Adreoni Family Session | Starved Rock State Park

The Adreoni family was so much fun to work with. Amanda contacted me a few months ago about shooting a fall family session. Fall is my favorite time of year. The rustic colors and crisp change of the season are this photographer’s dream.  I knew we needed to find the perfect location to capture autumn. We went up to Buffalo Rock in Utica, Illinois and it was everything we were looking for. The fall light and the color of the grass were gorgeous. It was unseasonably warm for the time of year but I was happy that the weather held out in Starved Rock State Park that day.

Amanda is an entrepreneur with the sweetest family. We had so much fun talking about business opportunities and homeschooling, and their kiddos were so funny and polite for the entire session! I always plan a little extra time during family sessions to accommodate whatever breaks the kids may need. We took a mid-session snack break, which is totally fine and even encouraged as it helps to keep everyone’s spirits up. Especially when sessions fall at dinner time it is a good idea to have some snacks on hand. And like I said, I plan a little extra time for these sessions so it’s no problem at all to stop and recharge. 

Mom picked the outfits for the session and did an amazing job. The black in the outfits contrasted with the light grass and looked so good. Everyone coordinated but didn’t match, which is perfect. When outfits and patterns match completely, it can be hard to tell where one person ends and another begins in group photos. Coordinating outfits, on the other hand, allow for a cohesive look throughout the photos without being too much for the eyes to handle. 

By the end of the session, I captured some sweet family photos that really show the special relationships that the members of this family share. Their love for each other is so present and genuine, it was such an honor to save these moments for them forever.