Spring and Summer – everything you need to know plus booking links – Chicago Photographer

Spring and Summer – everything you need to know plus booking links

As I am writing this post it is 14 degrees with a -2 degree wind chill and outdoor sessions seem far far away. BUT! Spring will be here before we know it. And I’ve had people inquire about my Spring and Summer calendar since September of last year, so here we are!

In this post you will find all of the info and booking links for my Full family sessions and Mini family sessions since these two are my most popular options. I offer a lot of different packages but if you’re interested in other sessions, for example senior, newborn, or “Day of Lifestyle” sessions, please contact me directly at info@alinesternphotography.com. I don’t want to overwhelm you!

First of all – if you’re worried about the weather let me tell you – every month is different and has different things to offer. April has Spring flowers popping up. There are no bugs and we still get the clear and clean winter light. It’s also empty in all the outdoor spots which is a bliss! We often get the prettiest flowering trees in April and early May. I know some spots that have really stunning Spring foliage! May is beautiful and colorful. We get some warm days but don’t have to worry about about bugs and mosquitos yet. June and July are warm and sunny and gorgeous and golden. I love beach shoots in those months and everything is blooming and pretty. In this post you will see examples for every month!

For those of you who would really prefer a Fall shoot – I will open my booking for Fall (end of August till end of November) in the first week of July. Please be aware that while my weekday prices will stay the same – I do charge more on Fall weekends and my Fall weekends book up very fast.

So what is the difference between a Full session and a Mini session?

Mini Sessions

$290

Do you need an updated family picture? Do you just want some nice pictures of you and your kids but you don’t want anything time consuming? Then the Mini may be a good option for you.

Outdoor Mini sessions are 20 to 30 minutes long. I shoot most of my outdoor Mini sessions at Winnemac Park. It’s the perfect place for Minis because we can get a good variety of pictures in a short amount of time and the foliage there is gorgeous. I sometimes shoot Minis in other places if I have a Full session before or after.

Included in the price of a Mini are ten edited photos in both color and black-and-white. You may purchase extra pictures for $35 or upgrade to a full gallery. You will receive an online gallery with your photos to download as high-resolution files and an option to order prints.

Full Sessions

$490

In the Full sessions we take our time and try to capture moments and emotion. We spend 40 to 60 minutes together. We start out with the sort of pictures we’d do during a Mini session – smile in the camera, the perfect family portrait. After we get those shots, we play, we laugh, we run around. I’m going to make this experience as relaxed and positive and fun as possible for you and your kids. My goal is to get everybody out of their shell and to just capture love and personality.

With a Full session you receive at least 60 pictures, usually more, in both color and black-and-white versions. You will receive an online gallery with your photos to download as high-resolution files and an option to order prints.

My favorite time to shoot is the golden hour before sunset but I will also shoot earlier. The results will be a bit different though, so if you are in love with the golden sunset pictures on my website, I have quite a few tips on how to get your kids to be happy even at 6.30 or 7pm for a shoot! If I’ve convinced you to book with me, please follow the links below to the different months. You can just scroll down and pick a date. If you can’t make the days or times in the schedule please contact me with a preferred time and date and we will find a way to make it happen!