This is why I'm a Spring Family Photographer

Because Spring is totally amazing!

Can you believe this session? I can't believe it's already spring in Chicago. Please please please let this prettiness stay...I heard it *might* snow sometime this week?? Gosh, I hope that was just a cruel April Fool's joke. I've decided I'm in love with being a spring family photographer!!

So, please, let it stay spring in Chicago. I wish I could photograph all of my clients here, but I am not sure the flowers last long at this spot. Don't you think the blue is just the most beautiful backdrop? Especially with those lovely yellow buds on the trees. Don't you want your family photos done here?

Family photography in Chicago brings surprises!

Every year, the colors and the scenery will change. Every year I don't know what to expect, and hope for the best. In this case, I was amazed at how beautiful and saturated the spring colors of this session were! This amazing family used me as their spring family photographer, which I'm sure they were happy with the amazing results:)

I knew coming in that I would be able to get some spring colors, and I remembered that the flowers were blooming these weeks, but every so often the weather and plants just like to play cruel jokes. This time, I arrived to find the most beautiful colors just popping out after the long winter melt.

Where did I photograph this spring family session?

I didn't want to give it away, but of course it's not a private location so here it is! I actually shot this at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. This family met me near the gates where I led them to this patch of color that I knew was amazing, and even though it's not that big of an area, and only lasts for about 2 weeks through the spring bloom, we made it work. It had such amazing results too. It's just super hard to catch it before the bloom disappears!

Check out this amazing family's spring photoshoot! I think they did an amazing job coordinating their colors, and with the flowers. Or maybe that was just a coincidence;)

I'd love to be your Spring family photographer!

As a spring Family Photographer, I find beautiful locations with great color and character. This provides the beautiful backdrop that your family deserves. Family Photography is a great way to celebrate the growth and changes in your family over the past year, and spring is one of the best seasons to represent that newness and change!

Say hello to this handsome baby! Luke just turned one. I have been meeting with his family for the last year and I can't believe how sweet they are. One thing I absolutely love is getting to know my clients well enough to call them friends. Throughout this whole last year, I have only met with this family 3 times but I just think they are the sweetest and am happy to have them in my lives.

Check out how much his hair changed throughout the year!!!! Crazy right!? So sweet though. One year sessions, or "Let them be little" collections as I like to call them, are newborn, 6 month, and 1 year sessions. These sessions show off the wonder that is how babies grow, and so fast at that! Little details like hair, can change so quickly and look so differently within months. Luke has changed so much this past year, it was a beautiful thing to witness.

Not that this parallels, or perhaps does...but I saw the new Beauty and the Beast last night. I not only balled my eyes out, but got to thinking that what was so similar in the story line, had a lot of visual differences in the new movie vs. the old cartoon version. The beauty of the story and the wonderful songs stayed the same but the appearance was new and fresh. And is the same for 1 year old Luke. He will always be sweet and kind and wonderful..but will continue to grow and change in appearance. Its so important to capture it all throughout this life to look back on. I'm just glad to be apart of it.

xoxo,

Abigail Joyce

PS. I still have yet to see the new version of the Cinderella movie, should I go see it? Any other movies I missed? Let me know!

I love Babies!

I first met with Gillian and her parents 6 months ago for Gill's newborn session and I can't believe this tiny lady is already 6 months old. Gillian is sitting up and smiling and and is learning about the big world around her. I don't have any babies on my own just yet but I meet with babies all day long! Such is the life of a suburb baby photographer;)

When I see the same returning clients over a couple of months time, it always shocks me that the same little peanut get bigger and more alert and becomes well, a tiny person. The same tiny peanut that slept all day long, now rolls over, and giggles and babbles and blows bubbles and smiles when she sees your face. Its pure magic and I love it so.

Don't Become a Suburb Baby Photographer unless...

Don't become a baby photographer if you don't absolutely love babies! I am so glad I photograph babies and it still amazes me that within months, the same baby looks so different! I mean, they have the same face but their expressions look different, and they look bigger all of a sudden.. I believe that photography is so important, especially in that first year of life..so much to capture..so much growth happens in that first year! I am so glad to be apart of it.. I am so glad to be a newborn photographer.

Babies grow up so fast!

I've seen a lot of children, both newborns through toddlers! It's amazing to see them grow and change, but still be that same little person! In this session, I compared the newborn photos to her 6 month photos. You can see how big she has become in just a few short months!

I took the newborn session while I was traveling for newborn sessions, but since then have provided a studio in my home for clients to meet at.

The convenience of a home studio... for you!

So you might think that it's more convenient for me to have a home studio, but it forces me to keep my house clean... ALWAYS!! Okay, okay.. it's nice to have a studio in the home for a couple of reasons. For one, I can be very consistent with my work. Being a suburb baby photographer, I used to visit TONS of clients all throughout the Chicagoland area. And everyone's homes are different. Some had great lighting, others were... mmmm. Then we had to move furniture around, set up the scenes, change the temperature of the house, you name it! There are lots of reasons why a mom might need their session done at their home, especially if there were complications during the birth and they can't travel. But for baby sessions, it's almost never that way.

It's actually convenient to not have to rearrange your home, clean up, you know the drill. Sometimes it's just easier to pop into the photographers studio, get the shots (without having to get dressed yourself) and then be done! If it's all set up ready to go, and your photographer is never late, then it's just a few less things you have to worry about putting together:) Check out this cute little one's newborn and 6 month session below!

Abigail is a Chicago based suburb baby photographer meeting with clients in Hinsdale, Elmhurst, La Grange, and Dowers Grove. Client come from Elmhurst, Evanston, Lisle, and the surrounding Chicagoland area!

Abigail Joyce specializes newborn photography, and provides amazing baby photography as they begin to grow.

I think newborn photos look great against the wood!

I love how the colors are so saturated and warm. I think newborn photos should depict an emotion, and in this case I feel like the colors represent warmth and comfort. Not all sessions are the same, but this one definitely has a central color palette!

Did you know babies dream about being in the womb? This is amazing, and a bit terrifying... at least now it would be;) But if that makes them comfortable and happy in their sleep, then so be it. This little guy is definitely dreaming of the sounds he heard in the womb, as I was playing them through a baby shusher during the session!

I love that baby photos can get so creative!

Many of the sessions, the mom will ask me to make up a completely new design or coordination using colors they pick out. They'll usually let me know ahead of time, and so it's easy to just find the colors in my studio and start piecing it together for them.

Sometimes I'll have moms ask about bringing in props, and typically this is fine, but again if we're using the hardwood backdrop I want to make sure it doesn't clash.

My newborn sessions start with closeups

Most times I'll start with the detail shots so we get this out of the way! These shots are important to the newborn session because of all the small details that change so fast after they are born. I like to capture these first so we don't forget them. Here's an example of a detail shot of a baby's face, the focus was on the nose:)

Can you tell which way I light my newborn photos?

One way to show depth and the dimension of the little one's face is to photograph with directional light. This is very hard to get in clients homes, and the problem becomes that everything is flat and even lighting. In some very bright scenes, this is great! But I've been working on shaping the light so we can see the curves and rolls of these cute little ones. Check out the newborn photos below or head over to my newborn gallery page to see my current work!

I am a newborn photographer serving Chicago and the surrounding towns! I have a studio in Westchester, but I also travel to mothers when they need it. My studio is a way to provide all my headbands, props, wraps, and posing tools for the best looks. I focus my work on newborn photos, but I am a maternity photographer as well! I love to bring emotion and happiness to expecting families through my maternity photography, and then follow up with the most beautiful newborn photos. Contact me today to book your next newborn session!

Baby Reese and her parents came to join me in the studio in Westchester, IL. about a month ago. Reese was an amazing baby! Her mom came in with this beautiful headband set from Linny Lou props and then at the end of the session, the mom gifted the whole set! SOOO SWEET! I couldn't believe it!!

And now every time I use one of those headbands the mom gifted me, I think about their generosity and I pray for their little Reese.

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!

Chicago Children Photographer | Chicagoland Children Photographer

Abigail Joyce specializes in newborn, baby and family photographs. Abigail Joyce is based in the Chicagoland area and the Midwest.

Abigail provides service but is not limited to the following areas : 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: abigailjoycephoto@gmail.com for inquiries, scheduling, and confirmations