Senior year doesn't pause.
Make memories.
lake forest Senior Photographer
Senior year is a blur of last-times, college visits, and packed weekends. Your Lake Forest senior portraits should be the part of it you actually look forward to, not another item on the list.
take it in.
Two decades shooting seniors and the script never really changes from the moment your senior walks through the door
Camera-shy kids leave loving every photo.
Every single one. Promise.
An afternoon that flies. The goal isn't quick portraits. It's photos so undeniably you that they hold up on the wall for decades.
We'll plan your senior session around you, your style, your favorite Lake Forest spots (or a Chicago day, or both.
check availability
About two weeks after the shoot, you come back to the Ravenswood studio for your reveal. We go through the gallery together, find your favorites, and choose the prints, albums, and digital products that fit how your family actually lives.
You Fall in Love with Your Photos
step four
Session day starts with hair and makeup. From there, we head to the first location. I direct every pose, every angle, every micro-adjustment so your senior never has to wonder what to do. The energy shift from "this is uncomfortable" to "I love this" usually takes a few minutes from the moment we start.
We Shoot (and Have the Best Time Doing It)
step three
We Plan Together
step two
Pick a date that works for your family, the session fee secures the slot, and the prep starts. Style questionnaire, wardrobe support, and the start of the planning conversation arrive in your inbox right away.
Secure Your Session Date
step one
how it works
Senior Photos in lake forest
Why Lake Forest Seniors Choose Shalimar B Photography
Lake Forest holds onto things longer than most towns. The architecture, the tree canopy, the family traditions, the commitment to something a little slower and more enduring.
When we plan your Lake Forest senior session, we lean into what the town gives us. The wooded preserves and Open Lands stretches. The brick character of Market Square. The bluff and Forest Park Beach. We can also add a Chicago stretch and close at the Ravenswood studio for visual range that holds up over the years.
Every full senior session includes professional hair and makeup, personalized styling support, 2 locations (plus my Ravenswood studio), and unlimited outfit changes. Your senior arrives ready. I take care of the rest.
frequently asked questions
So many options! I'll start by asking what your senior gravitates toward. The lakefront and forested preserves? The brick of downtown? A meaningful park? Something completely different in Chicago? My location guide spans 19 years of shooting Lake Forest, the rest of the North Shore, and every pocket of Chicago. Full senior sessions include 2 locations plus my Ravenswood studio, so we can blend a hometown stretch with something visually different in one afternoon.
Where can I take my senior photos in lake forest?
You'll get tons of guidance on this, but to start - this is the moment to pull out the wardrobe stops! Most seniors bring 3-5 outfits per session. Full senior sessions include personalized styling support and unlimited outfit changes. Outfits range from really dressy (a dress with presence, a tailored jacket, something with sparkle) to fully casual (denim, soft tees, the favorite piece). It depends entirely on your senior's style. The #1 rule is to stay true to who they actually are.
What should I wear for my senior photos?
A full Lake Forest senior session runs approximately 3-4 hours (starting with hair/makeup application). I keep shooting until the sun sets because that golden hour light is everything, and it's what makes your portraits glow.
How long will my lake forest senior session last?
99.9% of the seniors I shoot tell me they feel awkward in front of the camera before we start. But I help with all of it. I'll show you what to do, how to do it, and what to do with your hands (always the trickiest part). I also turn the camera around early on so you can see how photogenic you actually are right out of the gate. By the time we get rolling, you won't feel awkward at all. You'll feel like a pro.
What if I’m awkward in front of the camera?
Totally fair concern. Most seniors I work with have never had their hair or makeup done professionally before, and there's worry about not looking like themselves or having too much makeup applied. The artists I work with are some of the BEST in Chicago, specifically trained to apply makeup for camera (which is its own discipline, different from event glam). They'll work closely with your senior to make sure she's happy with the result, and they'll fix anything that doesn't feel right. Bring inspiration photos for the artist - it always helps. (We'll cover this on our Zoom too.)
I’m nervous about having my Hair/Makeup done.
About two weeks after your session, you'll be invited to the Ravenswood studio to view and order your senior images. (Cannot wait for that part!)
When will my senior photos be ready to order?
Customer service is a huge part of how I work, and my goal is to make ordering easy and stress-free. You'll order your photos at an in-person ordering session at the Ravenswood studio about two weeks after your senior shoot. Most families find it genuinely fun.
How do I order my Graduation Photos?
Customer service is a huge part of how I work, and my goal is to make ordering easy and stress-free. You'll order your photos at an in-person ordering session at the Ravenswood studio about two weeks after your senior shoot. Most families find it genuinely fun.
When will my final products be ready?
Yes! I've photographed seniors from Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest Academy, Woodlands Academy, and a long list of other schools across the far North Shore and Chicago. Every session is built around your senior, never the school.
Do you work with seniors from lake forest-area high schools?
Ready to Book Your Lake Forest Senior Portraits?
Senior sessions book out fast — especially for summer and early fall. If you're a Glenview parent or a high school senior ready to lock in the best day of your senior year, let's talk.
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