![Kristen Hazelton, natural light family, senior, and wedding photographer based out of Oak Park, IL and Livermore, CA.](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/202012-Recap-Oak-Park-IL-Family-Photography_0040.jpg)
It’s my birthday week and to celebrate I actually wanted to do a year-in-review post to celebrate my wonderful clients and supporters of my small business in my first(-ish) year of business! (Ok, and to also celebrate my growth this past year as an Oak Park, IL Photographer and Livermore, CA Photographer, too! 😉 )Thank you all so much for your support – whether it’s hiring me, likes, comments, pageviews…it all adds up. YOU are part of this business’ success! Thank you! Where possible I’ll add links so you can see each client’s whole blog post. 🙂
Oak Park, IL and Livermore, CA Family Photography
![Sunny vineyard family portraits in Livermore, CA by photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0229.jpg)
First clients back in June 2019! They’re the sweetest family with a seriously dreamy vineyard in their backyard! I’m so glad we were able to grab some fun photos before one of the kids took off to do missionary work!
![Golden hour extended family portraits in Livermore, CA, by photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0230.jpg)
My first extended family session – of twelve! I love that we were able to document family coming together from all over! 🙂
![Front porch portraits with a puppy by Oak Park, IL family photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0226.jpg)
Porch-traits? Pooch-traits? I loved that this sweet family included a furry family member in their Front Porch Portraits that were all the rage in spring of 2020.
![Front porch portraits by Oak Park, IL family photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0227.jpg)
More front porch portraits – these were the first family portraits as a family of five!
![Spring family and maternity portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0232.jpg)
I love that this beautiful, growing family got some spring flowers with their family-maternity portraits!
![Sunny extended family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0234.jpg)
Love that bright sunshine glow for this front porch extended family shoot – with a few senior portraits, too!
![Sunny summer family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0243.jpg)
Give me all the bright sun! This beautiful family wanted to update their portraits before some of them left for school. I love that they have vibrant foliage in their background, and I’m so glad we rescheduled from our first date; the town of Oak Park ended up under a tornado warning!
![Family portraits with two moms and two sons by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0245.jpg)
A short and sweet glowy early morning session with new friends! These boys were so energetic and fun!
Oak Park, IL Fall Family Portraits
![Sunrise meadow family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/202012-Recap-Oak-Park-IL-Family-Photography_0041.jpg)
I love these light and bright sunny meadow portraits! It was so much fun to capture this family’s joy!
![Golden hour meadow family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0237.jpg)
This fall family photo session was so varied I split it into two posts! First, portraits in a dreamy meadow…
![Train-watching family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0238.jpg)
And then portraits at the train station, for this train-loving family!
![Vibrant fall family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0239.jpg)
Loved these vibrant fall portraits at Thatcher Woods! You’d never guess how overcast it was! We actually got rained out after 20 minutes!
![Fall meadow family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0250.jpg)
A different look at Thatcher Woods, over in a more meadow-y spot! The joy these girls had for exploring was absolutely delightful!
![Fall meadow family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton in Thatcher Woods, River Forest, IL](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0249.jpg)
Likewise, this beautiful family had fun exploring the woods in fall, too! It’s good to be an Oak Park IL Photographer in the fall!
![Golden hour fall family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0241.jpg)
Golden hour with this energetic family was so much fun! They loved throwing leaves, looking for deer, and showing off their Thriller (yes, really!) dance moves!
![Laidback, candid fall family portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0255.jpg)
Laidback, natural, candid portraits was just what this family was after!
![Early winter family and maternity portraits by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0254.jpg)
This beautiful family was hoping for snowy, sunny, river portraits, and it took a bit of magic on the snow front, but we got it!
Oak Park, IL and Livermore, CA Senior Portraits
![Golden hour vineyard male senior portraits Livermore, CA senior photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0258.jpg)
These senior portraits in Livermore, CA combined both front-porch and vineyard locations for a look that uniquely captured his history! Give me allll the sunset vineyard sessions, please!
![Vibrant senior portraits by Oak Park, IL senior photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0233.jpg)
This Fenwick senior had a beautiful session, with many gorgeous outfits, props, and backgrounds! I loved that we were able to incorporate so many of her interests!
![Vibrant college senior portraits by Oak Park, IL senior photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0246.jpg)
This gorgeous, confident senior was also celebrating her entrance into nursing school!
![Golden hour, autumn senior portraits by Oak Park, IL senior photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0240.jpg)
Some of this senior’s loves: nature, her guitar, the color yellow, and sunshine. I was so glad we got a gorgeous sunny day so we could incorporate them in her portraits!
Oak Park, IL and Livermore, CA Portrait Photography
![Puppy portraits by Livermore, CA portrait photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0253.jpg)
This babe wanted some rocking portraits with her puppies and fancy new chairs and champagne coupes. I love the energy of her portraits!
![Bridal portraits by Livermore, CA natural light photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0228.jpg)
I convinced this gorgeous bride 17(!) years post-wedding to venture into the hills with me at golden hour for a beautiful bridal portrait session.
Chicago, IL Engagement Photos and San Francisco, CA Engagement Photos
![Industrial engagement session photos by Livermore, CA photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0252.jpg)
This adventurous couple wanted to include their love of biking in their Oakland industrial loft engagement photos and I’m not mad. 🙂
Product Photography
![Bakery product photography by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0251.jpg)
In September I donated to a raffle to support New Moms Chicago, and won some AMAZING cinnamon rolls from Pastry Revival Bakery! I’ve enjoyed practicing my food and product photography with her amazing treats – Thanksgiving pies, and festive winter holiday cinnamon star bread!
![Bakery product photography - cookies and cupcakes - by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0247.jpg)
Also in September, for my son’s fourth birthday I commissioned these stunning underwater-themed cookies and cupcakes from Sunnyvale Sugar Cookies and Alissa Cake Design! These ladies are true artists and the treats were absolutely delicious! We have some hilarious behind-the-scenes photos of me using a paintbrush to clean cookie crumbs off the icing before their glamor shots!
![Bakery product photography - decorated sugar cookies - by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0242.jpg)
A sweet housewarming surprise from Sunnyvale Sugar Cookies!
![Branding photography for Oak Park, IL florist Pickle Hill Parties by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0235.jpg)
Beautiful flowers from Pickle Hill Parties, an Oak Park florist!
Branding Photography
![Branding photography for Pink Skies Photography by Oak Park, IL photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0244.jpg)
I love these vibrant and cheerful branding photos (photos for social media and website) of Oak Park local photographer Pink Skies Photography!
![Yoga branding photography for The Expanding Lotus, by Livermore, CA photographer Kristen Hazelton](https://kristenhazelton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oak-Park-IL-Livermore-CA-Family-Photographer-202011_0236.jpg)
The Expanding Lotus is a certified yoga and Ayurveda instructor, and it was a treat to take some vibrant branding photos for her!
Thank you all for supporting my small business and being part of its success!
Kristen Hazelton is an Oak Park, IL (Chicago, IL metro area) and Livermore, CA (San Francisco East Bay Area) senior, family, and engagement photographer. She occasionally photographs in San Diego, CA, Tucson, AZ, and Seattle, WA. You can inquire about your own photoshoot here!