Family Portraits in Winnetka and Wilmette
Unhurried family sessions at home or outdoors in Winnetka, Wilmette, and across Chicago’s North Shore. Gentle guidance, time together, and photographs that feel like you.
Winnetka · Wilmette · Kenilworth · Glencoe
Family Portraits in Winnetka and Wilmette
Unhurried family sessions at home or outdoors in Winnetka, Wilmette, and across Chicago’s North Shore. Gentle guidance, time together, and photographs that feel like you.
Winnetka · Wilmette · Kenilworth · Glencoe
The family photographs I love most are the ones where you recognize more than faces. You see your child’s mischievous grin, the way you laugh together, or a little gesture that feels so familiar. Those are the details that make a photograph feel like your family.
We’ll meet somewhere you enjoy spending time and give everyone a chance to settle in. Your four year old can explore, and your twelve year old doesn’t have to arrive excited about photographs. I’ll offer a little guidance when it helps and leave plenty of room for you to be yourselves. Often, the moments you’ll love most happen once you’ve stopped worrying about the camera and started enjoying each other.
What a Session Looks Like
Most sessions last about an hour, and we’ll choose a time that works for your family. If your little one naps at one, we’ll plan around it. After twenty years of photographing families, I know how to find beautiful light throughout the day, so there’s room to put your family’s needs first.
We’ll walk, I’ll get to know your children, and we’ll leave time for whatever catches their attention. You don’t need to work through a list of poses. If your toddler needs a break or a cuddle, we’ll pause. That’s a normal part of spending an hour with a family, and there’s no need to apologize.
Bring your dog if you’d like them in the photographs, along with a spare outfit for anyone who might find a puddle or spill a snack. We’ll talk through clothing beforehand, too, so you can arrive feeling ready and enjoy our time together.
Extended Family and Larger Groups
When family comes to town, having everyone together is something worth remembering. These sessions make room for the whole family, along with the smaller groups that mean so much: grandparents with grandchildren, siblings together, and each family with their own children.
We’ll talk through those groupings beforehand so you can spend more time enjoying each other once you arrive. I usually start with everyone together while the youngest are fresh, then move through the smaller groups at an easy pace.
Plan for about ninety minutes so we have time for everyone and a few breaks along the way. My hope is that these photographs become more meaningful with every year, reminding you of what it felt like to have everyone close.
Where We Photograph
Some of my favorite places for outdoor sessions are Gillson Park in Wilmette, Crow Island Woods in Winnetka, and the Skokie Lagoons. Each has its own feel, from the water and beach grass at Gillson to the quiet beneath the oaks at Crow Island and the room to explore at the Lagoons.
But if your family already has a favorite place, I’d love to meet you there. Your backyard, a grandparent’s house, or the stretch of lakefront you walk every Sunday can make your photographs feel even more personal. Your home is welcome in any weather, too, and I’m happy to travel somewhere meaningful to you.
Travel within thirty miles of Winnetka is included. Beyond that area, a $99 travel fee applies. We’ll confirm any location fees or permit requirements before your session.
I photograph families throughout Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield, Highland Park, Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, and Evanston.
What You End Up With
About two weeks after your session, we’ll sit down together and look through your photographs. I’ll help you choose your favorites and decide how you’d like to enjoy them, whether that’s an album to look through together or framed photographs for your walls. This often becomes one of the loveliest parts of the experience, seeing your family’s moments again.
Your albums and framed pieces arrive finished and ready to enjoy. I personally deliver framed artwork within thirty miles of Winnetka at no additional charge. Installation is not included. If you live farther away, we’ll discuss delivery arrangements and any additional cost before you order.
I keep your photographs for as long as CoralBlu Studios operates, with a minimum of five years from your session date. If you’d like another print or album during that time, get in touch and I’ll help you explore the options available at our current prices. Please keep your own backups of any digital photographs you receive, too.
How It Works
1. We Talk
You tell me about your family, we pick a date, and I help you think through what everyone should wear.
2. We Meet in Good Light
Outdoors at your preferred time of the day, or at your home if that’s the better call. I’ll guide you all the way.
3. We Choose Together
About two weeks later, we’ll look through your photographs together and choose your favorites for albums, artwork, or digital images.
4. Your Artwork, Delivered
Your albums and framed photographs arrive ready to enjoy. Personal delivery of framed artwork is included within thirty miles of Winnetka.
Investment
Sessions begin at $595 and include our time together, careful editing of your photographs, and a private appointment where we’ll look through your images and choose your favorites.
Most families invest between $1,500 and $3,000 in albums, printed artwork, and digital images. Your session fee is credited toward any collection you choose.
You’ll see your photographs before deciding what you’d love to bring home. I’ll walk you through the options and help you choose what feels right for your family.
In Their Words
Questions People Ask
What if my kids don’t cooperate?
Your children don’t need to arrive ready to smile for the camera. We’ll give them time to explore, get comfortable, and take a break when they need one. I’ll offer gentle guidance and work with their personalities so you can relax and enjoy being together.
How long is a session?
Most family sessions last about an hour. For extended families and larger groups, plan for about ninety minutes. We’ll confirm the timing beforehand and leave room for little breaks along the way.
What should we wear?
We’ll talk about this before the day. In general: avoid logos and busy patterns, pick two or three colors that sit near each other, and let everyone look like themselves.
What happens if it rains?
If rain, extreme cold, or unsafe weather affects your outdoor session, we’ll choose another date at no additional charge. I’ll usually confirm the plan that morning. Cloudy skies often make beautiful photographs, so overcast weather alone doesn’t mean we need to reschedule.
When do we see the photographs?
About two weeks after your session, we’ll meet for your private ordering appointment. We’ll look through the photographs together, choose your favorites, and talk about how you’d like to enjoy them at home.
Do we get digital files?
Yes. Every family collection includes edited digital photographs: ten with Keepsake, twenty five with Heirloom, and fifty with Legacy. We’ll choose your favorites together at your ordering appointment. Your purchased digital photographs include a print release for personal use.