Hey friend, I'm so glad you're here! On this space you will find little pieces of my life, my favorite imagess and some of my photography tutorials! Take a cup or coffee or glass of wine and enjoy exploring around! Love, Kristin

welcome to my journal

Hey there, welcome

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One of my fondest childhood memories is picking up or developed photos/prints from our local dime store. There was just something so magical about all that anticipation to hold those prints and see your memories come back to life. Some people say – don’t you worry that you can’t “see” what you’ve captured? Quite the […]

Why I Choose Film | Central IL Photographer

Babies, Champaign, Children, Family, Film Photography, High School, Illinois, Light, Newborns, Photography, Portraits, Seniors, Toddlers, Tweens

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So, you know how people usually say “cheese” to make kids smile in photos? Some folks, like me, prefer not to use that line. Why?

How I get natural smiles in photos | Central IL Family Photographer

Babies, Best Friends, Champaign, Children, Connection, Family, Illinois, Light, Love, Natural Light, Newborns, Photography, Portraits, Toddlers, Tweens

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Recently, my film images were featured in a blog on the Happy Tog’s website.  My friend Holly writes about a truly epic night when we were reminded to slow down and pay attention.  That is exactly what film does for me.

I’ve got a new love | Film Photography | Central Illinois

Babies, Best Friends, Champaign, Children, Connection, Family, Film Photography, High School, Illinois, Light, Love, Marriage, Maternity, Natural Light, Newborns, Photography, Portraits, Pregnancy, Seniors, Toddlers, Tweens, Weddings

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Often people ask me what my favorite age or genre is to photograph.  That is an almost impossibly question for me to answer.  If I’ve just photographed a newborn, I say, “Newborn!”  If it’s a wedding, my answer is, “Weddings, I love LOVE!”  So if you had asked me after Gibson’s 1 year photo session, the answer would have been, “One year old sessions with a cake smash – hands down!”

Gibson | One Year Cake Smash | Champaign, IL

Babies, Champaign, Children, Family, Film Photography, Illinois, Light, Love, Natural Light, Photography, Portraits, Toddlers

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My neighbor and friend Kristina and her hubby Ricky are getting ready to welcome their third baby any day now!  Kristina was so kind to model these dresses for me the other night – doesn’t she look gorgeous?!

Kristina | Summer Maternity Session | Fisher, IL

Babies, Champaign, Childbirth, Children, Family, Illinois, Light, Maternity, Natural Light, Newborns, Photography, Portraits, Pregnancy

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Do you remember what it was like to be a pre-tween/tween?  Stuck in limbo between no longer being a “little girl” and not quite a “young lady?”  Not quite ready to give up your American Girl Doll and definitely not ready for makeup and boys yet.

Let Them Be Little | Tween Session | Fisher, IL

Best Friends, Champaign, Children, Connection, Family, Illinois, Light, Love, Natural Light, Photography, Portraits, Tweens

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Kaine was an amazing sleeper, and slept through most of his session, stopping to eat a couple of times.  A full belly makes us all happy and sleepy – right?  While he was asleep, I was able to grab some lovely macro images of all of his little features – eyelashes, lips, fingers, toes, etc…He graced us with some awesome open eyed opportunities too – love it when newborns seem to be looking right at the camera!

Newborn Session | Baby Boy | Kaine, 9 days | Champaign, IL

Babies, Champaign, Childbirth, Children, Connection, Family, Illinois, Light, Love, Maternity, Newborns, Photography, Portraits, Pregnancy

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Welcoming kiddos back to kDarling Photography for their milestone sessions year after year is such a special reward.

Milestone Session | Rosella is 2 | Central Illinois

Champaign, Children, Connection, Family, Illinois, Light, Love, Marriage, Photography, Portraits, Toddlers

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Glitter sessions are here!!  We are covering the studio with glitter, making it rain glitter, throwing glitter and anything else involving glitter on March 18, 2018.

Glitter Sessions | Child & Tween Photography | Fisher, IL

Champaign, Children, Connection, Family, High School, Light, Photography, Portraits, Seniors, Toddlers

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 Newborn sessions should be all about baby with simple, timeless images that will always remind you how your baby slept with his hand by his mouth, or how tiny those little sweet features were. There is not much to say about it other than babies are beautiful just as they are!  I love to let the light and shadows tell a story that captures the innocence of your newborn child. 

NEWBORN SESSION | BABY BOY | OWEN, 9 DAYS | CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Babies, Champaign, Childbirth, Children, Connection, Family, Illinois, Light, Marriage, Maternity, Newborns, Photography, Portraits, Pregnancy

©2024 kristin darling photography

serving families in Champaign - urbana & all of central illinois

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