Russell Woods Couples Adventure Session | Genoa, IL Engagement Photographer

If you find yourself engaged and want some special, fun photos to celebrate located near Genoa, IL, I highly recommend Russell Woods for your Engagement Session for several reasons…

1.     Relatively quiet/private

2.     Great, simple hiking trails for more relaxed, nonstrenuous hikes

3.     There’s an easily accessible river for those epic, river shots

4.     It’s a fantastic place for outdoor-loving couples to get those outdoor engagement photos

For a while, I’ve been wanted to photograph a couple in the Kishwaukee river at Russell Woods in Genoa, IL. I imagined it would make an amazing, magical Adventure Session and would be the perfect, adventurous location for a photographer and couple (to which I was proven correct). The atmosphere is quiet, it’s beautiful for walking (and wading), and there’s many opportunities for varying types of photographs. There’s a prairie, woods with a hiking trial, river for wading, kayaking, canoeing, etc.... It’s an (adventurous) photographers perfect place, local to Genoa, IL 😊

I reached out to Hana and Kevin, wondering if they were interested in being apart of an adventurous couples session. Hana was super stoked on the idea, wanting to have been in a river shoot for a while. Hana had the perfect dresses, a cute pink summer dress that I photographed in a prairie and a maroon dress that she wore to prom one year. Both dresses were perfect for their settings, and Hana looked so good in them.

It was such an honor being able to capture them, they are an adventurous couple who really enjoy outdoor activities such as kayaking and hiking. With this river shoot, they really channeled their adventurous spirits. They were splashing, kicking water, laughing and just having fun. As someone who thrives on photographing fun adventures, it was the perfect combination of connection, adventure and fun. 😊

When we first got to our location at Russell Woods, we walked to the prairie, knowing that it was a perfect way to showcase the pink summer dress and get those fun, authentic photos. Before we began taking photos, I informed Hana and Kevin that it was going to be a laid back shoot, and I wouldn’t necessarily rely on prompts to get amazing photos, but rather their natural connection and their love for each other.

Russell Woods is perfect for an adventurous couple looking for engagement photos in Genoa, IL

Now you know if you’re from the Genoa, Rockford, or Dekalb/Sycamore area, you know that there isn’t much for epic, great views and hikes (unless you count cornfields as epic). So, I love looking in those little, quant hiking areas to get those sweet, and fun locations for adventurous photos. That’s where Russell Woods comes in within the Genoa, IL area. For those adventurous couples that want outdoor engagement photographs with no cityscape or landmarks, Russell Woods is one place to go. I’ve been hiking here for years and adore capturing photos in these little woods.