So you decided to do first birthday photos of your little one. How about turning your photo session into a cake smash! Your little one will have an adorable session with a yummy cake to smash and a cute birthday set to match! If you are looking for a complete cuteness overload, you could even find an outfit that matches the theme you chose for the photos- like irresistible Mr. Onederful above. For more information about our cake smashes, click here. Otherwise, contact us with any questions!
Our cake smash sessions are our most popular photography packages. Our 30 minute session includes a cake to smash, a cute themed set, and an online gallery for your photos once they are ready! We have options for longer shoots, additional family members, additional outfits, and more. Send whatever questions you have our way, or click here for a little more information.
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 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.
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.
Get the little one out of the house for a special birthday activity! Come in to enjoy a fun cake smash session with a customizable theme and a yummy cake to smash. Let us capture the birthday kiddo’s smiles and giggles, and tearing apart that cake! For more information click here. To set up an appointment or if you have any questions contact us.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
