Hi, I’m Kim—The Heart Behind the Lens! I’m a proud mom of two incredible girls, married to my high school sweetheart, and an Iowa fan through and through—once a Hawkeye, always a Hawkeye! But before I was capturing the fleeting moments of families like yours, I was just a girl with a disposable camera, snapping every little detail of life around me.
Photography has been woven into my story from the very beginning. My dad and I shared this love—on family vacations, we’d wake up with the sun, chasing the perfect light for flower shots or watching sandpipers dart across the shore in their morning game of "chicken" with the waves. After college, he gave me my first professional DSLR camera and we spent weekends exploring new places, cameras in hand, learning, experimenting, and deepening our appreciation for the art of storytelling through images.
What started as a hobby turned into a calling. Friends and coworkers began asking me to capture their families after seeing the images I took of my oldest daughter, and before I knew it, my passion had turned into something bigger. I left a career in the hotel industry to focus on my growing family—and in that season, I realized photography wasn’t just something I loved—it was something I was meant to do.
Beyond photography, I’m deeply community-driven and passionate about empowering women and young girls. I love exploring nature, getting lost in the details that often go unnoticed. Traveling fuels my soul, and I much prefer immersing myself in local culture over checking off tourist attractions—one of my favorite adventures was exploring the Amazon in Peru.
Photography has given me so much: a connection to the world around me, precious time with my dad, and the chance to tell stories—yours included.
And so here I am! I’ve now told you MY story… What’s YOUR story? I can’t wait to help you tell it and freeze your moment in time.
ChicagoChicago. My kind of town. I may be a bit biased as I have grown up in the suburbs of Chicago; but how incredibly lucky am I to have this amazing city right in my backyard? I love the food; the culture; it’s energy. I love photographing in the city; so if you want to head down there for your session; I am all for it!
TravelI LOVE waking up early and exploring normally very busy tourists areas with no one else there but me. The still before the storm is so calming and beautiful. I could be in the middle of a bustling city or in the middle of the country and will find the beauty in a new day. And, I’ve been known to snap a picture or two during these times =)
FamilyMy family is my everything. They are the roots to who I am and give me my strength. My husband has been so incredibly supportive and he (along with my parents and friends), gave me the confidence to do this. Let’s face it; having pictures taken is a very personal thing. No matter how well I light, pose, or capture someone, there will always be someone who is still critical of how they look. You’ve gotta have some thick skin as a photographer to not take that personally, as people have their own personal image struggles. Over time; I have come to understand this and why; despite starting with landscapes and macro photography, I was able to migrate to photographing people and the connections between them.
SundaysWe implemented “No Screen Sundays” in our house at the beginning of 2019 and it has been life changing for us. No phones, no computers and no tvs have allowed us to disconnect from the outside world, and reconnect with each other. If there is downtime; it’s so easy to pass the time by throwing on a movie. This makes us think outside the box and maybe try or do things we wouldn’t normally think of doing. It truly feels like we are on vacation each Sunday and our daughters look FORWARD to this day each week. Life gets hectic. I love slowing it down.
SeasonsI love that I can be in a swimsuit for a few months of the year and a snowsuit for others. I love spring flowers and watching our landscape re-imerge (it’s like a new beginning), but also love the color and crisp air of the Fall.
What's New on the 'Gram
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SALE
.
September is my most absolute FAVORITE month to have sessions in. The humidity is low, the temps are beautiful, rainfalls are minimal, the sunsets are GORGEOUS, the wildflowers are out and those pesky bug ratios are pretty low.
.
I am offering $100 off any FULL sessions booked in September. This includes graduating senior sessions, extended family sessions or a regular family sessions. BUT, the catch is that your session needs to take place in September.
.
The $100 discount almost brings the price for a full family session down to 2025 mini pricing! That means more pictures, more time with me, and a more personalized session at almost the same price as a mini session cost in 2025. Do not sit on this deal!!!
.
HOW THE SMALL BUSINESS SALE WORKS:
.
*You say "YES! Sign me up! I don`t want to miss my chance for a September session with Novella Photography"
* $100 retainer fee and contract is due upon booking
* You paying your retainer now is your placeholder. I will contact you at the beginning of 2026 and we will start planning your session! If you don`t know what type of session you want right away or a specific date, that`s OK! We have plenty of time to get you set up for success!
* Your $100 discount will be applied to your final balance right before session takes place.
* I am only offering this to the first 5 booked for small business Saturday
.
Sale ends at 11:59pm on Sunday Nov 30th or when the 5 slots are booked. Whichever comes first.
.
https://book.usesession.com/t/fbkyNXeyjc
BLACK FRIDAY SALE
.
Selling out of Holiday sessions the first week in October was great for me...but not so great for some of my clients. Here is your chance to get a 2026 Fall or Holiday slot NOW to get $75 off and not have think about anything until session themes are released in July.
.
HOW THE BLACK FRIDAY SALE WORKS:
You say "YES! Sign me up! I don`t want to miss my chance for a fall or holiday session with Novella Photography in 2026"
$100 retainer fee and contract is due upon booking
You paying your retainer now is your placeholder. Once themes are finalized in July, my Black Friday clients will have first dibs at picking their themes and timeslots. I will contact you and get all of those finalized before opening up sales to the general public.
.
Your $75 discount will be applied to your final balance right before your 2026 Fall/Holiday session takes place.
.
NITTY GRITTY:
I am only taking 10 sessions at this discounted price
This is the largest discount you will see on 2025 Fall/Holiday minis. My Christmas in July sale will not have this large of a discount.
Fall/Holiday minis are designed for immediate family only. If looking to include grandma/grandpa, cousins, or more than 5 people, please contact me for special pricing. A mini session typically would not be sufficient due to the time.
.
https://book.usesession.com/t/WU3L3IxiAF
Past and Current Clients! Check your email! Black Friday came early!!!
L A S T C H A N C E ! ! !
.
I can’t believe we are here…but it’s my last full weekend of sessions this holiday season. In the last month, I have seen 55 families. Some who are just starting their journey with me, some clients who have been supporting me since the beginning and some who are quickly becoming regulars. It has been just so amazing to see your family’s connection and I’m so honored to be seeing it year after year. THANK YOU for trusting me with capturing life’s precious moments.
.
It’s not too late if you haven’t gotten your session in. This weekend I have 4 sessions left. 2 Red Truck/Tree Lot Combo sessions and 2 Wrapped in Red Sessions.
.
Red truck…I honestly can’t believe there are still 2 sessions up for grabs! As of right now, the weatherman tells me It’s going to be 50 degrees with sun!!! No frozen smiles this weekend! Perfect weekend for these to happen.
.
Wrapped in Red. Well…this session speaks for itself.
.
https://book.usesession.com/i/XpHwEW2Nz
Still hunting for the perfect holiday pics?
.
Mother Nature totally rained on our parade last weekend, so our Red Truck & Tree Lot Sessions are now happening on Saturday, November 22nd—and guess what? A couple of clients had to switch themes due to scheduling, which means…
.
🎉 A surprise opening just popped up for YOU! 🎉
If you’ve been dreaming of snuggling up by a classic red truck, twinkle lights, and all the festive tree-lot vibes, this is your moment. These sessions are limited, super cute, and ridiculously fun—grab the spot before it drives off!
.
Sessions will take place at the Wildflower Farm in Monee. The drive is worth the Hallmark movie type experience.
.
Pups are also welcome but please let me know ahead of time if he/she will be joining.
.
https://book.usesession.com/s/ACnylELHWy
That feeling you get when you realize Christmas minis start this weekend!
.
2 spots left before I am SOLD OUT for the year.
.
https://book.usesession.com/i/XpHwEW2Nz
email : knovellaphotography@gmail.com
follow me on Facebook and instagram @novella.photos
located in warrenville, il
serving Naperville, warrenville, Wheaton, winfield, aurora, Lombard, downers grove, Lisle, glen ellyn, Woodridge, oak brook, elmhurst, and other surrounding western suburbs of Chicago