Central High School Senior Pictures at Lighthouse Beach in Evanston
There is something about a senior session at the beach that just hits differently especially when we get greenery, sand, Lake Michigan and golden hour light all in one location.
For this Central High School senior session, we headed to Lighthouse Beach in Evanston, Illinois, and it gave us so much variety without ever feeling like we were repeating the same photograph over and over.
We started away from the water in a white dress, surrounded by lush greenery and little white flowers, and ended the evening barefoot in Lake Michigan in a black dress as the sun went down.
And that transition? So good.
A Senior Session That Doesn't Look Like Everyone Else's
One of the reasons I love photographing seniors is that no two sessions should feel exactly alike.
Your senior pictures aren’t just about getting a nice photo for the yearbook. This is one of those rare times when the entire session gets to be about you, your style, your personality and how you want to remember this season of your life.
Lighthouse Beach gives us room to create something that feels a little more editorial and adventurous while still getting those beautiful, timeless portraits parents want hanging in their homes.
I especially love starting in the greenery before heading toward Lake Michigan. If you only saw these first photographs, you probably wouldn’t even guess we were minutes away from the beach.
Why Lighthouse Beach Works So Well for Senior Pictures
When seniors tell me they want variety, this is exactly what I’m talking about.
Lighthouse Beach isn’t simply sand and water. Depending on the season and conditions, we can work with wooded areas, sandy paths, tall grasses, greenery, rocks, shoreline and open beach.
That means we can create several completely different looks during one senior session without spending half the evening driving from location to location.
This little stretch of sandy trail is one of my favorite examples. The texture and greenery make it feel almost completely removed from the traditional Chicago-area beach setting.
And then we head toward the lake.
That’s when the entire session changes.
Two Outfits = Two Completely Different Looks
If you’re planning your own senior pictures, this session is a perfect example of why I encourage choosing outfits that give us some contrast.
The white dress felt soft, natural and romantic against all of the greenery.
Once she changed into the black dress, the photographs immediately became a little more dramatic and editorial especially against the rocks and water.
You don’t need a suitcase full of clothes to create variety. Two thoughtfully chosen outfits can completely change the feel of your gallery.
Not sure what to wear? My Senior Session Style Guide has tips for choosing outfits that photograph beautifully and still feel like you.
Golden Hour at Lighthouse Beach
This is where the session really started showing off.
As the sun dropped lower, we moved onto the open sand and let that warm evening light become part of the photographs.
This is also why the timing of an outdoor senior session matters so much. I intentionally schedule around the light rather than simply choosing a convenient hour on the clock.
That softer light toward the end of the day gives us flattering portraits, warmer skin tones and the beautiful glow you see throughout this gallery.
Yes, You Can Get in the Water
This might be my favorite part of a Lighthouse Beach senior session.
If you’re willing to get a little wet, Lake Michigan gives us photographs that feel completely different from traditional senior pictures.
We started slowly…
…and then we went for it.
The black dress against the water and rocks was such a good combination. It added movement and drama without making the photographs feel overly posed.
The Best Senior Pictures Usually Happen When We Stop Trying So Hard
We absolutely take the beautiful looking-at-the-camera portraits.
Your parents want those.
I want those.
But I also want the photographs that feel like something actually happened.
Getting into Lake Michigan in a formal black dress and throwing water everywhere?
That’s the kind of photograph you’ll remember making.
And it’s also why I leave room during senior sessions for movement, experimenting and ideas we didn’t necessarily plan ahead of time.
Sometimes even the seagulls understand the assignment.
When Should Central High School Seniors Book Senior Pictures?
If you’re a Central High School junior or senior thinking about senior pictures, you don’t have to wait until fall.
I photograph senior sessions throughout spring, summer and fall, and each season gives us something different.
Late summer is especially beautiful for beach sessions because of the greenery, longer evenings and opportunity to actually get into the water. You also don’t have to pay to get on to the beach after Labor Day.
Fall gives us richer color and texture, while spring can be a great option for seniors who didn’t get around to scheduling pictures earlier in the year.
The bigger consideration is availability.
My evening senior session dates especially during late summer and fall tend to fill first, so I recommend reaching out before you have your heart set on one particular week.
Senior Pictures Should Feel Like You
You don’t need to know how to pose.
You don’t need to have your entire wardrobe figured out.
And you definitely don’t need to walk into your session feeling comfortable in front of a camera.
That’s what I’m there for.
We’ll plan a location and wardrobe that fit the look you want, and I’ll guide you through the entire session.
The goal isn’t to turn you into someone else for an hour.
It’s to create photographs where you still recognize yourself just photographed really, really well.
Central High School Senior Photographer
I photograph high school seniors from Central High School and throughout the Chicago suburbs, with sessions available at Lighthouse Beach and other outdoor, urban and natural locations throughout Chicagoland.
If you’re looking for senior pictures that feel relaxed, modern and personal, I’d love to start planning yours.
