all you need is love

Photo Of A Cute Family All Dressed Up Together

Family

Family photos don't have to be stressful.

You don’t need perfectly behaved kids.
You don’t need a husband who loves having his picture taken.
You don’t even need to know what everyone should wear.

I’ll guide you through every step so your session feels relaxed, fun, and surprisingly easy while creating images you’ll treasure long after your children have grown.

Why Families Choose

LibbyLou Images…

  • Over 13 years photographing Chicagoland families
  • Hundreds of family sessions captured
  • Guidance from planning through gallery delivery
  • Relaxed, child-led approach
  • Natural editing that stands the test of time
  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  5-Star Google Reviews
Four smiling girls hugging each other during a joyful outdoor family photography session at a wooded park in the Chicagoland area, captured by LibbyLou Images.

faq

I recommend booking 2–3 months in advance, especially for summer and fall sessions, as those dates tend to fill quickly. If you’re hoping for peak fall colors or a specific weekend, booking even earlier is the best way to secure your preferred date.

I photograph families at some of the most beautiful outdoor locations throughout the Chicagoland area, including forest preserves, open fields, lakes, downtown areas, and scenic parks.

If you already have a meaningful location in mind, I’d love to hear your ideas! Otherwise, I’m happy to recommend the perfect location based on the season, lighting, and the look you’re hoping to achieve.

Honestly? That’s completely normal, and it’s actually what I expect!

The best family photos don’t come from perfectly behaved children. They come from connection, play, and genuine moments. I’ll guide your family through fun prompts and activities that encourage natural smiles and interactions, allowing your kids to simply be themselves. With over 13 years of photographing families, I’ve learned that some of the most treasured images happen in the beautifully imperfect moments.

Don’t worry! I’ve got you covered!

After booking, you’ll receive a detailed style guide filled with tips on choosing outfits that photograph beautifully. I’m also happy to help coordinate your family’s clothing before your session. Soft, neutral, and coordinating colors tend to create timeless images that you’ll love for years to come.

Absolutely! In fact, that’s one of the things my clients appreciate most.

You don’t need to worry about knowing how to pose or what to do with your hands. I’ll guide you through the entire session with natural prompts and gentle direction while also capturing genuine candid moments in between. My goal is for your family to feel comfortable, relaxed, and connected so your photos look like you, not stiff or overly posed.

Weather is one thing we can’t control, but don’t worry we’ll make sure you have beautiful weather for your session.

If rain, strong winds, or severe weather are in the forecast, we’ll simply reschedule to the next available date that works for both of us. I’ll keep an eye on the forecast leading up to your session and communicate with you if changes need to be made.

Absolutely!

Extended family sessions are a wonderful way to capture multiple generations together. Because these sessions require additional time for group combinations and individual family photos, an extended family session fee will apply based on the size of your group.

If you’re planning to include grandparents or extended family, just let me know when booking so we can choose the best session option for your family.

Yep!  You can order discounted prints & product right from your finished gallery.

Your fully edited online gallery will be delivered within 2–3 weeks of your session.

Every image is individually hand-edited to ensure your gallery reflects the quality and style you see throughout my portfolio. Once your gallery is ready, you’ll be able to download your images and order beautiful professional prints and wall art directly from your gallery.

The Experience

One

Before Your Session

• Session planning questionnaire

• Outfit styling guidance

• Beautiful location recommendations

• Helpful preparation tips

 

Two

During Your Session

• Relaxed posing

• Natural prompts

• Plenty of candid moments

• Individual, sibling, and full family portraits

 

three

After Your Session

• Hand-edited images

• Online gallery

• Easy ordering

• Professional print options

Parents and their daughter laughing together during a candid outdoor family portrait session on a sandy beach in the Chicagoland area, photographed by LibbyLou Images.

Testimonial

We’ve been working with Melissa for 10 years now and have always been so happy with our pictures! I love that she offers complete packages with digital images and her quality is top notch. Melissa works with you from start to finish not only on the pictures but also outfit selection which I always need help with! I’ve recommended her whole-heartedly through the years and always look forward to opportunities to work with her. – Shannon VanTassel

PETITE collection

 $425

Perfect for families looking to update their annual portraits while keeping the flexibility to purchase more after viewing their gallery.

What’s Included:

  • Pre-session style guide and planning tips
  • 30-minute personalized session
  • One scenic outdoor location 
  • Guided posing from start to finish (no modeling experience needed!)
  • Online proofing gallery
  • Includes 8 favorite digital images, with the option to purchase additional images or upgrade to your full gallery.
  • Opportunity to purchase additional images, prints, and wall art
Photoshoot Of Mom Dad and Their Daughter
Picture Of A Cute Family Of Mom Dad and Daughter

SIGNATURE collection

$650

More time to slow down, connect, and capture a wider variety of portraits and candid moments.

What’s Included:

  • Pre-session style guide and planning tips
  • 60-minute personalized session
  • Plenty of time for genuine connection, playful moments, and a variety of family portraits.
  • Your favorite 20 professionally edited images to print, frame, and share for years to come.
  • Priority gallery delivery
  • Option to purchase heirloom albums and professional artwork

Heirloom Collection

$875

Every smile. Every hug. Every beautifully edited image.

What’s Included:

  • 60-minute session
  • Time to capture a wider variety of looks and personalities
  • More creative posing and candid moments
  • All professionally edited digital images (50+)
  • Complimentary 11×14 professional print
  • Priority gallery delivery
  • Option to purchase heirloom albums and professional artwork
  • Peace of mind knowing you never have to choose between favorite images

  •  Extended families are an additional fee
Three Siblings Holding Hands Of Each Other

Happy Words

from happy clients

Proudly serving families throughout

Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, South Elgin, Barrington, Palatine, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and the surrounding Chicagoland suburbs.

Your kids won't stay this little forever.

The years move quickly, but photographs allow you to hold onto this season of life for generations.

Let’s create something your family will treasure forever.

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