Wondering what to wear for newborn photos? This simple style guide shares outfit tips to create timeless, relaxed newborn images

Education, Newborn

February 24, 2026

What to Wear for Newborn Photos: A Simple Style Guide for New Parents

What to wear for newborn photos at home Central Illinois Newborn Photographer Photos by Amanda Banik Photography

Morton Arboretum Wedding Some weddings stay with you long after the gallery is delivered. Long after the camera is put away. This is one of those stories, and it perfectly captures the heart behind my photography business. Lauren and Brian had booked me as their wedding photographer for their upcoming summer wedding. Everything was planned, […]

Wedding

February 17, 2026

The Heart Behind My Photography Business: Why This Wedding Changed Everything

Morton Arboretum Wedding Wedding Photographer in Central Illinois Photos by Amanda Banik Photography

Central Illinois Wedding Photographe Winter is still lingering here in Central Illinois with cold mornings, gray skies, and snow-covered fields. But my mind is already drifting toward summer. I’m counting down to warm evenings, long wedding days, and celebrations that stretch late into golden hour. Summer weddings have a certain magic to them, and even […]

Wedding

February 10, 2026

A Central Illinois Wedding Photographer’s Guide to Summer Wedding Days

A bride and groom pose for a photo with a horse at Northfork Farms. Photos by Amanda Banik Photography

The days after welcoming a new baby are slow, tender, and beautifully fleeting. Time feels different. Measured in feedings, naps, and the way your baby fits perfectly against your chest. These moments don’t need to be staged or rushed. They deserve to be remembered exactly as they are. As a Central Illinois newborn photographer serving […]

Newborn

February 3, 2026

Preserving those Early Days: In-Home Newborn Photography in Central Illinois

A newborn baby girl sleeps in her parents' arms. Central Illinois Newborn Photographer. Amanda Banik Photography

Choosing the perfect wedding venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the planning process. As a Central Illinois wedding photographer, I’ve had the honor of photographing celebrations at some truly incredible locations across the region. From rustic barns to elegant countryside estates, Central Illinois offers a wide variety of wedding venues that […]

Education, Wedding

January 28, 2026

Top 5 Central Illinois Wedding Venues You’ll Love

If you’re planning a downtown Chicago wedding, The Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel is a venue worth serious consideration. As someone who’s photographed weddings here, I can confidently say it’s one of my favorite city venues for good reason. Between the location, natural light, and how smoothly the day flows, it’s a venue that truly supports […]

Education, Wedding

January 20, 2026

Getting Married at The Renaissance Chicago? Here’s What You Need To Know

The Renaissance Hotel Chicago Downtown Amanda Banik Photography

Being a Central Illinois wedding photographer means being ready for anything—and Vanessa and Nick’s wedding is a perfect example of why flexibility, experience, and heart matter so much on a wedding day. A Bride in Need: When a Wedding Photographer Backs Out Vanessa first contacted me after a friend recommended my work. She was understandably frantic—her wedding […]

Wedding

January 14, 2026

Central Illinois Wedding Photographer | A Last-Minute Wedding That Turned Into One of My Favorites