all you need is love
Family
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.
LibbyLou Images…
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.
One
• Session planning questionnaire
• Outfit styling guidance
• Beautiful location recommendations
• Helpful preparation tips
Two
• Relaxed posing
• Natural prompts
• Plenty of candid moments
• Individual, sibling, and full family portraits
three
• Hand-edited images
• Online gallery
• Easy ordering
• Professional print options
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
$425
Perfect for families looking to update their annual portraits while keeping the flexibility to purchase more after viewing their gallery.
What’s Included:
$650
More time to slow down, connect, and capture a wider variety of portraits and candid moments.
What’s Included:
$875
Every smile. Every hug. Every beautifully edited image.
What’s Included:
Peace of mind knowing you never have to choose between favorite images
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from happy clients
Proudly serving families throughout
Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, South Elgin, Barrington, Palatine, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and the surrounding Chicagoland suburbs.
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.