Baby Milestone Session | Tinley Park Baby Photographer | Christina Bailitz Photography

First year of Milestones

Babies first years are a time filled with so many milestones they all reach at different times. It truly is a special time in a family watching these miracles from above grow from fresh newborns into little people. Milestones happen at different ages/months for each child so I always tell my clients to book milestone sessions when you are ready for them and they are at a stage you want to happen, with the exception of first birthday! That one I suggest close to their birthday.

I met this family for the twins 6 month session, which was a newborn gift given my a friend. I may be biased but I truly think a Christina Bailitz Photography gift certificate is a wonderful gift, it is a gift that they don’t outgrow and brings smiles to many now and future generations. How many times do you look for baby pictures to see who a baby looks like? Pictures are a gift that freeze time and connect generations.

First Year milestone sessions can be booked through the website or contact me directly to book a time good for you and your family.

Winter Family Session | Bird Haven Greenhouse | Christina Bailitz Photography

When you live in Chicago, greenhouses are an awesome little photo session location, when you don’t want to deal with the snow and cold.

I met this sweet family of four at the Bird Haven Greenhouse in Joliet for an indoor family photography session. From our precession consult, I knew I would have to shoot fast as their sweet little girl is 1.5 and on the move and loves to explore. The greenhouse is a great area to explore and has awesome light too and greenery backdrop. We had fun watching the fish in each room and capturing family, sibling and individual pictures in between. It was a great location for this mini session.

Sports Photography | Tinley Park Sports Photographer | Christina Bailitz Photography

Sports Photo Sessions - Capture this season

When you have 5 boys all playing baseball, it’s not often that they all have game day at the same time at the same field to grab pictures. So a baseball session was the perfect photo session for this family. From high school to grade school, this was the last season they were all playing for the this program.

Mom had a vision and it truly captured a very big part of motherhood for her. While the schedule is crazy busy she knows one day these are going to be some of the best memories for them all.

For many parents some days we don’t know how we do it. And if one thing we have learned during the last year is that when that season doesn’t happen we miss it and the crazy schedule! Sports truly are a part of many families everyday. A time of learning lessons on and off the field as a family and teammate. While sports may keep your calendar full for that season, think of booking a sports session! Capture that sport your child loves and where you have spent so many hours and created memories and friendships.

Contact Christina Bailitz Photography to set up your sports session.

Class of 2021 Graduation Pictures | Tinley Park Senior Photographer | Christina Bailitz Photography

Graduation Time is Near!

CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2021 your graduation is almost here. It has not been an ordinary senior year. Actually, it has been a senior year like no other senior year in history. But you have walked through the unknown path and adapted and you now see the light at the end of the path of high school. Soon you will have your cap and gown and be given the diploma.

Graduation time is a time of celebration and what better than a graduation photo session. Graduation photo sessions can be done at a location of your choice, studio or even your high school. A session can include the graduate or a group of friends. If a group session is done, we can do individual pictures too for each graduate. Graduation night is a busy time and getting graduation photo’s ahead of time let’s you enjoy that celebration and visit with family and community you are with. And you don’t have any extra people in your pictures.

The session featured on this blog post was a Class of 2020 graduation session at Andrew High School with these beautiful girls. After four years of high school, they were heading in different paths but high school brought them together. This session was ALL about them. Many smiles and hugs and so much laughter. I hope they look back on these pictures and remember that joy every time!!

Caps and Gowns are a timeless tradition! Graduation is great time to for a milestone session!

Contact Christina Bailitz Photography to set up your senior photo session or graduation session.

Newborn In Home Photography Session | Downers Grove | Christina Bailitz Photography

When a baby is born, you fill a spot in your heart you didn’t know was so big and find so much joy and love!!

They are truly blessings and miracles from above.

Newborn sessions are a time to capture the little moments that will be end up big moments you treasure. The moments your baby snuggled just perfectly in the nook of your arm and neck and their head first perfectly in the palms of your hands. Newborn sessions are as much about capturing the sweet baby as it is the connection with the parents. I always encourage parents to jump in the session as your baby will never be this little again.

So if you are expecting a baby or just delivered and thought you missed newborn pictures. Masks and handsanitizer and a little help from mom & dad - we make these newborn sessions happen. They can be in your home or in the studio. And even if outside the two weeks of typical newborn sessions, it is NOT too late. We make it work!

Family Photography Session | Tinley Park | Christina Bailitz Photography

Each Family has a Story

Family photography sessions capture your family in a moment. While this moment is a snippet of your family story. It captures this stage. And all families have many stages to enter and pass through. Some families get family photos annually some have more years between, but I always say you never regret taking family pictures, as they tell part of your story.

Studio photography sessions are a great way to get some classic photos, with no worries on the weather, which is changing often in the Chicago area. Studio sessions are available in Mokena for newborn, babies, children and family photos!!

She Said Yes | Engagement Proposal Photographer | Frankfort IL

Engagements are the start of the next chapter in a love story for two!

Getting engaged is a moment many have thought about. However they say you know when you meet the one. Once you meet that person, wether you are the one getting down on one knee or the one waiting for the proposal to say yes, it is something you are thrilled when it is time. Your proposal is time you never forget and when your fiancee hires a photographer to capture your proposal, it is a moment captured to treasure. The excitement, happiness and love that is captured in those quick minutes lasts a lifetime.

This couple came in for a Christmas Photo session and little did she know it was really the proposal she was hoping for one day. It was truly full of surprise, excitement, and joy.

Cheers to the soon to be Mr & Mrs

It all happens because two people fell in love!

Celebrating "50" | Turning 50 Photo Session

Turning 50 is a reason to CELEBRATE

We often get caught up making sure we capture our children’s milestones from newborn, 3 month, 6 month, Birthdays, Sports and High School Senior Photos for a few. Life is full of moments we treasure. Some milestones we have visions for as we wait for them and some just happen and leave us the gift of memories. If COVID has taught us a few things, one is our “vision” of a milestone celebration has changed as things have been very limited during the pandemic and another is to treasure the moments you can.

My friend turned 50 in during 2020 and booked her own birthday photoshoot, as she annually does sessions for the kids birthdays, yes outside of the annual school picture and the sports pictures. Her kids sessions highlight them and a few of their favorite things. Her 50th birthday photo session, (or 600 month or 18,262 days young) was the same as she had props to celebrate including her roller skates. While this was my first 50 year celebration photo shoot, I truly encourage more to people to come out and celebrate your big day in a way that makes it special for you. And as adults there are very few pictures we have ourselves, I am included. If a “styled” photo session is not your thing, gather your besties or your family for a fun casual session which is not selfies and everyone can be included. Celebrate YOU.

Cheers to 50 and may the next 50 bring as much love laughter and happiness!!

Wild One First Birthday Studio Session | Frankfort | Christina Bailitz Photographer

It’s been a wild year since this sweet boy entered the world last winter.

It is time to celebrate his first year with a WILD ONE first birthday photo session. He loved exploring the studio, showing off how fast is moving around. I always say after they learn to crawl, photo sessions become a little busier getting them to be in the frame and facing a camera angle. But with the help of mom and dad we make it happen. I love the connections I see each session between babes and their parents - as much as I want to say they are smiling at me, often it is mom/dads voice that is working.

We ended this session with a smash cake session! I LOVE these moments, as being a mom of three, I know how fast the first birthday parties go and this is a way to get some pictures and enjoy the moment when not being a host. Some dive in, some don’t touch the cake, and some explore trying to figure out what this is. And this session by the end we had cake on our clothes, face, floor and hair - it was his party time.

First Birthday Photoshoot was a success and documented for the books!!!

Flying into Four Years Old | Orland Park Photographer | Christina Bailitz Photography

I think I was just waiting to meet this little newborn and then I blink and it has been 4 years!

I remember that January day waiting in the hospital waiting room to capture this sweet boys Fresh 48 photography session and I have been honored to capture his milestones and birthdays each year. He came running in ready to tell me all about being four years old and Spiderman. Winter birthdays may be hard to get outdoor sessions in Chicago, but no worries, studio photography sessions capture their special day and are just as much fun!!