Chicago + Destination Wedding Photography
Just be yourselves. We'll make photos that look and feel like a dream.
Camera-shy or creatively bold, you're in the right place. Cinematic, painterly, true.
Wedding Photography Collections
For couples who want to feel comfortable and get something extraordinary.
Photojournalism meets fine art meets cinematic portraiture. Story first.
Every collection includes two photographers, timeline coaching, and hand-edited images, never batch filters.
Most couples book Collection 2. Every collection is customizable: tell me what your day looks like and we will build the right fit.
Every Collection Includes
Ceremony emotion plus candid reaction. Same moment, different angles. Included on every wedding, never an upgrade.
An edited sneak peek before your thank-you cards are written.
500 to 700+ images. Every frame touched by me. Never outsourced.
Built around golden hour, not arbitrary tradition.
High-resolution downloads. Print wherever you want, forever.
Easy sharing with family. One-click professional prints.
Customize Your Collection
Coverage Hours
Collections include 8.5 to 10.5 hours. Getting ready through sparkler exit is covered. Need a longer day, a rehearsal dinner, or a day-after brunch? We add hours to fit.
Third Photographer
Two photographers come standard. For large guest lists or multi-venue days, add a third at $300 per hour.
Engagement Session
Add a session before the wedding. It is how we stop being strangers, so the camera already feels easy on the day.
Your Photographer
Depending on date and preferences, you will work with me or one of my personally trained associates. Either way, I edit every gallery.
What's Actually Different
- Comfort-based guidance. 10+ years as actor, director, acting coach. You'll forget the camera's there.
- Creative collaboration. Bold vision? Themed concept? Let's build it.
- One editor. Me. Every gallery. Whether I shot it or an associate did.
- All lovers welcome. LGBTQ+ weddings celebrated, not just tolerated.
- Preferred vendor. Chicago Winery, and counting.
Add-Ons & Configuration
151+ ★★★★★ reviews · Preferred at Chicago Winery · Fearless Photographers · WPJA Featured · Best of Zola 2025 & 2026
How This Works
- Discovery Call. Your story. Your must-haves. What makes you nervous.
- Choose Your Collection. Pick the collection that fits your day, and we customize from there.
- Light-First Timeline. Built around golden hour, not arbitrary tradition.
- The Wedding. Natural when needed. Invisible when it counts.
- Preview & Delivery. Highlights within 24 to 72 hours. Full gallery plus print shop.
Straight Answers
What do collections cost?
Three collections: $5,975 (8.5 hrs), $6,750 (9.5 hrs), and $7,500 (10.5 hrs). Two photographers on every one. Most couples book the middle collection. Every collection is customizable.
Who will photograph our wedding?
Depending on date and preferences: me or one of my personally trained associates. The constant: I edit every gallery myself.
When do we get photos?
Highlights: within 24 to 72 hours. Full gallery: 3 to 5 weeks. Hand-edited, never rushed.
We're awkward on camera.
Most of my couples are. 10+ years as actor, director, acting coach. You'll forget the camera's there.
LGBTQ+ weddings?
Love is love. Celebrated, not just tolerated.
Payment plans?
Yes. 50/50 or thirds. Final payment due one month before.
Do you travel?
Chicagoland, Midwest, destination. Travel fees apply outside Chicago.
Can we customize?
Every collection is a starting point. Let's build yours.
Chicago Venues I Know
250+ weddings across Chicago. I know which venues have the light, the backdrops, and the hidden corners that make photographers' jobs easy, and which ones require creative problem-solving. Not all venues photograph equally.
Indoor
- Chicago Winery (preferred vendor): Barrel rooms, industrial romance, warm candlelight
- Lyric Opera of Chicago: Theatrical grandeur, dramatic architecture
- The Rookery Building: Frank Lloyd Wright staircase, architectural history
- Chicago Athletic Association: Rooftop views, Art Deco details
- Artifact Events: Gallery minimalism, editorial canvas
- The Walden: Bow-truss ceilings, floor-to-ceiling light
- Gaelic Park: Crystal chandeliers, 50-acre grounds
Outdoor
- North Avenue Beach: Skyline reflections, golden hour
- Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool: Hidden gem, prairie serenity
- Chicago Riverwalk: Urban energy, architectural backdrops
- Promontory Point: Panoramic lake, dramatic skies
- Garfield Park Conservatory: Victorian glass, lush greenery
- Morton Arboretum: 1,700 acres of seasonal beauty
Why This Matters
Some venues make everyone look like they stepped out of a magazine. Others require knowing exactly where to stand at exactly what time. I help couples choose based on their vision (moody industrial, editorial polish, fairytale romance), not just what's trending on Pinterest.
For couples with creative vision: Industrial lofts, minimalist galleries, and rooftops with skyline views are blank canvases. Perfect for elaborate themes, dramatic lighting, or ideas nobody's tried before. Tell me what you're imagining.
Haven't picked a venue yet? I'm happy to talk through options on our discovery call. Some venues photograph like a dream. Some need workarounds. Good to know ahead of time.
What Makes This Different
Most wedding photographers started as photographers. I came from theater: actor, director, acting coach. 10+ years learning how to help people feel comfortable under pressure, find emotional beats, build narrative arcs. Then I picked up a camera.
Guidance That Doesn't Feel Like Guidance
I don't say "stand here, smile at the camera." I say "walk toward me like you're late for dinner" or "whisper something that'll make them laugh."
You forget the camera exists. Your partner forgets the camera exists. We get real emotion, not performed smiles.
Creative Collaboration
Have a vision? A theme? An idea nobody's tried before? I live for that. Film noir speakeasy. Moody greenhouse editorial. Chinatown mural jumping shots.
Your imagination is the starting point. My job is execution.
Storytelling Over Shot Lists
I'll capture your family formals, fast and flattering. But what I'm really watching for: the moment your dad tears up during the toast. The way your partner looks at you when they think no one's watching. The quiet pause before you walk down the aisle.
Those are the keepers. The shots that make you cry 20 years later.
"I'm one of those people who get super nervous having photos taken of me and Jeremy helped me feel natural and comfortable throughout the photoshoot. The photos turned out beautiful. 10/10 recommend."Jake & Alex
If you want a photographer who shows up, clicks the shutter 1,000 times, and disappears, I'm not your guy. But if you want someone who helps you feel comfortable and brings creative vision? Let's talk.
From Inquiry to Album
No surprises. No hidden fees. Here's exactly what happens.
Before
Discovery call. 30 minutes. Your vision, your must-haves, what makes you nervous. If we're a fit, we move forward. If not, I'll refer you to someone better matched.
Contract + retainer. 50% holds your date. Balance due 30 days before. Credit cards, checks, Venmo/Zelle.
Pre-wedding planning. 4-6 weeks out: timeline optimization, shot list, engagement session scheduling (if added).
Wedding Day
I arrive early. Scout light. Stay steady when timelines shift, they always do.
My job: capture your story, keep things moving, get you back to cocktail hour as fast as possible.
After
24-72 hours: Highlights. 25-30 favorites while you're still buzzing. Social media, thank-you cards, reliving it fresh.
3-5 weeks: Full gallery. 500 to 700+ hand-edited images depending on collection. Download, share, order prints. Every frame color-corrected and polished. No batch filters.
Optional
Albums + prints. Physical keepsakes through my online shop. Heirloom quality.
Straight Answers
250+ weddings. These come up every time.
"We're not photogenic."
Most people feel this way. I use movement-based guidance instead of stiff posing. You'll forget the camera exists.
"Photogenic" is a myth. Real emotion makes great photos, not perfect jawlines.
"We're awkward but want creative photos."
That's not a contradiction. That's most of my favorite couples. Camera-shy and wanting something cinematic? That's exactly what the theater background is for.
You can absolutely have both.
"We have a specific creative vision."
Good. Themed concepts, elaborate setups, ideas nobody's tried. That's the fun part. Film noir speakeasy. Moody greenhouse editorial. Vintage Hollywood.
My job is execution, not just documentation.
"What about rain / dark venues / difficult families?"
Rain: Some of my favorite photos. Moody skies, dramatic light, reflections. Cinematic gold.
Dark venues: I specialize in low-light. Fast lenses, subtle off-camera lighting. Your guests won't notice I'm working.
Difficult families: Divorced parents, opinionated aunts, kids who'd rather eat cake. I've wrangled them all. Steady, patient, discreet.
"What if you're sick on our wedding day?"
Network of trusted backup photographers: vetted, insured, capable. In 8+ years, I've never missed a wedding. But if the unthinkable happens, you're covered.
"Can we see the RAW files?"
No. RAW files are unfinished sketches: not color-corrected, not cropped, not polished. What you receive is the finished work. The version I'd put in a museum.
Would you ask a chef for the raw ingredients after dinner?
Check Your Date
Tell me about your day and we'll build the right collection. It starts with a quick note.