Celebrate the Baby Bump with Henna!

My last maternity shoot client sent me this link saying she wishes she had thought of doing something like this in order to celebrate her pregnancy. According to Wikipedia, "Henna has been used to adorn young women's bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations since the late Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean. The earliest text mentioning henna in the context of marriage and fertility celebrations comes from the Ugaritic legend of Baal and Anath."

If any of you soon-to-be mamas like the idea and would like to do this and record it with what promises to be an amazing maternity shoot, let me know!

Photo courtesy of LilSugar.com

Photo courtesy of Tips About Toronto Blog

Sunny Day

Last Saturday was a sunny day with lots of wind, so Isabel and I headed to the hill at Montrose Avenue and the lake. There were some people flying kites. Maybe next time we will bring our own and let Isabel try her hand at kite flying. In the meantime, she was happy running up and down the hill in summer clothes and yellow jelly sandals. :)

blowing bubbles...

THE hill...

this kite was way up there, I even zoomed in...

View from the top of the hill...

The perfect Saturday afternoon.

Spring Maternity Session

Sunday was an absolutely gorgeous spring day, with lots of sun and perfect temperatures. This made for some excellent shots, plus it helped that the couple I worked with were so great. They were open to all of my ideas and even suggested some props that we incorporated into the shoot. The results were beautiful and fun photos with a very personal touch. Thank you so much and I cannot wait to meet Baby J!

Spring in the Windy City

If you have ever lived in Chicago, then you know that the winters are long and the summers short, but well-enjoyed. That leaves little room for the other two seasons, spring and fall. So, naturally, when the thermometer begins to read the first temperatures above 55 degrees of the year, the city is buzzing with excitement (and bees!). The flowers begin to bloom and the trees begin showing their budding leaves. You could say that there is a sense of renovation and inspiration that can be felt everywhere in the city. Which is why I grabbed my camera and wandered around Millenium Park looking to see what caught my eye, and here are the results! Hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed capturing them.

Pets

Pets are like children to us. We love them, we care for them, and in return they provide loyal companionship. It is no wonder many pet-owners want photographs taken and seek out the help of photographers in capturing that special relationship between people and their pets.

Maternity Session with Jennis

My friend, Jennis, is pregnant with her third little girl, Julia. She came over to my place the weekend after my studio lighting equipment arrived and we took some photos so she could record this special time. She had never had photos taken with either of her two previous pregnancies, so we were excited. Her one year-old, Nalia, was also excited and we got a precious shot of Jennis and Nalia's hands over her belly. Her oldest daughter, Sienna, was too busy playing with Isabel to bother with any posing, but we will definitely get her in the photos when I shoot the three girls together after baby Julia arrives!