courtneywestlakeblog.com http://courtneywestlakeblog.com Blog for Westlake Photography in Springfield Illinois, specializing in family, babies and children's portraits Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:12 +0000 en hourly 1 One for Brady http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/17/one-for-brady/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/17/one-for-brady/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:12 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2183 Since I know his mama is dying to see :)

]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/17/one-for-brady/feed/ 0 One for the Maddox family http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/14/one-for-the-maddox-family/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/14/one-for-the-maddox-family/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 16:05:36 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2180 I really enjoyed shooting with this family over the weekend!!

]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/14/one-for-the-maddox-family/feed/ 0 Clothing ideas for sessions http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/01/clothing-ideas-for-sessions/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/01/clothing-ideas-for-sessions/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 01:33:20 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2165 The question I get asked most frequently when it comes to photo shoots is: “what should we wear!?”

First, consider your ultimate goal for these portraits. Most likely, you want them to display in your home. So what colors and styles will look good in the rooms that you want to showcase them in? Do you want more neutral tones that will coordinate with any room or do you want to add some pops of color to your home through your photos?

Of course, my style might differ from yours, but I always like when families coordinate but not completely ” match.” I know this is much easier said than done! So I wanted to post some shots to give you inspiration…

My absolute favorite from last year! Browns and beiges with pops of coral and patterns – excellent!

Don’t be afraid of putting together bright colors and patterns!



Hope this helps!! :)

]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/05/01/clothing-ideas-for-sessions/feed/ 0 Now Booking! http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/10/now-booking/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/10/now-booking/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:42:09 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2163 We are so excited to announce that we will be opening our summer calendar for a limited amount of sessions!

This year is a time of adjustment for our family as we focus on the care of our daughter Brenna, and therefore it is also a time of adjustment at the studio. This season, instead of our typical session fee with a la carte products, we are offering a single package that offers our clients convenience and incredible value. All of our bookings will include:

A single family session at the outdoor location of your choice within 15 miles of Springfield
The disc of 35-50 color and black and white fully edited high-resolution images from your session that is yours to keep forever
A PDF file of printing instructions, informing you of how and where to print the best images to be displayed in your home
This single family session package with the CD is $449. Your disc will be mailed or delivered to you within 4 weeks of your session.
Currently, our calendar is open through June, and we have two available dates: Saturday, May 12, and Saturday, June 30.

Please contact me as soon as possible if you are interested in scheduling a session with us, due to the limited availability of dates! Upon booking, we will discuss your ideas, suggestions for locations and clothing options and any other interests or questions you may have. We are looking forward to photographing your family this year!
]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/10/now-booking/feed/ 1 One for Kherrington – 1 year http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/09/one-for-kherrington-1-year/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/09/one-for-kherrington-1-year/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:37:55 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2158 Continuing the trend I did with her 8-month sneak peek, here’s Kherrington’s 14-month sneak peek!

Compare to 6 weeks…

And 8 months…
Love it!

]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/09/one-for-kherrington-1-year/feed/ 0 One for Bo: Williamsville Senior 2012 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/01/one-for-bo-williamsville-senior-2012/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/01/one-for-bo-williamsville-senior-2012/#comments Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:52:57 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2154 Bo’s mom was envisioning a “black and white alley shot” before our session…I think we nailed it! :) Love this one.

This was my first session back from maternity leave, and it was a great time! Bo and his parents were wonderful to work with and so pleasant to be around. We had beautiful weather, especially for a March shoot!

]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/04/01/one-for-bo-williamsville-senior-2012/feed/ 0 Top 11 of 2011: Children http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/30/top-11-of-2011-children/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/30/top-11-of-2011-children/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:19:11 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2138 Children: the most challenging and yet most “rewarding” subjects! I get so excited about my photos of kids. I literally chose about 25 favorites and then had such a hard time narrowing down to 11. All of my clients’ kids are so incredibly adorable and fun to work with!!

So here are my top 11, even though there are many more that I wanted to add to the list too!

]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/30/top-11-of-2011-children/feed/ 0 Top 11 of 2011: Families http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/22/top-11-of-2011-families/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/22/top-11-of-2011-families/#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:49:49 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2124 We have the pleasure of not only meeting so many new families in our business, but reconnecting with some familiar faces year after year. We feel fortunate that so many of our clients have become good friends too!

Here are the top picks from 2011 in the family category, in no particular order…






]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/22/top-11-of-2011-families/feed/ 6 Announcing Spring 2012 Mini Sessions! http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/19/announcing-spring-2012-mini-sessions/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/19/announcing-spring-2012-mini-sessions/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:32:56 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2117 Westlake Photography will be holding Spring Mini Sessions on Saturday, May 5!

Westlake Photography mini sessions are 20 minutes and include a CD of 15 to 20 high-resolution images from your session in both color and black and white. The high-resolution images are perfect for personal printing or use on holiday cards. The cost for a mini session is $195.

The available times for scheduling a mini session on May 5 are:

8:00 a.m. booked!

8:30 a.m. booked!

9:00 a.m. booked!

9:30 a.m. booked!

5:00 p.m. booked!

5:30 p.m. booked!

6:00 p.m. booked!

6:30 p.m. booked!

Our morning sessions will be held in Washington Park by the Carillon and Botanical Gardens. We will meet your family by the fountain next to the Fayette Ave. parking lot. Our evening mini sessions will be held at the new State Capitol downtown. Sessions will run according to schedule, so please be on time to make the most of your session!

We only hold two mini session events per year, and our time slots typically book up quickly, so if you are interested in a time, please email me at courtney@courtneywestlake.com as soon as possible! We’re looking forward to kicking off our 2012 shooting season with you!

]]> http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/19/announcing-spring-2012-mini-sessions/feed/ 0 Top 11 of 2011: Newborns http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/14/top-11-of-2011-newborns/ http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/03/14/top-11-of-2011-newborns/#comments Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:30:40 +0000 http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/?p=2115 Babies: probably my favorite subjects! Pure innocence, completely natural…nothing as perfect as a newborn baby!

Here are my favorite images from last year’s newborn sessions, in no particular order…

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