Kat DeJesus, a makeup artist/friend I collaborate with often contacted me as soon as she found Miguel and her were expecting.  She asked for advice on doctors, what to do, but most importantly she already had her announcement shoot in mind.
Kat is a nerd, a cosplayer, a gamer.... Kat is Kat. 
She wanted to do something different that screams her personality and she broke Miguel down to agree to it.  We arrived at my photography studio at the same time, I had Oona with me in her carseat.  I handed it to Miguel and said, "here, you need practice."  While I was photographing Kat, Dad to be was entertaining Oona.  He is such a natural.  I am so excited for them, they are going to be amazing parents.
Kat wanted to do an Aliens themed announcement and enlisted the help of the talented David Cuerdon to do the graphics.  I absolutely LOVE how it turned out and am humbled that they trusted me to help create her vision.
Congratulations again guys!

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Julie contacted me since I was offering Halloween mini photo shoots and wanted to schedule a shoot with her son Derrick and her.  Derrick loves Frozen, so he is going to be Olaf and Julie is going to be Anna for Halloween.
I love when parents dress up with their children... for Viola's first Halloween, she was a gorilla, Dad was a banana, and I was the zookeeper.  Last year and this year I dropped the ball and there have not been coordinating costumes.
Julie is hilarious and loves to play around with the kids.
While looking at these images, I was crying with laughter.... Julie completely captured the essence of Anna, while Derrick was being adorable Derrick as Olaf.
Derrick is finally at an age where he will sit and stand and pose for me again.... I love that I've been photographing this kid for 2 years now!

My girls were having a good time in the studio as well, that Viola had to join in the fun.  She first started by "helping" Derrick, which meant the Olaf costume would be on her soon enough.  When Mom wants to take pictures of her, she is never interested..... when someone else is being photographed, she wants it to be her turn.
Thank you Julie and Derrick for including Viola in your shoot!

#Chicago #ChicagoHalloween #Halloween #HappyHalloween #HalloweenCostume #ChicagoToddler #Toddler #Friends #MomandSon #Family #ChicagoFamilyPhotographer #ChicagoPhotographer #Boo #Disney #Frozen #Anna #Olaf #OlafCostume #AnnaCostume #DisneyCostume #LoganSquare #HumboldtPark

Hi all!
It's that time again..... Holiday Family Portrait Mini Shoots at the Garfield Park Conservatory, as well as in my studio.

11/18 at the Garfield Park Conservatory from 10a-2p. 
These shoots are $150 for 20 minutes and you receive 5 Hi Resolution Digital Images you have the right to print (option to purchase more).

In my studio in Chicago
11/15, 11/21, 12/5 & 12/6 from 10a-5p

Package 1: 10 minute shoot, you receive 2 Hi Resolution Digital images you have the right to print $30.00
Package 2: 20 minute shoot, you receive 4 Hi Resolution Digital images you have the right to print $60.00
Package 3: 30 minute shoot, you receive 6 Hi Resolution Digital images you have the right to print $90.00

You may schedule your shoot and prepay at:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-family-portraits-tickets-19234105728

I look forward to seeing you all and working with you!

Take care, Lori
312.972.3483/sapiosis@yahoo.com


By now I felt my 2.5 year old would cooperate for her photos.....
I got a new backdrop for the studio to take for a test drive and she needs new images for her agency's comp card, so I asked my studio mate Jen Bean to help do her hair and play child wrangler.
Now here is where I went wrong, I took too long setting up the backdrop and Jen's client arrived.  Bye Bye child wrangler.  The shoot insisted of me acting like a crazy person, sweating and trying to grab Viola and set her down as I picked up my camera and she was off.  She will behave like an angel if someone else has a camera.... with Mom it's just a game.
I decided to take pictures of my happy, smiley baby Oona.... she still loves Mom and Mom's camera.
We will try again in a month or so.... at least Viola's hair look adorable (thanks Jen) and the background is perfect for kids.

#Chicago Photographer #Chicago Family #Chicago Baby #Chicago Family Photographer #Chicago Family Photography #Chicago Baby Photographer #Chicago Baby Photography #Logan Square #Chicago Mom #Baby Model #Model #Kid Model #Lily's Talent Agency #Humboldt Park #Mom #photography #Sisters

I am offering Halloween Mini Photo Shoots at 3 different locations on 3 different dates.
Bring your little ones and their costumes to get their portrait taken and get some play time in at a discounted rate!

October 20 @ Purple Monkey Playroom from 10:30a-12:30p
October 22 @ Duck Duck Goose Playground from 3-5p
October 27 @ Little Beans Cafe from 9:30a-12p

There are appointment times, so don't forget to register at whichever venue you prefer.

I look forward to working with you and seeing the cuties in their costumes!

Take care,
Lori

#Chicago Family Photographer #Chicago Halloween #Chicago Photographer #Chicago Family #Chicago Baby #Chicago Kids #Chicago Newborn #Family Photography #Costumes #Kids Activities #Little Beans Cafe #Purple Monkey Playroom #Duck Duck Goose Playground #Lincoln Park #Logan Square #Wicker Park #Bucktown #Chicago Moms

I love portraiture, I've always loved capturing that moment.... that expression that captures the person who's portrait I am photographing.
Will Madden came to me to have his portrait taken.  He was in the process of finishing his book which was to be published.  He downplayed it and said just something small, to put a face to a name.
I had a great time getting to know him during our shoot and was very happy with the results.  His book is titled "Separating the CON from the CO Man," and can be purchased HERE.
I love the image he chose for the back.

#ChicagoPhotographer #ChicagoHeadshots #Headshots #Photographer #ChicagoHeadshotPhotographer #Author #LoganSquare #HumboldtPark #WillMadden #PublishedAuthor #Published #TrainofThoughtPress

I first met Aya as a model on a fashion editorial I photographed which was published in Keel Magazine.  Little did I know I was pregnant on that shoot and found out two weeks later I was expecting Viola.
My second shoot with Aya, I was hugely pregnant with Viola.... at the beginning of my third trimester.  We photographed another editorial at my studio.
My third photoshoot with Aya was when she was in her third trimester with her son Ayden.  She looked gorgeous and we absolutely captured her glow.  I then had the pleasure of being the first photographer to shoot Ayden when he was three weeks old.  He was so little, so sweet and it was wonderful sharing Mommy advice with Aya during our visit.
I then had the opportunity to photograph Aya and sweet Ayden in my studio, He is over a year old and an absolute doll!
Some may call me silly, but I know he remembered me from when he was three weeks old because he let me pick him up and play with him.  He is an absolute doll and I had such a wonderful time while they were in my studio.  He is such a ball of energy and has such a personality!
Oona was present and actually behaved during the shoot and Ayden was so gentle and kind with her.
I love that Aya and I have a connection with our children and can't wait to see what the future holds for us all!
Here are some of the images from our shoot.... you can see the strong bond between Mommy and her little boy.

#chicago #chicagophotographer #chicagofamily #chicagobaby #chicagotoddler #chicagofamilyphotographer #chicagofamilyphotography #chicagophotography #toddler #momandson #mommysboy #logansquare #lincolnpark #humboldtpark #bond #familyphotographer #familyphotography #model #babymodel

Her older sister Viola is signed with Lily's Talent Agency, but at 4 months Oona has already been shown love on Instagram.
One of her 3 month photos I took was shown love by gerber, also an image I took of her in a onesie bought for her at kitson was posted onto LA Trading Co's page.
Thank you for the love!  Maybe Oona needs to be signed as well.....?

#ChicagoPhotographer #ChicagoBabyPhotographer #ChicagoFamilyPhotographer #ChicagoBaby #ChicagoFamily #Family #Baby #Photographer #BabyPhotographer #FamilyPhotographer #FamilyPhotography #BabyPhotography #Kitson #ShopKitson #Gerber #Gerberbaby #GrowingupGerber #LoganSquare #HumboldtPark #Photo #PhotoStudio #Mom #MomandBaby #Chicago #ChicagoMom #Instagram #LaTradingCo #babymodel #babyfashion

On the day of C's shoot was actually her 1st Birthday!
I have known her Mom for at least 15 years and this little girl is the sweetest thing ever.  Even though she was tired, her sass and smiles were shining through.
C loves to laugh and I love when she does, her dimples shine.
Mom brought a couple of outfits for us to choose from.... love the style. 
I shot another 1 year old earlier that day (blog post to come) and they graciously left behind some Happy Birthday balloons.
I love this little girl..... Happy 1st Birthday angel!

#loriksapiophotography #toddlerphotography #familyphotography #chicagophotographer #toddlerfashion #babyfashion #toddler #familyphotographer #logansquare #humboldtpark #buscktown #family #parents #chicagofamilyphotographer #logansquarefamilyphotographer #humboldtparkfamilyphotographer #bucktownfamilyphotographer #babyphotographer #chicagobaby #chicagobabyphotographer #newborn #newbornphotographer #chicagonewbornphotographer #chicagotwins #oneyearold #oneyearold #firstbirthdayphotography #firstbirthdayphotographer #chicagofirstbirthday #cakesmash #family #lincolnpark #lincolnparkphotographer #lincolnparkfamilyphotographer

I had the pleasure of photographing a friend since grade school and her adorable son this weekend in Humboldt Park.  She saw my Fall Family Mini Sessions on facebook and decided to contact me.
I am so glad that she did!
On the way to the park it started to drizzle, while sitting in the park waiting for them it started to sprinkle.  I was hoping for it to stop so we could go ahead with the shoot... right when they pulled up the rain stopped.  The overcast sky provided the perfect light.
Em's adorable son Noah asked me if I was going to take a lot of photos.... I said that I wouldn't take too many.  No more than 100, ok?  (I ended up taking close to 300 but didn't want to tell him).
We started walking around, and I decided to let Noah be a boy.  I wanted to capture a boy in a park, with some pics as well with Mom.
It was a great shoot, I am in love with the images I captured, here are some of my favorites from the day.