Chicago High School Graduation Cap & Gown Portraits

As a Chicagoland photographer, graduation season is one of my favorite times of year! There is so much excitement, pride, and anticipation in the air. I absolutely love celebrating high school seniors during this meaningful milestone. Cap & gown portraits are such a special way to mark the end of senior year and the beginning of what comes next!

Graduation portraits are incredibly versatile and meaningful. These photos are perfect for graduation announcements, party invites, thank you cards, and even signs or banners displayed at graduation parties. They are also something families treasure long after the celebrations are over.

One of my favorite ways to photograph cap and gown portraits is right at the graduate’s high school. There is something nostalgic about returning to the place where so many memories were made, trust me!. And if you are thinking, “But my high school is not very pretty”… I promise you this: The graduates are what make the photos beautiful. These seniors bring so much personality and confidence that their schools become the perfect backdrop.

Calling all Class of 2026 grads!

Graduation sessions can be scheduled for individuals or groups. Getting your best friends together for a combined cap and gown session is such a fun way to celebrate. Group sessions include portraits of everyone together along with individual portraits of each graduate. I love making sure everyone walks away with images that feel personal.

Spring weather in Chicagoland can be unpredictable, so we wait patiently for Mother Nature to cooperate and then it is go time! Most graduation sessions take place in mid to late April or early May. This timing also works well as the trees begin to bloom and everything feels fresh again.

Because high schools distribute caps and gowns on staggered schedules, it is helpful to know when your cap and gown will be available when you reach out to book your session. I begin scheduling these Chicagoland graduation portraits early, and availability fills quickly each spring!

I serve seniors and families throughout the Chicago suburbs and Chicagoland and am currently booking high school graduation portraits for students at these schools:

Aurora Central Catholic | Bartlett High School | Batavia High School | Geneva High School | Oswego High School | 

St. Charles North High School | St. Charles East High School | Kaneland High School | West Aurora High School

Graduation is a huge accomplishment and deserves to be celebrated thoughtfully. If you are a high school senior or a parent planning graduation photos in the Chicago suburbs, I would love to help you create cap and gown portraits that feel meaningful, joyful, and true to this season of life!

If you are graduating this spring, now is the perfect time to start planning your cap and gown portrait session. Let’s start planning your graduation portraits!

Kim Ritchie Photography is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Chicagoland, specializing in weddings, seniors, and corporate headshots captured in a timeless style. Want to work together? Reach out here and follow along on social to see what’s happening behind the scenes!

Chicago Graduation Portraits | High School Graduation Photoshoot | High School Graduation Cap & Gown Portraits | Chicago Senior Photographer