WHY SHANNON RANGE PHOTOGRAPHY?

• We are a very-high quality studio that knows how to shoot in every type of light.  We know what works and doesn't work.  If a client wants a portrait taken somewhere we know won't work, we won't do it.  We don't want to disappoint you or compromise our quality.
• We don't price match.  We offer our products and services at reasonable rates and will not compromise our services or offerings under any circumstances.
• We get it right the FIRST time!  You won't have to come back for a "redo" or have to go to another photographer.  We've been doing this for 6 years and have really developed our skills and ability to work with children & all other ages.
• Now I'll start with the "I."  I love what I do. I love being around people, kids, adults, & pets. I'm excited to do a portrait session and can't help but smile when the parents express to me how much they love the images and they're having a hard time narrowing them down.
• I engage the subjects in the photo session and really try to get them to open up and laugh, smile, make funny faces and just be silly.
• The range of expressions and "looks" you will see is quite varied (with kids at least). I typically take 40-60 images of the portrait session (for regular sessions). You will have a wide variety of images to choose from.
• There is no minimum print order.
• You don't have to walk through a mall or wait in long lines to get your portraits created.
• I offer a wide variety of printing options to meet most budgets. The special effects that can be created from you images are unlimited.
• There's no hassle about bringing your pet in to get photographed.
• Images are available for viewing & ordering typically within a week.

ABOUT ME :)

INTRO:  Hi everyone!  Here's a quick bio so you have a better idea who will be creating your children's, family or wedding portraits.  I am a 41 year old mother of three gorgeous kids Gage, Garrett & Gabi (ages 5, 4 and 3 - crazy, I know).

EDUCATION & TRAINING:  With a degree in Radio, Television and Film from Temple University in Philadelphia with some classes in photography, I was well on my way to becoming a professional photographer.  However, most of what I learned about the business, photography and website development though was done while I was on active duty in Fort McCoy, WI shortly after 9/11.

EXPERIENCE:  My first paid client was in 1994.  For a couple months, I shot sessions in our living room.  Yes, our living room.  Then we were able to convert a large room above our garage into our studio.  For a few months clients came through the house to get up there.  With 2 large German Shepherd mixes, that didn't last long.  We build a separate entrance and used the space until November 2009. 

The weekend before Thanksgiving, 2009, we purchase a beautiful 100+ year old home in Oswego that is now used exclusively for our studio!!! We're so excited for the change.  What a difference 6 years has made.

People always ask how I do it... The answer is simple.  I LOVE what I do and thrive on controlled chaos.  I very good at multitasking and can juggle a million things at once.  Although my children will always be my first priority, my second is my passion - photography.

That's it in a nutshell.  :)

THE STUDIO

Shannon Range Photography studio is located at 256 Chicago Road, Oswego, IL, approximately 10 minutes SW of Aurora, IL and 45 minutes W/SW of Chicago. The studio is a 2 story 100+ year old colonial house and sessions are by appointment only.

How the business was started

I started creating portraits as supplemental income in 1993. I decided to quit my job as a Internet Project Manager for BestBuy.com in 2003 and move to Bloomingdale, IL to be with my husband.

Then I was activated in the US Army Reserve and deployed to Fort McCoy, WI for 1 1/2 years!  After being on active duty for so long and being away from my husband, I decided that when I returned to Yorkville (we moved to Yorkville while I was on active duty), I was going to pursue my love of photography and turn it into a full-time business. I figured it would also enable me to be home with the kids.

I'm now blessed with three beautiful kids!

So, Shannon Range Photography officially opened it's doors for business in October of 2004. It's hard to believe I'm this happy doing what I love and also that I've become this busy in such a short amount of time. Luckily, I love it more and more as the years go on!

November 2009 we purchased a 2-story 100+ year old colonial home in Oswego for use as our new studio!!!

My Philosophy on "smile"

Very rarely will you ever hear me ask kids to smile except for my little ones because they're hams in front of the camera. If yours is also, please let me know!

I believe in interacting with them and getting them to laugh and smile on their own. It looks much more natural and it's easier to do then telling them to smile. Sometimes it takes a bit and sometimes they won't smile. But those portraits will usually turn out more beautiful than a forced smile.

I want the kids to have fun and want to come back...

My Philosophy on props

A big, stuffed bear that I may have, doesn't have meaning behind it. But if dad brings the stuffed bear he bought the day the baby was born, there's a story behind it. And when the baby is an adult and looks back at that portrait, they probably won't have that little stuffed bear anymore but they'll have the portrait of him/her with it and know (hopefully) the story behind it.

Same as for seniors - if you have a special love of something, bring it with you. If you love music, bring your sheet music or your flute with you. If you are a piano player, why not do the portrait session at your house with the piano?