Senior Photos in Downtown Naperville and Chicago (Yes, Hair and Makeup Is Included!)
Here's something I've noticed after photographing a lot of seniors: the kids are never the nervous ones.
It's the parents. Standing slightly off to the side, watching their almost-grown-up kid laugh at something I said, quietly doing the math on how few summers are left. I get it. Mine are growing up at the exact same speed.
So if you're a parent starting to think about senior photos, here's everything you need to know about how we do them... and why they might be more fun than your senior expects.
Hair and makeup is included. Really.
Every senior session that takes place in downtown Naperville includes professional hair and makeup, because feeling great on the outside starts before the camera ever comes out.
Here's how it works: your senior arrives, gets pampered by our glam squad, and walks into the session feeling like the best version of themselves. No frantic morning of YouTube tutorials. No "does my hair look okay?" texts from the car. They show up, they relax, we handle it.
And for the seniors who don't want a full glam moment? We keep it natural. The goal is always the same: they should look like themselves on their very best day. Not a stranger. Not a filter. Them.
Downtown Naperville: our home turf
Our studio sits right in downtown Naperville, which means we have one of the best photo backdrops in the suburbs outside our front door. Brick walls, tree-lined streets, the Riverwalk, golden evening light... we can do an entire session within a few blocks and never repeat a look.
It's also just easy. Hair and makeup at the studio, then we walk. Done.
Downtown Chicago: for the senior who wants something different
Some seniors want photos that don't look like anyone else's. For them, we head into the city.
I love photographing seniors in downtown Chicago. Underneath the El tracks, where the middle of the day somehow turns golden. On State Street with the architecture towering behind them. The city gives every senior a completely different energy, and honestly... watching a 17-year-old realize they look like they belong on a magazine cover in the middle of the Loop never gets old.
Gritty corners turn golden with the right lens and a little intentional light. There's probably a life lesson for the Class of 2027 in there somewhere.
What the session actually feels like
Almost every senior tells me the same thing at the start: "I'm so awkward in front of the camera."
Guess what? So is everyone. So am I! That's literally my job to fix, and I've had a lot of practice. We talk, we walk, we joke around, and somewhere in there the real smiles show up. The photos that make parents tear up are never the posed ones... they're the in-between ones, and those only happen when your senior is actually having fun.
You're welcome to come along. Lots of parents do. Just be prepared for the moment at the reveal when you see your kid the way the rest of the world sees them. I keep tissues at the studio for a reason.
A few quick prep tips
Bring two to three outfit options so we get variety. One "statement" piece your senior loves is worth ten safe ones. Steam or iron everything in advance, and get a good night's sleep the night before. We'll send a complete style guide after booking, so there's no guessing.
Let's plan it
Senior sessions for the Class of 2027 are booking now, and summer is the sweet spot... the city and downtown Naperville are both wide open and golden.
If your senior wants photos that actually feel like them, in places that don't look like everyone else's... I got you.
Call or text 312.600.5151, or email emily@emilycummingsphotography.com, and let's plan something they'll actually be excited about.
