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
It might not feel like it yet, but Spring and Summer memories are about to begin.
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Minis are here and I’m so excited to share them with you!
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This year’s lineup includes:
🌿Greenhouse Minis
🌷 Tulip Minis
🎓 Cap, Confetti & Crew Minis
🌼 Wildflower Farm Minis
🌳 Cantigny End of Summer Family Minis
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If you have been waiting to update family photos, celebrate your senior, or capture a little bit of summer magic…this is your sign.
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See bio for booking link.
#napervillephotographer #warrenvillephotographer #familyphotographer #minisession #2026senior
Friendly reminder:
Spring & Summer Mini Sessions go on sale TODAY at 4pm!
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This year’s lineup includes:
🌿 Greenhouse Minis (family or motherhood)
🌷 Tulip Minis
🎓 Cap, Confetti & Crew senior sessions
🌼 Wildflower Farm Minis
🌳 Cantigny Family Minis
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If you’ve been waiting to update family photos, celebrate your senior, or capture a little bit of summer magic… this is your sign.
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⏰ Spots go live at 4pm
Set those reminders — minis tend to disappear quickly!
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I can’t wait to see so many familiar faces (and new ones!) in front of my camera this season.
SO. MUCH. COMING. YOUR. WAY.
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ALL Spring and Summer sessions are being released to the public on Friday at 4:00pm. Yes...I said ALL. This includes graduation pics, family sessions, greenhouse sessions and motherhood sessions! Get ready for it! See you back here on Friday!
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Current and past clients... check your emails (including your spam folder). All Spring/Summer Sessions are open to YOU in 3....2....1.
Something beautiful really is coming. 🌿
Spring Greenhouse Sessions are officially happening on Sunday, April 26th — and this year, you get to choose your story.
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A Full Family Session
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A Motherhood Session
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And when I say motherhood, I don’t just mean moms with babies.
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I mean:
• You and your toddler
• You and your teenager
• You and your grown daughter
• You and YOUR mama (or Three generations together)
• Or simply you — because you deserve to exist in photos too
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These sessions are about connection.
The way your kids lean into you.
The way your mom still holds your hand.
The quiet in-between moments that feel like home.
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Soft light. Fresh greens. Movement. Laughter.
The kind of images that feel like you… just in the prettiest setting.
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Spots go on sale Friday, March 6th at 4:00pm and WILL be limited.
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Set your reminder.
I cannot wait to create something beautiful with you. 🌿
Is it just me, or did January feel like the longest month ever?
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But GOOD NEWS! Over the next 268 days, our sun will be setting after 5:00pm
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I can already feel the warm sun on my skin and picture wildflowers swaying in the breeze. Those golden, joy-filled days are closer than they feel….and they’ll be here before we know it.
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Below is a full gallery from a past family session in the wildflowers, because the magic isn’t just in one image, it’s in the story they tell together.
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For more family sessions or to explore the other types of sessions I offer, you can find them on my UPDATED website.
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#napervillephotographer #warrenvillephotographer #wheatonphotographer #familyphotographer #thewildflowerfarm
You’ve seen my work… but have you seen the heart behind it?
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Five years ago, I built a website with a dream in my heart and a hope that it would one day truly reflect the photographer, and the experience, I wanted to become.
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Today… it finally feels like home.
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Not only does it reflect my heart, my work, and the experience I strive to create for every family; it was also designed with you in mind.
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You can now browse session offerings, explore full galleries, and officially book both sessions and mini sessions directly through the site with ease.
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Simple. Thoughtful. Seamless.
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Thank you for being a part of MY story.
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https://novella-photography.com
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