Urban Baby Session

Today my friend Kelley and I (also a photographer--www.kelleydemasphotography.com), took her little baby Annie out for a shoot. It was very urban!







We couldn't resist this crazy wall by Kelley's house...




Finally at home...

Today's Chicago Woman Magazine

I'm pleased to showcase two of my couples from last year in Today's Chicago Woman Magazine. My two couples are Sandra and Octavio and Melanie and Greg. Today's Chicago Woman Magazine is a free publication available at many locations throughout Chicago. Congratulations again to my two couples!

If any former clients would like me to send in their pictures, just let me know! It's kind of fun to see yourself in print!


On another note, I am so excited for my friend Jeni. Jen has her masters in NeoNatalogy and dedicates her life to helping really sick babies. Recently she was published in the Journal of America Academy of Pediatrics! For those of us not in the medical field, this is a VERY big deal. She worked her butt off in grad school and she's doing really really well. Congratulations Jen!

I am getting really excited for tomorrow because it is my first wedding of the season (except for one in February)! I am jumping out of my skin to get shooting. I also have a TON of portraits this next couple of months, which I am also really excited about. Congratulations Nicole and Michael! I can't wait for tomorrow--it's at one of my favorite places in Chicago--A New Leaf on Wells Street. It's such a cool space. Check it out.

Crazy Chicago Weather

It's been crazy warm here in Chicago this past couple of weeks. So today, I took a special little trip to the park with my munchkin. Wedding and portrait season is starting up soon and I am going to be insanely busy so I thought we could get a little quality time AND I could combine it with a little portrait practice. I've got a lot of portraits coming up in the next couple of months!

I know every mom thinks her kid is the cutest kid around, but truly, I think Max is the best. I mean, look at the pose.


Come on mom, let's go to the park!!

Trying to negotiate a step. I'm thinking this position is not going to work

This is the smile that he gives me every time I tell him "no"

...or this....

At the park, charming the lady next to us on the swings...

Apparently wood chips taste great. As do huge handfuls of sand.

Bye mom, I'm going home

Here's what he looked like on the way home

My new website! My new website!!

Check out my new website! www.melissaphotography.net. Thank you to Bludomain.com for all of their help and beautiful website designs. I couldn't be happier!

My new head shot

I just had to post this because it is definitely the best picture ever taken of me. I will be using this head shot for the rest of my life....I don't care if I'm 85! This is the one that will be posted next to my obituary! The photo was taken by the fabulous Susan Stripling of Susan Stripling Photography. Her work is amazing and to have a head shot taken by her is truly a treat!


Here's a shot of my sister that I took this past weekend. Do we look alike?

Palm Springs

I have just returned from Palm Springs (I know I am such a traveler!). People must think I never work--I swear I do! I'm gearing up for a very busy wedding season and can't wait! My son, my sister and I went to visit our parents for the week. My husband Keith had to stay home and work. :(

Check out my parents pool. I just want to dive in.


Here is a flower in their back yard. I almost forgot what flowers look like after this winter in Chicago.


Here is my son, Max, looking happy, right before disaster struck....


...a fall into a mud puddle



For the rest of the week, Max didn't sleep very well and discovered something new....the temper tantrum. They occurred about every 15 minutes for the remainder of the trip. Here is my mother with the 40th tantrum of the day. Doesn't she look patient?


He seemed pretty happy helping my dad in the garden through...


Since I had my sister with me, I wanted to take some portraits of her--both because I don't have any and because I wanted some practice before my very busy wedding/portrait season starts in a few weeks. She's gorgeous.



Here are a few more. Yes folks, this is what my sister's skin actually looks like--I did not have to retouch these photos. She started wearing sunscreen faithfully at about 10 years old and this is the result. She should model for Coppertone or something.






I will leave you with a few images of California at night. I've always loved palm trees and here are some in my parents neighborhood.



Cheers!

New York trip

I just returned from New York city, where my parents and I met to see my sister Heather's big choreography debut at Dance Theater Workshop in Chelsea. For those of you who don't know Dance Theater Workshop, it's quite a big deal to get a show there. My sister rules! She worked really hard for months and the performance was great. For anyone interested in learning more, go to www.dancetheaterworkshop.org and click on "Walter Dunderville/Heather Olson." Heather decided she wanted to be a dancer when she was five and actually is. It was amazing to see her name in lights. She's performed all over the world, but this was her first piece that she choreographed and the New York Times gave her a favorable review. Unfortunately I could not take pictures at the show due to copyright issues, but I took plenty of pictures of NYC.

Here are my parents waiting in the subway with me to go meet Heather at her place in Brooklyn.


Here is Heather's subway stop in Brooklyn. Isn't it gorgeous?




My sister, Heather, is quite a thinker. Can you tell?



After brunch, we went back to Heather's to see her new apartment. Her shoe collection left me speechless. These are shoes that I would look totally ridiculous in, but Heather looks completely normal.




The New York City skyline from the subway window.


The subway in New York is like another city. It's huge. We saw a great band and stopped to watch for awhile.



This is something I think I've only seen in NYC. A fur warm up suit. The store owner asked me if I wanted to try it on. I declined.


Here is something I really wish Chicago had--street vendors, selling everything from Ice Cream to hot dogs. This one was selling donuts. Yum!


Quite possibly the fanciest Home Depot in America.


Obviously the person that put a bunch of garbage in front of this garbage can did not see the sign "Keep New York Clean"


I'll wrap up with some fine art photos of New York