A New Way of Thinking about School Photography | Chicago Children's Photographer

Every year I have the pleasure of photographing roughly 200 of the most adorable children Chicago. I am blessed that I have the opportunity to work at school and I get to put my camera to good use!  It is such a fun way to get to know these students and in turn they become very comfortable in front of my camera, check out the video below if you don't believe me!! I slow the portrait process down and use the other students to get genuine reactions from the student. I just love how they turned out.

Starfish Kids Shoot Naperville and Chicago Commercial Photography

Thrilled for Starfish Kid’s big launch. Starfish Kids has such an adorable and versatile (not to mention durable) clothing line. I loved helping them create images for spring and summer in my Naperville studio space. The models were adorable and so much fun! Here are just a few of the great images we captured from the shoot.

How we get you ready for your newborn family session....

Let's get ready for your newborn session! I get you, as a busy mother I understand how hard it can be to plan a photo session, especially have just having had a baby. That is why all of my sessions include thoughtful planning to make sure that hair, makeup, and stying is taken care of and easy. My Chicago and Naperville team and I are always happy to help you find the perfect outfits for you and your family. We work hard on the details so our clients can be confident about the art we are creating. We start by connecting you with Katie Schuppler our Chicago Fashion Stylist. She can help you choose your clothing based on where we will be shooting in your home. Once Katie has worked with you to choose your outfit we share your style selections with our hair and makeup team so they are ready for the day of your session. I will also set up virtual walkthrough at the same time of day we plan to shoot so that I can see your home and make sure that we have the perfect light. I just love the backdrop of this nursery with the whimsical wallpaper by My Cole and Son, don't you?

Speakeasy in Downtown Naperville

We moved to Naperville in the midst the pandemic and we emerge to learn their is a speakeasy in downtown Naperville. What?!? I was thrilled to photograph Reece at work at Northcott Liquorette for Main & Luxe magazine you can read
more about the Northcott and new fall menu https://mainluxe.com/luxe-life or better yet pay them a visit.

Naperville Studio Session

One of my most favorite moments of my photography sessions is the session reveal. When I switched from online galleries to actually meeting with clients and looking through each image together I'll admit I was a bit terrified. Like all artists we fear how people will perceive our art, our editing decisions etc. But I learned to to face that fear because there is nothing more validating than watching someone view the people they love captured by your lens. Every moment is a learning experience and the reveal sessions are a way to learn more about my clients and what they love (and maybe not love so much), but it also makes future sessions even better because I understand them on a deeper level. Plus, they feel seen and heard, which makes for more meaningful client relationships.
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I was in love with this session studio session with a client family that I just adore. We started inside with a more formal and elegant family session followed by the snow machine out back where we ended with lots of laughs.
Thank you @ksstyleconsulting for your always amazing styling guidance to @monique_bridgewater for your exquisite makeup, and @paigeypockets for the beautiful work you do on hair and @pinmeupchicago for your amazing team.

Snow Sessions in Lake Forest

Having been a teacher, I know how to connect with children, and I think that comes through in my imagery. I also love to create experiences during my portrait session that are fun so that we can capture authentic emotion. I love the excitement captured during our snow sessions this winter.

Starfish Kids Feature

To be a parent is to have a camera roll of endless photos of your adorable tiny human(s). 

But how many of them are frame-worthy? If they’re actually looking at the camera, then it’s a goofy face or food crusted on a cheek or a lovely background featuring – wait for it – garbage cans! And when you opt for a professional family photo session, how do you ensure picture perfect results? 

We sat down with Emily Cummings, a talented photographer who’s been capturing beautiful shots of kids and families for twelve years. She happens to be a former teacher, so it’s no surprise she knows how to redirect major meltdowns into magical moments. (She more recently started doing commercial work and was our go-to for the Starfish Kids photo shoot.)  

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These are not just photographs

Show your clients just how good you are at what you do. Make sure you have an extensive and thorough portfolio of product and or service examples to help your clients understand just how good you are.

These are not just photographs and they are not just Instagram posts. This is the story of your business that the world gets to see. The story of who you are, and what drives you and your team. The way you show up to your industry. Are you telling your story? Can your clients see just how good you are?

Thank you Kristy O’Neill at Sweets Perfection for creating the best birthday cake and surprise for my daughter during such a difficult year!

Storytelling George the Salon Chicago

I started as a client of George the Salon nearly 6 years ago. I think it goes without saying that I am one of their many happy clients. The salon location has a feeling of elegance and rejuvenation. Going to the salon is about self-care. I have taken a day to myself for breakfast, hair, brows, and shopping. All that pampering feels like a mini-vacation rejuvenating my spirit. I wanted to capture that feeling of refresh in my photos.

I have learned so much from George. He is truly an artist bringing out the best in his clients. In our corporate session, I hoped to showcase his work as an artist along with his photojournalism style photography designed to immerse the viewer in the experience of being in the chair at George the Salon I hoped to showcase his talented team of stylists; and the warmth and welcome of his salon culture.

Storytelling Lincoln Park Chicago Gym Practice

I want to put your client in the driver's seat of your story. These are not just photographs...they are not just headshots, and they are not just Instagram posts. This is the story of your business that the world gets to see. The story of the people, the clients, the hustle and bustle on a normal day. The story of who you are, and what drives you and your team. The story of how you interact with your clients, and your community. The way you show up to your industry. Are you telling your story?

Your corporate photography matters. I want to help you bring that story to life with quarterly content-driven photography sessions. Book your business storytelling session by contacting emily@tenlittlebluebirds.com.

📷 Check out Practice Chicago featured here. Their tagline is that it’s “Practice” not about perfection. I have never been the perfect athlete but their personal training style has always made me feel so comfortable. They have a holistic approach to fitness that also incorporates mindfulness and healthy eating. Truly if you are in the Lincoln Park area you need to check it out and if you are not in Chicago you can still use their online coaching services.

Faces of Local | Naperville Magazine Photography Shoot

I am thankful to partner as a photographer with community magazines like the incredible media team at Naperville magazine.

As a storyteller, I love that I get to help capture the vision of local businesses. Your brand is more than a logo, but getting in front of the camera is not everyone's favorite thing. I try to find fun and easy ways to make sure entrepreneurs and their teams are comfortable and confident throughout the shoot.

I worked with rep Patty Brand on a recent business feature in the May publication called Faces of 630. You can read the feature by picking up a copy of Naperville magazine and flipping to page 31 (or clicking this link)! The feature looks beautiful and includes Naperville's best business professionals like the team from Allegra Printing, Friedrich Jones & Overman Jones Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Grunyk Family Law, Law Offices of Edward P. Graham, Ltd., Coros-Mackey Group - Homes in Naperville and Surrounding Communities, The Comedy Shrine, FBC Remodel and more.

Need the perfect Mother's Day gift?

Are you still looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift? You can't go wrong with a gift card for a portrait session. This is the one gift you can give that will only get more valuable with time. Not to mention each session includes hair, makeup, and styling. Pamper mom, she deserves it! Head here to buy a gift card.

It is even hard for a photographer to get in the picture | Naperville Family Portrait Session

I totally get you. It can be so hard to get in front of the camera. Between "extra ten pounds," or the bad hair day, or the peanut butter on your shirt, there are plenty of excuses to avoid getting your picture taken.

What many of us fail to realize, is that especially to those that love us we are beautiful exactly as we are. There is nothing that needs to be fixed. Our love for our children is palpable. Twenty years from now when our kids are getting married or graduating college or curing cancer, we will be looking back at these photos and remembering the days when they wouldn’t let go of our hands. And we will be so glad that we had some pictures that captured that overwhelming, all-encompassing, unlimited love. Truly, photographs are investments that get more and more valuable with time. Let the world see how beautiful you are and how amazing motherhood is.
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Since I am always behind the camera so I know how important these pictures are for my family too. I also invest in portraiture so that my family will also have these memories captures. This fall I hired a colleague to come out to Naperville and capture images of our sweet family.
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This shoot also reminded me of how crazy it can feel to be prepared to be in front of a camera. This is why I now offer styling, hair, and makeup for every photo family session. Looking and feeling great in pictures doesn't need to be hard.

Storytelling Naperville Studio Sessions

Behind all of your stories, is your mother's story, because that is where your story begins. I am Emily and I want to be your storyteller this Mother's Day. Let me capture that overwhelming, all-encompassing, unlimited love in your family and help you preserve those family moments for years to come. Book your storytelling session!

2021 featured artist - two photos selected from 100 in NAPCP

I was inspired by Chubby Cheek Photography underwater e-guide and very daringly attempted to photograph pool time at our Airbnb rental in Palm Springs California. This was my first time shooting underwater and I was so pleased by the results. I love the vibrant color contrasts and all those dreamy bubbles. These pictures were chosen for the 2021 Featured Artists Top 100 Inspired Gallery Event. They will be printed and hanging in a gallery in Atlanta this June as part of the Inspired Print Competition hosted by the National Association of Professional Child Photographers. Thank you NAPCP for the opportunity! I have truly enjoyed being a member of this group.

Client Showcase: George the Salon Chicago Gold Coast

It has been such a pleasure to get to know George and his team at George the Salon in the heart of the Chicago Gold Coast over the last five years. Recently we decided to join forces to photograph this amazing Chicago salon and the happy clients with the goal of sharing these stories on his website and Instagram. I have always loved the location of the salon in the heart of the Gold Coast neighborhood. Typically shooting in Chicago in the mid-day sun can be a challenge but luckily in Chicago, there are many shaded spots to take advantage of. For this shot, we ventured to the top of the Oak Street building during a quick overcast period for one of the coolest backdrops in Chicago (thank you Chicago Suit Supply for sharing your rooftop garden access). If I was a dude in need of a suit and haircut - I would never leave this building 😜. I ❤️the luxury 💎 urban flavor that you feel when you go to George the Salon and these images help showcase this. Great job Mo your work is incredible as always! 😍

Newborn Session - How to dress your baby

Not sure how to dress your newborn? Keep it super simple. My personal favorite is knits, textures, and a neutral palette to make things feel fresh. Simplicity is the key - let the connection be the focus, not the clothes. If you are planning to do some clothing-free shots make sure to choose simple diapers - plain white (or we can always photoshop off Elmo (sorry buddy). I love the stripes she chose for this session - they give a little pop and style without overwhelming.

Planning My Own Family Photoshoot Styling Perspectives from a Chicago and Naperville Family Photographer

It has been a couple of minutes since our last professional Chicago family photo shoot 🤭. Which essentially means a photo shoot that actually includes me (since I am after all a professional photographer and my kids and husband are well documented with professional photos). If you are a mom, I am sure that you can absolutely relate to not being in the pictures. So I am following my own good advice and getting in the picture with my family in a couple of weeks from now. This will also be a good reminder for me of what it is like to be on the other side of the camera.

In the shoot above, photographed by the lovely Chicago wedding and family photographer Maddie Blecha, I was going for a posh Christmas in Chicago feel. I actually found my daughter’s coat first from Little Goodall and styled the rest of the family’s clothing around this piece.

Typically, I recommend my clients put mom at the center of costume design for the group. Let’s be honest: kids look adorable in a potato sack, and most men will wear exactly what you lay out for them. Us ladies, if we don’t like how we look in the photo, even if everyone else has the most perfectly perfect smile they have ever given - we are not going to be happy. You know I speak the truth.

Styling a shoot is no easy task and the day of my Christmas in the City Chicago shoot was no exception. I felt like I was running a million directions pulling together outfits, getting my hair and make-up done (those lashes take a hot minute - unless you know Santos from Nordstrom’s Chanel - he is the BEST). About 30 minutes before our shoot it occurred to me that it would be super adorbs to buy carrots for the horses that pull the carriages downtown so we just HAD to stop at Wholefoods for those carrots that still had the leaves perfectly attached….creativity is not for the faint of heart. Despite the smiles in the photos above, the stress getting ready for that shoot led to some real changes in how I guide my own clients before a session. Pre-pandemic I formed the glam-squad to come to your home and bring the glam to you. I have also partnered with Style and Select to make clothing styling way easier for your photo shoot planning.

The shoot I am planning in the next few weeks is happening during a pandemic obviously - so the manicure, makeup and city environment are a no-go this time around. The shoot will take place early evening on a prairie and farm located in our new town of Naperville - Riverview Farmstead. I am hoping this means no crowds. Below are a few images I found (not mine all the credit goes to Timothy Whaley here) of the location we will be shooting in. Looking at the environment is the first step to choosing outfit styles for the session.

I believe that a photo shoot is the perfect excuse to go shopping - especially during a pandemic when I don’t want to head into stores and my very best sweat pants now have holes. Enter, stage right: Style and Select. This online styling program is a fabulous tool that helps my clients style their shoots in a painless way. I decided to use this tool for my own shoot and below is a video if you would like to see how it’s done! If you are a photographer checking out here is a code for 10% off BLUEBIRD10. You can thank me later 😜.

We are starting our outfit styling with the two dresses below from Rent the Runway. I also now have this available for my clients’ use so please reach out if you are interested in accessing from this cool service which also has clothing for girls now. My dress is on the right as I definitely recommend some shape for the ladies and my daughter’s is to the left.

Preparing for your Headshot | Chicago and Naperville Headshot Photographer

The Top Ten Secrets for a Perfect Headshot

When it comes to your headshots, my goal is to capture your best natural features, your strength, and your essence. My approach to photography is natural and relationship-oriented; I love to get to know my clients before putting them in front of the lens. I want to hear about your story - both personal and professional so that I can tell it in light and color. My goal is to create a portrait that says something meaningful about you. Are you an actor? A business professional? A model? With over 10 years of photography experience in Chicago and Naperville, I feel confident in my ability to craft a series of images that truly say something about who you are and your goals in life. So to help here is a list I have compiled of the Top Ten Secrets for a Perfect Headshot.

Chicago Newborn Session | Chicago and Naperville Newborn Photographer

I loved our session with this adorable family. They have the sweetest little girl and as an added bonus I was able to photograph the grandmother that happened to be in town for our shoot. I always love the opportunity to include grandparents in our sessions. Capturing these moments with grandparents will be cherished as these little ones grow.