Annabelle | Bartlett, IL Newborn Photography

I have to admit, I was mighty nervous driving to this session. You see, Annabelle's mom is a professional photographer. We're from the same town and I videotaped her wedding several years ago. But to photograph another photographer's new baby when she has much more experience than I did? I won't lie; nails were gnawed on the way over as I reviewed my mental checklist for the gazillionth time. I did not want to screw this one up!

And then I saw Annabelle:

Cutest. Baby. Ever. The only way I could screw these photos up is if I dropped my camera and it stopped working. (I didn't).

So then I became very humbled and simply had fun with the session!

Mom Kelly now has as much as a newborn prop/accessory addiction as myself, so we had fun pairing my pink chair with her crocheted diaper cover and hat.

I saw a great antiqued white table with their engagement portrait in the background (photographed by the magnificent Jeff & Julia Woods) so I wanted to try a shot with Annabelle and these elements together.

I have to give a shout out to Kelly. Three weeks post partum, and she's wearing the same dress as in her engagement pictures. Doesn't she look fabulous?!

I'm a sucker for damask, so when I saw Kelly and Mike's chair we had to pair it with the pettiskirt and cutest headband ever!

And then we took a couple candids in Annabelle's beautiful nursery. Besides being a fantastic photographer, Kelly could also be an interior designer in her spare time! I think Annabelle will keep her busy for a while, though :)

It was hard to narrow down the images for this session! Kelly and Mike, I hope you enjoy the photos, and thanks for the honor of having me capture your little blessing! :)

If anyone is interested in a newborn session, please contact me at info@adorevideoproductions.com for a quote and scheduling. We also offer Baby Story newborn videos as well.

Here is a slideshow of some of my favorite shots from the session:

2011 Pricing

Hi All! I've been trying to figure out a new pricing structure for 2011. I love what I do, but to be honest, I had almost no time with my family last year because I was always working weekends and editing every spare moment I could snatch. And I still barely broke even with business costs. That just doesn't make good business sense, and I'll be out of business by next year if that continues!

So prices will be going up a little bit this year, but it is also in the hopes that I can acquire better equipment to create a better product for all my clients! It's win/win, I think! Top of my wish list are HD video cameras and studio photography lighting. And a sweet lens to make images even sharper. And a couple backdrops too. Those suckers are expensive! Oh, and some high-end photography products to show clients. Your images will look amazing on canvases, metal, and lay-flat books. Once you see it in person, you'll be blown away!

Most professional photographers say that giving a CD of the best images is like giving away all your hard work and money (because you can make a lot more by charging a sitting fee and then charging for individual prints), but there are two reasons I will continue to offer a CD of 20-30 images from each session. 1-As a mom, I understand how hard it is to choose just one or two favorites. Kids have so many amazing expressions, and you want to cherish all of them! 2-As a photographer, it seems a pity to let some beautiful photos be trashed because the client can only afford one or two images. Photography is a labour of love for me. I want all my photos to be cherished and appreciated. Cheesy, I know, but it's true!

My 2011 hourly pricing will now be $175 for both photo and video. This includes one hour of coverage, all editing associated with it, and a final DVD of photos or video. Wedding photo or video investments will average $2,000, depending on the package options chosen. Please contact me for samples or to discuss what images you'd like captured in 2011.

2010 Best Of Family Photos

Here's a little slideshow of some favorite photos I've taken over the past year. Thank you all for allowing me to capture your family's special moments, and I look forward to seeing you again in 2011!

The Proposal

What an adorable, elaborate engagement video!!! I wonder if the groom already had the muppets, or if he got them just for the proposal. What my husband would give for a muppet likeness of our family! Hmm...must remember this for an anniversary gift to him when we strike it rich!

McNamara Family Sneak Peek | Schaumburg Family Photography

Wow, time flies. It seems like only yesterday that I was pregnant with Clara and videotaping Anne and Tom's wedding. Fast-forward a couple years, and now they have two adorable kids of their own, and they are still as cute and in love as can be!

Wow, time flies. It seems like only yesterday that I was pregnant with Clara and videotaping Anne and Tom's wedding. Fast-forward a couple years, and now they have two adorable kids of their own, and they are still as cute and in love as can be!

Christening Family Photos

Fall wedding cakes

I adore fall weddings, and I adore cake. And magic occurs when the two are joined! Cake wrecks is a great procrastination website that I visit occasionally. Six out of seven days of the week they feature cakes gone hilariously wrong, but on Sundays they show the best of the best cakes around. I thought their feature on fall wedding cakes was worth sharing!

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2010/10/sunday-sweets-fall-spirit.html