Naperville Photographer: Oh How Far We've Come!

My dear, dear friend Cathy...ahhhh, the stories we have to tell about each other from our glory days in college. And now...I am taking photographs of her beautiful family :) It is incredible how friendships grow and change into something even better.

I have been lucky enough to photograph Cathy and Trevor's beautiful daughters since they were babies. And I am always amazed at how big they keep getting...and prettier every time I see them. So for our photo shoot we started outside...and boy was it chilly! The girls always take a little while to warm up to my camera, so we ended at home and had a blast playing in their rooms, jumping on the bed and having some girl time! I love the shots of the girls together giggling. So cute!

So thanks Cathy and Trevor for choosing me to photograph your family, it means the world to me :)

Enjoy your sneak peek...and can't wait for round two this weekend!!!!

Geneva Photographer: Photographing Friends :)

I truly am so lucky that I have such great friends with SUCH cute families that I get to photograph! So these are some great shots I got of my closest friends and their kids...outside, having fun, and no crying or tantrums! How awesome is my job!!!!???

Some of you may recognize Cara from ordering sessions from the Spring/Summer with Megan Kelly Photography! She was the fabulous designer that worked for me and worked her magic in some lucky homes :) She now just launched her own new design company, Haven Design!

Enjoy your sneak peek Cara & Andy!!!!

Geneva Photographer: A Boy and His Dog

Oh how spoiled we were with this fall!!! I can't say enough how lucky I have felt to get in so many incredible photo sessions with such great families...in WARM weather! It was fabulous!

Now this photo session was a fun one! From the look of these photographs you would have never guessed that Rex, the dog, was not the easiest of models :) But really, what puppy is? I was so happy that he was able to sit still long enough to get a couple of great photographs of Michael with his dog! Phew!

I love photographing kids at this age...the missing teeth are the best! It truly captures their childhood and goofiness!

So thanks, Michael, for flashing that toothless grin for me and having the patience to let me capture some great moments!

Here is your sneak peek :)

Geneva Photographer: South comes North!

So my favorite thing about the Pyle family is Melinda's sweet Southern accent. I love it!

Transplants from Arkansas, The Pyles and I thought we would take advantage of those gorgeous last fall days we just had here (I still have my fingers crossed that we may get spoiled with a few more..PLEASE!). So while it may have been cold weather for them, it was warm as can be for me :)

Their kids were awesome. Mom and Dad possibly (wink wink) thought they had too much energy, but it was right up my alley! My own kids have energy, so I felt right at home trying to get some great photographs amidst the poking, pinching, giggling, and joke telling!

So thanks so much Pyles and I am so glad I got to spend that last gorgeous fall day with you!

Enjoy your sneak peek!

Geneva Photographer: Newborn Lucas

Welcome Baby Lucas!

Isn't he so cute :)

It was a pleasure to photograph this wonderful family, and Lucas was wide awake and ready! Luckily, I had all the time in the world and was willing to wait for this little man to doze off.

After having 2 boys of my own (who never slept...wait, they still don't!) I was ready for the challenge Lucas was ready to give. We all took turns rocking him, soothing him...he was one lucky baby! While I am sure his mom and dad did not feel as lucky, he was great...and honestly no different then any other baby who is expected to perform for me :) All that matters is the final photographs, right!?

So, Lucas, thank you for the challenge, I loved it! Now make sure you go to sleep for your mom and dad! They need it!

Congrats again Stef and Stuart, your little boy is so handsome!

Enjoy your sneak peek!

West Chicago Photographer: Visit From Grandma & Grandma

Charlotte is one lucky little girl!

Surrounded by so much love :)

She got to have a photo session with her grandparent's while they were in town visiting from the UK. It was so wonderful to see all of them interacting and playing! And of course Grandma and Grandpa were loving every minute of the time they had with her.

It is sessions like this that really make me appreciate my job! I get to know families and it is so much more than just "work". I got to photograph Charlotte at 3 months, and then again this time at 6 months, and I will get to celebrate with her at her 1 year birthday! It is amazing to see these little babies grow up, and I am lucky that I get to be the one to capture all those milestones!

So see you at your 1st birthday, Charlotte!

I couldn't resist posting the "Cheeky Monkey" Halloween costume. So so cute :)

St. Charles Photographer: Happy Anniversary!

What a way to spend your anniversary...getting the whole family dressed to go out to a windy field to get photographed :) Ha! Actually, it was a great idea!

This was my 2nd time photographing this family this month. I got to photograph the twins for their first birthday and then we decided to photograph the WHOLE family a couple weeks later.

4 kids playing in a field, being themselves, and having fun! What more could you ask to celebrate your marriage and the family you created? Awesome!

Can you tell it was a little windy? In one shot you can...take a guess which one :)

So Heidi, thanks (again) for a wonderful chance to photograph your family. And I hope you enjoy the photograph of the boys in the tree. It made me laugh so hard while editing it, I had to add it to the blog! Craig was a genius for putting them up there, and their faces are priceless!

Enjoy your preview and Happy Anniversary!!!