Illinois
Couple session · Chicago
In short
Couple session in Chicago starts at $325: 90 min on location with a photographer who works in Chicago, and 40 edited photos delivered to a private gallery within 48–72 hours.
Why choose Couple session in Chicago?
A couple session in Chicago is a 90-minute walk between two locations a few minutes apart that delivers 40 retouched photographs, priced from $325. It suits an anniversary, a move to the city or simply a good October evening, and it has none of the deadline an engagement session carries. Lincoln Park makes the most of the walking format in Chicago: the zoo’s Nature Boardwalk, the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the lakefront paths all sit within a fifteen-minute stroll of each other on the North Side. Two of those stops fill 90 minutes without a single car ride.
Worth knowing about Chicago
The Nature Boardwalk belongs to Lincoln Park Zoo rather than the Chicago Park District, so a Park District permit does not cover it. The zoo charges $150 for a one-hour formal photography permit, due by the preceding Friday for a weekend session, and bars balloons and props on its grounds. A Chicago couple session that starts on the boardwalk therefore spends its zoo hour there and walks out for the final half hour.
What does the session in Chicago look like?
- Nature Boardwalk, Lincoln Park Zoo
- A boardwalk around a prairie pond with the Gold Coast towers rising behind the reeds.
- Lincoln Park Conservatory gardens
- Formal beds outside a Victorian glasshouse, a few minutes north on foot.
- Wicker Park, Milwaukee Avenue
- The urban alternative: storefronts, the elevated Blue Line tracks overhead and somewhere nearby to end the evening.
What does couple session in Chicago include?
- 40 retouched photographs
- Two locations within walking distance
- Private online gallery within 48–72 hours
- Print release for personal use
FAQ — Couple session in Chicago
Do we need a permit for couple photos at the Lincoln Park Zoo Nature Boardwalk?
Yes, for a posed session with a hired photographer. Lincoln Park Zoo issues its own formal photography permits at $150 for a one-hour session, separate from any Chicago Park District permit, and for a weekend shoot the signed form and payment are due by the preceding Friday. The zoo’s gates open at 8am, which is the quietest hour on the boardwalk.
Can we bring balloons or a picnic set-up to a Chicago couple session at the zoo?
No. Lincoln Park Zoo does not allow guests to bring balloons, props, animals or plants onto its property, the Nature Boardwalk included. A Chicago couple session that wants a styled picnic or balloons plans that part on public parkland nearby, outside the zoo’s gated grounds, rather than on the boardwalk itself.