Chicago Family Photographer

Lyden Family // Chicago

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I’ve been photographing this family in their home for a few years now, skipped last year because I was gigantically pregnant but so happy they asked me to come back around this year especially because I got to meet, Gogo, their newest addition. Gogo is short for Margot, how cute?! We shot in the house and then decided to brave the cold but whoever had the idea to do a little scrimmage was genius. I’m not sure if it was dad’s or Finnbar’s idea but good work! Little Tess played the best game! I got their holiday card in the mail and just thought these turned out so cute. Simple family photos at home, love it.

x

J

Regneir Family // Chicago

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I met this family for the first time this day in Lincoln Park. They braved the heavy Chicago traffic on a Friday to meet me on a drizzling fall day. It was at least semi-warm! For a year where it snowed on Halloween, I’d take it. Josie, the younger daughter had a hard time with the camera, at first I thought she didn’t like me and then she warmed to some pretty killer laughs. :) Can you just check out the style on these girls? I actually love the moody drizzling day that this turned out to be. Gave them all an opportunity to get nice and cozy. :)

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J

Barnes Family 2019 // Chicago

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Last year I shot Kate and Dan and their beautiful and bright daughter, Allison, and this year they have some exciting news because their next baby is on the way! Here is a loving family shoot, in Humboldt Park. Such great landscapes for the city. We can actually get some green in the photos! Love this family! Congratulations to you all Barnes Family!

xo

J

Corner-Miller Family // Niles

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I’ve been taking this family’s photos for some time, they are some of my favorite to work with because Candace really puts thought into the vibe she wants and we collaborate. Can you just look at these amazing fall outfits? Their children, Mari and Henry are so fun and each time I see them, their personalities are bigger than ever. Mari, who is a miracle baby, born at 26 weeks, gives me such hope. She is a little angel baby. I love the warmth from the sun in these photos and this family makes my job so easy and fun! Thanks for letting me capture you all Candace and Johnny!

xo

J

Wroblewski Family // Chicago

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And then they were four! Welcome to the crew baby Samantha! love this family so much. I photographed their wedding, their newborn photos with Brody, their lakeside family photos and now this intimate family shoot with baby number two. So grateful for friends and clients like these! love!

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j

Scholl Family // Chicago

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Grateful for clients who go with the flow and can laugh with me. Abby has been one of the funniest people I’ve ever known. She and I grew up in the same neighborhood in Iowa and be now both live in Chicago. I’m so grateful I get to check in with her growing family here every once in awhile and take their photos. In this case, she and I had to laugh a lot because Dillon, her youngest son, would not smile, would only scowl. He. Just. Wasn’t. Into. It. So we went with it and the results are adorable but hilarious. It’s almost comical that we couldn’t get one photo, but hey, it was chilly and he was hungry. Not a great combo for a toddler. lol.

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J

Barnes Family // Lincoln Park // Chicago

Love this family! We met at Lincoln Park, South Pond, one of my favorite places to shoot in the city. It’s obviously a choice amongst other photographers too because there are always one or two other shoots going on at the same time. :) Ally is the sweetest child, hopefully you can see her personality come through in some of these photos!

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J

Corner-Miller Family // Chicago

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This family holds a special place in my heart but this little girl is very special. Mari June was born about a year ago, these photos were taken to mark her first year of life. She was born extremely early and the NICU was a place of home for her in her first months of life. There were pulmonary hemorrhages, oxygen tubes, waiting, unknowing, doctors, blood transfusions, PICC lines, brain bleeds, brain surgeries, scans, ventilators, blood clots, and ultimately a diagnosis of Hydrocephalus - a buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain. Luckily, Mari will be ok and her life will be fulfilled to the max, plus she has this great family so we all know that smile of hers is a miracle. 

I met Candace, Mari and Henry’s mom at my first day as a Sr. Graphic Designer at ULTA Beauty Corporate in the burbs of Chicago. It was her orientation too, where she was the social media manager. I liked her from the get go. She was confident, smiley and had a cool sense about her that I gravitated to. Maybe it was that she was the young one amongst some IT folks in orientation or maybe it was because we both shared the love of our nose studs. We became friends over time and even managed to get into our own version of a supper club together. Supper club sounds dated but it was really a girl’s date night, where a few of ULTA girls who lived in the city and had to commute to Bolingbrook, bitched about the traffic and laughed about “those” co-workers. 

I met Candace and Johnny at Montrose Beach one August morning and the light was beautiful, perfect in my opinion. The sky was slightly overcast but rays of light peaked through various holes in the clouds. Both kids were smiley and hilarious, and I even got a rendition of Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” by Henry and Candace. He knew every word! For a three-year-old, I am impressed! These photos are soft and gentle, and I think their outfits are just the cutest, not surprised by the woman who puts all us moms to shame when it comes to Halloween! 

They love these images and I hope they’re cherished for years to come. Thanks Candace and Johnny for allowing me to capture these special moments.

XO

J

Torres Maternity // Chicago

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These two were a dream to photograph. Not only were they dressed impeccably, they were down for whatever, even my idea of getting into the water. :) It was a beautiful Sunday night and because I just figured that since it was a Sunday night in the summer at 7pm, that the swimmers wouldn’t be around. I showed up about 20 minutes before the shoot was supposed to start and oh boy, it was PACKED.  They wanted beach photos and with how crowded the small beach was, I needed to think fast. Luckily the man-made concrete peninsula wasn’t crowded. So, when they got there, off we went. The only tricky part about shooting on the concrete that has waves constantly coming in and out is the algae. Me, being the photographer I am, I like to get down low, climb high up, just to get the right angles for the shot, and I biffed so hard. My camera slammed into the concrete, got wet, I bounced off my elbow before my hip hit down and there I was, pregnant little me all wet and laughing. This would of course happen to me. I mostly felt bad because of the looks on their faces. I shook it off and we kept going, these things happen, right? ☺We circled back onto the beach and by this time the sun was just a sliver before setting and we grabbed a few shots (which are my favorite) of Lauren bathing in the water with her dress on. I actually did this for my first maternity shoot with my daughter Penelope and loved it. Just glad she was such a trooper! Hope you enjoy these, they were definitely worth the bruises!

Xo

Davis Family // Humboldt Park // Chicago

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The landscape might fool you because we were neither lakeside nor in the suburbs, just a quick hop, skip and a jump to Humboldt Park in Chicago and you get everything - beach, pond, prairie and open field. Katie and her family were so great to work with. They found me through a past client and we met up on a beautiful summer evening. I was forewarned that their daughter, Hannah was 1) sick and 2) the shoot was close to her bedtime. Ha! I know what that means! Luckily, she was an angel, even smiley. I just love the warm light in these photos and you can really feel the love between them. I especially loved when Hannah kept kissing her mama, full chin suck and all. Enjoy these sweet moments with the Davis Family. <3

xo

J

Wroblewski Family // Promontory Point Chicago

It wasn't too long ago that I had shot Brody's newborn photos, but now a year later, here we are celebrating his walking and big boy smile. I'm always amazed at kids who are just so good and smiley, he was it! It's like he's taken modeling classes before?! Promontory Point is one of my favorite places to shoot in the city, you get the green and the blue from the lake with the faded Chicago skyline in the back. Hope you love these photos with one of the best families! Happy Birthday Brody!

The Bernardos // Chicago

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Can't you just hear the laughter and feel the love in these? These types of shoots, at home, no agenda, just hanging out  are some of my favorites. 1) it totally takes the pressure off of getting a perfect shot and allows things to happen more naturally and 2) they are hilarious! Three kids six and under love giggling and egging each other on. I fit right in. Hope you love these as much as I do!

Hall Family // Chicago

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I met one of my favorite clients at the beach, normally we just do local shoots at her home but today we ventured out to a bright early summer morning shoot. The sun was bright, the volleyball leagues were playing, the runners were out in full force. For some reason Valentina wasn’t up for a shoot. We tried walking with her, we tried tickling, giving her snacks, and it just seemed that this day was not her day. Her mom felt so bad because we made the trip out, we really wanted to make it work so then we took a stroll near the water. As we got close, we’d run from the wave. That’s when her tears started to dry. Valentina started to open up to me a bit if I just kept back and let her have her moment in the water. That’s when we got our photos!

J

Quinn Lake // Chicago

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Quinn was born to some good friends of mine. Their son is just a month younger than my daughter so we were pregnant together. Quinn is sucha well-tempered baby, they are so lucky to have her. She is sweet, she sleeps, she eats AND she looks at the camera. If I was guaranteed to have a Quinn, I think I’d be better equipped to have No. 2! I went over to visit them at their home on a summer night, her brother wanted to go play outside and Quinn and her mommy were the best subjects. After a toddler bribe (happens ALL the time), I was able to capture a few of just the new brother and sister and  This family is so sweet, I am so lucky to have them as friends. <3

J