Glencoe is one of the quietest, most beautiful communities on the North Shore, and it is a place I genuinely love photographing. There is an exclusivity here that is not about showing off — it is about privacy, intentionality, and a deep appreciation for the finer things done well. I am Emily Finger, and as a portrait and wedding photographer who has worked across the North Shore for years, I can tell you that Glencoe offers some of the most stunning natural settings I have ever shot in. Between the world-class Chicago Botanic Garden, the serene shoreline at Glencoe Beach, and the wooded trails along the Skokie Lagoons, this small village punches far above its weight for photography.
Senior Portraits in Glencoe
Many Glencoe students attend New Trier Township High School, and senior year is a season I know well. My approach to senior portraits is personal and collaborative — before we ever pick up a camera, we will talk about your style, your interests, and the vibe you are going for. Then I build a session plan around locations that feel like you.
For Glencoe seniors, the Chicago Botanic Garden is often the centerpiece of a session. With 385 acres of gardens and natural areas, the variety is unmatched. We might shoot among the Japanese Garden’s curved bridges and still water reflections, move to the English Walled Garden for something more structured and romantic, and finish on one of the open prairie paths where the grasses catch golden-hour light in a way that takes your breath away. No two sessions there look the same, because there is always a new garden in bloom, a new corner to explore.
Other Glencoe seniors prefer something more low-key — a walk along the Green Bay Trail where the canopy of trees creates soft, beautiful light, or a session right at Glencoe Beach where the sand and the lake do most of the work. Whatever direction we go, professional hair and makeup is included so you feel polished and confident from the start.
Weddings in Glencoe
Glencoe weddings tend to reflect the community itself: elegant, intimate, and thoughtfully planned. The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the premier wedding venues in the entire Chicago area, and I have had the joy of photographing couples there multiple times. The garden settings are extraordinary — the Evening Island, the Rose Garden, the Lakeside Gardens — each offers a distinct atmosphere, and the transitions between ceremony and portraits are seamless because you are surrounded by beauty in every direction.
The Glencoe Golf Club is another venue that captures the village’s character perfectly. Its refined setting and manicured grounds offer a classic backdrop for couples who want something private and polished without the scale of a larger venue. For more intimate celebrations, many Glencoe couples host at private estates or in the Writer’s Theatre area, and those home weddings are some of my favorite to photograph — they are personal, relaxed, and full of meaning.
Branding Photography in Glencoe
Glencoe’s professional community may be small, but it is accomplished. I work with consultants, creatives, wellness practitioners, and entrepreneurs throughout the village who understand that premium branding imagery is not a luxury — it is a necessity. A branding session in Glencoe might use the quiet, tree-lined residential streets for a lifestyle feel, or we might head to the Botanic Garden for something more editorial and elevated. I plan every session around your specific business and the clients you want to reach.
Glencoe Session Locations I Love
Chicago Botanic Garden — This is, without question, one of the top photography locations in the entire Chicagoland area. The 385-acre living museum offers an almost absurd number of distinct settings: the arched bridges and koi ponds of the Japanese Garden, the geometric hedges of the English Walled Garden, the wildflower meadows of the Dixon Prairie, the dramatic waterfall on Evening Island. Every season brings different blooms, different colors, and different light. I have shot here dozens of times and it never gets old. For seniors, couples, and branding clients, this is the location that consistently produces the most breathtaking images in my portfolio.
Glencoe Beach — Unlike the busier beaches farther south along the North Shore, Glencoe Beach is small, quiet, and feels almost private. The sand is soft, the views across Lake Michigan are wide open, and because it is a village beach with limited access, we rarely have to work around crowds. In the late afternoon, the light here is warm and even, and the simplicity of the setting keeps all the focus on you.
Skokie Lagoons — These forest preserve lagoons just west of Glencoe are one of my favorite hidden locations. Still water reflects the surrounding trees and sky like glass, and the wooded paths create a moody, organic atmosphere that is completely different from a beach or garden session. In fall, when the oaks and maples turn, the color here is incredible — deep reds, burnt oranges, and golds reflected in the dark water below. It is a perfect spot for seniors or couples who want something more natural and artistic.
Green Bay Trail — The section of the trail that runs through Glencoe is quiet and canopied, with mature trees arching overhead to create a natural tunnel of light and shadow. It is gorgeous in every season but especially in fall when the leaves turn and in spring when everything is fresh and green. I use it as a transition location between other Glencoe spots or as a standalone session setting for clients who love that woodland feel.
Let’s Create Something Beautiful
If you are a Glencoe family with a senior approaching graduation, a couple planning your Botanic Garden wedding, or a professional who is ready for branding imagery that matches the quality of your work, I would love to connect. My sessions are relaxed, intentional, and always include professional hair and makeup for portrait work. Let’s find the perfect Glencoe setting for your story and make it happen.