A wonderful alternative to consider to Fall family are beach family sessions. I generally take these in the month of August during sunset hours and I have to say they are by far my most fun sessions. We always get wet, and inevitably everything gets sandy, but the pictures are for sure worth it. Kids just adore the silliness and the permission to run in an open space, jump in the water, dance around, and chase their parents, and so what results are truly joyful expressions that are so much more genuine than traditional posed photos.

Every once in a while, I search for families interested in modeling for me in exchange for a few images. People have asked me why I do model calls, and so I thought I would write a short post about my top reasons.

If you’ve ever tried to book a session with a photographer, or followed one on Instagram, odds are you have heard them throw around the term “Golden Hour”. Photographers love shooting at Golden Hour and praise what it does for skin tones and mood in photography. But what exactly is it?

For Mother’s Day this year, I ran a giveaway on social media to gift two families with a photography session. Well, we had the photoshoot a couple of weekends ago, just as Chicago weather was warming up. And we had a glorious evening! If you are interested in participating in one of my giveaways, make sure to follow me on Instagram @catylamadridphoto so you don’t miss out.

As they become more toddlers and less babies, kids are so full of curiosity and eager to explore and discover the world around them. Their playfulness and personality just comes through in the photos - that’s why milestone sessions are so fun.

Here are additional images from my mini Spring photoshoot event in Chicago. Register to my newsletter to be the first to know about events such as this one.

It was a balmy morning that started covered in clouds but ended up with plenty of sunlight - forcing me to get creative to avoid harsh light. But, oh! Chicago Spring delivered. Thanks so much to all the families that came and made this Spring Mini Photoshoot event a success.

Enjoy pictures of a family taken at Golden Hour, right before sunset, at a beautiful field.

If you are like many moms I know, you probably have many photos of your babies either on your cell phone or a camera, but not many with YOU in them. Trust me. There will come a time when you will look back and realize that you wish you had gotten more photos with your children. Here are four reasons to get in front of the camera more.

With so many photographers out there, how do you make sure you pick the right one for YOU?

Believe it or not, this is one of my most asked questions and something I’ve personally struggled with when looking for someone to photograph my own family (yes, even photographers need their own photographers!). Here are some of the things I recommend you look for and that I take into consideration for my business and relationship with my clients.