Favorite Moments of 2017 - Year in Review

2017 was an amazing year for me and I'm so grateful for all of you for trusting me with your most precious/intimate/honest/real moments. I love what I do. For real. I get to document some of the most meaningful moments in people's lives. As well as the more "everyday moments" but I love every second of it. I like to do an end-of-year website update so I go through all of my sessions from the year and pick my favorites. It helps me see how far I've come, and how much I've grown. This year, I got out of my comfort zone. I took chances. I pushed myself to photograph from my heart; to photograph what spoke to me and to tell more honest stories. In addition to updating the website, I wanted to do a re-cap of the year, highlighting my favorite photos & moments but then this post got crazy long. If you know me, I couldn't narrow it down any further than what I've come up with and this isn't even all of it! So here goes. A selection of some of my favorite sessions, moments and personal treasures from all of last year. Druuuuuummmmmroooooooooolllllllllll, please.

I love love love love love LOVE so let's start with the beautiful couples! 

Photographed my beautiful friend getting ready on her wedding morning on a steamy July morning in Chicago at the Langham Hotel

I second-shot with Jennifer of Angelic Angles Photography for a beautiful Milwaukee wedding. We photographed the wedding party at Villa Terrace Museum and I was BLOWN away by the beauty. I can't wait to go back there and photograph! I really miss shooting with Jennifer. We used to be the dream team when I lived in Madison. She's amazing - seriously, the best.

Second-shot with Melissa Ferrara of Iron & Honey Photography this fall. So much fun to work with a fellow Chicago photographer.

Babies! So many friends had babies this year!! 

Boudoir - a few of the ones I can show!

I photographed a few events for PAWS. Also made some portraits of my friends' dogs while they were vacationing because I can't help myself!

High School Seniors

My Family. I went home a handful of times this summer for many birthdays! My sister and her littles did the Bubble Run so I took my camera for that. After that, it was Skyler's first birthday and then Avianna's SIXTH birthday. Squeezed in a quick shoot with all of my nieces with some goats... it didn't go as planned but we still got some beautiful photos!

Photographed all season long for Vintage Garage Chicago. If you're in Uptown Chicago on the third Sunday of the month from April through October, you must check them out. Must!

Grabbed some quick family photos for the best people on earth to celebrate them becoming a quartet!

Purposely took my camera down to the Loop a few times this summer. Normally I'm without it but made a point to take it, especially for the Chicagohenge

Much love friends! Thanks so much for following along - you have no idea how much it means. Here's to 2018 - I can't wait to see what comes!

xoxo - Courtney

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Girls and the Goats

I had a quick photo shoot with my nieces and some friendly baby goats when I was last in Wisconsin. It was the hardest thing I've ever photographed! A sick baby, an un-napped baby, two uninterested girls and some jumpy baby goats made for a huge challenge! But I still love these photos and have now fallen in love with goats. 

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Skyler is ONE!

Holy toledo, where in the world did time go?! Seems like just yesterday this spunky girl was born! I love her to pieces and am so glad I got to spend her first birthday with her. My sister and brother-in-law have quite the beautiful character on their hands. She's been noisy since she came out of the womb and she's only getting louder! So much to say and she can't even talk yet. And don't get me started on how she does not stop moving. Ever! This girl is going to rule the world!  

Can I also just gush about the light on the farm for the family part of the photos?! WOW! We waited out a mini rain surge that night just before we started and got the most beautiful light and glistening grass. So worth the wait & wet feet.

Best buds.

Best buds.

They were having a contest to see who's loudest!

They were having a contest to see who's loudest!

Those eyes!

Those eyes!

I love the grass on her feet! Total farm girl! 

I love the grass on her feet! Total farm girl! 

She's smiling at her cows, not me!

She's smiling at her cows, not me!