There’s a reason Lighthouse Beach in Evanston is one of my favorite locations for family photos near Chicago.
In one session, we can photograph your family among sandy paths, lush greenery, dramatic rocks and the shoreline of Lake Michigan. It gives us so much variety without having to travel between locations.
This family session was a perfect example.
With three daughters at different ages, I wanted their gallery to include the family portraits Mom and Dad would want on their walls, but also the personalities and relationships that make this season of their family worth remembering.
And that meant doing a lot more than standing on the beach and smiling at my camera.
Why Lighthouse Beach Is One of My Favorite Family Photo Locations Near Chicago
When families start planning their session, one of the first questions I hear is:
Where should we take our family pictures?
If you love a relaxed, natural look with plenty of variety, Lighthouse Beach is hard to beat.
The beach itself is beautiful, but what makes this Evanston location so special for photography is everything surrounding it.
There are sandy pathways, tall grasses, dense greenery, stone details, huge shoreline rocks and, of course, Lake Michigan.
That means we can create several completely different looks during one family session.
We can start away from the water with more traditional portraits and gradually work our way toward the shoreline as the light changes.
By the end, shoes are usually off and everyone is a whole lot less concerned about staying perfectly posed.
And that’s when some of my favorite photographs happen.
This image is especially useful here because it shows how different Lighthouse Beach can look just a short distance from the water.
Family Photos Don't Have to Feel Stiff
Yes, we’re going to get the photograph where everyone is looking at me and smiling.
Grandma needs that one. 😉
But I don’t want your entire gallery to look like 40 variations of the same pose.
I want movement.
Walking. Holding hands. Sisters laughing. Kids exploring. Mom with her daughters. Dad with the girls.
After photographing Chicagoland families for more than a decade, I’ve learned that giving families something to do often creates much more natural photographs than repeatedly asking everyone to smile.
And you don’t have to know what to do.
I’ll direct you throughout your session where to stand, where to look, what to do with your hands and when to move.
The goal is to create the beautiful family portrait and everything that happens in between.
Every Child Gets Their Own Moment, Too
When you book a family photography session with me, we’re not only photographing everyone together.
I also want to capture your kids individually.
And Lighthouse Beach gives us plenty of opportunities to make those portraits look completely different.
Your children are changing just as quickly as your family is.
So while the family portraits matter, I also want you to leave with photographs that capture each child exactly as they are right now.
The Sibling Photos Are Always Some of My Favorites
There is something about photographing siblings together that I love.
Especially when I can get past the “stand next to your sister and smile” photograph.
Then we let them interact.
Talk. Walk. Laugh. Lean into each other.
That’s when their actual relationship starts showing.
These are the photographs that capture more than what your kids looked like at a certain age.
They capture a little bit of who they were together.
And years from now, those may be some of the images you love the most.
Ending Our Lighthouse Beach Session in the Water
This is also why I tell my Lighthouse Beach families:
Bring towels. 😂
If the weather and lake conditions cooperate and everyone is willing, I love ending a beach session at the water.
By this point, we’ve already captured the photographs we need.
Everyone has relaxed.
The shoes are off.
And the kids know we’re almost finished.
So we can play a little.
Walk through the water. Let the dresses get wet. Explore. Splash.
There is something about giving kids permission to stop worrying about their clothes and simply be at the beach that completely changes the energy.
And if your kids don’t want to get wet?
That’s completely fine too.
I’m never going to force a moment just because it would make a good photograph.
What Should You Wear for Family Photos at Lighthouse Beach?
You definitely don’t need everyone dressed identically.
In fact, I’d rather you didn’t.
For beach family pictures, I recommend creating a coordinated color palette instead of matching everyone’s outfits.
This family did it beautifully.
Soft blue, white and mint all work together without making everyone look like they’re wearing a uniform.
Those colors also complement the sand, greenery, rocks and Lake Michigan instead of competing with them.
Movement is another thing to consider when choosing outfits. Dresses and fabrics that move naturally photograph beautifully at the beach, especially once we start walking along the shoreline.
→ Planning your outfits? Visit my What to Wear for Family Photos Guide.
Is Lighthouse Beach Good for Families With Older Kids and Teens?
Absolutely.
And I think this session shows exactly why.
Parents sometimes think professional family pictures are something you do mostly while your children are little.
But as kids become tweens and teenagers, something interesting happens.
You often have fewer great photographs of everyone together.
Schedules get busier. Kids become more independent. High school arrives. And eventually, graduation and college aren’t very far away.
Family photography isn’t only about documenting little kids.
It’s about documenting your family as it is right now.
When Is the Best Time for Family Photos at Lighthouse Beach?
I typically photograph outdoor family sessions later in the day when the light becomes softer.
At Lighthouse Beach, evening sessions are especially beautiful because we can begin among the greenery and sandy paths and gradually make our way toward Lake Michigan.
The exact session time changes throughout the year depending on sunset, so you don’t have to figure out the perfect time yourself.
I’ll take care of that part for you.
Planning Family Photos at Lighthouse Beach in Evanston?
I photograph families throughout Elgin, Evanston and the Chicago suburbs, and Lighthouse Beach continues to be one of my favorite locations for families who want photographs that feel relaxed, natural and a little different from a traditional forest preserve session.
You don’t need kids who love having their pictures taken.
You don’t need to know how to pose.
And you definitely don’t need everyone to behave perfectly.
That’s my job.
I’ll guide you through your session while leaving enough room for the interactions that make your family look like your family.