I love photographing newborns.  They’re so sweet and sleep part of the session and you can pose them pretty easily.  I had previously photographed Mom and Dad’s wedding in 2010 and now I am back to photograph their lovely new addition, Adelyn.  She was indeed a very sweet subject for her very first Metropolitan Imageworks portrait session.

Look at this lovely little specimen!  I love working with newborns because they are so cute and squishy!  I was honored to photograph this little girl, as I had previously photographed her mom and dad’s wedding in 2010 and I like to carry on the photography traditions with clients.  Little Sienna was just perfect for her very first Metimages portrait session and she even went along with a few outfit changes.  I can see it already that she will be a daddy’s girl!

OK, while I didn’t photograph Adelyn’s parent’s wedding, I had pleasure of photographing her older fur-brother a few years ago at one of my ‘Furry Fotos’ days and I photographed two of Adelyn’s aunt’s weddings and have another aunt booked for 2012 . . . so that must count for something right!?  She has some of the prettiest blue eyes that just pop and was a real trooper during all of the outfit changes.  I just loved watching her run around the park and grace me with her smiles!  Again another perfect fall day!

Our awesome Metimage’s intern, Barb, filled in for a Milestone portrait session with Bianca a couple weeks ago in Chicago, and it was hot out!  Bianca and family met up with Barb on the grounds of Dominican University and spent a lovely morning documenting Bianca’s 9-Month session.  Fortunately they were able to escape some of the heat and prevent a melt-down a little longer by heading inside one of the buildings to finish off the session.  Bianca once again aced the portrait session and showed her many smiles and smirks!

You know the phrase “I could eat you up”?!  I understand it very well when I am around Ms. Zoe. With her cute little face and dainty little limbs and yummy personality, I just want to snuggle and love and well, eat her up!  Zoe has almost mastered sitting up all by herself and she was such a little model for me in her christening gown.  We were able to do a few more outfit changes and take pictures both inside and out and only got rained on once before the sun showed the sky who is boss.  Let this be a reminder, baby butt shots sure are cute but baby handler beware!

Hey now, don’t get mad at the photographer!

Yes that is a very cute dress you’re wearing!

These EYELASHES!

I knew you liked getting your photo taken!

My girlfriend Bianca is back on the blog and almost all smiles!  She is such a little ham for the camera and had me cracking up throughout the shoot with her little antics and a couple funny faces she would sneak in.  Her folks brought her to the hotel I was staying out for my IM Marathon the following day and we got to use a variety of backdrops within the hotel suite and it worked out very well.  It’s funny to me how we save the family shots for the end and one of the adults, not naming names, grumbles and finally agrees to do the shot and somehow they always end up to be the most incredible moment that captures a glimpse into the dynamic of their entire family. I joke that they can hate me now but in 10 years they will thank me for creating this memory.  (Thanks to my associate Liz who came up with that gem at a wedding a few seasons ago!)  After yet another successful portrait session we all decided it was time to eat so we headed out for a celebratory meal and Bianca snoozed through most of it in her car seat and Toni was the epitome of a perfect child out at a restaurant late on a Friday night.  After working with clients for 5 years, the lines between client and friend start to blur and they simply become a very important part of my life.

It’s like Christmas or Hanukkah for me when I receive a jump drive of portrait images that one of the Metimages associate photographers has captured.  I find myself smiling and giggling with delight, just like a kid during a holiday, as I go through the images and get a sense of the subjects’ personalities.  Katie has been photographed by myself and Metimages associates since she was a year old. Now she is four and a big sister to boot!  Elle apparently charmed Elizabeth throughout the portrait session and Katie kept Elizabeth on her toes with her boundless energy.

Sisterly love!!

An artiste in the making

I am of the opinion that a portrait does not require the subject to sit still and smile for the camera. Of course a couple of those are very nice, but I am so in love with this image that totally and completely captures the essence of Katie’s antics and joy of being a little girl that day. Talk about truth in photos and such a sweet and special moment, from the grin on her face, her closed eyes to the motion in her feet as they try to catch up with her body.

It wouldn’t be Metimages session without the traditional NY Yankees baseball shot of the whole family.  I’m personally crossing all my crossables, and planting the seed, that I get to photograph the whole family at a game someday!!! Although I cannot promise I will sport a Yankees hat at this time . . . of course not because I am a Cubs fan . . . because the bill gets in the way with my camera!

I feel like I am part of the family when I photograph Bianca and her older sister Toni.  I walk right in and am immediately welcomed into the midst of daily life and handed off a baby to hold!  They enjoy my company, feed me and are excited to get caught up on what’s new with me as well as share what’s new with them. Sometimes Grandma Roseanne is around for part of the shoot and her hugs are just the best.

From Sara and Anthony’s wedding in August 2007 to photographing Toni every three months since her birth in the fall of 2008 and continuing with Bianca’s birth this past November, I am very fortunate to have such incredible clients. And they make adorable kids too!

Here’s a sampling of Bianca and the family during her three-month portrait session. Mom was also uber-prepared for big ‘sis Toni to make an appearance and creep into pics.

So much of photography is about capturing moments. I am very much of the opinion that a portrait does not require the subjects to smile at the camera. If I have captured a moment, then it is perfect.

I can’t even begin to describe how lucky I feel to have been Gemma’s photographer for the first year of her young life. I saw the laughter and tears, the fabulous outfits her mom always put together for the portrait sessions, tummy time love and hate, sitting up by herself, standing with a little help and her emerging personality with each and every shoot.  Thank for you for allowing me to document her milestones!

Time flies when you’re having fun! Scarlett is a delectable three-month old and full of personality, smiles and the cutest little dimples. Vic and I had the absolute pleasure of photographing her mom and dad’s wedding last year and I am so lucky to also spend some time photographing their little bundle of joy and seeing them as a family. We originally tried to do a newborn shoot but I mistakenly picked on of my Chicago locations for Fall Photos on the day of the Chicago Marathon and mom had a good point about not dragging a two-week old out in that chaos.  It was a great decision to wait as Scarlett was more ready for a portrait session and performed like a star. Pork Chop the Yorky also listened very well and posed for a few shots with his “sister.”

Check out this stylish party dress compliments of her uncle!

Ruffle butt bloomers!!!

Buddha belly!