This family portrait session in Lincoln Park was quintessential Chicago! These three were visiting Chicago for the July 4th holiday weekend, and just couldn’t leave without getting some classic portraits under the Honeycomb and along the Lincoln Park Boardwalk for some skyline views. While it was a really busy day in Lincoln Park, that didn’t stop me from asking random strangers to please move aside for a moment 😉 It’s just easier to ask them to move than be shy and spend possibly hours editing them out later, in my opinion.

I knew they planned on using one or more of these photos in their Christmas card this year, so the pressure was on to get that perfect family portrait! A good family portrait is essential, however they are not always the easiest to capture! My favorite part of each portrait session is getting great photos of the kid(s) and some sweet ones of mom & dad together. I think we accomplished all three of these!

While we had to meet in the middle of the afternoon (nap schedules!), and full sun can be scary for a photographer to work in, it actually turned out beautifully and better than I had even imagined. Thanks to a great trick that I learned at a recent workshop, even if your subjects are standing in the bright afternoon sun, as long as they are facing their shadow, it will render a properly exposed photo. It just takes a bit of rearranging and paying attention to where the light is falling on their faces. Never again will I be worried about the outcome of a summer afternoon portrait session! Well, maybe just a little.

It’s always a joy to photograph in some of Chicago’s most well known attractions. What a beautiful city it is. Enjoy some of my favorites!