Senior year is here.
Let's make some memories
Winnetka Senior Photographer
Senior year only happens once, and the version that's actually you is the one worth capturing. Your Winnetka senior portraits should be the part of it you genuinely look forward to.
Capture it.
Nineteen years of senior portrait work has me predicting how every session is going to play out
You'll worry about being awkward.
Spoiler: you won't be
Three or four hours that flies. The goal isn't a quick session. It's an editorial-quality gallery so unmistakably you that you're proud to print.
We'll design your senior session around you, your style, your favorite Winnetka spots (or downtown Chicago, or both.
check availability
About two weeks after the shoot, you come into the Ravenswood studio to see your full gallery. I help you narrow, walk you through the product options, and handle the logistics of prints, albums, and digital collections. You leave knowing exactly what's coming.
You Fall in Love with Your Photos
step four
Session day is choreographed but doesn't feel that way. Hair and makeup come first. Then we move to the first location and start shooting. I direct every pose, every angle, every facial expression so the guesswork disappears. Most seniors get comfortable almost immediately and the camera fades into the background within minutes.
We Shoot (and Have the Best Time Doing It)
step three
We Plan Together
step two
Step one is the one that matters most: picking a date. Summer and fall Winnetka dates fill months ahead. The session fee confirms your spot, and the prep starts immediately with a style questionnaire.
Secure Your Session Date
step one
how it works
Senior Photos in Winnetka
Why Winnetka Seniors Choose Shalimar B Photography
Winnetka families know quality when they see it. The homes, the landscaping, the schools, the everyday details. Everything on the North Shore is built with a level of care that shows.
When we plan your Winnetka senior session, we lean into what the town offers. The lakefront. The downtown blocks on Elm Street. A walkable Hubbard Woods stretch. The fall trees on the residential blocks. We can also flip into the city for grit, then close out at the Ravenswood studio for an editorial finish.
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
Plenty of options. I'll start by asking what spots feel meaningful to your senior. The beach? A residential block with the best fall trees? A park they've been going to since they were little? A Chicago location that feels totally different? We'll brainstorm together, and I'll share my curated location guide built across 19 years of North Shore and Chicago shooting. Full senior sessions include 2 locations plus my Ravenswood studio, so we can mix a home-turf Winnetka spot with something completely different.
Where can I take my senior photos in Winnetka?
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 polished dress, a tailored blazer) to fully casual (denim, vintage tees, the favorite hoodie). 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 Winnetka 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 Winnetka 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 a different craft than wedding or 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 the ordering session genuinely fun.
How do I order my Graduation Photos?
Your prints and products are ready four to six weeks after your order is placed.
When will my final products be ready?
Yes! I've photographed seniors from New Trier, North Shore Country Day, Loyola Academy, and a long list of other schools across the North Shore and Chicago. Every session is built around your senior, never around the school.
Do you work with seniors from Winnetka-area high schools?
Ready to Book Your Winnetka Senior Portraits?
Senior sessions book up fast - especially summer and early fall. If you're a Winnetka parent or a high school senior ready to lock in the best day of your senior year, let's talk.
book your session
