My favorite locations

To help you plan your photo session, I put together a list of all of my favorite locations so you can more easily select the one you like best.
Please note that some of these might look different depending on the season.  Also, for the busier sites, I’ll confirm that no public events will be taking place on your session date that might restrict our access or simply cause the location to be too busy with people.

I hope this list helps you as we plan!

Pilcher Park, Joliet IL

What I love: 

  • Beautiful flowers in the summer!
  • Pretty stone steps
  • Lovely light in the evening

Hickory Creek Junction, Mokena IL

What I love: 

  • Pretty tall grasses
  • Great spot for morning sessions
  • Lovely light in the evening (in another part of the preserve)
  • Despite being a popular spot for lots of photographers, it’s usually not too busy

Lighthouse Pointe Park, Frankfort IL

What I love: 

  • Great for summer sessions (pretty spot with stone steps)
  • Old stone bridge
  • Beautiful spot in the fall (beautiful color in the trees)
  • Feels very secluded, never too busy.

Frankfort Square Park District bldg, Frankfort Square IL

What I love: 

  • It’s a new spot for me (I’ve just done one session there so far!)
  • Beautiful wooden bike path ‘bridge’
  • Feels very secluded (doesn’t seem busy)

Downtown Frankfort, IL

What I love: 

  • Great spot for senior photos!
  • A variety of great backgrounds all within a short walk from each other (cool metal stairway, brick wall, nature/grassy area, etc.)
  •  Lovely budding trees in the spring

What I’m not a fan of:  It’s a busy spot all the time – especially in the evening (lots of people on the trails, other photographers, etc.)…but, it’s still an excellent location!!

downtown lockport, IL

What I love: 

  • Great spot for senior photos!
  • An awesome variety of great backgrounds all within a short walk from each other (cool metal stairway, brick/alley)

dELLWOOD PARK, lockport IL

What I love: 

  • Full of character!  Gorgeous old looking stone steps/arches (from an old dam that used to be in that area)
  • Pretty white gazebo and area with flowers/stone steps
  • Depending on recent weather, dry creek bed
  •  

Bird Haven Greenhouse (Indoor location) in Joliet IL

What I love: 

  • Great spot for indoor photos (if we know the weather will be iffy)
  •  Decorated beautifully for Christmas (trees are lit/poinsettias)
  • One area is very tropical and another features more desert plants.

What to take note of:

  • It’s good for sessions earlier in the day as harsh mid-day sun isn’t an issue.
  • It’s very warm inside!  (Don’t dress too heavy!)
  • The location charges a fee for photography and we need coordinate beforehand in case they have events planned.

Centennial park, tinley park il

What I love: 

  • Gorgeous fall colors (usually in October)
  • Pretty bridge

What to take note of:

  • It’s a busy park, so people are always walking around (we might have to stop from time to time to let people cross the bridge, etc.) 

the commons, New lenox il

What I love: 

  • I think it’s a great spot for more formal photos with stately columns (by City Hall) – shields from the harsh sun, so the light is nice
  • I’ve only shot there once, but I’d love to go back!

I hope that being able to view these examples of some of my favorite locations has helped you!  And if you have other ideas, I’m always open to try them.  I will always go to a new site beforehand to get an idea of the lighting and may offer alternate suggestions if I feel the light might not be optimal at the time of your session.

Together, we’ll be able to decide on a great spot for your session!