In the spring | Northern Illinois Lake County Photographer

"In the spring, at the end of the day you should smell like dirt." - Margaret Atwood

What a wonderful first session of Spring this was. It always feels great to be back out shooting in the green grass and warm Lake County sunset. This family, with their abounding love for each other and general awesomeness may have contributed to my joy that evening, too. And really, a start like this to my 2013 family portrait season, can only be a sign of good things to come.

Around Here | iPhoneography | Lake County Illinois Family Photographer

Welcome to the World, Alexa

A while back I had the great pleasure of photographing baby Alexa only about a week after she made her world debut. Alexa's family and I go way back to when big sister Piper was a baby, and the best news is that Alexa is a baby planner, so I will get to have fun with her two more times in her first year! Life is good.

For more information about the KSP Baby Plan, email me at Katie@KathrynShoresPhotography.com

Max's Fifth Birthday Construction Party

I tend to go a little MIA in the January/February months. It is a slow time for me business-wise (as few people want to have family portraits done when it is cold enough outside to freeze the snot inside your nose), and following the busy fall rush, I am in need of a little break to unwind and get things organized for the new year.

But February is rapidly coming to an end, so it's time to break the silence and get back to blogging. And what better way to do so than by celebrating my sweet baby boy's fifth birthday. FIFTH BIRTHDAY!?!?! Holy. Cow. Max has been requesting a "construction party" for his fifth birthday party roughly since the time his fourth birthday party ended. The good news: I had plenty of time to brainstorm. The bad news: he wanted a construction party in February in Illinois.

 Since we definitely could not hold the party outside (where all good construction parties should be) and our house is a smidge too small to do the party there, we rented a large party space from our town's recreation department to be the build site. The plan? Let the kids go to town with "bricks" (cardboard boxes) and "paint" (art supplies of all different kinds, except (ironically) paint), and build a house. I was a little apprehensive as to whether the idea would be a flop or a triumph, but I need not have worried, because, as all parents know, cardboard boxes are really the world's most perfect toy.

 We topped off the party with a riveting game of "pin the wrecking ball on the crane" and a bulldozer pinata. And after the candles were blown out and the cake was consumed? The kids headed straight back to the cardboard boxes to begin building, decorating, and demoing all over again. Party success.

 

(no hating on my drawing skills...)

And in case you're wondering....
Hard Hats came from Oriental Trading 
Cone Cups came from Birthday Express

Fall Mini-Sessions 2012 ~ Northern Illinois Custom Portraits

When I first began offering mini-sessions a few years ago, I wasn't sure if the concept would catch on or if I would want it to. Now, after completing year three of fall minis, I can conclusively say that I love mini-session weekend! It is insane and hectic and just gets my creative and adrenaline juices flowing like wowza! 

This year, I wanted to give my mini-session families, especially those who come see me every year (love you guys!), a little something different, so I decided to add a tent to the setup. I loved the result with the sweet filtered white light and a slightly whimsical twist.

Want to do your own tent session? This bad boy is in my garage just waiting for its next set of campers, so come on out!