I may photograph a lot of weddings, but I am just as in love with life’s in-betweens, too. I couldn’t wait to share these too-cute Chicago lifestyle family photos I did for a sweet running friend of mine and her beautiful family. They have their hands full in the best way during this stage of life, so an outdoor park session was just what we needed to capture all the cuteness and shenanigans. 

We looked for bugs, we played Follow the Leader, we took in a blissful summer night, and we all had so much fun. My favorite part of the night was taking photos of Jen and Al while holding baby Cam on a hip. I’m a multi-tasker; what can I say? Plus, I’m known to jump at any chance to hold a baby—and this little guy had so many snuggles to give! 😍⁠

The Feeling is Mutual!

I always hope my families love their sessions with me as much as I do, so I was over the moon when Jen sent me this text after I delivered their gallery:

“We love the pictures beyond our wildest dreams. Thank you for capturing our family this way and giving us something we will keep and cherish forever. You are so talented at what you do, from the way you are while taking pictures to the final product. So grateful for you! “⁠

Cue all the feels and another day of pinching myself that this is my j•o•b!

Don’t Skip This Year!

Feel like your crew is too on the move for a photo session? I get it! I’m a mama of littles, too, and I know it’s one thing to be the one taking photos and another to be the family in front of the lens. You have this idea of how you want your photos to come out, and it feels like the kids (and maybe your partner 😝) want to do the complete opposite no matter what tricks you pull out of your bag. It can be a little exhausting, for sure. But hear me out for a sec: it’s worth it. And I assure you, your fast-paced life with littles is more photogenic than you think. 

Was this crew busy? Absolutely! We only stopped for a few minutes to pick flowers. But was it fun? Heck yes! The more you roll with your kiddos and do your best to have fun, the better your pictures will be! I almost always love on-the-move family portraits like these more than still shots. I promise to guide the momentum, direct your poses, sweep the hair out of your eyes, remind you to relax your face, make the funny faces, and capture your best side in the middle of it all. The end result? These adorable memories you’ll fall in love with again and again.

This is what you really look like when you’re with your family—and it’s so darn beautiful! I can’t get over how much joy overflows in these photos, and it was a true honor to capture these sweet moments for not just my clients but my friends. 

Book Your Chicago Family Lifestyle Photos with Meg

Are you ready to finally get that family session on the books? Let’s do this thing! You can find more tips in my recent blog, Tips for Cheesin’ Toddlers. (Don’t forget to find extra inspo on Instagram @megadamikcreative.)

Contact Meg