outdoor photography

August 17, 2018August 16, 2018

| Marie & Ernie | Beautiful Allerton Park Engagement Session | Monticello IL |

Marie & Ernie are getting married next month and I’m so excited to be a part of their big day. We had their engagement session earlier this summer and we had a perfect day for it out at Allerton. I’m so excited to show off some of their favorite images and my absolute favorite engagement session product, our guestbook. This is the perfect way to combine your favorite engagement images with the keepsake of all the signatures and well wishes of the guests at your wedding day.

Guestbooks have been around forever, that’s not new. But I remember finding my parents’ in a box in our basement once and opening it to the first page to find out what it was. My mom told me it was their guestbook (in a box in the basement) and I didn’t look past the first page. Why? Because it was just signatures. But, imagine this book (hopefully not in a box in a basement, but even then) 30 years from now discovered by a friend or kiddo of these two filled with images of them looking so young and in-love and full signatures from all their loved ones… I bet those kiddos make it past just the first page!

August 10, 2018August 10, 2018

| Chelsea + Trey | Engagement Portraits Decatur IL |

Today I get to meet with these two beautiful people to finalize plans for their wedding day coming up in less than a month! They are just beyond sweet and I am so honored to be a part of their amazing day. I laughed so much on this session, Trey is quite the comedian and kept me on my toes. They are just adorable together and to pour some sugar on top we added in their itty bitty pup who may be small but his personality makes up for it (it might have stollen the show for a few).

One thing I always encourage clients to think about is including places and things that are important to them on their session and Chelsea and Trey did that in the most amazing ways. Of course we included their fur baby but also our second location was their family farm complete with farmhouse that will not be with us much longer. It gives me chills to think about them having these images for life, long after the farmhouse is gone they’ll be able to show it to future generations and let the legacy live on.

There’s nothing quite like a country front porch.

I’m taking a VERY limited number of weddings for 2019 so if you’re planning to tie the knot next year I’d love to talk with you soon. Let’s create something memorable like this for YOU!

July 24, 2018

| Ashley & Kevin | Decatur IL Engagement Portraits | The Gin Mill & Fairview Park |

Earlier this summer I was able to photograph Ashley & Kevin and we started off at the Gin mill where they had their first date. Not only is that restaurant super cool but they were so inviting and accommodating for us!

The below image was a fun one to get to feature some cool elements of the decor (that chandelier!!) as well as these two and it will make the perfect centerpiece of their metal wall art piece which is on it’s way from the lab as we speak!

A big thank you to Laci at Mint Salon for the beautiful hair/makeup for Ashley.

May 17, 2018

| Carly + Tyler | Engagement Portraits | Decatur IL |

Take a look at Carly & Tyler! I’m so excited to be photographing their wedding this coming fall and today I get to share a few of their favorite engagement images with you all. I met Carly a couple years ago when I created her senior images and I was thrilled when she called to talk about her wedding day.

We wanted a sunset look for their session but timing wasn’t working out with our schedules so instead we opted for SUNRISE! While not many clients brave the early morning hours for this look I just LOVE it and it lets us get really unique looks including the first ever sunrise I’ve photographed over this field at sandscreek.. the light is just not the same here any other time of day!

But as you can tell by their first outfits this session was a bit chilly so we opted to spend the second half of their session here in the studio where we could all stay much warmer! There’s always something so classic and timeless in studio portraits, especially black and white.

March 3, 2017February 23, 2017

| Abby S | LSA Senior Model Class of 2017 | Decatur IL |

I’m so glad the time has come to show off and share Abby’s full senior portrait experience with you! The lovely Ms. Abby is a senior at LSA high school here in Decatur and she was one of our class of 2017 senior models. That means that her portrait experience with us started small, with a quick 5 minute debut session here in the studio….

and it grew and grew…. That individual quick session was followed by our model session event in the beautiful (but WINDY) spring weather at Ryder’s Garden center. The yellow blooms were perfect with her golden blond hair and I love the Greek goddess look that the floral crown by The Secret Garden gave her! ryder's garden center, mt. zion il garden center, senior photos, senior photographer, senior portraits, high school seniors, siblings, outdoor portraits, outside, sun flare, sunshine, forest, trees, decatur il photographer, photographer, photography studio, lsa, lsa seniors, spring flowers, yellow flowers

After those two model sessions, which were really about creating fun looks I loved, it was time for HER senior sessions which are all about creating looks that SHE loves. We hopped back in the studio for a few more looks in the early spring but the real magic happened in the summer when we hit the town…

We started downtown before hitting some backroads in search of something fresh and new and we found it. A perfect little one-lane-gravel road where we had a great sunset and some wild tall weeds! I love so many of Abby’s portraits and am so glad that she did too.

Don’t forget you can still apply for your chance to be a class of 2018 senior model for a full year portrait experience just like this! Model applications are accepted from now until March 31st so don’t wait!

And be sure to head over to Abby’s Facebook Album to give her some likes/comments.

** Some images edited using BoxDropsbySJP overlays and most backdrops used are available to purchase at www.boxdropsbysjp.com!