I remember when the Cullen family first reached out to me for family photos. They had just welcomed their second baby, a little boy, and realized they had never taken professional photos together—not even when their oldest, Margaret, was born. The moment I heard that, I knew how important this session would be. These were the memories they'd look back on for years to come.

They had recently bought a historic stone home in the suburbs, a dream they had poured so much time, care, and dedication into after moving from Chicago for the suburbs—the space, the tight-knit communities, the charming downtowns. Honestly, in this season of my life, I an't imagine living anywhere else. The Cullens felt the same way, which made their decision to have an at-home session even more meaningful.

Driving to their home, I soaked in the streets lined with character-filled houses, each with its own story to tell. I had never explored their town before, but seeing its charm firsthand, I knew this was a place I'd consider if we ever moved. Read more on substack. 

( Chicago, il | october 13th, 2024 )

at home with the Cullens 

Recently, my husband, our baby, and I spent 10 incredible days traveling through Europe. He was already abroad for work, so I flew solo with our 11-month-old daughter on a seven-hour overnight flight to London. It might sound intimidating—and trust me, I had my moments—but with a little prep and the right mindset, it’s totally doable.

This post is the beginning of a series I’ll be sharing here on Substack. For paid subscribers, I’ll be posting a complete day-by-day itinerary of what we did in London, the Cotswolds, Dingle, Killarney, and Dublin. But today, I want to start at the very beginning: packing, prepping as a solo parent, and surviving the international flight.

We flew out of O’Hare Airport in Chicago, my home base, so it felt familiar and manageable. When flying with a lap child, you won’t receive their boarding pass ahead of time—you’ll need to check in at the counter the day of to verify their presence. It was a simple, quick process.

Read more on substack

( london, england | march 28th, 2025 )

London flight with baby

coming soon.

( chicago, il | June 10, 2025 )

editorial maternity