I had so much fun capturing Katie and Zach in their anniversary photos at St James Farm in Wheaton. These two have such an incredible love for one another that brought me such joy to document with my camera. Their session was simply incredible, which is why I wanted to talk a bit about what goes into planning your own session here. Let’s get into it!

Anniversary Photos at St. James Forest Farm in Wheaton

When planning your session at St. James forest farm in Wheaton, Illinois, it’s important to note that you will need to have a permit to shoot here.  I have a yearly permit that I renew each year at no additional cost to my clients. If you are a photographer reading this though and are planning to host sessions here throughout your season, I recommend making sure to purchase your permit in advance. 

I love taking anniversary photos, engagement photos, or even just couples photos at St. James Farm because it offers such a variety of different locations to explore with your partner.  Between the bike path covered with towering trees, the little train caboose on one side of the park, and the small pond tucked on the other side of the park, there is just so much to enjoy. For Katie and Zach’s session we were able to take advantage of this variety of settings, which gave their album a unique feeling from location to location!

Planning a Session in a Forest Preserve

If you plan on having your anniversary photos or other photos taken at St James Farm there are a few things you’ll want to be aware of. Weather permitting you will be walking through grass, on gravel paths, and potentially walking through taller grasses too!  Bug spray is always a must, along with shoes that allow you to walk through the natural terrain with ease.  When photographing your session, know that I will guide you through various prompts and make sure you look beautiful, but there will be a lot of movement involved.  Be sure to wear clothing that is comfortable and clothing that you feel super confident in. The last thing I want to mention is that St James Farm is incredibly busy on the weekends, so be sure to plan for that or have your session during the week if possible!

As you can see from Katie and Zach’s anniversary photos there is a ton to love about St James Farm as a location for your session. If you’re ready to book me for your session here, or elsewhere in the greater Chicago area I’d love to hear from you. Send me an inquiry through my contact page so we can start planning your session today!