The Adri Photo Co.

Wilmette IL Family Photographer

Wilmette sits right on the lake, and that fact alone puts it in a different category for family photography. The light off Lake Michigan on a clear morning is something you simply cannot replicate anywhere else. As a Wilmette IL family photographer, I’ve shot sessions at Gillson Park that felt genuinely cinematic — not because of anything I did, but because the location did the heavy lifting.

I’m Adri De La Cruz, a documentary family photographer based in Forest Park. I travel to the North Shore regularly because the locations up here are worth every minute of the drive. And because the families I meet here want something real, an actual record of their life.

A black and white image of a father playing with a newborn baby on a bed, with the baby lying on a blanket and reaching towards the father's hand. Gillson Park is the obvious anchor — the beach, the open grass, the lakefront views. It works in every season, though summer golden hour sessions here are especially stunning. The Baha'i Temple grounds are worth considering for families who want something architecturally striking and less typical. And the residential neighborhoods of east Wilmette, with their mature canopy and classic North Shore architecture, are excellent for a quieter, more intimate session. Wilmette IL family photographer
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What to Expect When We Work Together

I don’t use shot lists or posing guides. What I use is patience, a good eye, and a lot of experience reading how families move and interact. Your kids don’t need to behave perfectly. Your baby doesn’t need to cooperate. I’ll find the frames regardless and usually the uncooperative moments make for the best ones.

A mother gently kisses her smiling daughter while holding her in a lush outdoor setting with green trees and a blue sky.
A family walking together on a paved path in a garden. The mother holds her toddler son, while her husband walks beside her holding their daughter's hand. The daughter wears a light pink dress. The scene is surrounded by greenery.
Two children running across a grassy field, a girl in a light pink dress and a boy in a striped shirt, while a woman walks in the background.

Top Locations for a Wilmette Family Photographer

Gillson Park is the obvious anchor. I mean, the beach, the open grass, the lakefront views. It works in every season, though summer golden hour sessions here are especially stunning. The Baha’i Temple grounds are worth considering for families who want something architecturally striking and less typical. See what a family session at the Baha’i Temple looks like. And the residential neighborhoods of east Wilmette, with their mature canopy and classic North Shore architecture, are excellent for a quieter, more intimate session.Being a Wilmette IL family photographer has so many visual benefits.

A cozy living room featuring a white sofa with decorative pillows, a framed mirror, and a collage of framed photos on the wall. A newborn baby is peacefully lying on the sofa.
A peaceful black and white image of a sleeping baby lying on a soft, textured bedspread in a softly lit room, with white pillows in the background. Gillson Park is the obvious anchor — the beach, the open grass, the lakefront views. It works in every season, though summer golden hour sessions here are especially stunning. The Baha'i Temple grounds are worth considering for families who want something architecturally striking and less typical. And the residential neighborhoods of east Wilmette, with their mature canopy and classic North Shore architecture, are excellent for a quieter, more intimate session. Wilmette IL family photographer
LGBTQ family photographer

Local Outlines: Wilmette at a Glance

Wilmette is a North Shore village in Cook County, directly north of Evanston and about 14 miles from downtown Chicago. It’s known for its exceptional schools, lakefront access, and the iconic Baha’i House of Worship one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the Midwest. Families here tend to be deeply rooted in the community, which is exactly the kind of energy I love documenting.

Serving Wilmette and the North Shore

I serve families throughout the North Shore and greater Chicago area, photographing families, newborns, maternity, Fresh 48, birth, and engagements. Bilingual in English and Spanish. All families welcomed warmly, including LGBTQ+ families.

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