How I provide Stylized newborn sessions for my clients:

Developing a stylized newborn session for each of my clients comes with a bit of work. Here's how it starts:

When a client emails about a newborn session, I ask them a couple of questions about their preferences with colors and the scenes they would like in their newborn package.

I get a variety of responses, but normally I hear things like "neutral tones" "nude colors" or "ivory and sage". This is a start, but I also need to know if they are a bucket, box, blanket, infinity, or bed type of session. I'll ask for a few reference photos if I am not already aware of their style, and this can help me put together a session that they will love.

Part of my process of creating a stylized newborn session, involves creativity and a willingness to try something different. It may be a different prop, a different color combination, or just taking away colors for a focused direction.

This client in-particular (like a lot of my clients say..) said "I trust you! Style the set ups the way you think would look beautiful" and my brain nearly explodes with excitement. I know it's a really small thing, but it's the most enjoyment for me to stylize the newborn session to what I feel in the mood for, and what I know would look amazing in a gallery on my client's wall.

Why I switched from the new stage to old reclaimed wood for my newborn sessions!

So, big news, a couple weeks ago my husband Ben and I renovated my home studio in Westchester, IL where I meet all my beautiful little newborn sessions.

We completely changed the entire room, and updated some of the furniture and added a couple of new pieces as well. This has been an ongoing project for a couple years now, testing wood samples, trying specific styles, looking at the option of creating or developing our own wood, and the verdict is in!

There is no substitute for the real thing.

Yup! I wish I could say that the previous wood was amazing and the hard work it took to distress it was something that made sense, but over time, and the shift in colors, it just started to feel dingy, dark, and not the right kind of distressed that I had envisioned. The reality is that it just needed to be the real thing, and the real thing is both difficult to acquire, manipulate, and expensive! No wonder most photographers like the cheaper options of roll-up backdrops. I've been there, and it works in a pinch, but there is nothing better than the real thing.

The Hardwood Difference

What's so different than before? Asides the aesthetic and softness of the wood, one of the biggest changes was to remove the stage aspect and make this directly on the floor, then bring the back wall up to about seven feet. This allows for full body family shots, and the addition of the corner wall allows me to photograph direction into the corner. This is perfect for kiddos and when I need to move around to get the right angles, I now have two walls of hardwood to shoot into!

The wood is about 100 years old, and pulled from buildings right here in Chicago, denailed and then processed into planks that are attached to the walls and floor. Eventually I'll use some of the same batch of wood for shelving and boxes, and hopefully get some helpful comments on how to add some greenery to my studio:)

PS! I filmed the whole process and will share it soon, right here on my blog!

Abigail is a Chicago based newborn and maternity photographer. She specializes in capturing a timeless and simple look that will be a mounted masterpiece on your wall. Newborn sessions are the best way to capture and remember the fleeting moments of your child's earliest days. As newborns grow so quickly, the approach Abbey uses, tells a story of the peace, stillness, and the quiet moments of a little one's first beautiful days in a big new world! Abigail serves Chicago, Hinsdale, Downers Grove, Western Springs, Elmhurst, Evanston, and Oak Brook, IL. She provides both Traveling Newborn Sessions as well as her newly developed Studio Approach, which provides a controlled setting, peaceful atmosphere, and the most amazing looks, which are difficult to provide anywhere else.

Did you know how many Chicago baby names we have?

This whole past year I did my best to write down my Chicago baby names I photographed in 2017. Wheew!

While this is not even the half of it (and there are so many more names rolling in), I would love to share with you many of the names of the little ones I have photographed last year!  I also loved praying over each baby for health and happiness either during our newborn session or while I was editing those sweet photos.

Thank you to all my clients that chose me to take part in such a precious and memorable time in their lives. I am forever grateful and thankful for each and every one of you and I look forward to seeing these beautiful babies grow up!

Using this list to help you decide on your newborn's name:

While there are so many more names to choose from, and many of you will be looking to use a family name, I have had several mothers tell me that they in face used this list of names to help them decide on naming their little ones! I had no idea the help that this simple list might be to some mothers, but I am thrilled that it can be a little resource:) My Chicago baby names below, are in no particular order, and you'll see there are probably name duplicates. I took these baby names from my personal journal, and just wanted to share them!

2017 list of Chicago Newborns photographed by Abigail Joyce Photography :

Thomas, Jacob, Serena & Lucy, Thiea, Madeline, Theo, Rivvy, Reese & Rapheal, Aria, Giancarlo, Emma, Louisa, Charlie, Maxine, Joseph, Tovin, Jack, Roman, Emmaline, Lilianna, Liam, Jack, Huda, Noah, Levi, Ezra, Logan, Mackenzie, Alyanna, Andrew, Aron, Madison, Reese, Easton, Alanna Grace, Elenore, Everly, Elenore, Olubamise, Hannah, Leah, Hudson, Hailey, Julian, Everly, Abbie, Cristina, Charlie, Nolan, Abigail, Billy, Lincoln, August, Mia, Noah, Henry, Leilani, Addison, Noah, Luca, Vivienne, Maddon, Declan, Oz, Annaleigh, Gia, Matteo, Ethan, Rocco, Luca, Adam, Brynn, Elizabeth, Amelia, Emmy & Josie, Henry & Charolette, Bellarose, Jack, Mark, Hazel, Lucia, Julianna, Logan & Liam, Alexis, Tanner, Zian, Alana, Madelyn, Olivia, Spencer, Lewis, Siena, Lucas, Danny, Adelaide, Sophia, Maxwell, Thorn, David, Amelia, Eileen, Camila, Sebastian, Teddy, Yianis Sofia, Gavin, Liam, Ty, Rishva, William, Jordan, Alexandria, Cristiano, Wyatt, Jaylie, Calvin, Olivia, Liam & Alex, Olivia, Olivia, Theo, Finn, Hannah, Anna, Hudson, Amelia, Reagan, Emma, Weston, Ronan, Madeline, Max, Nolan, Henry, Charlie & Claire, Hannah, Zach, Geneva, Oliver, Hudson, Zoey, Eleanor, Ella, Wyatt, Max, Penelope, Finley, Hannah, Zach, Geneva, Oliver, Hudson, Zoey, Eleanor, Ella, Wyatt, Max, Penelope, Finley, Timothy, Braxton, Brooks, Thomas, Arjun, Ezra, Charlie, James & Nora, Peter, Aaron, Bennett, Audrey, Mosa, Harper, Matias, Whitman, Aaron, Bennett, Audrey, Mosa, Harper, Matias, Whitman, Siena, Maddux, Kalina, Isabella, Harrison, Lucy, Gage, Louis, James, Landon, Joey, Cecelia, Cameron, Nora, Benjamin, Riley, Webster, Zachariah, Riley, Josephina, Chloe, Henry

Additional Newborn Name Resources:

Wow! You've made it this far, and I'm glad you have:) I don't endorse or personally know the websites linked in this section, but they have been a help to many of the mother's that have come through my practice! I hope you can find them useful as well.

• https://www.thebump.com/baby-names
• https://www.parents.com/baby-names/
• https://www.babble.com/baby-names/
• https://www.babycenter.com/baby-names

Abigail is proud to be a member of the NACPC, which acknowledges best practices and top photographers in their field.

Growing up in Western Springs | Western Springs Newborn Photographer

Did you guys know I grew up in Western Springs? I had the pleasure of growing in Western Springs throughout my childhood! And what's even sweeter is knowing I'm only 10 minutes from my childhood home where my parents still live. I am able to visit the same uptown area, and walk around the town with my parents. We just the other week went to get Oberweis together on the weekend when it was nice out. Next to Oberweis is the Starbucks I met my now husband at. We met at the counter and he asked for my number. He proposed 3 years later in front of my childhood home in Western Springs. This little town has so many memories for me.

Now living out of Western Springs for the last couple of years I finally realize just how much of a gem it really is. It has really good schools, it's very charming and safe as well. Anytime I have clients from Western Springs I feel like we have this special bond, because I know exactly what it's like to be a Western Springer! I would so love to move back if the opportunity were to arise, but for now I will be happy knowing I am just a drive away.

xoxo

Abigail Joyce is a top newborn photographer that provides studio, and on location newborn and lifestyle photography. She customizes the session to your unique specifications and provides the care and safety that each newborn needs during this beautiful first week of life. With your session, you gain access to all over her props, backdrops, hats, headbands, crates, baskets, blankets and more.

Now serving: Hinsdale, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Countryside, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Addison, Lagrange, Lagrange Park, Wheaton, Indian Head Park, Darien, Lisle, Woodridge, Naperville, Westchester, Brookfield, Hodgkins, Chicago, Oak Brook, and more.

Email: Abigail@abigailjoycephotography.com for inquiries, scheduling, and confirmations

Abigail Joyce is a newborn photographer that provides an in home studio. Abigail has her props, backdrops, hats, headbands, crates, baskets, blankets and more to your session. Abigail customizes the session to your unique specifications and provides the care and safety that each newborn needs during this beautiful first week of life. Abigail takes her time posing the newborns with gentle hands and patience. Make sure you contact Abigail at least a month before your due date to ensure a newborn session with Abigail Joyce Photography!

Another Hiking Trip | Chicago Newborn Photographer

Hey guys, this past week I traveled to Seattle, Washington for another hiking trip. This time we drove out from Seattle to an area in the Mount Baker National Forest. We weren't originally planning on going to this location. In fact we had won permits to travel and camp in the Enchantments in the North Cascades, but because of all of the wildfires, that location was closed down. So we quickly had to make new plans the night before we flew out. Talk about exciting but also stressful at the same time. It ended up just being my husband and I that went together, which was a first since we have always gone with a bigger group of friends. We hiked to Copper Lake and stayed for 3 nights. The day we hiked in I got stung by a wasp on my ankle and it ended up swollen and itchy. The next morning we went kayaking in Copper Lake and fishing and while I was exiting my kayak I lost my footing and I sprained the same ankle! OUCH. I ended up hiking down days later with a very swollen and bruised ankle. I ended up with huge blisters on both feet at the end of that trip. But it was the most beautiful and relaxing trip I've ever had while hiking.

So crazy right?! haha. I'll find some photos we took and share them in my next blog post.

Abigail Joyce is a top newborn photographer that provides studio, and on location newborn and lifestyle photography. She customizes the session to your unique specifications and provides the care and safety that each newborn needs during this beautiful first week of life. With your session, you gain access to all over her props, backdrops, hats, headbands, crates, baskets, blankets and more.

Now serving: Hinsdale, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Countryside, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Addison, Lagrange, Lagrange Park, Wheaton, Indian Head Park, Darien, Lisle, Woodridge, Naperville, Westchester, Brookfield, Hodgkins, Chicago, Oak Brook, and more.

Email: Abigail@abigailjoycephotography.com for inquiries, scheduling, and confirmations

Abigail Joyce is a newborn photographer that provides an in home studio. Abigail has her props, backdrops, hats, headbands, crates, baskets, blankets and more to your session. Abigail customizes the session to your unique specifications and provides the care and safety that each newborn needs during this beautiful first week of life. Abigail takes her time posing the newborns with gentle hands and patience. Make sure you contact Abigail at least a month before your due date to ensure a newborn session with Abigail Joyce Photography!