thank heaven for little boys.

We didn’t know where to find spring a few weeks ago, but this lovely mommy-to-be was in full bloom for her maternity session at the County Park. Figure hugging frocks are a big YES for maternity photo shoots in my opinion. There is no better time to show off your bod.

It was cold. But since Rocky wasn’t getting any less pregnant, we didn’t have much of a choice. And Donny was such a good sport. He was frozen. And asked to do ridiculous things like act natural, and then smile, and then smell Rocky’s hair. We definitely made the best of things and laughed A LOT.

 

The little boy in that belly is one lucky kid.

a birthday & a baby bump.

A very special mommy-to-be, who just happens to be one of my best friends, has a birthday today. I hustled to get her maternity photos edited in time to surprise her. We had her session last week, in between days of rain and snow, I still can’t believe we were gifted such a beautiful day. It was perfect. Beyond perfect.

I have known Emily for 8 years, and never in our friendship have I seen her look more radiant.

It honestly looks like we took these photos on two different days, and possibly two different locations. Same day. Same hour. Same location. Just a sun playing peekaboo, and two very different but equally adorable outfits. I am SO looking forward to the arrival of another honorary niece! Happy birthday to you, Emily! I love you so.

and then there were three.

I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to work with such amazing people. I made a bit of an oops with my most recent clients. When searching for a location, I was all, “let’s got to Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park!” Thinking, it’s the middle of winter, it will be warm, there will be flowers, we can then utilize the park after. Perfect idea, right? I walked into the conservatory and very first sign I saw was NO PROFESSIONAL PHOTO SESSIONS DURING OPEN HOURS. Uh, oops. I just assumed that if I paid my $3 and was aware there would be some people floating around, I could do what I wanted. Wrong. I mean, I still took a few pictures anyways. But it felt super awkward because I was nervous about being reprimanded by the 18-year-old-looking girl who was running the place.

We were all pretty relieved to head back outside, or was that just me? It was super hot in the conservatory and I was ready to start doing my thing. We walked across the street and THIS happened.

This beautiful mommy-to-be wanted to include some nursery décor and baby girl items as props. I am always open to photographing you with any props you’d like to bring along to help make your session as personal as possible.

Snow covered sessions are highly underrated. We live in a tundra, so let’s embrace it shall we? Well, maybe after Mother Nature stops being hilarious with her 50 degree days in the middle of winter.

gangs all here.

Happy New Year, everyone! I’m officially back to blogging after a busy Christmas season. And I am super excited to give you an idea of what an extended family session looks like! I truly feel it is something you MUST add to your to-do list if you can get your whole family together.

I shot this group the day after Christmas. Not the most ideal weather, wet and gloomy. But the ladies spiced things up by adding scarves to their outfits, and Nana Rose is seriously a ray of sunshine all by herself.

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For extended family sessions, especially ones this large, I only shoot a few full group shots (they received 3) because it’s not easy to pose 18 people, especially when it’s wet out. For smaller groups, you may get a little more variety. After the whole group photos are out of the way, I move on to the different variations that the whole family still needs to be present for.

THEN. Each small family gets their own mini session. And you’re done! I know the idea of extended family sessions sounds stressful. But ask this family. It was painless. I am super organized and everything flows nicely if you let me do my thing.

EVERY family gets their own CD with ALL of the photos. These are most, but not all of the photos this family received. I tend to only blog my favorites. When you’re ready to book your extended family session, contact me!

sponsored by marshall’s.

Living in Batavia, I struggle finding unique and adorable locations to have my sessions. Typically I do my scouting on back roads and borrow people’s farms and hay-bales without asking. This lady right here did alllll the talking and got us into the back orchard at Green Acre Farm & Nursery in Greece. No customers allowed. It was a dream.

Michelle had about 400 outfit changes and hung her clothes on their hangers all around the orchard. It was like a very rustic Marshalls. I had a blast photographing these two, and loved how well Chris tolerated our crazy.