Do something extra special for your little one’s first birthday by scheduling a cake smash! First birthday cake smashes are a fun, interactive way to make first birthday memories. They allow your little one to play around, smile, giggle, and make a fun mess away from home while you get those memories photographed. Just pick a theme, schedule a session, and smash the cake! Contact us to get the process started, and click here to learn more about our cake smashes.
Trying to get last minute fall pictures of the family? We have you covered! We are still offering our fall mini sessions, but by REQUEST ONLY. Contact us to schedule yours or check out our 2021 Fall Mini Sessions tab in the menu for more information on our fall mini sessions.
Looking to make your little one’s first birthday extra special? You should book a cake smash for them! Cake smashes are a fun, messy way to celebrate a first birthday. Our cake smash sessions include a fun set and cake that go with your choice of theme, online gallery with all edited photos, and printing rights. Sessions take place at our Lincoln Park studio and are 30 minutes long. For more information check out our Custom Cake Smash tab in our menu. Contact us with any questions and to schedule your photography session!
Celebrate your LO’s first birthday with a cake smash! A cake smash is a great alternative to regular one year old photos- it’s a lot more fun as your LO gets a special set just for them and a cake to smash. It also makes for some great memories and even some laughs! We offer a few different packages for our cake smashes; we can help you pick out the best option. You will be able to pick out a theme for the photoshoot and the cake and set will follow that. After the session is complete and photos are edited, you will have access to a personalized photo gallery with high resolution images for download and purchase. For more information, click here. Or contact us to set up your appointment or with any questions.
It’s that time for your LO to turn one! Make it extra special by planning a cake smash! Create adorable and fun moments on a cute birthday set up made just for your LO, and let them smash away at their birthday cake! Our team works with you to pick out the perfect option for you and your family. We love making your set look amazing, as well as taking breathtaking photos of your birthday boy or girl! For more information check out our cake smash page here. Contact us with any questions and to set up your photo session.
Looking to celebrate your LO’s first birthday? Do it with a bang! Or in this case, a cake smash! Cake smashes are an adorable way to do something big, fun, and memorable for this milestone birthday. We offer a few different package options, so you can choose the one that works for you and your family. You can expect a cute birthday set up, a cake to smash, and an online gallery of your high resolution photos once they’re available. For more information, click here, or contact us with any questions.
Your little one is all settled in, and now you can’t wait to show them off to the world! We have you covered with our loving newborn sessions. Instead of complicated posing and props, we focus on your bundle of joy and family. Keep things simple and sweet here at our studio, or let us come to you to capture everyone in their natural setting- at home, in the crib, together on the couch, with your furry family member, etc. We want everyone to feel comfortable while we capture your sweet moments! Contact us to set up your appointment, or click here for some more information.
Got a special birthday coming up? Put the icing on the cake with a fun birthday shoot! Whether it's a 5th, 10th, 16th, or 18th birthday we'll help to make it extra amazing. Dress up, bring friends, stay in the studio, or have some fun outside, it's up to you. Contact us for more information and with any questions!
A first birthday is such an exciting time to celebrate! Your little one is oh so adorable, and they aren’t so little any more. They grow up way too fast, so capture this time a little better with a fun birthday and cake smash photoshoot! We can work with you to get everything you’re looking for- cake smash pictures, family pictures, pictures of just your cutie, etc. Check out what we offer here, or contact us with any questions.
Taking family pictures isn’t easy. For one, having photo sessions with children requires a lot of patience. If an upcoming family photo shoot is giving you sleepless nights, check out these 5 tips for a stress-free family session!
It’s Okay to be Candid
Taking the “perfect” shot for a family with young children can be challenging. While it’s great to have some posed photos of the family all together, don’t be afraid to be yourself in front of the camera!
If someone in your family has a funny joke to tell, let them share it to get everyone laughing. If your kids want to run around to get some energy out, this can be a great way to start the session (and it makes it easier for them to want to sit still later!).
Additionally, below are some games kids can play during the photography session that can make memorable shots:
● Bear crawl, skipping, and running races
● Follow the leader
● Freeze dance
● Tickle fight
Pick a Location You’re Comfortable At
While it might not initially seem like the location will impact your stress levels, it actually can! Shooting in a location that you’re excited about and feel comfortable in is important, because it’s one less thing you’ll be worrying about during the session.
For example, if you have a favorite park in Chicago to take the kids to, let’s shoot there! If you prefer the comfort of your own home, we can come to you. We’re also happy to suggest some of our favorite locations if you need suggestions.
The location sets the scene and the mood for the session, so make sure it’s somewhere you’re looking forward to using!
Set Reasonable Expectations
Having realistic expectations before going into your photo sessions can minimize your stress levels. For instance, a shy preschooler might do better with regular sessions than short mini sessions while a toddler who typically naps in the afternoon will likely be cranky if you try to schedule a shoot during that time.
On the other hand, a one-year-old baby may not tolerate long sessions and several outfit changes. However, they may like an easy-going session with attention grabbers like a wagon ride.
Consider Your Wardrobe
The right wardrobe can transform ordinary pictures into extraordinary ones. We can guide you depending on your photo session scenery, what you intend to do with the pictures, and the season. Some things to consider when choosing your outfits include:
● Location: How you dress for a sunset session in a park will vary from a winter session in the field.
● Color Scheme: Choose one patterned outfit for your family and then blend it with coordinating colors.
● Trying on Your Outfits: Ensure everyone tries their photo session clothes before showing up at the location to feel confident in how they look.
Relax at the Photoshoot
Handle unexpected things like surprise rainfall and stained clothes during your session calmly. Chances are, we likely have a backup plan or ways to shoot around distracting elements!
When you are stressed, your entire family can become anxious and suddenly feel stiff as they stand in front of the camera. If something goes wrong, take a deep breath and smile! Also, try to enjoy the process even when things don’t happen the way you were expecting.
Your family photography session should be memorable and enjoyable. Try out the above tips to have a stress-free photo shoot during your next session.
They’re coming around the corner, so schedule your little one’s spring first birthday cake smash soon! Included in our cake smash session is a cute set, cake to smash, and an online gallery of your high resolution photos from the shoot. We have our cake smashes happening in our Lincoln Park studio at the moment, but warmer weather means outdoor cake smashes are coming back soon! Click here for more information regarding our cake smashes, and contact us with any questions or scheduling.
Every photographer tries their best to get smiling faces from everyone, but sometimes the little ones have a hard time getting into a good mood. Here are a few things to try to get them feeling better during your photography session.
Play their favorite song, show, or video. A familiar, happy tune may get them singing, dancing, or very smiley.
Try playing with their favorite toy. Shaking their favorite toy around can help to grab their attention and smile at their familiar toy.
Take a break! Sometimes it’s good to do something different for a little while and come back.
Give them a snack. Another good refresher that can take the cranky edge off.
Engage tickle monster! A good tickle or a funny action can bring on some great giggles too!
Make your little one’s first birthday extra special and memorable with a cake smash! We love working with families to come up with an adorable set to use for your session. Grab some ideas from the internet or even Pinterest for a theme, pick out an outfit (or a couple), and we’ll take care of the rest. We’ll have the set ready for you once you arrive along with a cake to smash. We’ll walk you through the plan for your cake smash session, and we’ll take some awesome photos of the birthday guy or gal! It’s so fun to see so many smiles, giggles, and obviously cake smashing too!
For some more information about our cake smashes, click here. Contact us with any questions or to set up a cake smash with your little one.
Back when we had a day or two of some warmer weather we had the opportunity to shoot a gender reveal! This family booked some cute, holiday family pictures and added the reveal onto their booking. Contact us to book and plan a customized photography appointment. We have quite a few options available to browse here- use as the structure for your booking or as a stepping point!
As cute as the kiddos may be, don’t forget that they have tough and bad days too! Sometimes it’s hard to get a smile or a laugh out of them. There are times where the kids are cranky, don’t want to be away from mom and dad, or are cautious or shy since they don’t know the photographer or assistant. We’ll do our best to work with your family to get those smiles and laughs out. It may take just a good tickle from a family member, it may take a break, it may take a different pose or setting. Remember a good night sleep or nap, a meal or snack, water, and diaper change can all help too! Bringing a favorite toy and putting on their favorite song or show might help as well!
Grab your cute holiday outfits, it's time for pictures! Throw on that cute red dress, that emerald jumpsuit, that red buffalo plaid and elevate it with a gorgeous smile. We'll capture it so you can share with friends and family this season, so smiles can be share all around. To check out what photography options we offer, click here. Contact us to schedule a time or with your questions.
Gather this holiday season for some family portraits! Show off your best smiles and we'll do the rest. We'll capture some amazing shots of you and your family that are perfect to hang up on the wall or to send as gifts. Click here for more information. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or to book an appointment.
Give thanks to a great family with some amazing family portraits! Whether on location (It doesn’t have to be outside!) or in studio, the choice is yours. Choose from our array of photo session options, and contact us when you’re ready to book a shoot!
Looking for family portraits? Maybe even some outdoor photos? The weather has been nice lately and we would love to help you get those awesome family shots! We can do on location or studio sessions. We have a few different options to choose from, and you can choose which works best for you and your family. We also have one last Fall Mini Session day tomorrow, Nov. 8th, in Lincoln Park which you can inquire on availability. You can contact us for more information, with questions, or to book your session!
Are you looking for some awesome family portraits? We would be delighted to help! We love doing on location shoots, and with the weather getting cooler, in studio sessions are becoming more popular again too. We also have our holiday sessions coming up soon, so keep an eye out for those! For more information on our portrait options, click here. Contact us to book or with any questions!
