There are some locations that give you a little bit of everything for senior pictures, and Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva, Illinois is one of them.
For this Central High School senior session, we were able to create completely different looks without spending the evening driving from location to location. We went from her varsity jacket and college gear to soft dresses, wildflowers, cowboy boots and beautiful golden-hour light all within one session.
And that is exactly what I want senior pictures to feel like: not one outfit, one backdrop and 50 versions of the same pose, but a gallery that actually feels like you.
Senior Pictures That Celebrate Who You Are Right Now
One of my favorite things about photographing high school seniors is incorporating pieces of their life that make this year different from every other year.
For this Central High School senior, that meant bringing along her letterman jacket. It instantly gave us a completely different look and created images that feel unmistakably tied to her high school years.
I always encourage seniors to bring something personal to their session. A varsity jacket, sports uniform, instrument, favorite book, car or another meaningful item can add personality without making the entire session feel themed.
The goal isn’t to photograph a prop.
It’s to photograph this version of you before everything changes.
Celebrating What's Next: University of Dayton
Senior year is also that strange little space between where you’ve been and where you’re headed.
For her, what’s next is the University of Dayton, so of course the Dayton Flyers had to make an appearance.
I love incorporating college gear into senior sessions because these photos end up documenting two milestones at once: finishing high school and getting ready for the next chapter.
And yes…bring the college T-shirt, pennant, sweatshirt or flag. We can absolutely work it into your session without making every photo about your future school.
Why Fabyan Forest Preserve Is Perfect for Senior Pictures
One reason I recommend Fabyan Forest Preserve for senior pictures is the amount of variety we can create in one location. It’s also one of my favorite senior photo locations in the Chicago suburbs.
The bridge gives us strong lines and a slightly more modern look. The stonework and landscaped areas create a classic backdrop. Then just a short walk away, we can completely change the feel of the session with tall grasses, greenery and seasonal wildflowers.
That variety is especially important for senior sessions with multiple outfits. Instead of simply changing clothes and returning to essentially the same background, I can pair each outfit with an area that complements it.
Her jeans and varsity jacket worked beautifully around the architecture and structured landscaping.
But then came the dresses…
Wildflower Senior Pictures at Fabyan Forest Preserve
This is where the session completely changed.
Her white and floral dresses against the wildflowers gave us a softer, more natural look, and the cowboy boots were perfect with them.
This is also why I don’t want seniors worrying about knowing how to pose.
You don’t.
I’ll direct you through the entire session, but we’re also going to move. Walking, turning, playing with your dress, looking away, changing where your hands are and even flipping your hair can create those in-between images that often become favorites.
Senior pictures should look polished without feeling stiff.
And Then We Got the Golden Light
Toward the end of the session, the light changed, and that’s when Fabyan really showed off.
Scheduling senior sessions around evening light allows us to start with softer natural light and work toward that warm glow closer to sunset.
It gives a gallery more dimension and is one of the reasons I don’t rush my senior sessions.
When the light is this good, we use it.
Your Senior Session Shouldn't Look Like Everyone Else's
I want every senior I photograph to leave with the portraits Mom wants for the wall and the images the senior actually wants to post.
Those aren’t always the same photographs.
We’ll get the beautiful smiling portraits. But we’ll also play with different angles, movement, closer crops, sitting poses and images that feel a little more editorial.
The best senior galleries have both.
Planning Central High School Senior Pictures?
If you’re a Central High School senior or attend another high school in Elgin, Burlington, Hampshire, St. Charles, Geneva or the surrounding Chicago suburbs, senior year goes faster than you think.
You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to know exactly what to wear. And you definitely don’t need to have your entire session planned before reaching out.
That’s my job.
We’ll choose a location that fits the look you want, talk through outfits and incorporate the things that make your senior year yours.
Ready to Plan Your Senior Pictures?
Senior sessions with LibbyLou Images are designed to give you variety while still creating a gallery that feels cohesive and completely personal to you.
If you’re looking for a Central High School senior photographer, Geneva IL senior photographer, or senior photographer in the Chicago suburbs, I’d love to help you plan a session that feels like you.
Learn more about my Chicago suburbs senior photography experience, including session options, what to expect and how to start planning your senior pictures.
faq
Fabyan Forest Preserve is located in Geneva, Illinois, along the Fox River. Its combination of natural areas, gardens, historic features and the bridge gives us several different looks within one senior session.
Yes. Fabyan Forest Preserve works especially well for seniors who want variety. Depending on the season, we can incorporate greenery, wildflowers, stone architecture, pathways, landscaped areas and the bridge into your senior portraits.
I recommend bringing outfits with different styles rather than several versions of the same look. For example, you might pair jeans and a varsity jacket with a dress and then add something personal such as college gear or a sports uniform. I’ll help you decide which outfits will photograph best in each area.
Late spring through fall offers beautiful scenery at Fabyan Forest Preserve, but each season looks different. Summer can bring lush greenery and wildflowers, while fall offers warmer tones. I typically schedule outdoor senior sessions around the best evening light rather than the middle of the day.
Absolutely. LibbyLou Images photographs seniors from Central High School and high schools throughout Elgin, Geneva, St. Charles, Hampshire, Huntley and the surrounding Chicago suburbs.