A little boy picks up the wooden sticks of a TinkerToy™ playset and later grows up to be an architect. A little girl dresses little dolls with the clothes she made, to later grow into a fashion designer. It starts with a young heart that dreams of what tomorrow will bring. It starts with the innocence of curiosity and becomes a lifelong passion.

Sam Lanza began his dream when he picked up a 1959 "Brownie" instamatic camera. At the young age of eight, Sam became the family photographer of a proud Sicilian family that immigrated to America in the previous year. Wherever Sam went, the "Brownie" camera followed.

In 1971, in the dark basement of his parent's home, Sam set up a home-made film processing lab. His next step would prove to be life changing. In 1972, Sam Lanza purchased his first 35mm camera: a Canon FT. Like women have purses, Sam had his camera.

Before his parents returned to Italy in 1976, Sam learned how to live on his own. With help from some friends, Sam landed a position in the sign shop of Dominick's Finer Foods as his full time profession. While at Dominick's he eventually earned an Associates degree in photography. As his passion flourished, he began to slowly purchase photography equipment. He would photograph friend's christenings, baptisms and weddings. At Dominick's, Sam found himself as the company photographer at special events and grand openings.

Working at Dominick's proved to be demanding as Sam moved up the ranks of responsibility, and eventually oversaw the entire printing facility in Franklin Park with a staff of 32 graphic artists and printers. Sam's passion for photography took a back seat as he worked full-time and later pursued a formal education at National Lewis University.

In March of 1997, Dominick's restructured its "copy center" and outsourced all of its printing functions. Only fourteen years away from early retirement, at the age of 46, Sam Lanza was out of a job that he had held for 25 years. The Spring of 1997 turned out to be a solemn, lonely and depressing season in Sam's life. Sam went to visit his family in Italy, and had taken two books to read for the long plane ride. The first, a guide on writing resumes and the second, a guide on starting your own photography business were packed in his carry-on. Sam's heart raced as he ferociously read through the second book, and Sam was determined to make his dream come true of owning his own business. What he didn't realize was he wasn't going to be doing it alone.

It was a couple of months after Sam's job loss a cousin re-introduced him to, who would become in 1999, Mrs. Marie Lanza. Life was starting to look good to Sam Lanza. He got to work on his plans. Sam started Lanza Portrait Design in June of 1997 and joined professional photographers associations - Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois (PPANI), Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Senior Photographers International (SPI), Associated Professional Photographers of Illinois (APP of Illinois) and studied with top photographers throughout the country. He also finished his Bachelors degree in Business Management, and in 2003 Marie joined him as his business partner. A few years ago Sam received his Certification from Professional Photographers of America.

Today, Lanza Portrait Design in Bloomingdale, is flourishing. In 2007 Sam will be stepping into the role of President of the Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois (PPANI). "People have their own story and the key to success is to learn from the best to produce the best." The Lanza's are proud to create "Images from the Heart." They understand what it means to create beautiful images with their hearts, with their souls and with a life-long passion of capturing the essence of a person.