Coloring Outside the Lines | Personal Project

I am so excited to share these dreamy images from a styled nursing shoot in Starved Rock State Park. This was not my typical style of session, but I was looking to push myself out of my comfort zone and experiment. I love my job. Capturing special moments and turning them into pieces that families can see and treasure forever is everything to me. However, I’ve realized that every once in a while I need to take on a project that is just for me, just because I want to. This allows me to stretch my creative legs and ward off any burn-out. 

This idea was unique for me because I  had never done a nursing session before.  I reached out to a model who I knew would appreciate the concept as much as I did. She is on her way to becoming a certified doula and is also a birth photographer. I knew that nursing was very important to her and that this session would be the perfect fit for her. 

We went out to a location that I had never shot before. Since moving, I haven’t had the opportunity to explore all of the seasons here. This version of winter was something that I had never experienced before! The frosted ground and the frozen waterfall created the perfect background for our icy aesthetic. It was all so beautiful and quiet. I am naturally a very quiet person, so I love to find quiet places in nature to admire. I think it is where I feel the most like myself. In places like these, I can allow myself to see things differently and appreciate my unique point of view. 

I brought along some tools to use and experiment with. A plastic bag and the bright sunset made for some incredible shots. The details of these images are my favorite. From the mom and baby’s matching knit sleeves to the jewelry worn by the model. I feel like the collection captures the beauty and stillness of the winter wonderland that we found, and I am so thrilled with how beautifully the photos turned out.