35 - Grayslake Photographer and Writer

This week I celebrated my 35th birthday.  I am grateful for so many things! 34 was a wonderful year. Here are a few things that I am grateful for... A thriving photography business, my quality and hard work are being met with great rewards.  I've completed a full year as a contractor for my other part time job, some weeks I was a lot better at fulfilling this role than others but overall I would count it as a success.  Volunteering once a week at my kiddos school, Thursday mornings are so much fun. In January I complete one year on my Yoga journey.  I feel and see the benefits, currently at my healthiest. Speaking of journey's, my spiritual journey which has been a daily awareness, I've uncovered so much peace and happiness. The fact that I am utmost grateful for my partner and the three little ones that call me mommy goes with out saying.  Our love and bond is strengthen as I focus on inner peace - it's like a reflection in the water.      

Every year keeps getting better and better.  I am living my best life.

So what are my intentions for my 35th year?  It's something I've been pondering for a few weeks now.   You have to dream the dream in order to achieve it.

To share a few: I am going to continue the path that I have started, increasing my practices of Yoga, meditation and being a student of this wonderful life.  Keeping my role as guide for my children and partner to my husband a focused priority.  Continuing to develop  my photography style, keeping it simple and natural.  Remembering why I started a photography business in the first place.  New to my intentions this year is this strong calling I feel to write.  I'm going to set time a side weekly to answer this calling.  I've started to write a few things - I have not yet finished any of them.  My intention is to finish one full work of thoughts put into words.      

Thank you for reading, looking at my work and being part of my journey.  I am going to take a break in January to organize and focus.  I will start blogging again in February.  Happy New Year to you and here's to living our best life in 2015!

Holiday Priorities - Grayslake Photographer and Writer

Everyone has different priorities when it comes to the holidays.  They can change from year to year.  This year early in December I sat down to make a mental note of what my priorities were.  What did I want to focus on this special time of year?  There is so much to choose from: family time, presents, Santa, Jesus' birthday, elf on the shelf, Christmas cards, and decorating the house - just to name a few.  This year my time was a little bit more limited than other years.  Busy photography season was especially wonderful to me and had me hard at work.  Setting priorities allowed me to focus on what is the most important to me.

Every year Christmas cards are high on the priority list, for obvious reasons - photography.  This year it was not at the top of the list.  I had told the kids early on that I didn't want to focus on presents - no Christmas present lists this year. So I knew I had to set the example with priorities.  Our card this year is actually a picture we took before we went to see the play,  "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" at the Chicago Theater downtown.  Although it looks like a set up for a Christmas card it really wasn't.  This is one of two shots we took before we excitedly hit the road for our first real live musical play. What we have here is real excitement and joy - that's what makes this image perfect.     

With excitement and joy for life's wonderful journey this Holiday Season we send our love.

Celebrating - Grayslake Photographer and Writer

We had our annual bunco holiday celebration also known as hunco.  You know I finally got why they called it hunco; holiday + bunco = hunco.  Took me a while... HA! It was SO much fun.  We are to dress up in the most creative holiday attire we can put together.  There was everything from ugly sweater, Christmas tree skirts, Christmas stockings, hip hop Christmas, a cat, a mouse and a bunny.  But the best and most creative was the shout out to what the celebration is really about: Jesus' birthday.  I Loved the outfit that my friend put together especially because I've been constantly reminding my kids what we are really celebrating.  I just might put on a birthday hat on Christmas day.

Photo both up above.

We had a fun gift exchange...

My friend Jackie took this picture of me above; I love it! But don't stare at it too long you will get dizzy.  What I love even more is the gift I am holding created by Stacey.  This is such a wonderful idea for a fun gift!  On the flamingos are each of our birth dates.  They are passed around all year and put on our lawns to celebrate our life.   

Do you know what a selfie stick is?  Answer: Hours of belly laughs.   

My wonderful friend surprised me with an early birthday pie.  I don't like cake and she remembered.  :) 

Wishing you all, so much FUN that your mouth hurts from laughing, good times with your friends and family.  

Home - Grayslake Family Photographer

This beautiful family will spend their first Christmas in their new home.  Mom is a city girl (which I can relate to) and dad is a country guy so they decided on a location in between.  Welcome to Grayslake, you are going to love it here!

Merry Grayslake Christmas! 

email: angelclarkphotography@gmail.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/AngelClarkPhotography

Maternity Session - Grayslake Maternity Photographer

One of my beautiful amigas is going to have her third little one in just a few months.  I jumped at the chance to photograph her glorious glow.  There are so many wonderful shots it was really hard to decide on a sneak peek.

This handsome guy told me that I smile and laugh a lot.  :D He also told me that I should wear a dress while photographing.  And he wondered why I smiled and laughed so much!?  

No words, just simply beautiful!  

Congratulations W Family! Can't wait to meet your new little blessing from above.  

Being Present - Grayslake Photographer and Writer

I'm almost always behind the camera at family events.  This last weekend we had two wonderful events to partake in.
The first was my nephews second birthday party.  It took place at an indoor pool facility.  I really enjoy capturing these special times for my family.  I also know that I need to put the camera down to really take the moments in and participate.  I sure did take a splash in the pool this time :)

The other very special event was the baptism of our niece.  My husband and I were given the honor to be her godparents.  My brother took these for me so that I could fully participate in the beautiful ceremony.

My sister took this last one for me.  We were laughing because we weren't sure where she was pointing the camera.   Turned out great!

I really appreciated being able to enjoy this moment fully.  Special thanks to my bro and sis.

Gratitude - Grayslake Family Photographer

This is how I've spent my last 10 weeks! This fall was a huge success for my business.  Every session I had available was booked.  Next year, I plan to have more fall sessions available.  I want to take a moment to say thank you to all the wonderful clients that I had the privilege to photograph. I have worked very hard to fine tune my photography and I have a lot to show for it.  This image represents the dream I've had for four years and I am so proud to have achieved it.  

I can't wait to see all the beautiful Christmas cards this holiday season.  

Thanks again, wonderful clients and friends you've helped me realize my dream. 

Pink - Grayslake Family Photographer

I donated a session to a fundraiser at my child's preschool.  This awesome family had the winning bid. Although, I knew from the start that they wanted to do something a little different, I really didn't grasp the importance of it until recently.  You see, the courageous wife, mother, and grandma at the center of the image below was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2014.  

This warrior had a double mastectomy in June. She is currently undergoing her second round of chemotherapy treatments for stage 2B cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.     

This She-Ra is in the middle of her battle with breast cancer.   

Every year the Stanley Family does fun Christmas pictures with a different theme.  

Understandably, Grandma Warrior was hesitant to do Christmas pictures this year.  

 The family rallied together and thought of a special theme to show support for their loved She-Ra.

They proudly wear these t-shirts this year with loving support.   

"My mom is the strongest woman I know ... she has great faith and is able to be at peace in all circumstances," her daughter shared with me.    

I am honored to take part in this demonstration of family solidarity.  

Family is not an important thing.  It's everything.  

Making Time Stand Still - Wauconda IL Family Photographer

We can't make time stand still.  We just can't.  Through photography we are able to capture a moment in time and look back. A documented memory that we will have forever.
I have had the honor of capturing this beautiful family for three years now.  I recall our first session; I asked mom and dad who weren't planning on being in the images to sneak into one.  Ever since then mom and dad are camera ready for our sessions.   :)
They are a beautiful family!

Three years of capturing this little princess grow.  Truly an honor!

Thank you S Family, I appreciate the opportunity to capture you year after year! 

I hope to see you next year!

Rocking Halloween - Grayslake Photographer and Writer

This is the second blog post for my Wed blog, make sure you check out the previous post - a beautiful family portrait session.

Halloween/Fall is my favorite time of year.
This years family themed costume is disco. I finally squeezed in time for pictures this weekend.  We had so much fun putting this idea together.

The cutest little Elvis ever!  

You will never guess who drags their feet the most about taking pictures for Halloween.... the handsome man that is posing up above!

As I was editing these images, I took a look back at our previous Halloween fun.  When I started this 6 years ago it was because I was a SAHM and I needed a creative outlet.   I also needed to feel like I controlled something in my life... even if it  was Halloween costumes.   I have fond memories of my childhood Halloweens because of my talented and creative mother.  Starting this was "natural" for lack of a better word.  But it has evolved into something else.  I no longer control the idea, we decide together.  Now, it's about showing family unity and having fun more than anything else.  We spend countless dinner conversations discussing, planning and remembering this.  The kiddos give most of the input and I make sure it is executed.  One year the kids may not want to do this anymore, I know that.  As for now, I will enjoy my groovy family.