Matthew J. Odom Photography

My hometown of Vernon Hills keeps calling me back and tucked away in their corporate park is a hidden gem, The Vernon Hills Memorial Arbortheater. In the summers as an 80’s child, my friends and I would ride our bikes along this creek, fish the pond, and explore the area. In 1995, this site was transformed to a meeting place that beautifully honors our nation’s Veterans. Years later, when I was in college at NIU, I would come home and draw the waterfalls in pastels for art cl

When our family moved to Plainfield, we drove past a huge, white chipped barn on the bank of the DuPage River. A small farmhouse sat just across the street. As a Plainfield wedding photographer, I thought, this farmhouse has character! One day I saw a beautiful stone fireplace and patio being built on to the farmhouse. And soon enough, that small farmhouse was transformed into a gorgeous venue. Now, booking an event at this 200-person rustic yet modern space is quite limited

The first birthday of your little bundle of joy is something that every parent wants to make memorable and special. Taking photographs is a fantastic way to capture their personalities and excitement on their first birthday! Babies at this age are precious, and while they won't personally remember the occasion, you certainly will! As a parent myself, I've felt like my kids are growing up in a blink of an eye and I remember vividly their first birthday sessions. Time moves fas

Your child's first communion marks an extraordinary moment in their life. This is the perfect occasion to have some formal photographs taken of your child in their handsome suit or a beautiful dress that can be framed and displayed for all of your family and friends to enjoy and admire. The best part about this celebration is that it's typically celebrated on one of the Sundays following Easter, which means that you have the ideal weather to take outdoor pictures and add some

Spring is commonly associated with rebirth, new life, and growth, which parallels the motherhood journey... and mothers are amazing! They are the foundation and creation of life around us. Motherhood is a beautiful process that women go through to raise, care for, and grow new tiny humans with their hearts and body. A beautiful, unique bond is created between a child and mother during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding that can never be replaced or duplicated. Your love and

Family Photographer: Let's Capture Your Spring Family Photo Session Between your to-do lists and busy schedules, it might be easy to forget to have your family photos taken. However, every moment that you have together with your family is priceless. Taking pictures to remember these moments makes it easy to document change and growth throughout the years. With the arrival of spring and Chicago starting to bloom, it's the perfect time to have your family photos taken. I would