Holiday Bliss

Now that Christmas is over, I can share some of the photos I took without spoiling Christmas card surprises! Here's a quick peak from an impromptu holiday session I did with Shannon and Brian, whom you may remember from this past summer, to document their first Chicago home together in the season they love!

I love couple photo sessions SO much! As much as I love pretty outdoor photos, I just adore coming into your home and capturing you doing the things you love to do as a couple. Shannon & Brian drank wine, baked a batch of cookies, snuggled on their couch, danced in their kitchen and had a chocolate chip toss contest! They have a beautiful home here in Chicago and my favorite part about it is their dry-erase frame that they write on to each other. SO sweet!

If you got engaged over the holidays, let's chat about an engagement session! They're completely customized to your style/taste/liking/activities! 

Mommy, what did I look like as a baby?

I recently sent off a gorgeous album to a boudoir client and couldn't wait for her to get it in her hands! A few weeks ago I walked into a repeat client's home and saw my newborn work on display all over their house and I've never felt more proud of what I do. Sadly, though, the value of the printed photograph, especially in today's most photographed generation, is dwindling and it breaks my heart. I'm a firm believer in having photographs printed and displayed. Otherwise, why spend money on a professional photographer? Sure, it's fun to pull out your phone and show your best friends your favorite images from your session while you're out for coffee. But what are your kids going to look at in 10 years? We are constantly photographing everything in this life, thanks to technology, but what do we do with the millions of photos on our phones, iPads and point-and-shoots? We share them on Facebook & Instagram, text them to friends or let them sit on those devices. But, what happens in 50 years when the technology is even more advanced and we're not able to use those phones that the photos are stored on. Or the files are not supported on the computer you're now using. Who knows what will be around in 20 years to surpass computers! Did you have a session in the last 10 years and receive the CD of images? That disc is almost as obsolete as a floppy disk and if you don't have a computer that has a CD drive, looking at your images is pretty tough. Or worse, what if your computer dies and you lose all of those photos?

I vividly remember looking at our family's photographs as a child, flipping through the pages of my parents' wedding album and my mom having photos of us all over the house. To this day, the house is still full of some of my favorite photos of family members no longer with us and photos of the newest additions of our family. My all-time favorite is the silly "real life" photo of my sisters and I where one of my sisters is having a meltdown and the other is "shhhhh-ing" her while I just sit there! Looking at how we've grown over the years, individually & as a family, is one of my favorite things to do in my childhood home. If I'm a guest in your home, you can certainly find me gazing at your photos. Whether it be from birth announcements & save-the-dates on your fridge or the gallery display in your living room, I'm fascinated! Fascinated with people, the memories, the stories and the connection. After all, that's what we're here for. And I get to document it!

Photography is an investment and having professional prints and albums on display is priceless. I believe that giving you just digital files does such a disservice to you and I'm so passionate about you 1) having the best time at your session with me and 2) showing it in those images for you to display for years to come.

I want  your grand-kids to be able to flip through your wedding album and see the love in their grandpa's eyes as he saw you for the first time on that big day. I want your kids to look through their baby album and see the way you looked at them with love and adoration. You trust me with your family in such intimate moments, trust me in this process as well.

I'm not saying I'm against digital files. Not at all, in fact. I love the convenience of them and I also enjoy sharing them on social media with friends and family. But it can't be the only media we rely on. Sure, I'll gladly include a digital file of any print that you purchase, so that you may share on Facebook, but I truly want you to leave with a professional high-quality product in your hands that future generations will get to enjoy.

(Disclaimer: 12-year-old Courtney will likely disagree with this post! Who wants to see those embarrassing photos in the most awkward time of my life? The hair, the braces, those outfit choices, the bangs, the goofy smile and did I mention the hair?! Perms & mile-high bangs were not my best looks. Those blackmail-worthy photos still haunt me.)

Much love & sunshine,

Courtney

Welcome - I'm so glad you're here!

Thanks so much for stopping by Courtney Michelle Photography! I'm incredibly excited to start this new chapter of my life, in Chicago. Follow along while I explore this new city of mine, drink lots of coffee, discover delicious eats, embark upon a new business adventure and update client galleries.

New year = new adventure for Courtney Michelle Photography. My portrait business has been based out of Madison, WI for the past 6 years but I've decided to give it a whirl in Chicago. After being in WI my entire life, I was feeling kind of lost and personally stuck, and needed a change to regroup and find out where I wanted to be. After a wonderful summer filled with lots of girl time, family time, Taylor Swift concerting, reading, photo shoots and traveling to many amazing cities, I landed in Chicago after being hired by TK Photography as a newborn specialist photographer. I get to photograph newborns, little kids, and families here and I'm having a blast meeting so many new people. TK has welcomed me with open arms and they're my "Chicago family." I've loved Chicago since I was younger and fell instantly in love with the vibrancy, the vastness, the art, the architecture, the busy-ness, the food, (Chicago deep dish pizza? yes, please!) the cute coffee shops and all there is to do here.

What does this mean for CMP? Well, I'm still me but now I'm in two places! I still get back to WI frequently for lots of family time, and my dog is still there! My sister just had her third baby and I need snuggles from my adorable nieces. And my youngest sister is expecting her first baby in June so I plan to be around for MORE baby snuggles! So, I'm still doing photo shoots in WI, don't you worry! As for Chicago shooting, I'm doing newborns & children for the studio so my primary CMP focus is heading more toward the direction of high school seniors, engagements, pets, boudoir and even FOOD photography!

You can even look for an Etsy shop from me in the near future. I'm working on opening up a print shop to sell my travel, nature & food photos, as well as a line of photographic greeting cards. 2016 is shaping up to be my favorite year yet!

Thank you to all of my WI clients for getting me where I am today, and to my future clients: I can't wait to meet you!

I must give a shout-out to my dear friend Jamie Strehlow, of Jamie Strehlow Photography, for the great photo above.