TO THE BLOG

Hello. Here we go again. W I N T E R 🥶
Ha, can you tell what my favorite seasons are?
Speaking of seasons, we all go through our own seasons of life. Single. Married. Married with Children. Each season brings its own set of sparkle, sadness, success.

Giovanna came to me as a client back in 2023 when her first child was born. (Another fabulous referral from a great client!) Baby Gianluca. A young couple just started their family. What a treasure. A season of firsts. Memories that fade faster than the diaper size increase.

I visited this new family at their home to capture this special session. A big house with a lot of love!

Gianluca was not the only child for long. Soon he became a big brother! Enter another season! Some time had passed since we had seen each other. Gianluca was a big boy! His lil bro, Nico admiring his every move. This season filled with new challenges and memories and more diapers! It won’t be long until these little guys are filling mom and dad’s days with play dates, games, school time activities.

New photos to fill the frames!

Two little built in buddies. This is such a wonderful time to enjoy. They are only this young, this precious so long.

There will be hand-me-downs and ups and downs. But there will always be love. Love for two little guys who blossomed from the love story of Giovanna and Greg. A love that you haven’t experienced before. An incredible kind of love.

Until next time,

Renèe

Spring is in the air!! Finally!  Us midwesterners must press on through what feels like an endless winter.

Today’s blog is all Dayna and her precious girls. Documenting Dayna’s daughters is important to her. Dayna came to me as a referral in early 2025! (Shout out to my amazing clients who refer their family and friends!) 

An early spring session was a great way to meet the girls without the hectic pace of fall. Everyone wants their fall photos! 😉

These girls are so sweet and our session was fun and playful .

We met up for another session in September. A simple reminder that your child will never be this young again. The girls appeared older and more confident. As we all know each year blends into the next. The days move quicker than ever. Time goes so fast. Dayna was sure to capture all the changes in 2025.

The colors popped, the girls brought it. Cuteness captured and reserved for mom to keep for a lifetime. Making my  job- easy when it comes to showcasing her family. Natural emotions pouring through. Nothing was forced.  

Dayna, I thank you for choosing me to photograph your memories. A true honor. 

I heard winter will return by the end of the week! Enjoy the sunshine friends!

Until next time,

Renèe

Happy Holidays! Hope your season has been bright & merry so far! We have certainly seen a lot of snow, and it is not even winter yet!

Back in the fall, I had the pleasure of shooting Matthew’s senior session at Danada House. The weather was perfect, the leaves crisp and full of autumn colors.

Meeting Matthew was also such a joy. He was kind, sweet, and simply adorable!

I was thinking about how life has changed since I was in high school. We now live in an age of instant gratification—music, movies, and communication all at our fingertips. Folks Matthew’s age do not have to wait for photos to develop, wait in line for a new record, wait for a letter from a long-distance friend to arrive in the mail, or carry heavy book bags! LOL.

Our phones have music, photos, emails, and schedules, which is great—but you can also expect a lot more from your daily life. I enjoyed Matthew’s session so much because he seemed so happy to be there. He realized all of the memories senior year would provide. He is living it; he appreciates it. His last year as a soccer player at Wheaton North. His last homecoming dance. His last year—it is here, and he is embracing it all.

Time is ticking by, but there is so much to look forward to. The future is here. Kentucky is waiting for another Garza!

Matthew was joined by his wonderful parents and charming girlfriend. Everyone’s love and affection clear as day. JOY, simple and pure joy. Their last child off to college. Certainly a milestone for his parents.

Matthew, I wish you all the best in your final chapter of high school! And all that awaits you in your exciting future!

Until next time,

Renèe

Hello & Happy Fall! It just snowed & it is early November! The snow has got me a little excited about the upcoming, festive season!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! It’s about giving thanks for all that you have & let’s be real…about some tasty food! Growing up in an Italian family, we go all out. Ravioli to start , turkey and stuffing in between, desserts  … you get the idea. 

Speaking of thankfulness, I can imagine how grateful Andrea was this entire year watching her beautiful baby girl grow before her eyes. All mothers can speak of how fast their babies become toddlers and so on. You look back at old pictures and some of those infant stages are a complete blur. Always reminded how time is a complete thief. One of the hardest parts of watching them grow up, is how fast it all goes. Each year becoming more independent. That is a blessing as well, but you can’t help but think, they don’t need you as much anymore, they don’t play with those toys any longer, their own opinions becoming more clear.

I normally wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate for the next merry season. But this year my desire has crept in early! I am holding back from decorating just yet, but I’d love to share with you, these images from last holiday! 

A wonderful reminder of that time in Andrea’s life. A new mom, a new routine, a growing family. 

A look back at what is in the distant past. Your baby girl, now almost one years old. A lot has changed, and perhaps so have you.

Cannot think of a better gift.

Until next time,

xoxo

Renée

Hello again! Nearing the end of September, another year is just flying by! Hope all is well in your world.

Maternity sessions are simply one of my favorite sessions to capture. Being pregnant is such an amazing experience. Whether you enjoy those 9 months or they were some of the toughest of your life, the glow that exists is pretty undeniable. And the life you create, the most extraordinary thing you will ever accomplish. So there is undeniable beauty involved. 

This is the second Maternity session I was able to capture for Christina and her husband Dan. (Always an honor to be asked back to capture your most precious memories!)

And as the last moments as a family of three, capturing these family pictures was even more special. Your first born, is now such a big part of the family dynamic!

Check out Big Bro Brandon!

It was just an amazing evening capturing this glowing momma! As your family grows, you realize just how precious time is, and that it slips thru your fingers faster than you wish.

Capturing both of Christina’s beautiful pregnancies is an honor beyond belief!

I hope the next chapter of the McKee family is one full of joy, laughter and eventually more sleep!

Until next time friends! Enjoy your week!

Renée

Hello again! Hope all is well! What about this fabulous weather we are experiencing?! It’s the perfect blend of I am not freezing and I am not sweating chasing my kids around! What more, can we ask for? I think it allows us to spend more time outdoors and reflect on the beauty of the season!

So here we are, in the “ember” months already. Another year is just flying by. I am going to go back to some amazing fall sessions from the year previous so we can start to embrace those gorgeous colors!

I introduce to you, the Washburn family! A stunning little crew if I may say. We met last October to take family photos. As they had recently become new parents of their adorable baby girl, I could see why they would want to capture this season of their lives!

It is hard to resist not loving this time of year. When all is golden. Autumn is a gentle hush, a season stitched with warm sweaters, crisp air, and the sweet crackle of crunchy leaves.

I’m so glad the Washburns were able to capture some sweet memories with their new family amougst the beauty of fall.

To think, they now have a one year old who will enjoy walking (or toddling) thru those crunchy leaves as well this year. Last year, she was safe, in your arms. Just a reminder to embrace the season, take in all the memories – time really flies folks.

With love,

Renée

Hello! Hope all is well in your world. 🌎

Life certainly has its twists and turns, sometimes the turbulence can get to be too much. It’s during those times, you are really tested and reminded to see what matters the most. It isn’t your house, your car(s), the miscellaneous things we buy to fill voids.

It’s the people. The people you love, the children you created. Your family.

“Family is not an important thing, it’s everything”  – Michael J. Fox

When your babies are small, you look into their beautiful eyes and wonder, how you got so lucky. And as they grow, you try to remember them as they were before. Small, innocent, carefree, exploring all that is new to them.

Sometimes you look back at a photo and it is hard to place that moment back in time. Luckily we have camera rolls full of images that remind us, just how fast time really travels.

Your baby turns one and those babbles and bottles become part of their history.

Just a simple reminder, to embrace each day, cherish all the memories, and snap pics along the way of course! Hold their little hands as long as you can. Kiss those scrum-shish cheeks. Be grateful you can tuck your kids in a warm bed each night. Be present, be free, make memories.

Thank you to the Brzozowski for being brave enough to brace the August temps and for allowing me to capture, a little slice of your heaven. They really are a picture perfect family. And it was super fun to get to know their little loves.

Best part of my job is taking photos of the entire family that my clients will adore, a gallery that include mom and dad too! Having fun while doing it. I am here for all of it!

Cheers to you, parents! You are the light of their lives.

Sometimes, things are just meant to be. You know that feeling, like it all worked out the way it was supposed to.

It was a random Wednesday in early October. I received a text message about possibly booking a fall senior session. It was already fall, so my schedule was pretty booked up. BUT I had an opening for the coming Sunday & it worked for the client too! I was going to be in Wheaton for other sessions. The weather seemed pretty perfect, the colors still present. Let’s do it!

So I met Jackson and his lovely mother at Hurley Gardens. One of my favorite photography locations. I must say quickly upon meeting Jackson, I was impressed! He was kind, polite and while speaking to him I learned he was also very smart! Favorite subject, Chemistry. Jackson mentioned PRE MED ! Plus a complete soccer star! Impressive kid!

His mom just really wanted to capture him at this very moment of his life. Paula, I could not agree with you more!

I am excited he was up for the opportunity as well! It is not always the senior fellas who want to hang out in front of my camera, of course, they totally should! LOOK at these amazing results!

Remember folks, take the photos! Soon Jackson will be graduating from Wheaton North and heading off to college. Likely feels like he was just starting Kindergarten to mom. Big things ahead for Jackson! Congrats on graduation and best of luck in the next chapter!

Until next time, friends!

Renèe

Senior year, what a time of your life. Flashbacks appear when I think of it. The friends, the fun, the excitement of a new chapter ahead. Classroom memories, maybe, but more the experiences created during that time.

Kaitlyn’s mom reached out to me in the fall of 2024. Her daughter was not pleased with her original class photos and was eager to retake them. Kaitlyn wished for a forest like location. Challenge Accepted! ✅

I was so excited to provide an exceptional experience for Kaitlyn! And to create beautiful memories for she and her family to look back at.

Kaitlyn accepted the challenge to dress to impress! We decided on an outfit and location change as well. Starting off in beautiful Riverside, IL.

It was fun getting to know Kaitlyn during her session. A smart little cookie, she was also completing her cosmology certification along with her senior year workload. She plans to study business in college and open her own salon one day! Love the goals she has created for her future! You go girl!

Next, we moved over to Brookfield to capture whatever was left of the color in early November.

Kaitlyn, just a beautiful soul inside and out! I wish you nothing but the best! Congrats on your 2025 graduation & best of luck in your next ventures!!

Until next time friends!

Renée

Hello! Welcome back to the blog! I hope you are enjoying longer days and sunshine! I sure have.

Today we have a new family session feature- the Malcom Family! Brooke reached out to me as a referral from a past client, always love when that happens! As I was getting to know Brooke over the phone, I found out, she has twins (too!) It is wild to think how many of my clients have twins. The Malcom twins are teenagers! Considering my twins are approaching five, this was fun to witness. Kids grow up, they turn into teenagers. And also on the verge of becoming a teenager is Luke! Their younger brother.

Our days get so busy, plans for weeks and months in advance. Everyone going a different direction, it can be hard to plan a family photo session. Then you realize, like Brooke, it has been too long, and you’d love to capture your kids ( or teens) and your family as it is, right here, right now.

And don’t forget Logan, the precious pooch!

The Malcom family is so adorable! Soon the girls will be looking into schools or their next chapters after graduation. It could just be Luke at home. Hard to imagine that, but time really ticks faster and faster with each year.

I will say, this family was just as perfect as shown here. They were simply charming, kind and friendly.

Mr. & Mrs. Malcom have done a great job. I know they are proud of their kids, and they should be! They are something to be proud, of.

Thank you for allowing me to capture your picture perfect family!

Until next time,

Warmly,
Renée