Chicago Area Lifestyle Newborn {Glen Ellyn, IL}

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It’s been bit since I’ve had some time to blog and I’m quite behind! Yay for being busy, though, especially since I’m worried another shut-down is in store for us again. I’ve already had to cancel/turn away some Fresh 48 sessions because of restrictions :( Really wish people would get vaccinated and mask up so we can all get past this sooner.

Anyway, take a look at this sweet pea who arrived much earlier than his due date because he couldn’t wait to party with his family! Little L was awake almost the entire time for his session and I was quite pleased. I mean, look at those beautiful eyes! I LOVE when newborns are awake and I can get a glimpse of their little personality. I look at them and wonder who they’ll become, I look to see who they look more like. It’s so fun for me. And a tip to expecting mamas - roll with it if your baby’s eyes are open for their session. These unpredictable creatures usually eventually go to sleep so you’ll get sleepy photos and eyes open. The best of both worlds.

Welcome to the world, Mr. L. I’m so glad you’re here!

Newborn baby boy looks at the camera while laying on a bed during his newborn photo session in Glen Ellyn, IL a suburb of Chicago

Newborn baby boy looks at the camera while laying on a bed during his newborn photo session in Glen Ellyn, IL a suburb of Chicago

Newborn baby boy looks at his mom while laying on a bed during his newborn photo session in Glen Ellyn, IL a suburb of Chicago
Newborn baby boy in a blue onesie with brown buttons lays on a bed looking toward the window during his newborn photo session in Glen Ellyn, IL a suburb of Chicago
Newborn baby boy lays on a bed being adored by his parents during his newborn photo session in Glen Ellyn, IL a suburb of Chicago
Newborn baby boy is wrapped in his dad’s arms while laying on a bed during his newborn photo session in Glen Ellyn, IL a suburb of Chicago
Newborn baby boy smiles in his sleep while laying on a bed during his newborn photo session in Glen Ellyn, IL a suburb of Chicago
Newborn baby boy smiles in his sleep while his mom and dad hold him during his newborn photo session in Glen Ellyn, IL ,a suburb of Chicago

Fresh 48 Newborn Session at Prentice Women's Hospital - Northwestern {Chicago, IL}

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It’s been almost exactly one year since I set foot into a hospital for a Fresh 48 newborn session and it was so good to be back. My friend Lauren had her pandemic baby at Prentice Women’s Hospital here in Chicago on one of the coldest days of the year so far and I was honored to be her one and only guest, aside from her husband!

What’s a Fresh 48 session?

A photo session that takes place within 2 days of baby being born (3 if it’s a c-section baby), usually wherever baby was born. (I’ve only ever done them in hospitals but in a post-covid world I’m dying to photograph a home birth!) Oftentimes I’ll photograph a Fresh 48 and then do an in-home session a few weeks later & it’s fascinating to see how much baby changes in just a few short weeks! After graduating with my photography degree, back when I lived in Madison, I worked as a newborn photographer for a few years at Meriter Hospital, with Susan of Serendipity Photo Studio, and my dear friend Jamie. It’s where I fell in love with Fresh 48 sessions, even though I’m not sure they were actually called that back in the day!

World, meet Miss Emory! This little peach arrived at almost 10 pounds!! I’m so obsessed with her cheeeeeeeeeks! Congrats, H family! Thank you for having me :)

Dad sits in windowsill at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago, IL, holding his newborn daughter and kissing her on her nose..
Mom and dad look at their newborn baby girl during her Fresh 48 newborn hospital session at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago, IL.
Mom holds newborn baby girl while sitting in the windowsill at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago during their Fresh 48 newborn hospital session.
Newborn baby girl in a cactus swaddle blanket and a cream headband around her head during her Fresh 48 hospital newborn session at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago, IL.

I love photographing at Prentice because of those city views! My only dilemma was that winter is wreaking havoc on the windows there and the spots & splotches drive me crazy when they’re on full display with the sunshine. But, I felt safe inside and all of the protocols were in place. I wore two masks while photographing this sweet baby & sanitized, sanitized, sanitized.

Rounding Out 2020 With a Lifestyle Newborn Session {Roscoe Village - Chicago, IL}

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Ending 2020 on a High With A Sweet Newborn & Family!

If you had told me back in March that I would have the busiest and best year of my career, I would’ve nervously laughed or even cried hysterically. Seriously. Like so many of you, I was terrified in the beginning of the year, when Chicago shut down and my work was labeled non-essential. For two months I couldn’t work at all and since I specialize in newborns, I really couldn’t photograph because it’s hard to photograph newborns outdoors. Especially in the cold. Events that I photographed regularly were canceled. It was looking bleak. But in the newness of summer, things started to slowly reopen and I was able to photograph again. The inquiries came in quickly and my fall season was insane, in a good way! With the majority of people not going places, it opened up schedules and people prioritizing moments together and getting them documented.

I’ll leave you with the final newborn of 2020 for CMP and let me tell you, it’s full of so much cute. A sweet December babe, snuggly parents and an adorable mini golden doodle big brother! You wouldn’t even guess that Mr. L was having a fussy day when I was with him!

Tears of joy and gratefulness are filling my eyes as we round out 2020, a year full of pain and sorrow. While I know that a New Year doesn't wave a wand and magically make everything better, I am hopeful that we'll emerge stronger from this year full of lessons, loss and heartache. Whatever you're going through, I am thinking of you and hoping you and your family are safe and well.

Thank you for being here with me, contributing to my best year yet, and trusting me to document your most treasured moments. Thank you for allowing me in your inbox. Thank you for the social media love, and any other support - I feel it all. I hope your New Year is filled with health, love, laughter and memories.

xoxo,
Courtney

PS. If you're into Schitt's Creek, their 2020 recap pretty much sums up how I feel and most importantly makes me laugh. Check it out here.

Mom and Dad hold their newborn baby boy in their arms and snuggle together while looking down at him.
Close-up photo of a couple’s hands and their wedding rings while they hold their newborn baby boy.
Mom holds her newborn baby boy in one hand while he smiles in his sleep.
Mom and dad sit on the couch while Mom holds newborn baby boy and Dad cradles his head while smiling at him.
Close-up photo of newborn baby boy in mom and dad’s arms during his lifestyle newborn session in Chicago, IL.
Newborn baby boy wrapped in a blue swaddle lays in his crib with his hands up by his face.
Newborn baby boy wrapped in a blue swaddle with his hands up by his face.
Close up of newborn baby boy’s face and hand.
Mini golden doodle looks up at his mom and dad holding their newborn baby in baby’s nursery.
New parents hold their newborn baby boy in his nursery.
Mini golden doodle rests his head on his dad’s legs while mom and dad snuggle on the bed with newborn baby boy.
Mini golden doodle dog lays on the bed next to his newborn baby brother.
Mom lays on her bed and kisses her newborn baby boy.
Black and white photo of a newborn baby boy swaddled and laying on his parents bed.
Newborn baby boy is held in his dad’s hand while his dog brother, mom and dad all snuggle with him on the bed.
Newborn baby boy in a white swaddle blanket lays in a basket on top of a Christmas blanket during his December newborn photo session in Chicago.
Mini golden doodle dog sniffs his new baby brother who is laying in a basket on top of a Christmas blanket.

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