Wedding & Family Photography in Illinois
For getting married, growing families, and remembering what this season felt like. I photograph weddings, elopements, and families across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, with travel available for destination weddings worldwide. I’ll guide you when it helps and give you room to be yourselves, making photographs rooted in the people and places that matter to you since 2016.
My Specialties
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You don’t have to know what to do with your hands. That’s my job. Before we get started, I want to know your people, what matters to you, and anything you’re nervous about. Then we’ll find the light, get you moving, and leave room for my weird ideas. You can trust me to take the reins—and to step back when something real takes over.
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You should get to be at your own wedding. Love on your people. Eat the dinner you picked. Steal a little time together when the sun starts to drop. Whether you’re getting married in the pasture or gathering everyone at your dream venue, we’ll build your photography timeline around what you actually want to do & how you want it to feel. Family photographs, time for just the two of you, room to breathe—it all belongs. You get me from planning through the day itself, already knowing what matters.
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By minute ten, your kids might just be deciding they like me. Let’s give them time. Show me the trampoline, their favorite toys, or the backyard dirt bike track. If you’ve just brought a baby home, we’ll settle in, take feeding breaks, and follow their lead. I’ll help you get together for the photograph you want on the wall, then give everyone room to play, snuggle, and show me what life looks like at your house.
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Your grandma’s hand around yours. Your toddler folded into your shoulder. The laughter after everyone thinks the photograph is over. I’m watching for all of it, and chasing the light that makes me say, “Wait, stay right there.” The portraits matter. So do the things you’d never think to put on a shot list. I want to make art from your actual life—the people, the feeling, and all the dirty details you’ll want back someday.
Wedding photography
For couples here for the marriage & everyone who showed up for it.
Getting ready with your people. Your dad’s speech you weren’t expecting. Sneaking away together when the light gets good, then coming back for the feral dance floor. Whether you’re getting married at home or your dream venue, I want you wholly in it—loving on your people, trusting my eye, and letting the day leave its mark.
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You get me—from getting to know you through photographing your day. We’ll talk about your people, your priorities, and what you’re looking forward to, then build a photography timeline that makes room for it all. I’ll take the reins for portraits and family photographs, and step back when something real takes over. You get to experience your wedding. I’m paying attention to how it will be remembered.
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Up to 10 hours of continuous wedding photography, with one photographer—me—start to finish. Your collection includes photography timeline creation and assistance, a weekday engagement session for local and regional weddings, sneak peeks within seven days, and an online gallery with high-resolution downloads and a print release.
We’ll make room for the photographs grandma wants on her mantel, time for just the two of you, and the celebration happening around you.
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Wedding photography begins at $8,500, with travel included within two hours of Hebron, Illinois. Travel beyond that area and additional celebration coverage are available.
One wedding collection, whether your day runs six hours or ten. You’re reserving me for your day, with time to photograph it thoughtfully.
Elopement photography
For saying it all, with your whole heart.
Just the two of you, or the handful of people you couldn’t imagine doing this without. Vows that make your voice shake. Laughing through the tears because you’re finally here, marrying your person.
I’ll help you figure out where, find the light, and leave room for you to spill your hearts out to each other. I’m also ordained, so where local requirements allow, I can sign your marriage license, too. You bring the promises. I’ll bring my camera—and probably cry with you.
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Tell me what matters to you, even if the rest isn’t figured out yet. I’ll help you think through locations, the light, and a photography timeline built around how you want to spend your day. When we’re together, I’ll guide you through portraits, leave room for my weird ideas, and step back when you’re caught up in each other. You get me through the planning and behind the camera.
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Up to four hours of continuous elopement photography, available Monday–Friday. Time for getting ready, your ceremony, portraits, and celebrating—depending on what you have planned and the distance between locations.
Your collection includes one photographer—me—location and photography timeline planning assistance, sneak peeks within seven days, and an online gallery with high-resolution downloads and a print release.
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Elopement photography begins at $4,500, with travel included within two hours of Hebron, Illinois. Travel beyond that area is available.
Elopements are photographed Monday–Friday. If your celebration falls on a Saturday, you’ll find the details under my wedding collection.
Destination wedding photography
For getting married somewhere you’ll never forget, with the people you’d go anywhere for.
Everyone made the trip. Now you get to hug them, share a meal, and marry your favorite person in a place you’re already a little in love with. The wind might have plans for your veil. Someone’s definitely crying before the ceremony starts. And I’m there for all of it—the place you chose and the people who made it feel like yours.
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Tell me where we’re going and what you’re looking forward to. We’ll work through your photography timeline together, making room for the light, your people, and time to wander off for portraits.
I handle my own travel arrangements, so you can leave my flights and room to me.
You’ll also have a 30–90-minute session together before the wedding. Choose an engagement session within my included travel radius of Hebron, Illinois, or save it for the evening before your wedding at your destination. That evening can include portraits, a little of your welcome gathering, or a mix of both—all on the same day.
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Up to 10 hours of continuous wedding photography, with me behind the camera from getting ready through the celebration.
Your collection includes photography timeline creation and assistance, a 30–90-minute session during the trip (or before hand at your engagement session), sneak peeks within seven days, and an online gallery with high-resolution downloads and a print release. My flights, lodging, ground transportation, and travel days are included.
This collection is for weddings outside the continental U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii.
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Destination wedding photography begins at $12,000, including my travel. Welcome-party coverage and additional celebration days are available if there’s more of the story you want photographed.
Getting married elsewhere in the continental U.S.? My wedding collection is available with travel added.
Family, maternity & newborn photography
For the season of life you’re going to miss a little someday.
The fat cannoli baby legs. The sun-bleached hair. Your kids showing me every toy they own while the dog follows us from room to room. Whether you’re waiting on a baby, settling in with your newborn, or watching your kids outgrow your lap, I want you in the photographs, too. Holding them, laughing with them, being their whole world.
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Tell me about your family and what you love doing together. We’ll choose your home or a place that means something to you, then give everyone time to settle in.
Show me the trampoline, the backyard dirt bike track, or the spot where everyone piles onto the couch. I’ll help you get together for the photograph you want on the wall, then follow the play, the snuggles, and whatever your kids want to show me. With a newborn, we’ll take feeding breaks and follow their pace. You don’t need to clean up every sign of the life you’re asking me to photograph.
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A 30–90-minute session, available Monday–Thursday, for family, maternity, newborn, or milestones. We’ll leave room for little ones to warm up, take breaks, and be themselves.
Every edited image is included in your online gallery, with high-resolution downloads and a print release.
Newborn sessions take place at home, typically one to three weeks after birth. Reserve yours during pregnancy so we can plan around your baby’s arrival.
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Family, maternity, newborn, and milestone photography begins at $900, with every edited image included.
Sessions take place within 45 minutes of Hebron, Illinois, with travel included throughout that area. Whether we’re at home, somewhere meaningful to your family, or at The Ellery studio in Crystal Lake, Illinois, by appointment and subject to studio availability.
Please reach out at least one month before your preferred session date.
“Nicole shot our engagement photos in 2019, our wedding in 2020, my maternity photos in 2021, and our family pictures in 2022. Nicole is amazing in every session and season in life.”
A few more details
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Start with the inquiry form and tell me what you’re dreaming up—your date, your people, and where it’s all happening. We’ll talk through the details and make sure we’re a good fit. A signed agreement and retainer officially reserve your date.
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Yes—you get me. The person getting to know you, helping with the photography plans, and showing up with the camera. I take a small number of weddings and sessions so I have room to be personally invested in the people I photograph.
If a true emergency ever prevents me from being there, I have a trusted circle of photographers whose work I know and love.
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For weddings and elopements, reach out once you have a date or a few possibilities in mind. I take a limited number each year, so it’s worth asking early.
For family and maternity sessions, please allow at least one month notice. Newborn sessions are best reserved during pregnancy, then we’ll stay in touch around your baby’s arrival.
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Absolutely. Every collection includes high-resolution & web-size downloads and a personal print release. Put them on your walls, send them to grandma, and share your favorites. These photographs deserve a life beyond your phone.
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Please — ask. I’d love for you to see how a whole wedding or session comes together—the portraits, the people, and the little things connecting it all. Tell me what you’re planning, and I can share a gallery that helps you picture what working together could look like.
Then hi—I’ve been waiting for you.
Tell me about your person, your people, and what you want to remember. The wedding you’re dreaming up or the season your family is in. You don’t need to have it all figured out—I’d love to hear where you’re starting & all the dirty details.