A Sweet In-Home Lifestyle Newborn Session in Huntley, IL | The Lukaszewski Family

Lauren and Alex welcomed me into their Huntley home last week to photograph their newest baby girl, Ava, and it was such a sweet morning with their family. I first connected with Lauren through her sister Gina, so getting to photograph this season for the Lukaszewski family felt extra special. Their home was calm and cozy, and baby Ava was perfectly settled into all the love around her. She is absolutely darling, and it was such a joy to capture these first days of her life at home with her family.

One of my favorite parts of their in-home newborn session was watching Emma with her baby sister. She was so sweet and gentle with Ava, already settling into her role as big sister in the most precious way. Those sibling moments are always some of my favorites because they are never something you can force. You just make space for them, let everyone take their time, and capture the little moments as they happen. That is one of the reasons I love lifestyle newborn sessions so much. They allow families to stay close and comfortable in the place where so much of this new season is unfolding. Snuggling on the couch, cuddling together on the bed, taking a few quiet moments with the baby — it all becomes part of the story.

And then there was Maddie. Maddie is the Lukaszewski family’s golden retriever, and she was every bit as sweet as you would hope a golden would be. Lauren and Alex warned me that Maddie smiles with her teeth, and she absolutely does. It is a little surprising at first to see a dog come toward you with a full-toothed grin, but she was just happy. So happy. Once I realized that was her smile, I loved her immediately. She was so stinkin’ cute and such a perfect part of their family’s photos.

Lauren and Alex, thank you so much for welcoming me into your home and trusting me to photograph this beautiful season for your family. Your girls are the sweetest, Maddie completely stole my heart, and I loved spending the morning with all of you. Now grab a blanket and snuggle up, your sneak peek is live!