Beautiful images do not just happen but crafted and guided.  This family maternity session was with one of my original clients.  I photographed the pretty mama when she was pregnant with her daughter.  Now she is a big girl full of personalities and ideas of her own.  Her mom kept apologizing for the situation thinking it was a challenging shoot.  We sang songs, blew dandelion puffs, bribed with bubbles, kept moving to keep her entertained through the entire session.  The work put in is definitely worth it since we got some genuine interested expressions and even a few smiles.  It is my goal to capture your family in the "best" light so you can remember your current through rose colored lenses for the future.  That is foundation of Rosy Lens Portrait and my style as a photographer. 

 

Goldfish Swim School indoor colors and decor provided a perfect backdrop for kids birthday parties.  Combined with the talented work of Lili Marie Parties this little girl's first birthday party turned out to be over the top adorable.  Every detail from the shell on the rice crispy to the "sand" on the cake is right on the dot to the theme.  It was like a visual buffet for me as a photographer with the cute little elements here there and everywhere.  It also helped that the birthday girl and her sister are such sweeties.  I got pretty lucky that they warmed up to me right away so I could get close to capture those cute faces.  What a joy it was to be part of this celebration.  

 

I absolutely love it when an inquiry is about a generation family session.  What is a generation session? That's when the grandparents, cousins, grown siblings, etc... all get together.  Usually the photo shoot is to celebrate the anniversary or a birthday of the grandparents.  There is something extra special to see grown siblings all get back together again for the love of their parents.  It reminds us of our roots and the quote “Family, like branches in a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one." can't be more relevant.  Also generation sessions are very efficient. It's a great opportunity to get updated pictures of immediate families as well as pictures of the kids.  

The 70 degrees February weather reminded me of the warm golden rays of fall sessions.  Oh how I miss being outside without shivering.  Now it's back to the same old dreary sky, I hope this senior session brighten your day as it did for me while digging through past sessions to blog.  This confident and natural beauty brought her lacrosse stick to the shoot which provided a great prop for natural posing.  I love the variety of poses we accomplished using the natural elements of the environment.  

To My Dear Client :

It's been two years since our path crossed at the time your daughter Claire was born.  At that time I was someone brand new in the industry who is trying to find my own voice as a photographer.  Thank you for believing in my work from the beginning and allowing me document the growth of your child.  Your loyalty and referral have been a generous gift to me not in the aspect of repeat business but because of your vote of confidence.  It also pushed be to evolve and innovate new ideas because I personally want each session to be a little different from the last.  Here we are 7 sessions later and ecstatic to hear that your family will be a little bigger in a few months.  Your family made me feel like the documentarist that I strive to be.  I hope that I accurately captured the overwhelming amount of love I witness from every session on film so Claire can remember each stage of her childhood through the images.  I am so honored to be part of her milestones and can not wait to do the same for the new baby. Thank you again for being such amazing clients.  

Your nostalgic photographer, 

Nancy

 

This is the second event I photographed for Little Lake County and I am again so impressed by the organization, originality, and fun of each event.  For those who do not know, Little Lake County is THE best resource for kids activities in lake county IL.  Not only do their website provide endless updates on free "what to do" and "where to go" with your little ones, but also there is this handy calendar where you can look up kids activities by day.  I use it when I need something to do on the fly or to plan out the weekend.  The amount of dedication the Little Lake County team put into their website, articles, and events is apparent.  The Impression of the Heart event was no exception.  

The moment I stepped inside the Artist at Heart studio my heart started racing from the paint splashed tables and whimsical decor.  This place got so much character!  It's hard not to be creative at a space like this one.  The staff was beyond nice and did I mention talented?  Now I have been to a number of paint your own canvas/pottery places but have not been to one that have their own artist on site to add the finishing touches.  With a few stroke of the brush, the baby footprints are turned into a personalized piece of art.  I stood their in awe as baby names are artistically added to the pieces.  Right there and then I decided that Artist at Heart will be my go to art studio even it's half an hour from my house.  

The event was sponsored by Advocate Condell Medical Center , organized by Little Lake County, and hosted by Artist at Heart in downtown Libertyville. Moms of non-walking infant brought their babies in to do foot/hand imprints on canvas or plate.  The timing of the event could not have been better for Mother's Day.  It was such a joy to see so many babies come in and how they reacted as they get their tiny little hands/feet painted.  Some slept right through the process and some squirmed at the touch of the brush.  All of them are to die for adorable! Aside from painting, there was a pediatrician on site to answer questions, Language Star offered a free German lesson to the toddler/preschool siblings, raffle of great prizes, healthy breakfast, and a gift bag for each mom! All in all it's a wonderful opportunity for moms to connect with others while documenting their baby's tininess.  Check out the heartwarming moments below.  

 

 

Another 9 months girl stole my heart during her baby milestone photography session.  It was not hard at all to get her to giggle. Her face lit up every time she looked at mom. I also love the slight variations in her smiles.  Those tiny variations in a baby's expression are seen everyday by the parents but how will they be remembered 10 years from now?  That's why I can't stress the importance of milestone pictures the first year of life.   Parents can schedule the sessions based on the age or developmental stage depending on what you are trying to document.  Below is a general timeline but will vary by baby

3 Months (Lifters):  Poses will mostly be baby lying down and if possible with baby on his/her tummy with the head lifted.  

6 Months (Sitters):  Poses will be laying down, on their tummy/knees, and sitting if ready.  

9 Months (Standers):  Now we can do a great variety of positions sitting and standing without the baby being too mobile.  

The first thing I noticed upon arriving at Benjamin's birthday party was the adorable doggie mailbox at front of the house.  Immediately I thought "yay, this is a dog loving family".  Boy was I right.  I was greeted by the birthday boy in the arms of his mommy decked out in the cutest little tie with Clifford all over it.  The Clifford the Big Red Dog theme followed through out the entire birthday party including a 60 lb cake!  I enjoy being a baby birthday party photographer not only because how much fun the kids are, but also I love to photograph the little details the parents put so much work into.  This party was no exception.  I can see the effort and thoughts the parents and Lili Marie Parties put into the flow of the decor plus entertainment.  Please follow me through the blog to see some of my favorite moments captured.  

Benjamin's smash cake photos showed what a sweetie this little guy is.  He shared his cake with everyone around him and had an intimate moment with mommy. It took some encouragement for him to break into the rainbow colored inside of the smash cake but he got the hang of it. 

I have been photographing this little angel before she was even born since I was her mommy's maternity photographer 2 years ago.  I was also her milestone photographer for every stage.  Each session was perfect and I consider her my favorite little model to test out new photography ideas. 

Emily threw us for a loop during her 2 years old birthday session.  She is now her own person and had her own agendas for the photo shoot.  Although we did not get the usual smiley and giggly images we did in the past session, but I love how these pictures captured the calmness of a two years old we don't often seen. 

 

I'd be lying if I say this newborn session was easy breezy.  Ever since the mom reached out to me a few months ago I started to feel the pressure of the session.  The mom and dad of the new baby are both in the military.  The father was actually flying out to his station in Tennessee  only  a few days after the birth of his daughter.  So I know we only had very limited window to get the pictures done.  On top of that my heart tells me that I want this to be the best session possible because of the sacrifice this family is making for us and this country.  

Ella's mom sent over some Pinterest Newborn Photography inspiration photos which really helped me see their vision.  Every photographer have their own distinct style but I very passionate about merging my style with my client's vision.   I prepared everything I can think but the session did not go anything as I planned since baby Ella was so alert.  We all rolled with the situation and I want to thank my lucky stars that mom and dad stayed so cool.  They were calm and patient with the feeding and so cooperative the entire process.  With a change in direction, we captured some amazing emotional photos that really speak volume of the love between this family.  Looking back photos turned out so pure and genuine that I would not have done it any other way.  

Part of Rosy Lens Portrait's pre-session consultation include a "What to Wear" email from me.  It is designed to help clients coordinate the family members with visual examples.  It is so much fun to see what the clients pick out.  I love how each family's style is different and I try to conduct the shoot accordingly.  Take this adorable family for example. Hemali stepped out of the car in a bright pink a line dress.  She also asked for a lot of greenery in the background.  Then she balanced her husband and son with muted white shirt.  This give me a clue that she might likes the more vibrant photos and I tweaked my editing to make the colors pop a little more than usual for some of the images.  With the blue sky, yellow sun, pink dress, and green grass we have a nice lively palette. 
 

 

When Jan described her baby shower will be taken place at the tent of The Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre, I knew this will not be your typical baby shower.  I was expecting many guests and lots of food but never did I anticipate Jan to be in one of the most beautiful golden gowns I have ever seen.  Her husband is also dressed to the T in his yellow bow tie.  It was a formal affair with a short ceremony, video blessings, choreographed dance, and games.  Although everyone was dressed up but the whole atmosphere was lighthearted and fun.  Many tears of happiness were shed by Jan.  Her son is one lucky baby to be engulfed in all the love that's already waiting for him.  

 

When Alana  reached out to me about her short and sweet wedding and baby naming ceremony, I knew I want to do everything in my abilities to make her 2 hours of photography as inclusive as possible.  I wanted to give her images the wedding feel without being an all day event.  In the short time we had, we got family portraits, detail shots, guest pictures, ceremony, and also classic couple pictures in.  It was not easy but with the support of the couple for being flexible, we were able to work fast and efficiently. The fact that their event was held at the beautiful Italian restaurant Saranello's  situated in the scenic Westin Hotel of Wheeling helped speed the process along.  I think we captured every part of the day as planned and hope the lovely couple will enjoy these images when their adorable daughter grows up. 

 

Newborn photos and one year photos are usually a must for parents.  What about those precious months in between?  Olivia's session is the prime example of the importance of milestone sessions.  The week she visited me at the studio was the same week she started making the "duck face".  Haha, at least that's what her mom, dad, and I have have be calling it.  She pucker up those cute little lips as far as she could as if she is in a frozen kiss.  We thought at the time it as a funny face and tried to get her to smile.  After looking through all the images I found some of the duck face shots are too adorable to pass by.  So I included some in the proofs and guess what?  They turned out to be some of mom's favorites.  What's really special is when we met up two weeks later, Olivia stopped doing the duck face!  I'm so glad we were able to capture her expression that's unique to the short time. 

Every stage of a baby's first year will pass by in a blink.  That's why I recommend newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months sessions. Please contact me if you are interested in booking a "First Year Collection".  After that an annual family session will be good.  Fall is a really popular time for family sessions because of Holiday Cards. Those book up fast so make sure you schedule them during the summer.   If you want to capture your little ones' growth more frequently, then I recommend mixing in a few themed sessions through out the year.  You can even change up the themes year by year for variety. 

Without further ado....introducing the cutest duck face you'll see anywhere.   Yes, this cutie can also smile so make sure you scroll down. 

sadf

 

 

There are so many great things I want to say about Isabella's Bat Mitzvah I don't even know where to begin.  How about we start off with the reception venue at Versailles Banquets at Buffalo Grove.  I lived just around the corner to this place and often drive past it.  Never had I known what a hidden little gem it is for weddings and private events.  In the short 30 minutes since we arrived for preparation, the staff completely transformed the room into a fantasy land.  Isabella's mom Lora was the heart behind every little detail of the dance themed party. She has my ultimate respect in term of a mother and a designer.  The room was breathtakingly perfect.  Oh and the food!  I was shocked by the attention to detail and the ingredients used.  Fresh orchid on the veal?  Yes please.  This is not your typical banquet food. 

Now about the seriously talented birthday girl.  She has been taking ballroom dancing lessons for year and it shows in the performance she put on with her instructor.  Her every move is so graceful and had the dancer's touch.  I often have to tell subjects to pose with more form and drama.  This was not an issue at all with this girl.  She was a dream to work with as a photographer. I hope to have an opportunity to capture more life milestones in the future. 

I could tell how hard Tony and Lora worked over seeing every little aspect of the planning to make this a special night for their daughter.  It was a memorable night not just for the family but also everyone who attended.  I sure will remember the sweet table, dancers on roller skates, photo backdrop, sparkling cake, and fun games of the night.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

This engagement session at Volkening Lake happened due to a very good cause.  Kris was one of the winners to an engagement session gift certificate I offered when she attended Brides Against Breast Cancer event.  This awesome charity event allow brides to purchase donated gowns at amazing prices and all revenues go to the  Health Support Network which provide free information, programs and services to cancer patients.  I attended the event as a volunteer back in February at The Haight in Elgin.  Let's just say it is a night that every bride should check out.  The venue was brand new with a barn/loft feel. Just click on the site and you'll see how breath taking the space is dressed up.  It provided the perfect backdrop to hundred of gorgeous wedding gowns.  My job was to help brides pick out/carry/try on dresses.   It was a blast because what girl do not love playing dress up and reenact "Say Yes to the Dress" for a few hours?  The next Brides Against Breast Cancer event is coming up on 7/10/15 at Skokie Banquet and Conference Center.  If you can't make it to the next one then check out their full year calender here. 
 

Now about Kris and Gary.  We originally wanted to do an early spring photo shoot with colorful tulips but the weather just won't cooperate.  Although the tulips are all gone but I loved how their session turned out.  The temperature, humidity, and light all came together perfectly the day for their session.  Even the wind worked in our favor to give Kris's hair just the right amount of wisp we needed.  The two had great energy and their best shots are when they are interacting with each other.  The world seems to have just faded away around them and the shots turned out so natural.  Haha, when I asked them what their home decor was like they said "fun".  People usually respond with color or style of their furniture but I have never had anyone describe the decor with a feeling.  After spending a few hours with them I now understand why their very original answer is so suiting for them.  I hope the 11x14 canvas they ordered will soon to be displayed in the "fun" home they will share together. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael and his mom Cindy are the nicest and most easy going clients ever.  I feel so lucky that they have selected me to photograph Michael's graduation pictures.  Mom wanted a local photographer close to Long Grove and let's just say I am very very very close to this charming little historic downtown area. ( http://www.visitlonggrove.com ) We meet up three times in total and each time it was a blast.  Two words I use to describe this soon to graduate from Stevenson High School are "grounded" and "confident".  I think his character is reflected in some of my favorite images below.