Chicago Family Photographers | 2022 Mini Session Prep
5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Mini Session
5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Mini Session
I’m so excited that we’ve finally made it to Mini Session time! Here are a few ideas on how to get the most out of these quick sessions:
1. Wear the colors you want to see on your walls. Remember that you don’t all need to be wearing the exact same color. It’s much more aesthetically pleasing to wear complimentary tones and colors.
Also, don’t be afraid to mix it up with prints and solids. Remember to balance the dark colors and light colors. Notice how the photo below is so beautifully balanced for the mom and dad’s outfits: Mom is wearing dark tones on top and bottom. Dad is wearing dark tones on bottom and light tones on top. If they were both wearing dark tones on bottom half and light tones on top half, this wouldn’t look nearly as balanced. They also did the same for their boys.
Here’s a few more examples of the light/dark tone balance:
2. Remember that this time is going to fly by! So, stay cheerful and positive. Kids pick up on stress and anxiety, so if you’re feeling anxious, they will most likely feel anxious too.
This is especially applied for those tiny littles around 18 months to 3 years.
3. Remember that this should be fun! If smiles don’t come right away from the littles, that is 100% socially acceptable, so don’t sweat it! Keep on smiling, tickling, and go for those inside jokes or silly phrases you know are sure to crack them up. I can stay as positive and fun as possible, but the real leaders who set the tone for the kiddos will always be their parents ❤️
4. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to get ready and drive. If you feel anxious or stressed on your way there, then it’s going to be really hard to get into a playful mood as soon as you arrive. (This applies especially for your significant other.)
5. Last, but not least, remember to bring someone along if you’re planning on bringing your fur baby. That way, you can more diversity out of your time. (It’s just too hot to take them back to the car 🥵)
Chicago Family Photographers | Newborn Lifestyle Photography - Charlie
Where to begin? This moment of getting to capture infant photos of our nephew Charlie with his wonderful parents was 7 years in the making. Almost exactly one year ago before these pictures were taken, my sister Kate spoke boldy at the dinner table around New Years. She told us that THIS would be the year that she would have her baby and there wouldb’t be anything that could get in the way of that…
Where to begin? This moment of getting to capture infant photos of our nephew Charlie with his wonderful parents was 7 years in the making. Almost exactly one year ago before these pictures were taken, my sister Kate spoke boldy at the dinner table around New Years. She told us that THIS would be the year that she would have her baby and there wouldb’t be anything that could get in the way of that. They were visiting us in the Chicago Suburbs from their home in SoCal. They already had their paperwork to get started in their process of IVF and social work meetings to look into the process for adoption. It had a been a long 7 years of waiting, grieving the miscarriage of their first baby 7 years prior, and asking God when. …Fast forward one month after Kate said those words at the dinner table when we got a FaceTime with the greatest news ever. We were all elated. Kate & Stu were finally granted their hearts desires. But, even after the news of pregnancy, there was still a battle to fight. If you’ve never experienced Hyperemesis, there really are no words to describe what it feels like. Our momma had it intensely with both of us. She had to have in-home care and was told multiple times that the outcome might not be what she was hoping. It can be genetic and it happened to be passed down to both of us. Mine was never even a fraction of what my mom and sister walked through though. So, just knowing the tiny bits / moments of the extreme nausea (imagine just taking a sip of water and having it all come up every single time, or the slightest movement as you lie in bed sending you into a fit of sickness.) The inability to eat or drink or move or stay awake is unlike anything that can be described. And out of those 9 months and 7 years of praying, battling, and asking, came the most perfect little boy I’ve ever gotten to hold this side of heaven. Charlie is nothing short of the delightul miracle rainbow baby they’ve been aching for. …we’ve all been aching for. We love you so much sweet Charlie Boy. You are perfection in every sense. And Kate & Stu are every bit and more of the parents they’ve ached to be.
Lake Geneva Wedding Photographers | Chicago Engagement - Julia & Matt
What a treat to get to meet up with Julia and Matt downtown this week! It can be really unpredictable in the spring, so after one raincheck, we met up on the Riverwalk on a perfect April day. The blossoms were in full bloom all over the city. Julia and Matt are as lovely as they come. I know we’ve mentioned it before, but we are so incredibly grateful for the kind and laidback couples that we get the honor of capturing this year. We’re so excited for their wedding day! Until then, here’s a little preview of these two lovebirds and their Spring Engagement Session in Chicago.
What a treat to get to meet up with Julia and Matt downtown this week! It can be really unpredictable in the spring, so after one raincheck, we met up on the Riverwalk on a perfect April day. The blossoms were in full bloom all over the city. Julia and Matt are as lovely as they come. I know we’ve mentioned it before, but we are so incredibly grateful for the kind and laidback couples that we get the honor of capturing this year. We’re so excited for their wedding day! Until then, here’s a little preview of these two lovebirds and their Spring Engagement Session in Chicago.
Lake Geneva Wedding Photographers | Spring Outfitting Guide
Spring Outfitting Guide
Gravitate towards pastel colors that are soft and light. Too much deep and dark tones will make the skin appear more sallow during this time of year. Depending on how early or late into Spring it is, the earth can be more brown and bare. To counter the brownish tones, dress in light and airy color tones. Pure white is wonderful as an accent color, but limits the types of light that are flattering to shoot in. Pastel tones such as soft blushes, blues, and lavender are very flattering during this time of year. (Reference the gallery below) It’s usually fairly windy in Spring, so breezy long dresses or skirts would photograph beautifully! Think fabric that you can be twirled in easily! Long dresses or skirts can also elongate and create a sliming effect on camera. (A God-send for both Engagement Sessions, Maternity Sessions, and lifestyle sessions right after baby is born.) For men, long pants, rather than shorts also help elongate. Also, steer clear of horizontal stripes. They almost always broaden and create an illusion that you are wider than you really are.
Lake Geneva Wedding Photographers | Infant Lifestyle Photography - The Skalkos Family
It was such a treat to capture Baby Charlie and his incredible parents Sarah & Thomas. And to top it off, this nursery is off the charts beautiful! If you’re in need of inspiration, scroll down now!
It’s been such an incredible year of meeting new families, couples, and babies! 2020 was not what we expected, but in some ways, it was better than we expected. Life keeps moving forward. Not even a pandemic can stop babies from being born. And not even a pandemic can stifle the joy of welcoming your first born and relishing those first couple of weeks as new parents. It’s the best. And the Skalkos Family is one of the loveliest around. It was such a treat to capture Baby Charlie and his incredible parents Sarah & Thomas. And to top it off, this nursery is off the charts beautiful! If you’re in need of inspiration, scroll down now!
Special thanks to our past bride, Amy, for gifting the Skalkos Family with a Lifestyle Infant Session! We’re so thankful for the continued support of our couples and it’s such a treat to meet new families!
Lake Geneva Wedding Photographers | Chicago Engagement Session -Jenny & Steve
I’m not typically a morning person, but I will jump at the chance to capture a sunrise engagement session on Lake Michigan in Chicago! It was such a treat to relive Jenny & Steve’s warm engagement session from this summer. They were so much fun to meet up with and their ensembles were perfectly on point. (Jenny’s dress is incredible inspiration if you’re planning a lakeside session. Take note of those pastels, *wink, wink) Jenny & Steve, thank you so much for the honor of getting to capture this exciting milestone in your lives! May your wedding day and marriage be as glorious as you were on this day!
I’m not typically a morning person, but I will jump at the chance to capture a sunrise engagement session on Lake Michigan in Chicago! It was such a treat to relive Jenny & Steve’s warm engagement session from this summer. They were so much fun to meet up with and their ensembles were perfectly on point. (Jenny’s dress is incredible inspiration if you’re planning a lakeside session. Take note of those pastels, *wink, wink) Jenny & Steve, thank you so much for the honor of getting to capture this exciting milestone in your lives! May your wedding day and marriage be as glorious as you were on this day!
Lake Geneva Wedding Photographers | Infant Lifestyle Photography - Samantha and Jack
“No one ever wanted anything more than we wanted you.”
It was such a treat to capture Samantha and Jack say “I do”. It was just as beautiful to be invited to capture their beautiful miracle baby. These lifestyle sessions couldn’t fill us up any more than this.
“No one ever wanted anything more than we wanted you.”
It was such a treat to capture Samantha and Jack say “I do”. It was just as beautiful to be invited to capture their beautiful miracle baby. These lifestyle sessions couldn’t fill us up any more than this.
Lake Geneva Wedding Photographers | Midlothian Country Club Wedding - Ryan & Natalie
FInd someone who looks at you the same way Ryan looked at Natalie on their wedding day. When Ryan saw Natalie walk down that aisle, the tears and smiles were contagious. These two were adorable together. If every married couple had as much fun together as these two do, the world would be a much happier place. Seriously, even when they were being eaten alive by mosquitos during portrait time, they were all smiles. And I have NEVER seen that many mosquitos. Their classic wedding day had a hint of a modern twist with the prettiest combination of metallics, a bit of sparkle, and just the right amount of whites and pastels. And their first dance gives us all the heart eyes. It's a must see! Three cheers to the incredible staff at the Midlothian Country Club for making their big day come together so beautifully! And thank you Natalie & Ryan for being so darn cute and for giving us the honor of capturing such a sweet celebration!
