Today we’d like to introduce you to Francine Mittenthal.
Hi Francine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My mom sadly passed 30 years ago. She and I were very close, and she always told me I need to do something creative in life to be happy. < A key to my story! Soon after she passed, I left the corporate world to raise our children. I always avoided being in front of the lens thanks to some health struggles, but a bit of a scare pushed us to hire a family portrait photographer. She deeply inspired me to capture more soulful images of our three daughters, and we became fast friends. In 2008, she helped my husband choose a DSLR for me. We quickly realized the limitations of said camera, which led him to buy an upgrade with plans to sell the old. A week before it was due to arrive, a neighbor’s friend asked me to photograph her children. I begged her to wait until the new camera arrived, but like magic, UPS was at my door two hours later and my first session was a hit! After the session, I hopped online to register the new camera, and its purchase date literally brought me to tears. I had no idea my husband bought the camera on my mom’s birthday. Chills from head to toe made it clear this was a sign to take the leap and become a business owner. I spent hours and hours educating myself on all things camera, editing, posing and more. Ends up my mom was right! This sweet business of mine may not be easy, but it is incredibly fulfilling. Sixteen years later, I can’t imagine doing anything else!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been a few bumps in the road over the last sixteen years of Lillybelle Rose Photography. I struggled with every technology change that came my way, often hiring help after days of struggling to resolve issues. Spine issues made child & family photography challenging. The silver lining here was completely transforming my business model to service newborns and babies. Every newborn and milestone session is a reminder that I am doing what I am meant to do. Now, like many small businesses, it is a struggle to keep the schedule as full as I’d like. Offering a variety of package options to suit many budgets has allowed me to keep relatively busy.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Lillybelle Rose Photography is a premier newborn and milestone portrait studio serving the Chicago area. I like to think I help capture the tiny details, which seem to change overnight, and turn them in to artistic images to cherish for years to come. Parent and sibling portraits taken during a newborn session focus on joy, connection, and love. Clients always mention the clean, timeless, baby-focused style I provide.
Each google review, thank you email, and repeat client fills my heart with pride. My clients come to me exhausted and overjoyed, celebrating their tiniest family member, but also juggling sleepless nights and chaotic days. My goal is to have each client leave feeling relaxed, well cared for, and excited to receive their gallery. The entire session experience matters to me as much as the final product, and the reviews seem to confirm how important it is to my clients, as well!
My style sets me apart from many photographers in the area. I’ve never followed trends in posing and editing, resulting in years of consistent work. The clean, timeless, simplistic look of my images is why clients come to Lillybelle Rose Photography. Their overall experience is why they return with their growing family!
What’s next?
Though it may not be very exciting, I can honestly say my plan for the future is to continue as I have been! Though I’m closer to 60 than 50, retirement is not something I am considering at this point. It is a gift to love what I do, to meet new souls, work with tiny humans, and help preserve the most incredible time for a growing family. Looking forward to many more years of freezing these precious moments for my clients!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lillybellerosephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillybellerosephotography
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lillybelle-rose-photography-oak-brook
