Choosing An Outdoor Location For Your Family Photo Session (In And Near Chicago)
The weather will be getting warmer here in Chicago soon, and you know what that means…outdoor photo sessions!
I do love a good indoor photo shoot…sometimes when the light and shadows are just perfect I love what I get with dramatic, contrasty indoor lighting. But outdoor family photo sessions in the summer (especially during golden hour) are my favorite type of session.
When you book a family session with me, I send you a session form to fill out. It helps give me an idea of who you are as a family, and it also tells me what kind of location you are interested in. I list a few general locations to choose from…park (city), park (suburbs), lakefront (city), lakefront (north suburbs), and urban (downtown). And then as it gets closer to the session we decide on a specific location.
Here are a couple of my favorite outdoor spots in Chicago, and in the suburbs, along with photos from each of those locations.
Chicago Locations for your family photo session
Lakefront- North Ave Beach
I love love love shooting at North Ave beach. There are amazing city views in the background featuring the John Hancock building and other Gold Coast buildings, as well as buildings along Lake Shore Drive. Not only do we get the cool cityscape, but the other direction offers beautiful lake views…so in one session we can get beach/lake shots and city shots.
Sessions during Golden Hour here are really beautiful…the sun peeks through the buildings on Lake Shore Drive and gives a beautiful glow. It glints off of buildings and the water, and just really adds something special to the images.
Overcast days also offer beautiful light…everything really pops in the background as far the blue color of the lake, and the contrast of buildings. Bright sunny mornings may not be the best here, as we would be in direct sun.
Parking here is easy…the lot is $15 and it’s a quick 2 minute walk to the area I like to shoot…the concrete pathway that leads out into the lake, and the beach.
Definitely my favorite city location.
2. Urban- Downtown Chicago, or any urban neighborhood area such as Lincoln Square, Wicker Park, or Lincoln Park.
I LOVE sessions downtown and in urban areas. When I travel, my favorite photos to take are always city street shots…so it makes sense that I like them for my family sessions too!
There are a few places downtown that I like...
Grant Park and Maggie Daley Park and the area over there can be fun.
The Riverwalk is always nice, and allows for walking up to one of the bridges and taking photos there as well. There’s also a super cool spot way at the end of the Riverwalk near the harbor if you’re up for a walk.
And then there’s also the option to just walk around, up and down the streets and get some cool city street shots…I like to add those shots on to the end of my urban sessions.
I recently did a family session in Lincoln Square and it was so much fun…lots of great shots there too. That type of photo shoot would work in any urban section of a neighborhood with restaurants and shops. Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville and Wicker Park would all be great options.
Parking for these sessions is not so easy. I usually do Spot Hero to find the cheapest garage and something close to the area we are shooting. Usually it’s around $12, so not bad. If it’s a Sunday street parking is free (triple check the signs though!)…I have parked easily on Wabash Ave for free on a Sunday for a Grant Park session. And then obviously there is the public transportation option, but that can be hard with kids in tow.
3. Park- Winnemac Park, Lincoln Square
Winnemac Park is located at 5100 N Leavitt st in Lincoln Square. It’s kind of a hidden gem of a spot in my opinion.
Another beautiful spot during Golden Hour…the setting sun comes through the trees and makes for beautiful, warm images. This is a good spot for any lighting situation. There are willow trees in the background, plants and flowers everywhere, and pretty little nature trails all over the park. I love these trails for shooting, and spend a good portion of the session there.
There are some grassy areas that are great for spreading out a blanket and getting some family shots sitting down. This is also where I like to get fun shots of families playing/walking/running together. If you want to leave the city but want lots of greenery, this is the spot for you.
Parking here is easy and free…it’s the Amundsen High School parking lot on Damen between Winona and Winnemac. I’ve never had a problem parking there, but if it is full, there is lots of street parking as well.
4. Park- Lincoln Park South Pond, Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park south Pond is another great park. I like to meet just off of Stockton Dr, by the petting zoo. There is lots of variety here, which is why I like it. We can get nice nature shots…you would never know that they were taken in the city. And then we can turn to the south and get some shots with the Chicago skyline in the background.
South Pond has a boardwalk that goes around the whole pond…I like to start on the bridge for some city skyline shots, then move to a nearby area for some grassy/nature shots, then do a loop around on the boardwalk. I try to include the honeycomb structure, Education Pavilion, in a few shots as well, but it can get very busy there…there have been times where it has been occupied by weddings, and I haven’t been able to get in at all. But when it’s available, it’s fun for a few shots.
A great spot any time of day, and there is one particular area I like for Golden Hour where the sun peeks through trees. Sunny days in the morning are not my favorite at this park, but still definitely doable.
Parking here is not great…it can be tough to find street parking. Parking close by on Stockton Dr is near impossible…although I have been able to snag a spot after looping around a couple times, or during off hours/weekdays. I usually find a metered spot on Clark St between Armitage Ave and Wisconsin St. And then there is also the option to park at the Lincoln Park Zoo parking lot for $20-$35.
Suburb Locations for your family photo session
1. Fort Sheridan, Lake Forest IL
Fort Sheridan is located at 117 Sheridan Road in Lake Forest IL. This is a great north suburban spot. I love it for the variety. Not only do you get shots with trees, grass, and foliage…but there is also a really pretty beach!
You get more peaceful beach shots here than you would at the lake in Chicago, without the city in the background, and pretty forest preserve shots too.
This is a great spot if you want some fun, laid back beach shots without the craziness of being in the city. Golden hour here is really pretty too.
Dogs are allowed and parking is super easy and free.
2. Spring Valley Nature Center, Schaumburg
Located at 1111 E Schaumburg Rd in Schaumburg, Spring Valley Nature Center is probably my favorite suburban location. Tons of variety…there is a farm, fields of overgrown grass, trails, woods, a pond and other beautiful spots.
This is one of my favorite locations for Golden Hour photos, but any time of day can work here (when I say any time of day, I mean any time except midday- I don’t do midday sessions anywhere because the direct sun is too bright). The way the setting sun glows through the trees and lights up the overgrown grass is gorgeous.
I have a few go to spots here, and they are all pretty close to each other, so lots of walking isn’t necessary, however there are areas to explore that I haven’t see yet and I’m always up for exploring during a session if you are!
Parking is easy and free.
3. Gillson Beach, Evanston
Gillson Park and Beach is located in Evanston, which is nice and easy if you’re in the city or north suburbs.
There obviously is a beach, as well as some small dune areas with beach grass, and also park spots. I really love the dune areas with the water in the background- so pretty!
I have only done one family photo session here so far, but I really liked it and can’t wait to do more!
Parking for non residents is $26.
4. Cantigny Park, Wheaton
Cantigny Park is located at 1 S 151 Winfield Road in Wheaton and it is huge. There are over 500 acres of park…so many spots for great photos. I usually like to walk through the flower garden and then head up near the mansion (I believe it’s a museum). There’s some winding stairs in the back and some concrete stairs in the front, a road with a canopy of trees over it in front that is really pretty, and tons of green grass for sitting shots.
If you’re up for walking, we will do a big loop around some of the grounds, getting a little variety in background.
Golden Hour here is nice of course, but it’s not my absolute favorite park for Golden Hour. This is a good park any time of day though, with any lighting conditions.
Parking is in the lot off Winfield Rd and is $5. There is also a $50 charge for a photo pass at this park.
5. Prairie Wolf Dog Park, Lake Forest
This is a great park if you want to do family photos and include your dog…and it’s nice without dogs too! This park is located at 1917-2075 S Waukegan Rd in Lake Forest.
Pretty views, trails, grass, a pond and some wooded areas. So a little bit of everything.
Great for golden hour or overcast sessions. I actually did a session in the rain here once that turned out pretty cool! Nothing too fancy here, but a great spot for a laid back park session with or without your dogs.
Parking is easy and free.
Bonus Spot: The Sunflower Fields at Thompson Strawberry Farm
I have only shot here once, but I absolutely LOVED it. I can’t wait to do more sessions here. It is a bit of drive…it’s located at 14000 75th St in Bristol, Wisconsin. So it’s about an hour from the north side of Chicago. But well worth the drive!
The sunflower fields here are absolutely gorgeous. There are many winding little trails through the sunflowers and I had so much fun shooting here. There isn’t a ton of variety to be honest…just lots of sunflowers…but there are some nearby spots to do some shots without them too. But if you are coming here for a photo shoot, you likely want the sunflowers in your photos anyway, so sunflowers are what you will get!
Golden hour here was AMAZING. So beautiful. I would definitely recommend a session during that time.
Sunflower season is July- October. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for kids…plus included in the admission- you get to cut and take home your own sunflowers! I loved bringing home sunflowers and had them in a vase in my kitchen for about a week. I do charge a travel fee for this location…but again, it’s a fee that is well worth it, because this spot is beautiful!
So there you have it… those are my top choices of outdoor locations for your family session. Of course there are many more, so if you are planning a session with me and want something in another area, I’m happy to make other recommendations. Or if you have your own spot that you want to do that’s totally fine with me too. Chicago is a beautiful city and there are so many great locations for photo shoots. And so many beautiful parks in the suburbs too.
When you’re deciding on a location it can be helpful to think about your family, and what kinds of things you all like to do together…are you a quiet, laid back family? Do you like going on adventures and exploring? Are you guys outdoorsy? Are you sporty and active? Sometimes thinking about that can help with deciding on a good location.
I have done many sessions with families that are moving from Chicago to the suburbs and want city shots before they leave. A downtown or North Ave beach session is perfect for that.
If you love including your dog in your photo sessions, then a place like Prairie Wolf Dog Park might be the spot for you.
If you and your family like adventure and exploring, then the Spring Valley Nature Center or the Riverwalk downtown might be fun spots.
The best thing to remember while choosing your location though…while background is good to take into consideration…the most important part of the photo is you and your family…so location aside…it’s the love and connection I want to show in my photographs. The interaction and emotion between family members. And that can be captured anywhere, with any background.
If you’re interested in booking your outdoor family photo session, click below.