Favorite Locations
Byron Forest Preserve
7993 N River Rd, Byron, IL 61010
*currently my favorite location for 2019
Features
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Rolling hills
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Woods
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Wildflower and grass fields
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Pros
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Lots of variety
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Almost always quiet
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The best place for sunsets
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Good for families with small children
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Bathrooms
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Very rarely buggy
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Cons
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Pretty far out of the way for most Rockford families
Anna Page Park
3000 N Springfield Ave, Rockford, IL
*one of the best hidden gems in Rockford for family sessions
Features
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Various tree groves
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Creek
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Open fields
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Woods
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Pros
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Lots of variety
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Unbeatable evening light
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Very quiet
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Easy to access
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Good for families with small children
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Bathrooms
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Cons
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Can be buggy in the summer
Winnebago County Forest Preserve
5500 Northrock Dr, Rockford, IL
Features
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Winding walking path
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Quarry-like lake
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Groves of pine trees and shrubs
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Fairytale style woods
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Cons
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Location can be far for some
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It gets swampy after a heavy rain which may mean a last minute change of location if there was a hard rain the day of/before the shoot
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Buggy in the warm months
Pros
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Great winter light
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Beautiful year round
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Is easily accessible
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Some flowering trees in the spring
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Always very quiet
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Outhouse bathrooms
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If you are looking for early morning photos, this is the best location because of the fog in the spring/fall rising off of the lake
Rock Cut State Park
7318 Harlem Rd, Loves Park, IL
Features
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Lake
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Woods
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Small glens
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Open fields
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Bridges
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Creeks
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Pros
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Tons of variety
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Great if you want a lot of different looks
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Bathrooms
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Pretty convenient location
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Beautiful year round
Cons
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There are always people around
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Usually buggy in the summer
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Cell reception in the park is spotty and it can be easy to get lost in if you aren't familiar
Baumann Park
Cherry Valley, IL 61016
Features
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Lake
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Woods
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Tall hill
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River
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Pros
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Location is convenient for some
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Bathrooms
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Beautiful year round
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Easy to access, can't get lost
Cons
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There are always people around
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Not the best location for kids prone to running away
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Hard to get away from people watching you
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A little one-note with the style options
While these locations certainly don't cover all the amazing places in the Rockford region, they're my tried and true favorites for a reason. Let me know if you have any questions or a location you love. I'm always looking for new places!
Places to Avoid
•Anderson Japanese Gardens: As beautiful as it is, the cost for the photo permit simply isn't worth it unless it has sentimental reasons
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•Klehm Arboretum: Again, the permit cost isn't worth it.
•Midway Village: They no longer allow photos here and are very strict about enforcing that policy.