A Golden Hour Maternity Session at Lincoln Park Zoo's Nature Boardwalk: | Chicago Maternity Photographer

There is something about sessions in mid-June that feel almost unfair. The hydrangeas are blooming along every path, and the canopy is at full summer lush. The light at golden hour filters through the leaves in a way that no studio soft-box could ever replicate, and everyone seems full of hope. When Jeff and Felicity reached out about their Chicago maternity session, and after I heard their vision, I totally knew exactly where I wanted to take them; Lincoln Park's Zoo Nature Boardwalk.

Why Lincoln Park Zoo's Nature Boardwalk Is One of Chicago's Best Maternity Session Locations?

If you are searching for a Chicago maternity photographer and wondering where to shoot, the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo belongs at the top of your list — and here is why. The Nature Boardwalk wraps around South Pond, just south of the main zoo entrance near Cannon Drive. It is completely free to access, open year-round, and offers an extraordinary variety of backdrops within a very small area. In a single session, we moved from hydrangea gardens bursting with white blooms to the Chicago skyline peeking through the holes of the People's Gas Pavilion. For maternity sessions specifically, the Nature Boardwalk offers something most Chicago locations cannot: total privacy from street noise and traffic, soft natural pathways that are easy to walk during late pregnancy, and a garden-like intimacy that makes couples forget the camera is there. The hydrangeas along the south garden path peak in late June and early July — which made Jeff and Felicity's timing absolutely perfect.

Jeff and Felicity — Expecting Their First

 Felicity reached out to me a number of months before her due date, which — as a Chicago maternity photographer — I always love to hear. The sweet spot for a maternity session is between 28 and 34 weeks, when the bump is beautifully prominent but mama is still feeling comfortable and mobile. That means that you are going to want to reach out to get something on the calendar a couple months before then!

From our very first consultation, I could tell the process would be smooth. They knew what they wanted and Felicity was super open to styling advice. This means that they showed up ready with layers/options! We leaned towards Jeff's perfectly tailored navy blazer, and it was a perfect fit with Felicity's dreamy white flutter-sleeve dress. Neither of them had been photographed professionally as a couple since their wedding — and you seriously would never have known it. That is what I love most about maternity sessions. You come in a little nervous. You leave with something you will hang on your wall for the next twenty years.

What to Wear for a Chicago Maternity Session

One of the most common questions I get as a Chicago maternity photographer is: what should we wear? Felicity's white dress is a beautiful example of what works exceptionally well outdoors in summer. Here is what I generally recommend for outdoor Chicago maternity sessions:

FOR HER: — Flowing dresses in ivory, white, soft blush, sage, or dusty blue photograph beautifully  against green summer backdrops — Empire waist or tiered styles that flow over the bump without constricting — Delicate fabrics — chiffon, eyelet, linen — catch movement and add life to the images — Avoid bold patterns or logos, which can date the photos quickly. Think about getting your nails done since your hands will be visible on your belly— Feel free to bring a more comfortable pair of shoes for walking and another pair that "looks cute".

FOR HIM: — A blazer elevates even casual khakis and a button-down significantly — Navy, slate gray, or olive coordinates beautifully without matching too perfectly — Skip the tie unless it feels natural — and an open collar reads warm and relaxed. Always pants, a belt, and your nice shoes (with black socks).

FOR BOTH: — Coordinate, do not match. You want to look like a couple, not a matching set. — Bring a second outfit option if you want —  even adding a simple layer can add variety to your gallery. Wear your rings if you have them, and moisturize your hands.

 The Nature Boardwalk at Golden Hour

I have shot at a lot of Chicago locations over my fifteen years+ of doing this work. The Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo remains one of my favorite local spots for one simple reason: the light. Because the boardwalk runs east-west along South Pond, the setting sun hits the garden from the west and filters through the tree canopy in a way that creates natural, organic warmth on every frame. During June and July, golden hour in this location falls between 6:30 and 7:30 pm — which means a summer evening session gives you nearly a full hour of that gorgeous soft light. For Jeff and Felicity, we started on the bridge overlooking the city skyline, and then walked through the hydrangea garden while the light was still bright and directional, then moved toward the pond's edge as the sun dropped lower and the whole scene took on that warm amber quality that makes maternity photos feel timeless rather than trendy, and we ended with the People's Gas Pavilion for that nice even almost blue light.

From Session to Wall Art

One of the things that sets my approach apart as a Chicago maternity photographer is that I do not just deliver a digital gallery and walk away. After Jeff and Felicity's session, we scheduled a reaveal session where I walked them through their images and we chose their absolute favorties that we got custom editing to for wall art in their home (framed images for the nursery), and are working towards a heirloom album to hold the full story of this season in their lives (that will include their newborn session favorites).

Because here is the truth: most digital files never get printed. They live on a cloud backup that gets forgotten when phones change and laptops die. The maternity photos sitting on a hard drive somewhere are not doing the work that a 20x30 canvas above the glider is doing every single morning. My sessions include a full design consultation, wardrobe guidance, location scouting, and reveal session of your images. You just show up and love on each other, and I handle everything else.

Book Your Chicago Maternity Session at Lincoln Park

If you are expecting and searching for a Chicago maternity photographer, I would love to connect. I serve families across Chicago, Riverside, Berwyn, Oak Park, LaGrange, Western Springs, and the western suburbs — and Lincoln Park's Nature Boardwalk is one of several stunning outdoor locations I work with regularly throughout the year (March-October). Just remember that the ideal time for maternity sessoins is 6 to 8 weeks before your due date — which means if you are in your second trimester right now, this is exactly the right time to reach out.

Summer dates are wrapping up and we are working on our fall calendar. I would love to document this chapter of your story. 🤍 [BOOK YOUR SESSION →] amycolesphotography.com/contact

Jeff and Felicity — thank you for trusting me with one of the most significant seasons of your lives. Watching you two together in that garden, already so present and so in love before this little one even arrives, was an absolute gift. I cannot wait to photograph you three when the little one arrives!. — Amy