Jessica Gwozdz Photography - Chicago maternity, newborn, child, & family photographer

I'm moving the blog!

2010-01-25T13:29:00.005-06:00

In order to have more flexibility with my blog, I have decided to change my blogging platform. Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds to: http://jessicagwozdz.com/blog

Thank you!

Here I go again!

2010-01-02T16:44:00.009-06:00

Several of you might recall the photography challenge I participated in back in 2008. It was called Project 365 and it involved a self-portrait a day for an entire year. It was a ton of work, but I learned so much and met so many cool people who were also participating in the challenge. At the end of 2008, after taking 366 pictures of myself (it was a leap year!), I could not imagine ever doing something like that again. I did not participate in 2009.

Well, it's hard to believe but I kinda missed the project last year. My 365 in 2008 became somewhat of a photographic journal of events in my life at the time. I also think that 2008 was a huge year of growth for me photographically and I attribute much of that to the 365 Project. I was able to think outside the box and try things lighting-wise and posing-wise with myself that I have not done with another subject. Perhaps I am insane, but I decided to attempt Project 365 again for 2010. We'll see if I can stick with it. If you'd like to follow my project and cheer me on, here is a link to my 2010 photo set.

Happy New Year!

Gorgeous Family in their Gorgeous Family Room

2009-12-28T22:05:00.012-06:00

Over this holiday break, I had the opportunity to visit the K family to see their Kids As Art display. Wowza! It literally took my breath away and I momentarily wished I was a product photographer because I know that my snapshot here does not do their beautiful room justice. Their basement family room is designed in palette of brown, beige, and orange, with green accents. The children's portraits could not have been planned any better to become the centerpiece of this room. Special ceiling lights were installed to really showcase each portrait. Everything is sheer perfection!

The two side portraits are 24x24, with the middle portrait being 24x30.

(my own) Kids As Art

2009-12-28T22:00:00.008-06:00

If you follow my blog, you might recall the 24x30 canvas gallery wrap I gave to my father over the summer.

I loved it so much, I temporarily hung it on my wall just to photograph the kids with it before I gave it to him.

On Christmas Day I finally photographed this art piece at it's final home, hanging in my parents' living room. Just wanted to share this with you all.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-22T21:04:00.005-06:00

It has been a great pleasure working with all of you this past year. Wishing you all the blessings of the season. Merry Christmas!

Kids As Art, and some great news!

2009-12-19T13:42:00.013-06:00

You may recognize this family from a session we did in September. At that time their middle daughter S, now 5, was at the tail end of her treatment for Wilm’s Tumor, a form of childhood kidney cancer. This is an especially Merry Christmas for them because tests recently revealed S to be cancer free!

She has been collecting symbolic beads for various milestones along the course of her treatment, and today she showed me her “NED” bead. NED stands for No Evidence of Disease. The NED bead has become the centerpiece of a special Christmas ornament on the tree this year (and as I was driving home from their house, I was doing a mental head-slap for not photographing that ornament. Doh!).

The family ordered a 16x18 canvas gallery wrap wall portrait for their family room. It's displayed over their couch and has the family's mantra "Moment By Moment" along the wrap sides.

S is also one of the 2010 Ambassador Kids for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that raises funds for childhood cancer research. Check her out here!

Sneak Peek - Father and Sons

2009-12-14T16:03:00.008-06:00

You may recognize little A from earlier in the fall, when I was honored to shoot his 1-year session. He brought the rest of his family to meet me this past weekend. I love to see fathers having fun with their kids. Isn't that just the best?

This last one really makes me smile. I was instructing them to go cheek-to-cheek, but A kept kissing his dad anytime his face got too close. Totally adorable!

Happy Hanukkah!

2009-12-14T15:33:00.005-06:00

Growing up in a mixed religion home, I have taken lots of "menorah with christmas tree" pictures over the years. This year I had seen some online tutorials about how to change the shape of lights in the background and thought it might be fun to try to do a Star of David. It totally worked!

I wish everyone a very Happy Hanukkah!

Almost 8 months old!

2009-12-01T20:52:00.007-06:00

Look at this little cutie who I met yesterday. He was so easy-going and cooperative. I swear those are his real eyelashes. No photoshop enhancement performed. Jealous? I am!

What to Wear

2009-11-30T12:19:00.004-06:00

There is time for one more "what to wear" suggestion for those last-minute holiday portraits.

As with other earlier "what to wear" ideas, notice that no two people are dressed completely alike yet all of the outfits compliment one another. One great technique for planning your family’s wardrobe for a portrait is to imagine that you are dressing one person. If you lay the clothing for everyone out on the bed, just make sure it all works together. Happy Portrait Session to all!

Thing 1 Turns 7

2009-11-27T07:37:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday today to my firstborn, the child who is at the same time the light of my life and the reason for my gray hair. She wants to be Beethoven when she grows up, not really realizing that Beethoven was his last name. She thinks being Beethoven is a career choice.

Thing 2 Turns 4

2009-11-22T10:21:00.003-06:00

Happy fourth birthday today to my sweet baby boy! He wants to go to dinner tonight at Sweet Tomatoes in honor of his birthday. That's his idea of fancy. :)

More Kids As Art

2009-11-19T13:40:00.005-06:00

I got to visit some of my favorite clients today to check out how they have incorporated the “Kids As Art” idea into their home. When I got there I saw that this was an easy idea for them as they have photographic art throughout the house, including a gorgeous wall portrait over mantel from their wedding day.

Here is a 16x20 linen print in the TV room over the mantel.

And two 16x16 canvas collages in the dining room.

Thanks to the B family for letting me create these art pieces of their adorable daughter and for letting me stop by this morning with my camera.

Twins!

2009-11-09T17:12:00.008-06:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph some preemie newborn twins today. They don’t look like preemie newborn twins, you say? Well that’s because they were born at 36 weeks and weighed 7 lbs 3 oz and 7 lbs 10 oz! I am in pain just thinking about that. Their mom is totally a super hero, as I got to witness today. With these two little guys plus a 2-year-old big sis, this family truly has their hands full.

This was the first set of twins babies I have worked with in about 5 years, plus I was on location at the family’s home, so this was a fun and challenging day for me. These babies are both so big and strong that they would have nothing to with any type of traditional newborn posing techniques. One of them can already even hold his head up! It seemed that we could not get both of them in the same mood at the same time (one was awake while the other was sleepy, one was crying to be fed while the other was content). As their mom said “Welcome to my life!”

T, I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. More to come later this week!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T08:40:00.003-05:00

My daughter wanted to be something scary this year. I love how it's so obvious it's her with those little red glasses showing right thru the mask.

Wall-e woke up with a fever this morning, so I am glad I shot this picture last weekend at the park district Halloween party.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween!

Grandparents & Grandkids

2009-10-21T16:29:00.005-05:00

It's always fun to capture the relationship between grandparents and grandkids, but even more fun when it's my own family. Here are my awesome in-laws (and no, they are not paying me to say that! LOL), my kids, and all their cousins. I just love this shot so much, I had to share it.

Rapunzel, my new photography assistant

2009-10-19T14:58:00.010-05:00

Remember this 3 year old's session? Well now big sis is 5! Over the summer I was suggesting that their mom get in the photos, and this time she did! What a gorgeous family, huh? I am especially thankful for this family because they have been clients of mine since their oldest was a newborn, and they drive over 45 miles to come see me twice a year for the girls' birthday sessions. Thank you for all of your support, for sticking by me as my business grows and matures, and for bringing these gorgeous girls to see me. It's always a blast! Next time maybe we need to get Dad in the pictures too. :)

For this session, Rapunzel was my photography assistant. Rapunzel Barbie, that is. You can see her in one of the photos below.

I tried a little dreamier-looking processing on these last two.

Sneak Peek - Three Little Elves

2009-10-17T21:42:00.008-05:00

This might simply be my favorite holiday photo ever. I love these hats, plus the expressions on all three kids is just priceless. I would print this one on a billboard if I could. LOL!

Here are a few more, minus the hats.

Sibling Sneak Peek

2009-10-13T12:20:00.006-05:00

I do indeed love all the adorable babies who come to visit me, but it's also fun to work with older kids because they have a lot more patience. Here's a sneak peek from a weekend session. These two should really be rewarded for their patience because they stopped eating breakfast mid-meal to make it to their session on time. B&L, I hope you guys got some extra cinnamon rolls out of that deal!

What to Wear

2009-10-11T14:21:00.004-05:00

"What should we wear to our family portrait session?"

Many people think that everyone in the family needs to wear the exact same thing. While I have definitely shot these types of portraits, I would like to challenge you to think outside the box a little bit. One great technique for planning your family’s wardrobe is to imagine that you are dressing one person. If you lay the clothing for everyone out on the bed, does it all work together? Does anything clash?

I picked a brown/beige/red palette to illustrate what I mean below. Notice that nobody is wearing the exact same outfit, yet each item complements everything else in the grouping.

As always, I recommend that we have a clothing consultation before any session!

Edited to add one more example, courtesy of Rachel at Verve Life Portraits:

Kids As Art

2009-10-09T15:55:00.001-05:00

This 14x20 is a beautiful canvas art piece in the master bedroom!

Sneak Peek

2009-10-07T21:19:00.005-05:00

I can't believe it's been a year since I have seen this little cutie. She's grown so much since last year, and now she's a big sister too!

Christmas Cutie in September

2009-09-30T16:27:00.008-05:00

Why, yes I am shooting holiday portraits in September. Don't roll your eyes! Other photographers out there know that we need to start shooting holiday sessions in September and October in order to meet client demand for sessions and also to meet the holiday order deadlines for some of our specialty product vendors (custom holiday cards, photo jewelry, plaque and float mounts, canvas wraps, etc).

This little cutie was born around Thanksgiving last year, and her birth announcement had a photo of her wearing a little knit santa hat. How cute for this year's family card to replicate that idea, but now she's a much bigger kid!

And she was having such a great time with her Dad, I just had to combine these images together.

Hair Envy Strikes Again!

2009-09-27T22:29:00.008-05:00

If you read my blog regularly, you will know that in the past I have had hair envy over a baby. Well, it’s happened again. Look at the full head of hair on this little guy! He came in for a baby parts session so I knew I had to get a close up of that gorgeous hair with the lighting set to really showcase its spikiness. He brought along his sister, whom I had the honor of creating a baby parts collage for just over a year ago. I can’t believe how much she’s grown. She’s certainly not a baby anymore!

Look who's 18 months old now!

2009-09-23T16:10:00.012-05:00

You may recognize her because she is all over my blog and site, on studio samples, and in magazines. I have been photographing her since before she was even born (I did mom's maternity session), and I can't believe how quickly she has grown!

Her tall piggy tail is so cute. I was joking that I had to zoom out to fit it all in.

After we finished up in the studio, we stepped outdoors to experiment at bit. I stepped outside of the box and tried something a little more artsy-fartsy (LOL). For my photographer friends, this is an infrared action from Gavin Phillips. I had to tone it down a bit, but still think it's kinda fun!

Happy 1st Birthday!

2009-09-22T21:08:00.009-05:00

I got to meet A on Monday, and Monday was also his actual birthday. What a cutie! Those big brown eyes and those little curls at the nape of his neck are simply adorable. His mom and I were cracking up at his method for eating his birthday cake - face first! Once his mom showed him how to grab a chunk off with his hand, then he really got into it. Happy Birthday, A!

Background for Mini Session Day

2009-09-20T10:52:00.003-05:00

For those who have signed up for the October 11th mini session day for holiday cards, I just wanted to show you the backdrop that will be used that day. It's a nice chestnut paper and as you can see it looks lovely in color, black-and-white, or chocolate (sepia) tone.

If you have not yet signed up for the October 11th event, call now. There are still appointment times available! Details here.

Don't you want to do this in your own living room?

2009-09-15T20:48:00.006-05:00

I love to see kids as art. What a great way to decorate!

If you didn't catch my last blog post on this topic, I am offering a 15% discount on 16x20 or larger signature wall art (framed prints, canvas gallery wraps, or gallery mounts) purchased thru Dec 31st. To receive this discount, you have to let me photograph your child with their art piece on display as shown here.

Call now. We can still print art pieces from sessions done earlier this year!

Holiday Cards For Mini Session Day

2009-09-14T21:29:00.018-05:00

The designs are ready! These are the 5x7 cards you may choose from for the October 11th Holiday Card Mini Session Day. The layout/design is fixed, but you may alter the font and verbiage as desired.

Card 1:

See it bigger.

Card 2:

See it bigger.

Card 3:

See it bigger.
Card 3 has some alternate design options which can been seen here.

Card 4:

See it bigger.

Scrapbook elements courtesy of Sweet Shoppe Designs.

Just to reiterate the special offer for October 11th -
Receive a mini session and 48 5x7 flat cards for $250. This is over a $350 value and is my holiday gift to all of my awesome clients. (note: Additional sets of 24 cards will be available for $30.) I am able to offer this special pricing on October 11th because individual sessions will be shorter than normal, the studio set up will remain unchanged all day, and card choices have been pre-designed. There will be mini-sessions running all day, so on this day it is critical to be on time for your appointment. I cannot guarantee your session if you are late. Please note that my schedule is now fully booked for all regular holiday sessions. If you were planning on having a holiday session with me but have not yet scheduled, this event on October 11th will be your only chance for holiday portraits. Call now to guarantee your October 11th appointment!

Enormous Lollipops & A High School Musical Dance Party

2009-09-10T14:31:00.010-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting a really great family yesterday. I think this is the biggest sneak peek I have ever posted, but these girls are just so beautiful and I was having so much fun with the images that I couldn’t help myself.

The girls are 6, 4, and 2. The two older girls were really into the session, posing and hamming it up for the camera. We cranked up the High School Musical soundtrack and cut loose! The 2 year old -- not so much. Not even her mom’s purse full of Swedish Fish, my toy fart machine, a huge lollipop, or a skip thru the forest could get her in the mood for pictures. So we had to get a little bit creative, which is why you see her being waved thru the air by her dad. LOL!

The 4-year-old is currently battling childhood cancer, and her parents thought now would be an important time to document their family. I totally agree and I am truly honored that they chose me to help create their images. The family’s spirit, strength, and contagious positive attitude were evident the moment I met them, and I hope these portraits capture that. Please keep this beautiful family in your prayers and send positive thoughts their way during this challenging time.

Edited 9/20/09 to add: Lots of people have been asking where these cute outfits came from. I just got the link to the supplier, 3.l.p Couture.

Still need to book your holiday session?

2009-09-02T13:01:00.006-05:00

Announcing the 2nd Annual Jessica Gwozdz Photography Holiday Card Day! On Sunday October 11th only, you will receive a mini photo session and 48 5x7 flat cards for $250. This is over a $350 value and is my holiday gift to all of my awesome clients. (note: Additional sets of 24 cards will be available for $30.)

I am able to offer this special pricing on October 11th because individual sessions will be shorter than normal, the studio set up will remain unchanged all day, and card choices have been pre-designed.

As many of you know, I pride myself in custom-designed cards and love working with you to come up with something totally fun and unique. In this same spirit, the cards available on Holiday Card Day will be extra special. I don’t have them ready yet to show here, but will be posting them shortly.

There will be mini-sessions running all day, so on this day it is critical to be on time for your appointment. If you are late, I cannot guarantee your session.

Please note that my schedule is now fully booked for all regular holiday sessions. If you were planning on having a holiday session with me but have not yet scheduled, this event on October 11th will be your only chance for holiday portraits.

Call now to guarantee your appointment!

Blue Eyes & Freckles

2009-08-19T12:54:00.008-05:00

Here's a little sneak peek from earlier this week. Look at these three - such fresh happy faces with their freckles and beautiful bright eyes.

This last one cracks me up. My prop selection kept her entertained while I photographed her brothers. I just had to share this one because it's so cute!

Vacation Highlights

2009-08-17T21:50:00.013-05:00

I was fortunate to have a Wisconsin getaway last week with my best friend and her family. We went to the Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan. It's a waterpark hotel located right on the shores of Lake Michigan, so you can experience the crazy indoor waterslides, outdoor pool, and beach all in one place. The hotel was nice, but like all "family resorts" (think Wisconsin Dells), MacGyver and I were wishing our stay included a free chiropractor visit. Let's just say it's nice to be sleeping in my own bed again.

All in all it was a really fun trip. My BFF and I had a spa afternoon at Kohler Waters Spa at the American Club, and that alone made up for the nights spent on a lumpy old mattress.

I didn't even take my SLR on the trip so these highlight pics were shot with my little point and shoot.

So I am back in the groove now, catching up on orders and phone calls. Thanks for your patience. I hope you all are enjoying the final days of summer!

She's got the face of an angel

2009-08-09T22:33:00.011-05:00

Doesn't she though? This is my cousin's baby, who is also my godchild. I can't believe she will be 2 this month!

With this session I learned that in the future I will have to start photographing her when my kids are not home because when they are around she is only interested in playing with them. LOL!

Photography note: I tried some different post-processing here. A little creamier, a little more contrast. Believe it or not, this is the same background used in the previous newborn post. However, I used two lights on the background this time.

I'll take 4 pounds 12 ounces of cuteness, please

2009-08-07T10:59:00.013-05:00

This little guy sure could deliver! I am so excited to have captured that tiny newborn smile while he slept. Sweet dreams of milk, I am sure.

Look how alert he was here, Daddy's little man.

And this is no body double below, folks. The woman with the rockin' body did actually just give birth 11 days prior. My youngest baby will be four in the fall and I can only dream about looking that great! I'd love to be bitterly jealous too, but it's just impossible because she is so darn sweet. S, I hope you love this mom-and-baby image as much as I do. This is truly one of my favorite portraits that I have ever shot.

Pretty In Purple

2009-08-05T14:38:00.005-05:00

Happy 3rd Birthday E! I can't believe how time flies. I have been photographing both her and her older sister since they were newborns. Such little beauties, just like their mom. Maybe this fall I can talk their mom into posing with them. (whadda ya think, L?)

I am loving this new background paper too. To my photography pals who follow my blog, it's Savage Orchid.

9 Months Old

2009-07-31T22:38:00.011-05:00

This little guy was such a crack-up. I have never met a baby before who was in such a perpetually good mood. He was belly laughing at everything and was game for pretty much any pose I threw his way. Except for a hat - He did not want to wear a hat. But unlike his peers who would cry about the hat, he just pulled it off without ever breaking his big 2-tooth grin.

I totally overshot this session (because how could I not, you know?). Here's a little sneak peek.

I think this image below is just about the only non-smiley shot from the whole session, but I just love it. I love the direct eye contact and his soft serious expression.

3 Months Old

2009-07-28T22:17:00.006-05:00

I did a Baby Parts Session for my best friend's baby boy who is now 3 months old. This kid is unbelievably cute! He's such a little meatball, I can't stop squeezing him. Check him out.

While I was working on these photos, I couldn't stop thinking about our friend Natasha who took a picture of his chubby little ankle at our high school reunion this past weekend, describing his ankle as "delicious". Tash, look all this extra cuteness that was above the ankle. LOL!

I am officially old now.

2009-07-27T12:27:00.003-05:00

My 20 year high school reunion was this weekend! It made me reflect on what a unique high school experience I had. I have never met anyone who speaks as fondly of their high school years as my classmates and I do. Many of my closest friends to this day are girls I met in high school.

I attended an all-girls catholic school in Northfield, IL called St. Louise de Marillac High School. Marillac closed in 1994, or rather merged with Loyola Academy in Wilmette. (So yeah, now I am considered a Loyola alumna.)

Marillac followed a philosophy of “responsible freedom”. There were no bells at the start and end of classes. It was our responsibility to be on time for where we needed to be. It was a blessing to grow and mature is this unique and nurturing environment. As a young woman, it was also very empowering to be in school where the class president was a girl, the biggest jock in the school was a girl, the valedictorian was girl, etc.

My graduating class was small, just 94 girls. Within that class there were groups of friends of course, but not harsh lines defining “cliques” as is common in high school. Everyone got along with everyone else, which is probably why twenty years later it was easy to give all of these girls a hug and talk as if no time had passed at all.

Ladies, it was great to see you all this weekend. And it was especially wonderful to be back on campus where so many friendships and memories were formed. Hugs to all!

Kids As Art

2009-07-22T10:29:00.008-05:00

Introducing KIDS AS ART, by Jessica Gwozdz Photography!

I once read an article in a parenting magazine about how having photos around of your children boosts their self esteem and self-worth. If displaying portraits has a positive impact on a child's self esteem, then imagine what making their photos the focal point of a room can do. This concept was the catalyst for the "Kids as Art" concept.

In honor of the launch of this campaign, I am offering a 15% discount on 16x20 or larger signature wall art (framed prints, canvas gallery wraps, or gallery mounts) purchased thru Dec 31st. Ok, there is a catch with the discount. The catch is that you have to let me photograph your child with their art piece so that I can show the idea to other parents who are considering similar art pieces.

So c'mon .. Let's get images of those gorgeous kids on the walls!

Professional Headshot Sneak Peek

2009-07-20T17:39:00.003-05:00

It was great to meet J last week and work with her to get some professional headshots that she needed. Here's a little sneak peek:

22 Days Old

2009-07-17T21:30:00.010-05:00

This little guy made his grand entrance just 3 weeks ago. But he wasn't exactly little. He was almost 9 pounds and was 21 inches long, and he has grown over an inch in the past 3 weeks (did I remember those stats right, A?). He is so long in fact that he didn't fit into some of my newborn posing props. What an angel he was for his photo session - sleeping thru pretty much the whole thing, totally unphased by the noise of his big brother.

Here's a little sneak peek.

African Rainstorm

2009-07-14T10:58:00.007-05:00

This is totally random, but a friend of mine posted this video on Facebook today and I found it amazing. Check out this band's rendition of Toto's 80's Hit "Africa." Their intro portion of a simulated rainstorm is incredible, and then as I listened to the song I kept looking for the instruments but couldn't find any. I am pretty sure this is all done with their voices. Enjoy!

God Bless America

2009-07-04T11:05:00.005-05:00

Peace and love to our troops. Happy 4th of July, everyone! (And Happy Birthday, Dad!)

Shot on the front lawn of Notre Dame High School for Boys, Niles, IL.

This post edited tonight to add my favorite shot from the Morton Grove fireworks show:

Neither rain nor goose poop...

2009-07-02T21:57:00.007-05:00

will keep us from taking this family's portraits!

Half of this fun family was visiting from out-of-town, so our choices for session dates were limited. As Murphy's Law would have it, it was raining on the day of the session. We stayed in contact all morning, watching the drizzle start and then stop, and finally decided to just go for it. If you look at the pond in the background, you can see just how much it was really raining. At least the rain kept the geese away, but unfortunately they had already marked their territory before departing. LOL!

Even with the obstacles, everyone was in great spirits and the morning was a success. To the W family - thanks for the adventure and thanks too for the pizza! I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. I will be in touch soon with a link to your full proof gallery.

Gorgeous Actor

2009-06-30T22:46:00.013-05:00

I got to do a really fun headshot session today for ME, an actor from Madison, WI. That's not ME as in me, myself, and I -- those are her initials!

Here are a few of my faves from today.

And as an extra bonus, I learned that there is a fabulous makeup artist right here in my neighborhood. She's a friend if ME and her sister, and she came and did the makeup here at my studio. I know I will be calling her again!

Eyes Like Mirrors

2009-06-22T09:53:00.003-05:00

I just had to share this weekend snap of my friend's son. Isn't he gorgeous? If all kids had eyes like this, I swear I would become a natural light shooter. His eyes are like mirrors. I can see myself when I zoom in.

Chicago Sky WNBA Game

2009-06-14T23:18:00.007-05:00

I need to shout out a big THANK YOU to my client and friend Ann who works for the Chicago Sky and gave my daughter and I VIP tickets to tonight’s game. We had so much fun at the game, and the special seats in the Skyline Club were simply awesome. We were on an elevated platform behind the basket with an unlimited supply of delicious food and drink.

Besides all of the fun, I saw this evening as an empowerment opportunity for my daughter. The WNBA games are not broadcast as widely as the NBA games, so I am glad that my daughter had a chance to see these incredible female professional athletes in action.

Thanks so much, Ann!

Here are a few snaps from tonight. (Gotta love the little point-and-shoot for times like this!)

The view from our table in the Skyline Club:

The Sky Guy:

Sneak Peek - 6 Month Old Miss S

2009-06-02T16:15:00.009-05:00

Here's a little sneak peek from my weekend session with Miss S. She's 6 months old and a total doll with so much personality.

This one below is my favorite capture of the day. I makes me wonder what her parents were doing behind my back while I was shooting because it looks like she witnessed something quite shocking. LOL!

I knew I wanted to photograph her in a bowl because we used a bowl for her newborn session. This is not the same bowl, but still -- look at how much she has grown!

I vow to never step on your blue suede shoes.

2009-05-12T21:28:00.010-05:00

This year is our 10 year anniversary so my husband and I decided to take a relaxing kid-free trip, destination Vegas! We renewed our vows at the Graceland Wedding Chapel, courtesy of the king himself. Elvis has his own photography staff so visitors are strictly prohibited from taking photos with their own cameras. Therefore I did not shoot any of these. I bought them from Elvis's photographer. LOL!

This was one of the silliest things we have ever done, but I am glad we did it. It was really so much fun!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T20:46:00.009-05:00

I hope all of you wonderful moms had a fantastic Mother's Day! I had a busy weekend of Mother's Day parties with my side of the family yesterday and my husband side of the family today. I just got my little monkeys to sleep and am finally settling down to respond to all the emails and voice mails that came in while I was on vacation last week. So if you left me a message over the past few days, I will be getting back to you shortly!

I just thought I would share some of the cute Mother's Day things my kids made for me at school.

We are so proud!

2009-04-30T14:01:00.013-05:00

My kindergartner has been participating in her school's accelerated reading program called "Read Up". This week she got her Cardinal Pin (school mascot is a cardinal), which is the first level of achievement in Read Up. The gist of the Read Up program is that the kids read books and then take comprehension tests about the stories to earn points. Once they reach a certain number of points, they get a Cardinal Pin. There are more prizes as the program goes along but this pin is the first milestone. We are so proud of her! Her teacher was proud too, explaining that in her 14 years of teaching kindergarten, Gracie was her first student to get a Cardinal Pin.

Here she is at the Science Expo with her teacher. The Science Expo just happened to be on the same night that she received her pin.

This post is also the blog debut of my new "diaper bag camera". After my point-and-shot bit the dust in Florida, I wanted another little pocket sized camera for everyday snaps so that I didn't have to carry my big pro camera everywhere. I recently bought the Olympus Stylus 1030W, and so far it's been great. It's no SLR, but it's a handy little gadget indeed. Since my last point-and-shoot suffered humidity damage, the fact that this little Olympus is waterproof to 33 feet was a big selling point for me. I will keep you posted on how well it really works underwater.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby!

2009-04-28T15:36:00.014-05:00

Here's a picture of P when I met him last April,

and just look at him now, one year later!

I really love that cute little car his mom brought along. My kids saw the picture and yelled "Slug Bug!"

If you follow my blog you will see that I am getting a lot of mileage out of my new green bucket from Target (see below). I've used it for two 1-year-old sessions this month. It's a great little "cage", holding an active 1-year-old just long enough for me to fire off a few shots. LOL!

P brought along his big brother and sister, who are also getting to be such big kids now and were really cooperative for the session.

Happy 1st Birthday!

10 Days Old

2009-04-20T08:13:00.009-05:00

Remember the little cutie I photographed at the hospital a few days ago? What a perfect little angel. He slept thru his whole studio session, even with the noise of his two older sisters and a few unexpected interruptions by my own 3-year-old.

I just love his little mushed-up lips here:

And this one actually made me tear up a bit. Can't you just see how much these two adore their new baby brother?

I know this helmet idea has been done before but never by me, and since his Dad is a firefighter I just had to give it a shot. Some of my photographer pals know that I was struggling with posting this one in color or black-and-white. I decided on the color version because I thought the supporting fireman gear had a little more impact in telling the story. Click here to see the alternate black-and-white version.

And here's Mom in the background, giving a little snuggle.

" I'm 1 Today! "

2009-04-18T11:10:00.007-05:00

That's what her little pin-on ribbon says. And it's true... her one year session happened on her actual birthday. She can even hold up her finger to make a "1", but wouldn't do it for the camera. I got to see her finger trick when she had her coat on and was ready to leave...LOL!

Here's a little sneak peek.

Happy Birthday, N! I can't believe you're 1 already because it seems like it was last week when we were shooting your mom's maternity session.

3 Going On 30

2009-04-10T23:21:00.005-05:00

This little cutie was so much fun to work with. With her advanced vocabulary and mannerisms, it was hard to believe she is only 3. I almost wanted to invite her out for a cup of coffee. LOL!

The image below is my favorite. She looks like she's saying "Would you just finish up already, lady?!?!"

a little overcooked, but totally perfect....

2009-04-09T13:49:00.009-05:00

I just returned from the hospital, where I got to meet my best friend's gorgeous new son. He was born yesterday, but was due 10 days earlier. The old saying is true - good things are worth waiting for! Less than 24 hours old, he was alert and awake for my visit. I just love his tiny toes and swirly little cowlick.

Watch for studio shots of this little guy sometime over the next 2 weeks.

One of my favorite kind of smiles

2009-04-02T17:01:00.009-05:00

is a smile with freshly lost teeth!

Those of you know know me know that this is one of my favorite times to photograph a child. This is such a "moment," such a great capture of childhood. She will never look like this again! I have clients call to reschedule shoots because their child just lost a tooth, but I tell them to come in anyway. It's really an awesome time to do a portrait.

Meet my daughter's good friend, M. I have been dying to take a picture of my daughter this way (with two missing front teeth), but I am afraid it's just not gonna happen. She already lost one of her front teeth, and the 2nd one has been hanging on for months. So thanks for letting me capture this special smile for you, M!

Hat from: Bella Bows

New Logo

2009-04-02T14:47:00.003-05:00

I want to give a big shout out to my awesome brother who designed this logo for me. He designed my original logo as well and probably thinks I am nuts to give it a facelift so soon, but I really wanted to incorporate something special to me. Both of my kids were born in November, and this mum in my new logo is November's official flower.

My brother has designed little graphic elements for me to use in many of my holiday cards and birth announcements, and I think I have finally convinced him to share his talents with the photography community. I am working with him to create some templates specifically for photographers, and will post a link once we get that all up and running.

Soothing Sounds....

2009-03-31T15:31:00.014-05:00

I had a great session today with husband and wife music-thanatology team, Tony Pederson and Margaret Pasquesi. I didn't know what a music thanatologist was until I spoke with them. What a remarkable talent and calling they both have! They use singing and harps at the bedside of the dying to ease the transition from life to death and also to provide comfort for the families. They told me that they are two of only 70 music thanatologists around today. If you would like to learn more about this amazing profession, click here.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from today.

Mothers Day & Fathers Day Special Offer

2009-03-24T13:53:00.016-05:00

I am so excited to add some new photo jewelry to my offerings.

This sterling silver bracelet with respositionable charms is a new favorite of mine. You can place the charms anywhere you wish on the bracelet, or put the charms on a necklace you already have. Moms, if you have a growing family this bracelet is great because you can add more charms later as needed.

Here is a beautiful sterling silver charm necklace with crystal and pearl accents.

This sterling silver 2-sided tile necklace can be accented with your choice of semi-precious stone.

And how about something for Dad? Since we all know that keys take a real beating in pockets and bags, this silver-toned keychain is actually made of pewter for extra durability. It is two-sided, so you can choose to showcase two images or have the same image repeated on both sides.

SPECIAL: 15% off all jewelry ordered before April 8th!
For complete details about photo jewelry, click here.

Mothers Day is May 10th. To ensure delivery in time to give as a gift, all orders must be submitted by April 8th.

Fathers Day is June 21st. To ensure delivery in time to give as a gift, all Fathers Day orders must be submitted by May 18th.

and the mommies enjoyed the fabulous cake....

2009-03-23T21:15:00.014-05:00

It's so much fun to do a one year session for a baby I also had the opportunity to photograph as a newborn. E has grown so much!

When she first arrived for the session, she was a bit shy.

But within a few minutes she was blowing me kisses.

Her mom brought a dress that worked perfectly with my green paper background.

Inspired by R's successful cake smash session from a couple of weeks ago, E's mom made an incredible cake. Unfortunately E was not too interested in the cake but her mom and I ended up pulling out a couple of plates and eating some of it after the session. I should have photographed THAT, huh? LOL!

CAKE SMASH!

2009-03-15T14:02:00.014-05:00

We did R's 1-year session a couple of weeks ago but wanted a cake smash to be the finale of her "Baby's First Year" album. She came back this week for a cake-only shoot. I have only done one other cake smash session before and it was for my own son two years ago. Unfortunately he was not too into the idea, cried the whole time, and I didn't really get any good shots. Back then I was not tuned in to the concept of seamless paper (which can be cut and tossed), so I had the whole studio floor tarped in clear plastic. What a pain in the neck! R's session was much easier than that, and she loved the cake her mom made for her (ummm, yeah A, is there nothing you can't do??). The session ended up with R getting rinsed off in the bathtub, with was clearly not her favorite part of the event. I would have photographed that part, but my hands were a necessary component of the cleanup process. LOL!

Sacci Design Faux "Backdrops"

2009-03-11T20:36:00.016-05:00

I have been asking myself for awhile why I decided to paint the studio walls white. I guess I was thinking about reflected light and technical things of that nature. After seeing some of the very cool things Lauren from Sacci Design has come up with for the faux finishing side of her business, I decided to consult with her about the studio walls. I wanted something that could be used as backdrops, and I am thrilled with what Lauren came up with.

Here she is, hard at work:

I got my little guy to pose for me today in front of the new walls. He's such a ham, and also such a typical boy. It's hard to take a shot of him without some sort of scratch or bruise on his face.

This was such a fun project. Now I really want to just paint the whole studio, not just my shooting walls!

If you need a little makeover for your home, office, or studio, I highly recommend Sacci Design. I am really excited about these new walls and can't wait to test them out during some upcoming sessions.

Periodontics Ltd.

2009-03-06T22:13:00.016-06:00

Last week I did some headshots for the awesome docs from Periodontics Ltd. If you are in the Chicago area, I highly recommend these folks. Being the daughter of a general dentist in the area, I sort of get the inside scoop on which specialists are really good. And these guys are really good. I am the world's biggest baby about any kind of dental work. My Dad takes me after hours so I don't scare away his other patients, and it's not because of anything he does but because I pretty much demand novocain for a routine cleaning. That said, when I needed some special work done I actually enjoyed my experiences with Drs. Rosen and Yamada at Periodontics Ltd. Okay, so maybe "enjoyed" is a bit of a strong word to use when talking about dental surgery, but I wasn't freaked out at all and the whole experience was infinitely better than I ever expected it could be.

Dr. Yamada, Dr. Rosen, Dr. Gorin, Dr. Marinello, Dr. Russo, and Dr. Doan - it was great to work with you all. I hope you are as happy with your headshots as I am!

She's 1 Now!

2009-02-26T13:38:00.014-06:00

Here's a little sneak peek from R's 1-year session. It has been a delight to photograph her over the past year. She's so easy to work with and her mom has the best ideas for clothing and props. I'm not the only one that thinks both R and her mom are really photogenic. You might recognize them from their features in Expectant Mother and The Bump.

I played around with some different post-processing techniques here; vintage effects and texture.

When I look at her expression on this last one I can't help but think "Whatchoo talkin' bout Willis?" Sorry, I probably just totally dated myself with that reference. LOL!

Hats, Hats, Hats!

2009-02-23T11:45:00.015-06:00

I had an opportunity to shoot some new hats from Charbridge Knits. Bridget from Charbridge is great to work with, and the quality and workmanship of her products is just amazing. I highly recommend Charbridge!

Little N was the a perfect model for some of these new hats.

The spider hat is perfect for my son. I told Bridget I wanted something for myself. I must have a freakishly large head for a woman since I have a very hard time finding hats that fit me. LOL! I ordered an adult size version of this spider hat, and need to do a picture of my son and I together in our spider hats. Stay tuned for that!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-13T19:09:00.004-06:00

We had some new Webkinz join the family this Valentine's Day courtesy of Grandma & Grandpa and Auntie Cindy & Uncle Tom. Thank you!

I wish you all a great Valentine weekend with your families!

Recent Publications

2009-02-02T21:26:00.013-06:00

I'm really excited to have my photography featured in two recent publications.

"The Bump" is a resource guide for pregnant women. One of my coolest clients, Ann, was interviewed for the 2008/2009 Chicago edition of The Bump and my photos accompanied her interview. You might recognize her gorgeous baby who I have had the privilege to photograph as a newborn, a 3 month old, a 6 month old, and most recently a 9 month old (just a few blog entries back, actually).

Last Spring I had a really fun opportunity -- photographing the annual 5K in Morton Grove. I am honored that the Morton Grove Park District chose one of those images for the cover of their most recent program guide.

Edited 2/5/09 to add full page digital copy of Bump article just received from the publisher:

Such a fun family!

2009-01-28T08:19:00.009-06:00

Here's a little sneak peek of a fun family I got to work with this weekend. The kids are 1 and 2, and totally adorable. I was excited to try out a new baby-sized petti from Miss Things Boutique. And the image of the kids on the heart rug would make such a cute valentine.

S & G, I hope you enjoyed your Sneak Peek. I will be in touch shortly with a password and link to your full proof gallery.

Obama Inauguration

2009-01-20T09:19:00.006-06:00

Today Barack Obama officially took office as the 44th President of the United States. My daughter's class was going to watch this historic event together at school. I spent 15 minutes on the phone with my Dad today while he tried to get the live internet video connection running at his dental office. Apparently a lot of people cancelled their appointments with him so they could watch Obama's speech. I personally can't even watch Obama speak without getting choked up. I am not sure if it's the sense of hope and relief I feel for America's future, the symbolism of how far our country has come toward racial equality, or just the fact that since having kids my hormones are so screwed up that I cry on a dime. LOL! Regardless, I am so very excited for what the next four years will bring.

Luna Belle Boutique

2009-01-19T18:10:00.005-06:00

My kids had the opportunity to model some personalized t-shirts for the Luna Belle Boutique online catalog.

Since their shirts were Halloween themed, we had a lot of fun coming up with some Halloween ideas. My son wanted "scary hair", which I think we achieved with a little bit of hair wax. LOL!

Check out Luna Belle's personalized tee's and other cute stuff by clicking here.

Patrycja's Senior Portraits

2009-01-06T13:46:00.016-06:00

Last week I had the awesome opportunity to work with not just one, but TWO seniors.

Meet Patrycja. She lives in my neighborhood, has babysat my kids, and is just a total sweetheart. We had a lot of fun at her session. Patrycja is always up for trying something new and has been a great help to me in my photography career. Some of my local photographer friends may recognize Patrycja from when she was one of the models for our photo afternoon at the Botanic Gardens last summer.

If you follow my blog (or my career over the past 6 years), you will know that my main specialty has been maternity, babies, and kids. I had so much fun working with these seniors and I would love to start working with more! If you are looking for seniors portraits in Chicago, Morton Grove, Niles, Park Ridge, Glenview, Skokie, Evanston, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette, Winnetka, or other surrounding suburbs, I look forward to hearing from you!

365 Days Complete!

2009-01-02T13:35:00.006-06:00

New Years Eve marked the completion of my 365 project. For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about, the “365” is a photography project that involves a self portrait a day for an entire year. 2008 was a leap year, so it was actually 366 self portraits last year instead of the usual 365. Many people have asked me if this was some kind of contest and if I win a prize at the end. The answer is no - that the 365 is more of a personal growth opportunity, a creative challenge, and a chance to try some new things photographically. I learned a lot about myself this past year thru doing the 365, and I met a lot of great people along the way who were also participating in the challenge. Many of them have decided to continue on to do another year of the 365 and I wish them all tons of luck on their journey. There were many days that I wanted to just throw in the towel on this whole thing because it was more time-consuming that I would have imagined. However, the cheering-on of my family and friends as well as my own personal stubbornness helped me to see this project thru to completion. Thanks to everyone who supported me this year. Hugs to you, and a Happy New Year!

Audrey's Senior Portraits

2008-12-31T09:12:00.012-06:00

I got to work with a really fun senior yesterday. She saw some of my work and decided to make the trip down from Wisconsin so that I could shoot her senior pictures. For this I am very honored!

Audrey is a talented writer and loves the winter, so we tried to incorporate these elements into her photos. Too bad the snow all melted just days before our shoot.

Audrey, I had a blast yesterday meeting you and your mom. I wish I could fit 50 photos onto this sneak peek because that is how many of them I just love. Proofs coming soon!

9 Month Session Sneak Peek

2008-12-30T09:19:00.008-06:00

Just a quick little sneak peek of a session that was done right before Christmas. I just love her little leg warmers!

Congratulations to Geoff and Lauren!

2008-12-25T21:11:00.006-06:00

I just want to share my excitement about the recent engagement of my brother and his girlfriend. They are perfect for each other and I am so happy they decided to make this a permanent situation.

My brother really hates to be photographed. I don't want to freak him out about how many photographs will be taken of him when he is actually the groom, but I thought he might like this pose below since he normally pulls his collar up over his face whenever I point the camera at him.

Congratulations again. Love you both!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T20:44:00.002-06:00

From my family to yours!

Happy Hanukkah!

2008-12-21T20:19:00.011-06:00

Hey wait. Is that a Menorah in front of a Christmas tree? What the.....?

I was raised in a mixed-religion home (Jewish Dad, Catholic Mom) and although I am Catholic, we celebrate holidays for both sides. On Christmas Day at my parents' house, it's really interesting to have my great-aunt who is a nun say grace and then have my Dad proceed to light the menorah. I actually love to embrace this diversity and hope to keep some of that alive for my children. This year my daughter learned a lot about Hanukkah at school and was interested in lighting our own menorah. My Hebrew really stinks, but tonight for her sake I muddled through the prayers my father taught me.

Today was an extra fun day because my daughter had a pal over and we spent the afternoon making cookies - Christmas cookies and Hanukkah cookies.

To my Jewish family and friends, I wish you a very Happy Hanukkah!

Favorite Things 2008

2008-12-14T22:30:00.007-06:00

In the spirit of “Oprahs’ Favorite Things”, I had been thinking about doing a “Jessie’s Favorite Things” blog post this year. Then Oprah decided not to do her typical favorite things episode due to this year’s economic issues. I bet the people in the audience were pissed that day -- "What do you mean we DON'T get $100,000 worth of free gifts??" I wanted to still share the list of cool things I have discovered this year because most of the things on my list are very affordable and might help some folks with last minute gifts.

So here we go, in no particular order:

1) Busy Body Book Academic Calendar. This is an awesome planner book for any mom. It shows a week at a time and has 5 columns so you can assign each family member a column to keep track of everyone’s schedules. When I had a normal corporate job and had to be responsible for only myself, I had an electronic calendar so it’s kinda weird that I have gone back to a paper calendar now. But I am totally in love with this thing and have bought it as gifts for a couple of friends. Mine is the academic year version (August 08-Sept 09) but I am pretty sure it also available in a normal calendar year version that starts in January.

2) Lands End Chalet Shoes. These are so warm and comfortable, they are like wearing slippers but are actual shoes. We normally don’t wear shoes in our house, and these have become my “inside shoes.” As you know, I work from home so when I have to meet with someone, at least I am not wearing my slippers. LOL! Snatch them up now because as of this posting, they are on sale for $19.99.

3) Tracy Joy Camera Bags. These cool and trendy camera bags created in some of today’s hippest patterns and prints. I have the original Reese and I love it. I can’t wait to get my hands on the new Reese, which has been redesigned to be larger, and my only complaint about my Reese is that it is a tad too small. I cannot speak for the other bag models, but the Reese is sturdy with its zipper closure. Sign up for Tracy’s blog and watch for specials!

4) Phat Straps. These are custom designed trendy camera straps created in hip patterns and prints. My favorite feature about these is the quick release, which allows me to switch from a neck strap to a wrist strap in just a few seconds.

5) Tyke Light. What a great idea…. A nightlight that a child who is afraid of the dark can hold with them, and even carry with them during a midnight trip to the potty. Both of my kids have one. Genius, I say!

6) Alba Very Emollient Body Lotion. I am not normally one to shout from the rooftops about a lotion, but if you get dry winter skin you really gotta try this stuff. If you start using it at the beginning of winter, you will never even get dry or scaly the whole season. Don’t be fooled by the name. Most things with the word “emollient” in them are thick and greasy, but this is surprisingly light. Give it a whirl.

7) Bare Minerals. I too am totally annoyed by the long infomercials, but ladies and gentleman – believe the hype! I started using Bare Minerals last December and my skin has never looked better. It’s really hard to give makeup as a gift due to all the shades, but Bare Minerals are available at Ulta and Sephora so maybe you can give your special someone a gift certificate to one of those stores.

8) Teavana. I just discovered Teavana this fall. Even if you are not a tea lover, stop in and try some samples because they have something for everyone. There are even tea-free drinks for kids made of dried fruits that brew like tea but look like juice. The woman at the counter was so knowledgeable about the teas, their different uses, health benefits o the different types of teas, etc.

9) Molly Cupcakes.
Unfortunately you need to be in Chicago to take advantage of this little treasure. It’s a cute coffee shop/bakery specializing in (of course) cupcakes. I am not normally a big fan of cupcakes but would sit in traffic for 2 hours to get to Molly’s Cupcakes if need be. The story of Molly’s cupcakes dates back to when the owner was in grade school. His teacher, named Molly, would bake cupcakes for the kids’ birthdays and was kind enough to share the recipe. The shop itself is really cute, with actual playground swings suspended from the ceiling at the bar instead of stools. Be sure to check it out when you are in town.

One more from last Thursday's newborn session

2008-12-09T13:21:00.004-06:00

because I love this and just can't help but post it.

Nine Days Ago...

2008-12-04T21:52:00.014-06:00

this sweet little bundle made her grand entrance!

* Tushie Wrap by Mamique Designs.

Just look at those big beautiful eyes. It's hard to believe she is only 9 days old with such alert eyes.

Her eyes may be deceiving, but she definitely has the flexibility of a brand new baby.

This raised hands pose reminds me of the beginning of "The Lion King" (I know, I am such a mom... I need to get out out of the house and see some grown-up movies, huh?). The cool pose was her mom's idea, but I am not sure her dad thought it was so cool. Oops, sorry dad! Thankfully this was the last shot of the day.

I sort of feel like today was a rite of passage for me. In my whole career, today was the first time I have captured tinkle in a picture. It's certainly not the first time a baby has tinkled during a photo session, but it's the first time I photographed the actual act of tinkling. Perhaps this baby should win some sort of a prize. I know... a free 5x7 for the baby book. S&R, in 17 years you guys can bring this one out to show her prom date.

World's Most Cooperative Newborn

2008-12-03T13:50:00.011-06:00

I’d like to introduce the world’s most cooperative newborn, Baby J. Four weeks old, he would pretty much go along with anything and didn’t cry once during the session. And amazingly he only peed on my pillows once....LOL!

Even though I am running around this week processing holiday orders like my hair is on fire, I was so excited about yesterday's shoot that I just had to play with a couple of them.

* Knit cocoon by Breanna Morman.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T20:58:00.003-06:00

There is so much to be thankful for. I hope you are all enjoying great food and great times with your families today.

Thing 1 Turns 6

2008-11-27T00:06:00.003-06:00

Yep, I know this post looks familiar. My kids’ birthdays are the same week. My daughter was born the day before Thanksgiving in 2002, my son was born two days before Thanksgiving in 2005, and I got to experience hospital turkey twice. Blech!

Wow, my firstborn is six. Five years and 364 days ago, I thought I knew it all and honestly had no idea what I was in for. I never knew I could love someone this much until I became a mom. I never knew I could be driven this insane until I became a mom (LOL). You think you understand how much a parent can love a child, but you really don’t get it until it happens to you. And then overnight your life is changed forever.

My daughter is smart as a whip and stubborn as hell. She can drive me to my wits end, and then a minute later says something to make me melt. Everyday she amazes me, and the true highlight of my life has been watching my children grow.

I have to thank my daughter, for her arrival allowed me to follow my dream. I spent many years in school to get my graduate degree in engineering, and I had a lucrative career in engineering. Still, photography was always my passion. I actually looked forward to getting out of engineering school so that I would have time to take more photography classes…how crazy is that? Once I held my baby daughter in my arms, I knew that I could not go back to the corporate world - stress, travel, corporate politics, 60 hour work weeks. I decided to turn my passion into a business, and I have not looked back since.

Happy Birthday, G! (( HUGS!!)

Sneak Peek

2008-11-25T16:49:00.012-06:00

What an awesome family. They all have great smiles too. If you looks closely you'll notice two of my favorite kinds of smiles...missing teeth smiles, aka "jack-o-lantern smiles."

A little texture play for some variety:

I recently bought a new pettiskirt and have not had an opportunity to shoot with it yet. L was just the right size for it, and she agreed to model. Thanks, L! I like this picture because of the motion, but for some reason it also reminds me of a painting.

Thing 2 turns 3

2008-11-22T21:41:00.010-06:00

I really cannot believe that my baby is 3. The time has gone so fast! Today he woke up and said "Hey, I'm 3 now!" We have been telling him all week that 3-year-olds use the potty and don't wear diapers anymore, so we'll see how that goes.

When I think back to three years ago, I am reminded of the rough entry H had into this world. I had complications with my c-section, H was a miserable colic-y baby, and his older sister who was three at the time was not too thrilled about his arrival and made life somewhat miserable at our house for a brief time. It's amazing how the good times outweigh and overshadow the bad. It didn't take long for G to learn to love her little brother, and now it's impossible to imagine life without him. His smile is contagious, and he is perpetually happy. He's a total boy - loud and crazy. My husband jokes that H only has two volumes - loud and louder.

So hugs to you H, and a big fat Happy Birthday!!

P.S. Don't forget the deal about 3-year-olds and the potty!

Four!

2008-11-13T11:32:00.016-06:00

One of my favorite clients has probably been checking the blog all week to see if I got anything posted from her weekend session, and I am happy to say her sneak peek is now ready! I have been photographing this little one since she was a newborn and this weekend was her 4-year session. Next time I think we should do a mother daughter portrait because this little girl is a total "mini me" of her mom. (Down to the hair cowlick and everything..it's amazing!)

Just for fun, I played around with some different post-processing techniques.

And, I had to include this one because it made me laugh and reminds me of my own kids, who have been sporting an assortment of temporary tattoos ever since Halloween.

In Honor of Burns Copeland

2008-11-12T13:20:00.007-06:00

Today's blog post is in remembrance of Burns Copeland, whose funeral was this morning. Burns was the founder of the Chicagoland Professional Photographers Association (CPPA) and was 92 when he died. I got to know Burns when I was one of the first women to serve on the CPPA Board of Directors in 2005. I didn't know I was indirectly linked to him before that, but learned that he shot my father's military photos in the 60's. I used to jokingly call Burns "Yoda" because of his age and his wisdom about photography and the industry. I actually gave him a little Yoda figure like this, and he thought it was hilarious. Being in his 90's eventually caught up to Burns, and he had not been too active at CPPA for the past couple of years. I just want to send my sympathies to his family and tell them that he will be missed.

I have been on hold, listening to elevator music all morning....

2008-11-05T10:25:00.003-06:00

I apologize for the inconvenience, but AT&T has made an error and disconnected my voicemail. They are aware of this problem and have reactivated the voicemail. However, they told me it can take up to 24 hours to go into effect. Therefore I may be unreachable by phone all day today. If you call, and I am unavailable and voice mail does not pick up, please email me at jes@jessicagwozdz.com, and I will call you right away. Thanks for your patience.

My Best Friend's Girls

2008-11-03T21:07:00.019-06:00

(hey, isn't that a Cars song from the late 70's?)

Clearly I am really getting a lot of mileage out of the box of giant peppermint sticks I ordered for this year's holiday portrait season. But you know, they are truly serving their purpose because kids will sit still to eat them, and they look really cute in Christmas pictures.

These are my best friend's daughters. They are each just a few months younger than my two kids. My best friend (or shall I say BFF?) and I met when we were in preschool. We went to grade school, high school, and college together, and we even went through pregnancy together. I realize that this is really unusual and special - not many people our age have maintained a close friendship for over 33 years. I am hoping that even though they don't go to school together, our kids will be pals for a lifetime as well.

The older girl looks just like her dad, but the little blondie is a spitting image of my friend. Sometimes I can't even look at her without laughing because she looks so much like her mother that it takes me back to our own preschool days. See what I mean? ===>

I know I have said this before, but my poor friends are always the last to get their stuff. When I get busy, they are the most understanding to have their orders pushed to the back burner. So I am glad I am at least able to put a few pics up on the blog here for you Jen, because you know that your Christmas card will be the last one I design. No hang on a minute - it will be the 2nd to last one that I design. My own Christmas card will be the last one I design.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-30T10:22:00.002-05:00

It's been a big week at the Gwozdz house!

2008-10-30T10:00:00.018-05:00

Thing 1 has lost her fourth tooth. Since it's not her first tooth, you may ask why the fourth tooth is such a big deal. Well this one is a big deal because she SWALLOWED IT. I was a little panicked, imagining a perforated intestine from that little tooth, but a call to Papa Don put me at ease (for those of you who don't know, my Dad is a dentist). Since then we have been teasing her not to let it bite her on the tush on its way out. LOL! She was pretty upset because she thought the Tooth Fairy would not come without an actual tooth to put out, but she was happy this morning to find a golden dollar and a duckie key chain on her nightstand.

The big news for Thing 2 this week the arrival of the BIG BOY BED. We didn't want to transition him out of the crib until he was done napping, and didn't want to go bed shopping until the Carson's warehouse was having their big annual furniture sale. As fate would have it, both of those things came together this month and hence - the big boy bed is here! He loves to help his father work with tools, and could not wait to help take apart his crib. I must admit to getting a little choked up watching my baby take apart his own crib. He picked out a monster-themed comforter and is so excited with it. And I am happy to say that the transition has gone rather smoothly.

Seven and half months old...

2008-10-26T13:59:00.010-05:00

and eyes that can stop traffic.

His big sister and brother are in first grade and kindergarten (respectively), and were arguing over who got to hold him for the pictures. Too cute!

Beautiful Inside & Out

2008-10-23T13:37:00.008-05:00

Congratulations to my dear friend S, who is expecting her first baby around Thanksgiving. This time of year holds a special place in my heart because both of my kids are Thanksgiving babies. I had the pleasure (not!) of hospital turkey twice, as my daughter was born the day before Thanksgiving in 2002, and my son was born two days before Thanksgiving in 2005.

I have known S since we were 14 years old, and we attended both high school and college together. I know that she is going to be a great mom because she has such a strong nurturing instinct. Plus, she is always prepared. Even when we were teens, if you ever needed a band-aid, tissue, or tylenol, she would inevitably have what you needed right there in her purse.

Good luck, S & R! Just a few more weeks till you guys meet your little miracle.

P.S. One of the upsides to being my friend is that I will shoot pictures for you. One of the downsides of being my friend is that I will process everyone else's pictures ahead of yours. LOL! Thanks for your patience, S&R. Proofs coming soon!

Dunkin Donuts for breakfast....

2008-10-21T15:56:00.008-05:00

makes for some really fun family portraits. LOL!

This family was truly a blast to work with, and within the silliness we got some great family portraits.

What do a 20-month-old boy and the Canadian Rockies have in common?

2008-10-20T21:10:00.018-05:00

Little G has amazing eyes. Several years ago my husband and I took a roadtrip along the Icefields Parkway thru the Canadian Rockies. There is a glacier-fed lake in Banff called Peyto Lake, and it is seriously the prettiest blue lake I have ever seen. Normally you don't think of a frozen ice lake as gorgeous and blue, you think about the ocean in some exotic vacation spot in the Carribean. But Peyto Lake is unbelievable, and I encourage you to Google it because you will see some amazing pictures. Why did I go off on this Peyto Lake tangent? Oh yeah, because I have worked with this little guy several times, and his eyes make me think of Peyto Lake every time I see him.

And his mom could moonlight as a children's clothing buyer for portrait sessions because she always brings in the cutest stuff for him to wear. His dad is a retired firefighter, so these PJ's are not only hilarious but also totally appropriate.

This last image of the sneak peak is sort of a step outside the box for me. Toward the end of the session when little G was losing patience with me and my camera, we let him sit on a Thomas the Tank Engine riding toy. Obviously he did not sit still, but rather rode all over the studio. There are several snaps from that time that were out of focus (because he was driving too fast) or not properly exposed (because he drove away from the lights). I almost tossed this last image because of the split lighting on his face. But then I decided to play around with it a bit, and here is what I came up with. His serious expression, the edgy lighting, the grain - it's not my usual style but I think this is kinda cool!

Hanging out with big kids

2008-10-17T10:57:00.009-05:00

After several weeks of working with the under-3 set, spending some time with a first grader and a kindergarten feels like I am hanging out with big kids. LOL! These two are so cute and were really fun to work with. And I must say that I am totally loving the mix of all the bright colors here!

Christmas Card Templates

2008-10-16T20:49:00.003-05:00

For those who participated in this week's Holiday Card Day, here are the templates to choose from. The original graphic showing these templates got buried under more recent posts, so I wanted to put them here again for your convenience.

Another little Christmas Cutie

2008-10-16T11:49:00.006-05:00

It's hard to believe this little one and I didn't speak the same language. You'd think with a last name like Gwozdz that I'd be able to speak Polish, huh? Thank goodness her mom and grandma were there to translate!

K, this is just a little sneak peek for you. I will email you soon with a link to the complete proof gallery.