I absolutely loved taking this family’s portraits near Starved Rock State Park. I met the mom, Jesi, at a women’s event for local businesswomen. She is sunshine. Seriously, to know Jesi is to love her. She is smart, funny, and kind, and her family is so much fun to be around. Every day with the Dergance family is full of laughter. When Jesi asked me to take their family photos, I was so excited! We decided to go with a black and rust color palette. She has several teenagers with different styles, so we went with a simpler color scheme that could fit everyone's liking. 

On the day of their family session, it was an especially warm fall day. I wanted to make sure that they got that golden hour sun and fall color experience, so we headed up to Buffalo Rock in the evening. Buffalo Rock is a hidden gem in the Starved Rock area. It is usually less crowded than the state park, and much easier to maneuver around. The trails are mostly wide gravel paths, which is great because it is a bit of a walk. I always tell my clients to expect to walk in order to get the best lighting and locations. The tiny hike will be well worth it in the end! One of the best things about Buffalo Rock is stopping to see the actual buffalo herd on the way out. 

It can be difficult to work with older kids and teenagers, but the Dergance kids were so great. They obviously love being around each other and joking together. I like to be sure and take portraits of the kids on their own and together for sibling portraits. I loved capturing their sweet personalities and the bond that they have with each other. We also got some romantic shots of mom and dad through the tall grass. It can be easy to forget about couple shots when you have children, but I promise that they will be the photos that you treasure later on. All in all, this Illinois fall family session was fun and full of love.