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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Saint Michael’s + Terzo Piano Wedding :: Scott and Kristen
- Posted on:
- 28 October 2010
Oh, this day! This day was just fantastic. 12 hours flew by with the greatest of ease, including a stop of the entire wedding party to have a casual lunch upstairs at Kristen and Scott’s neighborhood P J Clarke’s. The ceremony was held at the amazing Saint Michael’s in Old Town. This was my first time shooting here, and it is just a stunning space (with blessedly few photography restrictions!). I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a unique and beautiful Catholic church in which to marry. And, of course, the reception was held at my favorite, Terzo Piano at the Modern Wing. I just can’t say how much I enjoy shooting here; I feel continuously inspired here and am looking forward to more weddings here next year.
Kristen and Scott’s wedding was quite intimate—right around 100 people. Kristen and Scott dated for many years and both hailed from New Jersey, the combination of which created such an incredible feeling of intimacy and familiarity at their celebration, with guests laughing openly at little inside jokes very few people would notice at other weddings. All in all it felt like such a relaxed, emotional and joyful party celebrating one of the most laid-back and enjoyable couples I had this year.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t give it up to Kristen for selecting the most amazing, couture bridal look I’ve ever seen! I told her that just a few days before her wedding, I was talking with a colleague about how you can look at photos from brides in New York wearing more fashion-forward, couture styles, but in Chicago that we rarely see such fashion risks. Kristen completely did it up, though, in an amazing Oscar de la Renta gown with a removable peplum, horse hair flower corsage, Oscar heels, a classic veil and a necklace that converted to a belt at the end of the night. Completely bananas; I loved it.
Ceremony: St. Michael’s in Old Town | Reception: Terzo Piano :: Modern Wing at the Art Institute | Dress: Oscar de la Renta via Ultimate Bride | Printed Materials: Smock Paper + Spark Letterpress from Magnificent Milestones | Floral: Hello, Darling | DJ: Style Matters | Day of Coordinator & Calligrapher: Marilyn at Honeybee Weddings | Makeup + Hair: Sonia Roselli
Please don’t repost these on other blogs without permission!
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Modern Wing Wedding :: Erik + Katie at the Art Institute
- Posted on:
- 26 August 2010
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.
Wedding venue: Terzo Piano at the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago | Florals: Botanicals | Officiant: Terry Brady (a favourite of mine) | Dress: Vera Wang | Shoes: Chanel | Makeup + Hair: Jo and Claudia from Sonia Roselli
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Modern Wing Wedding Photos [Art Institute] :: Sudhir + Chrissy
- Posted on:
- 13 January 2010
Planning a wedding at the Art Institute? If so, congratulations! The Art Institute and its beautiful spaces like Griffin Court, Terzo Piano, the Modern Wing, and McClintock Court, combine to make for my favourite venue in the city of Chicago. Many people stumble upon this, my first AIC wedding, but please consider checking out many recent Modern Wing weddings to see how others have used the space! Erica + Tom, church + terzo reception | Erik + Katie, griffin court ceremony + modern wing art institute reception | Cassidy + Adam, griffin court ceremony + terzo piano reception | Katy + Alex, church + modern wing reception | Kristen + Scott, church + terzo piano reception
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Chrissy and Sudhir were married at the end of December in what was a typical winter Chicago day—gray, slushy and cold! But despite the weather, they had one of my favourite weddings of the year, an elegant but relaxed celebration at the brand new Modern Wing at the Art Institute. This space is such a stunner, and made a gorgeous showcase of Chicago for their incredibly sweet friends and family who came from around the world to celebrate their wedding. I am photographing another wedding there in September and can’t wait to see how different the space will be in the warmer months, with guests taking advantage of the gorgeous terrace and bridge (where we took a few portraits below).
Regarding the portraits below, I think we wedding photographers talk a lot about getting our clients to trust us. It is so critical to getting great portraits—having that connection and trust. But I think we—or I, at least—forget that sometimes we also have to trust our clients! Chrissy and Sudhir gave me little direction about where to do the portraits of them, telling me they trusted me, and saying they liked the industrial photos they’d seen in my portfolio before. Couples occassionally tell me to “do whatever I want,” but I think it can be really hard to trust that they really mean “whatever!” and not “whatever…by which we mean photos on Michigan Avenue.” Since it was my last wedding of the year, I decided to just go with it, to try to push it a little, and I could not be more happy with the results. These are my favourite type of pictures to take, and I hope it shows.
Thanks to all the vendors who were all just great! Hair and Makeup: Krystyn & Samara of Bridal Beauty Chicago // Flowergirl, ring bearer accessories (so cute!): my oh-so-talented past client, Julie Booma // Bridal jewelry: also by Julie, through Poesi jewelry// //Venue: Modern Wing/Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago
