Class of 2021 Seniors | Tinley Park Photographer | Christina Bailitz Photography

Class of 2021

The class that has learned how to roll with ever changing times.

When they all came home as juniors for a break as COVID was emerging, they never imagined that in the fall, they would start their senior year remote learning or on a hybrid routine and not with their whole class. It has been realigning of plans and throughout it all they are remaining hopeful to end their high school years together and in the meantime thankful for the moments that can happen in any capacity.

Senior pictures are truly a moment where it is normal and their time to shine! Make their senior pictures an experience they remember and highlights their personality and style. And this is a little gift for parents too, a session where after 17-18 years, your baby has grown up! It is the last school pictures you get. So make it a special one.

First Birthday Studio Session | Tinley Park Childrens Photographer

ONE whole year of fun and memories!

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First birthdays come up faster than any parent ever imagines.

It seems just like yesterday you were meeting your sweet little one for the first time and the newborn days were long days but it all went by fast! So much has happened in the year as your little one went from snuggled perfectly in your arms to starting to wanting me to be moving and on the go….

This sweet girl is on the move and ready to keep up with her brothers for sure!

We had so much fun capturing ONE in the studio.

Studio sessions are perfect for milestones and birthday sessions!

A Decade of Growth | Chicago Photographer

Back in 2009, a dear friend wanted pictures of her beautiful daughters and asked me to take them. I was excited and nervous, as could I really get her pictures she was happy with? But I had a newer DSLR camera and I was learning, so we set a session date and time.... and I remember she brought me a beautiful flower basket to say thank you.

Well to be honest, me back in 2009, I thought I nailed it….. and I am choosing some of the better ones to share : )

And now here we are in 2020, which has been a year that will stand alone in words for many, and now it is senior photo time and this sweet girl has grown up to an amazing beauty inside and out, my photo skills have grown quite a bit too I will say. And that session started the discussion with more friends to take their pictures and here we are 11 years later thanks to my family, friends, clients and referrals - Christina Bailitz Photography !

Over a decade of photography for this economics major and tax girl who had a creative side that could be so big - who knew!?!

Over the last decade I have learned so many things:

• There is always room to grow. Looking back at pictures I am thankful people have treasured each stage of my growth and always tweaking and learning to provide better images and sessions each season.

• How much I have grown to love newborn sessions. When I first started they scared me, but over time they have stole a piece of my heart. And I love the time I get to spend with fresh new babies and their families.

• The art of candid pictures as families connections are just as important as smiling looking at the camera. I always try to capture the between moments I can in a session.

• The importance of getting mom & dad into pictures - not just pictures of the kids. The kids want pics with mom & dad too!!

• The importance of LARGE family sessions. Yep a total pain to schedule between multiple families most of the time, but truly a gift for all to treasure.

• Weather is truly ALWAYS changing and causes more changes to schedules than I ever knew and I have become much better at radar watching over the years. So thankful for open communication with clients and flexibility when needed.

• Scheduling is an art. From a mom to a business owner to thinking of clients and best lighting for pictures. And it is best to look at the BEARS schedule before setting Sunday dates in the fall in Chicago for happy Dads.

• Editing definitely is an art and believe it or not, it is where more time is put than the time shooting the session. Editing the details makes a difference in the final product.

• I truly LOVE watching my clients families grow and grow up. It is a gift to watch these moments happen in a family and how lucky am I get to freeze them for you.

• Little did I expect this little photography world would bring me so many new friends…. yep totally blessed to have many relationships be more than a client I worked with.

• Word of mouth referrals truly are a gift. Getting a new referral is like Christmas morning for me.

• And while I was an economics major, a tax consultant, bookkeeper and payroll clerk - all these work titles have filled a part of my life, somehow it has led me to photographer.

• Photography makes my heart and head happy. Gives me flexibility with my family. Fulfills a part of me outside of wife, mom, sister, cousin, friends etc. and truly count my blessings to have this opportunity.

So after a decade of Christina Bailitz Photography posts, I am so thankful for the growth involved in each season. The clients that have trusted me to capture a moment(s) and welcome me into their family. Know I take each session to heart and look forward to bringing you images to treasure for a lifetime and for the next generation.

Pictures truly are a piece of OUR story and history.

XO - Christina

Class of 2021 Senior Photography | Chicago Photographer

The Class of 2021 
is starting their senior year summer.

Senior year is filled with so many memories,
make senior pictures ones you capture.

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Questions I most often get asked about senior pictures.

Which session is best for senior pictures? 
This depends on how many outfit changes and location types you are looking for. Some like to bring something casual, dressy and then a sports type uniform. Some prefer one outfit. There is no right or wrong to the number of outfits as everyone's ideas are different on pictures. This is something we can discuss.

When should I take senior pictures?
When you are ready! 

We can take pictures in any season but depends what you are looking for. Some love the summer with warmth, colors and some sun. Summer brings more flexibility with less activities and homework and longer days with daylight. 

While others love fall colors and attire better, sessions are limited to after school/weekends. Fall is a busy time of year for photographers so booking early is better. 

Some prefer to do them right before graduation. Spring weather in Chicago can be all over waiting for things to bloom and not be rainy. Make sure you consider the turn around time to get your images back if need them for a senior slideshow or graduation announcement.

What to wear?

I always say make sure to wear something that is comfortable and matches your personality. Also while wearing something trendy is an option for one image, you often want something more classic, as these will be the pictures you look back on. Keeping it simple focuses on the graduate.  Also wear something that move well and you can sit comfortably in. So if you do not love the outfit and feel comfortable don't bring it to this session!
Where should we take pictures?
Over the years I have taken pictures at the high school, your home, local parks, local downtown areas to downtown Chicago. These are the last big pictures they get so I usually say ask them for ideas too. 
 

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First Birthdays are a BIG Celebration

ONE FULL YEAR OF MEMORIES

365 Days of moments to treasure and milestones achieved. In the beginning, the nights seem to last forever but the days go fast. Being a newborn and child photographer I love getting to watch these babies grow up from squishy newborns to walking little toddlers.

Now let’s talk about First Birthday Smash cake sessions…

I LOVE capturing this time for parents. Yep for parents… as during the first birthday party it is often a busy moment and getting pictures and enjoying the moment is hard. So a smash cake session let’s mom & dad sit back and watch their little one explore the cake and get messy.

Chicago Golden Hour Beach Family Session | Chicago Photographer

Our gorgeous Chicago skyline is the perfect backdrop

Golden hour is a beautiful time to capture your family with the beautiful Chicago Skyline and Lake Michigan. If you are a family that enjoys the city, this is a bucket list photo shoot or if you are coming into Chicago for vacation - vacation is a great time to take family pictures and capture your adventure! Truly we are blessed with an amazing lakefront just a car drive away and some great restaurants to visit after your session!

This summer Christina Bailitz Photography will be offering beach sessions so watch the schedule for 2019 Beach Golden Hour Sessions.

Class of 2020 Senior Photography | Chicago Senior Photography | Tinley Park

Class of 2020

“This is your time“

Class of 2019 Providence Catholic High School Graduate Senior Session in the city on the Chicago Riverwalk

Senior Picture Sessions are built based upon your vision.

This session was done on a weeknight in the city on a beautiful summer evening as we started at the Riverwalk and headed to Michigan Ave and stopped along many Chicago landmarks and ended our session in the loop on LaSalle Street. It was super fun!!

Some senior sessions prefer a small local session and some prefer a trip into the city with multiple outfit changes and locations. Some prefer sessions the summer before senior year , some prefer a fall session, and some prefer to do them right before graduation when a decision has been made on college. Christina Bailitz Photography will work with you get your session to meet your goals from package size, scheduling during time of the year and locations.

Newborn Love | Fresh 48 Tinley Park Newborn Photographer

In a second life changes all the time….

And one of the most amazing moments is when you family grows by two feet in a second. Fresh 48 sessions capture the first pictures in a hospital lifestyle photography session.

Sweet Baby M was just a day new when I got to meet him.

Spring is Officially Here | Christina Bailitz Photography

SPRING is here and soon there will be blooms and warmer days, but these are some warmer days after the winter of 2019 - I mean I am so happy it is over!!! Is anyone going to miss waking up to snow? Well except the polar bears in Chicago.

Winter of 2019 started off with entering the the 2019 Shoot & Share Contest that starts in January, voting happens in February and the results are released in March. I was super excited that 3 of my photo's placed out of over 500,000 photos - Top 10% for Kids - Top 20% for Seniors - Top 30% for Babies. 

This winter I also have had some time to take care of me, as I recover from an unplanned surgery, all is ok, but they say life has a way of happening and think this was God's way of slowing me down a little. I have learned a new level of patience after being the patient vs. caretaker and so thankful for having an awesome tribe of friends and family that helped me.

So now it's time to start planning Spring 2019 with a refreshed healthy outlook!! I am super excited to get Christina Bailitz Photography moving full speed ahead for 2019 in a few weeks when I can start shooting again and follow my passion!!

Looking forward to capturing all spring has to offer:
* Moms-to-be *
* Newborns *
* Baby Milestones *
* First Communions *
* 8th Grade Graduations *
* Dance Recital Pictures *
* High School Seniors * 
 * Mother's Day Mom & Me *
* Family Sessions * 

So contact me to get a session on the books!

2019 First Communion Sessions

2019 Spring Mini Sessions

Countdown is On.... Back to School

Just over 60 days ago the summer countdown began for the kids to be out school and run into summer. I don't know about you but I was ready for a break from worrying about bedtimes, if homework was done and did we have something to scrape together for lunches.  Now........here we are in the final less than ten days of summer and school is back!  Are we ready????

• I am NOT ready for the alarm at 5:45am and getting everyone up and moving but I KNOW as Mom that we all need a little more schedule and structure to our days. As the kids have grown up over the summers. bedtime has stretched past the end of Jimmy Fallon and the wake up time is more like lunch time at school and Mom is ready for bed before the kids on many days (but I was ready for bed before them even when they were little and went to bed at 7p).
• Lunches.... During the summer breakfast & lunch get combined or it's lunches that are not sandwiches or eating out when we are running around.  Making lunches is going to be a passing of the torch this year in our house.  We started this at the end of the year - it was not a success - but I am sticking to they will be making their own lunch, as tweens and teens they truly are capable of it!
• I am not ready for the homework that goes with the new school year that is for sure.  Especially since even though I completed 4 years of college at U of I, I am officially not smarter than grammar school it seems most times my kids need help.
• I do know that my kids are ready to see their friends daily.  And for my boys to see friends in person since Fort Nite is only talking - yes we have had the battle of Fort Nite this summer. 
• And Mom is looking forward to seeing my mom friends if even in the parking lot passing by, as life is so busy these days, it's so hard to get time away!
• And we all do better on a schedule and we have lacked that and as much as we say we don't - we do need some schedule - just not overschedule : ) 

So as they say all good things must come to an end and that is the truth for Summer of 2018.  The last summer we have two drivers in the house. The summer that was a little slower pace but we needed that. Another summer of memories that we will treasure.

Now we move onto a fall that will bring new school classes, classmate and teachers, new sports teams, new photographs to capture and new memories.