90 degrees in the Fall | Chicago Baby Photographer

As a Chicago baby photographer, I'm so used to the crazy, the unknown, and the surprises. But the surprise of this 90 Degree weather is one that I can barely understand!!

What happens when it's 90 degrees on any given day? I am definitely still outside photographing sessions. I try to meet clients earlier in the day when we know it's going to be really hot out though. This session specifically was on a 90 degree day in the fall. We met early at 830 am to ensure some cooler temps during our session. It worked well! There may have even been a slight breeze.

Smiling baby on box under a tree in Hinsdale, IL

baby with big smile while sitting on rocking chair

Are you ready for fall?

Abigail Joyce is a top baby 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

Fall Family Photography Kick-Off!

If this is the beginning of my fall season, I have a feeling it's going to be wonderful! It finally got a little chillier this week, after what felt like a long week of 90 degree days. Now it's gone down to the 70s and it's awesome! So yay for fall family photography!!

I hope to see a lot of you this fall season. I have some last minute limited availability, so feel free to reach out.

Montrose Harbor in Chicago

We decided to take this session to the harbor, and believe it or not, there are some amazing photo locations that don't actually include the water!

Although there are boats and water around, about this time of year they pull them from the docks. Instead, the colorful grass and trees make up a fantastic backdrop during the fall season!

I just love the colors of this family session! I've met with this beautiful client and her family for several years, and each session gets better and better.

Inspired Fall Family Photography: The AJP look

Over the years, I've been trying to get that "perfect" look for my family photos, but can you believe it, it continually changes! I used to think this was a problem, but... maybe that's actually a bonus?

So I've discovered that every season brings a new kind of "look" to the editing that I do. In fall, I especially gravitate towards the oranges and rich contrast that makes me feel like I'm in fall, regardless of when I look back on the photos!

Another aspect of my look is that coveted Film look. Film is expensive and delicate, and I love the digital workflow, but trying to bring the two together is where I work the hardest. The soft bokeh background, and the fund contrast and mood was created as an homage to the amazing look and feel of film!

Are you ready for fall?

Abigail Joyce is a chicago family photographer that provides studio, and on location newborn and lifestyle photography. She provides amazing scenic locations for her fall family photography, rich with color and saturation, and full of love and emotion that your family shares.

She customizes the session to your unique specification.

Photographing in Hinsdale, Elmhurst, and Evanston

Much of what I do is in and around Chicago. I meet with amazing clients through the Chicago suburbs! I provide my family photography to the beautiful clients in Hinsdale, IL. I take them to many of the locations that Hinsdale provides, including the beautiful Katherine Legge Park!

Many of my clients come from Elmhurst, IL, since it's so close to my scenic locations! I will take them to lakes, forests, and parks that are absolutely gorgeous, and will get really good lighting during even the harshest times of the day.

I provide a select few locations in Evanston, IL and the surrounding areas. This includes beaches, parks, and providing in-home newborn and family photography sessions!

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

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.

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!

A timeless approach from a top Chicago Baby Photographer:

So you're looking for a Chicago baby photographer to capture those special and fleeting moments of your newborn. Here's some great thoughts from a local newborn photographer:

Newborn safety and health first!

While there are hundreds, if not thousands of photographers available for hire, one important details to pay attention to is their code of safety and conduct. Make sure to ask questions about the space they use, their health, allergens they may be carrying, or just get to know their practice for keeping your little one safe and healthy during one of their first trips out of the house!

A good practice for all those handling babies and newborns is to wash or sanitize your hands often! Make sure your photographer is doing just this. It's my practice to always have hand sanitizer available for myself, kids, and families as they come into my studio.

Make sure no one is sick! This may be a no-brainer, and is not just something for your photographer to be careful of, but part of your responsibility is to be honest about your child's health or if you yourself are not feeling well. Passing germs or bugs can lead to others getting sick. Best to play it safe.

Studio Sessions over meeting at you home.

There are great reasons for meeting at your home! Artistic reasons and medical reasons at among the top.

Choosing a newborn session doesn't require you leave your home, and in fact a fantastic option is a lifestyle session where your photographer meets with you, your family, and your little one to capture the essence of your new life together in your own home.

If you are having a hard time traveling due to any surgery or doctor's orders, this is also a great reason to meet at your home. It is usually require that your home is clean, orderly, and has beautiful natural light. Without these three important factors, you may find that your session doesn't look as good as you'd like.

Studio newborn sessions may include family photos or not. This is dependent on your photographer. Make sure to check into this so you don't end up missing out on something you'd like to do.

I personally have made this an option for families coming to my studio. My sessions are modular, allow you to go as small as you'd like and as big as you'd like. This also helps keep the prices reasonable for the time and effort it takes to make this quality possible.

If given the option, most professional photographers will prefer their studio over meeting remotely. This is so they can provide the best results with the tools they are familiar with.

The fine print is where it's at!

Don't forget to look at each photographers fine print closely. There are many many ways that newborn photographers will provide you with the final results. Many photographers require a down

payment, a sitting fee, and separate gallery fees. If this doesn't make sense to you, choosing a photographer with a simple and all inclusive payment structure may be an easier way for you to choose your photographer. For example, I choose a simple structure to my costs so that everything from permits, insurance, digital rights, and my time are all included in your final gallery. No extra payments, unlocking plans, or hooks. Why do I do this? It's actually for my own sanity, and I can only imagine it makes it easier for you as well:)

We live in a changing landscape of technology and personal preferences. Most of us like to do things ourselves, and this includes printing and framing photos. With so many resources available and prices getting more competitive, deciding on a printed heirloom or a digital image package is difficult to justify for many. This has made way for the all inclusive digital packages that photographers are now providing. I don't recommend one way or the other, and I am honored when clients hang my artwork in their homes. I do want to understand clients, their needs, and hope that my specific outlook on packages, provides something that my clients find helpful and not confusing for them.

Newborn photographer, family photographer!

One of the best things that can happen from your newborn session is that you meet your new family photographer!

In the many years that I have been photographing both family and newborns, I love most when I can be apart of that amazing growth in your family! Kiddos are the best, and I love to see them grow from bump to beyond. It's an amazing experience to have someone who knows you, your family, and how to best capture them throughout the years to come.

Don't forget that as you choose your newborn or baby photographer, you may be picking your next family photographer for years to come!

Nephew | Chicago Newborn Photographer

You guys! I am an Auntie for the 12th time! (And since this little guy was born another nephew was born, I am now an Auntie for the 13th time! LOL)

Meet my new nephew Lewis! The sweetest, little peanut you will ever meet. He was one of the sleepiest babies I've ever photographed. Oh gosh, you guys...I seriously love love love photographing my family. It gives me the greatest joy to offer pictures to my relatives. I know it means a lot to my family that I do this for them, but it also means so much to me that I can do this for my nieces and nephews. I want them to know how much I love and care for each of them. I want them to know how much they are loved. Pictures have so much value to them, and hold our memories of ourselves. My Dad was the person in my life that went out of his way to take pictures of my siblings and I growing up and those photos are so cherished. I will always admire that about my parents and I want to be the same for my family someday.