TO THE BLOG

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

Sending holiday greetings as we enter the last portion of 2025! It has been an amazing year meeting new clients, catching up with old. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

When I think of my friend, Michele, there are some words that come to mind. Generous, selfless, caring, empathetic, kind-hearted, compassionate.

Michele was our dog walker from many years ago. We met her before we even had children. She is such a wonderful friend to have in your life. Michele loves animals and her fur babies. She always ensures to book a session with her little family. And it has been a honor to capture them for her.

There comes a time, when those pets, can no longer be held, loved in person or taken for walk. The lifespan of our furry friends is far too short. Sometimes their lives are even taken tragically. Making it even harder to cope with that reality that they are gone too soon.

This year, at Michele’s photo session, there was one less snuggly pup to capture. Beau had crossed the rainbow bridge. Making my job feel more important than ever. I am so sorry for your loss, Michele. He will be forever in your heart.

Our pets give us so much joy and although their time here is short, we must ensure to enjoy each minute. Even the muddy paws, barking at the neighbors, and scratching our floors. Give those fur babies a hug & cherish the time you have together.

Until next time,

xoxo

Renée

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

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! Marching right into Summer!! We are approaching temps in the high 70s as we move into mid March! Summer months and weather will be here before we know it, we will have survived another Midwest winter! Can you tell, that excites me?!

Today, I am showcasing a very special client. I met her when she was just 6 months old!

Precious as could be, Mya touched my heart. She is such a sweet child. She has an infectious smile. When you look into her eyes, you can see the happiness that fills her days. There is a reason for that happiness, and her name is Lindsey.

Last October I saw Lindsey and Mya for their fourth photo session together. It is always my pleasure to capture the love these two share.

As Mya was approaching two, you could clearly see how much she was enjoying her next chapter. She was no longer a baby, it is her life and she is going to enjoy all the exciting, independent things about it!

As each year goes by, Mya steps into her new phase with confidence and joy.

Thank you for the opportunity to watch Mya grow. She has a special place in my heart. I am so grateful to know both Lindsey and Mya.

Until next time.

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

Hello, and welcome back to the blog! It has been sunny & warm (ish) in Chicagoland and that makes my heart so very happy! It is almost like spring is in the air! I hope you are happy & well as we move closer to March and April!

There is nothing better than a notification that has just arrived from a potential new client via your website! It is sooo exciting (to me!) 🎉

A referral from a past client (whom I just adore) had come in! Maggie was looking for a family photo session in Chicago. We were able to find a date, time location that worked just before busy season was going to pop off in the fall. Maggie and Sam were enjoying life with their baby boy Owen and wanted to capture their adorable family. My pleasure!!

After all that hard work of fitting them in, the morning we planned for our session, Mother Nature wanted to bring some rainfall over Chicago. I NEVER want to cancel a session, I will wait…it … out…. So we all agreed, we would let Mother Nature do her thing, wait in our cars and meet once the weather cleared. I was so happy the Pranckus family was willing to go with that plan- it all worked out!

I could clearly see, Maggie & Sam are the kind of parents who were warm and kind, radiating love and patience, while their little one was full of giggles and curiosity. Watching them interact was heartwarming; every smile, every gentle touch, spoke of a deep, unbreakable connection. They were the kind of family that made you believe in the beauty of simple, everyday moments.

Owen is now one years old. That little baby face that once existed is changing and it will bring back tears when you look back at photos. He will never be this young again. And all those “firsts” are all just so fun and exciting with your first born.

Thank you Pranckus family, for allowing me to capture these moments for you, for waiting in the car until the rain was finished and bringing sunshine to our session.

Until next time friends,

Warmly,
Renée

Do you ever wish you could freeze time? I know all parents have those moments where they think to themselves….Where. Did. The. Time. Go? One moment you are waking up at night to feed a baby and the next second you are getting them ready for their first day of Kindergarten.

A memory pops up on your phone or social media and you can hardly remember those moments while in the midst of what, can sometimes, become a crazy moment in your parental life. It is something that you are warned about, it all goes so fast, but you never really “feel it” until it’s your children on the screen, in the photograph, in the video, before your very eyes.

The days are long, but the years fly by. Some days are so, so hard and other days are filled of so much joy, you can’t imagine how you got so lucky. ✨

Marci is a long time family friend. I have known her since she was a young lady. Her three children are her life. She is an amazing mother to these three precious children. They really are so lucky they get to call her momma. Marci is kind, she is loving and she is sweet. And so are her babies!

It is always an honor to capture your family memories. I hope each time you look at your pictures, your heart is reminded of this cherished time in all of your families’ lives.

Oh, and may I remind you how colorful and cheery summer sessions can be! Love all the florals too. We met in River Grove in a garden near Triton College for this fun family photo shoot.

Until next time,

Renée

Meet Samantha, a Downers Grove Lifer.

It was the end of Summer of 2024. Samantha was looking for new headshots to match her new real estate career! Middle of September and it was hotter than hot, but we had a plan and we stuck with it! Meet in downtown Downers Grove and utilize the locations as the backdrop to her photos.

Samantha has a strong financial background and she coaches girls basketball. She is like a real life cheer leader. She is positive, fun and is always looking at the bright side. You really enjoy being around her!

Together, we walked around town, chatting and finding unique little nooks to bring some variety to her images. Downers Grove is full of charm and that wonderful small town appeal you look for in a community. She can tell you all about it! 😉. If you are looking for a wonderful realtor in DG, she’s your girl! She works out of the Downer Grove BHHS Chicago office. https://samanthaaycock.bhhschicago.com/

Well that is it for now folks. I hope you are enjoying 2025 so far! See ya next time!

Cheers-

Renèe