Highland Park Newborn, Maternity & Family Photographer
I’m Katie Michelle, a newborn, maternity, and family photographer serving Highland Park, Illinois, the North Shore, and the greater Chicago area. Whether you want in-home lifestyle newborn photos of your first days at home, a maternity session in the last weeks before baby arrives, or a relaxed family session a Highland Park beach along Lake Michigan, I photograph the real moments your family will want to remember.
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Newborn, maternity, and family photography for Highland Park families
Every family I work with in Highland Park gets the same thing: unhurried time, gentle direction, and photographs that look like your actual life rather than a stiff studio set-up. I’ve been photographing families across Highland Park, Lake County, and the North Shore since 2023, and most of my sessions fall into three types:
- Newborn sessions — in-home lifestyle newborn photography in the first couple of weeks, so you never have to pack up a brand-new baby. Everything happens in your own space, on baby’s schedule. If you want photographs taken at the hospital in the first 48 hours after birth, that’s a different service — see my Chicago Fresh 48 newborn photographer page.
- Maternity sessions — usually between 30 and 36 weeks, either at home or outdoors along the Highland Park lakefront in that soft evening light.
- Family sessions — beach, park, or in-home, built around little kids who don’t hold still. I’d rather chase a giggle than fight for a forced smile.
Where I photograph near Highland Park
Highland Park, IL sits on the Lake Michigan shoreline, and has some of the best photo locations anywhere on the North Shore. The right spot depends on your family, the season, and the light. A few of my favorites:
- Rosewood Beach — the boardwalk and shoreline make for easy, natural family and maternity sessions right on Lake Michigan
- Gilson Beach — open sand and water at golden hour plus shaded sand dunes; a favorite for barefoot family and mommy-and-me sessions.
- Elmwood Dunes Preserve — secluded beach with wildflower preserve, best for sessions with babies that can be easily carried or older kids (due to rocky stairs down to beach)
- Your home — the best place for newborns and families with very young kids, where everyone is comfortable
Highland Park beach and North Shore sessions
Beach sessions in Highland Park are some of my favorites to shoot. I recently did a mommy-and-me session at one of my go-to Highland Park beaches — we started out playing in the sand, and when the toddler decided he was done with sand, we let him run the boardwalk instead. That flexibility is exactly what got us the best frames of the whole session: real, joyful, in-motion. As a mom myself, I’ve learned that letting little kids do their thing usually beats posing them. You can see a full set from a real Highland Park beach session here: Chicago family photography — Highland Park beach photo session.
What to expect from your session
From the first email to your final gallery, I keep things simple. We’ll talk through what you’re hoping for, pick a location and time (golden hour for outdoor sessions, daytime for in-home newborn and family sessions), and I’ll send a short prep guide covering what to wear and how to time it around naps and feedings. Sessions are relaxed and typically run 60–90 minutes (or 30 minute if you book a Simplicity Session). You’ll get a private online gallery of high-resolution, fully edited images with a print release, within 2-3 weeks.
Because I’m based in Arlington Heights, IL and Highland Park is a short drive up the North Shore, I regularly photograph families across Highland Park, Highwood, Glencoe, Winnetka, Wilmette, Northbrook, and Glenview — Lake County and north suburban Cook County alike.
A few things that make my sessions different from a rushed studio appointment- I only book a limited number of families each week, so you’re never being cycled through on a tight clock. I bring gentle, easy-to-follow direction for parents who feel awkward in front of a camera — most people do, and that’s totally normal! And I photograph in a natural, true-to-life style: soft and airy editing that still looks like your family, not an over-processed filter you’ll cringe at in ten years. The goal is images you’ll actually print and hang, and that your kids will one day recognize as their real childhood.
Best time of year for Highland Park sessions
Highland Park’s lakefront looks completely different across the seasons, so timing matters. Late spring and early summer bring green trees and calm, comfortable evenings on the beach. Late summer through mid-October is peak season for family sessions — the light is golden, the weather is mild, and it lines up perfectly for holiday cards. Winter in-home newborn and lifestyle sessions stay cozy and bright indoors regardless of what our Chicago winter is doing outside. For outdoor sessions I almost always shoot in the last hour or two before sunset, when the light along Lake Michigan is at its softest and most flattering. If you have a specific date or a maternity window in mind, reach out early — those golden-hour slots in the fall fill up first.
Highland Park photography FAQ
Do you travel to Highland Park?
Yes. Highland Park and the rest of the Lake County & Cook County lakefronts are part of my regular service area. In-home newborn sessions and on-location beach and park sessions in Highland Park are all included at no extra travel charge.
When should I book a newborn session?
The best time to reserve your newborn date is during your 2nd or 3rd trimester. Don’t wait until baby is born to book! In-home lifestyle newborn photos are usually taken within the first two weeks, when babies sleep deeply and curl up naturally, so having your date held in advance means we’re ready whenever baby arrives. A Fresh 48 session is a different thing — those are photographed in the hospital within 48 hours of birth.
When is the best time for a maternity session?
Most maternity sessions happen between 30 and 36 weeks, when your bump is nicely rounded but you’re still comfortable moving around. We can shoot outdoors along the Highland Park lakefront or keep it simple at home.
How long until I get my photos?
You’ll receive a private online gallery of fully edited, high-resolution images with a print release, typically within two to three weeks of your session.
What should we wear?
Coordinate rather than match — soft, neutral tones and a few complementary colors photograph beautifully on the beach and in the parks around Highland Park. After you book, I’ll send a prep guide with wardrobe tips and timing advice so you’re not guessing.
Booking your Highland Park session
Newborn dates are best reserved during your second or third trimester, and family and maternity sessions in Highland Park, IL book up fastest in late summer and fall — but reach out any time and I’ll let you know what’s available. You can review current pricing and packages, then send me a note through my contact page to start planning.
