Summer Engagement Session at Gillson Beach in Wilmette

Engagement

A summer engagement session along the shores of Lake Michigan always feels magical!

Photographing Emily and Jake’s engagement photos at Gillson Beach in Wilmette was the perfect example of just that. When Emily sent over her inspiration board, it was immediately clear that she was dreaming of a light, playful summer beach vibe. Gillson Beach was the perfect location to bring that vision to life!

If you have never been to Gillson Beach, it is one of my favorite spots for an engagement session in Wilmette. The variety of the location gives us so much to work with. There is the beautiful sand and shoreline of Gillson Beach, the blue waters of Lake Michigan, the nearby marina, trees, and even park areas just a short walk away. You can create so much variety in one session without ever feeling like you are photographing in the same spot twice.

Gillson Beach Engagement Photos

And honestly, looking at Emily and Jake’s Gillson Beach engagement photos, you might have a hard time believing we were in Illinois! The white sand, beautiful shoreline, and wide-open views of Lake Michigan make this North Shore beach feel like a little summer escape. Gillson Beach is such an incredible location for golden hour engagement photos! The sun sets just behind the beach, giving us that warm, glowy evening light that I love so much.

Emily dreamed of playful, light-hearted photos of the two of them enjoying the sand and water, and I think that dream came true! Instead of making the session feel overly posed, we spent our time walking along the shoreline, playing in the water, laughing together, and letting them simply enjoy being together. Those are always some of my favorite engagement photos because they feel like the couple rather than just a collection of pretty poses.

You definitely cannot tell from these photos, but it was so warm during their Gillson Beach engagement session! By the end, putting our toes in the water was one of the best parts of the evening. The beautiful blue waters of Lake Michigan were almost icy, but after spending the afternoon in the heat, that cool water was so refreshing!

And, of course, I love ending engagement sessions with a celebratory champagne pop whenever we can. Emily and Jake were no exception to that! As the champagne spray soaked both of them, Jake announced, “Ok, now I know why you save this best thing for last!” Honestly, that pretty much sums up the perfect way to end a summer engagement session. A little champagne, a lot of laughter, and a couple who are just having the best time together.

North Shore Beach Engagement

Gillson Beach is one of those locations that makes photographing engagement sessions so much fun! Between the sandy beach, Lake Michigan shoreline, marina, greenery, and gorgeous golden hour light, there are so many opportunities for beautiful engagement photos. If you are looking for a Gillson Beach engagement session, Wilmette engagement photographer, or a relaxed engagement session along Chicago’s North Shore, this is definitely a location worth considering.

And thankfully, Emily and Jake’s lakeside celebrations do not stop here. I am already looking forward to their June 2027 wedding at one of my favorite Lake Geneva locations, Lake Lawn Resort. More lakeside celebrations are perfectly fine with me!

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!