Where to take senior graduation photos and the best time to take them.

May 16

One of the first questions we ask our new clients is “what style of photoshoot are you looking for”? You want your photos to represent you, so choosing a location should reflect your personality. Here are a few of our favorite locations listed below!

Open field

Who doesn’t love a good open field at sunset photoshoot? Time-of-day is extremely important for capturing this look well. The sun needs to be super low in the sky, almost hitting the horizon. Typically, we like to meet for this type of shoot around 45-60 minutes before sunset. From there we will take photos in the surrounding area and wait until the sun is at that perfect spot and that’s when we shoot shoot shoot! Flowy clothing that creates a lot of moment is important for this style of shoot. The windier the better! If it’s a cloudy day on the day of your shoot, we still meet at the same time and we will add the sun in when we process your photos.

Open field photoshoot at sunset in Libertyville, IL

Urban Location

The photos below were taken in downtown Libertyville, Illinois, but there are many beautiful historic downtown districts in Illinois. Long Grove is another one that has gorgeous architecture and can serve as a great backdrop for senior photos. We meet about 1.5 to 2 hours before sunset, as that’s when the light is softest in urban settings. The buildings will hide the sun setting on the horizon, so it’s important its not too low in the sky to get good light, but also not too high to avoid harsh shadows.

At your school

Photoshoots at your school are great, just please check with administration first to ensure we are allowed to be there as not all schools allow this. We can use the campus as a backdrop and any parks in the area.

Senior graduation photoshoot in Libertyville, IL

In a park

This is one of our personal favorites. Light and foliage can vary throughout the year, but generally about 1-2 hours before sunset is the sweet spot for getting great graduation photos in a natural environment like a park or in the woods. We have a number of locations we love and can provide a list upon request.

At a famous landmark

There are so many amazing spots in Illinois that can serve as a gorgeous backdrop for your senior graduation photos. The photos below were taken at Cook Park in Libertyville, IL, but there are so many other great spots. Upon our initial consultation, we can offer suggestions if this is a style of photo you are looking for. If you have your own idea, we’d love to hear it!