Visit Lake County Announces its 2026 #LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest Winners

By: Jonathan Jones 08/14/2026

The phrase, “take a picture; it’ll last longer,” takes new meaning as you take your impressive imagery of Lake County.

The sixth installment #LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest ran from April 1-June 30. By utilizing our third-party gallery aggregator Crowdriff and the #LetsSnapLakeCounty hashtag, we received myriad submissions. To take a look at last  year's winners, continue here. For the 2024 version of the contest, click here to look at the the winners. Continue here to view the 2022 photo contest winners. 

Your friends at the Lake County Convention and Visitor Bureau were astounded by our visitors’ and residents’ photography talent. We asked you to showcase where you live, work, eat, play and shop, and you did not disappoint. The snaps were downright #InstaGood.

The Visit Lake County staff voted on your submissions, and in this announcement, we will reveal the winners of the following six categories: “Grand Prize Winner,” “Outdoor Photos,” “Family/People Imagery,” “Dining/Libations,” “Lake County Event Photography” and “Other Travel Culture (including architecture, downtown areas, photo manipulation, shopping, drone, etc.) and Video. VLC would like to thank the winners and those that took the time to enter a submission. Continue scrolling to see our winners.

Honorable Mentions

By: Kimberly Newell at McDonald's Woods Forest Preserve in Lindenhurst

By: Brooke Gabris at Bittersweet Golf Course in Gurnee

By: Kristy Paddack at Captain Daniel Wright Woods Forest Preserve in Mettawa

By: Anthony J Gianotti at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve

By: Tim Dozier in Round Lake Beach

By: John Rich in Waukegan Harbor and Marina

Winners of the #letssnaplakecounty photo Contest

Continue scrolling below to view the winners of the #LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest voted on by the Visit Lake County staff. Great job, land of lakes shutterbugs, and keep up the camera snapping work.

Family/People Imagery Winner

By: Clarissa Gorska in Openlands Lakeshore Preserve in Highland Park

Lake County Events Winner

By: Kelley Doerner at Richardson Adventure Farm's Tulip Fest in Spring Grove

Dining/Libations Winner

By: Maggie Lick at Lynfred Winery in Highland Park

Other Travel Culture Winner

By: Blake DeWelde at Singing Hills Farm in Grayslake

Video Winner

By: Trizhia Joniga at Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve in Wadsworth

Outdoor Winner

By: Blake DeWelde at Deep Lake in Lake Villa

Grand Prize Winner

By: John Rich at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor

For more things to do in Lake County, continue here. To view last year's winners, click here. To learn more about Lake County Road Trips, continue here.