Sharing today some beautiful Loyola University Chicago graduation photos! Over the years I’ve been lucky to take portraits of a variety of Loyola grads – at different campuses, and from different schools. Come check out some of my favorite locations for portraits!
Loyola University Chicago Graduation photos
Most students (or parents!) inquire for Loyola grad photos starting in February, and take their photos in early to mid April. However, I’m seeing a growing trend of clients who prefer to take their photos after graduation, which I adore; less stress for the client and fewer crowds for your photos!
Loyola University Chicago – Lake Shore Campus Grad Portraits: Favorite Locations
Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore campus is a very attractive location that is fabulous for grad portraits. It really doesn’t have a bad angle – there are a multitude of pretty spots for photos! However, I’m sharing some of my favorite must-have spots on campus for Loyola University Chicago graduation photos. For each client I custom tailor which locations we visit; I want to be sure that your grad portraits reflect your time on campus and are meaningful to you!
The Arches
The Arches just north of Madonna della Strada church are the most-requested location on the Lake Shore campus, and for good reason! With the lake in the background and beautiful framing from the arches (as well as interesting angles!) it’s easy to see why this Lake Shore campus location is a winner.
The Lake
The second most requested location has to be the lake; with Loyola’s campus literally on the lake shore, it’s no wonder that clients want to include Lake Michigan in the backdrop of their photos!
Madonna Della Strada
Madonna Della Strada, named after a painting of the Virgin Mary, literally translates to Our Mother of the Wayside. A perfectly fitting name for this beautiful church on the “wayside” of Lake Michigan! With these beautiful gold doors and fun pattern in the path right outside the church, there’s nothing more iconic than including this location!
An honorable mention: the path just to the south of Madonna Della Strada is beautiful for walking shots with the lake in the background (and roses depending on the time of year)!
Dumbach Hall
With its arches and stained glass, Dumbach Hall is another popular choice for images! It’s particularly a winner for afternoon photoshoots or overcast days when the steps are shaded.
Mundelein
If you’re an art deco fan, Mundelein is a beautiful option for your Loyola University Chicago graduation portraits. However, the light here can be challenging, so I recommend this location only for early morning and late afternoon and only with one to two individuals.
Cudahy Door
This ornate door to the Cudahy Library is a popular backdrop for Loyola University Chicago graduation portraits – I find that it works really well for one to two individuals rather than a group.
The Loyola University Chicago Sign
An ever-popular spot! This location is great for group photos, but with the lighting, it’s best if you also bring along sunglasses in the event of a particularly sunny day.
Honorable Mention: North Avenue Beach
I’m seeing more and more Loyola grads taking their photos at North Avenue Beach; it’s one of the most beautiful skyline views of Chicago and perfect for champagne pops!
Loyola University Chicago – Water Tower Campus Grad Portraits – Favorite Locations
While the locations around Loyola’s Water Tower campus are a little less varied for graduation portraits, I still have a number of favorite spots to suggest.
The Water Tower
When you’re looking for locations for graduation photos at the downtown, Water Tower campus, the old Chicago Water Tower is an obvious choice! One struggle is that you will be pretty tiny in your images unless you feel okay with cutting off the top of the building. However, it makes for an absolutely epic location for tossing your cap!
Lewis Towers
The signs on the awnings at Lewis Towers are a great spot for your Loyola University Chicago grad photos! The struggle is that for this particular angle there’s a parking spot right in front, so you’ll need good luck to have the cars out of the way for your images.
Walking across Pearson St
These are some of my favorite photos at Loyola’s Water Tower campus. Walking shots are a little more candid and shows off the Loyola signs on the street lights!
Loyola Corboy School of Law Grad Portraits
These Loyola University Chicago graduation photos were taken at North Avenue Beach, because the grads wanted to show off the city’s skyline. North Avenue Beach makes a great location for group grad portraits.
Loyola Quinlan School of Business Graduation Portraits
While Loyola Quinlan business grads often want to do their photos around the Water Tower campus, for a complete picture of your time at Loyola I like to also include photos at the Lake Shore campus. 🙂
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine Grad Portraits
This new medical doctor wanted his portraits at the Loyola Hospital and Medical school where he earned his degree. We had a lot of fun walking around the campus finding attractive locations for photos and commemorating the time and work and this graduate put in!
It was important to my client to get his Loyola University Chicago graduation photos with the signs of the building he studied in. Even with less than ideal light we made it work by having him turn and face the building!
In case you were wondering, the three stripes on the sleeves of the advanced degree graduation robe is significant! They represent the three pillars of doctoral scholarship: academic honesty, academic courage, and academic curiosity!
Medical School Graduation Photos
When I photograph graduation clients, I like to do a mix of regalia – I like to take some portraits with all the accoutrements and some without. This provides clients with nice variety in their gallery of Loyola University Chicago grad photos.
Client thoughts
Here’s what my client had to say about his experience:
I recently had the pleasure of participating in a photography session with Kristen for grad school graduation pictures, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience.
From the very beginning, Kristen impressed me with her professionalism and preparation. She was punctual, well-organized, and clearly communicated her vision for the shoot. She provide me with many great location options for background scenery (most of which I would not have thought of myself), and then meticulously scouted out my chosen location in advance so that she would have a clear plan for poses and shots, which made the whole process smooth and enjoyable. Her knowledge about the best times of day for lighting due to the sun’s angle was evident in not only her explanations but also the quality of the photos.
One of the best aspects of working with Kristen was her clear and direct guidance throughout the session. She was like a taskmaster, efficiently directing me on where to stand and how to pose, which meant I didn’t have to think about anything. This approach ensured that we wasted no time, smoothly transitioning from one shot to the next.
A testament to her commitment to perfection was when, after the shoot, we realized that my tie was slightly askew in all the photos. Without hesitation, she expertly Photoshopped every single image to ensure my tie looked perfect. Her attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile truly set her apart.
Overall, Kristen’s work is exceptional, and her passion for photography shines through in every shot. I highly recommend her services to anyone looking for a talented and dedicated photographer.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours. 🙂
Kristen Hazelton is a multi award-winning Chicago, IL and San Francisco Bay Area high school senior, university graduate, and family photographer. She also photographs in San Diego, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Monterey, CA, and Seattle, WA. She is a firm believer in human rights and welcomes LGBTQ+ and nonbinary clients. You can inquire about your own photoshoot here!
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