The Stairs That Built Me…
NAPERVILLE - WHEATON - GLEN ELLYN - ELMHURST - GENEVA - ST. CHARLES - BARRINGTON - BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHER
A gentle reminder
that beauty does not shout—
it gathers quietly
on a wooden table
and waits for someone
to see it.
~Alicia Staley Johnson
Hello, friends,
Our week certainly took an unexpected turn!
Dan and I decided to take a break from the kitchen remodel and spend the weekend in Traverse City visiting our dear friends JT and Renee in their beautiful new home. It was our first time there, and now I completely understand why they chose it as their new place to land. The lake, the vineyards, the charm of the downtown — it’s one of those places that immediately makes you slow down and breathe a little deeper.
They spent the weekend showing us their new world. We wandered through downtown, stopped at wineries, and enjoyed some truly incredible meals. I had no idea Michigan had such a thriving wine country, but apparently Traverse City sits along the 45th parallel — the same latitude as some of the great wine regions of France.
Who knew?
It was the perfect three-day getaway.
Exactly what the doctor ordered before heading back home to the kitchen remodel, preparing the house for a newborn to arrive any day, and a busy headshot mini session week headed my way.
I hope you all had a wonderful week!
Soft Focus: The Stairs That Built Me
There is a photograph I took many years ago that still lives quietly in my heart.
It wasn’t planned.
It wasn’t styled.
And at the time, I had no idea it would become the beginning of something much bigger.
Kyle and Delaney were little then. We were living in an old farmhouse that was nearly 150 years old, full of creaky floors, uneven doorways, and the kind of character that only time can give a home. I loved every imperfect part of it.
One morning I sat them on the staircase while I helped them put their shoes on. The stairs were made of old pine and a single window nearby poured beautiful directional light across the wood.
Kyle leaned over and wrapped his arms around Delaney in the sweetest little hug.
That moment is forever etched in my mind.
Something about the way the light fell across them.
The texture of the old stairs.
The tenderness of that hug.
I quickly reached for my camera.
The photograph that came from that moment is still one of my favorites I’ve ever taken. It’s printed in sepia — something I rarely do anymore — but somehow the warmth of that tone feels right for the image. It makes it feel like something discovered in an old box of family photographs.
Timeless.
What I didn’t know then was that those stairs would go on to become a small but meaningful part of my photography story.
In those early years, my business was run out of our home. And that staircase — with its beautiful light and aged texture — became the perfect little stage for photographing children.
Over the years I sat hundreds… I mean hundreds …of little kids on those same stairs.
Bare feet.
Little dresses and overalls.
Shy smiles and spontaneous hugs.
Those old pine steps held so many small moments of childhood.
Looking back now, I realize those old pine steps didn’t just hold children — they quietly built my business. For years, those staircase portraits became something people came to me for.
By the time we eventually moved, one of the stair treads had taken on a new shape.
Because the treads were made of a softer wood, and because so many little children had sat in the same spot year after year, a bottom shaped divot had formed in the step.
A permanent little imprint where generations of tiny bottoms had rested while I photographed them.
Even now, when I think about that staircase, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that time in my life. Those early days of building a business from inside our home. Photographing children who are now grown adults themselves.
I wish I could take my grandchildren back to that old farmhouse and sit them on those very same steps.
Just one more photograph.
Just one more moment in that beautiful window light.
But life has a way of carrying us forward.
The farmhouse still stands, quietly holding our stories.
And those stairs — the ones worn soft by years of little children sitting in the same spot — now belong to another family and another chapter of life.
But the photograph remains.
And inside that single frame, two of my children are still sitting there — bathed in soft window light, wrapped in a quiet hug — exactly as they were on that ordinary morning all those years ago.
Which is why I have always believed so deeply in the power of photographs.
Because every time I look at it, I’m reminded that the moments we think are ordinary…
are often the ones that become the most extraordinary memories of all.
If you were one of the families who had your child photographed on those stairs all those years ago, I would absolutely love to see those photographs again.
If you happen to have one, would you send me a snapshot of it?
It would be such a joy to revisit those little faces and include a few of them in next week’s newsletter.
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
Inspiring Follow: @provencepoiriers
If you love Provence as much as I do, you will absolutely fall in love with this account.
I recently discovered @provencepoiriers, and it immediately transported me straight to the French countryside — pear orchards, long tree-lined allées, golden stone buildings, and the slow, beautiful rhythm of life in Provence.
The story behind it is just as enchanting.
Years ago, the owner and her husband took their five children to Provence for a month, renting a home in the middle of a vineyard. What began as a simple family adventure quickly turned into a love affair with the region. They returned nearly every summer for the next ten years before eventually discovering their own piece of Provence — Le Mas des Poiriers, a 65-acre pear farm on an island in the Rhône River.
The property is extraordinary, surrounded by water and lined with spectacular 200-year-old plane trees. The home itself is massive, with soaring ceilings and room for generations to gather — something that feels especially meaningful to me as we continue building our own multigenerational life here at our Cozy Compound.
The house required a complete renovation, and over the course of several years it was lovingly restored with the help of French artisans, respecting the beauty and integrity of the original architecture.
Today it’s a breathtaking Provençal retreat that can actually be rented — which means you and I can both continue dreaming about a month spent wandering markets, picking fruit, and living the slow rhythm of the French countryside.
It’s the kind of account that makes you pause, breathe, and imagine a different pace of life.
And honestly… I could scroll it for hours.
What I’m Loving: North Shore Plant Club
If you love gardening but don’t love nursery prices, you need to know about the North Shore Plant Club.
I discovered this brilliant concept during the pandemic and immediately fell down the rabbit hole.
Instead of driving from nursery to nursery trying to find the right plants (and paying the typical retail markup), the Plant Club works more like a collective buyers’ club for gardeners. A few times a month during the growing season, they place large orders from wholesale nurseries — the same sources professional landscapers use — and then deliver the plants to local Chicagoland pickup spots or even directly to your home.
Which means access to an incredible variety of plants at nearly wholesale prices.
We’re talking everything from annuals and perennials to hanging baskets, patio containers, mature shrubs, Illinois natives, and even mulch or compost deliveries. The selection rotates constantly, which makes it dangerously easy to start dreaming up new garden projects.
Ask me how I know.
As someone who spends every spring imagining new garden beds, new flowers, and new little corners of beauty around our Cozy Compound, this feels like discovering a secret gardeners’ resource.
If you’re the kind of person who gets excited about fresh plants arriving like a delivery of possibility for your yard…
this one is worth a look.
Local-ish: Industrial Treasures
One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is wandering through antique stores — you never know what piece of history you might stumble across.
Lately I’ve been stopping at Industrial Treasures, and it has quickly become one of those places I like to pop into whenever I’m in the area.
It sits right next door to another favorite of mine, Trend + Relic, which makes it the perfect two-for-one stop if you enjoy hunting for unique finds as much as I do.
Industrial Treasures is exactly what the name suggests — a quirky mix of industrial salvage, vintage pieces, and unexpected antiques. Think old factory lights, architectural elements, reclaimed materials, and those one-of-a-kind pieces that make you stop and imagine the life they lived before ending up in the shop.
Even if you’re not looking for anything specific, it’s the kind of place that’s simply fun to explore.
And let’s be honest… places like this are dangerous for someone who loves antiques as much as I do.
1501 Indiana Avenue #1A
St. Charles
Looking to refresh your headshot?
For a limited time, we’re offering our Headshot Special for $325 (that’s $50 off our regular rate) on sessions booked now through March 28th.
You can choose:
• Any weekday (Monday–Friday) — scheduled based on your availability
• Saturday, March 28th — bookable online for a streamlined experience
Each session includes:
✔ 20-minute session
✔ Choice of backdrop: White, Black, or Natural Studio Space
✔ 5 professionally edited, high-resolution JPEGs
✔ Online gallery delivery for easy download
Whether you're updating LinkedIn, refreshing your website, or elevating your personal brand, this is a simple, polished way to get images that feel confident and current — without taking up your whole day.
Spots are limited!
email delaney@alicias.com
or
schedule Saturday, March 28th below:
We’d love to see you in the studio!
with love and light,
Alicia Staley Johnson
of Alicia’s Photography
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