Crystal Lake Central Class of 2026 - Ellie

This mid-September senior photoshoot was an absolute DREAM! Ellie and her mom came down to spend the evening with me at the Sycamore Forest Preserve for her deluxe senior photoshoot.

September is the perfect time of year for those warm greens and gorgeous weather. Ellie paired whimsical flowy dresses with bare feet and adorable jewelry for these nature-focused golden hour photos.

The Sycamore Forest Preserve has a little fishing pond and a teeny little bank to stand on! Ellie was all-in for getting some water photos.

We found a couple patches of adorable little wildflowers and pockets of natural light!

When I seek out locations, I look for a variety of settings, including prairie areas and wide open fields. Sycamore has a great mix of both; we were able to do a solid 2 hours with this one location!

Ellie brought some great outfit options which gave us variety for poses and styling. She even included her grandfather’s Rolex watch; I love when my clients include little family heirlooms or keepsakes.

In every gallery, you have a collection of THE shots. The best setting, lighting, and your client is comfortable and steady in front of the camera. When we found these black-eyes susans, I knew we had THE shots.

We also got some moments with this wonderful hazy golden glow through the trees. IF you know me, you know I LIVE for backlit photos.

Finally, we ended at Hopkins Park at the massive willow tree near the baseball fields. Ellie loves a good willow tree and I’m so glad we took the time to get some photos with it.

Interested in booking a senior photoshoot? Learn about my senior packages here.