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:
Interested in scheduling your session? Let’s chat!
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