Firefly Nights Photography Blog | Chicago baby photographer | Chicago children's photographer | Naperville baby and children's photographer | special needs photography

Naperville and Chicago baby and child photographer blog, children's photographer, Chicago special needs photographer.

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Monday, May 6, 2013

Special Needs Mini-Sessions | Naperville special needs photographer, Hinsdale photographer

And here are the last of my April 21st special needs mini-sessions! Such a wonderful annual event. If you missed out on them this year, keep your eyes open for next year’s.

This first set of twins I met last year during the special needs mini-sessions. They have really grown in their development since then! Both kids are on the autism spectrum, but with different strengths and challenges. They were super fun, and I was greatly entertained by the sister who loved to spin in her dress and be girly.

And then we had another set of twins! But this time it was only the brother who has developmental delays and autism. They were also full of smiles and giggles.

I have photographed this family a few times in the past, but it has been almost two years since I saw them (when their girl was a newborn). Their son has Chromosome 18q, which includes cerebral palsy, vision impairment, and general muscle weakness. It was great to see them again. I love their colors! Since he cannot sit on his own, we leaned him back, and I edited out his dad’s supporting hand.

This next family were so much fun. You could just feel their love and laughter. And you would never know that their son is on the spectrum. Kudos to them for all the therapy – it has certainly paid off!

This next young man was a great wrap up to the day. He also has autism. His special interests are movies. While he is currently obsessed with the movie Up, he is actually an old movie fan, and apparently loves the older actresses, especially Jessica Lange from King Kong. I asked what movie was his favorite one with her. His response: “Any where she is the cutest.” LOL

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Special Needs mini-sessions (part 1) | Chicago special needs photographer

I’m busy editing away on my first day of special needs mini-sessions and wanted to share some. It was a wonderful day to get to photograph so many special needs families. By waiving my session fee and minimum order requirement, I was able to offer something to families who may not normally be able to use me. It also removed the anxiety about their children’s behavior. If it was a bad day, then they wouldn’t be out any money – just 20 minutes of their time. But on this day, we had nothing but good experiences.

My first one was with this handsome guy. He has autism, but did a wonderful job doing exactly as I said, including holding his baby sister. He had the biggest smile – as you can see in the last one.

My next session was with these three brothers. The older two really got a workout from their youngest brother who has autism and is non-verbal and was very excited. He didn’t stop moving and walking around, so I would tell the brothers to be ready and grab him and get close whenever the youngest would come near. Though it may look like he sat still for some pictures, that is the secret to my work – he wasn’t. He would be in the act of rolling over a brother or to get off the bed, and we’d get a single shot. Because that is all it takes – just one.

downers grove special needs photographer

These next siblings were very sweet. Older sister was just beautiful, and I couldn’t help but snap at least one picture of just her. Her younger brother also has autism and is non-verbal. When he walked in, I said ‘hello”, and he reached for his computer device, clicked on it, and a computer voice responded, “hello”. He was a little uncertain about just sitting for me, so I had him sit and then run back and forth from the couch to give his parents hugs, which made him very happy. We had one bad moment where he bumped his feeding tube on his belly which hurt, but after a little break he was ready to play with his sister again.

The next set of brothers cracked me up. The younger brother has high-functioning autism and was a crack up. I understood him very well because he is a big Minecraft player, which is my son’s favorite game, too. This boy also loves the color green. He wore a green shirt, had green glasses, and when I asked where the green socks were, the mom confided that she didn’t let him wear them that day. So as a reward for being good, I let him sit on my green chair at the end.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Whimsy | Naperville Child Photographer, Downers Grove Photographer

When Gracie’s dad contacted me to photograph his 6 year old daughter as a surprise for his wife, I asked him to tell me a bit about her, so that I could think about what I wanted to do. He proceeded to tell me that she was the light of their lives, the sweetest girl, and you could tell she hung the moon for her parents. I wanted to do something that captured the innocence of the age, but also the beauty of spring – even though we’ve had…well, this is probably the single day we’ve had lately that was nice. LOL

I love everything about this session – the light, the colors, her blowing hair and freckles. I hope her mom loves her birthday present – how could she not?

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Serenity Now | LaGrange Children’s Photographer, Naperville Children’s Photographer

It’s time again for my favorite family! Why are they my favorite family? Because they started me in this business as my very first clients when big sister was a newborn. Time has passed, and now the twins are 18 months! I had originally arrived two weeks prior with a brown backdrop, but the twins were not in good moods that day and were not up for a session. So we rescheduled and tried out my new backdrop…which I love. They were in much better spirits, though at 18 months, keeping them on a set is difficult, especially when they want to be held by mommy or daddy.

During this session, there was usually one child crying. LOL My hat is off to all you parents of twins or multiples. I was completely worn out after the session. But it was all worth it.

Posted in Babies, Children Tags: Autism, autism photographer, Award Winning Photography Illinois, bright color, Chicago Baby Photographer, Chicago child photographer, Chicago Children’s Photographer, Chicago Commercial Child Photographer, Chicago Commercial Photographer, Chicago Dance Photographer, Chicago Family Photographer, Chicago lifestyle photographer, Chicago Modeling headshots, Chicago newborn photographer, Chicago photographer, Chicago special needs photographer, Chicago Twin Photographer, child photographer, Child Photographer Western Suburbs Chicago, Children’s Commercial Photographer, Children’s Photographer, Children’s Photographer Chicago Illinois, Children’s Photographer Illinois, Children’s Photographer Western Suburbs Chicago Illinois, Children’s Portraits Illinois, Commercial Photographer, Downers Grove baby photographer, Downers Grove child photographer, Downers Grove children’s photographer, Downers Grove newborn photographer, Elmhurst baby photographer, Elmhurst child photographer, Elmhurst newborn photographer, Elmhurst special needs photographer, Emlhurst children’s photographer, Firefly Nights Photography, Geneva baby photographer, Geneva child photographer, Geneva children’s photographer, Geneva newborn photographer, Google, Google Favorite Place, Google Maps Favorite Place, Hinsdale Baby Photographer, Hinsdale Children’s Photographer, Hinsdale newborn photographer, lifestyle photographer, Naperville Child Photographer, Naperville Children’s Photographer, Naperville Commercial Child Photographer, Naperville Commercial Photographer, Naperville Dance Photographer, Naperville family photographer, Naperville lifestyle photographer, Naperville Modeling Headshots, Naperville newborn photographer, Naperville Photographer, Naperville special needs photographer, Naperville Twins Photographer, Natural Light Photographer, Nature, Oakbrook baby photographer, Oakbrook children’s photographer, Oakbrook newborn photographer, Outdoor Photographer, Outdoor Portraits Chicago illinois, Outdoor Portraits Naperville Illinois, Plainfield baby photographer, Plainfield children’s photographer, Plainfield newborn photographer, Professional Family Photographer, Special Needs Photographer, Unique Portraits in Chicago, Unique Portraits in Naperville, Western Suburbs Photographer, Wheaton baby photographer, Wheaton child photographer, Wheaton Children’s photographer, Wheaton newborn photographer, Women’s Commercial Photographer

Saturday, May 21, 2011

My Mother’s Day | Naperville Children’s Photographer, Naperville Photographer

So all I wanted for Mother’s Day this year was a session for myself of me and my kids. I had it in my head, and well, it REALLY didn’t turn out as I hoped. It is so unfair that I can create great images for other people’s families, but not my own. But this is what I did get.

And also the debut of my new dark hair and bangs. LOL