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Kids and lambs make for great photographs and a fundraiser, too

If innocence could be illustrated, Jonathan and Wendy Roob's portraits of babies and lambs come close to capturing the quality.

You can't help but smile when looking at the precious moments captured by the Vernon Hills-based photographers.

The couple say they are looking forward to spring, when the newest herd of soft, white critters are born at Lambs Farm in Libertyville. They will spend at least a day photographing kids and lambs as part of a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.

The Roobs will donate each $50 sitting fee to Lambs Farm. The portraits can be purchased from JonathansPortraits.com This is the second year the Arlington Heights couple has given their time to help the group that serves people with developmental disabilities. The photo shoot will be scheduled once the lambs are born, which is expected in early April.

Working with animals and toddlers presents challenges, Jonathan said.

"It's hysterical sometimes," he said. "People ask us how we control the lambs. But I laugh and say the kids are harder to control. The lambs are so docile, so gentle."

The children are photographed in high-key lighting on a stark white background. The simplicity accentuates the interaction between the kids and the lambs.

Jonathan said there have been times when the lambs fall asleep during the shoot.

"We've gotten some great images when both the baby and lambs doze off at the same time. It's a sweet moment."

The Roobs shoot weddings and bar mitzvahs, but specialize in family and individual portraiture.

"We love people," Wendy said. "It's about connecting with their soul. It's not just about smiling and saying 'cheese.' It's about capturing their heart, telling their story and recording the milestone's in their lives. We give people permission to be themselves."

Not all the subjects who pose with the baby sheep are children.

"A Catholic priest came and had us photograph him with a lamb on his shoulders. The whole shepherd thing, you know," Jonathan said. "And once we had a family whose last name was Lamb. They thought it would be great to pose with a real one."

And, um, what happens when the animals do what comes naturally?

"We clean it up and move on," Jonathan laughed. "And we deal with the same issues with babies, remember."

Deciding to donate the sitting fee to Lambs Farm came easy to the Roobs. It lines up with their life's philosophy.

"I try to bless as many people as I can by doing something good for them," Jonathan said. "It's a mission really. When you bless one person and they turn around and bless someone else, you create a stream of good things that keeps moving forward."

The Roobs say photo sessions book up quickly and suggest folks get on the list now. Call (847) 769-0898 to register. Lambs Farm is located off I-294 at Route 176.

The innocence of the lambs and babies are one of the attractions in the Roobs' photographs. Courtesy of Jonathan Roob