With warmer weather settling in, are you doing some spring cleaning? Including revamping old family portraits? We have you covered! We love having family portraits in our Lincoln Park studio or on location. (Um, yes to warm, blooming, outdoor photos!) We offer a few different options that you can look at here, or you can contact us with questions.
A Big Day!- First Birthday Photography in Chicago
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.
5 Tips for a Stress-Free Family Session
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.
Celebrate Spring Birthdays!
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.
Too Cute!
Start off the new year with some wonderful, new family portraits! Capture the smiles, the giggles, the sparkle in everyone’s eyes. Choose from a whole family session, just focus on the kids, get some photos of your new addition to your family, or even snap some pictures with your furry friend! We would love to put something together that works for what you’re looking for. Click here for information on some of the options we offer. Contact us to set up an appointment or with any questions.
Customizable Photoshoots
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!
It’s Hard To Be A Kid Sometimes
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!
To A New Year!
Happy New Year! We hope everyone had fun this holiday season, and still got to celebrate together some way safe despite the virus. We got a little bit of a break here at the studio to enjoy the holidays too. We were also able to reflect back on this unusual and unprecedented year. As difficult as things have been with shut downs, restrictions, and unknowns we are truly grateful and thankful to all of you that have kept our small business going and staying afloat. We can’t do this without all of you, so again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support. We are extremely appreciative to capture your families, children, and special moments, and we hope to continue to have that opportunity. We hope this year is better than last and wish all of you a great year.
Time To Get Festive!
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.
Smiles All Season Long
Capture those wonderful smiles to share with family this season! We may be keeping our distance, but you and your family's happy faces are sure to brighten a loved one's day. We would be honored to help you out with that! For information on available photo sessions, click here. Contact us to book your session or with any questions you may have.
Family Time
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.
Celebrate Family!
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!
Family Portraits, Kid Portraits, Fall Portraits- OH MY!
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!
Welcome Little One!
Welcoming a new baby home is an amazing feeling. Why not capture those early days with some commemorative photos? Our newborn sessions are done in studio. We'll focus not only on your baby, but the whole family too! In addition, baby can be awake or asleep, whatever works best. For more information click here. You can also contact us with any questions and to book your newborn session.
Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall- Chicago Family Portraits
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!
Cake Smash Celebration!
Enjoy your little one’s first birthday with a cake smash! They are so fun and memorable. With a super cute set and an adorable cake to smash, it is the perfect way to commemorate the moment! We offer on location shoots if you want to use up the little bit of nice weather left, or in studio photo sessions. For more information, click here. Or contact to set up an appointment or with any questions you may have.
Falling For Fall In Chicago
We are loving are end of the season and fall photoshoots! The weather has been decent and the locations have been beautiful. We are having so much fun with our families and making amazing memories too! We offer on location or in studio photography. If you would like to get on the fall train, contact us to set up a photo session. Ask if we have any fall mini sessions available too!
Fall Mini Sessions Are Here!
Fall is just around the corner Chicago, and we're so excited! Between the colorful natural backgrounds and the changing sunlight there are so many fun and easy ways to make sure your family's personality shines through with every shot. $250 includes a 30 minute session, all usable digital images, printing rights & booking fees. Click here for more information, dates, and times. LIMITED SPACES- GRAB YOUR SPOT WHILE THE POPULAR TIMES ARE STILL AVAILABLE.
Over The Rainbow
Is your baby turning one soon? Plan a cake smash for them! We work with you to put together a theme and set for your baby’s session. Top it off with a cute cake, and your baby has one adorable cake smash! Most of our cake smashes happen in the studio, but you can use the last of the good weather to have a location cake smash. For more information on our cake smashes, click here, or contact us to set up your appointment and with any questions.
Wild One
Is it cake smash time for your one year old? We love celebrating first birthdays with a cake smash! In our cake smash package you are able to get a custom birthday setup, a cute cake to smash, and an online gallery of all your high resolution, edited photos with photo rights. Sessions are done in our Lincoln Park studio, however, cake smashes on location are amazing too! Click here for more information, or contact us to set up your appointment and with any questions.