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Looking to take photos in Kane County? Your options are honestly limitless, no matter what the vibe you’re trying to go for. You can get it all! Check out below to see some of my favorite spots to shoot across Kane County!
Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve, St. Charles
Everyone knows Leroy Oakes if you’re from the area. It’s an obvious choice for photo sessions of all types because of the different variety you have. The first place everyone wants to use is the selection of red barns to give you the rustic vibe, but there’s also other great spots to check out, including a creek and a white fence line. It’s extremely popular for good reason.
If your session is in the Spring or Fall, I’d highly encourage you to be mindful of the dates you select for this one. It’s packed to the brim during homecoming, prom and generally in the fall. It’s an easy choice, but clearly for a reason!
Examples from Leroy Oakes:
Delnor Woods Park, St. Charles
This is a cute little spot tucked away a few blocks away from downtown St. Charles. If you’re looking for minimal and simplistic, this is a great place to consider. There is a large pond along with lots of open spots with trees. As you can see from the middle photo, it’s a dream in the fall with the popping colors. This is another one to keep an eye out for during prom/homecoming times, especially if you’re about the water vibes and don’t necessarily want to spend time near the river.
Other examples at Delnor Woods:
Pottawatomie Park, St. Charles
This is another popular spot in St. Charles, and it doesn’t matter what time of the year it is. This park is right along the Fox River, which makes it great for any season. Whether you want to take photos along the river or near one of the cute niche spots around this park, this park has a ton to offer!
If this is your dream spot, I’d recommend doing your session on a weeknight and try to avoid the weekends. Lots of events are happening throughout the year here and it gets a bit crazy!
Other examples at Pottawatomie:
Peck Farm Park, Geneva
This is a sweet location that provides a variety of different spots depending on your wants! Whether you’re going for a barn vibe or something a little more unique, this will provide you with lots of opportunities! You can take a bit of a walk closer to the water to get something slightly different.
While this is an amazing spot, they charge an additional fee to use this space for your session, which is the responsibility of the client! Even still, I highly suggest this one if you’re looking for something different than a forest preserve!
Other examples at Peck Farm Park:
Downtown Batavia
Kane County is full of awesome downtown areas that are along the Fox River and downtown Batavia is no different. There is a riverwalk that goes in a circle and provides so many different spots that make for a great session! Towards the back of the walking path is a large gazebo that is right along the water. You can even get close to the river if that is your jam! This one is bustling with people and it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is. This is another one I’d highly suggest a comfy pair of shoes.
Other examples in downtown Batavia:
Blackhawk Waterfall, South Elgin
If you’re looking for nature but want something different, this is a great option to consider! This waterfall is tucked away. You’ve probably driven past it without even knowing it. This is the only true waterfall in the area, so needless to say, it’s a hot spot any time I shoot here. Photographers chomp at the bit to take photos in front of the waterfall, so patience will be the name of the game.
There are a couple other spots that make for a good photo spot here, including a bridge and gravel path. This is also attached to Duerr Forest Preserve which would provide a ton more variety, but this is a great option if you’re looking for a small spot and something intimate.
Other examples at Blackhawk Waterfall:
Downtown West Dundee
Going north in Kane County is another great spot – downtown West Dundee. Upon first glance, you may not realize how great of a spot it is. Similar to Batavia, West Dundee has a riverwalk along the Fox that makes for a sweet spot. Not only that, you can explore the downtown area and find some pretty unique spots, especially along the restaurant brick walls that contains ivy or simply walking down the street. This is a fun spot for someone who is looking for something outside of the traditional nature sesh.
Other examples in downtown West Dundee:
Interested in scheduling a session?
Looking to take photos in Kane County? Your options are honestly limitless, no matter what the vibe you’re trying to go for. You can get it all! Check out below to see some of my favorite spots to shoot across Kane County!
Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve, St. Charles
Everyone knows Leroy Oakes if you’re from the area. It’s an obvious choice for photo sessions of all types because of the different variety you have. The first place everyone wants to use is the selection of red barns to give you the rustic vibe, but there’s also other great spots to check out, including a creek and a white fence line. It’s extremely popular for good reason.
If your session is in the Spring or Fall, I’d highly encourage you to be mindful of the dates you select for this one. It’s packed to the brim during homecoming, prom and generally in the fall. It’s an easy choice, but clearly for a reason!
Examples from Leroy Oakes:
Delnor Woods Park, St. Charles
This is a cute little spot tucked away a few blocks away from downtown St. Charles. If you’re looking for minimal and simplistic, this is a great place to consider. There is a large pond along with lots of open spots with trees. As you can see from the middle photo, it’s a dream in the fall with the popping colors. This is another one to keep an eye out for during prom/homecoming times, especially if you’re about the water vibes and don’t necessarily want to spend time near the river.
Other examples at Delnor Woods:
Pottawatomie Park, St. Charles
This is another popular spot in St. Charles, and it doesn’t matter what time of the year it is. This park is right along the Fox River, which makes it great for any season. Whether you want to take photos along the river or near one of the cute niche spots around this park, this park has a ton to offer!
If this is your dream spot, I’d recommend doing your session on a weeknight and try to avoid the weekends. Lots of events are happening throughout the year here and it gets a bit crazy!
Other examples at Pottawatomie:
Peck Farm Park, Geneva
This is a sweet location that provides a variety of different spots depending on your wants! Whether you’re going for a barn vibe or something a little more unique, this will provide you with lots of opportunities! You can take a bit of a walk closer to the water to get something slightly different.
While this is an amazing spot, they charge an additional fee to use this space for your session, which is the responsibility of the client! Even still, I highly suggest this one if you’re looking for something different than a forest preserve!
Other examples at Peck Farm Park:
Downtown Batavia
Kane County is full of awesome downtown areas that are along the Fox River and downtown Batavia is no different. There is a riverwalk that goes in a circle and provides so many different spots that make for a great session! Towards the back of the walking path is a large gazebo that is right along the water. You can even get close to the river if that is your jam! This one is bustling with people and it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is. This is another one I’d highly suggest a comfy pair of shoes.
Other examples in downtown Batavia:
Blackhawk Waterfall, South Elgin
If you’re looking for nature but want something different, this is a great option to consider! This waterfall is tucked away. You’ve probably driven past it without even knowing it. This is the only true waterfall in the area, so needless to say, it’s a hot spot any time I shoot here. Photographers chomp at the bit to take photos in front of the waterfall, so patience will be the name of the game.
There are a couple other spots that make for a good photo spot here, including a bridge and gravel path. This is also attached to Duerr Forest Preserve which would provide a ton more variety, but this is a great option if you’re looking for a small spot and something intimate.
Other examples at Blackhawk Waterfall:
Downtown West Dundee
Going north in Kane County is another great spot – downtown West Dundee. Upon first glance, you may not realize how great of a spot it is. Similar to Batavia, West Dundee has a riverwalk along the Fox that makes for a sweet spot. Not only that, you can explore the downtown area and find some pretty unique spots, especially along the restaurant brick walls that contains ivy or simply walking down the street. This is a fun spot for someone who is looking for something outside of the traditional nature sesh.
Other examples in downtown West Dundee:
Interested in scheduling a session?
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Looking for a photo spot?
When you think of all of the places in the Chicagoland area, DeKalb County probably isn’t at the forefront. However, you’d be surprised how many gorgeous spots there are in DeKalb County! In this blog, I am going to show you a few of my favorite places to shoot in the area, focusing between Genoa, Sycamore and DeKalb!
Riverwood Forest Preserve, Genoa
This is one of my favorite places to shoot in general. It is set on an old golf course and has so much variety to provide, from the wooden fence to wildflowers to trees and paths and more. It’s a great place to shoot because there’s rarely anybody here. This one is great for any type of session, including family, maternity, engagement and more!
This one can be a bit of a walk, especially for my pregnant friends! Make sure to wear comfy shoes or bring a comfy pair of shoes just in case!
Other examples from Riverwood:
Russell Woods Forest Preserve, Genoa
A staple of Genoa is Russell Woods Forest Preserve. This spot will give you two different perspectives. The first is the bridge that everyone knows along the Kishwaukee River. There are a couple of nice spots along the bridge as well as towards the back of the forest preserve. On the other side of the preserve is a spot that has wide open sky and even an old little school house and a barn that makes for a gorgeous view.
If you are wanting to focus on the spots on the left and middle, there is a different place to park. It will be a bit of a walk from parking to get to the spot. You can also walk from the other side of the forest preserve but it’s a good 10-15 min walk to do that!
Other examples at Russell Woods:
Carroll Park, Genoa
This is one of many hidden gems in DeKalb County. If you are local to Genoa, you know this park well, but if you’re not, then it’s a sweet little spot that will give you everything you’d want in a session. There’s a bridge, a path, a gorgeous willow tree and a couple of spots where you can get right on the Kishwaukee River. You can even splash around in the river if you want!
This is also home to a disc golf course and is also attached to a couple of large neighborhoods, so the area is usually bustling with people and/or golf carts. If you like this spot, you have to be selective about dates as the town likes to host events at this park often!
Other examples from Carroll Park:
Blumen Gardens, Sycamore
Blumen Gardens is a Sycamore staple and for good reason. It’s the perfect spot for photos if you’re looking for an outdoor oasis. This doubles as a wedding venue and garden shop. It will come as no surprise that it makes a beautiful wedding venue. If you’re sold on this spot for your session, flexibility will be the name of the game. They only allow photo sessions after hours (after 5pm) on weeknights where they don’t have events going on. Weekends are very busy for them with all of their events.
They also charge a $25 fee to use the space for a photo session, which is the responsibility of the client. Every penny is worth it as you’ll leave with photos at a dreamy spot.
Other examples from Blumen Gardens:
Sycamore Lakes Rotary Park, Sycamore
Another hidden gem, but literally. You probably wouldn’t know about this one from afar. This park is tucked away in Sycamore and isn’t quite obvious when you drive past it, however, once you’re there, it’s adorable! The bridge is a staple spot for my sessions but there’s also a pond along the water that makes for a great spot.
This park can get a bit busy with foot traffic and bikes on nice days but is overall a great spot! It’s best for a shorter session.
Other examples from Sycamore Lakes:
Downtown Sycamore
If you’re looking for something different than trees and nature, downtown Sycamore is the perfect option! Whether you’re into exposed brick, sidewalk vibes or even a little bit of nature, you can get lots of different looks! This is a great spot, no matter what the occasion. You can focus on the lawn at the courthouse, the stairs at the library or even down the street near the old school movie theater! You really cannot go wrong here!
Other examples in Downtown Sycamore:
Afton Forest Preserve, DeKalb
This one is definitely in my top 3 favorite places to shoot. Can you see why?! This one is located just south of Dekalb approaching windmill country. It’s everything you could ever want in a photo session. There’s water, prairie grass, flowers and this amazing observation deck. It’s quiet and tranquil. Above all, the sunsets are out of this world here!
The only (and I mean ONLY) downside of this spot is the amount of walking you’d need to do to get to the good spots. You’d need an hour to get to all of the prime spots. I highly suggest comfy shoes for this one but promise that the sweat and steps are absolutely worth it!
Other examples from Afton:
