Olivia Leigh Photographie Blog :: Photos and Experiences from a Chicago Wedding Photographer » Olivia

Anni + Ross

Olivia — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:01:25 +0000

Anni and Ross are high school sweethearts who are now in college in Lincoln Park. They have created such a lovely little life for themselves, with a gorgeous apartment in Lakeview, an often-used kitchen, and a sweet dog named Sunday. I hadn’t met them before this session, but I was so happy to be able to work with them. They are such a cute couple, and both just radiate joy; I don’t think I have ever had a couple laugh so much and so openly throughout a shoot. Anni also completely turned it out with the chicest little outfit (skirt from Roslyn), and combined with perfect weather and a gorgeous sunset, I have trouble imagining a better shoot.

Nicole + Craig

Olivia — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:23:48 +0000

Modern Wing Wedding :: Erik + Katie at the Art Institute

Olivia — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:28:17 +0000

At each wedding, I am always trying to observe while shooting. One would think that those would be the same thing, but it can be so easy to just get wrapped up in the moment that you can forget to really observe and witness what is actually happening. My goal is always to try and find the unique characteristic or emotion that represents the couple. For Erik and Katie, it was this truly lovely tenderness and admiration that really stood out to me. It was really so beautiful, and I just loved watching them together. There are many portraits below that I just love, but the one on the beigey-purpley wall is what feels so much like them to me: so soft, connected, and so full of respect and love for each other.

Katie and Erik are also a couple that have a great love for architecture, art and culture, and so it made perfect sense that they chose the glorious Modern Wing to host their wedding celebration. This was my second time shooting here, and it is always a treat. It is so ripe with inspiration, and there is something quite incredible about being able to create wedding portraits with paintings by Degas and Monet in the background. It was such a beautiful wedding, and it was such a pleasure to be a part of it.

Andrea + Patrick

Olivia — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:37:20 +0000

Andrea and Patrick are a great couple getting married at Salvage One later this fall. They live on a cute block in Humboldt Park with a cute pit bull that they rescued. We decided to shoot in their neighborhood for their engagement connection session, capturing some urban elements that Pat and Andrea love, along with a trip to gorgeous Humboldt Park proper.

Kristin + Chris :: Morton Arboretum Wedding

Olivia — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:03:47 +0000

Kristin and Chris are a sweet couple who met in college at U of I, now live downstate, and came back to Kristin’s hometown area for a beautiful, intimate wedding at Morton Arboretum. This is a venue I shot at several times last year and still love to shoot at, if only because it allows for outdoor ceremonies! It is so extremely rare in Chicago to be able to married outside, that I feel like I hit the photography jackpot anytime I am able to shoot one. We were blessed with stunning weather on their wedding day, and as the sun set behind their large ceremony tree, the colours and light just became resplendent. Kristin and Chris also decided to do “private vows,” as a part of their first look. I had never heard of or seen a couple do this before, and I thought it was the perfect touch. I love personal vows during the ceremony but understand several reasons why a couple might opt for traditional vows; Kristin and Chris still wrote out their private l vows and just shared them privately with each other when they first saw each other. It was a touching, personal and emotional moment that really added some extra depth, meaning and almost “sacredness” to the first time they saw each other.

Venue + Catering: Morton Arboretum | Dress: Pronovias | Florals: Elizabeth Wray Designs | DJ: Toast & Jam

Two from the weekend

Olivia — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:59:15 +0000