As a McHenry family photographer, one of the highlights of my year is photographing the Vesa family—Paula, Alex, and their two amazing kids. Every year, we seek a new location to make their family portraits unique, and this year, we chose Moraine Hills Forest Preserve in McHenry, Illinois.
The session took place in the evening, capturing the beautiful sunset and moon rise over Defiance Lake. The soft evening light created a magical setting that made every shot special. It’s always such a joy photographing the Vesa family year after year. Our connection goes way back — I actually had the honor of capturing Paula and Alex’s wedding years ago! Watching their family grow and photographing these beautiful milestones since then has been truly special. Moments like these remind me why I love being a McHenry family photographer.
We had a blast posing Ariana and Lucian with the lake as a backdrop, playing in the tall grass, and even creating dramatic silhouettes against the sky. Moments like these highlight the fun, joy, and connection that family photography is all about.
If you love the Moraine Hills Forest Preserve as much as the Vesa family does, check out another family session at Moraine Hills or contact us to book your own memorable photo experience!