

“Motherhood brings you to your knees in a way that doesn't leave room for you to judge others. It makes you see that there's no ideal - a constant struggle, constantly compromising, but ultimate love.”

- Maggie Gyllenhaal

To the beautiful mamas with smart mouths and a wicked sense of humor…(my favorite kind!)

a month of mamas: day 18 {oak park family photo sessions}

“Becoming a mom to me means that you have accepted that for the next 16 years of your life, you will have a sticky purse.” 

-Nia Vardalos

To the mamas who carry their sticky purses with style and grace…

a month of mamas: days 11 & 12 {oak park, il photo sessions}

“When you feel neglected, think of the female salmon, who lays 3,000,000 eggs but no one remembers her on Mother's Day” 
― Sam Ewing

This quote makes me laugh out loud…or LOL, as the kids say (geez…I’m old).

Today is the 1 day of the year when we are to celebrate moms. They are the people who literally bring us into the world…givers of life. They are usually the first to wipe our asses, wipe our tears, clean up all our messes, and then eventually teach us to do these things for ourselves.

Looking back, I don’t know how good of a job I did to celebrate my own mom. I probably made cards or crappy gifts, but I don’t recall it being a big to-do in our home. My memory is shit though, so hopefully I’m just misremembering. My mom would probably say that I’m misremembering, but that’s because she is too nice to say that we were self-centered assholes (to our faces, at least).

Because I’m surrounded by amazing mamas, I know that too often this day is a disappointment. I hear so many stories and they can all be summed up by this:

We don’t feel special. We don’t feel thought of or appreciated. We hope for a magical or, at the very least, semi-planned day.

Year after year, we feel let down by it all. Our feelings are hurt because it wasn’t what we expected it to be.

There are tons of places where you can read about the mental load that mother’s carry and so we hope that on this one day…JUST FOR TODAY…that we won’t have to plan & help execute the day to celebrate ourselves.

I’m going to propose a radical idea.

Ask for what your want and BE SPECIFIC…I know this loosely falls under “planning our day” but hear me out…

Even though my family has always had cards, flowers, and gifts for me, I’m often left feeling underappreciated. I’ve struggled with this and found myself feeling all the things from anger to sadness to guilt.

This year, I decided to go a different direction. I actually told my husband what I wanted and I was very specific:

1. let me sleep in. anything past 7am is considered a win.

2. make breakfast tacos & please do so before 10am so I don’t get hangry. PS: clean up your kitchen mess…

3. no obligatory gifts that feel forced. I can tell when you went out the night before & panic shopped.

4. if you must gift me something, a gift of experience is preferred. A massage, pedicure, or even a couple of hours alone would be delightful. Bonus: that last one doesn’t cost a thing!

   So far he has stayed the course. I slept in and then I had delicious breakfast tacos. I got a few handmade cards and a beautiful handmade gift from Oliver (a ceramic replica of our home), and a gift card for a spa day.

   And now all 3 of them are leaving the house…

To all the mamas, caregivers, and aunties out there…may you feel appreciated and loved today and ALL THE DAYS ❤️

Word to your mother!

a month of mamas: day 5 {oak park, il lifestyle photographer}

“Through the blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did - that everything involving our children was painful in some way. The emotions, whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride, were so deep and sharp that in the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that - a parent's heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.” 
― Debra Ginsberg

To all the Super Moms, doing all the things…

Photo sessions make great gifts… or treat yo self!

Book your session now: Find My Session!

a month of mamas: day 3 {oak park, il photo sessions}

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” 
― Washington Irving

Here’s to one of my favorite mamas…