A tragic loss in her teens has brought a uniquely personal perspective to Pamela Sage's work as a portrait photographer.

"My dad died when I was only 15. He wasn’t in most of my childhood photographs, not because he wasn’t there, but because he was the person behind the camera. I don’t want other families to someday realize that someone important is missing from their story simply because that person was always the one taking the pictures."

While portraits make up the bulk of the award-winning photographer's work, Sage also loves to capture the vibrance of live performances, and the intimacy of nature photography. "Since 2018, I’ve grown milkweed in my yard and helped protect monarch (butterfly) eggs and caterpillars while photographing their incredible transformation. Watching that life cycle unfold has been fascinating and inspiring, and strengthened my belief in preserving the small, beautiful things around us before they disappear."

Enjoy Pamela's exhibit as AAPLD's Artist of the Month for October.

Your Name:  Pamela Sage

Your Community:  I live in the Lake in the Hills/Algonquin area.

Your Background/Training:  I am a professional graphic designer and photographer, with formal training and a BA from Columbia College Chicago. I’ve  continued my education through industry associations, workshops, online education, and collaboration with other professionals.

I had the honor of being the Photography Fellow at Raue Center for the Arts, in Crystal Lake and that experience was amazing. I had creative freedom to experiment and try new techniques every week and I continue to freelance for them at their historic theater.

Your Preferred Subjects and Why:  Most of my photography centers around portraiture; newborns, children, families, weddings, animals.  Everyone deserves to exist in photographs — not only for themselves, but for the people who love them.

That is why pet photography means so much to me. Our animals are family, and their lives never seem long enough. Having beautiful photographs that capture their expressions and personalities can become incredibly meaningful — especially when their portrait is hanging in your home.

I also love entertainment photography, including theater productions, concerts, musicians and band portraits. It’s an entirely different kind of personality, energy, and story.

What Inspires Your Work?  The beautiful contrast and tonal range seen  in Ansel Adam’s b/w photography has been a big influence on me, as well as the edgy but  beautiful lighting that  illuminates Robert Mapplethorpe in his self portraits. One of my biggest influences has been Annie Leibovitz. Not only did she have a  body of work that was unique and expressive while contributing to Vogue and Rolling Stone Magazine, she also modeled that women can succeed in roles that, until then, were only held by men. She showed me it was possible.

Is Your Work for Sale? How Can Someone Contact You?  Yes! My work is for sale and my  photography services are available, too. My business, Pamela Sage Photography, is based in Crystal Lake but I work with clients throughout McHenry, DuPage, and Cook Counties, as well as Chicago, and across the border in Wisconsin. I am always up for creative portraits and capturing what is important for you. Contact me through my website: www.pamelasage.com or call or text me at: 630-564-5431.

In 2010, Deanne Mroz had a successful career in advertising, when a contest win started her on a brand new path. After being chosen as the Grand Prize Winner in the Amazon Kindle Commercial Contest, she took her prize winnings (Amazon gift cards) and spent them on a brand new DSLR camera, so she could learn photography. After taking photography classes, she launched Deanne Mroz Photography, and has been happily photographing families ever since.

Mroz also applies her design talents to capture images and landmarks of Chicago. A native of the area, she loves the nostalgia of familiar places, including some that live on only in her memory. Enjoy her bright, joyful images of the Windy City-- past and present-- on the Art Wall at the Main Library.

Your name: Deanne Mroz

Your community: Algonquin area

Your background as an artist: I studied web design at NIU and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication. I worked in advertising, doing web design and video editing, and now have my own photography and design business. My personal photography focuses on family documentary projects, where I capture one image every day throughout the year. Frosty Time Design is my creative outlet outside my photography and freelance work.

Your preferred media: Photography and graphic design. Photography allows me to capture people, stories and meaningful moments. while design provides another outlet to explore ideas and bring them to life.

Your preferred subject: The restaurants, venues, neighborhoods and landmarks we grow up with become part of our stories, and even the places that are long gone can hold a special place in our hearts.

Your inspiration: Growing up in the Chicagoland area, I love the places, memories and traditions that make the area feel like home. My art is inspired by those places and the memories attached to them. It's a way to celebrate the places we love, preserving a little piece of local nostalgia and creating artwork that feels personal, familiar and connected to home.

Is your work for sale? Yes. My Chicago posters are available for purchase on my website. My work has also been featured and sold at a shop in downtown Algonquin.