My niece {Miss K} at 6 months

Today I took pictures of my niece for her 6 month pictures, and for her mom to make holiday cards. Just look at these big blue eyes, infectious smile, and long, long eyelashes. Beautiful!!!

Double the fun!

I had my 3rd opportunity - in as many weeks! - to photograph newborn twins. These two - {Mr D} and {Miss N} were just a day and a half old! Hopefully, I will be assisting on a family sitting for this family in the near future - Mom, Dad, the twins and their 4 year old brother.

Are you jealous of my job yet?!

Hands-on dads...

Although my main priority at Bella Baby Photography is to photograph the baby, I try to take it above and beyond that if 1) the baby cooperates 2) mom & dad are interested and 3) the situation to take some beautiful pictures presents itself. Not all parents are interested in participating, while some come with ideas of their own.

Like {C} and her dad... Mom wanted this shot, and I think it turned out pretty darn well...

However, with {R}, mom & dad knew they wanted to be in the pictures, but I chose the "posing" and I personally love this. I hope mom does too!!! And I know that some day, when {R} is a little lady, she'll be so thrilled that I captured this moment for her.

{FOUR} My lucky number...

Bug turned four on Wednesday (can you believe it?!), so we celebrated with a trip into the city and a surprise visit to American Girl Place. She had no idea where we were going, what we were doing, or why she was so dressed up. She just knew it was her BIRTHDAY! and that we'd left Lou home with Heidi...

Anyway, it was a great time. Tiring and exhausting and emotional and so, so, so much fun. I never thought a tomboy like me could have so much fun at a DOLL store. Anyway, I have a ton of pics to share, but not a ton of time... so a couple of my favorites.

Happy Birthday Bug!!!

{Miss R} - Worth the wait

Although I had to wait until near the end of my day to photograph this little lady, it was totally worth my while. I looked at her with a little doubt that all 9 pounds would fit in my basket and then said, "Screw it! Let's try!" She fit. She filled my basket perfectly. And she was so happy to sleep in there. Mom & Dad joked that they would have to buy one, especially given the fact that her nursery furniture (ordered in July!) was not in yet!!!

Some cheeks are just begging to be smooched. This girl is gonna be smooched silly by her wonderful parents!!!!

While I'm waiting - {M} & {S}

Today is a better day. The baby gods are smiling down on me. So far, two happy and gorgeous little ones. One more to go (he's lunching now, hence the wait). So, I thought I'd share a couple more...

I actually set out to photograph {Miss S} yesterday, but she was NOT having it. So, I told mom & dad I'd return today and suggested wrapping her in a blanket from home and keeping her tee-shirt on. SCORE!

Once {Mr M} let out a baby belch, we were all systems go. He did wonderful, even catching my eye in a couple of the shots.

What keeps me going...

Let me start by saying, I LOVE working for Bella Baby! LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Adore it. There's not a day I don't look forward to going in. But...that doesn't mean I don't have tough days. Days when my eyes are tearing up in frustration as I leave the hospital. Days when I just want to go home and delete all my files from that day. Days when I just want to run as far from the hospital as I can. Because I'm so passionate about the pictures I take, I expect the same response from the parents...and I can't help but take it personal when they don't love the pictures like I do! And when I have a day when the pictures don't turn out as I'd hoped, that's even worse!

Today was a rough day. I went into the hospital with high hopes and walked out with hopes dashed. I faced obstacles throughout the day and come 5pm, I just didn't have the heart to deal with one more. But, out of a rough day, there was still a ray or two (or three!) of sunshine. And that's what inspires me to go back in tomorrow, optimistic once again... sure that TODAY will be the day I make a mom cry tears of joy! The day a mom stares in awe at the images I've captured!

Anyway, here are some of my favorites from today! Thank you to M & J for allowing me to photograph their sweet 3 day old twins! As soon as brother & sister were side by side, both were comforted. While baby boy looked around the room contentedly, baby girl quietly snorted in her sleep. It was such a precious sight.


And my last baby of the day {V}. What a cute chubba!!! He was a doll! Mom had asked me earlier in the day to return just prior to closing up for the day, and I'm glad I was able to. This little guy had endured a busy first day of life, but slept through all my fidgeting and fussing with him. Even slept through a wardrobe change! I just wanted to cuddle him!!!

A Bella Baby {Miss L}

Now that I know I can share my Bella work, I need to go through my thousands of images and figure out which ones I want to show off, and more importantly, which parents have signed off consent to use the pictures! A daunting task to be sure! But, for now, a recent fave of mine! Thanks to her parents for allowing me to use the picture.

Proof that you never know what you might catch on camera...mom & dad had just set her down on the bed to unwrap her from her swaddle so I could take our traditional "bare baby" photos. She was so happy, so content, that I had to step in and take a few photos. Dad later said, "I didn't even know you got that!!!" Mission accomplished!

Happy Birthday {Party}, BUG!!!!

Yesterday was Bug's birthday party. She's gonna be FOUR! Can you believe it? I can't. She acts like she's 6 or 7 and yearns to be 16 ("then, you can teach me to drive a REAL car, mom!"). She's absolutely gorgeous and funny and such a joy to be around. I can only imagine how much more fun she'll be come this time next year!

The numbers for her party weren't real good (one of the downfalls of a November birthday - cold & flu season!), but about 30 minutes in, I realized it just didn't matter. Thank you to I & Z, and F for coming to spend the afternoon with Abbi. Its wonderful to know that she is making new friends. And, of course, thank you to her big friends, H & M!!!

So, I thought I'd post a few candids from the party. We'll be celebrating with a big outing into the city on her actual birthday (11.19), when I'll take her "4" pictures. Yesterday, she didn't even want me to bring my camera! (silly kid!)

The birthday girl truly enjoyed running wild with her friends, opening her gifts (she asked me to read each card before turning to the gift! So proud!), and chowing on the cupcakes she helped me make. In years past, it was like pulling teeth to get her to open her gifts in front of the guests.

And despite her grumpy face in the one picture, Lou enjoyed the party too!!! She loves running with the bigger kids!

On a separate note: Today I got some awesome news... With the parents' consent, I can share my Bella Baby work on my blog! Yippee!! Finally, I can show off my best work! And my passion!! Hopefully, tomorrow I will be shooting my second set of newborn twins. Fingers crossed that I get consent to share those images!!!

A teaser: Heidi & Matt

The real reason for going downtown yesterday: to shoot Matt & Heidi, who have been married a year and a half now and never had engagement pictures done. They don't even have wedding photos that they feel inclined to display!!! How sad... My mission, to give them one or two (or ten) photos worthy of adorning the walls of their new apartment!

Hope you enjoy these few...trust me - there are MANY more. And for my fellow photographers and photoshoppers, please feel free to CC. I could use it, as these are still early attempts at professional processing, as well as on-location shooting!

A Day In the BIG CITY...

Yesterday, we went into the city to take pictures of our close friends, Heidi & Matt (sneak peek of their fabulous pics soon to come). I tried to focus on taking their pictures while Russ watched Lou & Bug, but at one point, H&M walked away to scout another photo location and I couldn't help but snap a couple quick ones of my girls playing (and stop a freak from trying to take pictures of them!!!!!). Chicago is such an amazing backdrop for pictures, but with my girls, the backdrop just doesn't matter... I want all the focus on my beautiful girls!!!!

Here's my 2 favorites!!!