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!

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 6 {oak park, il photographer}

“my mother
is pure radiance.

she is the sun
i can touch
and kiss

and hold
without
getting burnt.”
― Sanober Khan

To the tough mamas who make it look easy…

Photo sessions make great gifts… or treat yo self!

Book your session now: Find My Session!

and then there were 5...{in home family photo session, oak park, il}

“[Kids] don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”
― Jim Henson

We live in a world full of “perfect” Facebook families, Instagram worthy photos of siblings who never fight and only ever get along in their perfectly curated, camera ready homes, and holiday cards that rival the royal family/Kardashians (take your pick).

Sorry, but nobody is buying your picture perfect life! We’re onto you!

I don’t know about you, but I’m always relieved to see photos of shit getting real.

I like to see messy, chaotic, funny, silly, sad, happy, frustrated, skinned knees, real tears…all of the things that come with life.

When I look through old photo albums, I prefer the candid moments over the curated moments because it helps me remember that moment. It transports me to another time and that is a beautiful thing.

That’s something that never happens when I look at the “fantasy” version of family photos: Everyone dressed impeccably. No hair out of place. Not a blemish to be found. All eyes on the camera and pained smiles across everyone’s lips (especially mom, because she has been threatening everyone within an inch of their lives).

My hope for all of the amazing people who hire me is that they are able to relax & enjoy the ride. I want them to know that we will get that “perfect” photo, but that they need to be flexible in what their definition of "perfect” is.

Also, bribes are a perfectly legit tool to keep in your bag of tricks! ( I almost always have lollipops to offer up)

Will everyone be looking at the camera? Maybe, but I can’t guarantee it. Will everyone have a smile on their face? Possibly, but I never force people to smile. I have tricks & sometimes they work, but not always!

What I will promise you: I will be there to document your family in this moment. When you look back on the images, they will make you smile, laugh, cry, or maybe all 3.

If this isn’t the reaction you have, I may not be the photographer for you…but, I hope I am.

I love being invited into the chaos and being part of these milestones.

I’d love to tell your story too…(you can book sessions here)

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

twins! {n. family...oak park, il lifestyle session}

“Even twins have their differences.” -Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Last April, a client reached out to schedule a newborn session. She was expecting twins & her due date was early August. We both, her especially, expected they would make their debut sometime in July.

Throughout the summer, I would check in to see how things were going. Namely, how the babies were? Should we plan a session sooner than August? By late July, it seemed the target date was still August.

On August 8, we made our yearly pilgrimage to Texas & when we returned, I got to spend a couple of hours documenting this sweet family & their 2 newest members. Did I mention they also have a 3 year old?

Enjoy a few shots from this in-home session!

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!

fall photo session booking is now open! {oak park, il family photographer}

“There is a subtle magic in the falling of old leaves.”
― Avijeet Das

It always feels strange to think about autumn when summer has barely begun, but here we are...

If you're a planner, like I am, this is the time to secure & book a fall photo session. My fall dates are now available for booking and once they fill up, there's no guarantee that additional dates will be added.

If this fall is anything like last fall, the rainy weekends made it almost impossible to squeeze in any last minute bookings.

So, now is the time...don't wait until it's too late!

Find your session time: Booking Calendar

sunset session with the hattaway family {oak park, il family photographer}

“The connections we make in the course of a life--maybe that's what heaven is.”
― Fred Rogers

On May 25, I had the pleasure of photographing Victoria and her lovely family. It was a beautiful, perfect sunset session. I'm working on completing the edits, but so far...the images are stunning and I'm very happy with them.

A lot can happen in a week and I'm so happy we were able to make this session work. I can't wait to deliver the full gallery...in the meantime, enjoy these images!

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)

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!

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...