TO THE BLOG

Sending holiday greetings as we enter the last portion of 2025! It has been an amazing year meeting new clients, catching up with old. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

When I think of my friend, Michele, there are some words that come to mind. Generous, selfless, caring, empathetic, kind-hearted, compassionate.

Michele was our dog walker from many years ago. We met her before we even had children. She is such a wonderful friend to have in your life. Michele loves animals and her fur babies. She always ensures to book a session with her little family. And it has been a honor to capture them for her.

There comes a time, when those pets, can no longer be held, loved in person or taken for walk. The lifespan of our furry friends is far too short. Sometimes their lives are even taken tragically. Making it even harder to cope with that reality that they are gone too soon.

This year, at Michele’s photo session, there was one less snuggly pup to capture. Beau had crossed the rainbow bridge. Making my job feel more important than ever. I am so sorry for your loss, Michele. He will be forever in your heart.

Our pets give us so much joy and although their time here is short, we must ensure to enjoy each minute. Even the muddy paws, barking at the neighbors, and scratching our floors. Give those fur babies a hug & cherish the time you have together.

Until next time,

xoxo

Renée

Hello again! Hope all is well! What about this fabulous weather we are experiencing?! It’s the perfect blend of I am not freezing and I am not sweating chasing my kids around! What more, can we ask for? I think it allows us to spend more time outdoors and reflect on the beauty of the season!

So here we are, in the “ember” months already. Another year is just flying by. I am going to go back to some amazing fall sessions from the year previous so we can start to embrace those gorgeous colors!

I introduce to you, the Washburn family! A stunning little crew if I may say. We met last October to take family photos. As they had recently become new parents of their adorable baby girl, I could see why they would want to capture this season of their lives!

It is hard to resist not loving this time of year. When all is golden. Autumn is a gentle hush, a season stitched with warm sweaters, crisp air, and the sweet crackle of crunchy leaves.

I’m so glad the Washburns were able to capture some sweet memories with their new family amougst the beauty of fall.

To think, they now have a one year old who will enjoy walking (or toddling) thru those crunchy leaves as well this year. Last year, she was safe, in your arms. Just a reminder to embrace the season, take in all the memories – time really flies folks.

With love,

Renée

Hello! Hope all is well in your world. 🌎

Life certainly has its twists and turns, sometimes the turbulence can get to be too much. It’s during those times, you are really tested and reminded to see what matters the most. It isn’t your house, your car(s), the miscellaneous things we buy to fill voids.

It’s the people. The people you love, the children you created. Your family.

“Family is not an important thing, it’s everything”  – Michael J. Fox

When your babies are small, you look into their beautiful eyes and wonder, how you got so lucky. And as they grow, you try to remember them as they were before. Small, innocent, carefree, exploring all that is new to them.

Sometimes you look back at a photo and it is hard to place that moment back in time. Luckily we have camera rolls full of images that remind us, just how fast time really travels.

Your baby turns one and those babbles and bottles become part of their history.

Just a simple reminder, to embrace each day, cherish all the memories, and snap pics along the way of course! Hold their little hands as long as you can. Kiss those scrum-shish cheeks. Be grateful you can tuck your kids in a warm bed each night. Be present, be free, make memories.

Thank you to the Brzozowski for being brave enough to brace the August temps and for allowing me to capture, a little slice of your heaven. They really are a picture perfect family. And it was super fun to get to know their little loves.

Best part of my job is taking photos of the entire family that my clients will adore, a gallery that include mom and dad too! Having fun while doing it. I am here for all of it!

Cheers to you, parents! You are the light of their lives.

Hello! Marching right into Summer!! We are approaching temps in the high 70s as we move into mid March! Summer months and weather will be here before we know it, we will have survived another Midwest winter! Can you tell, that excites me?!

Today, I am showcasing a very special client. I met her when she was just 6 months old!

Precious as could be, Mya touched my heart. She is such a sweet child. She has an infectious smile. When you look into her eyes, you can see the happiness that fills her days. There is a reason for that happiness, and her name is Lindsey.

Last October I saw Lindsey and Mya for their fourth photo session together. It is always my pleasure to capture the love these two share.

As Mya was approaching two, you could clearly see how much she was enjoying her next chapter. She was no longer a baby, it is her life and she is going to enjoy all the exciting, independent things about it!

As each year goes by, Mya steps into her new phase with confidence and joy.

Thank you for the opportunity to watch Mya grow. She has a special place in my heart. I am so grateful to know both Lindsey and Mya.

Until next time.

Renée

Hello! Welcome back to the blog! I hope you are enjoying longer days and sunshine! I sure have.

Today we have a new family session feature- the Malcom Family! Brooke reached out to me as a referral from a past client, always love when that happens! As I was getting to know Brooke over the phone, I found out, she has twins (too!) It is wild to think how many of my clients have twins. The Malcom twins are teenagers! Considering my twins are approaching five, this was fun to witness. Kids grow up, they turn into teenagers. And also on the verge of becoming a teenager is Luke! Their younger brother.

Our days get so busy, plans for weeks and months in advance. Everyone going a different direction, it can be hard to plan a family photo session. Then you realize, like Brooke, it has been too long, and you’d love to capture your kids ( or teens) and your family as it is, right here, right now.

And don’t forget Logan, the precious pooch!

The Malcom family is so adorable! Soon the girls will be looking into schools or their next chapters after graduation. It could just be Luke at home. Hard to imagine that, but time really ticks faster and faster with each year.

I will say, this family was just as perfect as shown here. They were simply charming, kind and friendly.

Mr. & Mrs. Malcom have done a great job. I know they are proud of their kids, and they should be! They are something to be proud, of.

Thank you for allowing me to capture your picture perfect family!

Until next time,

Warmly,
Renée

Hello, and welcome back to the blog! It has been sunny & warm (ish) in Chicagoland and that makes my heart so very happy! It is almost like spring is in the air! I hope you are happy & well as we move closer to March and April!

There is nothing better than a notification that has just arrived from a potential new client via your website! It is sooo exciting (to me!) 🎉

A referral from a past client (whom I just adore) had come in! Maggie was looking for a family photo session in Chicago. We were able to find a date, time location that worked just before busy season was going to pop off in the fall. Maggie and Sam were enjoying life with their baby boy Owen and wanted to capture their adorable family. My pleasure!!

After all that hard work of fitting them in, the morning we planned for our session, Mother Nature wanted to bring some rainfall over Chicago. I NEVER want to cancel a session, I will wait…it … out…. So we all agreed, we would let Mother Nature do her thing, wait in our cars and meet once the weather cleared. I was so happy the Pranckus family was willing to go with that plan- it all worked out!

I could clearly see, Maggie & Sam are the kind of parents who were warm and kind, radiating love and patience, while their little one was full of giggles and curiosity. Watching them interact was heartwarming; every smile, every gentle touch, spoke of a deep, unbreakable connection. They were the kind of family that made you believe in the beauty of simple, everyday moments.

Owen is now one years old. That little baby face that once existed is changing and it will bring back tears when you look back at photos. He will never be this young again. And all those “firsts” are all just so fun and exciting with your first born.

Thank you Pranckus family, for allowing me to capture these moments for you, for waiting in the car until the rain was finished and bringing sunshine to our session.

Until next time friends,

Warmly,
Renée

Do you ever wish you could freeze time? I know all parents have those moments where they think to themselves….Where. Did. The. Time. Go? One moment you are waking up at night to feed a baby and the next second you are getting them ready for their first day of Kindergarten.

A memory pops up on your phone or social media and you can hardly remember those moments while in the midst of what, can sometimes, become a crazy moment in your parental life. It is something that you are warned about, it all goes so fast, but you never really “feel it” until it’s your children on the screen, in the photograph, in the video, before your very eyes.

The days are long, but the years fly by. Some days are so, so hard and other days are filled of so much joy, you can’t imagine how you got so lucky. ✨

Marci is a long time family friend. I have known her since she was a young lady. Her three children are her life. She is an amazing mother to these three precious children. They really are so lucky they get to call her momma. Marci is kind, she is loving and she is sweet. And so are her babies!

It is always an honor to capture your family memories. I hope each time you look at your pictures, your heart is reminded of this cherished time in all of your families’ lives.

Oh, and may I remind you how colorful and cheery summer sessions can be! Love all the florals too. We met in River Grove in a garden near Triton College for this fun family photo shoot.

Until next time,

Renée

Hello friends! Welcome back to the blog. Today’s story is all about Antonia Mia! She is going to be ONE year old this month! Time flies! Her mom reached out to me for an in-home family session. Antonia Mia was going to be celebrating her half birthday at the time!! 🎉

Antonia is their first born, so you know all those milestones are just so exciting. First Christmas, first smile, first laugh, first steps. You really gotta soak it all in! A photo session is a great way to capture those memories.

Look at that adorable face! She was so precious, the apple of both of her parents’ eye!

I enjoyed meeting Dave, Maria and Antonia so much! I just captured some shots as they played and sang to Antonia. She was enjoying her family time as well.

Then my tiny client got tired and drifted off to sleep. Her tiny fingers curled up, and for a moment, the whole world felt softer. It was the sweetest thing—pure, unfiltered trust and calm. Moments like these make my work even more special.

Calm and still. Quiet and peaceful. Antonia’s parents watched her with a tenderness that filled the room, their eyes soft with love. It was a magical moment.

Dave & Maria, thank you for inviting me into your home to capture your beautiful family! I know you will be feeling so many emotions as your baby turns from days, months to a year old. I hope these images bring you back to these special moments. The laughter will get a little louder, and little steps will replace crawling. The memories will get grander and each year simply passes quicker than you can ever imagine.

Until next time.

Renée

Hello, welcome back to the blog! Winter is slowing dragging itself, per usual. When it feels like the cold months will never end, it is nice to look back at some sessions from warmer seasons! The Pasia family reached out to me for a photo session. Jennifer has twins, she learned about my business from another twin mom. There is an awesome twin mom connection. I should know, I am one too! My oldest daughter had the spotlight for almost three years before her twin brothers entered the world. Now she just demands it! LOL!

Being a twin mom is such a wonderful experience. When you see other twins out in the wild, it is just neat to acknowledge it, you know what those other parents are experiencing or experienced. So the Pasia family had come to me just as their fraternal twins turned two. I always loved that age, it seems sweet and special. For me, it’s three that really shows its true colors.

We met at a gorgeous park and garden in Chicago. When kiddos are this age, you let them explore and capture the moments along the session.

I could tell, Jennifer was worried about the results, she was hoping for some great shots, but us mostly following the twins around the park didn’t exactly feel like we were getting anything.

I hope when they look at these images, they have fond memories of how special this time was in their lives. Jennifer reached out again for fall photos, that was a great feeling! This time we meet in Riverside, the colors were vibrant and the season was glowing with goodness.

The twins were definitely more used to me this time, following them along with my camera in hand, saying silly things for a smile! Just look at those cuties! It was an honor to capture their family photos and create lasting memories for all to cherish!

When clients call for another session, it means so much! Building these relationships along the way, even better! Thanks for following along! Until next time.

Fondly,
Renée

Hello! Hope all is going well during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I am going to jump to the holiday themed seasons I had this year. I am still posting summer and fall sessions, sigh… I will get back to those with time. That is the life of a busy photographer!

Just a few weeks ago I meet up with Tamika and her adorable twins for their holiday card photo session! They got all dressed up and looked fabulous (I always love that 😉!)

This was the second time Tamika booked a session this year, we originally met for my Mother’s Day sessions held back in May! The excitement to meet with clients more than once a year is real! It is a real honor to capture these precious memories of Tamika and her kiddos!

Dressed to the nines and looking fabulous, they were ready for their time in front of the camera. Just look at these adorable faces!

Time just flies so fast, one minute you have newborn baby twins and the next they are four, fun and so very jolly! They will always have these images to look back upon and share. I just love that so much.

Tamika is such a hardworking, fun loving mom, she does it all -just for them. It warms my heart.

Happy Holidays! Till next time!