Cantigny is one of the best spots for family photos in Wheaton!
So do you want to know the best places to do family photos? I will let you in on one of my absolute favorite spots in the western Chicago suburbs. Cantigny is located in Wheaton Illinois and what makes it so special is the immense variety of looks in a relatively small area. All of these images were taken in just a tiny tiny portion of the park, but one of my favorites, is the rock garden. Sunset here is just so dreamy for family portraits, everything just glows. They do have a permit fee here but it is really reasonable, check their website for current rates.
I have been working with this Suzanne and her family for the past 10 years! I am so lucky to have clients that come to me year after year to document their families as they grow. I always love how she dresses everyone and we both share a love of Stichfix (I have that same sweater she is wearing in the photo)
Limited Edition Cloud Mini Sessions
Spring Cloud Mini Session
April 11, 2021
25 min session
8 Digital Images of your choice from a gallery of 25+ Images
Option to upgrade to the entire gallery for a special discounted price of $100 (normally $150)
What could be more fun than playing in the clouds? For a limited time, I will be hosting these cloud limited edition sessions at my studio at 122 s. Main st. Algonquin, IL 60102. These sessions will take 25mins and are perfect for 1-2 kids. My cloud wall will also be available for full sessions by appointment only. You can book your appointment below or contact me directly if you would like a full session.
One Year Old Studio Boho Session with Smash Cake
I was so happy to meet Miss Isla and capture some photos of her! We started with the new boho set-up we have at the studio currently! How cute is this new bed setup with all the plants and peacock chair? Then we headed to my favorite darker studio backdrop in her dress. After that we did a few with some other backdrops I had, the turquoise backdrop really made Isla pop! How cute is her hair in these photos? Finally we ended with a smash cake and she went right in for it. I love ending 1 year sessions with a cake smash! Booking a studio session in the winter is the perfect backdrop to any of the milestones you are celebrating with your kids!
One Year Studio Birthday Session with Smash Cake
Happy Birthday Mr. P ! It has been such a wonderful time watching you grow this past year from a tiny sleepy newborn to a little man who knows how to crawl faster than I can jog! The S family came to my studio for his one-year photos. We did a mixture of indoor and outdoor photos and some with a holiday theme and they finished the session with an epic sprinkle-covered smash cake. I love working with families in my studio in downtown Algonquin since it provides so much variety. I have indoor and outdoor space available to shoot in there along with lots of backdrops, furniture, and props.
Holiday Mini Sessions 2020
Introducing Holiday Mini Sessions 2020, I have 4 new unique sets that I have created this year for you! I can’t wait to see which are your favorites! Can’t pick a favorite? Email me and we can set you up for a full session where we can use all 4 sets! I can’t wait to see you all this holiday season and bring some much-needed cheer into 2020! Book your session at the bottom of this page!
Baking With Santa
Winter Wonderland
Shabby Chic
Holiday Jammies
Your $225 Mini-Session Includes:
25-Minute Mini Session
6 Images from a Gallery of 25+
High-Res Digital Download Link
Full Printing Rights
7-Day Turnaround
Full Gallery for Additional $100
Booking Dates: 11/22, 11/28 & 11/29
(If you would like a weekday or a full session please contact me directly to book)
Sessions will be held at the DeAnda Photography Studio in downtown Algonquin.
122 South Main Street
Algonquin, IL 60102
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.
Why I Took a 6 year old to a tattoo parlor!
Meet Ian Whiskers
I had been hearing for quite awhile that piercing guns were not safe which led me to reach out to Ian Whiskers, who works at Electric Tattoo Parlor in Carpentersville as a professional piercer. Ian invited me to his workplace to see just how professional piercing works and I even got to meet Jessyn who came in to get her ears pierced with her mom and dad.
This is a guest blog post written by Ian Whiskers, of Electric Tattoo Parlor
Many parents are heeding the advice of medical professionals and waiting to pierce their children's ears until they are older, but where should you actually take them? An experienced tattoo parlor or piercing studio is absolutely your best bet. That does not mean every professional piercer is created equally. A little research will go a long way, so use that to your advantage.
Jessyn came in with her mom and dad and first got to pick out her jewelry for her ear piercing with Ian
Why a tattoo parlor?
It's safer.
Most piercing pagodas you'll find in the mall or department stores only rely on a brief video their employees watch, to basically learn how to use their "tools."
While most professional piercers will have a first aid certificate, CPR training and pass a blood borne pathogens test annually, have taken an apprenticeship that can last anywhere from 9 months to a year (preferably), and attend seminars on anatomy, technique, and cleanliness, and have cleaning and sterilization comparable to most healthcare professionals.
Isn't a piercing gun safer?
Absolutely not. A piercing gun cannot be properly cleaned, cannot be ran through an autoclave or statim, and cannot even be thoroughly wiped because of the tight spaces that make up the mechanism. Chances of spreading hepatitis A, B, C, and even HIV are a genuine concern when using these guns on multiple people. Did you know hepatitis C is seven times more infectious than HIV? Pretty scary
Professionals use single use sterilized needles for every procedure. Some even use single use sterilized tools and sterile gloves for the procedure!
Ian sanitizes the jewelry that will be used and shows Jessyn the hollow needle he will use to pierce her ears. He also demonstrated to her with an inflated glove how easy the needle will pierce her ear so it would hurt less than the blunt force trauma of a piercing gun. He also had her try to pierce the glove with a typical earring back to which Jessyn could not get it through the glove since it was not sharp enough.
But don't the needles hurt more?
Again, no. A gun uses an earring and pressure to shove that blunt object through skin, or worse, cartilage. Have you ever tried popping a balloon with an earring back? It's difficult to say the least.
Needles however are hollow, extremely sharp and are beveled to allow the needle to slice through tissue with ease and gently separate the tissue to allow the width of the needle to pass through. Think about popping a balloon with that!
Ian marks her ears first, Jessyn checks out the placement in the mirror, then he sanitizes and pierces both earlobes
Then that's it, she is all done and all smiles with her new big girl earrings!
But the piercing pagodas have plenty of cute jewelry options!
Most of those cute options are mystery metal jewelry that can cause irritation and problems with nickel allergies, even if they aren't apparent at first. Plus they don't sterilize them before use. Alcohol only has aseptic properties while still wet, so after it dries, it's doing you no good. Kind of gross when you think of how many people probably laid their unwashed hands on that jewelry.
Higher end shops will only use implant grade jewelry and have a high selection of options in every price range to give your little one the option to get exactly what they want.
Research your piercer, call and ask a million questions if you have to. Make sure your child is being taken care of the best they can. Your child deserves the best, make sure they get it.
To book with Ian you can email him at ian@electrictattooparlor.com or call the Electric Tattoo Parlor at 224-802-2151
Also for a limited time I am offering $100 off any family, mini, engagement, or wedding photo service if you use Ian for your piercing,
be sure to ask Ian for the coupon it will be in your aftercare bag he provides.
Arlington Heights Family Photography
Stephanie contacted me a few months ago to take photos of her husband for some professional headshots, Upon photographing him I noticed in their home some gorgeous images of their children throughout the years on the walls. She had mentioned to me that she wanted to get some updated photos of the kids. Stephanie contacted me just a few days later so we could plan a session at their home in Arlington Heights before their move to the east coast at the end of July. They had the most amazing swing in a huge tree in their front yard that the kids loved that we captured, along with a great garden area. With all the rain we had,many of the flowers in her yard were in full bloom which was pretty much perfect for our session. Even though we had cloudy skies in the forecast we lucked out towards the end of our session while the sun peeked through the clouds. Enjoy some of the highlights from their session bellow.
Six Month Photo Session in Western Springs
Rachel had emailed me just a little while back after seeing photos of the adorable Cooper. She wanted to capture her adorable Leah at one of my most favorite ages to photograph, six months. At six months babies start to sit up on their own and are so expressive. We photographed around the beautiful home in Western Springs indoors and out. The natural light in their house was wonderful and their front and back yard was just made for photography. Check out some images from their session and if you have a baby close to the six month mark be sure to contact me to set up an appointment to capture all the cuteness!
Mommy and Me Mini Sessions in Lake in the Hills
I had the pleasure of photographing Miss L again but this time it was a special mommy and me mini session. How sweet are these two! I am now offering mini shoots Monday-Friday for the special price of $300 though the end of June! These sessions are short and sweet and best for milestones, mommy and me, daddy and me, or kids by themselves. Please contact me for booking as session times during the week fill up fast!
