Here are some images from a recent session at one of my favorite locations for Chicago photography. I think it is impossible to ignore the magic of golden Summer evenings, sun-kissed skins, lush green tones, blooming prairie flowers, and images of the lake covered in sailboats. Oh! and being able to see babies’ chubby arms and legs is always a plus.

When I know I’m going to be working with toddlers at a session I am particularly intentional in selecting the spot for our photoshoot, and I do so with the kids in mind. I think there are two key things you want to consider when determining the spot for a photoshoot involving young kids.

Lifestyle photography sessions are a great way to showcase life as it is – imperfect, but beautiful – and to document the little moments in an authentic way. When I talk about lifestyle sessions, I always try to emphasize that they cannot be prescriptive. This means every session that I do is envisioned and executed differently to reflect the family that I am with. Ultimately, it is about their personalities and this particular time in their lives. Here’s how I plan and conduct a lifestyle photography session at home.

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.

Traditionally, professional headshots were defined as tightly-cropped images of just the shoulders and head in a formal, “professional” setting. But in today’s world of small business owners, creatives, solopreneurs, and bloggers, this approach has changed to accommodate more fun and candid shots. Of course this varies by industry and will ultimately depend on your company’s brand identity, but the point is that we all need an image that reflects who we are and what we do, and presents us in a professional, but authentic way to potential clients and customers.

A magical way to end my year: spending an afternoon with these lovely parents and their three-month old cutie. Parents often worry about their babies reacting during a session, and I always tell them not to stress about it. The baby will always dictate my pace, and my job is to follow their lead.

This year I partnered with my favorite pediatric dentist office, Grins on Green Bay at Kenilworth, to offer a mini holiday photoshoot in a safe environment.

This year more than ever, lets celebrate the joy of the holiday season by making memories with our little ones. What better way to do it than at a photoshoot!