We have this idea in our heads that the perfect image is that in which we are all posing and smiling, but I find that it is actually the wild moments, when kids are being themselves, running around and being silly, that turn out the most precious photos - those that resemble real life in all of its messy splendor.

Fall season is just around the corner, and so is my Fall Mini Photoshoot event. This is by far my most popular time of year for family photos. That is why this year I have increased the number of spots available and including a second location in the North Shore to accommodate more families. Per usual, I am scheduling them around peak foliage to make sure we get lots of beautiful colors in our images.

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.

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.

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.

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.

To all the moms out there: I celebrate you today, and every day.

You, who hold the toughest but most important job. You, who feel often exhausted, and sometimes unseen and unheard. I see you. You, who would give anything for some time alone but sacrifice yourself day in and day out so that your family can be cared for and loved. It is so worth it. You, the giver of kisses and tickles, the maker of smiles, of silly faces, the generator of so much laughter and endless entertainment. You are their world. Their friend. Their person. Happy Mother’s Day.

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.

What happens when young kids don’t cooperate during a session? It happens more often than you think. I think this is why hiring a photographer that has experience working with children is invaluable. Your time is precious, and you want to be happy with your product, so you need to have a partner in someone that knows when to step in and when to let go while still being creative and finding ways to getting amazing images.

Meeting and taking lifestyle photographs of Molly and her parents, at their home in Lincoln park, was a joy. She was asleep for most of the session but gave us a few little smiles and cute yawns - see if you can find them.

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

Every time I walk into a client’s home to meet their newborn I think about what an honor it is to witness the first few days of a baby’s life. Here’s a preview of this week’s session with sweet baby Molly. Can’t wait to share more.

One of my photography goals of this year was to do a lot more self-portraits. So, here we are. I am sharing a few self-portraits that I took last week. While you scroll through these, let me take this opportunity to encourage you to take more photos of yourself too.

Potentially the question that I hear most often from my clients is: what should I wear to my photo session? Here are some styleboards I have put together to provide inspiration for Spring sessions.

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.

They’re here! I’m beyond excited that this year I will be offering spring mini photography sessions.

The sessions will be held ONE DAY only: April 25th.

This is a wonderful gift in time for mother’s day.

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.