Posies & Toesies Portraits

Posies & Toesies Portraits Southern Illinois Photographer | Storyteller | Memory keeper
Capturing families, love, and fleeting seasons—honestly & beautifully 🤍
Southern Illinois

Oh hey there! This is us , Me (Sarah) and my three wild, creative, silly girls. Meet Bryleigh, Whinry, and Ruby. Often times during a shoot you will meet one or all of us. Photography has been a passion of mine since I could remember, and I was so lucky to start crafting my art at the early age of 15. I decided to pursue photography full time after my oldest was born. In the last 20 years I have b

een lucky enough to photograph over 1000 newborns and families as well as hundreds of weddings and high school seniors. My background in art includes my hobbies of interior design , wedding planning, cake decorating, painting, and building furniture. I enjoy making one-of-a-kind sets for my sessions and am always excited about the newest creative outlet where I can put my craft to the test.

This sessions being uploaded and I just can’t even put into words how much fun they were !!
08/29/2026

This sessions being uploaded and I just can’t even put into words how much fun they were !!

Today felt a little full-circle for me. ❤️I had an incredible group of young entrepreneurs in the studio today, and whil...
08/26/2026

Today felt a little full-circle for me. ❤️

I had an incredible group of young entrepreneurs in the studio today, and while I was photographing them, I couldn’t help but think back to me in high school.

In 2002, I went on a school field trip that landed me my first job in photography. At the time, I had no idea that one experience would help shape so much of my future—or that more than 20 years later, I’d still have a camera in my hand.

Today, I got to be on the other side of that kind of experience.

We talked about branding, creativity, first impressions, and how photography can help tell the story of who you are before you ever say a word. Then each student got the chance to bring a little piece of their personality, interests, and ideas in front of the camera.

And they absolutely understood the assignment. 🙌

From photography and music to beauty, products, and future businesses, no two images needed to look the same—because no two brands should.

A huge thank you to VentureWise for giving these young people opportunities to explore entrepreneurship, get creative, and discover what they might be capable of.

Because sometimes it really does just take one field trip, one opportunity, or one person opening a door to completely change the direction of a kid’s life.

I know it did for me. ❤️📸
leemessersmith

There’s something so special about those first days home — when everyone is still learning this brand-new little person ...
08/24/2026

There’s something so special about those first days home — when everyone is still learning this brand-new little person and somehow your heart just keeps making room. 🤎

The tiny details, sleepy snuggles, big sister kisses, and the way Mom & Dad look at their newest love… these are the moments that deserve to be remembered exactly as they were.

Welcome to the world, sweet boy. You are already so very loved. 🤍

If they aren’t just the most gorgeous little family ! Can’t wait to see what their baby girl will look like .
08/20/2026

If they aren’t just the most gorgeous little family ! Can’t wait to see what their baby girl will look like .

08/18/2026

🚨 MESSENGER GLITCH — PLEASE READ! 🚨

Well… technology got me. 😅

Since June 11, my business Facebook Messenger apparently has not been delivering all my messages to me. I had absolutely no idea anything was wrong.

After doing a hard reset on my phone today, 84 unread messages suddenly appeared. 😳

If you messaged me anytime between June 11 and today and never received a response, I am SO sorry. I was not ignoring you — I genuinely never received your message.

I’m working my way through all 84 messages now, but if you were waiting on something time-sensitive or still need me, please send me a fresh message or bump your previous one so I can get to you as quickly as possible.

Thank you so much for your patience — and if you thought I had fallen off the face of the earth… apparently Facebook thought I had too. 😂🤦‍♀️

08/16/2026

I’m gonna be sad when I wrap these all up ! These kids were legends illinois

08/16/2026

⚾️ MODEL CALL: THE SANDLOT — FAMILY EDITION ⚾️

Okay baseball families… I have an idea and I need the right crew to help me bring it to life.

I’m looking for ONE baseball-loving family — Mom, Dad + kiddos — who isn’t afraid to get a little dirty, run the bases, swing a bat, heckle each other from the dugout and basically just PLAY.

Think less perfect family pictures and more…

⚾ Dad throwing pitches
⚾ kids stepping up to bat
⚾ mom stealing bases
⚾ Dugout snuggles
⚾ Grass stains
⚾ Big laughs
⚾ A little family competition
⚾ That nostalgic, summer-night Sandlot magic

I want this to feel like your family showed up to play ball and I just happened to bring my camera.

No stiff poses. No perfectly matching outfits.

Just your people being your people.

Want to be my Sandlot Family?

Cousins. Dirt. Baseball. Summer nights. ⚾️The Sandlot, but make it a cousin crew. 🤎Dirty knees, belly laughs, a little c...
08/13/2026

Cousins. Dirt. Baseball. Summer nights. ⚾️

The Sandlot, but make it a cousin crew. 🤎

Dirty knees, belly laughs, a little competition, and the kind of chaos that only happens when cousins grow up together.

Someday they’ll be grown, and these will be the pictures that take them right back to when summer felt endless and their cousins were their built-in best friends.

This is exactly why I wanted to create these sessions. Not perfect. Not posed. Just childhood looking like childhood.

Not ready for school to be back in session !!! We need weeks more of sunflower field’s , beaches and movie nights. Also ...
08/07/2026

Not ready for school to be back in session !!! We need weeks more of sunflower field’s , beaches and movie nights. Also the fact all my kids will be in school is heartbreaking. .

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Sesser, IL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm

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