How to Plan the Perfect Graduation Photo Session on Chicago's North Shore
- Nicole Jones Photography
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Graduation season on Chicago's North Shore is one of my favorite times of year to photograph. The campus ivy is lush, the light in May and June is extraordinary, and the energy — that mix of pride, relief, nostalgia, and pure joy — is unlike anything else I get to capture. Whether you are a Northwestern University family planning graduation day portraits, a New Trier or Loyola Academy senior celebrating with your friend group, or a family wanting to mark this milestone beautifully, this guide is for you. Here is everything you need to know about planning graduation photos on the North Shore for the Class of 2026
Why Graduation Photos on the North Shore Are Worth Planning
Graduation day itself moves at a pace that surprises almost every family. Between the ceremony, finding your graduate in the crowd, connecting with other families, and the celebratory dinners that follow, the candid moments that feel so vivid in the moment can blur together surprisingly fast. A planned photo session — even just an hour — gives you something to hold onto. Not just a blurry phone photo under the arch, but real, beautifully lit portraits that do justice to what your family has achieved.
The North Shore is extraordinarily well-suited for graduation photography. Northwestern's Evanston campus offers some of the most iconic collegiate architecture in the country — the limestone buildings draped in ivy, the Deering Library courtyard, the iconic arch. New Trier and Loyola Academy have their own distinct character and history. And beyond the campuses themselves, the surrounding North Shore — Gillson Beach, Crowe Island Woods, Skokie lagoons — gives you the option to extend a session into something that captures the whole texture of life here.
Individual Graduation Portraits: Cap, Gown & Your Own Moment
Individual graduation portraits are about more than the cap and gown — they are about the person wearing it. After four years of growth, challenge, and becoming, a portrait session is the chance to document exactly who you are at this moment in time. I approach individual graduation sessions the same way I approach all my senior work: built around your personality, your style, and the campus locations that feel meaningful to you.
Best Locations for Individual Graduation Portraits at Northwestern
Northwestern's Evanston campus has no shortage of stunning portrait locations. A few of my favorites:
The Deering Library courtyard — the ivy-covered limestone facade and Gothic arches make for extraordinary portraits, especially in the soft morning light or right before sunset.
The Northwestern arch — iconic, instantly recognizable, and genuinely beautiful when the light hits it right
Campus Gardens — open grass, mature trees, and a relaxed natural feel that contrasts beautifully with the architecture shots
Friend Group Graduation Sessions: Celebrate the People Who Got You Here
If I had to choose one type of graduation session that I think is most undervalued — it's the friend group session. These are the people who sat next to you in class, pulled all-nighters with you, celebrated your wins, and showed up when things were hard. They are also the people you are about to scatter across the country with. A friend group graduation session is one of the best investments you can make in preserving this particular chapter of your life.
My group graduation sessions are designed to be genuinely fun — not stiff, not overly posed, not a series of forced smiles in a line. We shoot the candid moments between the setups. The laughing. The champagne. The jumping. The quiet ones too. The result is a gallery that actually feels like your friendship.
What Makes a Great Friend Group Graduation Session
Plan for 60–90 minutes for groups of 4–10 people — this gives time for individual portraits within the group session as well as group shots.
Think about what you want to bring — champagne, cigars, confetti, something that represents your friend group's personality
Book before April — May dates at Northwestern fill up fast, especially the weekends closest to commencement
Consider shooting days before or after the ceremony rather than on graduation day itself, when everyone's schedule is packed, crowds are abundant and lighting can be unpredictable. Planning your group session ahead of time avoids crowds and captures the best light.
Family & Extended Family Graduation Photos: The Whole Story
Graduation is a family milestone as much as it is an individual one. Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles who drove hours to be there — these are the people who made this moment possible. I specialize in capturing that full story: the hugs, the proud looks, the multigenerational moments that are genuinely hard to recreate once the day is over.
For family graduation sessions I recommend booking a dedicated slot separate from any friend group session. This gives every family unit — immediate family, extended family, grandparents with the graduate — time to be photographed properly without anyone feeling rushed. Graduation day moves fast. Having a photographer who knows how to work efficiently with large groups makes all the difference.
Tips for Families on Graduation Day
Designate a meeting point ahead of time — I recommend the Deering Library steps at Northwestern for large family groups as there is space to organize and the backdrop is stunning
Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your session start time — parking on and around campus on graduation weekend requires extra time
Coordinate family outfits in advance — jewel tones, navy, white, and earth tones all photograph beautifully against the campus limestone. If you're a Northwestern graduate's family -- purple is always on pointe.
Bring a list of the group combinations you want — nuclear family, grandparents with graduate, sibling photos — so we move through efficiently
If you have young children coming, plan their session first while everyone is fresh and patient
High School Graduation Photography: New Trier, Loyola Academy & Beyond
Graduation photography on the North Shore isn't only about Northwestern. High school graduation is its own milestone — and the friend groups formed at New Trier, Loyola Academy, and other North Shore schools are just as worth celebrating with intention.
High school graduation sessions have a slightly different energy than college ones — more giddy, a little less polished, and entirely more fun. I love shooting these at locations that feel personal to the group: Gillson Beach in Wilmette for a relaxed, sun-soaked session, Crowe Island Woods in Winnetka for something more natural and editorial, or the city streets of Evantson with a great urban vibe.
North Shore High School Graduation Locations I Love
Gillson Beach, Wilmette — sandy, open, and golden at the right time of day. Perfect for friend groups who want something relaxed and joyful
Crowe Island Woods, Winnetka — lush forest canopy and meadow clearings create an editorial, personality-driven gallery
Keay Nature Center, Wilmette - A beautiful bridge with a small pond and a quiet walking path. Great choice for anyone who wants to bring a family pet to the session.
Skokie Lagoons, Glencoe — Water with a rustic forest feel -- it's the perfect location for nature lovers.
Evanston City Streets and Murals — a perfect fit for anyone looking for a more urban feel and vibe.
How to Book Your Graduation Session
I work with a limited number of graduation clients each spring to ensure every session gets my full attention. If you are considering a session — individual portrait, friend group, family, or all three — the best thing you can do right now is reach out to check availability.
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