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These girls! I look forward to our sessions together every year because hanging with Gabriela and Juliana makes me reminisce of my childhood days, hanging out with my own sister. These girls are best buds, and they are so much fun to be around. We had a wonderfully overcast morning to explore Olive Park together. As always, the girls brought their best top model poses and rock star ideas…suffice it to say there were a lot of laughs. Thanks for a great time, Jessica and Michael! It’s always wonderful to see you four.

Colby, Alexandra, and I were goofing around during our session together last Saturday. (Not unusual). Colby wanted to photobomb his sister’s close-ups, so, of course, I showed him a few surefire techniques. That lead to some experimentation with even more goofiness, like photobombing ones own close-up and so forth. Sorry Stef and Chase, I think I might have created a photobombing monster! But when it was time to get down to business, and Colby and Alexandra didn’t disappoint. They brought their top model smiles and poses, were expert racers and leaf-throwers, and were ready and willing to cuddle with mom and dad when the time came. Even though the foliage is late to change in Chicagoland this year, we were able to find some fall color in a charming South Loop park. I love how the colors just popped off that overcast sky. You guys are the best…thanks for a fun time!

It was a little bit country, a little bit rock n’ roll with Lisa, John, Jack, and James last Sunday. Independence Grove is a beautiful park, and we had a picture perfect fall day to explore it together. I couldn’t get enough of their matching leather jackets (although I totally dated myself with the boys when I made a reference to “The Fonze” that clearly went over their heads). I was laughing out loud when I edited the thumbs up photo…and then again when I got to the series of the brothers running a race. Not to mention all of the brotherly headlocks. Jack and James have perfected that move! They are just too cute. Thanks for a  great time, Lisa, John, Jack, and James. So much fun to be living close to you guys now!

It’s always a profound honor for me to take family photos for Marj, Josh, and Jack. Not only are they a really sweet family, and so much fun to hang out with, but I share a unique bond in parenthood with Marj and Josh. They lost their baby, Mason, soon after we lost baby Hannah. I know how hard it is to take family photos with a key member missing. But this year, we found a wonderful way to incorporate Mason. We took pictures on the bench in the Botantic Gardens that is dedicated to him. Such a lovely, serene spot. Such a powerful, touching message. The blue pinwheel made an appearance again this year, which I love, and all of the photos are bathed in sunlight. I have no doubt that’s Mason smiling down on his family, participating in the photos, too. If you want to see pure joy, take Jack to see trains. The Botanic Gardens has an awesome display, and Jack was so excited! I love his smile in those photos…and how he could barely take his eyes off Thomas and his friends to smile at the camera. He did a great job, as usual. Marj and Josh, thanks so much for having me take these photos for you. I hope they make you smile and continue to bring you comfort. Love to you all!