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  • modern … real … artistic … playful … relaxed … life’s sweetest moments

  • Welcome to Sweet Pea Photography! Scroll down to find lots of current images, sneak peeks from recent sessions, info about blog contests, scheduling announcements, and my thoughts on all of the above! Or check out the tabs at the top, especially if you're interested in scheduling a session.  To get a glimpse of what a Family Session or a Beloved Session is like, just click on one of these awesome videos by Park Life Wedding Films... then sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun!

    • ..................................join in the fun of a family session..............................

    • .......................... or get a glimpse of a Beloved Session.........................

Every year for my birthday, I really only want one thing… to go sailing on my Dad’s beautiful sailboat on Lake Michigan.  This year, the weather was absolutely perfect and our sails were calm and relaxing… so we even got a chance to take the dingy out for some pictures while we were on the lake – a first!  Some of you know the story behind the boat, but for those who don’t… this 44′ ketch has been a lifelong project for my Dad. He started building it when I was 2 years old.  He finished it when I was 28.  During those 26 years of hand-crafting every inch of “Jubilee”, he also built our family’s home, helped my mom raise my 2 siblings and me, taught high school math (best math class ever!), took our family camping every summer, worked on countless other projects around the house, served in our church, retired after 30+ years of teaching, and demonstrated sacrificial love daily… so I really treasure every sail with my Dad and can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday weekend. Thanks Dad – I love you!!

Filed in: family | kids
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  • July 24, 2011 - 8:51 pm

    Amber - What an amazing blog post. Thanks so much for sharing.

  • July 21, 2011 - 10:43 am

    Ashley Goodwin - Ummm HELLOOOO! I LOVE The colors on the sailboat! LOVE!!

  • July 9, 2011 - 3:47 pm

    jodi - happy belated birthday Al!!

  • July 8, 2011 - 2:49 pm

    Margo - Allyson, that photo of Eden and your dad is so sweet. Thanks for sharing these. It makes sense that such a talented woman would have such an awesome dad!

A few weeks ago, our family had a great photo session with Anna Inabinet (I’ll post some images from our custard cup adventure soon, but you can see a sneak peek here on Anna’s blog) and this past weekend I got to return the favor!  I had a blast hanging out with Anna and her husband, exploring some of their favorite spots in Chicago before they move to Georgia later this summer.  I think Chi-town will miss them!  Anna enjoyed her annual birthday ride on the swings at Navy Pier, braved the giant Ferris wheel, and did a great job on the other side of the camera (honestly, being photographed is one of the hardest things for photographers to do!)  I really enjoyed getting to know A and J better by taking a peek into their fun relationship.  Thanks for a fun time, and I hope you enjoy this sneak peek!

Filed in: engagement | families | sneak peeks
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  • June 30, 2011 - 3:50 pm

    Anna - Thank you, Allyson! I especially love the b/w one – can’t wait to see the rest (:

I had a blast playing with this bubbly girl and her family in Urbana a few weeks ago! Our fun family photography session in the park was filled with bubbles, dancing, bubbles, reading books, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and more bubbles!  Thanks for a great session, and I hope you enjoy this sneak peek – remember to pass it along and leave a comment here on the blog, because after 25 I’ll gift this lovely little lady a free 5×7 print!

Filed in: families | kids | sneak peeks
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  • July 17, 2011 - 9:53 pm

    Michelle - these are so pretty!:)

  • July 8, 2011 - 11:14 am

    Kathy Vu - Adorable!

  • July 7, 2011 - 7:38 pm

    MIchelle - absolutely gorgeous pictures! 🙂

  • July 7, 2011 - 3:08 pm

    kristen - aww! she’s so cute!

  • July 6, 2011 - 10:12 pm

    Lynn - The pictures look wonderful; she looks so adorable!

I know this family has been waiting a long time for this post… so I’m especially glad they’re not only my friends (and neighbors!) but also are patient people who understand how busy I’ve been!  Enjoy!

Filed in: families | kids | sneak peeks | toddlers
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  • June 25, 2011 - 3:40 pm

    Lindsay - Very sweet pictures!

  • June 24, 2011 - 8:30 am

    Amy - I love the first picture with the expression on Mom’s face!

  • June 24, 2011 - 8:19 am

    Laura Finke - Beautiful!

I love photographing these beautiful girls, and I’ve had the honor of doing just that pretty much every 3 months for the past two years!  It’s such fun watching kiddos grow up right before my eyes, and I know their lovely mom really loves their albums I create at the end of each year. 🙂  This time we did a Mom & Me Mini-Session at the park in Urbana, and we all had a fun time.  By the way – don’t you just LOVE these yellow dresses? Super cute!  Thanks for another great session, and I hope you enjoy this sneak peek — and remember to leave a comment below if you do!

Filed in: families | mini-sessions | sneak peeks | toddlers
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  • June 23, 2011 - 9:39 pm

    Monica Carroll - So precious!!! They are growing up so fast!!!

  • June 23, 2011 - 7:31 am

    cory - Makes my day! 🙂

  • June 22, 2011 - 2:42 pm

    Jessica - Three times the fun, and I love the outfits!

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting this lovely, silly couple in Urbana for a photography session to capture their love for each other. It wasn’t an engagement session or an anniversary… simply a day to enjoy and document the love and care they feel for one another.  I think this is a great idea, and something that all couples should do every few years.  You have to admit that you have lots of snapshots of your family, and even lots of professional pictures of your kids, but have you taken the time to capture images that show the love you feel for your husband or wife?  Images of your spouse that you will treasure on your 50th wedding anniversary?  Images that your children will cherish and show your grandchildren, saying “can you see how much my parents loved each other?”

Probably not…

I would love to work with you and your spouse to capture a loving moment in your beloved relationship. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about this type of session, or simply check out my availability (under the “session info” tab above) if you’re ready to book a session.  Or for now, just leave a comment here on the blog to let this fun couple know how much you enjoyed their sneak peek (after 25 comments I’ll gift them a 5×7 print).

Filed in: families | sneak peeks
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  • June 20, 2011 - 11:57 am

    Tami - Very sweet. Love the black & white.

These lovely ladies have changed so much since the last time I saw them – at their newborn photography session!  They are beautiful little girls and we had fun playing at the park in Urbana during their mini-session a few weeks ago. Thanks for coming out on a hot Saturday, and I hope you enjoy this sneak peek! Remember to leave a comment here on the blog, because after 25 I’ll gift these girls a 5×7 print!

Filed in: families | kids | mini-sessions | sneak peeks
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  • June 21, 2011 - 4:47 pm

    Debbie Knight - What sweet little girls!!

  • June 21, 2011 - 12:40 pm

    Johanna Mayer - Love those pics and love those girls!!!

  • June 21, 2011 - 9:48 am

    Mary Smith - Love these…so adorable!

  • June 20, 2011 - 9:46 pm

    Mike Trautman - Wow! Great pictures! The photographer really captured the girl’s personalities with some super shots!

  • June 20, 2011 - 9:26 pm

    Andrea - Beautiful!!!!!

  • June 20, 2011 - 8:52 pm

    Jolie - Wow- what great photos of both Cuties and their pretty Mom!

  • June 20, 2011 - 7:59 pm

    robin coburn - beautiful pictures sis

  • June 20, 2011 - 6:59 pm

    Julie Corley - Beautiful…Beautiful…Beautiful…

  • June 20, 2011 - 2:14 pm

    Faith Swope - OMG – these pics are awesome, I watched the slideshow and loved the music too!

  • June 20, 2011 - 1:00 pm

    Megan - Wow, I love her Lexie’s blue eyes in this pic!

  • June 20, 2011 - 11:23 am

    Debbie Huber - Great photographs, April! What beautiful little girls you were blessed with.

  • June 20, 2011 - 10:04 am

    Lindsey Loschen - So Cute!

  • June 20, 2011 - 9:36 am

    Connie Barrowman - Too beautiful for words!

  • June 18, 2011 - 10:44 pm

    Angela Roderick - Absolutely Adorable!!

  • June 18, 2011 - 6:10 pm

    Jamie kingston - Beautiful girls just like their mommy 🙂

  • June 18, 2011 - 3:27 pm

    Karen Howard - Such cute pics!!

  • June 18, 2011 - 11:33 am

    Stacey Davison - Love the pics! They are growing up so fast.

  • June 18, 2011 - 7:35 am

    Diane - These fabulous girls certainly deserve a free 5×7!

  • June 17, 2011 - 11:34 pm

    Jenny Osterbur - Beautiful!!!!

  • June 17, 2011 - 10:57 pm

    Kristin - What a pleasant surprise to see the girls on your blog! Love them and the pics are great!

  • June 17, 2011 - 10:04 pm

    Jen Carlson - Beautiful pics of my favorite twin girls!

  • June 17, 2011 - 9:34 pm

    Jennifer Johnson - The pictures are absolutely gorgeous! It does help to have great models. I live out of state, so anytime I get to see my lil cousins pictures is awesome! I love being able to see how fast they are growing up.

  • June 17, 2011 - 9:31 pm

    Stephanie Davenport - Wow! They’re beautiful!

  • June 17, 2011 - 7:18 pm

    Paul - Cute

  • June 17, 2011 - 7:17 pm

    Debbie - Too Cute…Love Them

I should’ve known that once I posted one Sweet Pea Photography Mom & Me Mini-Session sneak peek, then all the other families would be anxiously awaiting theirs as well… 🙂  So I guess I just signed myself up for a very busy week of blog posts!  Here’s another sneak peek from that fun Saturday at the park in Urbana.  Enjoy!  (And leave a comment if you like it!)

Filed in: families | kids | mini-sessions | sneak peeks
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  • June 19, 2011 - 9:25 pm

    Andrea - These are so good! They make me smile!

  • June 15, 2011 - 9:23 pm

    Tina Farthing - Love the pics!

  • June 15, 2011 - 6:20 am

    Nichole Gladish - Love these photos! Julie – your precious kids are darling and it looks like the whole family had fun. Can’t wait to see more, especially in your scrapbook! Nichole

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