North Shore wedding photographer & videographer
Wedding photography and film for North Shore couples, planned around the light and the drive. Photography from $1,000, videography from $650, photo and video together from $1,100. Travel inside the Chicago metro is included.
An honest local note
The North Shore is the string of lakefront towns north of Evanston, from Wilmette and Winnetka up through Glencoe and Highland Park to Lake Forest, about 20 miles north of the Loop. Bluffs, ravines and older estates give portraits a lot of variety close together. Like Evanston, the shoreline faces east, so the sun sets inland: plan golden hour on faces and trees, and use the lake for morning light or the glow after sunset. Botanic gardens, beaches and park district land usually have their own photo rules and fees, so check before you build a plan around one.
Below you will find the light, the venues in the area, the drive and what it costs. Browse our work and what couples say, then check your date.
When the light is at its best
Computed for North Shore itself, on the Saturday nearest the 15th of each month. Central time, daylight saving included. Shaded rows are the main wedding season.
| Saturday | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Golden light | Ceremony to catch it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 17 | 4:03 PM | 4:46 PM | 43 min | 2:45 PM |
| Feb 14 | 4:43 PM | 5:22 PM | 39 min | 3:30 PM |
| Mar 14 | 6:19 PM | 6:56 PM | 37 min | 5:00 PM |
| Apr 18 | 6:58 PM | 7:35 PM | 38 min | 5:45 PM |
| May 16 | 7:26 PM | 8:06 PM | 40 min | 6:15 PM |
| Jun 13 | 7:45 PM | 8:28 PM | 42 min | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 18 | 7:42 PM | 8:23 PM | 41 min | 6:30 PM |
| Aug 15 | 7:13 PM | 7:51 PM | 38 min | 6:00 PM |
| Sep 12 | 6:28 PM | 7:05 PM | 37 min | 5:15 PM |
| Oct 17 | 5:27 PM | 6:05 PM | 38 min | 4:15 PM |
| Nov 14 | 3:48 PM | 4:30 PM | 42 min | 2:30 PM |
| Dec 12 | 3:34 PM | 4:19 PM | 45 min | 2:15 PM |
Golden hour starts when the sun is 6 degrees above the horizon. The last column is when a 30 minute ceremony should start so family photos finish just before golden hour begins, using the same math as our sunset calculator. Put in your own date and ceremony length there for a plan built around your day.
Summer. On the Saturday nearest June 15, golden hour in North Shore starts at 7:45 PM and the sun sets at 8:28 PM. That is about 2 minutes after sunset in the Loop on the same date, so the city and these suburbs share nearly the same clock. A ceremony around 6:30 PM would leave your portraits in the warmest light, and a 5:00 PM ceremony leaves you waiting a while for it.
Fall. By the Saturday nearest October 15 the sun sets at 6:05 PM and golden hour starts at 5:27 PM, 2.3 hours earlier than in June. A ceremony around 4:15 PM still catches it. Anything later and your family photos are done after the best light has gone.
Winter. The Saturday nearest December 15 has golden hour at 3:34 PM and sunset at 4:19 PM, so the whole outdoor window is short. Plan portraits before the ceremony (a first look is the usual answer) and keep a warm indoor backup, because there is very little daylight left once guests sit down for dinner.
Spring and early fall. May Saturdays give you golden hour at 7:26 PM and September Saturdays at 6:28 PM. Those are the easy months for a ceremony at 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM with portraits still in good light.
Venues near North Shore
From the same database that powers our venue finder. These are listings, not recommendations or partnerships.
Of the 36 venues in our database within 10 miles of North Shore, the most common types are wedding venue (14), event venue (9), banquet hall (8), and garden (2). Types come from each venue's public listing, so treat them as a starting point.
Plan around the drive
- North Shore is roughly 20 miles from the Loop in a straight line. That is an easy drive on a quiet morning and a slower one on a Saturday evening, so pad any trip between the city and the suburbs.
- Keep the number of locations small. Every move between venues costs 20 to 30 minutes once you count loading, driving and arriving, and it comes straight out of your golden hour. Our timeline builder shows what each stop does to the day.
- Ceremony and reception in different towns? Our other area pages are close enough to compare: Evanston is about 9 miles away and Schaumburg about 18, in a straight line.
Priced up front, the same everywhere
The same packages and prices as our pricing page. A small deposit holds your date and goes toward your total. The rest is split into monthly payments that run automatically, and everything is paid a month before the wedding.
Photo & Video
- Intimate, 2 hours$1,100
- Classic, 4 hours$1,800
- Luxe, 6 hours$2,200
- Premier, 8 hours$2,900
Photography
- Portrait, 4 hours$1,000
- Timeless, 6 hours$1,250
- Keepsake, 8 hours$1,450
Videography
- Moment, 2 hours$650
- Story, 4 hours$1,050
- Encore, 6 hours$1,400
- Cinematic, 8 hours$1,700
Travel inside the Chicago metro is included. Add a second shooter, drone and more in the package builder. Delivery: gallery in 6 weeks, film in 10 weeks.
Weddings, as they felt
Tools for your North Shore wedding
Free, no sign-up. Use them even if you have not picked a photographer yet.
Good to know
Do you photograph and film weddings in North Shore?
Yes. We cover all of Chicagoland, North Shore included, and we travel anywhere in the country. Photography, videography or both together are all priced up front on this page.
Is there a travel fee for a North Shore wedding?
North Shore is in Cook and Lake counties, inside the Chicago metro, and travel inside the metro is included. Travel beyond the metro is +$150 plus any flights or lodging, quoted up front. If you are not sure whether your venue counts, ask when you check your date.
What time is golden hour for a North Shore wedding?
It depends on the month. On the Saturday nearest June 15, golden hour in North Shore starts at 7:45 PM and sunset is 8:28 PM. On the Saturday nearest October 15, golden hour starts at 5:27 PM and sunset is 6:05 PM. The table above has all twelve months, and the sunset calculator gives your exact date.
Have you worked at our North Shore venue?
Ask us when you check your date. If we have not shot there before, we scout it ahead of your day so we know the light and the backup spots.
How many hours of coverage do we need?
Four hours covers the ceremony, family photos and portraits. Six hours adds getting ready and the start of the reception. Eight hours covers the full day through the dance floor. The timeline builder shows exactly how many hours your day needs.
How do we book, and do we need a deposit?
Send your date and venue through Check your date. We reply within a day with availability and the package that fits. A small deposit holds your date and goes toward your total. The rest is split into monthly payments that run automatically, and everything is paid a month before the wedding.
Is your North Shore date still open?
Tell us your date and venue. We reply within a day, or call (312) 884-9453.