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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Diana + Mike :: Salvage One Wedding
- Posted on:
- 28 September 2011
Diana and Mike met at Second City, a fact that wouldn’t surprise anyone after meeting these two! They are probably the funniest couple I have ever worked with; I think I laughed every minute that I saw these two throughout the year-plus that I was lucky enough to get to know them. The wedding was no different, with laughter and light-heartedness permeating the day. If it’s any indication, Diana’s vows started off with a quote from Dr. Dre. :) But at the same time, I found the wedding to be so wonderful as their deep connection and emotion also rose to the surface, with many tears and truly lovely and emotional vows. Diana and Mike are a perfect match with both many similar qualities but also a very obvious balance at work. I just loved working with them and so enjoyed their day!
Their wedding was my last of a string of three that I had earlier this year at one of my favourite venues, Salvage One. This was also the first wedding where we were able to have an outdoor ceremony, always making for such nice photos! Diana looked stunning in her Reem Acra gown and makeup by the best in the business, Miss Sonia Roselli. The bridesmaids also looked so gorgeous in their Two Birds gowns. Joel from Studio 272 (my favorite videographer to work with) did a fantastic job on their highlight film, which you should watch here. Elizabeth from Anticipation Events did a great job coordinating, Amy Beck made a gorgeous cake as always, Style Matters kept the dance floor hopping, Blue Plate served delicious food, and my assistant Casey Winkleman did a great job, as usual, contributing a few of the images below. Thanks to everyone involved!
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- Comments:
- 1
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Bond Chapel & Salvage One Wedding | Keila + Dan
- Posted on:
- 11 July 2011
It takes a village.
That was the saying I kept thinking about after Dan and Keila’s wedding. I don’t think I have done a wedding before that had such a sense of community. From groomsmen turning dozens of heavy pews around to create the in-the-round ceremony setup to a sweet uncle driving the couple around the city in his beautiful vintage car; from aunts laying out Brazilian sweets and bem casados to talented friends creating their beautiful invitations; from friends and siblings singing and playing music during the ceremony to friends helping to arrange flowers, so many people were involved in this day. And along with that, everyone really seemed to do everything in such a truly joyful way—I don’t think I have felt a group of guests feel more excited for a wedding to be taking place!
This really was such a little dream of a wedding; Dan and Keila are a couple that were really focused on having everything at the wedding be intentional and a true reflection of them, rather than just doing what one ought to do at a wedding. Dan processed down to a beautiful rendition of the Brazilian classic, Aguas do Marco, sung by Dan’s sister with accompaniment from Keila’s brother. Keila walked down the aisle to “I Was Made to Love Her” by Stevie Wonder, a song Dan had known he wanted at the wedding for years; it was truly a magical moment, filling the room with joy and laughter rather than just reverence. They flipped half of the pews at the beautiful Bond Chapel to ensure all the guests could feel more included in the ceremony, and the ceremony included a set of very touching gifts that would help to remind them of their commitment that day.
After some pictures around the city, we headed over to Salvage One, where Keila’s uncle led all the guests in a Brazilian square dance with French directions. You can imagine how that went! :) Pretty much no one had any idea what they were doing, but it completely broke the ice and was such a memorable part of the day. Upstairs, a lovely buffet was served and guests also partook in a Brazilian dessert table, filled with special sweets arranged by Keila’s aunts. Touching toasts were given on a stage, and before dancing occurred, a pinata that they had spent so long creating was hoisted to the ceiling, and guests were able to take a swing, based on how long they had been married. After that, lovely parent dances took place, followed by Dan and Keila wowing the crowd with an incredible swing dance for their first dance.
I could go on and on about this wedding and this couple. Everything was just perfect and I was so happy to be a part of such a unique and personal celebration. You can (and should) also check out the video by Joel at Studio 272 that gives a little more insight into this couple and their celebration. Many thanks, as well, to Toast and Jam for great tunes, Sarah Postma for her help on this wedding, and J&L for delicious food.
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- Posted in:
- chicago wedding photographer
- salvage one
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- Comments:
- 4
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Those First 20 Seconds + Some Updates
- Posted on:
- 11 July 2011
Those first twenty seconds after the couple is announced is usually my favourite little moment of the whole wedding. So much authentic happiness and joy!
Huge congrats to Diana and Mike who were married this Saturday at Salvage One and had just a total delight of a day! Can’t wait to share more beautiful and fun moments from their celebration
A few little notes and updates:
Travel: The studio will be closed this Thursday - Monday a.m. as I’ll be taking a quick little mid-season break to go visit my family in the mountains of North Carolina. I will most likely not be checking email during this time, but will get back to things promptly next week.The studio will also be closed August 6-11 midday for a trip out to San Francisco to do a session, attend a little workshop, and hopefully eat lots of ice cream. I do have time while out there to do probably one additional session if you or someone you know may be interested! Email will also be very limited during this trip.
Looking forward, I will also be going out to Philly and possibly New York later this fall for shoots if any East Coasters are interested in shoots or consultations.
On a general note, dates are booking extremely fast for 2012, particular for spring and early summer. If you are interested in learning more about photography services for your wedding in that date range, please feel free to get in touch.
And just a last general note to say thank you to all the wonderful people I’ve gotten to know this year. Have been feeling a little overwhelmed with gratitude these past few days for my good fortune in being able to be a part of so many of amazing people’s lives!
That huge blog post I referenced before will be appearing tomorrow (little technical glitch). It’s a good one, I promise.
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- Posted in:
- chicago wedding photographer
- salvage one
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Lately
- Posted on:
- 07 July 2011
To say it has been a busy month or so would be a bit of an understatement. Chock full of wonderful couples. Lots of sessions, and beautiful weddings at the Armour House (stunning), Salvage One, the classic Hilton on Michigan Avenue, a Christian/Hindu celebration out in Rockford, and a fabulously glam wedding at the Cultural Center. Wanted to share a bit of the work that has resulted in fewer posts of late. Check back tomorrow for a big, big post with one of my favourite weddings ever - Stevie Wonder, pinatas, square dancing, swing dancing, oh yes.
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Salvage One Wedding | Lindsey + Michael
- Posted on:
- 02 June 2011
I am not much of a crier. I think I have cried at a total of five movies in my lifetime. At weddings, I often see the coordinator or another vendor getting misty, but for me, tears have almost never happened at a wedding. My heart races as the bride walks down the aisle, I feel filled with happiness after the ceremony, and feel emotional about this big step for my couples, but rarely does that show on my face.
But this wedding.
Oh, this wedding. This wedding—with its incredible moments and over-the-top joy—broke me down. At the end of the ceremony, shooting away, I was a blubbering little mess, along with I think every other person in the church.
I have many favorite wedding moments, but seeing Lindsey and Michael walk down the aisle at Old Saint Patrick’s church, as their friends sang their song “You are the Best Thing” by Ray Lamontagne, as the entire church was filled with thunderous cheers and applause, took the cake.
Lindsey and Michael are both incredibly talented actors and directors, so it was fitting they met in a rehearsal room at Steppenwolf. On their wedding day, we did their first look in the room where they first met, and a ceremony at the historic Old Saint Patrick’s followed. At their reception venue, Salvage One, Michael and Lindsey filled the room with personal touches, including a listening station where guests could listen to personal messages from the couple, tables filled with wines that had been enjoyed throughout their relationship, and chalkboards with quotes from their love letters over the years.
These two are just magic together, and it was truly a privilege to witness their overwhelming happiness and joy on this day.
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- 2
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