River Bluff Studios

Preserving History. Capturing Life.

Elgin History Museum – Captured August 6, 2016 – ©Sam J. Olson

Visual Stories, Crafted with Purpose

River Bluff Studios features original films created by Sam J. Olson, along with photography and a variety of services.

Content

Original Series

Discover a variety of series from capturing first responders in First in, Last Out, learn about interesting local history in Did You Know? and more original series.

Local Events

Revisit a variety of local events from Elgin’s Memorial Day Ceremonies and 4th of July Parades, Nightmare on Chicago Street, along with local protests and public demonstrations.

Local Partnerships

Find new small businesses and organizations through our community partnerships- where we create unique content highlighting those contributing to a diverse and positive city.

Services

Weddings

On a limited budget? Our wedding packages are low cost and affordable, tailored to your exact needs. We offer simple photography and videography services.

Drone Photography

Real Estate, Construction, Insurance… oh my! Our drone services include high quality 4k video recording and photography using DJI drones for whatever your needs may be.

Freelance

Have something else in mind? Reach out to see if our freelance services may be a good fit for you. We pride ourselves in offering low-cost and budget-friendly options.

Featured Content

Spring Hill Mall Redevelopment – Part 2

Released July 26, 2025 | Original Series

“But as the mid 2000’s came around, the mall began to decline as anchor stores closed down and smaller stores struggled to survive. In March 2024, the mall closed for good. The mall and remaining vacant anchor stores were purchased by the Village of West Dundee, and the vacant Kohl’s store being purchased by the Village of Carpentersville, with plans for redevelopment. With the demolition being paid for by the Village of West Dundee, the site will be cleared for future redevelopment.

No Kings Protest – Downtown Elgin

Released October 18, 2025

No Kings Protest, also known as the No Dictators protests, is a series of demonstrations in the United States, against what the organizers describe as authoritarian policies of Donald Trump and corruption in his administration. Hundreds of people stood along Kimball Street in Downtown Elgin on Saturday as part of a national rally, expected to see participants in the millions. The protest was largely peaceful with only one minor incident which was quickly deescalated by Elgin Police.

Proudly volunteering for the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association providing videography services since 2015