Life is Beautiful!!!

I had always wondered what it would be like to be present for the birth of a baby. Now being the mother of 4, I've been present before, but I wanted to experience it without all of the work and pain that goes into bringing a baby into the world. When my sister became pregnant, I figured that would be my chance. All I had to do was make sure I didn't miss it. Guess who decided to plan a vacation to Florida, less than 3 weeks away from her due date? Of course, me. Thank goodness my niece wasn't ready to make her grand entrance then, and decided to wait until last Sunday, September 4th! I will spare you the details but all I can say is that the female body is amazing. I'm happy I got to witness her birth and was able to capture it. Happy Birthday Baby L! My first birth photography session!




Now, what were the chances of me experiencing yet another birth? Who knows, but one of best friends delivered a healthy baby boy 3 days later....and I was there to capture it as well! Happy Birthday Baby K!


Life is in fact BEAUTIFUL!!!

Back 2 School

My kids are back in school and excited about learning. I wonder how long that is going to last? Probably longer with the twins who just entered Kindergarten than my 3rd & 6th graders. Anyway, when my 3rd grader brought home his homework folder last Friday, there was an order form in it for.....SCHOOL PHOTOS! I order school photos every year out of a sense of obligation even though I know that I won't really like them. I look at the photos and think, What the ????? This is not how they looked when I sent them off to school. Their hair and/or clothes are messed up, they look stiff, the smile is fake, "something" is in their nose, blah, blah, blah.

This year I have vowed not to order them, well nothing except the class photo. I will photograph them myself! I will have control on how they look and you can too. You can have your comb, brush, & Kleenex in hand, ready to use when needed because I am offering.....

Back 2 School Photos Sessions on September 23rd & 24th @ Priory Park in River Forest, IL

Bring your school aged child/ren to get their photograph taken outdoors to document the start of the school year. Each session will last between 10 - 20 minutes. My packages for this event are discounted from regular session fees so that you have the opportunity to have a beautiful, quality portrait of your child/ren at prices comparable to what you’d pay a school photographer. After your session, 10-15 images from your session will be uploaded to an online proofing gallery for you to select ONE pose for your package.

If you are interested in scheduling a newborn, graduating senior, or an individual session with outfit changes, contact me to schedule a standard session.

Print Packages:
These packages can ONLY be used for a scheduled Back 2 School session.

A: $75 1-11x14, 2-8×10, 2-5×7, 2-3x5, 16 Wallets
B: $60 2-8×10, 2-5×7, 2-3x5, 16 Wallets
C: $50 1-8×10, 2-5×7, 2-3x5, 8 Wallets
D: $40 1-8×10, 2-5×7, 8 Wallets

Attire:
Choose clothes that are colorful, vibrant, and fun! Use patterns, textures and layers to add visual interest. You can't go wrong with denim as it photographs beautifully. For fun clothing ideas for boys think polo shirts, jeans or linen pants, cute hats and button up shirts. For girls, think wispy dresses or jeans. Of course tutus are all the rage right now...what little girl doesn't look cute in one? Come in whatever makes your kid happy!

Reserve your spot now! A $40 deposit is required. Please email or call me to sign up for your session time. info@karlamichellephotography.com or 312.650.9567.

No blog post would be complete without a photo or two, or three, or seven...lol!. Here are some shots from my Back 2 School session with my 5 year old twins. Pics of the older boys coming soon!

I AM BEAUTIFUL!

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for young girls. I enjoy talking to & mentoring them to see where they are mentally. I guess it stems from being a former case manager, where I had the opportunity to work with mostly teenage girls who were either pregnant or already a mother. This job provided me with the opportunity to have real one-on-one talks with "my girls", which is how I often referred to them. Although most of them came across as confident and outgoing they would eventually open up to me and I saw that a lot of them suffered from low self-esteem. Girls with low self-esteem are at risk from suffering from depression, eating disorders, having a poor body image of themselves etc. For quite some time now, I have thought about and asked myself, "What can I do that would allow me to reach out to young girls to help them build up their self-esteem?"

This is why I would like to announce my "I AM BEAUTIFUL" session for young girls between the ages of 11 - 19. I want girls to see how beautiful they really are. I want to provide them with an opportunity to have their model moment and to let their personality shine through.

I want these girls to know that......

• What the media portrays as "beautiful", most people do not fit these images.
• Standards of beauty change over time and differs among cultures
• The value of a person is not determined by their appearance
  
• A person who accepts and feels good about their body will be more likable and attractive to others
• Individual bodies are different sizes, shapes, and colors
• Differences make us unique
• Good health habits, such as eating nutritiously and exercising, can improve the way a person looks and feels
• They should be proud of the special qualities of their body

Each month, I will be providing a complimentary "I AM BEAUTIFUL" session to up to 2 young girls that will include a photo session lasting up to 1 hour, light makeup application (optional), a complimentary 8 X 10, 25 rep cards, up to 3 photos uploaded to Facebook, & discounted prints. To nominate a girl, please submit a short story to karla@karlamichellephotography.com specifying why your nominee should be chosen. Please be sure to include the name, age, & grade level of the girl you are nominating.

If you would like to just schedule this session for a young girl, it is currently available for $75* (valued at over $200).

*Only a limited amount of these sessions will be available each month.

Baby & Child Contest

Capture each little moment of your child's life!

Let Karla Michelle Photography help document your child's ever-changing stages with priceless portraits that will be with you for a lifetime! Schedule an appointment with me from now until June 21st, and your child's portrait will also be entered into an annual Baby and Child Contest held by a professional lab that I use. A range of prizes will be awarded from $500 - $5,000 in cash!

Portrait sessions are limited so please call today to reserve your child's appointment.

CONTEST RULES
Children, infant to age twelve, are eligible.
Images must be taken between January 1st and June 21st, 2010

Book your session!

I'm Going to do Better

It's been a while since I've posted anything. I wish a could provide you with a legitimate reason but I can't. What I can say is that I've been really busy. I've recently moved into a studio and I'm in the process of getting it setup they way I want. This alone is extremely EXCITING! What I will say is that I plan on doing better. I will get back on track by keeping you up-to-date on what's going on with Karla Michelle Photography.

Since I've missed a lot of Holiday's, let me do a little catching up.....

Happy 4th of July!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy New Year!
Happy Valentine's Day!

WHEW!!!!!!!

A LONG time in the making.....

I recently had the pleasure of shooting Joe & Michaela's wedding that has been 17+ years in the making. It had been raining in Chicago for over a week prior to the wedding date and I had been hoping and praying that it wouldn't rain that Saturday. The day arrived and of course it was raining. When we left out for our destination, the outlook was good, no rain. As we drove down Michigan Ave, it started pouring. We just knew that this was going to be a disaster. I mean, what bride wants to get married in the rain. It may be romantic when seen on TV, but this bride did not want to be a wet bride. Low and behold, as we pulled up to the location the rain all about ceased...YAY! It was a humid and a little wet, but the wedding went on as planned. Below are a few pics of the beautiful bride and handsome groom. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Jaymie & Kevin-Marie

While vacationing in Atlanta Easter weekend, I had the opportunity to photograph Jaymie & Kevin-Marie, who will be saying "I DO" this summer. Have you ever been around a couple and just felt the love pouring out? I went to high school with Kevin-Marie so I've known her for a long time now. It was so exciting to see how in love she is with Jaymie and how in love he is with her. I think if Jaymie could have kissed his wife-to-be for the entire shoot he would have. The way they gazed into each others eyes was so intoxicating. My husband didn't make the trip with me, but after being around them, I couldn't wait to get back home to him.

I wish this happy couple all the best!