Hi guys!

I'm Emily Martinez, founder of Ivy Impressions. I come from a family of photographers and we rarely go anywhere without a camera, because you never know where you may stumble upon 'that perfect image'. 

I fell in love with photography at a very young age, consumed all the film I could get my hands on and ended up working in a custom photo lab as a teenager. I loved that job so much that I stayed there for over a decade! I studied photography in college, earning my degree in Media and Design from the Illinois Institute of Art. I went on to a career as a Marketing Manager, all the while shooting in my spare time, turning my family and children into my subjects. I reached a point in my marketing career where I needed to make a change...the day to day was becoming suffocating and I needed to do something meaningful with my time and energy...something that fed my soul.

In my heart I knew that something was creating images, and Ivy Impressions was born. 

I'm a very lucky girl to have a super supportive family, and my husband Marc is my number one supporter. He's my tech guy, researching the latest and greatest in camera equipment, lighting, and computers. He also knows his way around a camera, and has an especially keen eye for capturing candid moments. Marc is typically our behind-the-scenes dude, but you may just see him out at your session behind a camera too! Otherwise, you'll find him behind a guitar, or the piano, or maybe a harmonica...because along with images, our lives are filled with music.

Together, Marc and I have three wonderful, adorable, crazy kiddos and one exceptionally crazy lab-dog...they keep our lives full and exciting! We live the small town of Genoa, Illinois and adore our cool little community. As a family, we love the outdoors - kayaking, camping and bonfires. Our house is filled with love, pictures and let's be real...a fair amount of dog hair, and we wouldn't have it any other way!

We create images. That's what we do, it's what we love. 

We create portraits of families, newborns, kids, high school seniors, and beautiful mamas-to-be. It is our goal to capture images that you love and want to look at and enjoy every day. My favorite things in my home are the images of my kids and family, and I can't wait to create these favorite things for you and your family too. 

Ivy Impressions will capture your family’s special moments just the way you want to remember them. We keep our sessions relaxed and fun, and let you be you so that your images tell your unique story. Sessions take place on location, typically outdoors. We're located in Genoa, Illinois and shoot in the surrounding Chicagoland area. 

We're also available for business photography, including head shots, corporate and product photography. You get one chance to make that first impression on the market; do it right the first time. Great images will make you stand out and get noticed. Whether it's billboards, magazines, e-commerce, or head shots...the impression your company makes on your target audience determines how effectively you capture and motivate that audience. We are available to photograph your people, product or business location.

Images are all around us. We are inundated with visual imagery throughout all our waking hours. The images around you impact how you feel and the decisions you make. Whether those images are of your family, your product or your business, Ivy Impressions will ensure you’re making the right impression. Contact Ivy Impressions today for your photography needs.