Big Boy B | Bartlett, IL Family photography and videos

I've been videotaping and photographing B since last October. My how he's grown! He is so much more inquisitive and alert now! He's the most serious little boy I've ever encountered, and getting him to grin was a challenge during past photo/video shoots, but he was grinning ear to ear with his mom and dad on July 3rd at the Chicago Botannical Garden! It sure was a hot day, but B got to splash around in the fountain and cool off. If I didn't have my cameras strapped to me I'd probably have joined him!

Tomorrow B and his mom will visit me again to test out my new backdrop!

Beth Turns 5!!! | Bartlett, IL Party Photography

I can't believe that my baby is 5 already! The years have flown, even though I can't remember life without her!

We've never hosted a children's party before, and due to our rough winter with Beth's hospital stay, we wanted to make her birthday a little extra special. Fit for a princess, you might say.

So we contacted Susan at Royal Tea Parties and she ran the party flawlessly! I probably had just as much fun as the girls! Activities included: dressing up, getting nails and hair done, a bead bracelet project, wish granting with Princess Beth, storytime, Princess Pizza, cupcakes and tea. What fun! I was snapping pictures left and right and created a slideshow (see below) as a thank-you gift for all of Beth's princess pals. Being the mommy to two girls is the best!!!

"No Day But Today" | RENT musical videotaping | Sandwich, IL

I love the musical RENT. It's what I identified with all through high school. Granted, I wasn't in exactly the same situation as the characters in Jonathan Larson's musical, but I was a shy kid who hid behind the lens of a camera much like the main character Mark. Anyhow, I spent grades 9-12 with the lyrics always running through my head.

I literally BEGGED to videotape this musical when I found out that Indian Valley Theatre would be producing the show at Sandwich Opera House. I have seen (and videotaped) this group of kids perform in several different musicals over the past three years, but I was super excited to see their transformation and adaption of my favorite show. It did not disappoint. In fact, I recently rented Broadway's live last performance of RENT, and some of these guys outshone the actors on Broadway!!!

Here is a link to view highlights from the videotaping. Video by Linnea Nowak, Photos by Joe Nowak. Copyright Images to Adore.