BLOG – Page 18 – the latest in-studio & on-location MO, IL and beyond

February 7, 2019February 7, 2019

| Kaylee + Jake | Decatur IL Wedding Photography |

Today I get to show off Kaylee & Jakes full wedding album. This beauty is off being handcrafted in Italy and will be headed our direction so soon. I can’t even tell you how FUN it was to be a part of this day. Kaylee and her momma worked hard to design an absolutely beautiful day and a little rain couldn’t do anything to spoil it.

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And as they say, rain on your wedding day is supposed to be GOOD luck. So while I’m thrilled that these two got all that good luck showered upon their day, I’m equally as excited that the storm raged through BEFORE we were doing outdoor portraits and you’d never know it even rained by looking at the gorgeous sunshine we finished the day with.

Details of the reception put together creatively by Makin’ Memories Rentals & Moore.

Hosted at the Macon County Community Center.

February 5, 2019

| Sierra | Maroa_Forsyth High School Class of 2019 Senior Model Portraits |

It’s Sierra’s day on the blog today! She has been such a wonderful part of our model team this year and I’ve loved getting to work with her and her momma on session(s) to create these images (and video!). And the final cherry on top was finishing up her album design for something a little classy and a little playful. I hope you like her images as much as I do!

One of my favorite parts of our year long experience with our senior models are the pop up sessions where we get to try something new (both for them and sometimes even new for me!) like photographing in the pouring rain!

While Allerton is always a popular session location (and beautiful year round so why not?!?!), I try really hard to use the space in new ways at least for part of every session. For the below images we popped by a little flower patch next to the road and even climbed under some trees to get to a little canopy area I’d not shot at before.

Class of 2020/21 if you’d like a senior portrait experience that’s way more than just one session we’d love to have you join us… just apply now at sjanephotography.com > BECOME A SENIOR MODEL.

February 1, 2019February 1, 2019

| Phillips Fall Family Portraits | Limited Edition Sessions by Sarah Jane Photography |

I’ve been working with Emily basically since we moved to the area in 2010. She’s been a big part of much of the SJP PR/advertising strategies over the past (almost) decade so, of course, I was excited to create some extended family portraits for her and in-laws this fall. Believe it or not ALL this was done in less than 30 minutes (I mean you have to work pretty fast with a handful of little ones on session!). We had PERFECT color this week and aren’t their outfits just adorable?!?!

I figured it was a good time to throw back to this fall session now that we are stuck in the middle of the ice age again… remember that better seasons will come again ya’ll.

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Believe it or not we’re already booking FALL 2019 sessions so if this is the look you’d like for your family portraits this year, whether your family is just you and your love, a fur baby or two, or the full shebang like the Phillips family, we can create something perfect for you!

January 30, 2019January 30, 2019

| Rylee | Class of 2019 Senior Portraits | Decatur IL |

I met Rylee at our model Haley’s BFF session and I’m so glad I did because working with her and her lovely momma to create her senior portraits was an absolute blast. Rylee is so fun and didn’t take a single bad image. We explored downtown a bit for a bit of an urban look but also worked in some time in the studio (Cards fan ya’ll WHOOPWHOOP) as well as at Scovill Gardens for some beautiful nature looks. I’m excited to not only share all her favorite images but also her full album design which was a mix of modern and classic feminine style.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable portrait experience with personalized sessions and custom-designed products like this album remember we’re taking applications now for senior models HERE.

January 28, 2019January 28, 2019

| Parker Fall Family Portraits | Decatur IL Photographer | Sarah Jane |

Well after prepping this post to go live Friday a very sick toddler threw off my plans and I didn’t even realized until today that I hadn’t actually clicked ‘publish’ so we have a bonus post this week (aka late post from last week, but better late than never ya’ll and it’s going to be a great way to START your week!)……

Today I get to share with you a family that’s become an important one to our little family. Three years ago we faced the daunting task of finding a babysitter for our little lady “baby B” … Though we’ve been in the Decatur area for nearly 9 years now, times like these you realize that there are not a lot of people you really know personally so we reached out to our wonderful neighbors and on facebook to trust in the word of those in our circle to help us find someone we could trust with our brand new baby.

That one choice is so huge and being new parents we didn’t even know what to look for or what questions to ask or how this whole thing even worked. Well Jinny was the first and only sitter we went to visit with… we knew we’d be taking essentially a blind leap of faith and just hoping for the best and we could not have made a better choice. Not only is she super flexible with us with a not so set schedule that is the life of an entrepreneur but my kid feels just as much a part of their family as she does ours (like no joke she introduced herself as “B Parker” for like a year before we convinced her that no she was actually a Shorthose just like us).

Even having a sitter is something that I think many working moms struggle with but when your kiddo gets excited and runs to the door when Ms. Jinny comes (yes this awesome lady even comes to pick up my kid from here often) and when she asks at least once a weekend if she’s going to Ms. Jinny’s today it makes it 100% easier to let her go. She’s somewhere she loves and is loved and that warms my heart so so much.

Ok now if you’ve stuck in here this long through the ramblings of a super grateful momma I guess it’s time to show you some images we created this fall for Jinny and her brother to gift to their momma for Christmas. I was so happy to be able to create these for them and give each of these kiddos a bit of their own time in the spotlight as we know these moments don’t last long. I hope you join me in showering these beautiful people with love!

If 2019 is the year for YOU to update your family portraits (whether it’s been a year or a decade since the last one) we’d love to talk with you and design something special for the personalities in your house!