Their family was a referral from another family that I’ve photographed, for gosh, at least five years. We were a perfect match from the start. I love the extra step of closeness a referral can bring not too mention a few long phone conversations. I felt like part of the family within about five minutes which makes me and my camera super happy.

Apparently, it makes kids happy too! The Little Miss was getting a cold and the Little Mister was getting over a cold, but still they ran, played and smiled their hearts out on this brisk autumn afternoon.

Adorable. Fun. These two won my heart — I want to photograph them every day.

These last few cloudy, rainy days feel a bit more like Spring, yes?

It’s true. One of my favorite families left Chicago. Gone. They upped and moved themselves to another state. I first photographed them when their little girl was just a few weeks old, then again when she was one. This time at the ripe old age of two, we gave their photo shoot a bit of a Chicago twist.

Spring arrived as much as three weeks early. Maybe that’s why it feels like the most amazing, beautiful Spring I’ve ever witnessed. I don’t know what it is but I’m soaking it in. I hope you are too.

Well, hello there! Still following along?

Over the last few months, I’ve been wrangling a new website behind the scenes. Frankly, I don’t know what to do with it anymore. I’m lost. My days of coding websites might well be over. So, instead of updating a space that may never see the light of day I’m coming back here to share a few images from last Fall and this Winter.

Here are a few from a day me and my little went to visit daddy downtown.

One of my favorite things to do on a dreary Winter day is to head outside looking for unexpected beauty. It’s usually not too hard to find.

Taking pictures with my iPhone has become one of my favorite creative outlets when I’m trudging around with the kid in tow. My girl is slowly starting to appreciate the fun of having her picture taken again. I pretend like it’s not the best thing ever, but oh my goodness it really, really is!

“You want your picture taken again?” in my best exasperated voice. “Well ok, but just one (or TEN) more.”

Apps for Photo Tinkering → Mill Colour, Camera Bag + Diptic

There was heavy cloud cover on the day of this baby’s portrait shoot too. I love how her infectious smile made it feel like a bright sunny day. Now only to find a way to put it in a bottle. Hmm.

Being a little disenchanted with the zoo this time around, when he casually mentioned walking over to the beach I was all about making that happen ASAP. With no beach towels, no change of clothes and sunscreen yet to be applied we headed over. It was her first trip to a beach this year and I’m pretty confident there is another one in our very near future.