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!

Roadtrippin In California | Chicago Newborn Photographer

Sometimes in life, you have to bite the bullet and take that crazy road trip. This first week of January was that crazy road trip for my husband Ben, my 7 month old puppy Kodak and me. We left December 31 in our heavy duty ford expedition with new tires and hopes high. Perhaps we should have lowered them from the get go. When we left for Spokane, Washington, it was 30's in Chicago, IL. (Pretty nice weather for this time of year) It took 30 hours of straight driving until we collapsed into Ben's brothers apartment. Our puppy was going nuts. As if his entire life was spent his crate (We had to take him out almost hourly as he was not fond of the crate). Already exhausted from the beginning of this trip, we bravely made plans for the backpacking/hiking part of our trip, the main reason we drove to Washington in the first place. Everyone agreed it would be insane to stay north with such frigid temperatures. I was ecstatic as I have never tried snow hiking or backpacking/camping in snow and I was not prepared for 3 degree weather. We decided our trip would be much nicer if we drove down to California. I remember the first mention of California and I was sold. I had never been and I thought it would be such an enjoyable experience if we were able to see some of the beautiful sites in Cali. Tack on another 20 hours and another 50 degrees and we made it to Santa Barbara. The state is beautiful, you guys. I immediately fell in love, as most do while visiting this state. Its gorgeous trees and diverse terrain had me dreaming of photographing families, babies, and newborns in this state. Not to mention its year round warmer temperatures, made me realize it would be a great place to be able to photograph outside all year long...but one can dream, right?

Once we arrived in Santa Barbara we started our backpacking trip. This next part in itself is an entirely different story. As we started to hike the mountains of Santa Barbara, we realized a couple of miles in that there would be less chances of water along the trails as we anticipated. The past couple of years in California, there has been a long drought. The drought has affected the dry and barren rivers we walked through as we trekked on, clutching our half empty nalgenes. We arrived to our first campsite Mono, which is very close to what was once Santa Ynez River. We dropped our packs and headed for the river in search of water, but what we found was a small pond near a 20 foot dam called Mono debris dam. The dam is there to stop highly productive rainbow trout from swimming upstream , but there is no longer a problem since the river dried up. Since the dam is there, it has helped create a well known spot for hikers to collect pond water to drink and move on to their next campsite. Once we left this campsite the next morning, we hiked another 5 miles to our next location. We rationed our water that tasted a lot like pond water, but it was the only water we had so we dealt with it. That night, after we all secretly prayed to God for rain...it downpoured...on and off...for the 1.5 days. Wow, what a miracle from God! What ended up being wonderful for the state of California, was an actual hindrance for us. Since it rained hard, our walk up the sides of 2 mountains made it almost impossible. Our boots had inches of muddy clay stuck to them, making it more difficult to walk. Our packs seemed to make it more and more harder as mine was close to 40 lbs and everyone elses were closer to 50/60 lbs. What felt like the worst thing in the world, made it so much sweeter when we got to the car. We had to work hard to get back up those two mountain sides. We hiked 9 miles in the rain. We slipped, we fell tired. The biggest problem was that there was no coffee that entire day.

If I can make this story even more dramatic, I felt like I couldn't go on ;) ...there, that might do the trick.

Anyways, it was about 4pm when we got back to the car, we were all tired, cold, hungry, coffee less...you get the picture. but we made it!

This trip was supposed to be 7 days long, ended up being 3. ugh. The rain that ruined our trip, ended up being so good for the state. Its all bittersweet.

With a couple extra days on our hands, we decided to take our time getting back to Spokane. We toured through California. I saw San Fransisco, Simi Valley, Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and then headed up to Portland, Oregon as we are big Portlandia fans ;). PS. what a fun city!

20 hours later of driving, we made it back to Spokane. We dropped of the brothers Mark and Joe, but first had to hit up the donut shop, Donut Parade before heading back home. Ugh another 30 hours of driving. If you have been keeping count thats a total of 100 painful hours. with a puppy no less. (alsdhfaouewghaosugh)

The last bit of our trip heading home we went through South Dakota, and stopped at Mt. Rushmore. Then of course made another stop at Wall Drug...because if you are going to stop at Mt. Rushmore, you might as well stop an hour later at Wall Drug. I have now been to both of these places 3 times.

We made it home, and I was never so excited to be back in Lisle, IL.

I'd like my life to go back to normal now please.

xoxo,

Abigail Joyce

ABIGAIL JOYCE PHOTOGRAPHY | Roadtrippin' in California

Abigail Joyce is a newborn photographer that travels to clients homes in the Chicagoland area and beyond. Abigail brings 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.

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

Lisle Newborn Photographer

Traveling Chicago & Suburban Newborn Photographer

My husband surprised me with a 10 week old Siberian Husky puppy just this past Monday. I have the best husband ever!!

The day we get back from the honeymoon, I go to work that morning not suspecting anything...and once I get back from my two newborn sessions that afternoon, I see Ben in the front lawn with a tiny little adorable puppy. His name is Kodak, he has light blue eyes and a little red tint to his coat. He sleeps anywhere and everywhere. He likes his tummy scratched and he is already house trained. He knows how to sit and lay down as well. He loves to sprint but can only run for a little while. He loves to explore <3

I already love him so much!

Ben and I plan on taking him on hikes with us, hopefully he will be ready in January when we plan on going to California to hike :)

PS. we named him Kodak, because its not only a great Husky name, but because of our love of film/photography!

ABIGAIL JOYCE PHOTOGRAPHY | CHICAGO NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER…THE LITTLE DETAILS

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.

Hinsdale, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, Claredon Hills, Countryside, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Addison, Lagrange, Lagrange Park, Wheaton,

Bolingbrook, Indian Head Park, Darien, Lisle, Woodridge, Naperville, Westchester, Brookfield, Hodgkins, Chicago, Oak Brook, and more.

Call: 708 505 9081

email: abigailjoycephoto@gmail.com for inquiries, scheduling, and confirmations

the hike - an Experience of a Lifetime | Abigail Joyce Photography

Hey Friends, I'm back from my hike. Some of you reading this may not know, but this trip was my first experience with a couple of things: 1. It was my first plane ride! We flew to Spokane, Washington. I was nervous, but the flight was perfect. The only thing I experienced was feeling nauseous and lightheaded. Is that normal?

The other first experience I had was hiking/camping for 6 days. We hiked 30 miles in Hells Canyon, Idaho. I remember having superficial fears before the trip (which were superficial in comparison to what I should have been fearful of) I was afraid of smelling or having greasy hair. I was afraid I was going to be cranky and take my emotions out on my fellow hikers.

I was afraid I would sleepwalk away at night (At home I sleepwalk about 2 times a week, but thats another story for another blog...:)...)

Little did I know that there were potential rattlesnakes, bears, and cougars roaming Hells Canyon. (They don't call it Hell for nothing..) Other than the life threatening animals that roamed the canyons, I should've also known to fear cactus..yes cactus. It was everywhere..and the needles stuck into my clothing and found there way into my skin like little splinters...I'm pretty sure I still have some on my back. :(

There was plenty to be worried about on this trip. The hike alone was hundreds of feet into the air with only little space to walk in between the wall of mountain and the cliff that led to your death if you would lose your balance.I just kept thinking to myself, "My parents would have a heart attack if they saw me do this!". And to be honest, this could still be possible since the whole trip was filmed and will be turned into a feature length documentary. Yes, even you may end up with a heart attack! (Please don't though, that would be awful)

Another thing I was worried about was not being able to take good landscape photos. I am not by any means a landscape photographer. I did end up enjoying myself though. I am so happy to have brought my camera with me, even though I was worried I might break it or damage it in anyway.

I was a very scared, worried and at times fearful hiker on this trip. I had a lot on my mind but I made it through the whole trip without any major injuries (I ended up getting blisters on the back of my heels half way through the trip..ouch)

I am positive there is much more to say about my trip, but I will most likely tell you in person the next time I see you.

Also, I will definitely post a link of the feature film documentary when all is said and done.

(This one is of me: photo credit Mark LeMenager)

PS. Here are some family photos from a newborn session I had before I left for my trip. Beautiful family in every way.

Chicagoland Newborn & Baby Photographer | Newborn Photography

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

Hinsdale, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, Claredon Hills, Countryside, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Addison, Lagrange, Lagrange Park, Wheaton,

Bolingbrook, Indian Head Park, Darien, Lisle, Woodridge, Naperville, Westchester, Brookfield, Hodgkins, Chicago, Oak Brook, and more.

Call: 708 505 9081

email: abigailjoycephoto@gmail.com for inquiries, scheduling, and confirmations

Training Days | Abigail Joyce Photography

Hey friends,wrapping up this month's maternity photos and in just a couple more days and I will be heading to Spokane, Washington for my hike. I can't express the excitement I have! I will be with friends and (future) family - Ben my Fiance and his brothers, Mark and Joe along with Allie, and Markus and possibly some more Friends :).

Ben and I have been training for the past couple of weeks and it's been quite intense. Every night I am climbing stairs for 40ish minutes with 20-25 lbs on my back. I hope I am prepared enough for this hike! There will be days on this adventure that I will be hiking for 13 miles per day! It will also be raining most of the time (better than snowing I guess). 1 week from today, I will be on my first plane ride! That's another concern on my mind!! Any advice for a first timer?? This is quite the trip for 2015, my first hike and first plane ride!!

-Your (hiking) Photographer (Abigail Joyce)

A P.S. about the Maternity Photos

PS. Aren't these maternity photos just gorgeous?? Aimee, you are beautiful and your family is nothing short of wonderful. There daughter is named Victoria, (which is my sisters name) and what a crazy coincidence that I met up with my sister right after this session?? My sister lives downtown and I picked her up so we could go grab my wedding gown which was ready that day!! I'm so glad I was able to photograph your Maternity Photos! Maternity Photos captured at Lincoln Park Zoo during winter

About Maternity Photos

Maternity Photos can be captured year round! You don't need to be pregnant in just summer or spring, but I have photographed many amazing and romantic winter maternity sessions. If you do find yourself pregnant and expecting during the winter or late spring months, there are still amazing locations that we can meet both indoor and outdoor, providing beautiful galleries year round!

Another Hiking Trip | Chicago Newborn Photographer