Photographing a child through their Milestones.....

I had the pleasure of meeting Beulah when she was 12 hours old at the hospital... she was calm, aware and wide awake when I walked in the door.  I love photographing brand new babies, especially when they are awake!  I took full advantage of her being awake, brought her by the window and wrapped her in a blanket my Grandmother made for when I was born. 

I couldn't believe how much hair she came out with!

After getting some images of her awake, we had her nurse and the cutie pie fell asleep and I got some adorable snoozing pics of her.

*Note, there are going to be A LOT of images in this blog post*

I've known Beulah's Mom, Tara (BoydMeetsGirl) for years.... since before she moved to Chicago from Dallas... where to my sadness, they will be moving back this summer.  Guess I'll have to come visit and take some more pictures!

We met through Model Mayhem, Tara is a pinup model as well (Sweetpea Bettie) and we collaborated on a great pinup shoot at the ALoft Hotel I was staying at.  A couple months later, Tara moved to Chicago and we shot often.... collaborated on beauty, fashion, bridal and pinup.

A couple of months after she moved to town, I became pregnant with my daughter Viola.... two months after that, Tara became pregnant with Beulah!  Another common bond besides our love for photo shoots.

Viola and I went over to visit the Boyd family when Beulah was a month old so the girls could meet.  We got to meet her older brother Sammy, who was in town from Dallas and we took some family portraits as well as portraits of Boo.  I love photographing families in their homes, even though you don't always see the whole room... you get more of a sense of them by the little added touches.  Beulah was wide awake for this shoot, we got to try a lot of different looks.

For the Boyd family's Christmas shoot, we did it at my studio in Logan Square.  Tara loves little girl outfits and always brings options for Boo to wear.... she also loves to coordinate the family, no prompting on my end (which I love)!

Her older brother Sammy is so sweet with her, you can see the love they have for each other.

From time to time, Tara would pop by the studio with Beulah and we would do some impromptu shoots.... Boo loves the camera and makes it easy.  It's also fun seeing another child besides my own grow and change in front of the camera.

(My daughter Viola is the other baby in these images)

I didn't get the chance to photograph Beulah's 1st Birthday photos because I was pregnant at the time and we couldn't get to coordinate our schedules....

But, Viola and I did get to come over to photograph a special announcement.... that Beulah is about to become a big sister!  Her little sister is due any day now and we can't wait to meet her.  Of course Mom had an adorable shirt to announce Beulah's new role in the family.  Tara also had a cute idea about incorporating pumpkins, but you don't always get what you want when photographing a toddler.  They have their own ideas for a shoot, and to make it easier for all.... I just go with the flow.

I invited Tara and Beulah to the studio to do a mom and daughter maternity shoot, to get some more portraits of Beulah in before she has a little sister sharing her spotlight.

Tara coordinated outfits (again) and has an amazing glow to her.... she's tiny, gorgeous and beautiful.... I love that I was able to capture the two of them one last time before another little girl joins the family.

Of course I have to shamelessly throw in images of my daughter Viola and Beulah as well.... I had a vision for this shoot, the girls hugging and holding hands......... toddlers had their own agenda.  They were hungry so I handed Viola an apple.  They fought over it, they shared it, the apple changed the shoot completely.

I love watching children grow and documenting their changes throughout the years and stages they go through.  It is amazing to look back and see how they still resemble some of the past images.  Those little faces and expressions will always be hidden somewhere no matter how old they grow.

Clients express budget concerns from time to time, not being able to keep documenting the lives of the children.  Ask your photographer to work with you, we love our repeat and loyal clientele.  Some photographers (I do) offer mini photo sessions throughout the year.  Take advantage of that!  You don't always need a long shoot, what we can capture in a mini shoot can capture that mini milestone or slight growth your wee one is going through.

I will miss the Boyd's, but know I can catch up with everything that is going on through facebook, Instagram and Tara's blog.

#loriksapiophotography #toddlerphotography #familyphotography #chicagophotographer #toddlerfashion #babyfashion #toddler #familyphotographer #logansquare #humboldtpark #bucktown #family #parents #chicagofamilyphotographer #logansquarefamilyphotographer #humboldtparkfamilyphotographer #bucktownfamilyphotographer #babyphotographer #chicagobaby #chicagobabyphotographer #newborn #newbornphotographer #chicagonewbornphotographer #BoydMeetsGirl #Pinup #ALoft #facebook #Instagram #ModelMayhem #SweetpeaBettie #Sisters #BigSister #Maternity #MaternityPhotography #MaternityChicago #Pregnancy #Pregnant #PregnancyChicago