Olivia Leigh Photographie: Fine Art Chicago Wedding Photographer. Available nationwide.
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Olivia Leigh Photographie Blog
Welcome to the all-new Olivia Leigh Photographie blog! Here you can find photos from recent shoots in Chicago and abroad. If you’re looking for a particular wedding or a certain venue, just search below. Use the navigation at the top to see the best work in the portfolio, learn more about services, or send an email to learn more about working together.
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Peoria Wedding : Abby & Michael
- Posted on:
- 21 December 2011
This fall, I trekked down to Peoria to capture the wedding of Abby and Michael in their hometown. Abby and Michael are a couple that come from families that are, to me, Midwestern in the best possible of ways. I think when other people think of smaller towns and the type of people you might find in Illinois, family and friends like those of Abby and Michael are what spring to mind—kind, thoughtful, gracious, and so close to their loved ones. When I arrived at Abby’s childhood home to photograph her getting ready, her family was so hospitable, asking me if I needed anything to eat or drink and just being the most gracious of hosts. The getting ready was full of emotion—I think everyone was crying! You could tell it was such a tight-knit group of family and friends, and the entire day just felt like the oldest of friends having a great time (which is pretty much what it was!).
I had never been to Peoria before and really had no idea what to expect, unsure if our portrait locations would present some challenges or make for lovely images. I was blown away by the natural beauty—I am a city girl through and through I think, but on the way down to the wedding I kept shouting out to my assistant Casey about how gorgeous all the fields were and how it was almost all just too much! It was so so gorgeous. Following the wedding, we took some photos at the ice cream shop that Michael’s dad owns, visited a road that Teddy Roosevelt called the most beautiful drive in America, and then on the way to the reception, I asked Abby and Michael if they wouldn’t mind jumping into a field of soybeans for a few shots. They were so wonderfully game and we created some of my favourite images of the year.
All in all, such a lovely day with truly the sweetest of couples and the nicest of families. Thank you again, you two!
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Martha Stewart Weddings + Cafe Brauer
- Posted on:
- 06 December 2011
When I first started my business, I made a little list of some general goals I had when everything just seemed like a distant dream—“book 20 weddings!” “shoot a destination wedding” “get to know 5 other photographers.” They seem funny now but to me they were big goals. One of the other ones on the list was to be featured in Martha Stewart Weddings. I still feel that Martha Stewart brings such unique and fresh ideas to the table in what can be a very repetitive industry, and they continually feature some of the most lovely photography from photographers that I admire. I photographed Matt and Mindy’s wedding at KAM Israel in Hyde Park and Cafe Brauer in Lincoln Park this summer—Mindy worked tirelessly on all of the incredible details from the day and also had dreams of maybe having it end up in Martha. Needless to say, I was so excited when their gorgeous wedding was featured as a real wedding on their site! Not the magazine, but still such a honor. Many thanks to the incredible team from this day—Anthony Navarro, who was just incredible; Jesse Deckard, one of the most talented designers in the city; and Bethany Fritz, who was an enormous help in photographing the day. You can view the feature here. Below are a few larger photos of some of their beautiful details and some additional photos that were not featured.
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Chicago Cultural Center Wedding | Kat & Joff
- Posted on:
- 04 December 2011
I was organizing some photos over the weekend when I realized I hadn’t posted photos from this fourth of July weekend wedding, though certainly not for a lack of gorgeousness! Kat and Joff held a stunning wedding at what is decidedly one of the prettiest buildings in all of Chicago, the Cultural Center. When I worked in nonprofits before becoming a full-time photographer, I would sometimes stroll down here on long lunch breaks and just enjoy the architecture. The Tiffany Domes here are phenomenal and it is truly one of the prettiest settings for a wedding in the city, if not the entire country.
Neither Kat nor Joff were from Chicago but decided to hold a sort of destination wedding over the holiday weekend in Chicago, a central city for out of towners. When walking around the city looking for venues they happened upon the cultural center and were instantly taken by its beauty. Kat is Persian, so some Persian wedding traditions were incorporated into a blended ceremony. This was my first time photographing a Persian wedding and I found it to be so lovely, with such great symbolism. The first part of the day was a little hectic, but I found the ceremony to really bring everything back into focus—these two are one of the most kind and thoughtful couples I have met, and you could really feel how connected they were throughout the day and with how much intention they said their vows. Following the ceremony a beautiful reception followed, with tons and tons of dancing! Joff and his groomsmen were hilarious throughout the day and four of them had rehearased a special dance to an *NSYNC song for later in the reception, just before mini milkshakes and creme brulees were served. Just such a beautiful day!
The great team at Kehoe did a wonderful job styling this stunning, stunning event; Blue Plate provided many courses of stunning dishes; and Lindsay Stein at Designer Event Chicago pulled the day together with ease. Many thanks to Tasha Schalk for her assistance!
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Danielle + Eric :: Backyard Tent Wedding in Evanston
- Posted on:
- 04 November 2011
Danielle and Eric had one of the most fun and beautiful weddings I have ever photographed—ever! Danielle was probably the most relaxed bride I have ever worked with—she took everything in stride and really just wanted her friends and family to have a great time. Danielle and Eric were another of my couples that met in school (I truly think at least 50% of mine this year met before college!)—this is always such fun as so many of the guests grow up together and know each other so well, such that it creates such a relaxed and intimate celebration. Their group of friends was hilarious and such fun—this day was a total celebration from start to finish!
A family friend generously offered the use of their home, an architecturally significant Prairie Style house on the shore of Lake Michigan, for the event, and it could not have been more beautiful. One of my favorite coordinators, Renny Pedersen at Bliss Weddings and Events worked with the incredible Jesse Deckard at Event Creative to transform the outdoor space into a set of rustic-glam tents for the evenings events. The ceremony was held in a tent and featured fun custom fans for guests, iron chairs, wood benches and colorful pillows. Guests then enjoyed cocktails al fresco in the yard, and then enjoyed dinner in another tent that was so beautifully decorated in such a way that I have never really seen in Chicago! As dancing began, the ceremony tent was transformed into an evening lounge, where guests were able to enjoy cupcakes with vintage plates, chat in little furniture vignettes, take photobooth pictures, and, my favorite, bust out some tunes at the karaoke lounge. It was just such an incredible wedding and such a dream to shoot—beautiful, relaxed couple; fabulous light; and a beautiful setting, couldn’t ask for more!
Gown: Carolina Herrerra | Coordination: Renny Pedersen at Bliss Weddings and Events | Decor and Design: Event Creative | Venue: Private Home | Second: Louie Abellera | Film: I Do Films | DJ: Beep
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Adam + Cassidy :: Art Institute Wedding
- Posted on:
- 03 November 2011
Cassidy and Adam were married this summer at the Modern Wing at the Art Institute, probably the venue that I shoot at the most often and one of my favourites in the city. Their day had a few little snafus—preparations took a little longer than planned, it rained literally all day long, our original portrait plan had to be adjusted on the fly. While these sorts of unexpected things can make for a stressful day, on some level, I find that a few hiccups can help to really exhibit what is important at the wedding. I find that after the stress of those types of things melts away, the emotion of the couple and the joy of the celebration shines through even more and really helps to confirm what the wedding is all about. Cassidy and Adam were certainly this way—their beautiful ceremony in Griffin Court featured a moving tribute to Adam’s father, along with emotional and tearful vows. This was followed by a gorgeous reception in Terzo Piano, where they held one of the most fun and spirited receptions I’ve done this year—full of many truly hilarious toasts and some serious shenanigans on the dance floor.
Venue: The Modern Wing/Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago | Coordinator: Catherine Gatto at Birch Design Studio | Band: Larry King Orchestra | Floral: Christine Noelle
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