at home documentary – Page 3 – CHICAGO AND SUBURBS FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

at home documentary, Chicago BIRTH, maternity

Beautiful day for a hospital birth Elmhurst IL | Adri De La Cruz chicago and west suburbs birth photographer

June 10, 2019June 17, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | PhotographerLeave a Comment

Attending this birth was such a joy, and honestly I’ve never seen a more calm birther than this woman. Her peaks were just so controlled and effortless. At least that is how she expressed them. The day outside was just perfection, and this had been my first day birth in a while. It was just extremely laid back. But then the going got tougher. Then I knew baby was close to coming earth-side. Still with her strength she got to ten, and they prepped her for the babies arrival. Hospitals are much more restrictive when it comes to images during birth + active pushing, so I managed to get a few before I was reprimanded. Still I hope you can gather the beauty of this birth from these images. I am so proud of this amazing human, and I cannot wait to see that beautiful boy again!

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at home documentary, maternity

Morales Maternity session, baby number three is on the horizon | Adri De La Cruz Itasca IL, family photography

May 24, 2019June 17, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | PhotographerLeave a Comment

We caught a sunny day. Lately its nothing but rain rain rain. I was so happy that we had the time to head over to photograph this beautiful mama. While we did not get a hold of gorgeous gold light we still managed to get some dreamy shots experimenting with light. No matter what type of light maternity sessions land on. Mother’s to be just have that incredible, honest to god, natural glow. They don’t even have to try.

This mama is about to give birth to her third baby boy. & as faith would have it, she finally got a big deal doctors appointment for her middle-to be child. Just as shes about to welcome a new baby. Women are such warriors and I know for certain that she will rise to the occasion, be the biggest advocate for him. and at the same time care and swoon over this new baby. Life is such a trip. I cannot wait to meet this new baby.

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at home documentary

Half a year old | Adri De La Cruz Batavia IL, family photographer

April 17, 2019June 17, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | PhotographerLeave a Comment

6 months have gone by since her newborn shoot. Its crazy to see how fast time flies. What a concept. These little babies wear the time stamp so very pronounced. Their cheeks and chubby thighs, balance and hair growth shot it. Every day is a new change. So don’t blink and capture all of their babyhood.

This sweet little lady was mostly all smiles. She’s learning to balance when she seats, and is so aware of her brother’s presence . Looking over at him every time she could. I’m looking forward to seeing her one last time this summer.

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at home documentary

Starved Rock with my kids | Adri De La Cruz Oglesby IL, family photographer

March 5, 2019June 17, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | Photographer1 Comment

I finally managed to piece together this tiny and imperfect video of my kids at Starved Rock Park. I have been wanting to take on video for such a long time, but I always make excuses for mastering it or at least taking baby steps into learning more about it.

Like always, when presented with any new challenge my first instinct is to run, in the opposite direction. But in doing it, comes so much satisfaction. Hope you enjoy it.

at home documentary, personal, Projects

North Carolina alley | Adri de La Cruz Chicago + West Suburbs family photographer

March 5, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | Photographer2 Comments

The journey to strong self-love is hard. It reminds me if that shitty Chicago street, you know which one I’m referring to. The one that you brace yourself for. The one that is riddled in potholes and you have to maneuver like MacGyver to safety.

SELF LOVE, I mean. It seems to be a selling point for a ton of products these days. If you love yourself then buy this or that. One thing that no one says out loud is that you can’t fake self-love. It’s apparent in every action we make, in the way we speak of ourselves. I hope that you can see my self love in these images. While I still hold on to a ton of self-preservation, I am also not afraid to share my thoughts and love for me with the world. Does it make me selfish, maybe?. Nearing 30 you just care less and less about what others might think.

at home documentary, children, Client session, family, hospital birth, infant, newborn, newborn Lifestyle

3 Month session of baby Alex | Chicago + west suburbs best family photographer

February 28, 2019June 11, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | PhotographerLeave a Comment

I made it, I finally got to see this beautiful boy again.

He was my first hospital birth, my only complaint would be those thin mattresses used for the birthing partner to sleep on, holy ouch. That’s a no from me. lol. How do they make partners nap or even sleep overnight there? I was able to test them out during my birth session with them. While uncomfortable It was still such an honor to see this sweet little guy make his very vocal entrance onto this world.

I couldn’t believe how alert and big he had gotten. I know a ton of my colleagues are not fond of 3 months sessions because babies are not able to sit or do much. But that’s the point!!! (me with my shouty exclamation points) They are this lovely tiny human just needing their moms just as much as a newborn while smiling and cooing and just being rad.

bring on more 3-month sessions, please!

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at home documentary, Chicago BIRTH, hospital birth, infant

Evangelista, colossal hospital birth of a beautiful boy | Adri De La Cruz, Chicago + west suburbs best birth photographer

February 27, 2019June 11, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | PhotographerLeave a Comment

“My mother groaned, my father wept,
into the dangerous world I leapt.”
― William Blake

The power of women never ceases to amaze me. This was by far the longest birth of my portfolio, and it was full of beautiful drama and a boy that surely made an entrance. She had a plan, and she fulfilled it. I saw as she transformed herself into the type of person that births fo gracefully. Apart from all tears of relief at the end, you felt an insane, huge wave of love just washing over everyone. No the journey wasn’t easy for this mama and she had to give it her all, but that boy was worth it.

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at home documentary, children, Client session, family, fresh 48, infant, newborn, newborn Lifestyle

Baby B |Adri De La Cruz – Chicago + West Suburbs best newborn and family photographer

February 19, 2019June 2, 2020by Adri De La Cruz | PhotographerLeave a Comment

Here back again with this beautiful family. When I met K she was a mom of two and so was I. While I still am a mom of two, she has added two additional beautiful boys since then. I couldn’t tell you how different we are. Once of the things we have in common is our love for our kids. She inspires me to be have more patience and speak with love, and honestly she makes me feel sane. Her family is insanely kind and so stunning. I am so honored to be able to call her a friend. I hope you enjoy her gallery.

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at home documentary, children, Client session, family, infant, maternity

Lunde Maternity session |adventure is what we do – Adri De La Cruz Chicago and west suburbs photographer

January 30, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | PhotographerLeave a Comment

Sometimes you get so lucky!

So living in the middle of suburbian Chicago always leaves me uninspired to be frank. I’m constantly bugging my clients to head out to the beautiful outskirts of this State, most times this isn’t possible. Well when it comes to rad friends that encourage adventure and that want a different type of approach to their maternity images, I have to wonder. How did I get so lucky?

The location is Starved Rock state park. We headed out in a lovely October warm morning. While it was foggy and wet the boys just loved being able to explore and check out their environment. Of course, because of the way I work, that is just pure gold for me. I want them to explore and be their goofy selves. I love this family so much, they picked up a ton of fall treasures and have now welcomed a fourth boy into their family stay tuned for that blog post.

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at home documentary

Love on the beach | Adri De La Cruz Chicago and West suburbs intimate wedding photographer

November 14, 2018January 31, 2019by Adri De La Cruz | Photographer2 Comments

Earlier this year I hosted my first ever workshop. I was as sick as a dog. I think my body loves to mess with me the most when stress is high. The only constant during stressful times is knowing that there will be so much out of your control. I might as well surrender to it. I wanted to share these images from that day because I was so insanely in awe of B. Brittany De Jesus that is. She’s the real deal. Just a genuine, vibrant soul. Full of that spark that so many in this industry seem to just let go off at a certain point. I hope she never loses that shine. Check out these incredible images, taken by me, instructed and posed by her. I learned so damn much. I’m beyond grateful for her.

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