hello february! {oak park, il headshot photo event}
“There are no bad pictures; that's just how your face looks sometimes.”
― Abraham Lincoln
It's February 1...do you know what that means?
We are now 47 days away from Spring...Can you smell it in the air? (close your eyes, click your heels...whatever it takes)
To me, Spring is a time for planning, projects, and renewal...and, speaking of renewal, I've opened my booking calendar for my first headshot event of 2018! (how's that for clunky segues?)
modern headshots
Are you asking yourself, "Self-do I need a new headshot?"? Not sure?
Ask yourself these questions about your current headshot:
1. was it taken on a beach (bonus points if it was spring break)?
2. was it taken in a bathroom, with a cellphone (you know who you are)?
3. am i unrecognizable to friends and family?
And, more importantly, how does your current headshot make you feel? Does it make you feel confident? Do you feel like it accurately showcases your personality? If you want to refresh and update your professional portrait, I would love to help!
corporate headshots | makeup by Jennifer Flynn
Here's the lowdown!
Headshot Only: $100 | Headshot with Professional Makeup: $175
(to find & book a session time, click links above)
(Due to time constraints, professional makeup artist option has limited availability)
When: February 11 (11am-4pm) | Where: Academia, Institute of Language and Culture
What: Each session will take approximately 5-10 minutes* and includes 1 edited image, delivered in color and black & white (2 total files). Within 2 weeks of your session, you will receive a password protected online gallery from which you can choose your favorite image. Additional files will be available for purchase.
*for those who book the headshot session with professional makeup artist Jennifer Flynn, you must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled session time.
Last years event sold out quickly, so book your session today!
Book my Headshot with Professional Makeup
Have questions? Send me an email: joey@littlebittyproductions.com
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!!
a day at garfield park conservatory {k extended family session}
August seems to be the month for travel & family get-togethers.
Since moving to Oak Park about 10 years ago, we travel back to Texas at least twice a year: during the holiday season & in August. It's during our August visit that we get to see many family members that aren't always around during the holidays.
August is also the time when I get the most requests for extended family sessions. Coincidence? Maybe...but...probably not.
I love being able to photograph large families: cousins, grandparents with grandkids, grown siblings and their partners, etc., but since I am usually out of town in August, I typically have to refer these lovely families to other photographers.
Occasionally, the stars align for me...
We returned from Texas on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, I headed to Garfield Park Conservatory to spend some time with an awesome family of 13 (parents, grandparents, siblings, partners, cousins...).
I say it all the time, but I'll say it again: I love my job.
It was a lovely day, with a beautiful family...
time flies...{now booking fall photo sessions}
It seems cruel to talk about the end of summer on the first day of July, but...some things require a planning & looking ahead.
Summer is a time for taking it easy, loosening the rules (a little), and spending as much time outdoors as is humanly possible. Routines & schedules are harder to stick to. In 20 years, if you tell me that I allowed my boys to eat ice cream for dinner, I will deny, deny, deny! But, for now, I will do my best to fill my days & keep my sanity. If that means my 4 & 8 year old will occasionally, ok...regularly, choose & feed themselves gummy bears for lunch, then so be it.
While I love the idea of summer, I will breathe a huge sigh of relief when the school year starts again & everyone is back to a routine. I crave schedules & consistency. It's my superpower...
And so, with visions of "back to school" dancing in my head, I've updated my booking calendar & have opened up my fall session dates.
This fall, there are fewer sessions being offered. In part, because I took on too much last fall, but also due to other commitments.
Just a heads up: within 2 weeks of releasing last year's dates, I was about 80% booked for the season.
I hope that everyone is having an amazing summer & I look forward to seeing all of your gorgeous faces in the fall!
a little peek from last weekend {oak park, Il family photos}
Last weekend, I had fun photographing a few families from Milo's pre-school. Even though the weather was a bit chilly, it was a beautiful day!
Here's a little sneak peek from the sessions...enjoy!
it's time for another giving partnership! {riverside photo sessions}
I had so much fun during last years Giving Partnership Micro Sessions...I'm doing it again! Who wants to kick off the summer by giving a little something & getting a little something in return?
On June 3 & 4, I will be partnering with RJWC for a weekend of micro photo sessions. All sessions will be held in Riverside, at an outdoor location near Swinging Bridge (exact location to be determined as the session date approaches).
What is a micro session? I'm glad you asked! A micro session is a quick, 15 minute session. It's a great way to get an updated portrait, without the commitment of a full photo session.
Here's the best part...fifty percent of the session profits from this event will go to Riverside Junior Woman's Charity.
Because these sessions are quick, it's important to keep them as uncomplicated as possible. Babies being photographed should be able to sit up on their own or be in a group photo with someone able to hold them or prop them up. Groups should be no larger than 5 or 6 people. Here are a few fun ideas for these sessions:
For small children, toddlers & young kids: updated portrait (alone or with siblings/cousin/friend), superhero/dress-up portrait, lovey/favorite stuffed animal portrait
For tweens & teens: updated portrait, best friends portrait, all about me portrait (what is your kid passionate about right now? skateboarding? dance? the list is endless...)
For adults/families: updated family portrait, updated couples portrait, best friend portrait
To find a time and book your session: Giving Partnership Micro Session
If you have questions: joey@littlebittyproductions.com
As always...here's the fine print! Sessions must be paid in full to book and hold your spot. Because this is a charitable event, the fee is non-refundable. Should you need to cancel, you can transfer your session fee to a friend or family. Please plan to arrive at least 5-10 minutes prior to your session time and be dressed and ready for your portrait session. No refunds will be given for no-shows or late arrivals. In the event of a late arrival, we will do everything in our power to fit you in, if time allows. In the event of rain or other inclement weather, sessions will be rescheduled on June 10 or 11.
sunday sunset {riverside sibling photo session}
It's May 1...I think that we can safely say that winter is behind us.
{slow clap}
And so...since it's a new month, I'm working on wrapping up all client work from April, including a lovely Riverside sunset session.
Here's a sneak peek at these sweet & silly siblings...
in the park {oak park family photo session}
One of the best things about my job is watching my clients grow. From growing families to growing babies, it's so fun to document & look back.
This past weekend, I photographed a beautiful family who I first met (and photographed) in the spring of 2016. The littlest member of their family was only 8 weeks old when I last saw her and I remember how sweet her big brother was when he held her!
They are a year older & have more hair than last year, but big brother is still super sweet with his little sister.
It was a lovely day for an outdoor session & I was happy to spend it with familiar faces!
Here's a little sneak peek from the session...
a rainy afternoon {skokie extended family photo session}
I love to document extended family sessions and multiple generations. They are almost always chaotic, but in the best way!
As someone who lives far from my own family, I understand how important & tricky it can be to make the time to get family photos.
cousins!
I recently had the opportunity to photograph a lovely & energetic extended family in Skokie. With 5 young kids in the mix, we hit the ground running...no time to waste.
I have a lot of editing, but in the meantime, I wanted to share a little peek...happy Monday!
family!
april showers bring may...freebies {spring photo booking bonus}
Spring has me feeling all the things...happy, giddy, nostalgic...the list goes on.
As is my Spring tradition, I begin purging "stuff", organizing and doing a variety of cleaning out projects. I long to be a minimalist, but it just isn't in my nature. I have a lot of "things" that I'm just not interested in parting with...yet.
In the meantime, I try to be as organized as is humanly possible. When you live in a small home with 3 other humans and a dog, this can be a challenge.
I love baskets & boxes of all types. Be they decorative or utilitarian, I've never met a container that I didn't love.
I've always been a fan of presenting items in the most thoughtful way possible. I have numerous pieces of my kids artwork on the refrigerator, but I also have several in frames, hanging on the wall. I believe that the presentation of things is important and can, at times, be transformational.
With organization & presentation in mind, I'm offering a spring photo booking incentive.
Book your full* session before May 1 and receive your image files via thumb drive in a keepsake print box (a $100 value).
pretty packaging!
the fine print: a full session is any regularly priced session that is 1 hour or longer. this offer does not apply to mini sessions or other discounted sessions. to book and hold your session, a retainer is required. a session is not considered booked until the retainer has been paid.
sunday morning in the park {oak park family session}
“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.”
― Pablo Neruda
Spring is officially here! Everything is turning green again and flowers are beginning to bloom...it's time to shed our layers and get outside for some much needed vitamin D!
I'm excited about all of my upcoming sessions, meeting new clients, and reuniting with returning clients.
If you haven't booked a session yet, what are you waiting for? Find spring & summer dates here: Spring/Summer
In the meantime...enjoy a sneak peek of this lovely family session!
summer session dates are here!
It's time to start thinking ahead & planning for summer...vacations, camps, lazy days.
Summer is also a great time to book a photo session. The days are longer & layers are no longer needed...and summer sunset sessions can't be beat. It's the best time of the year for golden hour light!
Available 1 Hour Sessions: April-July
Available Mini Sessions: April-July
sunset in michigan
Summer is also a great time for Day In The Life sessions. These documentary sessions aim to capture a snippet of your day to day life: making pancakes with your kids, playing in the backyard or your favorite playground, or taking a walk to your favorite ice cream shop. These sessions are all about YOU & documenting what is unique to your life.
Due to the customizable nature of Day in the Life sessions, they are not listed on our scheduling calendar. Contact me for more info.
Session packages & pricing can be found here: investment.
For more information, including session types & dates, jump to this page or email me!
welcoming rhys {oak park lifestyle photo session}
yesterday, i got to help welcome this little guy into the world...
enjoy this little sneak!
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.
spring photo session promo...extended
So, I'm notorious for procrastinating. In fact, I meant to write this blog on Friday. So, there you go...
I get promo emails or snail mail regularly. A lot of it gets passed on because I'm trying to become more minimalist and have less things (it's really ok...you can laugh...i'm a work in progress). But there are a few that I always earmark because they are things that we actually need, like kids clothes.
But, here's what happens...I usually remember the promo approximately 24 hours after it expires.
{sad trombone}
did you forget to book your session? don't despair...
So...in the spirit of procrastination & procrastinators everywhere, I'm extending our Spring booking offer through March 6. Find Spring mini session info here: Spring Photo Minis
Our full session promo is extended as well. If you book a full session (1 hour or longer), you will receive a $100 file or print credit. To receive this promo, half of the session fee must be paid by March 6.
happy dance!
If you have questions, let's chat! Send me an email: joey@littlebittyproductions.com
sneak peek {cousins photo session, riverside, il}
For the past few days, the weather has been amazing!
I was lucky to get the boys out of the house, go for several long walks to playgrounds and parks & I even snuck in some time with clients. It was a great (extended) weekend!
Now is the time to book your Spring session and if you book by the end of February, I've got a few promo deals to offer (spring mini promo). You can find all spring session dates & times here: calendar
Or, send me an email & we can chat: joey@littlebittproductions.com
Here's a little sneak peek from some of my favorite clients...they never fail to bring great energy!
last minute "awesome weather" promo
You guys...it's going to be 60 & sunny this weekend.
It's the middle of February.
In the Midwest.
let's get excited!
I think we can all agree that the forecast sounds amazing. So, because I'm craving some time outside without 10 layers of clothing, I'm offering a last minute "awesome weather" promo. Let's get outside & stalk some light, shall we?
The sessions will take place at an outdoor location in or near Oak Park. I'm opening 4 mini sessions & offering $50 off each session. Total price, after discount: $175.
Saturday, February 18: 4:20p & 5p (Oak Park) | Sunday, February 19: 4:20p & 5p (Riverside)
If you'd like to book a full, 1 hour session & both time slots are still open, we will offer $75 off. Total price, after discount: $300
To book a session, email me: joey@littlebittyproductions.com.
The fine print: To secure your time, payment must be made in full at the time of booking. This promo is only valid on February 18 & 19, 2017.
mini sessions are back!
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.”
― Leo Tolstoy
On Monday & Tuesday, we had a little taste of Spring in Chicago...temperatures were in the 50's, there were puddles to be jumped in, and dog paws were extra muddy. It was just what we needed. Winter in the midwest tends to drag. It's tolerable through January and then, we're kind of over it.
{sigh}
Can you feel change coming?
To me, Spring always feels more like a new beginning than the New Year. January through March, I hibernate so that I can re-emerge more refreshed & rested.
rest, re-energize, re-emerge...
I released my Spring calendar a couple of days ago & now, Spring photo minis are on the calendar.
Sessions will be held outdoors, with exact locations to be determined as the date approaches.
March 12 | Oak Park
March 19 | Riverside
April 9 | Oak Park
April 22 | Oak Park
April 23 | Lurie Gardens (am)/ Riverside (pm)
May 21 | Oak Park
Here's the best part: if you book and secure your session by February 28*, you will receive 5 additional image files. Awesome, right?
I'm ready...take me to the booking calendar!
*Mini sessions will be offered early morning and close to sunset. Family sessions are for immediate family only. While mini sessions are not recommended for extended family shoots, additional family members can be added for a small fee. A $100 retainer is required to book & secure your session date. Exact locations for mini sessions will be determined by little bitty productions.
Dates are limited and fill quickly, so book yours now! Do you have questions? Send me an email or give me a call...I'd love to chat with you!