If you’re looking for a classic Chicago setting for your holiday family photos, the Wrigley Building is one of my favorite places to photograph during the Christmas season.
Right in the heart of downtown Chicago, it gives us beautiful architecture, festive holiday details, and that unmistakable city feeling - all within a very small area. It’s especially perfect for a short holiday mini session because we can create a gallery with plenty of variety without asking little ones to walk too far.
What Your Wrigley Building Holiday Session Looks Like
We’ll start near the Christmas tree, surrounded by the beautiful architecture of the Wrigley Building and Michigan Avenue.
From there, we can make our way toward the 400 N Michigan Avenue entrance, where the holiday décor and Nutcrackers have added such a playful, classic Christmas touch in past years.
The photos throughout this blog were taken during the 2024 and 2025 holiday seasons. Holiday décor may vary from year to year, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for another beautiful setup and hopefully the return of the Nutcrackers!
I also love photographing families under and around the arches of the Wrigley Building. The architecture frames families beautifully and gives us a slightly more timeless, editorial feel alongside the festive Christmas images.
And because everything is so close together, even a short mini session can give you a mix of holiday details, beautiful architecture, movement, connection, and a little bit of Chicago in the background.
My goal isn’t to spend our 15 minutes only creating perfectly posed Christmas-card photos. I’ll gently guide you, but I also want there to be room for cuddling, walking, laughing, little hands reaching for you, and whatever your kids bring to the morning.
What to Wear for Holiday Photos at the Wrigley Building
Think classic Christmas in the city.
For the Wrigley Building, don’t be afraid of a little holiday color. A beautiful red or burgundy, deep green, or classic plaid can look especially festive against the neutral architecture, while creams, camel, and other warm neutrals keep everything feeling timeless.
Texture photographs beautifully here, too. Think cozy knits, wool, velvet, faux fur, fluffy coats or jackets, scarves, and beautiful layers that add warmth and dimension without feeling overly styled.
Chicago weather around Thanksgiving and early December can vary, so choose layers you love and can easily add or remove. Most importantly, make sure everyone feels comfortable enough to walk, cuddle, and play.
I recommend coordinating rather than matching exactly. Start with one outfit you love and build the rest of the family around it with complementary colors and textures.
Parking & Getting There
The Wrigley Building is located at 400–410 N Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.
If you’re driving, I recommend reserving parking ahead of time through SpotHero or ParkWhiz rather than searching for parking when you arrive. There are multiple parking options within a short walk of the Wrigley Building.
Uber or Lyft can also be a convenient way to skip downtown parking altogether. For families with babies or younger children, though, driving and reserving a parking spot ahead of time may be the easier option - especially if you’ll be bringing a stroller, car seat, or extra layers for the kids.
Whichever you choose, give yourself a little extra time for traffic and walking. Arriving a few minutes early means you can settle in, fix little coats and hair, and begin your session feeling relaxed rather than rushed.
Final Thoughts
What I love about holiday sessions at the Wrigley Building is how much of Chicago becomes part of the memory.
The Christmas tree, the beautiful architecture, the city waking up around us - it all gives the photographs a sense of place without taking away from what matters most: your family together in this season.
If you're looking for a Chicago holiday photo location that feels festive, timeless, and unmistakably Chicago, the Wrigley Building is one of my favorite places to photograph families during the holiday season.
Looking for a Family Photographer in Chicago?
If you're hoping for holiday photographs that feel relaxed, natural, and true to your family, I'd love to help.
My sessions are less about creating the perfect Christmas card and more about preserving the connection that already exists - the cuddles, the laughter, little hands reaching for you, and all the in-between moments that make this season yours.
If a festive city session feels like you, the Wrigley Building is such a beautiful way to capture a little piece of Christmas in Chicago. I also offer holiday sessions at my Chicago studio in Bridgeport for a cozy, styled setting, as well as in-home sessions for families who want something quieter, more personal, and rooted in their own traditions.
Holiday Mini Sessions at the Wrigley Building are now booking.
