{Luca}

There is nothing more I love than someone choosing me {again} to photograph their children! {Luca} is number three of the family with big brother Antonio and big sister Gemma, both of which I photographed as newborns as well. I am so grateful for the opportunity to capture such a special time in a family’s life.

This family is so incredibly sweet with the absolute cutest kids ever! I love my time with them ❤ Their gallery is almost complete but I had to share some images from their session because I just can’t keep them to myself 😉

Enjoy!

xo

Ilyssa

{DeRiggi Family Spring Mini}

I love when I get to photograph my kids friends, I get to really see their cute personalities and Ava was no exception! Ava goes to pre-k with my littlest, Paisley, and she talks about her ALL the time. She is the most fun little silly personality and I love it, and I can see why Paisley does too! Ava also has the sweetest family and is a big sister times two! Her little sister was just as cute and silly and she has a new baby brother too! I loved having my kids all close together and I don’t see many people that do it like we did. They are all so close and such good friends. They will always have each other and you truly couldn’t ask for anything more.

Thank you Lauren for trusting me to capture your family’s love through my eyes. I loved photographing you and look forward to the next time now that you are a photo session convert 😉

Enjoy a sneak peek of the DeRiggi Family!

xo

Ilyssa

{Sloane Kelly Newborn Session}

When a mama calls me up to tell me she’s having yet ANOTHER gorgeous little girl I get abnormally excited 😉 This baby girls big sister came to me a couple of years ago with her police officer daddy, gorgeous mommy and the most adorable pink wagon with her name on it. Well this smart mama brought that same wagon, that same police officer 😉 lol and yet ANOTHER gorgeous little girl with another perfect name! Could you get any better than Catalina and Sloane?! This mommy and daddy are so blessed to have two little sweethearts. I feel so privileged to be able to photograph them again. Thank you for choosing me!

Here is a sneak peek into Sloane’s newborn session, enjoy!

xo

Ilyssa

{Hudson}

Newborn sessions are definitely my soft spot. Everyone asks me if I want another one because I seem to be so relaxed, confident and happy around my newborn clients. True, I LOVE other people’s newborns, but I also love my sleep lol. I feel like I put in the time having 4 kids of my own (three within 11 months!) which kind of all feels like a blur, but it was the best blur in the world. I feel so lucky to have had kids the way I did. I got the best of both worlds and feel so blessed. So do I want another baby in the future? I dont think so, but as my husband says, we can never be too sure of anything 😉

For now, I’m thankful that my long time friend, Erin, brought her sweet boy for me to cuddle! Thank you so much for driving all the way from Connecticut so that I could spend time with you. I love you all very much!

Here is a sneak peek into Hudson’s session!

xo

Ilyssa

{Crowley Family Mini Session}

Another round of Mini Sessions! If you can’t tell by now, I live for the candid moments, the moments of loving on each other hardcore. The moments of the parents looking at each other so in awe of their baby(s), so in love with each other. Sometimes I help you get there, sometimes I don’t need to, either way, the session is all about the emotion and having a good time!

This sweet family I was able to get in last minute to capture the love they have for each other. I’m so thankful to have met this family. They bring out the best in each other, they are bursting at the seams with love, and they unconditionally support each other through thick and thin. And to show their daughter this way of life is truly a blessing. That is one lucky little girl!

I had so much fun at their session, it was full of smiles and laughs and look forward to photographing them again ❤

xo

Ilyssa

{Spring Mini Session}

I am absolutely loving these Spring Mini Sessions! I have gotten to take pictures of past clients like this amazing family and new clients as well!

I absolutely LOVE when K and L bring their little cuties to come see me all the way from Connecticut! I had the privilege of taking both of their newborn photos and watching them grow through the years. I love them, I love their story, I love their love. I have in fact tried to convince them to come live with me because the team of mommies these two have is pretty incredible!

Thank you for coming to see me! Here is a sneak peek of their session!

xo

Ilyssa

{Dean}

How about these rock star parents who open up their second gym and have a baby all in one week?! What?!

It all goes back to middle school when I met this little cutie’s Daddy. Tim and I have known each other for years and naturally lost touch when we went to college. Thank goodness for FaceBook that reconnected us when his gorgeous wife was pregnant with their first baby. You can check out their NICU session here. Although it wasn’t a studio session, it was absolutely perfect at Overlook Hospital. The two were glowing with their sweet baby who I got to see again when his little brother, Dean was born!

The best part of this is that Erin contacted me a while back to schedule the session, I was beyond excited to see them again. Then right before the baby was born, Tim contacted me for the session! He had no idea they were already booked and yet he ALSO chose me to capture their sweet new family member.  I absolutely love it and their session was perfect. Dean was a dream baby that slept the entire time despite his 2 year old brothers best efforts ;).

Erin, & Tim, congrats on another perfect baby boy to complete your family,  congrats on your new gym CrossFit 908 Central (if you are in Westfield go check it out!), and best of luck with your new family of four.

xoxo

Ilyssa

{Selfless}

I had a contest a couple of months ago, I asked people to nominate a {very} deserving mama for a free newborn mini session (which I upgraded for her 😉 ). Hands down the most people nominated this amazing lady, Tashay, by a landslide.  There is no question in my mind why. Tashay had 2 gorgeous children, {S} and {K} and we have known them for years (I went to high school with Tashay!). When I had children we reconnected (and to say she was helpful is the understatement of the year). Tashay then gave her body to two mamas that needed help carrying a baby. She was a surrogate not once, but TWICE. Yes, had two children for other people! {Strong} doesn’t even cover it. I was privileged enough to actually be in the delivery rooms for both births, was incredible to say the least. To see her carry a baby for 9 months, and then hand that baby over to their mama & daddy with a smile on her face was amazing.  Being by her side was one of the proudest moments of my life.

Now it was her turn. She met an amazing man, {K}, and they had a gorgeous baby boy, {Kairo}! They are so blessed to have three gorgeous children with hearts of gold. They are sweet, compassionate, caring and incredible people and role models.

I was honored once again to photograph Tashay’s children ❤

Thank you for trusting me with your babies!

xoxo

{Black & White}

Let me start off by saying I {love} black and white photography. My favorite images are taken on film, that are converted to a deep, raw, matte black and white finish. That being said, it takes a lot for me to convert an image to black and white and for me to truly love it and feel it.  To make a photograph black and white I need to feel raw emotion, it is not just an image of a person, it is the feeling I get when I scroll through the images.

This family was different. I have never done so many black and whites and loved them so much! I always have a couple of them, and that being said I haven’t done a family session in quite some time since becoming a newborn specialist, but I was fulfilling a package and I’m so glad I got to see them again! I photographed Hudson at just a week old (AND 8 days…don’t ask lol) and now I get to photograph him again. I love it!

Here are ONLY the B&W images from there session that I thought I would share with you. Would love to hear your feedback!

xoxo

Ilyssa

{Big News!}

Well everyone, I have some REALLY exciting news! Earlier this year I announced that I would only be doing newborn photography because that is truly my passion. I was amazed at the reaction of my clients who were not only understanding, but supported my big decision.  Much to my surprise, I have had my busiest year yet! Thank you all so much for keeping me booked with sessions, this “job” of mine is incredible and I’m so lucky that you all have trusted me with your new life to capture one of the most special times in your family’s life.

But you didn’t think I was going to leave you hanging after you had that baby and needed pictures of your family, right?! Well guess what, I have partnered with an INCREDIBLE photographer.  Amy Vaccaro is a local photographer that matched my style exactly.  We focus on the love of the family in a gorgeous outdoor setting. She is kind, trustworthy and thoughtful and takes the time to get to know your family and individual needs and wants. Then she will deliver an incredible gallery to choose from which I know you will be in awe of.  Here is what Amy has to say!

“Capturing genuine moments and emotion through my camera’s lens is a joy for me.  I pride myself in having a friendly, unobtrusive, and patient style.  My specialty is working in natural light and environments to create classic timeless images for clients to enjoy for years to come.  Building relationships with each family, seeing them grow through the years, is such a gift.  Knowing that the portraits captured will be cherished for years to come, bringing happiness to the families, provides me with great fulfillment.” -Amy

 

So for all of your non-newborn needs, contact Amy at Fine Life Photography! We are a great team that I know you will not be disappointed in! Check out her latest work on facebook!

Thank you all for your constant support of our small business, we look forward to working with you!

xo

Ilyssa