McHenry County Illinois Family Photographer
McHenry
Woodstock
Crystal Lake
Chicagoland
These Are The Good Old Days
The joy. The ordinary magic. The fleeting details you don’t realize you’ll miss until they’re gone.
10
Years in Business
∞
Happy Tears Cried
180+
Families Documented
From the news of a fresh newborn on the way, all the way to their tiny little toes & their big siblings in tow. These seasons happen once, each new one a small reminder of how fleeting time truly is. Someday you’ll look back and remember every tiny detail of how it all felt.
My lifestyle sessions are built around you and your loves.
We’ll gameplan favorite memories, locations, seasons, and activities to accompany our time together. I’m all for the beautiful mess of life – so please don’t worry if your toddler demands to wear that spiderman costume. One day, they won’t fit & all you’ll have are the photos. Come as you are.
You're only this Young once
Family
Maternity
Newborn
Milestones
— Casey + Family - newborn
Nicole was so amazing to work with. She brought a very comforting energy to our family photo shoot, while being very professional. The pictures all came out beautifully and very prompt. I can’t wait to continue to get pictures with her.
"A very comforting energy"
★★★★★
— Jen + Fam
This year was our second time working with Nicole. Last year we did family pictures on a freezing cold day and she was a rockstar through it all. This year was much warmer and the pictures were just as great. Nicole does so well with high-energy toddlers and lets moments happen naturally. The results are perfect. We can’t wait to work with her for years to come!
"Nicole does so well with high-energy toddlers and lets moments happen naturally."
★★★★★
Photo Session Investment
For families in McHenry County & beyond who want life documented exactly as it is. The fat cannoli baby legs, chubby fingers, and sun bleached hair only lasts for a season and I know all too well how much we’ll miss it when it’s passed. My sessions are buildable and fine-tuned to fit your lifestyle and family's unique story.
These sessions range from 30-90 minutes and give you the option to document your memories at home, at your favorite place, or you can upgrade to the studio location at The Ellery in Crystal Lake.
The Good Stuff
Family, Maternity, Newborn, & More
Beginning at $650
For growing families who want the fleeting seasons of motherhood and early parenthood documented honestly and intentionally. The First Year Collection was created for families wanting more than a single session — it’s designed to preserve the transition into parenthood from pregnancy through baby’s first year with storytelling-focused photography that feels connected, relaxed, and true to your family.
Includes your choice of a maternity session, Fresh 48 or in-home newborn session, and a milestone session during baby’s first year.
The First Year
For growing families In all Seasons
Beginning at $1,750
Build Your Dream Shoot
Family Photography Add-ons
Additional hour — $365/hr
Crystal Lake Studio — $150/hr
Things I Do Different
What Sets Me Apart
Play vs. Posed
We follow the littles lead while I sneak in direction throughout. The kids always steer the ship.
Slow Down & Watch
I lean heavily into documentary for family sessions. My goal is to document life AS-IT-IS.
Encourage Activities
Sprinklers, pool days, a night at the drive-in. Wherever your families heart is - I'm there.
Want in front of my camera?
Next
Steps
1 ) Reach out at my contact form here & share details →
2 ) Email Or Phone Call to see if we're a good fit.
3 ) It's a Match! A signed contract & 40 % Non-refundable retainer get's us started.
4 ) We're a team! session planning begins.
5 ) Check-ins & brainstorming continue
6 ) GO TIME. This part is my job - you come as you are!
Frequently Asked Questions
If it's a "hell yes, it's you we want Nicole" — a signed contract and 40% non-refundable retainer lock your date on my calendar. The remainder is due in 2 split payments: 1 at the midpoint between booking and your event, and the final due 1 week prior.
If you booked 'The First Year', your payments following the non-refundable retainer are split into 3. Each is due 1 week prior to each of your 3 sessions.
1 hour of unscripted coverage, Thoughtfully edited images, Pre-session planning, Gentle storytelling direction, Online gallery (6 months), Full print rights, 4-6 week turnaround time, 60-mile travel radius from Hebron, IL.
Maternity Session + Fresh 48 OR In-Home Newborn Session + 6 Month OR First Birthday Session, Private Online Galleries, Guidance Throughout the Experience.
Each session within The First Year Collection is thoughtfully documented and may range anywhere from approximately 30–90 minutes depending on the season being documented, baby’s needs, lighting, and the natural flow of your session together.
Sessions within The First Year Collection are reserved for weekday availability (Monday–Thursday) in order to best serve both my motherhood and wedding clients while allowing space for a thoughtful, unhurried experience.
Fresh 48 sessions are naturally more unpredictable due to baby’s arrival timing, hospital policies, and my existing photography schedule. While I always do my absolute best to accommodate these sessions whenever possible, Fresh 48 coverage cannot be guaranteed for every delivery. If timing or hospital restrictions prevent a Fresh 48 session from taking place, the session may be converted into an in-home newborn session instead.
Portrait sessions are easier to move than weddings — just let me know as soon as possible. During unpredictable seasons I’ll often set a backup rain date at booking so we already have a plan if the forecast goes sideways.
Something that feels like you. Coordinated doesn’t mean matching — it means cohesive enough that nobody’s outfit is distracting from the actual humans in the photo. Comfort matters more than polish. If your kid has a favorite costume or a stuffed animal they take everywhere, bring it. That stuff is the whole point.
For maternity, I recommend 6.5–7.5 months — bump is bumpin’ and most moms still feel comfortable moving around. For newborns, we run entirely on baby’s schedule. I dedicate my full day to newborn sessions — feedings, diaper changes, fussiness, all of it is expected and built into the time. There is no rush.
A rough rule of thumb is about 50 edited images per hour of coverage. A 1 hour session typically comes back with 50–80+ final images. I don’t cap deliverables — every session is different.
Sneak peeks first in the first week. Full gallery delivery within 4–6 weeks depending on the season.
RAW files aren’t included. You can purchase a full JPG vault of your images for 20% of your total contracted price if you want everything unedited.
Let's Do this
Family sessions are an investment — I'm not going to pretend they're not. But the kids won't be this little again. The chaos of right now? It's the stuff you'll miss someday.
The photos are the only thing that actually keeps up with how fast it goes.
Ten years from now, you'll open that gallery and feel how little they were. That's not an accident. That's the whole point.
We have big feelings to catch & a whole lot of real life to document.
Still here?
