Another item has been crossed off of my 30 Before Thirty list! #26: Have an adorable family photo taken.
Emily, one of my facebook friends, sent me a message shortly after I posted my list. Her husband James Julius is a photographer, and he was working on building his portfolio. Would we be interested in being photographed by him? He may have been working on his portfolio but I was impressed.
You know the super adorable engagement photos that people have taken? The kind that always make me a little sad/jealous for not having photos like that taken before Brandon and I got married? Yeah, James Julius takes those. Now I have my own, but they’re even better because Eleanor is in them and we’ve got six years of marriage behind us. In fact, these photos were taken on our anniversary.
James photographed us in Austin Gardens, here in Oak Park. Isn’t it a gorgeous setting? He and Emily chose the location, and they chose very well.
Thank you, Emily, for arranging our photo shoot. And thank you, James Julius for giving us such fantastic photos of our family. We’re thrilled with them!
105 comments
misa
i was just poking through here from your lovely life list post (via the six-year anniversary post), and i realized that i wore that same dress you have on above for my wedding (with a big yellow belt)!
Christine
What beautiful family photos!! The lighting is so beautifully golden. Happy (belated) anniversary to you!
Chyme
Beautiful photos!
Rebecca
So cute! And I live just a block from Austin Gardens. I love to walk through there in the evenings.
LindseyBee
How adorable is your little girl! Looks like such a sweetie!
Cristina
I have the exact same dress! I paired mine up with some super cute shoes from Old Navy for my engagement photos (http://tinyurl.com/23s2d99). I love the dress, mainly because it has pockets that I can put my chapstick in! XD
Anyhoo your photos are adorable! I like how you added the belt to your dress. I might try that in the future!
Angela
What a beautiful family and you all look so happy!
linda
so beautiful and joyful thanks for sharing
Mariela
Lovely family, the photos are very beautiful.And the place looks peaceful very pretty.
Jamie
Too adorable! I thought I recognized Austin Gardens when I started looking through these pics – I grew up a block away. They turned out amazing! I actually grew up with Brandon (Jess and I have been friends since Kindergarden) so it’s sweet to see him have his own little family now. :)
Missy
these are precious. i’m inspired to take some pictures along the Cumberland Trail down the road from our home. So, so precious!
Kalee
And will there be 4 next year? :)
Stephanie@Geezees
These are amazing pictures…Happy Anniversary too!
Valerie
So-so cute, it’s fun and interesting to have the vision of an artist represent what your family is,no? Love and sunshine, that’s what I see! My favourite is the one you both kiss Eleanor, the face she makes cracks me up!
Amazing shots!
Chaucee
What an amazing job he did!
Isabel
They are fabulous!!!
Alicia
oh! Eleanor’s little teeth are KILLING me, they’re so cute! Love it. :)
John @ Young House Love
Love ’em! And Happy (Belated) Anniversary to you guys too!
Lou
These are just as sweet as those lovely engagement photos!
Milijana
absolutely beautiful… photos look amazing,I can feel how happy you are through them. my faves are where you’re holding Eleanor,bathing in sunlight,and where you’re together,sitting on the grass.
*sigh*
Susana
ACK!! These are SOOO BEAUTIFUL!! These are the pictures I dream about having of my own family. But….how will you pick which one to blow up and frame?????? (darn that great photographer and beautiful family for the tough decisions)
Clearly Composed
Gorgeous pictures of a gorgeous family. :)
Amanda
These photos are so amazing! I love the one of you two kissing your little one! Her expression is ALL JOY and so adorable.
PS Is this why you named James in MiY, or is that just a coincidence?
Ashley
I <3 Oak Park :)
-ashley
jbhat
Outstanding. I need to do the same thing here pretty soon. Thanks for sharing that beautiful work with us, and my goodness, you all look amazing. Such style!
jbhat
meta
I think I’m too envious to say anything…
Liz
BEAUTIFUL!
Nicole you have such a gorgeous family. The pictures are AMAZING!
Kalee
These are amazing! I particularly love Eleanor’s faces in them! And he captured you all perfectly.
AbraCat
They’re all terrific, but that shot of you both kissing Eleanor is exceptionally adorable.
Wendy
Great pictures!!! love the one where you’re both kissing Eleanor! :)
mel
Wow. Beautiful photos Nicole! You just tickle me pink! (and are such an inspiration:))
Judith
These pictures are so stinking cute! I’ve loved watching your little grow up on here, it’s a lot of fun and she’s pretty darn cute! I just got engaged and I’d love for us to have such an adorable family one day!
anne
Great pictures! Love the one where you’re sitting in the grass with the big trees in the background.
Nicole RJ
Beautiful shots! Elanor’s expression in the one you’re both kissing her is priceless!
luuve
1, 7, and 8 are my favorite! i love these! way to go on your list! :)
susan
the one of the two of y’all kissing Eleanor? that has to be my absolute favorite!
Fionnuala
Beautiful photos, eliciting a sound something like “Mmnnaaaaaaw” from this viewer.
Jakki
i love relaxed fun REAL photo’s like these for family photos….not those stilted stiff store photo’s like I have, LOL
April
This post brought a big smile to my face. You’re such a lovely family. The pic of you two giving Eleanor a big smooch on either cheek is just darling!
Kaylee
These are so precious! Our daughter is almost a year and I can’t wait to get some family photos done! I love how Eleanor’s personality is so evident! You are blessed!
Samantha
oOoooh these are so cute! reminds me of when my girls where little.
Victoria
Gorgeous photos! Wow you look beautiful!
samarahuel
Now I’M jealous! We may have to do something like this…
Monica
How truly lovely!
drey
i love the photos nic, they look so sweet :) the new red-orangey hair really really suits you :) i esp love eleanor’s unscripted grins and her crooked face between you and brandon :)
Audrie
Such great pictures! I agree, they’re better with little Eleanor in them. Her face in that last picture is especially adorable!
wanderluster
Adorable photos Nicole! Love the one where you’re holding Eleanor (I think she looks more like daddy but you can see similarities to mommy in this photo). Okay, now you’re making me want to get a photoshoot done with my little one!
Brittany
she has THE cutest facial expressions!
Trishna
These brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful. :)
Tera
Love the one in which you’re all sitting in the grass! So great. Little E is a sweetheart! And love ya’ll’s wardrobe.
Steph
These photos are just gorgeous! Your family is so lovely :)
Lindsay D.
I love these!! Especially the one with the two of you kissing her cheeks. That expression!
Molly
Absolutely fabulous. They are going on my 30 before 50 list. Oh wait – too late. 35 before 60???
tillie
those are fabulous photos!!!
Lora
Beautiful pictures! May I ask where you got your dress and belt….they both go really well with summer :-)
Making it Lovely
Both were from Anthropologie.
Melissa
Awesome photos! I absolutely love the one where you two are kissing eleanor. What a sweet moment to capture.
Stacey McDonld
Beautiful work, James!
Beautiful family, Nicole!!
Your Mother
Love these pictures!
Licia
The pictures are absolutely adorable. My favorite is the one where you and your husband are kissing E.
katie
thrilled with good reason–those are excellent! i love the slightly faded look they have–it’s like they come with instant nostalgia. your family is beautiful, too, which makes it even better. =)
Ginesta
Love those pictures! the 7th one is adorable! love Eleonor’s expression!
Ludmila {creamylife.com}
These pictures are wonderful! I can see you had so much fun! E is adorable as always, but hey, you all look amazing! great photo shoot!
luzy
oh my goodness,
they are soooo lovely because your sweet family is just gaw-geous!!!amazing james – enjoy -we did!!
Elizabeth
Such a cute family! I love the shots of Eleanor’s toothy grin :D
casey
oh my oh my oh my! they are amazingly great!! i too am the jealous one every time i see cute engagement pics. i love the one of you two kissing eleanor on the bench!! he did a great job!! thanks for sharing!
Amy Kelly
These are absolutely darling! Every shot is so cute and perfect!
Anne
these are GREAT, love them! the colors are just fantastic!
Two Lovely Spaces
Really beautiful shots!!!
Melissa
Gorgeous! They are so precious. Love the photo of you guys kissing Eleanor on the park bench.
Adventures In Babywearing
So beautiful!!!
Steph
gena
yaay! these are so great!
james shot my wedding a couple of months ago and when he and emily old me they were going to shoot you guys i was way jealous! i knew they’d turn out so freaking adorable!
here’s some from our wedding in oak park!
http://www.jamesjulius.com/archives/456
Michele
At first I thought your husband was Brandon! HA!
LOVE the wedding pics, you are beautiful!
Making it Lovely
I think he looks like Brandon too! Can’t wait for the Lifetime movie.
gena
aw thanks!
i’m glad i’m not the only one who thinks my husband looks like nicole’s husband. because i think they may be twins. separated. and there will be a lifetime movie made about them.
luuve
just saw your photos..and you guys looked amazing! i wished i lived in the chicago area! i would hire him in a SECOND! great choice! by you and nicole..
Making it Lovely
Did you get married at the Pleasant Home!? That’s where I wanted to have our wedding! (We were married in the chapel of Brandon’s family’s church and had our reception at the Nineteenth Century Women’s Club.)
Also, you guys are total cuties.
gena
we DID get married at pleasant home! it was super lovely and awesome! but it was a wedding so i guess that goes with the territory. but pleasant home is so extraordinary. i love it!
and thanks! we are pretty all right!
Katie l The Social Secretary
These are beautiful! What an amazing little spot, too. Good job James!
Kristen
Those pictures are GORGEOUS!! What a cute family and great work by the photographer.
On another note…I definitely know what you mean about the engagement photos. I wish we’d done pretty ones too.
jennifer
These are wonderful!!
jodi
wonderful!!
Kathy
Wow, wow wow!So incredibly lovely :)
Mrs Soup
BEAUTIFUL!
Chiara
Oh my God, these pictures are beautiful! I called my boyfriend to show him your family and said: “Questo è quello che vorrei fossimo noi tra qualche anno” which means “That’s exaclty what I’d love us to be in a couple of years”.
The photographer made a great job and you’re a wonderful family :-)
Making it Lovely
Aw, that’s so sweet.
Nataliya
Nicole, congrats on getting some amazing photos done! I always wish we had someone take pictures of us, instead of Baby C being in the picture with only one of the parents. Here are some pictures of our little munchkin: http://styleingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2010/07/had-to-share-baby-c.html
Making it Lovely
Ha! Great picture. :)
Allison
These photos are fantastic! I love them! You guys are such a cute family.
Kel
These are SO good! They’re so very YOU – perfect for your adorable family!
Nani
LOVE them! Family photo’s are always the best!
Angie
Really lovely photos that I am sure you will cherish for years to come. You look really wonderful! xo
sarah
Nicole,
These are great and I know exactly what you mean, seeing those really cute engagement photos all the time complete with pink or red balloon and wishing you had that too. Now you really have your very own!
LAKR
She is such a cutie when she makes her scrunchy face! Great photos of all three of you!
Jesse
They are wonderful! And I love the setting! Happy late Anniversary too!
Felicity Lingle
Your daughter looks so cute and feisty. : )
Heidi
Not only checked off the list…but checked off mega-adorably!!
lala
ADORABLE! Simply adorable.
Kathleen
Aw, you guys! How cute.
Danielle
These are great! So personal and fun! Btw, your dress is adorable!
RisaJ
Great pictures…oh, and I’m loving your dress!
Michele
So incredibly adorable!!! Brings a tear to my eye!
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