Hello from the Chicago Baby Photographer

In this post I'll highlight a few details on a cake smash, what to expect, and when they take place.

How sweet is this cake smash! How I love a good cake smash and taking photos of babies!

• Baby sessions take place after the newborn stage is completed
• Usually starting around the 3 month point
• Cake smashes are typically for a 1-year session
• This can take place between 11 and 14 months, as the "1-year"ness hangs around during that period
• Colorful scenes is out, soft, bright and simple is in (plus it's timeless)
• The best thing about cake smashes is watching these little kiddos go crazy over how tasty it is... but
• Kiddos with little experience with sweetners, or photos, tend to not know how to go crazy for their cake, so some convincing and "help" from mom/dad may be needed during the shoot
• Cake smashes are the LAST thing during the shoot, for obvious reasons (if it's not obvious, cake gets everywhere and on everything!)

Honestly, when was the last time you saw someone enjoy cake for one of the "first times" in their lives??  I love all the squeals, giggles and crumbs of cake everywhere. The strangest has been back of heads, and I don't even know how that happens. Life is an amazing thing and witnessing little kids getting so much out of cake is adorable.

What I've noticed from being a photographer... Don't expect every child to react the same way to these four things:

1. Christmas Lights - Some children will bang them on the ground and giggle like no other; other children will cry.
2. Cake- Some children will smash that cake like it was their job; others may take one little bite and crawl away. No cake will be smashed.
3. Bath tubs- Some children LOVE water and all things bubbles; others will scream in horror.
4. Hats - Children don't love hats but if you distract them enough and time it properly, they will forget anything was placed on their heads!

Baby's first Christmas

I am so lucky to be able to watch these kiddos grow up. One day the kids that I have photographed over the years will be able to look back at these photos. They will be able to see how small they once were, how much excitement was in their face and eyes when they held onto those christmas lights, and see how much they were loved by their wonderful parents.

Its December. Its a Saturday night. I am editing like a mad woman and sending out all of my clients photos. While I edit these photos I see the happy faces of my clients and the joy they are expressing in the photos. I look forward to my own future when I will have my own kids some day and feel the same love and joy. Did I ever tell you, I want four of my own kids someday? I am 21 right now, but by the time I am 24 I am hoping to have my first child. I know I am rambling, but its late. I wanted to show you these beautiful family photos.

-Abigail Joyce

Chicago Family Photographer & Chicagoland Family Photographer

708 505 9081

abigailjoycephoto@gmail.com

Chicago Newborn Photographer

Abigail Joyce Photography

 Two years ago I decided what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I have photographed weddings, engagement sessions, family sessions, children sessions, babies, food, animals...but nothing made my heart pitter patter like photographing a 5 day old newborn. Genesis was my first newborn session and have been in love with newborn photography ever since.

708 505 9081

abigailjoycephoto@gmail.com

A Chicago Newborn Photographer

The other day I photographed this beautiful newborn only 4 days old. Her name is Olivia Sophia. I started working with this family 1 year ago. We were photographing their engagement session. How crazy time flies. I have had the privilege of getting to know the parents really well. They are both wonderful people who I am glad to say are my friends. I have photographed their engagement, wedding, maternity and now newborn photos. They have been so good to me! This is what I have always wanted...Someone that truly loves my work that they keep coming back. Its more than just a compliment, its everything to me. Its the support, the love, the friendships and the bond we now will always have.

Thats the thing about this business...its not just about taking photos of random clients. Its growing relationships with people that you work for and loving every minute of it! And then hoping that the people you work for, will love you for that.

I also wanted to announce that I have been incredibly blessed with all of my clients and I am almost completely booked for weekend dates for the fall season! So if you are wanting a fall family session or any children sessions, we will have to start looking at our weekdays on our calendars. I am thrilled to have my calendar look full! Its the biggest blessing. I am so thankful for my clients and friends. Its the biggest compliment to have so many returning clients and for them to send me all of their friends.

Another big thing happening in my life...I started running again...I have been pretty active all of my 21 years of life but the past two years since Ive held onto 2 jobs at once, stayed in school full time and ran a photography business... well there just wasn't a lot of time devoted to *que big ugh and sigh* ....running....    -_-

In all honesty, I love the way running makes me *afterwards*, actually I just ran tonight and now I feel great. The run itself wasn't terrible. It was partly raining and there was a nice breeze.. I was never a long distance runner. I don't know how to pace myself. When I was younger I would feel myself wanting to sprint desperately at the end of each run. Now I know better not to sprint at the end or I might pass out! I feel so out of shape, I really need to get myself back into working out. So today, I swam at the College of Dupage indoor pool and then tonight I ran. I believe over 2 miles :)

Someone please be proud of me for that!

Chicago Newborn Photographer

Abigail Joyce Photography

708 505 9081

abigailjoycephoto@gmail.com

I got to photograph the most wonderful 7 day old!

Aren't newborn sessions so wonderful? The newborns (normally) sleep throughout the whole 2-3 hours I am at the clients home. The babies look so peaceful and dreamy. I could cuddle them all day! Maybe one day Ill have my own newborns to cuddle someday. Nevertheless, I love all newborns and wish I could work with them all! Chicago is pretty big I know! But wouldn't be amazing if I could photograph at least 1000 newborns a year? I think I would happy with that many .

This past week, I photographed a birth story. I was quite nervous about it. To be honest with you, I was more nervous about not getting to the hospital on time or not be able to get there altogether than the actual birth. I was worried that the mom would call me in the middle of the night and I would be sleeping peacefully and not hear my phone! Oh, my nerves really got to me these past couple of weeks. If you saw me, I was probably on edge! I didn't want to travel much around the suburbs so I stayed at home editing my most recent sessions... then I would take breaks and *try* knitting bonnets. So far I have been crocheting bonnets for newborns but now Im on to knitting.. Anyways, while I was knitting, I was also watching all of the Jane Austen movies. Yes, I probably should have read the books but this way I was able to knit and listen/watch the movie at the same time. When I was bored of that, well... school started as well this past week so I wrote a paper that was due Friday.. Ha. My clients baby was due this past Friday.. but had the baby girl on monday! And guess what?? She had her in the afternoon and the delivery was 1  1/2 hours long...incredible! We were lucky to have made it to the hospital at all! I am so glad to have been there and see this birth.. and all the while photograph it as well. It was an amazing experience and I hope to photograph more birth stories in the future <3