Sister Mini Session in Sun Prairie, WI

I headed back to my old apartment building in Wisconsin this past Christmas for a quick mini session with my old neighbors. I met the oldest cutie last year when I was having Valentine mini sessions in my apartment. She is now a big sister and her 6-month old sister needed some photos too! We had so much fun and big sister was so much help, tickling her sister to get her to smile and being my test model for light. Made me really miss being in Sun Prairie, and that great apartment!

Winter Wonderland Family Session in Cambridge, WI

I met up with the Evans family in Cambridge on a heat-wave of a day last week. Considering it was in the single digits earlier in the week, I am calling 32 degrees a heat wave! Not gonna' lie, I was a bit worried that it would still be in the teens for our session but Mother Nature was on our side that day. This family was so much fun and they were such troopers in the chilly January air. We photographed at their home in Cambridge, WI during the golden hour and I got to love on their adorable dogs and their backyard views. As much of an anti-winter girl as I am, there's something beautiful about making photos in the snow. The light is amazing this time of year and some days you get lucky with above-freezing temperatures. Plus, when it's cold, you get to snuggle even closer with your loves and I am ALL about snuggling!

Evans family, it was such a pleasure to meet and photograph you. Your laughter is authentic & contagious and you made it so easy for me to capture real moments between you. Thanks for having your family session in the middle of winter with me!

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.