Lincoln Park Chicago Senior Portraits || Kate

Kate decided to have her senior session in the city – we started over in the Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk because although she wanted the cityscape in her photos, flowers and greenery were still really important to her!

When Kate brought out the cowboy boots for her first outfit in the white dress, my creative wheels started turning right away! Don’t get me wrong, your outfits are important for photos, but the accessories are where you get to stand out from the rest. I love embracing bold and creative ways to show your personality in your photographs!

This Chicago senior session was a special one from the start! Kate’s mom added a family session on… Fun fact that, YES, you can add on family photos to your senior portrait experience! Kate’s mom expressed how important these family photos were to them. It had been years since their last family photos, and she didn’t know when they’d get to do it again once both kids were in college. The best part? We were able to snag a family photo in both locations – I wanted them to have as many options as possible!

I’m all about having your fan club come along – I always encourage bringing your mom, your BFF, or your family to your senior sesh! Having Kate’s family around for her senior photos was super. I adored how they shared their love and praise for her during photos!

Kate is a HUGE runner and that comes naturally as her dad and brother are runners, too! If you grew up in Naperville, you know how popular running and XC is and that came true for Kate. I hope one day my path crosses with Kate while she’s out running with her best friends around Naperville!

After photos in Lincoln Park, we ended Kate’s senior session over at Milton Lee Olive Park. It’s a location with an amazing look out and beach access! The sky decided to part its clouds and give us an amazing cotton candy sunset. It couldn’t have been more perfect for Kate’s last outfit! I mean this dress, are you kidding?! Give me all the twirls and movement!

It’s always bittersweet to leave a senior session because I feel so close to the senior and her family. We get to know each other so well through the process of session planning and taking photos. I always look forward to following my seniors on social. I just love keeping with their senior year and cheering them on!

After Kate’s senior photos in Chicago, her mom shared this review that melted my heart! – “Working with Jillian has been an absolute JOY, from my first online inquiry to the delivery of our gorgeous photo gallery. She’s professional, warm, kind, and incredibly talented. She loves working with seniors and that love is so evident in the images she captures. Jill has a beautiful way of getting her clients to show their personalities during the shoot. And to a parent, there is nothing more important than that. I look at these images and I see the truest version of my child – a gift for which I’ll be forever grateful.”

Jillian Photography is a Chicagoland wedding & senior photographer serving Naperville, St. Charles, and beyond. Get in touch with Jill here & follow along on social for what’s happening behind the scenes!