Welcome to our new Blog!

We offer custom portraiture in central and western Illinois. On-location, natural-light portraits are available in Peoria and surrounding communities, including Galesburg, Monmouth, Knoxville, Canton, Farmington, Brimfield and metro Peoria. Thank you so much to all those who take the time to comment....I love to hear from you!

We offer on-location, lifestyle photography of newborns, infants, and children as well as seniors.

Photojournalistic wedding photography in also available in the Greater Peoria area, and travel is also available.

Holy Cow!

May 31, 2008 – 1:02 am

This is wayyyyyyyyy too scary. Tonight was the big Dance Recital night…

I will share more tomorrow, but I am way too tired to deal with all the crazy color casts of stage lighting tonight. But during intermission, I was outside doing what I always do during intermissions, which is torture my kids with the camera :). The stage make-up is always a little shocking to me, especially when you get a glimpse of what that quiet, shy 9-year-old might look like in a few more years when she is into makeup (and probably boys..). And right there, trying her best to balance on the bike rack I saw this….

Oh.My.Gosh…….

By Michelle | Posted in Me | Tagged , | 5 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

Ashley and Tim’s Engagement

May 27, 2008 – 10:21 pm

Wedding season is in full swing here in Illinois, and I am two weddings behind but working hard to catch up! Taking a small break to share Ashley and Tim’s engagement images. They will be married this July in Peoria, and Kara and I will be celebrating their day with them. Here are a few images from their recent engagement session.


By Michelle | Posted in Featured | Tagged , , , , , | 7 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

Spring Babies

May 20, 2008 – 8:21 pm

They grow so fast :). These cute spring babies showed up in my backyard this morning, and since my own kids won’t sit for photos much anymore, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity!

Love the bangs, don’t you?

Now when I say they showed up, I mean they were packed in there. All lined up and waiting for their opportunity for a photograph.

Don’t ask about that shiny stuff on their backs…you DON’T want to know. Anyway, so I finally got that little guy by himself for some shots. Then again, maybe it’s not the same one. They all start to look alike after a while.

It was nothing like photographing my own kids, who are SO over me….no crossed eyes, no silly faces, no sticking their tongues out at me.

Ok, maybe one stuck it’s tongue out at me.

Ah well. More cows later…they are endlessly fascinating :)

By Michelle | Posted in Me | Tagged , , , , | 6 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

Birthday Girl

May 19, 2008 – 2:13 pm

My oldest turned 9 years old over the weekend. I can’t believe how fast the time as gone…she’s growing so fast and changing so much. I am so proud of her, and so very lucky to be her mom :)

Happy Birthday, D!

These were taken last week when she was *only* 8…she looks much older now. ;)

By Michelle | Posted in Me, Portraits | Tagged , , , , , | 9 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

Sharing an engagement….

May 14, 2008 – 3:00 pm

Missy and Grant will be getting married this fall at Kickapoo Creek Winery, so we headed there for a few shots to celebrate their engagement.  There isn’t much growing there yet, but you can certainly see the potential, and it should be incredible when fall rolls around.

By Michelle | Posted in Featured, Weddings | Tagged , , , , , | 6 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

Knoxville Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence

April 28, 2008 – 11:18 pm

The Knoxville Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence is holding an auction THIS Saturday, May 3 at the Knox County Fairgrounds.  This foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization whose mission is to support all students by providing increased educational experiences and opportunities.  Past projects have included the Mable Woolsey kindergarten building, computer programs, smart boards for the district, tumbling mats and the junior high challenger program.

Please stop by this Saturday and support the Foundation.  There are fabulous donations and baskets from the classrooms this year, as well as a raffle, food and a bake sale.

I have donated two gift certificates to the foundation auction, each good redeemable for a complimentary on-location portrait session and a complimentary 8×10 print.    Please be sure to stop by and support our schools.

Auction will begin at 6PM.  Looking forward to seeing you there!

Knoxville Schools Thank you

By Michelle | Posted in Me, News | Tagged , | 6 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

Give Mom the gift of family memories….

April 23, 2008 – 4:25 pm

Mother’s Day is just a few weeks away, and what Mom wouldn’t love the gift of family memories. Gift certificates are available at Walker Portraits for Mother’s Day gift-giving. Your gift certificate will come boxed and wrapped, ready for gift-giving.

As a special gift, the following special will apply until Saturday, May 10, 2008: Purchase and pre-pay for a Deluxe Session with Walker Portraits, and Mom will also receive a complimentary leather accordian album that is the perfect size to carry in her purse. The album contains 4×6 prints from her session, and is sure to be a treasure for years to come.

Contact Michelle for more information or call (309) 368-1129.

And since a post is nothing with pictures, here are some more of my flower macros. This time a pink rose for Mom.

By Michelle | Posted in Flower Art, Products | Tagged , , , , , | 11 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

Vintage Ballerina

April 21, 2008 – 10:44 pm

Just sharing a print that I just ordered to celebrate J’s new PINK room. It was RED when we moved in, but after several coats of primer and paint, we’ve managed to end up with a very light, subtle shade of pink. I’m sticking with the vintage theme (which makes sense since the house is circa 1880), and going with some vintage-y looking prints and frames.

She still loves to play dress-up, and the ballerina costume and shoes are favorites, so this was perfect.

By Michelle | Posted in Me | 10 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

Jesell and Anthony are married!

April 20, 2008 – 12:44 pm

Jesell and Anthony were married on April 12, 2008 in Galena, Illinois, and we had the pleasure of capturing their wedding day. We had a fabulous time spending the day with this wonderful couple, as well as their friends and family. It was a little cold, but still a perfect day with this pair.

All the little details were just perfect…

After the ceremony, we headed over to a park for some shots of the bride and groom. It was CHILLY, but Jesell braved the cold, and Anthony was kind enough to hold her bouquet so that she could keep her hands warm. The Westminster United Presbyterian Church where the couple was married is right over Anthony’s shoulder here.

We then headed to the DeSoto House Hotel for some toasts and relaxation. We stopped some traffic on Main Street just before leaving the reception.

And the first dance….love this one!

You can see more of Jesell and Anthony’s wedding by visiting our wedding photography blog at Wedded Art.

Thanks so much, Jesell and Anthony! It was an honor to share your special day!

By Michelle | Posted in Featured, Weddings | Tagged , , , , | 12 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment

‘09 Senior Models

April 16, 2008 – 1:14 pm

I am searching for a few 2009 senior models. If you are chosen, you’ll receive a complimentary session as well as some awesome bonuses and referral gifts. We’ll hold your session on-location, using natural light but I’ll gladly accomodate multiple locations and outfit changes to give you variety in your final senior images. The only requirement is you have to be a 2009 senior in the western/central illinois area, and you have to be willing to have FUN…no stuffy senior portraits around here!

Senior photography in western and central Illinois

Yearbook deadlines will roll around before you know it, so get started early! I’ll have some fun offerings for seniors this season, including 4-1-1 cards, graduation announcements and party invitations, albums and more!

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For more information and complete details, send me an email at info@walkerportraits.com.

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By Michelle | Posted in News, Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 comments         Show Posts Comments | Add a Comment
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