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Austin Jace Lopez made his way into the world, and just a few weeks later, I got to meet him in the studio. His parents, Stephanie and Alex, brought him in for his newborn session—and as first-time parents, they were impressively calm. Especially considering they came for a Skokie newborn photography session from Indiana. Traveling with a newborn is no joke, and they handled it like pros. They showed up ready to go (with an extremely full diaper bag, of course), and Austin was such a chill baby the entire time.

Stephanie shared a bit about their journey into parenthood, I always love hearing those behind-the-scenes stories. Austin’s name? No long backstory—Alex just really liked it. (Sometimes keeping it simple is the way to go.) And when it came time to share the news they were expecting, they surprised Grandma on Mother’s Day with a onesie that said “hello grandparents,” with ultrasound photos. That’s a reveal she probably won’t forget.

Austin was as easygoing as they come during his session—sweet, sleepy, perfectly content being swaddled and posed and SOOOOOO smiley! He also looked an awful lot like Dad. Stephanie didn’t even hesitate when I asked who he resembles: “He’s definitely a copy and paste of Alex.” Can’t argue with that.

Pregnancy cravings? Nothing wild—though Mom said she ate a lot of watermelon. Which, honestly, sounds pretty ideal. Especially compared to some of the stranger combos I’ve heard.

Mom also mentioned that Austin’s birth went smoothly—which, for a first baby, is always a huge relief. She admitted it was nerve-wracking not knowing what to expect (totally normal), but everything turned out just fine. And now they’re soaking in all the little moments—watching him laugh, interact, and hit new milestones.

For the session, we leaned into their love of green—soft sage and forest green tones throughout. It gave the whole session a cozy, fresh feel that suited Austin perfectly. We also captured a few sweet family portraits that I know they’ll love looking back on as he grows.

One thing that surprised Stephanie most about parenthood? The amount of stuff you need to leave the house. (Truly—how can someone so small need so much gear?) But the best part so far has been watching Austin grow and start to show his personality. According to Mom, he already has favorite music (shoutout to Benson Boone) and a serious love for Ms. Rachel. He even cracks up when he gets startled, which probably means he’s going to be the type of kid who loves roller coasters.

It’s always an honor when families trust me with their newborn photos—these early days go by in a blink, and getting to freeze a few of those moments? It’s a big deal. But when a family packs up a newborn, a diaper bag the size of a carry-on, and drives in from another state to get here? That’s a whole other level of trust. Stephanie and Alex made the trip from Indiana to Skokie, and I don’t take that lightly.

Whether you’re a local just down the street or crossing state lines with a car full of burp cloths and backup onesies, I’m genuinely grateful to be a small part of your story. If you’re looking for Chicago newborn photography that’s baby-led, relaxed, and actually feels like you—whether that means forest green everything or something totally different—I’d love to help you create something beautiful (and yes, even fun). The studio is set up to make the whole experience feel calm, easy, and totally worth the drive—wherever you’re coming from.

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Chicago Newborn Photography, Skokie Newborn Photography, Newborn Photography, North Shore Newborn Photography