Locations around Chicagoland
We have been doing photo shoots on location throughout Chicagoland since 2009, and thus we are pretty familiar with all the usual forest preserves, parks, downtown areas, riverwalks, and a number of locations in Chicago. We also know about a number of not so usual locations, some cool edgy urban spots.
If you are looking for a place where the foliage is important, foliage doesn’t really kick in until mid-May, and usually lasts until the first week of November. The fall red colors can change from year to year, but is usually at the end of October and extending into November.
Aside from looking at sample shots from each of our favorite locations, feel free to contact us to talk about what you’re wanting in a location for your photo shoot. We’re happy to help! And if you have you a location in mind that we’ve never photographed, we’re all about that! We like discovering new places.
Here are some of our usual stomping grounds:
Algonquin, IL
Clock Tower Park. It’s nestled between the Fox River and downtown Algonquin. There tend to some flowers usually blooming around the clock tower. Great river shots. Walking distance to downtown Algonquin, where you can get some edgy industrial looks.
Downtown Algonquin. Although I usually do the Clock Tower Park and downtown Algonquin in tandem, I’ll separate these so you can see what each setting has to offer. There are some interesting colors on some of the buildings in downtown Algonquin. This location has some areas where the foliage is important, and others where foliage is not imporant.
Buffalo Park. This is on the south end of the town just off Route 31 before you go up the hill to leave the town. It’s one of my favorite places to shoot the Fox River, and the golden hour sunlight is fantastic. There are also some wooded areas and rocks to work with.
Brunner Family Farm Preserve. Technically, this is in Carpentersville, but it’s halfway between Algonquin and Carpentersville just off Route 31. It has a large working red barn, an industrial looking building, pastures, farm equipment, dirt roads, sometimes there is hay to work with, and some iron pedestrian bridges. The scene is constantly changing throughout the year.
Crystal Lake, IL
Downtown Crystal Lake. This location is pretty cool throughout the year as it doesn’t require foliage. You get a pretty cool urban vibe here as we go behind the buildings in the downtown area. When you are on the main street, there are some nice flowers and benches to work with.
Veterans Acres. The park at Veterans Acres has changed a lot the last few years, especially since they cut down the main Willow trees. There were other tress that I really liked using for photography that they cut down as well. The water is often green and not always so great to shoot against.
Veterans Acres Pine Trees. Just down the street from Veterans Acres is a back entry where you have these pretty cool pine trees. There are not a lot of options here, so I always consider it a stop to go with Downtown Crystal Lake or Shamrock Hills.
Shamrock Hills Park. Not far from Veterans Acres is one of my favorite location to photograph. This park has a couple of ponds to play with, really nice golden hour light, some pine trees, a barn that can be used as a backdrop, windy dirt road, a really cool rocky stairs and pond, and very good bushes and trees. The foliage is very important here.
Lake Geneva, WI
Lake Geneva, WI. This is a really cool place to shoot, starting and ending at the fountain there at the lake. It has some docks with boats, a sandy beach, and I like walking around behind the downtown area where it looks pretty urban. There is a also a park with a small river running through it that is shallow enough that my clients can get in the river for shots.
Elgin, IL
Downtown Elgin. This is another of my favorite places to do urbanesque types of shots. It has really cool old buildings, alleyways, really lots to choose from. We usually start next to Festival Park, so foliage can also be a part of these shots, and we walk along next to the Fox River. In early April, there are a lot of tulips in bloom in the downtown Area.
Walton Island Park. This is not far from downtown Elgin so we sometimes make a dual-location shoot. This island ix across from the Hemmens Cultural Center. Nature plays a big part so foliage is important here. The island is in the middle of the Fox River.
West Dundee, IL
Haeger Pottery. This is an old abandoned factory building that has a lot of really cool edgy urban looks on the outside. I often pair this shoot up with another location at the Train Bridge.
Train Bridge Location. This is next to Otto Engineering. The bridge is a really iconic shoot, both when you’re on the bridge and when you’re away from it, using it as a backdrop. This is on the Fox River, so foliage is very important. We have some great shots with trees and the river, and the river is often low enough that my subjects can pose in it.
St. Charles, IL
Pottawatomie Park. Pretty much every shoot I’ve done at this park has been dance shoots. It has a really cool wooden pedestrian bridge that spans over the Fox River, a concrete area with stairs that is really cool to shoot against. Foliage is very important as this is largely nature-based.
Geneva, IL
Fabyan Forest Preserve. Another of my favorite locations to photograph dance and seniors. This is on the Fox River, so foliage is important. It has pedestrian bridges, an island in the middle of the river, a great location for golden hour lighting, the arch with ivy over it, and a really cool concrete and iron gate. Lots of trees and bushes, and flowers in season.
Wheaton, IL
Cantigny Park. Another of my favorite locations to do photo sessions. This has ponds, architecture, trees, lots of flowers in season, a water fountain and grass and bushes. There is a $35 photo permit fee.
Naperville, IL
Naperville Riverwalk. Would be repeating myself if I said this was one of my favorite places to shoot? There is of course the river, pedestrian bridges, lots of bushes and trees, and flowers in season. A pond. The golden hour lighting here is amazing. Foliage is very important as this is all nature based.
Elmhurst, IL
Wilder Mansion. I really love the architecture here with the main white building, the stairs, and columns. There’s a lot of nature here as well, and flowers in season.
Barrington, IL
Citizens Park. This park can look very different throughout the year and can have really nice seasonal flowers. There is a small creek and waterfall at the entrance. Lots of trees and bushes, and there’s a path and wooden bridge in the back of the park. Foliage very important here.
Wilmette, IL
Bahai House of Worship. This location is privately owned but they do allow photoshoots for free. The exterior of the building is amazing, as well as the stairs leading up to it. There are a lot of flowers in season here, and fountains. This location is near a park on the Lake Michigan waterfront, so that’s a good combination.
Glencoe, IL
Chicago Botanical Garden. Another wonderful location for nature shoots. Lots of flowers in season, trees, and water. There is a considerable photo permit fee, as much as $150 but it needs to be confirmed each year. Being nature-based, foliage is important.
Kenosha, WI
Kenosha Southport Beach. This is right on Lake Michigan has lots of sand and rocks. I’ve only done one shoot here, so you can see what we came up with.
Rockford , IL
Downtown Rockford. Another great place for urban decay. There are a lot of abandoned buildings in Rockford, and it’s fun to shoot around them. We often have to drive from one location to another, but I usually start on Water Street near the Ice House.
Japanese Gardens. For flowers and water and trees and bushes, this is another great location. Since it’s nature-based, foliage is important. It can be a bit crowded with people constantly walking by as we’re setting up shots.
Rock Cut State Park. This state park north of Rockford has a large lake, trees, hills and some seasonal flowers and bushes. Foliage is very important here.
McHenry, IL
Moraine Hills State Park. There’s a pretty cool lake here and a number of places to stop and do some shoots with trees and prairies. Foliage pretty important here as it is nature-based.
Olgesby, IL
Starved Rock State Park. This is a large park that requires a lot of hiking to get to the waterfall. The waterfall flow is seasonal.
Chicago, IL
Lincoln Park Zoo. We don’t actually shoot in the park but walk around the walkway to the south. There is a pond there, the honeycomb, a pedestrian bridge with the Chicago skyline. There are seasonal flowers so foliage is important here. We sometimes combine this with a walk over to North Avenue Beach.
North Avenue Beach. There is the beach, Lake Michigan, and a great skyline view.
Chicago Riverwalk. Right in the middle of downtown Chicago, this provides a great setting with the river, the iron bridges, and lots of specific locations unique for photography. We sometimes get our subjects up on top of the LaSalle Street Bridge with the Chicago buildings in the background.
Grant Park. Home to the Buckingham Fountain with a 270-degree view of the Chicago skyline, the park has other smaller fountains, seasonal flowers, very cool architecture with stairs and pedestrian bridges. You also walk across the street to Lake Michigan and you have a small harbor there and the Navy Pier.
Adler Planetarium. The architecture of the Planetarium is a great backdrop for photography. There is also a great skyline view, and Lake Michigan. This is one of the best locations for a sunrise shoot with the sun coming up over Lake Michigan.
The Art Institute of Chicago. There are a number of amazing architectural looks at the institute. The garden, which isn’t always open, also provides a great setting for a shoot.
Millennium Park. This has a number of different looks, including the Bean, architecture with stairs, and a lot of seasonal flowers. Some shots also have a great skyline view. The Art Institute of Chicago is across the street, and Grant Park and the Riverwalk are in walking distance but in opposite directions.