| KeepingitKelley Wedding | Kellie & Ryan Kelley | Springfield IL Wedding | Erin’s Pavilion Reception |

It’s time to show off Kellie & Ryan’s beautiful Niantic wedding with you today! One of my favorite parts about smaller older churches is the beautiful wood work and window details that are perfect for creative detail images… and that front door – swoon.

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One of my favorite things to do during formal portraits on every wedding day is to try to create photos for the parents of the bride and groom along with the formal of the wedding couple. Often it’s been YEARS since parents have had images of just themselves and I just love seeing the connection and love in these families and even though it’s Ryan & Kellie’s big day, it’s also a big day for these four loving parents.

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Every wedding is beautiful and unique and most are meticulously planned, yet somehow at just about every single wedding something goes not quite as planned. For these two our little hiccup (or adventure) for the day was that about 5 minutes before the ceremony was to begin the whole church lost power! Bride was a little nervous but we were prepared and able to photograph with no interior lights as was the videography team and the minister did a wonderful job sans mic. The result was actually a lovely candle-lit ceremony which will be a story for them to tell for years to come. (And about 5 minutes after the ceremony was complete the power came right back!).

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It’s not every wedding that we have the chance to personalize their images like this…. at Kellie’s grandparent’s home with a tractor that’s been in her family for generations!

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Erin’s Pavilion in Springfield is a beautiful venue for any wedding or reception and one of the biggest reasons why from a photography standpoint is the abundance of stunning locations close by for portraits. This small garden out front was my favorite for this ‘wall of ivy’ type look. We had fun with everything from laughing poses to Kellie’s fierce model look below.

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Whenever possible I like to sneak out of the reception with the bride and groom for a few quick sunset images. This gives us something different from what we’ve created earlier in the day, shows the bride with dress bustled (and/or veil gone – Kellie rocked hers all night) but it’s also just a minute with the two of them alone amid the reception festivities which is always romantic!

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I have to say it was a joy to be a part of this beautiful couple’s wedding day and I love their hashtag #keelingitkelley because YES this bride’s new name is Kellie Kelley (isn’t it adorable!).

| BLACK FRIDAY SALE | TODAY ONLY |

sessionbogoToday is the day guys! It is the one and only day of the year where you can get unheard of savings on your 2017 sessions/images. And the best part is you can get this great savings with no lines, no pushing, no checkout counter… just you (in your pjs if you like) and your computer (or even your phone). It really doesn’t get much easier than that?

So what can you get? 

Well first off we have ANY 1 hour session (regularly $125) for only $40! While you’re welcome to stock up for yourself these are purchased again and again each year as the perfect personal (yet inexpensive) gift for friends, family, coworkers, bosses, assistants, neighbors, etc.

These sessions can be used for ANYTHING… seniors, engagements, newborns, children, families, pets, boudoir, you name it! And, let us know when you order if this is a gift and we’ll wrap it up special for you too.

AND…. how about GIFT CARDS!

That’s right, today only you can save big on your entire 2017 portrait order. Looking for the perfect statement piece in your entryway or above the mantle and have a custom-portrait in mind – CHECK. Have you seen our designer albums and know youre senior would love one of those to show off – CHECK. With our $100 and $500 gift cards on sale today you can save on literally ANY custom portrait design we’ll create for you in 2017.

 

Now… the ‘fine print’ is pretty simple: this sale is for NEW 2017 sessions and gift cards cannot be applied to any 2016 orders OR on weddings that are already under contract for 2017. But if your session isn’t on the books yet then dive in because this sale is for YOU!

| Myra + Tyler | Decatur IL Wedding |

Start with a beautiful gal, add in a boy and his beard plus a gorgeous fall day at Allerton Park and you’ll have Myra & Tyler’s wedding day!! This was such a fun group and I absolutely love these two love birds. I’m so excited to share some of our favorite images from their day…

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| Jen & Mike | Central Illinois Wedding | Decatur Country Club Reception | Sarah Jane Photography |

Jen & Mike had a BEAUTIFUL wedding day, getting married at St. John’s Lutheran Church here in Decatur with their wedding reception at the gorgeous Decatur Country Club. We could not have asked for more perfect weather and as you can see they are an absolutely adorable couple.

Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah JaneFor this wedding the SJP team was a little rounder than usual as their wedding date was only TEN days before my due date (9 days before #babyB made her arrival). And I wasn’t the only one with extra hands on deck as my second shooter, Elizabeth, was also around 7 months pregnant at the time too!

Well even if I did waddle a bit I was thrilled to be able to capture this couple’s special day! Here are some of our favorites….

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Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah Jane

Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah Jane

Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah Jane

Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah Jane

Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah Jane

Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah Jane

Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah Jane

Decatur Illinois Wedding, Decatur Country Club Reception, Sarah Jane Photography, Decatur IL Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Portraits, Sarah Jane