Summer on the North Shore has a short shelf life. Between Ravinia nights, Lake Michigan mornings, and the two or three perfect weeks when every garden in Lake Forest and Winnetka looks like a painting, it’s easy to promise yourself you’ll finally get a real portrait of your dog and then blink into September. Summer outdoor pet portraits are my favorite way to slow that window down and hand you something your family will keep on the wall for decades.

Why Summer Outdoor Pet Portraits Feel Different Here

The light along the North Shore in June and July has a specific quality: soft in the early morning, golden around 7:30 p.m., filtered through old oaks in places like Elawa Farm, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the ravines tucked behind Glencoe and Lake Bluff. Your dog looks like your dog in that light, not a posed version of themselves.

Outdoor sessions also give pets room to be pets. A golden retriever who would stiffen up in a studio will trot through grass with their tail up the second their paws hit a lawn. That ease shows up in every frame. When people tell me their dog "won’t sit still for photos," I usually smile, because outdoors, they don’t have to.

Picking a Location That Actually Suits Your Dog

I always ask a few questions before we settle on a spot. Is your dog a sniffer or a sprinter? Do they love water or actively avoid it? Are they comfortable around strangers and other dogs, or do they do better somewhere quiet?

For calm, older pets, a private garden or your own backyard in Kenilworth or Northfield is often perfect. For high-energy dogs, I lean toward open spaces with room to run, like the meadows near Lake Bluff or the less-trafficked paths in Highland Park. For families who want the lake in the background, we time the session for the first hour after sunrise, before the beaches fill up. No worries if you’ve never thought about any of this. I will gently guide you through the choice and handle the logistics.

Want me to handle the scouting? Give me a call and we’ll talk through it.

What to Bring, and What to Leave at Home

A short list works better than a long one. Bring your dog’s favorite treats (the smelly, high-value kind, not the everyday biscuits), one squeaky toy they’ve never seen before, a brush for a quick pre-session touch-up, and water. If there’s a specific collar or bandana you love them in, bring that too. Otherwise, natural is best.

Leave the retractable leash at home if you can. A simple six-foot leash is easier to edit out and easier to manage. And please don’t bathe your dog the morning of, freshly washed fur tends to look flat in photos. A bath two or three days before gives the coat time to settle back into its natural softness.

Including the Whole Family (Humans Included)

Some of my favorite summer sessions are the ones where the whole family comes along: the kids in linen and bare feet, the parents in soft neutrals, and the dog right in the middle of it. These become the portraits that end up over the mantel, the ones your kids will fight over in thirty years.

If you’re nervous about being in front of the camera, I promise you’re in good company. Most of my clients tell me they don’t love having their picture taken, and most of them end up surprised by how relaxed they feel once we start. I’ll pose you, adjust your hands, tell you where to look, and keep things moving so no one has time to get self-conscious. Your only job is to love on your dog.

Turning the Session Into Heirloom Artwork

A gallery of digital files is a lovely thing, but it tends to live on a hard drive. What I want for you is something you can actually see every day: a gallery wall in the family room, a linen-bound album on the coffee table, a framed print of your dog mid-trot that makes you smile every time you walk past it.

After your session, we’ll sit down together (in person or over Zoom, whatever feels easier) and I’ll walk you through the images. I’ll help you choose sizes that fit your rooms, finishes that match your style, and pieces that will still feel current a decade from now. This is the part clients tell me they didn’t expect to love, and almost always do.

If you’re ready to start thinking about what the finished artwork might look like, I’d love to hear about your dog.

Timing Your Summer 2026 Session

Summer books up earlier than people expect, usually by early spring. The sweet spot for outdoor pet portraits on the North Shore is mid-May through late June, and then again from mid-August into early September, when the light softens and the humidity drops. July sessions work beautifully too, we just start at sunrise to stay ahead of the heat.

If you have a senior dog, I’d gently encourage you to book sooner rather than later. Some of the most meaningful sessions I’ve photographed have been for families who wanted to capture their dog while they still had the energy to enjoy the day. Those portraits become something else entirely.

A Few Questions I Hear Often

My dog is reactive around other dogs. Can we still do this?
Yes. We’ll choose a private or low-traffic location and plan the timing so your dog feels safe. I’ve worked with plenty of reactive and shy dogs, and the quiet approach almost always brings out their best.

What if the weather doesn’t cooperate?
We reschedule, no charge, no stress. North Shore summer weather can turn on a dime, and I’d rather wait a week than push through a session that isn’t going to feel good.

Do you photograph cats, horses, or other pets?
I do. Cats are usually photographed at home where they’re most comfortable. Horses and other animals, we plan case by case. Tell me about your pet and we’ll figure it out together.

Let’s Plan Your Session

If you’ve been thinking about a summer portrait of your dog, or your whole family with the dog in the middle, I’d love to help you make it happen. I serve Highwood, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Glencoe, Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Evanston, Northfield, Glenview, Northbrook, Deerfield, and Skokie, and I’m happy to travel to the spot that feels most like home to you.

I can’t wait to meet you and your pup. Call or text to start the conversation.