Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park Family Photographer
About twenty-five minutes from Skokie. A $50 travel fee applies.
Tovy Photography photographs families, newborns and expecting parents in Highland Park, IL, in natural light at the lakefront, in the ravines and woods, or at home.
I am based in Skokie, about twenty-five minutes away, and a $50 travel fee applies to most Highland Park sessions.
Highland Park is the North Shore at its most dramatic. Rosewood Beach has a long boardwalk, dunes and a wide stretch of sand. The ravines and woods at Heller Nature Center and Millard Park feel like a forest, and Sunset Woods Park sits right in the middle of town with lawns and old trees for a classic golden hour session.
The Ravinia district and the blocks around Port Clinton Square give you brick, storefronts and a small-town downtown for families who want something other than a park.
Just north of town, Fort Sheridan has wooded paths, open grass and a quiet stretch of beach without a polished garden look. It is a good fit for families who want the session to feel like an evening walk.
For newborn sessions and quiet family mornings, I come to your Highland Park home. Bright family rooms and nurseries are all the space a newborn session needs, and staying home keeps the baby on schedule.
An in-home newborn session in Highland Park works the way my Skokie newborn sessions do. I find the brightest window, turn off the overhead lights, and let the baby set the pace. Feeding breaks, a big sibling who wants to help and a nap in the middle are all part of it. Nothing gets set up, so the drive is the only real difference.
For maternity photos in Highland Park, Rosewood Beach is where I would start. The boardwalk along the bluff and the beach grass give you open, soft light and a long view of the lake, and a flowing dress moves beautifully there at golden hour. If the wind is up, Sunset Woods Park has old trees and a gazebo that feel calmer, and a maternity session at home, in the nursery you are getting ready, is always an option too.
What makes family photos in Highland Park work
Rosewood Beach has a season and a permit process. The Park District of Highland Park manages the beach and has rules for professional photography. I confirm what is required for the date we choose.
Ravine trails are steep in places. Heller and Millard are beautiful, but the paths down to the water are not stroller friendly. For families with a newborn or a grandparent along, Sunset Woods is the easier choice.
The drive from Skokie is long enough to matter. Highland Park is past my 10-mile no-fee radius, so a $50 travel fee applies. I mention it up front because I would rather you know before you book.
Golden hour has to end by sunset in the parks. The Park District's photography permit covers its parks, including Rosewood Beach and Sunset Woods Park, and park use before sunrise or after sunset needs special permission. I plan evening sessions so we finish as the sun goes down. Fort Sheridan is a Lake County forest preserve, and I check its rules separately.
Recent sessions nearby
Real families, real homes and parks in and around Highland Park.
Family session at Keay Nature Center in Wilmette
My closest gallery to Highland Park so far: wooded paths, soft light, and a family that let the kids lead the way.
Newborn session in Skokie
A sweet baby girl at home with her parents, with quiet nursery portraits and a few family moments outside.
In-home newborn session in Skokie
Baby Billie at home with her family, photographed by the window light in their own space.
Photography sessions in Highland Park
Newborn Sessions
Gentle, in-home newborn photography for Highland Park families welcoming a new baby.
Family Sessions
Capture your family's real connection at Highland Park parks, in your backyard, or at home.
Maternity Sessions
Relaxed maternity photos at home or outdoors around Highland Park, with your partner and kids if you like.
Milestone Sessions
Birthdays, baby's first year, graduations and celebrations photographed in Highland Park or at home.
Engagement Sessions
Relaxed engagement sessions in Chicago parks, the lakefront, or a spot near Highland Park that means something to you.
Mini Sessions
A 30-minute session at a Highland Park park or at home. Perfect for holiday cards and yearly updates.
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, upsherins, brises and family celebrations in Highland Park and nearby.
Proposal Photography
Surprise proposal coverage in Chicago or near Highland Park, hidden until the yes, with portraits right after.
Extended Family Sessions
Large family and multigenerational sessions near Highland Park, with everyone together and every smaller group covered.
Maternity + Newborn
Pair a maternity session with an in-home newborn session near Highland Park so both galleries belong together.
Birthday Parties
Kids parties and milestone birthdays photographed in Highland Park, at home or at a venue.
Popular photo locations in Highland Park
- Rosewood Beach
- Heller Nature Center
- Sunset Woods Park
- Millard Park
- Ravinia district
- Fort Sheridan (just north of town)
Highland Park family photos, answered
How much does a family photographer in Highland Park cost?
My sessions start at $300 for a 30-minute mini session and go up to $550 for a 90-minute full session, plus a $50 travel fee for Highland Park because it is beyond 10 miles from Skokie. Every package includes edited images in a private online gallery with full print rights.
Where are the best places for family photos in Highland Park?
Rosewood Beach for the lake, boardwalk and dunes, Heller Nature Center and Millard Park for ravines and woods, Sunset Woods Park for a classic lawn and trees session, and the Ravinia district for a downtown feel.
Do you photograph newborns at home in Highland Park?
Yes. Newborn sessions in Highland Park happen in your own home, by the brightest window, with the baby setting the pace. Your home does not need to be tidy or styled, and feeding breaks are built in.
Where can we take maternity photos in Highland Park?
Rosewood Beach is my first suggestion, for the boardwalk, beach grass and open view of the lake. Sunset Woods Park is a calmer choice with old trees when the lakefront is windy, and your home or nursery works beautifully too.
Do I need a permit for photos at Rosewood Beach in Highland Park?
Yes. The Park District of Highland Park has a photography permit for its parks, including Rosewood Beach and Sunset Woods Park. I confirm what is required for our date before we book, and I plan the session to finish by sunset.
What is the best time of day for outdoor family photos in Highland Park?
The last 60 to 90 minutes before sunset. The light is soft and warm, and it flatters everyone. For families with young kids I sometimes suggest the first hour after sunrise instead, when the parks are quiet and moods are fresh.
When should I book newborn photos?
Reach out during your third trimester, ideally around 30 to 34 weeks, so we can hold a tentative date. The best window for newborn photos is 5 to 14 days after birth, but older newborns photograph beautifully too.
What if my kids will not cooperate?
That is completely normal and it is planned for. I gently guide instead of posing, we take breaks when someone needs one, and the wiggly, silly, in-between moments are usually the photos families end up framing.
Ready to book your Highland Park session?
Tell me about your family and what kind of session feels right. I will suggest a time, a location and a package. Sessions start at $300.
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