Hey Friends!

Welcome to the blog!

I'm Sara Johnson, a free-spirited, travel seeking, Birkenstock wearing Wedding and Senior Portrait Photographer based in Rockford, IL! I'm also addicted to Mid Century Modern design, the host of the Living For It Podcast  and am a strong believer in creating something bigger than myself. 

>>>><<<< Sarah Sarah and I go waaaaay back. I mean, back to the days when she was about 4 or 5 years old! I remember playing dolls with her as she sat in her blues clues red blow up chair, and I remember pushing her on the swing set on the playground… so it’s safe […]

Sarah | Rockford, Illinois Senior Portrait Photographer

Downtown Rockford high school senior session in the rain by Sara Anne Johnson

March 23, 2019

>>>><<<< Ramon + Stacy Stacy (without the “e” because “e’s” are eww…) was one of the most chilled out brides, planning her wedding around when her hubby-to-be would be coming back to the states from Brazil to live with her permanently… and everything went flawlessly! I had eagerly been waiting for her wedding since I […]

Ramon + Stacy | Rockford, Illinois Wedding Photographer

Indie Glam rooftop Wedding at the chic downtown Rockford venue The Standard by Sara Anne Johnson

January 12, 2018

>>>><<<< Kevin + Laura KEVIN + LAURA ARE TWO OF THE SWEETEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH. It would be an understatement to say that I was beyond excited about photographing their wedding. From our very first meeting at Starbucks all the way through the planning and finally at the wedding day, these two […]

Kevin + Laura | Galena, Illinois Wedding Photographer

Rainy fall jewel toned romantic wedding at Oak Hill Weddings in Apple River, IL by Sara Anne Johnson

December 23, 2017

>>>><<<< Mid-Mod Meets Boho with Lovely Bride at romantic D.C. Estate Winery in South Beloit, Illinois YOU GUYS!! I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED! My styled shoot just got published on Ruffled!! I feel like a million bucks… I literally just won the lottery over here. This is such an honor! I had the most AMAZING […]

Mid-Mod Meets Boho with Lovely Bride at romantic D.C. Estate Winery in South Beloit, Illinois

Mid-Mod Meets Boho with Lovely Bride at romantic D.C. Estate Winery in South Beloit, Illinois by Sara Anne Johnson Photo: Sara Johnson Photography Venue: DC Estate Winery Cake: Julie Michelle Cakes Rentals: Forever Birdy Calligraphy: Letters by Chels Dress: Lovely Bride Chicago - Lovers Society "North" Florals: Busy B's Event Planner: Capstone Occasions

November 14, 2017

>>>><<<< Emmi This lady right here did a PHENOMENAL job modeling for her Senior photos! Dress: gorgeous. Hair: stunning. Emmi SLAYED her session by just being herself! I had photographed her big sister’s photos when she was a senior so it was such an honor to photograph Emmi now that it’s her turn to be […]

Emmi | Janesville, WI Senior Portrait Photographer

Fall sunset high school senior session at golden hour at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wi

November 6, 2017

>>>><<<< Caitlin + Jon From the very beginning, I could tell how sweet Caitlin was. She’s a genuinely kind soul… always laughing and so, so in love with Jon. These two are adorable. If you read the previous post on their surprise engagement you will know a little back-story on these two. (So go check […]

Caitlin + Jon | Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Engagement Session

Romantic Lake Geneva, Wisconsin engagement session by the lake.

November 2, 2017

>>>><<<< Caitlin + Jon Caitlin, Jon, and I have a very unique story together. Caitlin had actually already booked her wedding with me MONTHS ago. Normal right? Nope, Jon hadn’t proposed yet! Jon wanted to make sure that Caitlin got everything she wanted for her wedding so he wanted her to start planning the wedding […]

Caitlin + Jon | Rotary Botanical Gardens Surprise Engagement

Surprise proposal at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, WI

October 28, 2017

>>>><<<< Ethan You know it’s going to be a great session when your senior is pretty much a model! Ethan ROCKED his session like Rick Nielsen himself (hence the perfectly placed newspaper and his awesome shoes in the next shot!) and we had a BLAST photographing downtown Rockford. Ethan told me that he “could do […]

Ethan | Rockford, Illinois Senior Portrait Photographer

October 23, 2017

>>>><<<< Jeff + Amanda ANNIVERSARY POST! Jeff + Amanda just celebrated their FIRST YEAR of marriage at the beginning of this month! I am still shocked that time has flown by this fast. It feels like yesterday that we were getting ready at Indian Lakes… celebrating their “I Do’s” with Gene’s & Jude’s Hot Dogs… […]

Jeff + Amanda | Addison, Illinois Wedding Photographer

October 22, 2017

>>>><<<< Edgar + Areli September 22 was an amazing day, not only because I had the honor of photographing a STUNNING wedding, but mainly because of WHO was getting married. Edgar + Areli are two of the sweetest people I know. From the beginning, I could tell that Edgar loved Areli more than words. When […]

Edgar + Areli | Rockford, Illinois Wedding Photographer

Purple + Gold Prairie Street Brewhouse September wedding with dockside ceremony photography by Sara Anne Johnson

September 28, 2017