There are some locations that give you a little bit of everything, and Mallard Lake in Hanover Park is definitely one of them.
For this Central High School senior session, we were able to move from the lake and wooden overlooks to tall prairie grasses, wildflowers, trails and the bridge all without having to leave the location. Add in the soft golden-hour light, and it gave us so much variety within one senior session.
And that’s exactly what I want when choosing a location for my seniors: somewhere that gives us options without making the session feel rushed or like we’re constantly driving to the next spot.
Senior Pictures at Mallard Lake in Hanover Park
Mallard Lake is a great senior picture location for anyone who wants a natural, relaxed look without having every photo feel exactly the same.
The lake is obviously beautiful, but what makes this location work so well for senior photography is everything surrounding it. There are tall grasses, open trails, wooden overlooks, bridges and plenty of greenery that changes throughout the seasons.
One of my favorite things about photographing seniors here is being able to use the water without every image becoming a traditional “standing by the lake” portrait.
The wooden overlook gives us texture and leading lines while still keeping the natural landscape in the background.
A Senior Session That Actually Feels Like You
Senior pictures don’t have to feel overly posed.
Yes, I’ll tell you where to stand, what to do with your hands and where to look, but we’ll also walk, laugh, move and try things along the way. You don’t need to arrive knowing how to pose.
That’s my job.
Some of my favorite images from senior sessions are often the ones that happen between the more posed photographs. Those little laughs and relaxed expressions are usually when someone’s personality really comes through.
What to Wear for Senior Pictures at Mallard Lake
This session is a perfect example of why I recommend bringing more than one outfit when your collection allows for it.
We started with a casual combination of jeans and a white top, which worked beautifully against all of the greens, wood and water around Mallard Lake.
Then we switched to a long, soft pink dress, and the entire feel of the session changed.
The movement of a long dress is especially beautiful for outdoor senior pictures because we can incorporate walking, twirling and movement instead of relying entirely on stationary poses.
Not sure what to wear for your senior pictures? Take a look at my Senior Session Style Guide for outfit inspiration and tips for planning your session.
Golden Hour Senior Pictures in the Chicago Suburbs
The final part of the evening is why I schedule so many of my outdoor senior sessions around sunset.
As the sun gets lower, the light becomes softer and warmer, and Mallard Lake gives us several beautiful ways to use it.
Instead of staying in one small area, we’ll move throughout the location as the light changes. Sometimes a spot that didn’t work twenty minutes earlier becomes one of the prettiest places of the entire evening once the sun drops behind it.
Adding Personal Details to Your Senior Session
Your senior session doesn’t need a complicated theme or a pile of props to feel personal.
Sometimes something simple is enough.
For this session, a small bouquet of wildflowers worked perfectly with the natural setting and gave us another completely different look.
If there’s something that feels like you flowers, a favorite jacket, sports gear, an instrument, your car or even your dog, tell me about it when we’re planning your session.
Those details are what can turn pretty senior pictures into photographs that actually represent this season of your life.
Senior Pictures That Don't All Look the Same
One thing I don’t want you to end up with is a gallery of 40 photographs that all feel like variations of the same picture.
Changing outfits, backgrounds, posing and movement gives your final gallery much more variety.
And sometimes we’ll do something a little unexpected.
The water at the end of this session gave us a completely different look while still fitting naturally with the rest of the gallery.
Is Mallard Lake a Good Location for Senior Pictures?
If you love water, tall grasses, wildflowers and a natural outdoor setting, Mallard Lake is definitely worth considering for your senior session.
It’s especially beautiful during the warmer months when everything is lush and green, and later in the evening when we can take advantage of the softer sunset light.
But location is only one part of planning your senior session.
I help my seniors choose a location based on the overall look they want not simply what’s popular. Some seniors love fields and water, while others feel much more like themselves surrounded by brick buildings, alleys and downtown streets.
Central High School Senior Photographer
I photograph seniors from Central High School and throughout Elgin, Burlington, St. Charles, Geneva, South Elgin, Huntley and the surrounding Chicago suburbs.
My goal is to make the experience easy from the beginning. We’ll plan your location and outfits before the session, and I’ll guide you through posing once you’re in front of my camera.
You don’t have to know what you’re doing.
You just have to show up as yourself.
Ready to Plan Your Senior Pictures?
If you’re a Central High School senior or a senior anywhere in the Chicago suburbs and you’re looking for senior pictures that feel relaxed, natural and like you, I’d love to help you plan your session.
From choosing the right location to figuring out what to wear, I’ll walk you through the entire process.