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
Some kids are packing backpacks... others are packing memories.
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Next week marks the beginning of another school year, but for seniors, it`s so much more than that. It`s the beginning of a year full of "lasts."
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Before the chaos of college applications, senior nights, graduation parties, and saying goodbye to friends, take a moment to celebrate who they are right now.
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This senior is an avid reader, so we started her session exactly where she`d choose to spend an afternoon—with a good book at a local bookstore. Then we explored downtown Wheaton, capturing a completely different side of her personality.
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That`s what senior sessions should be. Not just beautiful photos...but a time capsule of who you were before life changed forever.
Wishing all of my students, teacher friends, and families an amazing school year next week.
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Here`s to new beginnings...and unforgettable endings.
#senioryear #seniorclass #newbeginnings #novellaphotography
IT`S TIME!
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School is almost back in session, which means cooler evenings, cozy sweaters, and those gorgeous fall leaves will be here before we know it.
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Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons to photograph because everything seems to slow down just enough to soak in the little moments.
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🍂 Fall Sessions are officially open to book!
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If autumn is your favorite season too, I`d love to capture your story.
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To find out more information and to book:
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https://book.usesession.com/i/XpHwEW2Nz
REMINDER:
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Christmas in July is coming to an end and Fall sessions will be going on sale Saturday August 1st at 8:00am. So if you are more a Fall mama, Aug 1st is your day!
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I have two new locations I am having sessions at this year and also including Cantingy as an option...because...well, it`s absolutely amazing at any time of year.
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Cannot wait to capture your family during nature`s most beautiful dance! See you back here at 8:00am Saturday!
Don`t sleep on this sale!
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Christmas in July sale goes thru 7/31/26. That means if you only have 2 DAYS left to get $50 off your holiday session balance. Any sessions booked after 7/31/26 will be at FULL PRICE.
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Reminder...if the session you want is wait list only, book your second favorite theme and if the waitlist opens up on your favorite, I will be in touch and would be happy to move you to that slot! As long as a holiday session is booked before 8/1/26, the $50 discount will apply! Link in bio.
It`s July...and half of my holiday season is already booked. 🤯🎄
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I honestly don`t know what to say except...thank you. ❤️
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We are only ONE WEEK into my Christmas in July event, and 30 of the 60 holiday sessions have already been claimed!
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Every single booking is someone choosing me to preserve their family`s memories, and that is something I`ll never take for granted.
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Six years ago, I started Novella Photography with a dream of creating meaningful images for families. Today, seeing so many of you planning ahead in the middle of summer because holiday photos have become part of your family`s tradition...that`s pretty incredible.
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If you`ve been thinking about booking, here`s your friendly reminder:
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Half of this year`s holiday collection is already spoken for.
That means there are 30 sessions remaining across all eight holiday experiences.
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Every year, my holiday calendar fills well before the season arrives, so if you`ve had your eye on a particular setup or date, now is the time.
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From the bottom of my heart...
Thank you for trusting me with your memories, year after year.
DID YOU BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY STORY?
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Christmas in July Sale happening now thru July 31st! $50 off your holiday session balance.
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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