Sweet Shots Registration Deadline! | Chicago Children’s Photographer

Hey you guys!  For all of you snap-happy mommies and daddies hoping to get in on our Sweet Shots DSLR classes for parents (click here to check out the super-cool website), I wanted to announce that the registration deadline for both of the September 25th classes (Sweet Shots and Sweeter Shots) is coming up soon…  September 12 to be exact! : )

I’m SO EXCITED to share that we’re having our Level I class at one of the most FAB-U-LOS-O restaurants in the entire Chicagoland area… Gatto’s in Downtown Downers Grove!!!  For those of you already signed up, an e-mail will be coming soon with all of the details on the location, parking, what to bring, etc…  It’s gonna be such a great time, packed with fantastic ideas, fun inspiration, awesome prizes, groovy gift bags (you’re gonna love ‘em, no doubt!!!), and some seriously practical help for using your DSLR to shoot capture your kids. : )  Can you tell I’m excited?

The Level II class location is still to be determined, but it’s gonna be pretty awesome as well.  We’ll be really mixing it up this time between classroom instruction and hands-on learning with our *adorable* child models (and no, they’re not mine!!!) : )… come prepared to gather a whole new bucket of knowledge about your camera and using light.  I can’t wait!  And p.s… the gift bags are totally adorable for this one, too!  Hee hee!

Sooo… if you want to come to either the Sweet Shots or the Sweeter Shots classes on September 25th, the last day to sign up is this Sunday, September 12th.  Cause we’ve gotta know how many gift bags to put together, among other things… : )

Today was my first day of shooting for this new season, and it felt so amazing to be back at it after a week and a half off.  There was just something in the air today… gusts of freshness and hope and wonder.  The kids and pictures were precious.  It all felt so right. : )

Part of what rocked today was my first little session.  I’ve been doing little “J” since he was about a week old, and to say that it’s been a joy to watch him grow would be a total understatement.  I feel a little bewildered that I can’t really call him a baby anymore… almost two years old and SO full of life!  But each season has brought out an even sweeter side of him that I’ve been so honored to capture:

He felt a little shy at first, and really, who could blame the boy… this crazy happy blonde lady was squealing at him from behind a big black thing.  To a two-year-old that can be a little overwhelming.  So we watched the ducks from the bridge for awhile while I reminded myself to tone it down. : )

I love his mom.  She said she wasn’t too stressed out about getting him to smile.

(which is probably why he eventually did…)

His wonderful grandma often comes along to shoots, but today she wasn’t able to make it.  She sent along a jacket that she’d gotten for little “J” instead, which only partly made up for her absence (missed you M.L.!). : )

And this?  This shot says to me, “I’m not that baby you stuck in a big wooden bowl two years ago.”

Nope, not at all.  *sniff sniff*

: )