If you are planning a wedding and your next step is to book a wedding photographer in Chicago, but you are feeling stuck with all the options, styles, stick around! Your wedding day is one of the most memorable events of your life, and having it authentically documented is essential. Chicago, with its iconic skyline, picturesque lakefront, and charming neighborhoods, offers endless opportunities for stunning wedding photography. Still, it is of a great importance that your wedding photographer captures your vision and values you have as a couple just the way you envisioned it!
Style: Dark and Moody
Choose the Right Photographer
The foundation of capturing your wedding vision starts with selecting the right photographer. Begin by:
- Researching Styles: Wedding photographers typically specialize in different styles such as traditional, photojournalistic, fine art, or editorial. Browse wedding photography portfolios, note and save ones that resonates with your preferences. Make sure you include your partner in this step, as you may have different styles you like!
- Reading Reviews: After you narrow down the list of photographers that may fit your vision and your style, make sure to check photographers reviews on reputable wedding platforms and google! Look for a photographer that offers a personalized experience, tailored for you and your partner, someone who understands what you value as a couple!
- Meeting in Person: A personal connection matters and meeting in person at photographers studio should be a must! Ask to see the REAL wedding albums, and galleries and review them in great detail, to better understand photographer’s approach during the entire day!
Documentary Style
Communicate Your Vision Clearly
Your photographer isn’t a mind reader. Clearly articulating your expectations will go a long way in ensuring your photos turn out as you’ve imagined.
- Create a Style Board: Use Pinterest or a similar tool to gather examples of photography styles, poses, and locations you love. Your photographer should never replicate what they see on your board, but rather use it as an inspiration, and to understand the style you like! Capturing your energy, personality, love is far more important than doing the exact same thing you saw in the inspiration image.
- Discuss Must-Have Shots: Any professional should have a shot list nailed down but it is helpful if you provide a detailed list of key moments and people you want to be captured with from the first look to candid moments with your grandparents.
- Share Your Timeline: A well-structured timeline helps your photographer plan their shots effectively and stay on schedule. Make sure that the timeline allocates enough time for creative and family photography as the rest of your day will most likely be documented in a very photojournalistic way.
Style: Cinematic
Schedule a Discovery Call
Discovery call with your photographer is a great way to share more details about your relationship and what you value as the couple. Any special interests, activities you enjoy doing together, or locations you like visiting, are something you may want to capture in on of your sessions. Chicago’s diverse scenery can enhance your wedding photos, so make sure you plan out locations for your engagement and wedding day photos. From Millennium Park to the Adler Planetarium’s skyline views, choosing the right spots is crucial.
Schedule an Engagement Shoot
An engagement session is a fantastic to fine tune things before your wedding. With no timeline constrictions, engagement session is a great way to let your photographer get creative, and bring your vision to life! Engagement always results in better wedding day images!
Plan for Lighting
Planning your creative sessions around the lighting when possible, is the single best thing that will elevate your images to the next level.
- Golden Hour: Schedule outdoor shots during sunrise or sunset for soft, natural light. This will also give you an opportunity to capture some night photographs for that dark and moody feel, with cinematic edge!
- Indoor Lighting: Your photographer should be able to provide lighting for indoor locations. Discuss how he/she will handle challenging lighting in indoor venues.
- Chicago’s Weather: If used right, the weather elements like snow and rain can add amazing creative effect to your images. However, it can also be a very limiting factor, so planning for an indoor location as a back up is highly recommended.
Trust Your Photographer’s Expertise
Once you’ve chosen a photographer and communicated your vision, trust their artistic instincts. Experienced photographers know how to work with lighting, angles, and unexpected moments to create magic.
Capture the Details
Small details—your rings, bouquet, wedding invitations, and décor—help tell the story of your day. Inform your photographer about these items so they can plan to capture them.
Plan for Candid Moments
While posed shots are beautiful, candid moments often hold the most emotion. Encourage your photographer to capture unscripted interactions, laughter, and tears for a well-rounded gallery.
Relax and Enjoy Your Day
Finally, the most important part of ensuring great photos is being present and enjoying your wedding. We get it, you worked hard on planning your wedding, figuring out every single detail, and not it’s time to let your vendors do the magic. Your happiness and genuine emotions will naturally shine through, creating memories you’ll cherish forever.
By taking these steps, you’ll set your Chicago wedding photographer up for success, ensuring that your vision is beautifully captured and preserved for a lifetime.
