Summertime Fun Family Session!

I recently had an evening family session, and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day! This family was willing to try any location I suggested, and I was so happy we went to the waterfall. The water level was perfect AND we were lucky that there was nobody there!



Look at this great group shot!

And here are a handful of other shots...

This Dad was on leave from the armed forces... thanks for your service and sacrifice!

And I couldn't resist an eyelash shot... they were quite possibly some of the longest I've ever seen. Just gorgeous!!!

I hope you enjoy your sneak peek... the whole gallery will come after my vacation :)

The C Family...

Sunday was a perfect evening for a photo session! Slightly overcast, nice and warm... just beautiful! We met at one of my favorite outdoor locations, which is actually the place where I did photos with the family in green last fall. Their kids have grown so much in such a short time... Miss A was so cooperative and a little ham, and little N is crawling all over now!

Here's a photo of just grandma and grandpa... he really liked the lake in the background, and it made a lovely backdrop when we could sneak in photos that didn't have random people fishing in the background!!

I absolutely LOVE this little family photo... N looks so happy, and A is being her usual cute self here :) Doesn't her pose and expression just say "Who me? I'm just hangin' with my peeps..." I think it's so cute!!

Finally, one of C and E together... this was one shot I snapped off before C tried to get away from his sister. What happened to sibling love?!!

Thanks so much to the C family... I had a great time and hope you did too! There are so many great photos to choose from, I had a hard time narrowing it down to just a few to post on here. I'll let you know when your gallery is finished and posted online. Hope you enjoyed your preview!

Family!

I had the pleasure of photographing this extended family on Saturday morning. We had scheduled the session for Hammel Woods in Joliet, and with one family member in town from MN, we didn't really have an option of a rain date. It was lightly sprinkling when we started, and the weather felt more like April than May, but the heavy rain held off and we got some great photos!

Here are the four adult siblings...

and then the sweet matriarch and patriarch of the group!

We decided to try a fun group shot in addition to some more traditional poses, and it turned out great! I just love how everyone is laughing, and look at the two little guys with their feet swinging in the air!! I chose to do this in a long skinny crop - imagine it over a fireplace - because I felt that such a fun, unique photo deserved a fun, unique crop!

Finally, one tender moment between daddy and his baby girl... she was cold and tired and need a snuggle. So sweet!!

So K, I just wanted to say thanks to you and your entire family for choosing me to capture your special memories. Your family was lots of fun (and just a little crazy), and I hope you enjoyed your session as much as I did! Here's your sneak peek... I'll let you all know when the entire session is ready.

What happens when you're in the park at closing time?

They sic the law on you!!! Lesson #1... When the "hours" sign posted at this particular park says 5 pm, they mean 5 pm!! This was the first time I had done a session here so close to closing during the park's winter hours, and we weren't sure what would happen at 5pm.

We had been shooting for over an hour, and the kids had about had it with me and my camera, when we heard a siren coming towards us and stop at the top of the (VERY STEEP) hill... and then a voice coming over a loudspeaker telling us all to return to our vehicles!!



I was rather mortified, but luckily I have known the client for a few years, so she and her family just laughed as we sprinted (OK, speed walked) up the hill (note to self: excercise would be helpful)... Then the officer "escorted" all our vehicles out of the park with his lights on, no less!!!



Not to worry...we did get some good shots in before being so rudely chased away!! I love this one of T and C... T is a good friend of my daughter's, and I know I can always count on these two to be laughing and smiling!

This was their cousin, Miss P... isn't she a cutie! She was trying to add some fiber to her diet by eating as many leaves as possible :)

Here's a shot of all the cousins together... look at Miss P laughing... I love it!

And the last shot of the day... a bit of an outtake!! You can see that little Mr. K had had enough, and the other boys are all looking away trying to figure out what that siren was all about... You can't get a clearer sign that it's time to end the photo session!!

Hope you enjoy your sneak peek... I'll have the full session to come soon!

One of my favorite repeat clients and her cousins

Remember "Sweet Kissable Cheeks" from September? Well, I got to see her again, with her three cousins. I sure was lucky to get 4 beautiful kids all in one sitting, even if getting them all to cooperate for a photo was a challenge :)

Here are Miss K, Miss L, Mr. A, and Miss A:

We also took some family photos for Miss L, Mr. A and their parents. Aren't they a great-looking family?

And finally, a couple of the older girls by themselves, just b/c I thought they looked so lovely :)

It was so nice to meet everyone, and I thank you all for meeting in a central location for this session! I'll have your complete gallery finished soon...

Cutest Ring Bearer EVER!!!

OK, so I might be slightly biased since the cutest ring bearer EVER also happens to be my son! But I think you'll agree that he certainly looked handsome in his tux (which he was VERY disappointed that we didn't get to keep) and his cool spiky yair... plus he did his job so well!!


Here are a few photos from my cousin Cindy's wedding... she and Anderson looked just great and the wedding was so much fun!! I wasn't there as the official photographer, but I couldn't resist a few shots from the big day... all taken at the reception at my aunt & uncle's house... it was all so lovely!

First, one of my daughter and son together... he was trying to get away but I got quick snap of them together before he escaped!

Next, a picture of the flower girl Maggie (the bride's dog) (yes, she is wearing a dress, makeup and has her nails done LOL!!) along with Ben... the other ring bearer really wasn't into having his picture taken and ran away.

Here is one of my daughter with my cousin Katie, one of the bridesmaids. I just love this photo - they both look just beautiful!!

And finally, one of the happy new couple with the flower girl and of course, the most handsome ring bearer ever!! OK, I'm done saying that now :)

Congrats to the newlyweds... and thanks for a great weekend!!