A Fulton Market Family Session, Nine Years After Their Birth Story

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chicago family photographer, Fulton Market Sessions, West Loop

Nearly nine years ago, I photographed this family’s birth story. Recently we took some updated photos! I was their West Loop family photographer for a session in Fulton Market. Getting to see their kids all grown up was so special. Goodness time passes so fast. Now they’re nearly preteens.

Why a Fulton Market Family Session Felt Right

As a West Loop family photographer, I love capturing families right in the vibrant streets of Fulton Market. Incorporating local street art into sessions is a favorite of mine, especially for families who want to bring bright color and an urban twist to their photos. Chicago is full of cool artistic pockets, and this neighborhood is easily top of the list.

A family of four standing in front of a graffiti-covered wall, smiling and interacting. The mother and father are embracing each other while a young boy playfully hugs his mother and a girl stands beside them, all dressed casually in bright and comfortable clothing. West Loop family photographer

A young girl with long dark hair smiling in front of a yellow mural featuring an animated character.

A happy couple sitting together on a bench, smiling and engaged in conversation, with a 'PIZZA' neon sign in the window behind them.

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Street Art Family Photos in the West Loop

The wall we kept coming back to is the alley entrance to Sawada Coffee on N. Green Street: a giant yellow lucky cat holding a slice of pepperoni pizza. It’s silly and bold, and the kids loved it immediately. Some of my favorite frames from the day are the in-between ones. Dad swings their son down the sidewalk while mom and big sister laugh right behind them. Nobody is looking at me, and that’s exactly the point.

A family of four walking along a sidewalk in front of a colorful mural featuring a cartoon character, with a yellow door and a sticker-covered entrance to a coffee shop. West Loop family photographer

A young girl and an adult woman embrace each other in front of a vibrant yellow mural, both smiling. The girl wears a light-colored outfit with a patterned cardigan, while the woman is dressed in a black top and gray pants. West Loop family photographer

A family of four sitting on a bench in front of a pizza restaurant, with a child joyfully jumping in the air. The background features a colorful pizza mural and a neon 'PICK-UP PIZZA' sign. West Loop family photographer

A family portrait featuring a father, mother, and their young daughter smiling together, with a colorful mural in the background West Loop family photographer

Honesty Over Poses

I don’t direct families into stiff poses. I give them a place to be together and I pay attention. Mom and her daughter share a laugh in front of the mural. Mom and dad glance at each other over their kids’ heads in a doorway covered in stickers. When you let people be themselves, the photos feel like them.No Fulton Market session ends without a snack. We grabbed cookies from Levain Bakery and ate them out front of Soho House, just hanging out and talking about how fast nine years goes. That slow, easy ending is a big part of why I love documentary sessions.

A joyful family photo in an outdoor setting, featuring a man with a boy on his shoulders, a woman and a girl standing nearby, all smiling and looking up. West Loop family photographer

A joyful interaction between a man and a boy, with the boy riding on the man's shoulders and laughing. They are surrounded by decorative plants and lights in a lively outdoor setting. West Loop family photographer

Close-up portrait of a young boy with dark hair, wearing an orange shirt and a light-colored jacket, against a blue background.

A family walking hand in hand along a vibrant street lined with flowering plants, against a backdrop of brick buildings and hanging lights.

A woman joyfully holds a young boy outdoors in front of a restaurant, surrounded by vibrant flowers and string lights.

A joyful family of four, including a father kissing his son, while the mother embraces their daughter, with a restaurant sign reading 'The Bandit' in the background.

Book Your Own West Loop Family Photographer Session

If you want a session that feels like a real afternoon with the people you love, I’d be honored to photograph your family in the West Loop or anywhere in Chicago. Take a look at my Chicago family photography sessions to see how it works, then reach out and tell me about your people.