Sneak Peek: Cole | Three Months

You thought Chloe was cute?! Well, you were totally right. Just before we hopped over to the zoo to capture her three years of adorableness, we spent time cuddling up to her new baby brother, Cole, for his three months of adorableness. With eyes as big and bright as his older sister, and a sweet simple smile, he's bound to steal dozens of hearts. Although, I'm sure he already has.

Sneak Peek: Cole | Three Months

Aliza

Chloe | Three Years

Three-year old Chloe loves animals. I tagged along with Chloe, her mom, and baby brother Cole, as we explored the zoo together. Racing to keep up with her, I hurried to snap shots before her attention wandered to the next exhibit, the next animal, and ultimately to the playground. With her baby-hair curls bouncing as she skipped along in her purple floral dress, she was eager to pose, and even directed the shoot at times saying, "Aliza, let's do a picture here." Chloe would climb up on a fence, sit tall, turn her head and throw a smile my way, her big brown doe eyes sparkling in excitement. I have been lucky enough to photograph Chloe growing up. It's hard to believe how big she is now compared to her 18-month shoot, and is proud to be a big girl and big sister. Baby brother Cole will appear on the blog soon with his three-month old shoot!

Chloe | Three Years

Aliza

Baby Beluga in the Deep Blue....Aquarium Tank

I don't know what it is about this photo, but I just keep staring at it. A baby beluga (cue the Raffi music) followed its mother, swimming through the murkiness of the deep salt water tank at the aquarium. As we watched from the viewing deck, many feet under water, mother and newborn traced circles around the depths of the tank. I couldn't help but wonder if the mother was purposefully teaching her child to swim and glide through the water, or inadvertently demonstrating patterns of boredom in captivity. The circular swim was mesmerizing. Each time their bulbous white bodies darted gracefully (yes, gracefully) past us, I aimed to freeze a moment with my camera, but with the very low light and surprising speed with which they sailed by, the images were nothing but a blur. So, I timed it differently. To get them as they swam towards us. Far enough away. Zoomed in. I love that the moment is so dark. So quiet, almost haunting. Hardly discernible. Just the curve of their bellies-up bodies, a hint of light from above. Just mama and baby, circling their own private ocean.



Aliza

"My Kind of Town, Chicago is..."

We boarded the early crack-o-dawn train, and sat next to passengers on their way to work. Home. Anywhere but here. The red-head in frizzy braids and sweatpants next to us conducted a loud private conversation on her phone. After hearing about her hangover aftermath at her third shift waitressing job due to five too many Red Bull and vodkas the previous evening, I was thankful that I had toasted my own bagel that morning. Newspapers whipped open. Used college textbooks were highlighted. Lipstick was applied. iPhone apps were downloaded. We watched the farm fields and small towns blur past us. And it was no time before we got there. We stepped outside and immediately looked up at the buildings, and the sun streaming through the few cotton ball clouds.

Our bitter rivals in all games athletic, their pride resting on their ketchup-less hotdogs and thick-crusted pizza, chewing gum and wind, gangsters and Oprah. Big buildings. Big airport. Big history. And all that jazz. Chicago. We spent the day 103 floors up, and under the sea before a sleepy, and quiet, ride home on the rails.

Chicago, Illinois
(Willis Tower Skydeck, Shedd Aquarium)

Aliza