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Most of my newborn photography sessions are in the Chicago area, however when the opportunity came up for me to travel for a newborn session in Cincinnati I jumped on it!  I grew up there, and it was wonderful to be back “home” for a whirlwind weekend with kid #3 along for the ride and very odd *but entertaining* conversation during our 6 hour drive (conversation ranged from him schooling me on pirate terms to asking if giraffes laid eggs… and that was before we even crossed into Indiana from Illinois)!

This little man was an absolute dream– occasionally he would begin to scrunch his face like he was ready to tell me exactly how he felt about being posed, but instead let out a huge sigh of acceptance and let me continue to mold him into position :)

For more information about newborn, baby, child or family photography in Chicago, please contact me at Amy@funfreshyou.com

If you would like to schedule a family photography session in the Chicago area, please fill out a Chicago and North Shore family photography client profile

If you would like to schedule a baby photography session in Chicago, the North Shore, or the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, please fill out a Chicago baby photography client profile

If you are ready to schedule your Chicago area newborn photography session, please fill out a newborn client profile

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When considering a newborn photographer, cost is understandably an issue– but maybe it shouldn’t be the most important one.  You need to love your photographer’s style, because the results from your session will be what you use to remember this time in your life when your little tiny baby is scoring his first soccer goal or driving away in her first car. Your photographer needs to be someone with a personality you mesh with– you will be spending at least an hour or 2 sitting in the same room as your newborn is photographed, there may as well be the opportunity for good conversation!  Your photographer should be someone that operates legally… business license, pays taxes, insurance, does everything on the up & up.  Why is that so important?  If they are running their business professionally and above board, they are invested in providing a high standard of quality– both in products and in ethics (you have to be committed to it when you watch the bulk of session income go to the tax man, the insurance man and the business licensing office!).

When searching for a photographer to document this unforgettable time in your life, I try to encourage people to choose the right photographer for them based on the photographer’s style, the products & packages they offer, and their personality, rather than just their cost. There will always be expensive photographers and cheap photographers, but what is most important is that you love your photographer’s work, because that is what you will have to remember this time in your life by.

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It’s the 10th of the month again, so it’s time for another round of 10 on 10!  You may remember previous months here and here — this month was just a few snaps of my 2 littlest guys just before lunch today :)  My youngest broke his leg last Monday evening (on a playground slide), and after a long week filled with doctor’s appointments to get his cast applied correctly (long story, but to summarize his first orthopedist did a terrible job that could have left him with long term damage and had my baby in more pain than was necessary until we found someone to do it right!), he is happily on the mend now!  The other set of images are of my 2nd littlest guy… in the throws of a temper tantrum and time out… it’s hard work to be 4 (especially when baby brother got so much attention last week, and he had to be dragged to every appointment for his brother too!) ;)

To see more 10 on 10 projects, click through to Los Angeles Photographer Amy Shertzer’s blog!

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My 4 kiddos are going to their grandparents for spring break, so guess what that means?  I have daytime newborn and baby photography sessions available in my studio between Schaumburg and Palatine while they’re gone (if I don’t fill them I have no idea what I will do with myself– this has never happened!)!  As an added bonus, anyone filling one of the session slots I have available March 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th will receive a 25% discount on their digital collection purchase (that also *never* happens!)!

Please contact me through the contact link above, my website or by emailing amy@funfreshyou.com and mention the “spring break special” to reserve a session!

And because no post is complete without a picture:

*Newborn photography sessions must take place before the baby turns 2 weeks old

*Baby photography sessions are for infants 4-11mo (holding head up well through early walking)

For more information about newborn, baby, child or family photography in Chicago, please contact me at Amy@funfreshyou.com

If you would like to schedule a family photography session in the Chicago area, please fill out a Chicago and North Shore family photography client profile

If you would like to schedule a baby photography session in Chicago, the North Shore, or the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, please fill out a Chicago baby photography client profile

If you are ready to schedule your Chicago area newborn photography session, please fill out a newborn client profile

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You may remember these gorgeous newborn twins with the names out of a storybook or two– they came back to me for a quick mini-session to get some more images of them together since they were feeling a little feisty from a growth spurt when I first photographed them at 6 days old!  They were perfect as could be this time around, so we were able to capture some swoon-worthy images of these two together while they are still itty bitty :)

I will be announcing a spring break special on weekday newborn and baby sessions taking place next week tomorrow on the blog, but if you want “in the know” early, be sure to stop by my facebook page!

For more information about newborn, baby, child or family photography in Chicago, please contact me at Amy@funfreshyou.com

If you would like to schedule a family photography session in the Chicago area, please fill out a Chicago and North Shore family photography client profile

If you would like to schedule a baby photography session in Chicago, the North Shore, or the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, please fill out a Chicago baby photography client profile

If you are ready to schedule your Chicago area newborn photography session, please fill out a newborn client profile

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As many of you know, my daughter turned 8 last week.  Finding a party plan that will work well with a crowd (we invited all the girls in her class, so we had to prepare for about 12 girls!) in our home near Arlington Heights can be a challenge, so we bravely hosted a sleepover for her and a gaggle of friends to celebrate… during the night of the “spring forward” time change (what were we thinking?!  Just kidding– it went great :) )!  In addition to the photo booth, we tie-dyed pillowcases (doubled as a party favor!), danced like crazy to Justin Bieber in the basement, stuffed ourselves full of pizza and gave everyone a hair feather!  I cannot share the images from the party, as I did not ask the parents for permission to post the images online, however I can share the ones of my kids the night before the party when we gave the photo booth a test run!

I am now offering the photo booth as an option for clients after seeing how much fun all the girls had– with a flat fee per hour, including all images hand-processed and delivered digitally within a week of the party to share with your guests!

Having a photo booth at your next party will make it memorable for you and your guests!  My daughter has already filled a bulletin board with images from the party and her friends had a fantastic time (they had over 200 images!)– I think this party will be one that isn’t forgotten :)

To schedule a photo booth for your child’s party in Chicago, the North Shore or surrounding Chicago Suburbs, please email Amy@funfreshyou.com or use the contact button above!

For more information about newborn, baby, child or family photography in Chicago, please contact me at Amy@funfreshyou.com

If you would like to schedule a family photography session in the Chicago area, please fill out a Chicago and North Shore family photography client profile

If you would like to schedule a baby photography session in Chicago, the North Shore, or the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, please fill out a Chicago baby photography client profile

If you are ready to schedule your Chicago area newborn photography session, please fill out a newborn client profile

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Once upon a time there were 2 beautiful little girls with names straight out of a story (or 2)…

Actually, they were named for great grandmothers!

These gorgeous 6 day old twin girls came to my Palatine area photography studio yesterday afternoon for a session and really showed off their personalities (and I have to say right here, mom did not look like she gave birth to twins 6 days ago!  She didn’t even look like she had given birth to 1 baby– she looked fantastic!)!  Little {A} (the older but smaller baby) is a feisty little girl that knows what she likes and has the determination to make it happen– a trait that will serve her well as an adult but might giver her parents (and siblings) a run for their money!  “Baby sister” {D} is laid-back and cuddly, happy to snuggle when given the opportunity– she is a lot like my own littlest guy, happy to just go with the flow (and she will need that skill as the youngest of 4!)!

Thank you, {K} family for sharing your new little loves with me!

For more information about newborn, baby, child or family photography in Chicago, please contact me at Amy@funfreshyou.com

If you would like to schedule a family photography session in the Chicago area, please fill out a Chicago and North Shore family photography client profile

If you would like to schedule a baby photography session in Chicago, the North Shore, or the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, please fill out a Chicago baby photography client profile

If you are ready to schedule your Chicago area newborn photography session, please fill out a newborn client profile

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Time for another round of 10 on 10!  This month is more about how we spent our week, rather than a morning in our world!  The first image sums it up– we had a little taste of spring in our little suburb of Chicago that was very much needed– my kids were going a little stir crazy!

My littlest guy is a slide fanatic– climb-slide-rinse-repeat.  We are so lucky to have a great little park in our neighborhood just a few blocks from our house– it takes about 5 minutes to walk there (10 if the littlest guy is on foot) behind my big three zipping ahead to the next corner on their bikes and scooters (yes, they wait at each corner!  That took a little practice since they didn’t have sidewalks in our Virginia neighborhood, or a playground we could walk to!) before they walk their wheels of choice across to the next stretch of sidewalk while I mosey behind with little guy’s 2 year old sized steps!

As I prepared for this blog entry, my littlest guy saw this picture of himself on the swings and promptly ran to the front door demanding it be opened so we could go “schwwwiiiiiing!”… I then got to listen to a 40 minute tantrum when I said it’s too cold today… he is definitely 2!

The mark of a good day in our house is when the kids are grimy and smeared with mysterious smudges at the end of the day– our day at the park (literally, we went twice in one day!) definitely gave us gray bathwater that night!

My super-shy oldest went to the field to cartwheel her heart out right before we went home– I posted a few days ago about how she didn’t want to go up and ask to join the kids doing this just 15 minutes before… she waited for the field to empty.

It’s so hard to believe she is 8 now– this smart, compassionate, loyal, funny, artistic, gorgeous girl that made me a mom for the first time.  She doesn’t actually wear glasses by the way– Santa put those in her stocking as a joke since she manages to poke herself in the eye frequently, and whaddya know, she loves ‘em!

I encourage you to check out wonderful Los Angeles Photographer, Amy Shertzer‘s 10 on 10!

For more information about newborn, baby, child or family photography in Chicago, please contact me at Amy@funfreshyou.com

If you would like to schedule a family photography session in the Chicago area, please fill out a Chicago and North Shore family photography client profile

If you would like to schedule a baby photography session in Chicago, the North Shore, or the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, please fill out a Chicago baby photography client profile

If you are ready to schedule your Chicago area newborn photography session, please fill out a newborn client profile

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I had the pleasure of photographing this gorgeous little 3 month old a few days ago and loved every minute of it! You may remember her from when I photographed her baptism near Chicago– she has grown so much since then!  She was such a little chunk, and we all know I *love* baby rolls!  She had so much personality packed into her little body– she gave so many different expressions throughout our session!  Be on the lookout for more of this cutie, I have so many favorites she may appear several times on the blog!

For more information about newborn, baby, child or family photography in Chicago, please contact me at Amy@funfreshyou.com

If you would like to schedule a family photography session in the Chicago area, please fill out a Chicago and North Shore family photography client profile

If you would like to schedule a baby photography session in Chicago, the North Shore, or the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, please fill out a Chicago baby photography client profile

If you are ready to schedule your Chicago area newborn photography session, please fill out a newborn client profile

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I spent the afternoon at the park with my kiddos (who could resist the gorgeous weather we had today?!)… shhh… we also went this morning!  As I was watching my littlest guy climb and slide (rinse and repeat) I looked over and saw my soon-to-be 8 year old (tomorrow… eek!) falling victim to her shyness once again :(  She likes to use her little brother to help get her in with other kids (he is that kid that is friends with everyone), but he had already found a friend on the playground and was focused on a game of space rangers (I think?) and didn’t want to break away to go out into the field.  It breaks my heart that she was too intimidated to go join the group of girls in their cartwheel races (and we all know my girl loves to cartwheel!)– no one should feel so lonely when there are a gazillion kids around :(

I am 100% sure the girls would have invited her to play if she had just gotten a bit closer, but my words of encouragement fell on deaf ears.  *Sigh*  Being a mom can be tough some days.

For more information about newborn, baby, child or family photography in Chicago, please contact me at Amy@funfreshyou.com

If you would like to schedule a family photography session in the Chicago area, please fill out a Chicago and North Shore family photography client profile

If you would like to schedule a baby photography session in Chicago, the North Shore, or the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, please fill out a Chicago baby photography client profile

If you are ready to schedule your Chicago area newborn photography session, please fill out a newborn client profile