Now that Simply by Suzy is approaching its second birthday, I think it’s one of the most awesome feelings in the world to now be able to see such passage of time in my images… to see two people start a family, to watch a baby grow from but a dream to a little person…

Just recently I revisited one family in particular to help celebrate the first birthday of their baby boy, Oliver.  I first met Oliver’s parents when his mom was about 5 months pregnant through a casting call I did with Bump Club Chicago’s VIP moms.  A turtle mocha and an hour later we decided to do an entire birth story series with them to document their sweet Ollie from belly to baby.  Thinking back to that first meeting I can’t even believe I’m now writing up a blog post on Oliver turning one..

At Oliver’s maternity session I remember that we had accidentally planned it for the day of the Chicago Marathon and it taking me forever to get through traffic.. I remember saying to his parents I wonder how anyone who goes into labor on that day and is scheduled to deliver at Prentice, how do they ever get to the hospital? lol… I remember dying pieces of cheesecloth to use in his sessions… I remember on the day of Oliver’s birth rushing to the hospital and not sure if I would make it… I remember Oliver’s dad helping pull Oliver up onto his mom’s belly after he took his first breath.. I remember At Oliver’s newborn session how cold it was outside… I remember trying to find parking somewhat close because in the midst of my busy schedule I had forgotten to buy a new winter coat and was just wearing a long sleeve pink hoodie that was more like a pajama shirt than an actual shirt lol… I remember a fellow photographer drove from another state to Chicago just for the chance to work along side Vasili and I (little did I know that she would become one of my best friends over the next year of phone and email chatting with each other  about life and photography)… I remember it was one of the first sessions that Vasili had helped me with and realizing that day that maybe we could do this together…

I remember a lot of things but knowing how quickly the next year would pass was not one of them.

I recently read something somewhere from another photographer about how there is nothing quite like the wonderment of opening up an album after so much time has gone by.  Looking at all of Oliver’s photos from our past sessions I’ve found myself feeling that same wonderment and joy of reliving the past as my clients’ memories have now become my memories too 🙂

Anyway, I had a total blast hanging out with Oliver’s family the other morning for his one year session!  We hung out by the lake front and were lucky enough to be completely alone and by ourselves (both an early and cold morning make for excellent tourist deterrents in the city ;)).  We enjoyed the skyline and the last remnants of fall… and then when we got too cold we went back to their house to warm up over coffee and story time with their sweet pup Lily.

Thanks so much to both Bump Club Chicago for introducing this family to me, and of course a BIG thank you to Oliver and his parents for allowing me the privilege of being a part of all their special moments this last year.  Happy birthday Ollie bear, and here’s to many more yet to come! xoxo

For Oliver’s maternity session:

MATERNITY

Some of his birth photos (click on the link and scroll half way down the post):

BIRTH

For Oliver’s newborn session:

NEWBORN

And for his one year….. 🙂