The Adri Photo Co.

Tag: chicago family session

  • Gold Coast Documentary Photographer: A Family’s Chicago Goodbye

    Gold Coast Documentary Photographer: A Family’s Chicago Goodbye

    As a Gold Coast documentary photographer, some sessions are a celebration. This one was a goodbye, and I got to be the one holding the camera for it. This family was leaving Chicago for New York City. But I was so happy that before they packed up their life here, they wanted one more afternoon in the place where it all started. Their kids were born here. Their old apartment was here. And so was their nannie, who they insisted to include. She came along, with her partner, because over the years the two of them started becoming family. Btw I don’t charge extra to include the people you love.

    You could feel it in how the kids moved toward them without hesitation, how the nannie’s partner got pulled into hugs like he’d always been part of the crew. That’s the kind of thing I can’t pose. I can only be ready for it, camera up, waiting for the moment two people who love your children the way you do lean in without being asked.

    Gold Coast documentary photographer captures sibling moment under console table
    nannie and baby boy Gold Coast documentary photographer
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    baby being held by nanny Gold Coast documentary photographer
    mom pumping during session Gold Coast documentary photographer
    pumping milk Gold Coast documentary photographer
    baby details Gold Coast documentary photographer
    Friends and family gather in a bright apartment around a kitchen island and living room
    Black-and-white photo of a young girl resting her head on her hand beside another child
    Smiling man holding a baby in a bright living room
    Woman in blue checkered outfit playfully dances with a child while a man holds a baby nearby Gold Coast documentary photographer
    Family members playfully lift a child in a brightly lit living room.

    Working as a Gold Coast Documentary Photographer

    We spent the afternoon on their terrace and then wandering the streets of the Gold Coast. Walked past the brick buildings and iron fences that will stay in their memory long after the moving boxes are gone. Their little one new to the family already so loved and already such a big part of the core and heart of this family. I watched and captured this family move through the day together. Unhurried and completely present with each other, was its own kind of quiet lesson. There was no performance in it. Just a family of four. Plus two people they consider family too, soaking up their last bit of Chicago before starting over somewhere new.

    Family members playfully dancing together in a bright home interior
    Woman and child dancing together in a warmly lit home
    Smiling woman in blue-and-white pajamas holding a baby in a kitchen
    Adults dance in a kitchen while a child hugs one and another holds a baby
    Smiling woman hugging a child on the floor beside red shoes
    Woman in glasses braiding a child's hair on a wooden floor
    Gold Coast documentary photographer
    Father and baby quiet moment overlooking Chicago lakefront
    Gold Coast documentary photographer
    Adults and children gather on a landscaped rooftop terrace surrounded by city buildings
    Mother wearing glasses cuddles a sleeping baby in her arms
    Gold Coast documentary photographer
    Two smiling women embrace a child on a rooftop overlooking city buildings
    Parents smiling with a baby and young daughter outdoors
    Smiling woman wearing glasses and a blue checkered shirt with mushroom designs
    Adult and child bending down together on a tiled floor
    Smiling woman with glasses holding a young girl in a black-and-white photo
    Family of four smiling together beside a waterfront railing
    Parents holding two children on a balcony overlooking the water

    This is why I work as a Gold Coast documentary photographer instead of sticking to posed and stiff portraits. A family walking down a familiar street for the last time, a toddler leaning into the person who helped raise her. A father catching his son mid giggle. These are the moments that mean everything. The ones that actually tell the story of who this family is and where they came from, and now I get to be the one who kept it.

    If your own family is going through a big change, whether that’s a move, a new baby, or just wanting to hold onto this season before it passes, I would love to help you capture it. You can read more about how I approach family sessions and see how documentary photography holds onto the small, real moments that matter most.

    Gold Coast documentary photographer follows family walking Chicago street with nanny and partner
    Smiling woman wearing glasses carries a baby in a front carrier on a city street
    Woman wearing glasses cradles a sleeping baby in a front carrier
    Gold Coast documentary photographer walking with family through city streets
    Five people, including two children and a baby, sit on steps outside a stone building
    Gold Coast documentary photographer follows family walking Chicago street with nanny
    Gold Coast documentary photographer walking with family through city streets
    Family posing outside a brick building, with a child on a scooter and a baby
    portrait of a family leaving chicago in the Gold Coast
    Documentary family photography Gold Coast Chicago neighborhood walk

  • Best Chicago Family Photo Locations | The Adri Photo Co

    Best Chicago Family Photo Locations | The Adri Photo Co

    Best Chicago Family Photo Locations (From a Photographer Who’s Actually Been There)

    Choosing a location for your family session doesn’t have to be stressful. As a Chicago documentary photographer, I’ve shot at parks, beaches, historic neighborhoods, and living rooms across the city and suburbs. These are my honest favorites. Real Chicago family photo locations I keep coming back to because the light, the atmosphere, and the energy are just right.

    Why Location Matters (But Not as Much as You Think)

    The right spot sets the mood for your session. That said, the best location is one that feels like you. Not one that just looks good on a mood board. So here’s a breakdown of my favorites, what makes each one special, and who each spot works best for.

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    A family walking along a lakeshore with a city skyline in the background, captured in black and white. Chicago family photo locations

    Montrose Beach & Bird Point-One of My Favorite Chicago Family Photo Locations

    This is one of my most-visited spots and it earns that title every single time. On one side you have the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary with tall prairie grass and winding trails. On the other, a wide open beach with that iconic Chicago skyline sitting right behind your family. It’s one of the few Chicago family photo locations where you can get nature and city in the same frame without driving all over town. Morning sessions work best here. The light is soft and the wind hasn’t picked up yet. You can find parking info and hours on the Chicago Park District website.

    A woman swings a young girl joyfully by the arms in a park setting with a modern wooden structure in the background.

    Lincoln Park — The Honeycombs

    The honeycomb pavilion near the South Pond is a staple for good reason. You get dappled light through the trees, wildflowers, a peek at the Hancock Building, and enough variety to fill a full gallery without moving more than a few hundred feet. Early morning is the sweet spot. The light is gorgeous and the park is still quiet. Families with little ones especially love how open and relaxed it feels. The South Pond sits just outside the Lincoln Park Zoo, which makes it easy to turn your session into a whole morning out.

    A couple sitting together on a blanket by a serene water body, sharing an intimate moment as they lean in for a gentle kiss. The scene is surrounded by lush greenery and soft light filtering through the trees. Chicago family photo locations

    Humboldt Park Boathouse

    This one is underrated and I will say it forever. The Prairie-style boathouse, lily ponds, and winding lagoon give sessions a timeless, almost romantic feel that you just don’t find at more popular spots. It’s large enough that we can always find a private corner, even on a busy day. If your family loves a moody, editorial look, this is your place.

    A family walks hand in hand along a sunlit sidewalk, surrounded by greenery and decorative lights. The scene features a woman in a white dress, a man, a young girl in a black dress, and a toddler in an orange outfit.

    Oak Park Streets & Pleasant Home

    Tree-lined streets, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and some of the best afternoon light I’ve ever worked in. Pleasant Home is a personal favorite. The historic Prairie School exterior is stunning and the surrounding neighborhood feels warm and lived-in. Oak Park sessions never feel like a “shoot.” They feel like a stroll through a really beautiful place with your people. Learn more about Pleasant Home Museum — it’s worth a visit even outside of a photo session.

    A girl with long brown hair in a maroon cardigan and a sparkly dress stands with her arms crossed, looking at a boy next to her. The boy, wearing a striped sweater, covers his face with his sweater, appearing shy or embarrassed. They are both on a concrete surface in front of a green wall. Chicago family photo locations

    River Forest

    This is my home base and I know every good pocket of light here. Some of my favorite frames have come from the most unexpected spots. A green wall, a chalk wall under a shaded pathway, a quiet park at golden hour. River Forest doesn’t need to be fancy to be beautiful. That’s exactly why I love it.

    A woman and a little girl leaning over a railing, looking at the waterway, surrounded by tall buildings reflecting sunlight.

    The Chicago Riverwalk

    For families who want that unmistakably Chicago feel without the crowds of the lakefront. The Riverwalk gives you incredible architecture, water reflections, and great light throughout the day. It’s especially beautiful in the warmer months when the city is alive and buzzing around you.

    Tender portrait of mom and baby during lifestyle newborn photography session in Geneva Illinois home

    Your Own Home

    Honestly? Some of my favorite sessions never leave the house. Your home already tells your story. The nursery, the kitchen table, the backyard. There’s nothing to set up and nothing to coordinate. It just needs to be real, and real is always enough.