Tag Archives: Grandparents

Grandparent Photography Chicago

Candid Family Photography with the Grandparents | Chicago

A New Take on Family Photography

What do you get for the grandparent who has everything? How about a candid family photography photo session that they will cherish?

If your parents are anything like mine, they are soooooooo hard to buy gifts for. My parents aren’t into gadgets and stuff. And they pretty much have everything they need. But one thing they do love to receive? Photos of the grandkids. And you know what’s even better? Photos of them ENJOYING their grandkids like the photos posted below.

Why I Love Doing Candid Family Photography Sessions with Grandparents

It is my mission to photograph more grandparents and grandkids sharing beautiful candid moments together. I love this relationship. I was obsessed with my grandparents. I would do anything to have photos of the sleepovers and tea parties I had with my grandma. And I don’t want my children to have that regret when they are my age.

How cool would it be to be able to pull out photos of your cherished memories with your grandparents and share them with your kids?

Well, we can do that for your children. Imagine them in thirty years being able to browse through a book of photos documenting an afternoon with their beloved grandparents.

AND don’t forget this can solve the dreaded gift-giving dilemma we run into every holiday season. (or birthday, or mother’s day, or father’s day, or anniversary …)

The K Family Spends the Afternoon with their Grandkids

When the K family heard about my new twist on getting family photos taken, they knew they wanted to try it! Like many Chicago grandparents, they help out babysitting with their grandkids. I spent a couple hours one afternoon documenting their time together. And what did I find when I looked at the photos after the shoot? Unconditional love. Joy. Kindness. Tenderness. And I know these photos will only become more precious with every passing year.

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What Are You Waiting For?

So let’s talk! Shoot me an email through my “Inquire” link or call me at 773 510 7105 . You know this is a great idea. This is one gift certificate the grandparents in your life are guaranteed to love!

Would like to hear more about why candid family photography with the grandparents is so important? If so,  click here, here, here and here.

Would like to find answers to common questions about Grandparent Sessions and how to book? Click here for all your answers.

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To follow me on Instagram, click here.

Susan Ryan Kalina is a Lake County, Il, Family Photographer, Lake County, Il, Event Photographer, Chicago Bar Mitzvah Photographer, Chicago Event Photographer, Newborn Photographer, Grandparent Photographer, Day in the Life, Documentary, and Candid photographer servicing Chicago, Deerfield, Glencoe, Highland Park, Libertyville, Lake Forest, Buffalo Grove, Northbrook, and Glenview.

Grandparent Photo Session

The Trending Family Photos You Need | Chicago Photographer

Family Memories Captured … Or Not

Do you have great memories of your grandparents from when you were growing up?

I do! I loved wearing my grandmother’s nightgowns, high heels, and all the jewelry I could find in her drawers. She used to let me drink “coffee” with one drop of coffee and copious amounts of warm milk. I loved finding mint leaves to chew on in her back yard. Her overfed, miniature poodle used to sleep at the end of my bed for sleepovers.

Now ask me if I have any family photos of these precious memories. I don’t. And that makes me really sad. I can tell my stories to my children, but I can’t SHOW them.

I can show them pictures of me standing next to my grandparents. But I can’t show them how it felt to be with them, how much I loved them and how cherished I always felt in their presence. I can’t show them our story.

Grandparent Photo SessionHere is How I Can Help You

But you know what I can do for you? I can capture that beautiful story for your family. Don’t let your children continue missing out on having this family relationship photographed.

I can spend time documenting your children’s precious grandparent memories as they are unfolding. Do they do sleepovers? I can photograph it. Do the grandparents help with daycare? I can photograph the beauty in the little daily moments they share. Or, like the Meyers family pictured here, I can photograph a favorite activity, like baking.

Do you think these family photos are something you would love to have? Call me at 773 510 7105 and let’s discuss the perfect situation to photograph your family. As a Chicago family photographer, I know we often think of family photos as just the parents and children. But grandparent-grandkid photography is so special! How awesome would it be to have these grandparent photos for your family?

Would like to find answers to common questions about Grandparent Sessions and how to book? Click here for all your answers.

If you would like to see more examples of my family storytelling photography (also known as family photojournalism photography), please click here, here, here and here.

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Family Photography Chicago

The Photos You Need to Take | Grandparents and Grandkids

Why I Love Photographing Grandparents and Grandkids

Do the grandparents and grandkids in your life live in different cities? Mine do. My parents live a five-hour drive away in St. Louis.

We try to see them as much as we can, but the reality is life is busy. Having three children means my family has a hectic schedule. Between school, dance, swimming, plays and sports, our weekends don’t always belong to us.

So, when we make the trek to St. Louis or my parents come to town, I make sure I document every minute my parents and children are together. My children are now 10, 12 and 13. As they have aged, the visits with my parents have changed too. In the early days, just getting to town and surviving seemed like an accomplishment. We would go to Demun Park, the St. Louis Zoo, maybe hit the Magic House.

Lunch out with GrandpaNow that they are older, my children are capable of being out from dawn to dusk, soaking up all the opportunities and adventures St. Louis has to offer. Want to know the bad news? As my children have grown older, so have my parents. My parents can’t spend the whole day on their feet anymore.

Finding Ways to Connect

Because my kids are always off running around having adventures or on the couch with their heads buried in their electronics, getting them to have meaningful interaction with their grandparents has become more of a challenge. Having a meal together has become a cherished time for my kids and parents.  Sometimes I need to prod the conversation a little to get things going. I like to ask my dad to tell the girls about how his parents put him on a public bus BY HIMSELF with a ticket pinned to his shirt to go to a World Series Cardinals game when he was 8-years-old. And I ask my mom to tell the girls what it was like to be in middle school in the late 1940’s. Now, staying at the table long after the food has been eaten to hear stories about Nonnie and Grandpa’s childhood has become a favorite part of our day.

So what I have realized is it’s becoming more important that my children and their grandparents just get time to connect, it doesn’t really matter where or how. And if they need a little “talking points” inspiration from my carefully placed questions, so be it! I am happy to help get the conversation going.

Grandparents having a meal

I make sure to take my camera out for all of these get togethers. Because life moves too fast. The kids are growing up at a rapid clip. And my parents continue to age. But I want my children to always remember the precious moments we carved out for them with my parents. I want them to have pictures to go with those stories of the time they went to the Science Center or when grandpa took them to lunch at Crown Candy for a special lunch outing.

I want them to remember they were loved and cherished by their grandparents, long after they are no longer here to tell them. I want them to have albums they can show THEIR children some day.

Want Some Help?

And if you feel like your camera or phone camera won’t do the situation justice, call me! I would love to spend time following your children and their grandparents around, documenting their beautiful relationship. The best thing about these photo shoots is you won’t end up with a bunch of static, awkward photos of people standing there looking at the camera. I call my style of photography “family storytelling” or “family photojournalism.” I am very passionate about capturing this beautiful relationship for future generations to enjoy.

So, next time the grandparents come over, let’s make a plan to photograph them. Or next time you go to visit the grandparents, I can follow you. I may be a Chicago family photographer, but I am available to travel out of town to do your grandparent photography shoot. Especially anywhere near St. Louis! Give me a call at 773-510-7105 and let’s talk about it.

Interactive family photos with the grandparents and grandkids might be a new idea for you, but I promise you will never regret having these grandparent photos taken. Let’s have fun with this new twist on family photos!

If you would like to see more examples of family storytelling shoots, please click here , here and here .

Would like to find answers to common questions about Grandparent Sessions and how to book? Click here for all your answers.
Greeting GrandparentsLaughing with Grandma and GrandpaJoking with Grandpa

Cooking with grandma

Family Dinner with Grandparents