Welcome to my Fall Booking Blog! Here you will hopefully find any info on how to book your Fall portrait session with Aline Stern Photography. If I forgot anything – please don’t hesitate to send me message at info@alinesternphotography.com
My Fall booking season starts on September 1st and goes till the second week of November. I sometimes add shoots for November if the weather is still good but since both weather and temperature are really unreliable in November, I really play it by ear for that time. If you were trying to book a session for July or August, please check out my previous blog post!
What kind of session and when should you book?
That depends on what you are looking for! If you have kids under 3, I recommend booking earlier in Fall. Young kids are very sensitive to colder temperatures. September is always the best month for weather – we get consistently sunny days, we already get that beautiful golden light and the first of the Fall flowers. If you want amazing Fall colors – in Chicago the best Fall foliage is usually between October 14th-October 24th and these are always the dates that book up first. The downside is that there are always some rainy and windy days in mid October which can be difficult for kids with sensory issues.
Silver Sessions are what I used to call Mini Sessions. They are my shorter outdoor sessions. Some would call them “Mini Sessions” but I had people book them, expecting a 5 minute session and I just can’t do that when I’m outside with all that beautiful nature around me. So to avoid confusion, my outdoor sessions are called Silver Session for my 20-30 minute session and Gold for my 40-60 minute session. I also offer Extended Family Sessions. A set of grandparents is always welcome at your Gold Session but if brother-in-law and his family and both sets of grandparents and so on want to join, I do require you to book an extended family session. This will give us enough time to focus on everybody and of course get that perfect family picture of everybody together!
Please know that I try to reserve specific days and times for specific sessions to make booking easier and also because I still have school aged kids with after school activities that they need rides to and all of that but if those days and times absolutely don’t work for you, please contact me at info@alinesternphotography.com and let’s find you a time and date that works for you!
In-home, Downtown and shoots in the suburbs have to be booked as Gold sessions!
$650 on weekdays
$750 on weekends
In the Gold 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 Silver 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 Gold session you receive at least 30 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.
When you book, it will let you pick a time. I always try and shoot within two hours after sunrise or before sunset. I make exceptions if those times don’t work for you but the photos won’t be quite as golden and rich looking as they do in these pictures. So please consider the timing when you book! Once I receive your booking I will be in touch to decide on the perfect time to shoot since sunrise and sunset times change. Weekend Golden Hour (that hour of perfect light about an hour before sunset) is always reserved for Gold Sessions! Downtown and shoots in the suburbs can only be booked as Gold Sessions!
To book click the link below:
$450 on weekdays
$550 on weekends
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? Do you have a toddler who doesn’t need time to warm up to strangers but also has the attention span of a goldfish? Then the Silver Session may be a good option for you.
Outdoor Silver sessions are 20 to 30 minutes long. I shoot most of my outdoor Silver sessions at Winnemac Park. It’s the perfect place for Silver Sessions because we can get a good variety of pictures in a short amount of time and the foliage there is gorgeous. I also shoot Silver Sessions in a few other locations close to the Lincoln Square/Andersonville Area.
Included in the price of a Silver are SIX edited photos in both color and black-and-white. You may purchase extra pictures for $30 or upgrade to a full gallery for $250. You will receive an online gallery with your selected and edited photos to download as high-resolution files and an option to order prints.
When you book it will let you pick a time – I always try and shoot within two hours after sunrise or before sunset. I make exceptions if those times don’t work for you but the photos won’t be quite as golden and rich looking as they do in these pictures. Also the sun goes down REALLY early in late October – if you have school aged kids, weekdays might not be possible unless you take them out early! So please consider the timing when you book! Once I receive your booking I will be in touch to decide on the perfect time to shoot since sunrise and sunset times change.
To book just click on the link below:
$1100
(up to 20 people)
When you finally have everybody in town and you want to get the perfect picture of all of you! To book an extended Family session – book it as a Gold Session but please mention in the booking questionnaire that it is an extended family session and how many people will be part of it. Or alternatively, shoot me an email and we’ll find the perfect time and date for you. I do not travel further than 45 minutes from Lincoln Square/Chicago for sessions so if you are in a far West or South suburb, let me know, I know lots of photographers and should be able to send you some recommendations.
My extended Family sessions are always posed sessions. We simply don’t have enough time to do fun, unposed shots in extended family sessions and these kind of sessions can be very overwhelming for little kids so I try to not drag them out. A lot of clients book both a full session for their extended family photos as well as a mini or a full session for their own family on a different day if they want to get more pictures of just their family.
If you have more than 20 people, please contact me for pricing.
Please contact me directly to book your Extended Family Session
To answer a few frequently asked questions:
What if it rains?
I always have rain backup days! For Saturday shoots, that’s usually Sunday but if Sunday’s don’t work, I will try to find a future Saturday date for you.
I can’t make any of the days you offer for shoots! Do you have any flexibility?
I do! I try to stick to the same days as much as possible (since I have kids of my own with sports and after school schedules but also so I don’t accidentally double book myself) but if Sundays are all you can do, just shoot me a message and we’ll find the perfect day and time for you!
Will you come photograph my daughter’s birthday party?
I currently do not photograph events
Read OnEverything you need to know to book your Spring and Summer session with Aline Stern Photography!
I’m so excited to open up booking for Spring and Summer! If you’ve booked with me in the past – there are two differences this year to previous years – first – this first booking block ends at the end of August instead of the end of July. After doing my taxes this year I realized how much my cost of running a business have gone up in the last couple of years so for my Fall season I will have to raise my prices a little bit. For now until September 1st, my prices are the same as they were in Fall 2024. So if you want to make sure you book at my 2024 prices, book your session between now and the end of August!
But now to what you are here to find out – my pricing! I offer four different kinds of sessions. Silver Sessions are what I used to call Mini Sessions. They are my shorter outdoor sessions. Some would call them “Mini Sessions” but I had people book them, expecting a 5 minute session and I just can’t do that when I’m outside with all that beautiful nature around me. So to avoid confusion, my outdoor sessions are called Silver Session for my 20-30 minute session and Gold for my 40-60 minute session. I also offer Extended Family Sessions. A set of grandparents is always welcome at your Gold Session but if brother-in-law and his family and both sets of grandparents and so on want to join, I do require you to book an extended family session. This will give us enough time to focus on everybody and of course get that perfect family picture of everybody together!
Please know that I try to reserve specific days and times for specific sessions to make booking easier and also because I still have school aged kids with after school activities that they need rides to and all of that but if those days and times absolutely don’t work for you, please contact me at info@alinesternphotography.com and let’s find you a time and date that works for you!
In-home, Downtown and shoots in the suburbs have to be booked as Gold sessions!
$550 on weekdays
$650 on weekends
In the Gold 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 Silver 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 Gold session you receive at least 30 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.
When you book, it will let you pick a time. I always try and shoot within two hours after sunrise or before sunset. I make exceptions if those times don’t work for you but the photos won’t be quite as golden and rich looking as they do in these pictures. So please consider the timing when you book! Once I receive your booking I will be in touch to decide on the perfect time to shoot since sunrise and sunset times change. Weekend Golden Hour (that hour of perfect light about an hour before sunset) is always reserved for Gold Sessions! Downtown and shoots in the suburbs can only be booked as Gold Sessions!
To book click the link below:
$350 on weekdays
$450 on weekends
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? Do you have a toddler who doesn’t need time to warm up to strangers but also has the attention span of a goldfish? Then the Silver Session may be a good option for you.
Outdoor Silver sessions are 20 to 30 minutes long. I shoot most of my outdoor Silver sessions at Winnemac Park. It’s the perfect place for Silver Sessions because we can get a good variety of pictures in a short amount of time and the foliage there is gorgeous. I also shoot Silver Sessions in a few other locations close to the Lincoln Square/Andersonville Area.
Included in the price of a Silver are SIX edited photos in both color and black-and-white. You may purchase extra pictures for $30 or upgrade to a full gallery for $250. You will receive an online gallery with your selected and edited photos to download as high-resolution files and an option to order prints.
When you book it will let you pick a time – I always try and shoot within two hours after sunrise or before sunset. I make exceptions if those times don’t work for you but the photos won’t be quite as golden and rich looking as they do in these pictures. Also the sun goes down REALLY early in late October – if you have school aged kids, weekdays might not be possible unless you take them out early! So please consider the timing when you book! Once I receive your booking I will be in touch to decide on the perfect time to shoot since sunrise and sunset times change.
To book just click on the link below:
$900
(up to 20 people)
When you finally have everybody in town and you want to get the perfect picture of all of you! To book an extended Family session – book it as a Gold Session but please mention in the booking questionnaire that it is an extended family session and how many people will be part of it. Or alternatively, shoot me an email and we’ll find the perfect time and date for you. I do not travel further than 45 minutes from Lincoln Square/Chicago for sessions so if you are in a far West or South suburb, let me know, I know lots of photographers and should be able to send you some recommendations.
My extended Family sessions are always posed sessions. We simply don’t have enough time to do fun, unposed shots in extended family sessions and these kind of sessions can be very overwhelming for little kids so I try to not drag them out. A lot of clients book both a full session for their extended family photos as well as a mini or a full session for their own family on a different day if they want to get more pictures of just their family.
If you have more than 20 people, please contact me for pricing.
Please contact me directly to book your Extended Family Session
$300 – weekdays and in my North Center Studio only
Did your baby just start sitting? Or did they turn one? Did you just want one timeless updated family photo but dad doesn’t enjoy having his picture taken for half an hour? My studio minis might just be the perfect session for you. They are 10-15 minute sessions and include 3 pictures. For backdrops we use classic and neutral colors. I will be offering Christmas and holiday themed sessions in November but there will be separate booking once those go online!
Please send me an email to schedule a Studio Mini!
To answer a few frequently asked questions:
What if it rains?
I always have rain backup days! For Saturday shoots, that’s usually Sunday but if Sunday’s don’t work, I will try to find a future Saturday date for you.
I can’t make any of the days you offer for shoots! Do you have any flexibility?
I do! I try to stick to the same days as much as possible (since I have kids of my own with sports and after school schedules but also so I don’t accidentally double book myself) but if Sundays are all you can do, just shoot me a message and we’ll find the perfect day and time for you!
Will you come photograph my daughter’s birthday party?
I currently do not photograph events
I hope to see you guys soon! Shoot me an email at info@alinesternphotography.com if there are any other questions!
Read OnThis is the first time ever I am offering Black Friday deals!
These sessions have to be booked and paid for in full by the end of the day, Monday, December 2nd!
Deal Number 1:
Headshots are $100 if your session is booked for any date between Jan 8th-Feb 28th 2025
Deal Number 2:
Studio Mini Kids or Family Sessions (10-15 minute session, 3 pictures included) are $200 for any date between Jan 8th-Feb 28th 2025
Silver Sessions (20-30 minutes, 6 pictures included) are $250 for any date between Jan 8th-Feb 28th 2025
Gold Sessions (40-60 minute sessions, all pictures included) are $450 for any date between Jan 8th-Feb 28th 2025
These sessions HAVE to be completed in January and February and fully paid for right after booking. I do have other specials planned for January, February and March which I will post in December but the prices not be this low again.
Newborn Sessions and Extended Family Sessions are excluded from the Black Friday promotion.
Please email me with two possible session times/dates that work for you and the kind of session you’d like to book! My studio is located in the North Center area of Chicago. To book please email me at info@alinesternphotography.com
Everything you need to know to book your Family Portrait Session
Summer just started but it’s already time to start thinking about Fall family photos! If you’re wondering which session is right for you, I got you covered! Below you will find info about my different session types and how to book them. Before we get started just know that the times are not set in stone. I wish I could just put “afternoon” or “morning” but my booking software makes you pick a time. I generally try to shoot within two hours after sunrise or two hours before sunset. So while my booking calendar might let you pick 7pm on November 2nd – it is definitely going to be dark at that time and we will have to do your shoot at 3pm instead. Please keep that in mind! I will be in contact about location and timing after you book though!
But now to what you are here to find out – my pricing! I offer four different kinds of sessions. Silver Sessions are what I used to call Mini Sessions. They are my shorter outdoor sessions. Some would call them “Mini Sessions” but I had people book them, expecting a 5 minute session and I just can’t do that when I’m outside with all that beautiful nature around me. So to avoid confusion, my outdoor sessions are called Silver Session for my 20-30 minute session and Gold for my 40-60 minute session. I also offer Extended Family Sessions. A set of grandparents is always welcome at your Gold Session but if brother-in-law and his family and both sets of grandparents and so on want to join, I do require you to book an extended family session. This will give us enough time to focus on everybody and of course get that perfect family picture of everybody together!
In-home, Downtown and shoots in the suburbs have to be booked as Gold sessions!
$550 on weekdays
$650 on weekends
In the Gold 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 Silver 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 Gold session you receive at least 30 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.
When you book, it will let you pick a time. I always try and shoot within two hours after sunrise or before sunset. I make exceptions if those times don’t work for you but the photos won’t be quite as golden and rich looking as they do in these pictures. So please consider the timing when you book! Once I receive your booking I will be in touch to decide on the perfect time to shoot since sunrise and sunset times change. Weekend Golden Hour (that hour of perfect light about an hour before sunset) is always reserved for Gold Sessions! Downtown and shoots in the suburbs can only be booked as Gold Sessions!
To book click the link below:
$350 on weekdays
$450 on weekends
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? Do you have a toddler who doesn’t need time to warm up to strangers but also has the attention span of a goldfish? Then the Silver Session may be a good option for you.
Outdoor Silver sessions are 20 to 30 minutes long. I shoot most of my outdoor Silver sessions at Winnemac Park. It’s the perfect place for Silver Sessions because we can get a good variety of pictures in a short amount of time and the foliage there is gorgeous. I also shoot Silver Sessions in a few other locations close to the Lincoln Square/Andersonville Area.
Included in the price of a Silver are SIX edited photos in both color and black-and-white. You may purchase extra pictures for $30 or upgrade to a full gallery for $250. You will receive an online gallery with your selected and edited photos to download as high-resolution files and an option to order prints.
When you book it will let you pick a time – I always try and shoot within two hours after sunrise or before sunset. I make exceptions if those times don’t work for you but the photos won’t be quite as golden and rich looking as they do in these pictures. Also the sun goes down REALLY early in late October – if you have school aged kids, weekdays might not be possible unless you take them out early! So please consider the timing when you book! Once I receive your booking I will be in touch to decide on the perfect time to shoot since sunrise and sunset times change.
To book just click on the link below:
$900
(up to 20 people)
When you finally have everybody in town and you want to get the perfect picture of all of you! To book an extended Family session – book it as a Gold Session but please mention in the booking questionnaire that it is an extended family session and how many people will be part of it. Or alternatively, shoot me an email and we’ll find the perfect time and date for you. I do not travel further than 45 minutes from Lincoln Square/Chicago for sessions so if you are in a far West or South suburb, let me know, I know lots of photographers and should be able to send you some recommendations.
My extended Family sessions are always posed sessions. We simply don’t have enough time to do fun, unposed shots in extended family sessions and these kind of sessions can be very overwhelming for little kids so I try to not drag them out. A lot of clients book both a full session for their extended family photos as well as a mini or a full session for their own family on a different day if they want to get more pictures of just their family.
If you have more than 20 people, please contact me for pricing.
$300 – weekdays and in my North Center Studio only
Did your baby just start sitting? Or did they turn one? Did you just want one timeless updated family photo but dad doesn’t enjoy having his picture taken for half an hour? My studio minis might just be the perfect session for you. They are 10-15 minute sessions and include 3 pictures. For backdrops we use classic and neutral colors. I will be offering Christmas and holiday themed sessions in November but there will be separate booking once those go online!
Please send me an email to schedule a Studio Mini!
To answer a few frequently asked questions:
What if it rains?
I always have rain backup days! For Saturday shoots, that’s usually Sunday but if Sunday’s don’t work, I will try to find a future Saturday date for you.
I can’t make any of the days you offer for shoots! Do you have any flexibility?
I do! I try to stick to the same days as much as possible (since I have kids of my own with sports and after school schedules but also so I don’t accidentally double book myself) but if Sundays are all you can do, just shoot me a message and we’ll find the perfect day and time for you!
Will you come photograph my daughter’s birthday party?
I currently do not photograph events
I hope to see you guys in the Fall! Shoot me an email at info@alinesternphotography.com if there are any other questions!
Everything you need to know on how to book your Chicago family session with Aline Stern Photography!
I think we can officially say it’s Spring now! The temps are up, the sun is shining, the trees are blooming!
I am officially opening up Spring booking for May 1st – however – if you see the blooming trees and the nice weather and you decide you’d like to do an outdoor session RIGHT NOW (I am writing this blog post on April 11th), please shoot me a message at alinesternphoto@gmail.com and I’ll find a way to fit you in asap!
I know with things getting more expensive, that family photography is a luxury, so I am not raising my prices for the Spring and Summer season. I will see how this Spring and Summer seasons go and then make a decision about Fall prices later. But if you want to make sure to get my cheaper pricing – I’d suggest booking now!
One thing the photography community has been a little worried about this year is the cicada invasion! Current forecast for the emergence of the 17 year cicadas is end of May-mid June. But don’t you worry because I have backup plans! Yes, several! First – consider beach shoots! I think we’ll be safe at beaches! Or downtown or an in-home shoot or there is always my North Center studio!
As in previous years I am offering my Gold and Silver Sessions, as well as Extended Family Sessions. This Spring and Summer I will also be offering Studio Mini Milestone sessions. More infos on those and all my other sessions below!
I am also going to be out of town from July 31st till August 21st, visiting my family in Europe. So please keep that in mind for booking! My last day for mini sessions and Silver Sessions will be July 20th, my last day for Gold Sessions is July 23rd – since I want to make sure I can get your photos to you before I leave.
Everything you need to know including booking links:
If you have ANY trouble booking, please just send me an email to alinesternphoto@gmail.com!
How it works: You click on either “Silver Session” or “Gold Session” and my scheduler will pop up. You select a date (my Spring and Summer calendar goes from May 1st-July 31st – my late summer/Fall calendar will be live in early June), it will prompt you to enter your name and email address. I will send an email with my contract and invoice. Once you sign the contract and pay the deposit ($100 – which is the first part payment on the invoice) – you have reserved that date. IMPORTANT: your date and time are NOT secured until you paid the the deposit! For an Extended Family Sessions or Milestone Minis please contact me directly!
Spring and Summer Prices
Silver Sessions
$350
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 Silver Session may be a good option for you.
Outdoor Silver sessions are 20 to 30 minutes long. I shoot most of my outdoor Silver 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 also shoot Silver Sessions in a few other locations close to the Lincoln Square/Andersonville Area.
Included in the price of a Silver are EIGHT edited photos in both color and black-and-white. You may purchase extra pictures for $30 or upgrade to a full gallery for $200. You will receive an online gallery with your selected and edited photos to download as high-resolution files and an option to order prints.
Gold Session
$550
In the Gold 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 Silver 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 Gold 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.
Extended Family Session
$800
(up to 20 people)
Since Extended Family Sessions are very popular this year I have decided to officially put them in my price list. For booking just book them as a Silver Session but please mention in the booking questionnaire that it is an extended family session and how many people will be part of it. I do not travel further than 45 minutes from Lincoln Square/Chicago for sessions so if you are in a far West or South suburb, let me know, I know lots of photographers and should be able to send you some recommendations.
My extended Family sessions are always posed sessions. We simply don’t have enough time to do fun, unposed shots in extended family sessions and these kind of sessions can be very overwhelming for little kids so I try to not drag them out. A lot of clients book both a full session for their extended family photos as well as a mini or a full session for their own family on a different day if they want to get more pictures of just their family.
If you have more than 20 people, please contact me for pricing.
BOOKING
To book just click on the link below to the session you’d like to book, then select your date. If you’d like to book a different day than the days available, shoot me an email and I will see what I can do! I generally keep Sundays as rain make-up days but will make an exception if it’s the only available day for you.
Milestone Minis
$250
Milestone minis are only held at my studio in North Center and only available on weekdays. These are perfect for Sitter sessions, One year sessions (for cake smashes we do longer sessions though!), kids who are starting school … any time you just want a snapshot of you or your kids or your family. These sessions take about 15-20 minutes and include 3 pictures with the option to purchase more pictures later. Please be aware that these are not good for kids with sensory issues or kids who might need a long time to warm up! Let me know if that’s the case and we can talk about other options. I do have lots of experience photographing neurodivergent kids (and different kinds of neurodivergence need different approaches!) – so just let me know and we’ll figure out the perfect plan for you!
I am so looking forward to working with you! If you have any questions or any troubles booking – please shoot me an email at alinsternphoto@gmail.com.
Read OnSpring came early this year! I’ve been working on my Spring and Summer outdoor schedule and plan to have it up the second week of April.
In the meantime please check out my Mini Session Specials!
I only offer these sort of sessions a few times a year – a Mini Session is a 15 minute session and it includes 3 pictures. My Mini-Sessions are $250 and you have the option to upgrade to buy more pictures later.
In May I am offering Motherhood Session. I think it’s so important to get mom in the picture and these sessions focus on mom and kids. I have a boho and a natural setup and I am so excited to photograph some beautiful Mamas in my studio!
Book your Motherhood session here
The dates are May 4th and May 19th
Stay tuned to see what I have planned for June!
In other news – check out this article by Apartment Guide where I was recently quoted with some tips about my neighborhood! I am always happy to talk fun things to do in Chicago and this new website looks like is has lots of good advice!
https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/chicago-il-bucket-list/
If you don’t want to wait until I release my Spring schedule and want to put something in the books already – just send me an email! Either way – I hope to see you soon!
Read On