Tag Archives: Illinois lifestyle photographer

Roberson | Newborn Session

Leah & Jonathan have become special people to me. I met them back when I first photographed their One Year Anniversary back in early 2015. Then this past fall Leah & I started conversing about doing a group family session with Jonathan’s side. She also shared (to a very pregnant me!) that they were hopefully going to very soon announce that a Little Roberson would be on the way. So I guess you could say I’ve been looking forward to this session for a looonnngggg time!

It also was a super special session for me because it was my first Newborn Session after being back from my maternity leave & having Elizabeth. Someday I’ll write an entire blogpost about it, but I truly see photography & approach my photography in a totally different way then I did before she was born. I knew that would happen, but I don’t think I understood how deeply it would change me photography wise.

These pictures are special to me (I keep saying special but they just are!). Jonathan & Leah are an amazing couple who have dedicated their lives to seeing others lives changed. And now I’ve been able to watch them become parents & see THEIR lives changed. And for the better 😉

Everyone, meet Gracelyn Rae!!!

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I just LOVE this one of daddy & daughter!!!!!!

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Oh my heart! Safe in daddy’s arms.

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Perfect family of three.

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And this is just my favorite of all!!!!!!!!!!!!

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BEAUTIFUL mother & daughter!!!! And I just love how the colors just floowww together.

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Happiness times 3.

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Precious Gracelyn, you’ve been prayed for & loved on from the start. We’re so glad you’re here!!! May you grow to be a strong woman of love & grace & be full of wisdom & peace. (Oh & PS you have some pretty fantastic parents 😉 ) Welcome to this world Gracelyn Rae.

R Newborn Session www.nomi-photography.com-9

 

Barker | Family Session

To end my 2015 photography season with SUCH a special family & at a fun, incredible location was just perfect! I’ve always wanted to have a session at Ewing Manor, it’s been on my photographer dream list & I was SUPER excited when Nikki suggested having their family session there. Barker Family + Ewing Manor = Amazingness

Pop on some Christmas music & grab a hot chocolate & visit the Ewing Manor with the Barker Family & I! Barker | www.nomi-photography.com-2

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My husband & I love the Barkers, who doesn’t? 😉 We’ve loved watching them go from a couple to a family of four.

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One of my favorites right here! Barker | www.nomi-photography.com-4

They kind of like each other 😉 Barker | www.nomi-photography.com-10

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Favorite! Barker | www.nomi-photography.com-11

Hadley & Eliott are precious little ladies to us. I can’t believe Hadley is halfway to 3 years old & Eliott is on her way to 7 months! Each girl has such a fun personality & I’ve loved being able to watch each develop. And I LOVED their pretty dresses Nikki had them wear! The colors were just perfect!Barker | www.nomi-photography.com-7

Daddy & his Hadley girl 🙂 Barker | www.nomi-photography.com-9

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It was my pleasure to spend time with you four, Barker Family 🙂 It was fun seeing what we’ve talked about for awhile now all come to life. But my most favorite part of the session was seeing the love you all share. Hadley & Eliott are blessed girls. They have parents that love the Lord & each other.

These images make me SO ready for Christmas & I had this song going through my head while putting together this post. It’s one of my favorite Christmas songs & I think it’s a perfect ending:

Another year I’ve had with you
We’ve grown together beyond all that we’ve been through
This season holds a place in me
Where there is always room to make new memories

It’s Christmas time my darling
And all I can say is I’ll love you
For only always

Only Always, by Kathy Troccoli

Barker | www.nomi-photography.com-5

Nicole & Robin | Engagement Session

Since I don’t photograph weddings, it’s not very often that I get to work with engaged couples. But when I do, it’s SO fun!!! The guy is always trying to get the girl to blush, giggle & there’s a lot of kissing that happens 😉 😉 It’s SUCH an incredible season in a couples life & I’m always honored to play a small role in it.

Robin contacted me just days after his beautiful Nicole said YES to him at Starved Rock where he TOTALLY surprised her with a proposal. It was going to be a fun session for me personally because I’ve known Robin from church for the past 7 years & I’ve spent fun times with his family. I’m so happy for Robin that he has found his princess 🙂 During our FaceTime date we had a week before their session, I could see how much Robin loves Nicole & just simply adores her. Robin & Nicole wanted a fall session at Bradley University in Peoria where they met as students at the College of Engineering & it TOTALLY fit them! Gorgeous campus & gorgeous couple.

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I think Robin & Nicole laughed for 80% of their session which I LOVED!!! They are totally smitten with each other & it’s SO obvious.

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And she thinks he’s pretty swell as well 😉

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At one point during the session, Robin took Nicole in his arms & just started dancing with her. It was like I wasn’t even there! Oh what a romantic 🙂 What a couple! I hope you have many, MANY more times of spontaneous dances in your marriage you two!!!

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All because two engineers fell in love 😀

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During our communication before their engagement session, Robin emailed me & what he wrote I’ve been WAITING to share in this blog post:

Robin- Thought I would personally email you here so that you would be prepared for Saturday without Nicole knowing… hehe 😀 I am just going to completely wing it and do some pretty silly things and make Nicole laugh majorly …. Just thought you should know because those might turn into some pretty cute photos!

To this I responded- It’s obvious you care for Nicole a lot!

(Grab a tissue Nicole before reading this next part…)

Robin- I do love her a ton! It’s kind of amazing when you realize that you want to marry that person that you are with & how much love that you can have for them. I never knew that when you love a person so much that it could hurt! 

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Oh what a great guy you’re getting Nicole!!! And what a treasure the Lord has given you Robin! I pray the Lord will bless the remainder of your engagement & that your marriage will always keep Him first!!! All the best you two!

 

Wilcox | Family Session

I will turn 30 later this year (& proud of it!) & one of the things I like to look back on in life is to see the answers to different prayers I’ve had. I started praying for my future husband at a young age. They weren’t necessarily long prayers with tons of details. Sometimes it was just “Where IS HE God?” 😉 That was when I was older 😉 But I prayed for him quite often. For his heart, that he would make wise choices & listen to the Lord.

And I’d also pray for his family. And when it came to praying for his family, I for some reason most specifically prayed for his brother.

I just knew my future husband would have a brother. At least one brother. I did imagine him to be the older brother, like older then who I would marry & therefore older then me & could be my “big brother”. But I at least knew in my heart I’d someday get another brother. I also found myself thinking about who my future brother-in-law would marry, who would end up being my sister-in-law & then realized I should probably pray for her too.

And see this is where it gets hard to write a blog post about your own family. Because you start crying. Your eyes well up with tears & you realize that God more then blew away your expectations for who your future in-law family would be. You realize that those prayers for your future big brother were answered in the form of tall, funny & caring Evan Wilcox. And the thoughts & prayers of who would marry that big brother were answered in the form of who was first a friend & then became family, the beautiful Jessica.

My God cares about the little things we desire & long for. He also writes the most incredible stories, if you allow Him too. I know that He just longs to write the most beautiful stories for you my friend & give you things you only thought were just little whispered prayers said at the young age of 14.

The Lord not only wrote the love story that Eric & I have, but He also wrote the love story that Evan & Jessica have. They’ve been married 3 years this past May & then July 27, 2015, that story grew another branch & their family tree became 3. Leora Pearl was born. Their first child. Eric & I’s first niece. She’s a precious gem.

Eric & I traveled to Georgia the beginning of this month & spent a few days with the ‘new’ Wilcox Family & got to meet Leora. One of the evenings we went to a park that they walk at often & had a little mini family photo session.

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Jessica, God chose you to be Leora’s mother. No one else could be who she needs or know her like you can. I can’t wait to watch you blossom even more into the wonderful mother that you are daily becoming.

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They look good as a threesome don’t they? 🙂

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I love to take the parents away from their kids during photo sessions. To snap even just a few photo’s of them together as a couple. Having children & being parents is a wonderful gift. But sometimes you need those visual reminders to remember that first, it was just the two of you. And that marriage relationship needs to be cultivated even with the pitter patter of little feet around the house. This time of our mini photo session was probably my favorite time of the entire evening. And yes, I was brushing away tears taking photo’s of my ‘big brother’ & sista.

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This is my favorite one of Evan & Jessica 🙂 Totally them!

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Evan, you are the big brother I never had. I’m thankful for you & I’m really excited to watch you be a father to Leora & all the other babies that may come in the future 🙂 I see your love for the Lord & your desire for Him to be the main part of your household. I’m proud of you.

Jessica, you too were an answer to prayer. I think often of how blessed I am to have YOU as my sister-in-law. I do see you as my friend & I love our term we use for each other- “sista”. It is proof that you are more then just a sister-in-law. Your work ethic & your desire to raise your children with what you feel is best, not what society thinks is best, inspires me. I’m still ‘mad’ at your husband for taking you to Georgia 😉 but I’m thankful we’ve been able to stay connected. I’m so thankful you’re in my life. I love you!

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And Leora Pearl, you are only a few months old…but your personality & little body grows each day. I pray that you will always shine for Jesus. Never forget you’ve got some amazing parents 😉 And you’ve got an Aunt & Uncle in Illinois that love you very much.

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Deal | Family Session

Home is the nicest word there is. – Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Ashley emailed me a couple months back & we began discussing their family session. I knew in my heart when she described what she was envisioning that their session was going to be something special. And it was.

Yes, it was a little chilly, OK, very chilly 😉 BUT, it was a special time. Ashley & her husband Greg, welcomed me into their charming farmhouse & surrounding property & little Braden was totally excited to show me the cows 😉 (Did you know cows say “Moo”? 😉 If not, just ask Braden, he’ll tell you 😉 )

Ummm, he pretty much stole my heart.

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LOVE that their little wagon for Braden has their family farm name on the side of it.

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Because it was rather cold, we went inside Ashley & Greg’s wonderful farmhouse. Ashley has mean decorating skills & I loved all the windows & coziness the home offers. I was so thankful that Ashley & Greg were so easy going & had not problem with me spending time capturing their family indoors.

No Saturday morning would be complete without a reading of Braden’s favorite book- “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”. All 3 of them know it by heart 🙂

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At the end of their session, I took Greg & Ashley outside to capture a few moments of this couple.

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Ashley you are GORGEOUS!

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Ashley, you have so much talent & the little details you added to this session were PERFECT. So you guys. And Greg, thank you for answering all my farming questions 😉 THANK YOU for spending a sunny, chilly Saturday morning with you three 🙂 Braden is blessed to have you two as parents. It’s obvious that you both love each other & him very much.

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Leah | College Graduate Session

My sister is so beautiful. It was a joy to be able to spend time with her on her 25th birthday last month & capture some fun portraits of her. Other then my husband, my sister is truly my best friend. We have tons of inside jokes & quote old black & white movies that no one else has even heard of. (Although she often trumps me by quoting a movie line & saying, “What’s that from?” & I can’t remember.) Leah’s hilarious & is often cracking me up through-out the day with texts full of her wit.

Leah is also a very wise woman. And smart. This next month, Leah will be graduating from Illinois State University, magna cum laude with her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

We spend some time in my parents neighborhood for awhile at the beginning of her session. Leah thought of having her morkie dog, Lucy, for part of the session & I thought it was a great idea!

Lucy looking up at her momma 🙂

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If you’ve been to my parents house & met Lucy, I’m sure you’ll agree with everyone else that she’s a sweetie. Because everyone loves Lucy 🙂

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I could have posted TONS images from just this portion of the session. My sister is SO beautiful.

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The soon to be graduate & teacher!!!

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I love you Leah! You’re not just my sister, but my best friend 🙂 I know you are my little sister, but in so many ways I look up to you. This has been a hard year for you & I’ve seen you to continue to grow & blossom instead of shrink & wither. You pressed on. Through these past years at Heartland & at ISU, you pressed on. I’m so PROUD of you. I could never have done what you’ve accomplished. You’ve let the Lord guide your dreams & take you down the journey He has for you. The best is yet to come. And I promise, I will be the LOUDEST person at the Redbird Arena on the ISU campus come December 13 next month when you walk. I will be smiling, crying (as I am now 😉 ) & yelling, “THAT’S MY SISTER!”

I love you Eah.

Leah | College Grad Session www.nomi-photography.com-10

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Thank you!

First of all I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who entered the giveaways this past week! Every share & post you did helped spread the word of Nomi Photography & for that I am truly grateful. I personally LOVE giveaways myself & it was fun to be the one actually doing the giving. Each time a winner was drawn, I too was holding my breath to see who it was! I hope you all had fun & enjoyed it as much as I did!

THANK YOU

I also want to thank EVERYONE once again for the past 6 months. I can’t emphasize HOW MUCH I have learned & grown in the past 6 months. Each session is a learning experience for me. I love each family & couple & senior that I’ve been able to connect with these past 6 months. I know I say it a lot, but I’ll say it again, it TRULY is an HONOR for me when you choose me, Nomi Photography, to come spend time with you. These past 6 months couldn’t have been amazing without each of you.

Thank you to the talented Miss Ana Pyper who captured what I had imagined but couldn’t explain with her handlettered artwork. She is an amazing young lady. Thank you friend!

I also couldn’t have done these past 6 months without my husband, Eric. I love you dear!!!

And Mary Wise, who is my cousin by marriage & the amazing mind behind this website. I don’t thank you enough friend for all you’ve done for me. Once again, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

And my last thank you, goes to my Lord & Savior. Father, thank You for all the wonderful experiences & moments You’ve set in my path the past 6 months. Thank You for connecting me with amazing people. And for using photography, a gift from You, to remind seniors, families & couples that they were made to smile.

And now, without further adieu, the winner of our last & final 6 Month Birthday Celebration Giveaway is!

ALISHA HARDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Alisha! Please mail me within 24 hours with your address to claim your prize.

And congrats again to Joy Phillips & Becky Tharpe (who just happen to be mother & daughter!) who won earlier last week.

I look forward to the next 6 months! And believe you me, there is going to be an awesome celebration come May 2, 2015!!!

 

 

 

 

Kadivar | Family Session

I’ve known Bethany & Allen, goodness, how long has it been guys? 6ish years? We met at our church’s college group way back before so many life changes we’ve each gone through, babies, college graduations, job changes…the list goes on!

I was really excited that Bethany said her parents & sister were coming down from the suburbs of Chicago to join us for the session. Her parents crack me up 😉 We really had a fun time! I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to see from the images!

Little Brady LOVES his grandparents. And it’s obvious they love him too!

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That face <3

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These two are just awesome!

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And Brady especially loves his mommy & daddy!

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Girl, call me when it’s time for senior pictures. Please & thank you! 😉

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These two can have hot romance going on one second & hysterical laughs the next!

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Thanks for an awesome session guys! I hope we can do it again!!!

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LaBerge | Double Maternity Session Part I

Rachel & Amber, two very special friends of mine who happen to be sisters, talked to me a while back about having a double maternity session together. It was a session I looked forward to for moonntthhhss! Amber, her husband & son came as well as Rachel, her husband & her son & daughter who are twins. Since this session was so special, it’s going to have three parts! And the first part is dedicated to the LaBerge Family!

I know I’ve said this before, but capturing special friends is a high honor. My husband grew up with Amber’s husband & Amber has become a close friend to me. it’s very special to me to watch their family grow. I look forward to the future when someday our own children will grow up with theirs!

This is one of my favorites their session!

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Emery is going to be an awesome big brother!

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My friend Amber is a BEAUTIFUL momma! Harrison is going to be one blessed little boy!

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Shickel Family | Family Session

When I received Tobi’s first email about capturing her family, I was super excited! We emailed back & forth & chose a date & location. Through our emailing, we found out that my sister had been the nanny for Tobi’s family’s neighbor’s kids! Small world!

The day came for their session & unfortunately it was an evening that the weather decided to not cooperate. But we chose another day & the weather was simply PERFECT!!!

01 www.nomi-photography.com I have to say that one of my favorite parts of the Shickel family was seeing Tobi & her daughter “tell each other secrets” 🙂

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Pretty much my favorite picture from the whole session 😉

06 www.nomi-photography.com The Shickel family was a ton of fun to capture! Each of the three children have their own distinct personality & I loved being able to capture each one. Plus, it was super fun to take some pictures of the kids in their Cubs apparel 😉 Here I asked them to show me what they look like when the Cubs are loosing. This was very hard for them because “the Cubs never loose!” they said 😉

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And this is how the Shickel family celebrates when the Cubs win!!!

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