be still my heart

Hi lovelies.  Many of you might have noticed that my main site was down the last few days and that was during the time when I was doing a bit of renovating.  I'm just popping in to share with you that not only is my main site back on its feet, but I've added an official, Hullabaloo-stamp-of-approval tweak to a niche I've been building since last winter.

First of all, I must state for the record that I have always considered myself first and foremost a lifestyle photographer.  When I entered the business world of photography, no one niche seemed to stake out the entire territory of my heart, so I really just opened myself up to any possibility.  This was incredibly exciting.  While I started out capturing family and child lifestyle sessions last fall (and have continued to do so!), once the quiet of the winter hit, I had more time to play around with projects brewing in my imagination.  Not only did I branch out into considering and then pouncing on the wedding photography niche as well as many a commercial gig, I also experienced the incredible birth of GLOW, which is my spin on the boudoir photography niche.

Because this niche is not the most family-friendly nor work-friendly, this will be the only post about the site that you'll see here on my main blog.  But I wanted to explain what prompted me to create this facet of my business.

Since I was a teenager, I have been enamored with women's health and the need for girls and women to be educated about their bodies.  It started out with discovering how little my friends knew about their own bodies and intimate relations, on a whole, and then branched out into me seeing a real need for women to feel empowered by and proud of their own bodies.  I became the girl (in college) who friends came to for advice and information, simply because I was no nonsense and I wanted everyone to have the ability to protect themselves and feel good about their bodies and their decisions.  I became a Campus Acquaintance Rape Education peer counselor in order to promote women's safety and raise awareness for both men and women.  After completing my nursing degree, I dove into the amazing world of childbirth as a labor and delivery nurse...and stayed there for many wonderful years.  I've been asked time and again (since I left that career path last fall) if I miss it.  And I'll be honest.  I have.  But what I've missed most was the ability to empower women and enable them to have the best birth possible for each and every one of them.  Witnessing their strength and willpower and their self-realization of it all sunk me every time.  They glowed.  They were so proud of themselves--and it boosted and bouyed them for the rest of their days.

I didn't realize that I was missing that part so much until I was toying around with the idea of a more woman-centered approach to boudoir photograpy, something that I wanted to be considered intimate portraiture.  I had always loved the sauciness of pin-up photography, but so very many of samples out there were very contrived and didn't seem to honor the woman doing the shoot.  She was often asked to be someone who she really wasn't and that lack of authenticity, I felt, carried over in the photos.  Her spirit wasn't there and the photos then seemed flat and a bit icky-feeling.  When I spoke with a friend of mine about trying a more natural, artistic approach to boudoir photography, she was immediately enthusiastic...as was her partner.  And GLOW was born that morning as we "played around" to see what would work and what wouldn't.  It turned out that there really wasn't much that didn't!  I never anticipated including couples in my portfolio, but when done in an authentic way, the results were astounding.  Everything about them felt real and rich with emotion.  And as I was showing my friends what I was capturing on the preview screen of my camera, I recognized that same level of empowerment in their faces that I witnessed with all of the women I helped care for before.  They just lit up.  Their self-confidence soared.  And I was hooked.

Since then, I have been pleased to share this niche with many women and all have had the same reaction.  Not only have they truly glowed with pride, but some of them have enjoyed the added bonus of sharing these photographs with their partner.  As I state on my site: these sessions are not designed solely as a gift-giving experience.  For me, my goal is to make you as comfortable and true-to-yourself as possible during the session so that you come away with photographs that reveal yourself in a way you have never had the chance to see before.  This brings a level of self-awareness of how beautiful and sexy you really are.  We all can be this way when we feel most in tune with ourselves.  And that's why I created GLOW.  I am so very excited to be launching the official site for it.  It's still located in the same link location it always has been on my main site, but the nature of the galleries is just more refined.

I really appreciate you taking the time to get to know GLOW and its mission.  I have spent many hours and days wondering whether I should separate it from my main site, due to its more adult nature, but I really believe that the family clients I hope will work with me are understanding that you can be a mom and still be very tapped into who you are in your most private of moments!  It's a chance to celebrate yourself and truly step outside of the swirling judgements and discomfort we all wrestle with while looking in the mirror.  I hope you'll take that chance with me.

To schedule a session, please call 847.494.1436 or email me at hullabaloodesign@gmail.com.  If you're interested in a couples session, please know that I embrace every couple that loves each other, regardless of gender (so yes, that means straight couples can participate!).  All sessions can take place at your home or a destination we choose together.  We can even do "girls' nights in" at your home or a different spot (PERFECT for bachelorette parties or getting together with your gal pals and having a series of private sessions).  I plan on holding GLOW marathons a few times a year, as well, which are a series of individual appointments available with a hair and make-up artist at a hip and lux hotel for a totally pampered experience.  I plan on creating a blog solely for these notices and the link will be on my GLOW site.  And contact me to be part of the mailing list, as well, so that you're the first to hear!

time it was and what a time it was

My session this afternoon was brilliant.  And what makes me smile is that I am pretty sure that as soon as the door was closed behind me, my client Rebecca was muttering, "Oh my goodness, what a disaster!!!" to herself.  But here is why I love having a blog.  I get to dispel the illusion behind my sessions and show you just why I have come to absolutely love and adore doing lifestyle portraiture with families.

You see, Rebecca and Steve had contacted me to come into the city and capture their life with their two young boys, Drew and Leo.  And I'm sure that they had peeked at my website, seeing the charming and beautiful little subjects looking serene and happy in snips and snaps, and went into our session with the hopes that their boys might possibly cooperate even the tiniest bit and that Drew's gorgeously long lashes and Leo's heart-throb smirk would find their way into our morning together.  But it wasn't without a lot of effort on everyone's parts.

You see, even though I view my lifestyle sessions with families as easier than a studio session and truly one big playdate, reality *does* creep in.  Little tummies get hungry and toddlers' well-groomed senses of independence rear their heads.  Admit it--we all feel just DONE! at many points in our daily lives and wee folk are no different.  But we change it up and we take breaks and I remind my clients again and again that this is totally normal. 

Because let me tell you something: very few families have ever had an even remotely serene session.  There are quirks involved with every one of them.  But this is what I love.  This is why I'm here.

Rebecca and Steve might have felt overwhelmed at points by small tears and I-don't-wanna's, but what was ever present was the love.  And I always look for the story to tell about each family I meet.  And theirs was littered in the details.  When I reflected back on our session together, I smiled more and more with each passing minute.  Because I had been given the gift to truly reflect just how life is with two small boys.  It's give and t-...well, give some more.  It's exhausting.  It's filled with cracker crumbs and drool and runny noses and inner voices counting to ten.  And...it's beautiful.  And it's soft and it's warm.  And it's full of comfort and guidance and absolute I-would-step-in-front-of-a-bus-to-save-you-type devotion. 

And in the midst of this fatiguingly semi-controlled chaos (so very un-Hallmark-like at points) are the moments that you cannot get back.  And that you will actually miss someday.  (You will.  I already am.)

Because this life is full of "garage band!"...

And always being one step behind you...always willing to comfort you when you need it...

It's full of hugs in the form of brotherly chokeholds...

And holding hands when you're crossing the road...

It's full of grace under pressure...and little legs curled around you...

It's full of diapered booties and mini packs of raisins...

And in realizing that being "stubborn" is often just the amazing ability to finally achieve an attention span and devotion to a task...

This life is full of learning how to not only share with your brother...

But also in seeing just how long he'll put up with your silly antics...say, organic cookies as a hat?

It is full of the joy and wonder that only small folk can embody and revel in...

And every detail tugs at our heartstrings.

R+S, I hope you don't mind me giving away the finer details of our session.  But I couldn't help but soak in this amazing family you have.  It is so very, very easy for all of us to forget just what is most important when we're constantly filling needs and demands.  But the beauty is everpresent.  You have such a treasure in your midst.  And I am so very lucky to have been a part of it all.

and make believe that it came from you

Ohhh lovelies!  I know that you are in denial that it's nearing the end of September, but believe me, IT IS.  It really is.  And with the weather here in Chicago, there has definitely been some divine lingering of really lovely days in the 70s and lots of sunshine.  Are you sure we're not in San Diego?  Man.  If so, I'm most certainly missing the beach.

In any case, I have begun to fill my stationary gallery (last tab on the right) with plenty of envelope-filling goodies.  What sort of stationary, you may ask?  HOLIDAY CARDS. 

Yes, friends, I know it is so hard to think about, but the holidays will be here in just three short months.  My fall calendar is beginning to fill with sessions and I do not want you to miss your opportunity to cheese in front of my lens.  Sessions involving any outdoor jaunts will become pretty chilly pretty soon, too.

So please pull out those planners and take a peek.  I cannot guarantee delivery of prints and products in time for the holidays for sessions scheduled beyond November 15th, so pleaseplease schedule your session today! 

There is still availability for the Mini Sessions at Independence Grove (in Libertyville) on Saturday, October 3rd.  See here for more details, but it's a pretty fab deal, especially if you're interested in acquiring pictures for holiday cards!

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And for my clients who have already had sessions this past year, please feel free to browse!  I am still in the process of filling the gallery with more cards (especially flat cards, as most of the selections are folded).  We can change color schemes, as well, and even turn folded-card templates into flat cards!  The possibilities are endless and oh so stylish!

how delicate each beat trembles in my ear

Mark and Brooke are  a one-two punch of sorts--ten minutes with them and I was sunk.  Done.  Finished.  Down for the count.  I'd fallen for them in the way every photographer likely does when they've met yet another dream couple.  They're just fabulous people!  It's always a sort of magic to come together with the simple intentions of taking photographs together and slip-sliding into "the zone" of creative juices and lots of trust.  It was amazing to watch them going from hot and smoldering to being the dorkiest kinds of cute to finding their happy place in the midst of a bite of cupcake.  I couldn't help but drag my shutter for a few shots because both Brooke and Mark would fall so sweetly into their own time and space that passerbys might as well not exist.  Such a treasured morning on my end...  Congratulations, lovelies!!!  Best of luck planning your big day down in Knoxville!

Special thanks to Bunches (A Flower Shop) and Swirlz Cupcakes for accomodating our needs while wandering around Lincoln Park!!!

i need more love every day of my life

Oh yes.  There will be more.  This is just a taste.  I had to get your attention.  ;)

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there are still openings for the october 3rd mini sessions!

• INDEPENDENCE GROVE in LIBERTYVILLE ll Saturday, October 3^rd (rain date: Sunday, October 4^th) ll 3-6pm 

• $200 for a 25-minute session (ideal for families with up to two children)

• Clients will receive an 8x12 lustre print of their favorite image from the session, as well as their choice of either: 25 – 4x6 loose prints of a single image for their own holiday card OR a set of 25 – 5x7 press-printed holiday cards featuring images from their session with many designs to choose from.  (This is a combined value of $100!!!)

• Clients will also have their own private online gallery of approximately 15 of the best images from their session to order additional prints, products and press-printed holiday cards.

THE FINE PRINT: Session fees are due at the time of booking. Each afternoon will hold up to six scheduled mini sessions and will be arranged on the hour and half hour (i.e. 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:00pm, etc.) I can only accommodate those families who make an appointment, so please call or email me for your reservation! Families with more than two children should double-book (schedule two back-to-back mini sessions) for a 50 minute period in order to properly capture your family and all of its members; this can be done for $325 and you still receive the print and holiday card benefits from the mini session. Photographs of your family can only be taken during your scheduled session time. Sessions MUST end five minutes before the start of the next session in order to accommodate each family, so please be on time! Directions will be emailed to you, as well as portrait contracts to complete prior to your session and bring with you (to save time and sanity!). 

don't let the moment pass!  book your fall session today! 

This fall is proving to become a busy one...which is GOOD (I welcome this!)...but I am sensing that my schedule will start to come undone all at once.  This is why I am asking all of my loyal support base to start paging through your planners NOW!  If you have any inklings that you would like a lifestyle session with your family while the air is crisp or are expecting a baby this fall and wanting some delicious newborn pictures, pleasePLEASE contact me as soon as possible so that we can get your date squared away.  I know it's a challenging time, what with the school season just beginning for many of you, but I promise you that this extra planning will benefit you in the long run!!!

I am available for lifestyle sessions (of up to 2 hours) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, both in the morning and afternoon. Mornings are best for indoor sessions and the afternoons are best for outdoor sessions. The light can be buttery delicious in the two hours before sunset when outdoors! I am able to work around your schedule, especially if you have wee ones who are napping, so please contact me to see if I am available on the day of your preference!

Please note: It can take up to 2 weeks for the proofing of a session, and once images are selected for printing, it can take up to 2 weeks for delivery of prints and up to 4 weeks for the delivery of gallery wrapped canvases and all albums. Be sure to plan accordingly! Rush times are available; please check to make sure I can make your date and inquire about the Rush delivery rate.

All lifestyle sessions are guaranteed to be proofed for holiday delivery if you schedule yours by Sunday, November 15^th. All orders must be received by November 28, 2009 for the holiday deadline. Orders placed between November 29^th and December 5^th will incur a 50% rush fee. Orders placed after December 5^th cannot be guaranteed for holiday delivery.

My pricing is outlined on my main website, but if you would like a more detailed pricing sheet, please email me!

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Thanks, lovelies!  Just had to get that public announcement out there again!  I would hate for anyone to be left behind!