Capturing the Glamour of Chamber Royale 2025

A Night of Elegance, Celebration, and Unforgettable Moments

The Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Gala, Chamber Royale: Black Tie & Blackjack, was nothing short of spectacular! Hosted at the stunning Boulder Ridge Country Club on January 25, 2025, this event brought together business leaders, community members, and Chamber supporters for a night filled with sophistication, celebration, and fun—and DeAnda Photography was honored to capture it all.

A Casino-Themed Night to Remember

From the moment guests arrived, it was clear that this was no ordinary gala. Dressed in black-tie elegance, attendees were greeted with a luxurious atmosphere that set the tone for the night ahead. The evening featured:

🎲 Thrilling casino games – Blackjack, roulette, and craps tables brought the Vegas energy, keeping the excitement high throughout the night.
🏆 Prestigious awards ceremony – Recognizing outstanding businesses and individuals who have made an impact in the community.
🎶 Live entertainment by the Sam Schatz Organ Trio – Adding the perfect soundtrack to an already lively event.
🍽️ A decadent dinner and cocktails – The Boulder Ridge Country Club’s chef prepared an incredible spread of food and desserts.
🎟️ Exciting raffles & prizes – A fun way for guests to take home something extra from the night.

Capturing the Magic

At DeAnda Photography, I specialize in documenting the energy and emotion of special events, and Chamber Royale was no exception. Through my lens, I captured:

📸 Candid moments of joy and connection – Genuine smiles, laughter, and the camaraderie of the night.
🏆 Award winners taking the spotlight – Their well-earned recognition as they accepted their prestigious honors.
🎲 The excitement at the casino tables – Guests trying their luck and enjoying the interactive entertainment.
💫 The elegance of the evening – From the glamorous attire to the stunning setting at Boulder Ridge Country Club.

A Special Thank You

A huge thank you to the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce for putting together such a fantastic event and for trusting DeAnda Photography to capture it. It was an honor to document a night that celebrated community, achievement, and connection.

And of course, congratulations to all the award winners! Your dedication and contributions to the community were truly celebrated, and we loved capturing your big moment.

Want to relive the magic of Chamber Royale? 🎉 Check out the full gallery here:
📷 View the Photos

Looking forward to capturing more unforgettable moments for this incredible community!

What is a mini shoot?

A mini shoot is just a taste of what a full session would be. They are perfect for a milestone or special occasions such as a sitter session, prom, school photo, first communion and etc. I host them at my studio at 122 S Main St. Algonquin either inside or right behind my studio since it opens up to a beautiful area filled with trees, a creek, wildflowers, and some cool more urban-looking walls. I do also offer mini-sessions at other locations on select dates. So if you are flexible with location and dates a mini might just be the perfect fit for you. After the session, you will receive a full gallery of images to pick out your 8 that comes with the mini.

All of these images below were taken either in my studio or right behind my studio. There is just so much flexibility for you to choose from in one convenient location.

St.James Farm Engagement Session

This was a special engagement session since I have been friends with Desiree now for about 4 years. I was so excited when her and Justin wanted me to photograph their wedding and engagement . We decided on St.James Farm in Warrenville. It really makes a perfect backdrop and offers so much versatility. They have finally finished construction there and the place looks just gorgeous! Enjoy!

Chicago Nature Boardwalk Engagement Session

Alison and Blake decided on Lincoln Park for their engagement session. We really wanted to highlight Chicago in their session since after their wedding they will be moving! We started around South Pond which they had never explored before. We then head to the honeycomb to check that out and since it was a weeknight we almost had the place to ourselves. Then it was time to walk over to North Ave. I have always loved the pedway bridge and we took a few images up there too. We finished the night off right off the lakeshore path.

St. James Farm in Warrenville Engagement Photos

Jobeth and Brett met me after being rained out on our first session. The weather was beyond perfect for our new session a few weeks later. Even though they were both very nervous they were naturals at having their photos taken! We explored St.James Farm together which is a favorite location of mine. We gushed about our mutual love of Disney World and these two love birds will be getting married there! How amazing is that?

DuPage County St.James Farm Engagement Photoshoot

John and Erika met me with their adorable dog Bellah at one of my favorite locations in all of DuPage County, St.James Farm. We explored and found a gorgeous little field filled with wildflowers that I was just in love with. The light was just gorgeous and we could not of asked for better weather. You can just see how in love John and Erika were and I am so honored to be able to capture their wedding next year.

Chicago Montrose Harbor Engagement Photos of Stephanie & Alex

Stephanie and Alex were my lucky winners from my free engagement session drawing at the Villa Olivia Wedding show this past April. We met on this past Saturday at Montrose Harbor in Chicago on what ended up being the PERFECT day, despite the weather reports saying it had a 80% chance of rain. They were both dressed for to perfection with Stephanie in a gorgeous blue maxi dress and and Alex in the most amazing boat shoes. We snuck into the docks with some help from Alex's friend and laughed as we explored the whole area. My favorite moment was Alex practically doing a Dirty Dancing style lift with Stephanie when I had asked for just a little lift. It was pretty much the most epic lift ever!

Oak Park Engagement Photography of Sarah and Margaret

I met with Sarah and Margaret at their place and we headed to downtown Oak Park right around the corner from when they live. We went by Poor Phils, where they had one of their first dates. I had such a great time exploring the area with them and there are so many hidden gems we found along the way. After we finished there we headed out for some Chicago street art in Bucktown and Logans Square. We finished out our session at my favorite spot, South Pond in Chicago. I can't wait for your wedding this October.

Extended Family Photos at South Pond Chicago

Today I want to share with you an extended family session I did after thanksgiving this past year. Robby who lives in Chicago, with his partner Kevin, had contacted me about setting up the shoot for his parents, along with his sister, her husband and their adorable two kids who were in town for the thanksgiving weekend. This was a gift to Robby's parents from him and his sister. What a great gift. We decided on South Pond near Lincoln Park Zoo after discussing a few other options . We captured some with the skyline on the kissing bridge along with some great photos with the tall wild grasses and of course the famous honeycomb. We may of had to bribe the children with some delicious candy but in the end we captured so many great images! I hope they cherish them for years to come and that I see them all again some day.

Chicago Lakefront Portrait Session

After seeing the shoot I did with Fransisco and Jon last week Lucy contacted to capture her and her husband Pablo before the head off to Miami in only a week! Luckily I had an opening and we had the best day for our session. We started near the zoo and then walked to the lakefront to get some amazing shots with the skyline. After that we headed back to the south pond area, on of my favorite locations and photographed the gorgeous fall colors there! Enjoy!