Portfolio
Honest moments. Beautifully captured.
What My Clients Say
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★★★★★
“This was our first time using a professional photographer – and thank goodness it was Julie!She made it easy and low key – and the results were fabulous. My daughters looked amazing and beautiful! I would highly recommend Julie – and have done so – to many of my friends!”
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★★★★★
“Julie Kaplan’s work is fantastic — she has taken my author photo for three of my books! She truly as the eye and is so easy to work with — 5 star all the way!”
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★★★★★
“I can’t describe to you how happy I am with our collage and Christmas card! Thank you so much for spending the extra time with me in deciding which pictures to choose and how to arrange them. This years Christmas card was my all time favorite…Thanks to You!”
let’s capture your story
Memories you’ll treasure forever.
Children & Family Photography in Highland Park & Chicago's North Shore
Whether we meet at my Highland Park studio, your home, or one of the beautiful parks and beaches along Chicago's North Shore, your family session is designed to be relaxed, fun, and full of personality.
Families are always changing. From little ones and playful kids to teens, adult children, couples, and multi-generational gatherings, every stage is worth celebrating. I love capturing the genuine connections, laughter, and little moments that make your family uniquely yours.
No matter your family's dynamic, I'll guide you every step of the way. Whether your kids are shy, full of energy, or your teens and dad need a little encouragement, I know how to keep everyone relaxed and engaged. With a mix of natural posing and fun prompts, we'll create authentic images that feel like you.
Before your session, we'll plan everything together—from wardrobe and location to the overall vision—so the experience feels easy, enjoyable, and completely personalized.
Afterward, we'll meet on Zoom to view your portraits and select your favorites. I'll help you transform them into beautiful artwork for your home, including museum-quality wall art, fine art prints, handcrafted albums, and elegant folio boxes. Every printed portrait includes its matching digital file for personal use.
My favorite part of this work is creating photographs that bring you right back to this season of life—the laughter, the love, and the people who matter most.
What My Clients Say
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★★★★★
“This was our first time using a professional photographer – and thank goodness it was Julie!She made it easy and low key – and the results were fabulous. My daughters looked amazing and beautiful! I would highly recommend Julie – and have done so – to many of my friends!”
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★★★★★
“I can’t describe to you how happy I am with our collage and Christmas card! Thank you so much for spending the extra time with me in deciding which pictures to choose and how to arrange them. This years Christmas card was my all time favorite…Thanks to You!”
Frequently Asked Questions
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I photograph families through every stage of life—from young children and teens to adult children, couples, and multi-generational families. Whether you’re celebrating a new chapter, gathering everyone together, or simply want updated family portraits, I love creating images that tell your story.
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Dogs
Dogs have a way of stealing our hearts. They make us laugh, greet us like we're the most important person in the world, and somehow become part of our favorite memories. They aren't "just a dog"—they're family.
Whether your dog is goofy, gentle, stubborn, curious, always smiling, or completely convinced they're the center of the universe, I want to capture everything that makes them uniquely yours.
My sessions are relaxed, unhurried, and planned around your dog's personality. We can create timeless portraits in my Highland Park studio or head to one of the beautiful parks or beaches along Chicago's North Shore for a more natural setting. There's no expectation for perfect behavior—just plenty of patience, a few treats, and lots of encouragement.
Whether your dog has endless energy or prefers to take life one sniff at a time, we'll create portraits that feel natural, genuine, and full of personality. The result is beautiful artwork for your home and photographs that will always remind you of the joy, love, and companionship your best friend brings to your life.
Those little head tilts. The happy grin. The soulful eyes make you smile every time you see them and remind you why you love this soul so much.
The best welcome home always comes with a wagging tail.
Our dogs have a way of making us smile every single day, and that's worth celebrating.
What My Clients Say
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★★★★★
“We used Julie for pet portraits with our two dogs. She was awesome with each of them and one of them can be challenging but wound up loving her. She was flexible and had all the props ready to go to get them to look at her. We love the results and couldn’t have had a better experience. Highly recommend!!”
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★★★★★
"Julie made our dog photo session so much fun! Our golden retriever has endless energy and rarely sits still, but Julie was incredibly patient and somehow captured the sweetest moments. She knew exactly how to get his attention without making him feel stressed."
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely! Treats and favorite toys are a great way to keep your dog's attention.
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Professional Headshots
Whether you're updating LinkedIn, refreshing your website, or simply replacing an outdated headshot, your photo should look like you—confident, approachable, and professional.
I work with professionals across Chicago's North Shore, including real estate agents, attorneys, physicians, therapists, sales professionals, executives, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and corporate teams. Whether you're building trust with clients, attracting new business, or representing your company, a polished headshot helps you put your best face forward.
Most people tell me they're awkward in front of the camera. That's where I come in. I'll guide you through every step, from wardrobe and posing to expression and lighting, so you can relax and actually enjoy the experience. No stiff smiles. No wondering what to do with your hands. Just natural, professional portraits that feel authentic.
Headshot sessions are available in my Highland Park studio or at your office, making it easy to create consistent, professional images for individuals, leadership teams, or your entire company. Professional makeup is available, and every session is designed to be efficient, comfortable, and surprisingly fun.
You'll walk away with images you're excited to use—whether it's for LinkedIn, your website, marketing materials, speaking engagements, or anywhere you want to make a strong first impression.
Headshot Sessions Include
Individual professional headshots
Executive and leadership portraits
Company and team headshots
Wardrobe consultation
Professional makeup available
On-location office sessions
What My Clients Say
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★★★★★
“I am not sure where to start….This was one of those unforgettable experiences that is so rare, so unexpected, yet so impactful! I chose Julie for my head shots for so many reasons….end result being most important of course! I love my pictures! And others in the industry are truly so complimentary of them as well.”
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★★★★★
“Julie Kaplan’s work is fantastic — she has taken my author photo for three of my books! She truly as the eye and is so easy to work with — 5 star all the way!.”
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★★★★★
“This was a bucket list experience. Julie’s trained eye and attention to detail made for a lovely package of photographs that I and my family will cherish for years. Well worth my time and money.”
Meet Francie...
Francie wrote her first book and came to me for her author profile pictures. She was going to need different images for public relations, a book tour and speaking events. We collaborated and decided that we would do a mix of casual and more upscale. We shot some of the portraits in the studio and the rest at her home. Now she can introduce new images when she needs a fresh look for publicity.
Meet Meredith...
Meredith is one of the top interior designers in the Chicagoland area.She sought out Julie Kaplan Photography because she was updating her website and needed some images of herself.We went through her wardrobe and picked 5-6 outfits that really represent her style. Meredith was able to use these images on social media, on her new website and in print. Anytime a publication wants to write something about her she has a variety of images to send.
