one for one {oak park, il family photographer}

“What you do with your time daily is essential for spiritual and physical growth”
― Sunday Adelaja

Hi. How are you? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise? Have you picked up a new hobby or language?

Yeah, I haven’t really been doing any of those things either…

In these past 35 days, I’ve had a lot of time to think. On the best days and on the worst days, my thoughts turn to those who are putting themselves and their health at risk by continuing to work. “Essential” workers who are keeping us safe, fed, healthy, etc. The list is long…it includes everyone from medical professionals to grocery store workers to janitorial staff, many of whom are low wage earners.

I think about ways that I can help. What can I do? Like many others, our income has been greatly reduced and we are struggling to tighten our budget. But we are incredibly grateful to be healthy and have a home to stay safe in.

Besides the obvious, which is staying home, I’ve made small donations to a few organizations. I’ve made purchases from local, small businesses for the occasional dinner, Easter gifts, and most importantly, coffee. Shout out to Big Guys Sausage for feeding my family, Hilary’s Soapbox for filling my kids’ Easter baskets, and Dark Matter Coffee for keeping me sufficiently caffeinated.

But…I want to do more.

I try not to jump on photo “bandwagon” ideas…Glitter sessions? Not gonna happen. Porch sessions? Nope. However, I’ve seen a couple of other photographers who came up with a plan to donate sessions to first responders and essential workers…and this is a trend that I’m happy to get behind.

So, I’m offering a limited amount of “One for One” gift card purchases. When you purchase a gift card for a future session, you can nominate an essential worker who will be given a gift card for a future session. If you don’t have someone in mind, we will happily nominate and donate a session in your name.

If you are able to purchase a gift card now, follow this link for the “One for One” offer:

One for One 1-hour Session Gift Certificate

One for One Mini Session Gift Certificate

When you make your purchase, you can include the name and email of the person you’d like to nominate in the notes section of checkout.

I can’t wait to see you all again!

Be well, friends.

portraits of motherhood {oak park portrait photographer, family photos oak park, il}

“Motherhood is a choice you make every day, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.”
― Donna Ball

book an outdoor motherhood session

book a studio motherhood session

Do me a favor and stop what you're doing (I know you just started reading this blog & now I'm asking you to stop reading...stick with me...or not?).

Take a look around your home and your Facebook/Instagram pages.

When you look through the images that tell your story, how do they make you feel?

Here's a better question: When your kids are older and they look back on these same photos (I hope you printed them...), how will it make them feel? Will the story make sense or will there be huge gaps?

For somebody who takes up so much space in our hearts and lives, moms are suspiciously absent from our photos.

When you look through the photos in your home and on your social media accounts, how many include mom? My hope is that mom is in a lot of photos, but realistically, mom doesn't make too many appearances. I'm sure there are a million reasons why, including the fact that mom is usually the one behind the camera.

"So when all is said and done, if I can’t do it for myself, I want to do it for my kids. I want to be in the picture, to give them that visual memory of me. I want them to see how much I am here, how my body looks wrapped around them in a hug, how loved they are."-Allison Tate

I think that quote pretty much sums up how I feel about mamas getting in the frame. Do yourself a favor and read the whole piece. It's a quick read, but maybe it will help give you the nudge you've been needing!

The Mom Stays in the Picture

I always try to make sure that my sessions include a few frames with just mom & kids, but I also offer a few mini sessions during the year that are only for mothers & kids. Any of the portrait sessions I offer can be Motherhood sessions, but since mom's tend to prioritize everyone but themselves, I like to give you the option to do something that is only for YOU. It's in the title, so it's just for MOM! Maybe you hadn't considered it before or maybe you just needed "permission"...

Whatever reason you've been using for not being in photos, can we agree that there is a huge reason why you need to put that aside & get in the frame?

Our kids need to be able to see that we were there...we are/were part of the story. Part of their story.

So, whether you want to book a session that's especially for you or you want to book a regular session, just make sure that you grab a few frames with just you and the kids or just YOU. Why not?

*this blog post was originally posted March 25, 2019. All images and session dates have been updated for 2020*

welcome to the world, baby girl! {oak park, il newborn photographer, oak park documentary photographer}

“What strange creatures brothers are!”
― Jane Austen

This lovely family recently moved from California to Oak Park & I had the pleasure of being invited into their home as they welcomed their sweet, baby girl into the world.

This sweet girl is lucky enough to have 2 big brothers who are ready to jump in and help out…well…right now they have shenanigans to attend to but I believe that in time, they will be her biggest champions!

It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to document these moments for people. I recognize the trust that is being extended to me and I do not take that lightly.

celebrating 90 years! {oak park, il documentary photographer}

“What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it.”
― Gabriel Garcia Marquez

August is typically my month off work. It’s why you don’t see very many posts from me.

I know…taking a month sounds like a really amazing vacation, but let me be clear: it’s not really vacation time. When you own and run a business, there really aren’t many “off” days. I only occasionally hire assistants, so the majority of the time I am my only employee & I think clearing my calendar or 1 month is a good way to “reset” myself. With fall shooting just around the corner, I need a little time to relax & catch my breath.

I usually spend at least a couple of weeks visiting family in Texas followed by a week or 2 of getting ready for back to school. I have plenty to do…so no worries that I’m living my best life while kicking back & resting (I do a little of that also…and I don’t feel bad about it!).

BUT…

There are exceptions to my rule…in the past, I’ve been contacted by clients who were planning to have extended family in town and on this rare occasion, they wanted family photos. If I am able to make that happen (like, I’m in town) then I’m happy to do it!

Today was another exception and I’m so happy that I was in town and able to take the job.

I had the honor of photographing a special event for my dear friend, Nallely. Today was her grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration and I loved being able to be part of this special day.

What a fun day, full of all the people who love her and came to celebrate her!

Here’s a little snippet of today’s event…enjoy! I’ll be back in full swing by September!

word to your mother! {oak park portrait photographer}

“Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.”
― Donna Ball

So, whether you want to book a session that's especially for you or you want to book a regular session, just make sure that you grab a few frames with just you and the kids or just YOU. Why not?

book a motherhood session

Session date: April 27 & 28

Exact location to be determined as the date approaches.
If you'd like to book a Motherhood Mini, follow this booking link
(Motherhood session dates are not available on my regular booking calendar)
Motherhood sessions are for moms & kids only!

wrapping up september sessions...{chicago family photo session, humboldt park}

Now that I’m knee deep in fall photo sessions, it feels calming to look back to a less hectic time…I mean, it was only about a month ago that I shot this beautiful family, but it seems like longer!

(October feels like a steamroller, so I’m trying to take my moments when I can.)

This session was led by an adorable 2 year old. It was a beautiful, warm, summer-like day in mid-September…these are the best days…the little breaks before the weather changes & we all need our coats & boots.

Enjoy these sunny, warm family photos!

preparing for your perfect photo session {oak park, il family photos}

“The best stories are like the best burgers: big, juicy, and messy.”
― A.D. Posey

Photo sessions can be hard for little people.

Let’s be honest...they can be hard for big people!
The most important thing that I want to tell my clients is: Relax. It’s only photos. We will make it through and everything will be fine. We may not get the “perfect” smile, but we will get what’s real and that is worth so much more than “perfection”.

I would argue that the real stuff IS perfection.

When we look back on our photos, we should have a sense of being there. We should be transported to that time and remember how hard or funny or sad or chaotic it was. It should fill us up and help us see how far we’ve come.

This is the real stuff. This is the good stuff.

click on an image to enlarge & scroll through entire gallery

summertime...{oak park, il photographer}

"We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer's wreckage. We will welcome summer's ghost."

-Henry Rollins

19 family sessions, 11 headshot sessions, 220 hours of editing (this is part time, summer hours, by the way), about 70 hours spent at a swimming pool, various hours exploring our city, 1 camping trip, road trip to for weekend trip to Iowa, road trip for weeklong visit to Texas...how did you spend your summer "vacation"?

Now that it's September, it seems like a good time to post some snippets of summer. I wish that I was better about blogging as I go, but apparently this is who I am. I have the best of intentions but my execution is typically lacking.

For me, summer is not the easy, laid back affair that I remember it being when I was a child. It's a struggle to fit in any & all fun things for my kids, while still working full time, from home. It's a rush to the finish line...and I always breath a deep sigh of relief when it's over.

So, now that school is back in session (holla!), here's what I've been doing all summer (client-wise)...

Enjoy! And...happy end of summer!

word to your mother! {motherhood photo sessions, oak park, il photographer}

“But kids don't stay with you if you do it right. It's the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won't be needed in the long run.”
― Barbara Kingsolver

This quote always gives me pause.

As much as I dream of a day with uninterrupted bathroom breaks, a car without goldfish crackers in every nook & cranny, and a day free of screaming, bickering children, I also know that this time is fleeting.

Every mom with a young child has been told to "enjoy this time...they will be grown before you know it!", or some variation of that. I'm sure this is sage advice, but it can feel...overwhelming, condescending, scary. Pick an emotion...it can make you feel all the things!

I take a lot of photos of my kids. Obviously. But, since I'm the one taking those photos, I don't show up in too many of them.

Over the years, we've booked family photo sessions. We've also taken family photos by setting the camera on a tripod & setting the timer. They were always fine & marked the moment in time, but I wanted something more.

Last year, I gifted myself a motherhood photo session. It was me & my boys. The images are beautiful & I could not love them more.

You know what else? I was not feeling particularly beautiful. I still "needed" to lose weight. My busy schedule made it tricky to find a time. My boys wouldn't "cooperate".

I could find a million reasons why I needed to postpone the session. But, I didn't.

I got my uncooperative boys to wear jeans (gasp!), put on clean shirts, brush their hair, and we drove an hour and half (in the pouring rain) to our session. We were late (of course). I was nervous and flustered. But, we did it. We survived! And now...I have the most beautiful images to document that moment in time.

Even though it was only a year ago, I look at the images & my boys look so much younger. Oliver still had his baby teeth (I know...he didn't start losing teeth until the end of 2nd grade). Milo still wanted to cuddle with me in front of strangers.

Most importantly, I'm in the frame. They will have proof of my existence.

Have you been putting it off? Forget about all the reasons why you can't. Do it for your kids. Do it for yourself. You won't be sorry.

(Book a session or get a gift certificate)