5 of My Favorite Locations for Family Portraits in Chicago
Living and working in Chicago is a family photographer’s dream. Our city is full of stunning locations bursting with character, unique architecture, beauty, and even great lighting. When clients ask me for tips on the best locations for family portraits in Chicago, it’s nice to have so many incredible options!
Today, I’m sharing my favorite go-to locations for Chicago-area family portraits.
Olive Park
I’ll kick off this list with Milton Lee Olive Park (aka Olive Park) because it’s such an iconic Chicago location! Nestled on a peninsula near Navy Pier, Olive Park offers unique backdrops of Chicago’s skyline, beautiful stretches of Lake Michigan, and great spaces for families to stroll and explore as I capture photos during their session.
Its incredible views aside, Olive Park hosts plenty of spots within its fenced acres, making it one of the best locations for family portraits in Chicago. The park’s entrance has lush honey locust trees, and once inside, you’ll find five fountains connected with walkways — Great for letting little ones run about! The park is full of beautiful spots for family photos.
Fun fact: The park is one of three parks in Chicago designed by Dan Kiley, a legendary and iconic landscape architect!
2. Museum Campus
Amazing views of Lake Michigan and access to some of Chicago’s top historical and cultural attractions? Museum Campus is a fantastic location for family photos in Chicago because it offers it all: 57 acres of city views, green and floral landscapes, the lake, and some of our most notable museums.
If you’re unfamiliar with Museum Campus, it’s the lakefront home to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and Soldier Field. Talk about iconic Chicago destinations! The campus, located in the city’s South Loop, has landscaped jogging paths, walkways, and bike paths, ideal for documenting families’ authentic moments together.
3. Alfred Lily Pool
The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is a cozy gem for an outdoor photo session! It’s one of the best locations for family portraits in Chicago because it feels like you’re somewhere out of town. In reality, you’re right in Lincoln Park!
I love that this spot never feels crowded. I even had a mini-session event here, it’s so wonderfully secluded! Its 3+ acres were designed to look as if it had limestone bluffs cut by a glacial river. There are tons of native flowers, and trees frame the whole pool, so the light is always perfect. It’s gorgeous.
And the Lily Pool is home to many birds, butterflies, frogs, turtles, and dragonflies, giving your little ones lots to discover!
4. Grant Park
Grant (Ulysses) Park is one of the best locations for family portraits in Chicago because it embodies what makes Chicago so amazing. It’s beautiful, has gorgeous trees and nature, and it’s filled with impressive architectural Chicago details everywhere you look.
Architecture is front and center during photo sessions at Grant Park, adding so much dimension and design to images. Even the stairs and walkways I typically take clients on are beautiful!
In addition to the incredible architecture, the park is full of natural beauty, green space, public art, and even a secret garden. As you look forward to spring photo sessions next year (late April through early May), breathtaking cherry blossoms bloom all around!
Grant Park is large, and in it, you’ll also find Millenium Park, Maggie Daley Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum Campus.
5. Fulton Market/West Loop Murals
If you want to capture the rustic urban aesthetic you’ll find in many of our city’s fantastic neighborhoods, Fulton Market District (Fulton Market) and the West Loop Murals are my go-to recommendations!
Fulton Market and the West Loop is one of the best locations for family portraits in Chicago because you can capture beautiful moments with your family in front of artistic Chicago backdrops. The art scene is flourishing in this area, and everywhere you look, there are incredible murals and lots of rustic and loft-type architecture around you.
A few others that I love also –
University of Chicago + Northwestern campuses
Wrigley Building/Magnificent Mile
Book Your Chicago Family Portrait Session!
Have your eyes on one of the best locations for family portraits in Chicago shared here? Let’s chat about your next family session! Whether you spotted the perfect place in this post, or have somewhere else in mind, I’d love to help you document your family’s authentic story in the city we call home! Contact me to start planning!
