Wheaton photographer: Third time is the charm!

In 2009, my journey photographing this family began with the birth of their their first child...and here we are in 2015 celebrating baby #3!  I was so surprised when I got the call that this family had another baby, and I was thrilled that I would get to work with them again.  I have photographed this family numerous times, including each of their kids when they were born and on first birthdays.  They have been incredible to work with!  

Their latest bundle is so sweet!  He is a little peanut, so cute, and has an awesome head of hair!

I can't wait to share all of the photographs with them...but in the mean time here are some sneak peeks.

Enjoy!

Geneva Photographer: Sweet Treats for a Sweet Family

I always love photographing at Geneva's adorable The Sugar Path cupcake shop. It has so many great photographic elements: brick walls, beautiful light, and beautifully crafted cupcakes!  

So this family I have known for years and was so excited to get a chance to photograph them.  Their daughters have such a cute relationship!  Both girls have a big age difference and their bond is so strong it was so sweet to witness.  This photo shoot seemed like a celebration of the big changes that are headed their way.  Lauren is heading into her senior year and Riley is headed into her last year of elementary school.  

So enjoy these cute sneak peeks and good luck Riley and Lauren on a big year ahead!

Geneva Photographer: Celebrating a new life together!

This photo shoot was incredible.  I met with Amanda to go over all of our ideas and just loved talking with her and hearing all of her ideas.  She really wanted to a photo shoot that celebrated not only her engagement to Carlos, but celebrated the union of their 2 families, which included Amanda's 2 beautiful daughters and Carlos's one beautiful daughter.  

So here are some of my favorites of this BEAUTIFUL family!  I feel very blessed that I got to spend the afternoon with all of you!

Geneva Photographer: Come One, Come All!

I have a wonderfully big family filled with lots kids, chaos, fun and love.  I am blessed that my family all lives so close to me and at times I take for granted how easy it is to see them!  My kids are best friends with their cousins, and it is amazing.  So when I get the opportunity to photograph an extended family I jump at the chance.  

This family celebrates the 4th of July every year together and travels from Colorado and Ohio to all be together in Illinois.  This year they decided to surprise Grandma with a photo shoot with her 5 hilarious grandkids.  These kids had me laughing the whole time, and you would have thought they were all siblings.  It was so sweet to see all of them playing and running and jumping and giggling with one another.  I loved it!!!  And they are so cute!!!!

So thank you so much Carlson Family for the opportunity and here are some of my favorites!!

St. Charles Photographer: Getting our before the storm...

I am catching up on blog posts today, finally!  Summer has kept me from my computer...but not from my camera!  I have been photographing this family for years and it has become such a nice annual tradition to work with them!  Unfortunately our crazy summer weather got the best of us and we had to reschedule a bunch of times due to rain, but we finally beat an incoming storm with this photo shoot.  

We also made a quick stop for some treats at The Sugar Path in Geneva, IL to celebrate a 1st birthday!  This series of photographs of James eating his birthday cupcake is my favorite!

Downers Grove Photographer: A Growing Family

This is such a wonderful family!  Growing and full of so much energy and love.  I loved that the kids were so excited to explore the spot we picked to take the photographs, and that their mom and dad let them explore :)  So often when I photograph families parent's feel the need for their children to "perform" for my camera, and honestly when children just act like themselves they make for the best photographs.  As a parent, that is how I want to remember my children at this age!  Playing, running, climbing trees, kissing, hugging and loving being a kid.  

The funniest part of the morning was when Colin climbed up this tree in an instant and shocked his mom and dad at his climbing abilities!  It was awesome!  He was one proud kid.  

So enjoy some of my favorites from the morning...

Oak Park Photographer: ...And Baby Makes 3

Nothing is better than seeing friend's welcome their first baby into their life!  My husband and I got the message that Baby Andrew was born and we were so thrilled for Krissy and Steve.  Their lives would never be the same and I was so excited that they get to experience the craziness, happiness, and mystery of parenting!

So I was thrilled to get to photograph Baby Andrew...and pleasantly surprised to show up to their home after that first week out of the hospital and find them so relaxed!  It was pretty darn impressive!  Their family seemed complete and it was great to spend the afternoon with them photographing and hearing all of the newborn stories that make me smile.  

Congratulations Krissy and Steve!  Thank you for allowing me to photograph your beautiful son!  Here are a few of my favorites :)

Geneva Photographer: Welcome Evie Jude!

So many of us have waited for the big day, when one of our most fabulous friends welcomed her baby girl, Evelyn Judith, into the world.  This little surprise is the most lovely little thing.  She is giving all of us our baby fix and shaking up this house of boys...so watch out world!  

I was so lucky to be able to photograph Evie Jude.  She was delightful...and of course beautiful!  So enjoy some of my favorite photographs from our morning together.

Geneva Photographer: And Baby Makes Three

Its been a long winter, but this day the sun came out and it was the first time that I felt like Spring really was near.  Granted it snowed today, but I am still hopeful for Spring!  Spring always brings new life, and so it was so perfect to be photographing this couple as they prepare for the birth of their baby girl!  

Good luck Jeremy & Lindsey as you prepare for the home stretch!  Can't wait to meet Baby Lorang!

Enjoy these sneak peeks...

Downers Grove Wedding Photographer: Perfectly paired with a beer...

There are so many things that I could say about this wedding and I know I am not going to make it through all of them!  

I taught Frank's younger sister my first year of teaching.  She was my pride and joy and the one student who really showed me the affect that photography can have on young people!  So I couldn't have been more thrilled when Frank called and told me he got engaged and that they wanted me to photograph their wedding.  

When I first met Stephanie and Frank I could immediately tell they were so in love...and were loving planning this big wedding.  They had so many incredible ideas and were really set on making this wedding as unique as they are.  Everything from the custom designed programs to the home brewed "For Richer of Poorer" beer that was served at the wedding, they outdid themselves.  Their creativity was astounding.  

One of my favorite parts of the wedding had to have been the food!  Unbelievable.  Pork belly, macadamia nut encrusted halibut, and wild mushroom risotto...all phenomenal!  Great job Lisa with Maison Cuisine!

So here are some of my favorites...vintage mansion for the reception filled with vintage furniture, handcrafted brews, and adorable bride and groom chocolate covered strawberries...a wedding made of perfection!

Enjoy!  And congrats to Frank and Stephanie!

St. Charles Photographer: Senior Portrait Time! STC North Class of 2012!

Graduation is right around the corner, so I as so excited for my afternoon with Lauren.  Celebrating the end of her high school days...and so excited for her new experiences in college!  I love this time of year for high school seniors!  So much ahead of them, so it was fun chatting with Lauren about prom, college, and how exciting it will be that she will be getting to travel during college with her swim team!

So congrats to Lauren and the rest of the Class of 2012...hang on tight, you are almost done!

St. Charles Photographer: Happy Easter!

We have been so lucky this year to have gotten an early spring (early summer on other days) and the day we scheduled this photo shoot we anticipated cold and rain...if not snow! So you can only imagine how excited we were to be able to get out into the yard and celebrate Easter a little early. So these are some of my favorites from our wonderful afternoon together. Such cute photos of a VERY cute family :)

Enjoy your sneak peek Cheryl...I know you have been on the edge of your seat!!!

St. Charles Photographer: What a dad!

So Jeff called me awhile back and had the idea to get some photographs of the beautiful ladies in his family for his wife's birthday. What a nice guy!!! He has been blessed with 2 daughters and 4 granddaughters...a whole lot of ladies! So finally we got together with his family and it was exactly what you would imagine with a bunch of girls all getting ready at one place-a lot of primping and time in front of the mirror. It paid off though :) All of the girls look gorgeous and I couldn't help posting my favorite of Jeff and his little pooch! I love this shot of him!

So thank s Jordan family for the chance to photograph you all together...and as usual thanks for the long wait for my blog post. Come January I should be caught up :)

Happy Thanksgiving!