I’ve been a bit buried under a pile of sessions waiting to be proofed…and decided to come up for air & post some favorites from my most recent maternity session.  I just loved all of these family shots - I wish I had some like these of my family…just the 3 of us, playing, interacting,  going about our daily lives.   I kind of wish I had some paparazzi to follow us around - sometimes :)  Anyway, here’s some faves of mine…I’m thinking I’m going to make a storyboard sample with these…the light was just so yummy that day, and I love the emotion in the images.

I plan on keeping the blog hoppin’, so keep checking back!

This lil man reminded me so much of my own lil girl…petite and just adorable!  We became fast friends, and by the end of our session, he was crawling onto my lap :)  I could have stayed & played with him all day.  Here’s a peek for mom & dad…

my favorite image of the session so far:

I’ve been in a black&white mood lately.  Have been trying to tweak and find my own personal b/w conversion for some time now, and I think I’ve *finally* settled on one :)  It’s such a challenge to find the perfect balance between contrast, softness, yet clarity and depth.  I don’t think digital will ever be able to produce the tonal range that film does when it comes to b/w, but I am trying my best to get close

I’ve got lots more, E!  I can’t wait to unveil your full gallery in a few weeks. 

I had a rockin’ mini-maternity session yesterday (the one that got rained out on Saturday).  We had a blast getting these shots, and Katie was just gorgeous!  I can’t wait to photograph her new baby girl in September!  I love putting my own spin on the traditional, and Katie was up for anything, which was great!

K - I know I’m showing like half your gallery as the sneak peek, but I just couldn’t help it!  We got so many amazing shots!

I told you she was gorgeous

Can’t forget the big sister…she is such a sweetie!  I’m curious to see what happens when her world is rocked by her new baby sister in just a few months! 

I just love this one of Momma & her first lil girl.  I wanted to capture some moments between these 2 while she is still the baby of the family. 

Thanks for an amazing night!  I hope to see more of you soon! 

A gorgeous night.  Mid 70’s, a breeze from the lake, an hour before sunset.  A rambunctious 3 year old in love with life, an adorable 1 year old blowing raspberries, and a blue-eyed, laughing 4 month old.  Am I lucky or what?

I had to throw this one in of the grandparents - I just loved watching the interaction between them & their grandkids.  You can tell they are very loved

Thanks for a fun night, “A” family!

just a little of what i’ve been up to the last month or so…a hodgepodge of client images that I never got around to showcasing & a couple personals:

and a teeny sneak peek into the album I am designing for C for her bday….so excited to order this tonight! 35 pages of lil Charlotte-goodness

from  1 year - 2 years old…

{back cover}

a few of the inside spreads:

and the first page…can you believe how much she has changed in 1 year?  (this was taken last year on her bday)

now for a lil bit of news - i will be out of town Thursday evening - Saturday evening.  Any emails received during that time will be returned on Monday morning.  Matt & I are going to Chicago for a few days for a much needed time away.  Thanks for understanding, and have a great Fourth!

Got to hang out with this fun family from Florida the other night.  The momma found me through a friend of hers from college, who happens to live in the area now (and whose newborn I photographed last summer).  Such a small world!  Loved this little guy’s smile, and his adorable baby chub!  Oh,and do I not get the babies with the most gorgeous eyes?!  I wanted to do a happy dance when I saw those pale baby blues:)

I know mom was worried we might not have gotten any smiles out of this little guy - he was understandly a bit weary of all the traveling - but hopefully this alievates some of those worries

the minute i took this, i knew i would love it.  it will probably be a canvas sample - i love it that much!

if i had these eyelashes, i would throw out my mascara for good.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your visit in Illinois!

To all clients:  I will not be reachable the rest of this weekend - am taking a few days off to celebrate my bday with some very important people (aka my family).  All phone calls/emails will be returned Monday.  Thanks!

A little cutie from the other night…

yes, his eyes really are that amazing!

and my favorite so far…i just love that sun flare, and mom’s expression is priceless

J&K - hope you enjoyed your sneak peek!  I can’t wait to unveil the rest in a few weeks

Loved, loved, loved meeting this family this past weekend!  The 3 kiddos were so sweet, and so incredibly patient with the session!  I love that there’s nothing they *have* to do at a session…just be themselves and let me do the rest :)  This is a huge sneak peek since there were 3 little ones, and I just had too many faves to narrow it down any more

I love how he’s fiddling with his momma’s ring.  It’s these little things that they do all the time that are so easy to forget.  Then some day we realize they don’t do them anymore.  Maybe I’m crazy, but I cherish the little things.

The sweetness just oozes out of this little one!

Gorgeous big sister…can you believe those eyes? 

I just adore everyone’s expressions in this one.  So natural and true to themselves.  Love. this.

Had to add this one, too…what a cutie!

Ok, last one - just for fun!  This is the kids looking for Buzz Lightyear in my lens.  Sometimes he comes out, but you have to get reeeeeally close…

Cracks me up every time!  Thanks S & K for a fun night at the park! 

….for not cutting his hair! :)  i just adore those curls, almost as much as i adore your little family.  my friend emilie and her hubby and lil boy joined me at the grove the other night.  i’ve photographed henry twice now, and it is such a joy each time.  the connection between the 3 of them is almost tangible. 

i get to photograph such gorgeous mommas, too!

wading in the creek…

I could post images from this session all night!  I’m off to another session…that sneak peek to come later!

I’m just finishing up this gallery today, so I wanted to share some more from this last session.  These 2 kiddos were so cute!

This is a shot I get of most 1 or so  year olds….trying to grab the camera

one last shot i caught of momma trying to warm up her lil guy