The Best Photojournalistic Wedding Photographers in Rockford, IL

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172 Wedding Photographers in Rockford, IL

Photojournalistic
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Shannon VanDyke Photography 
Rating: 4.6 (10 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,250
  • Serves Rockford, IL
  • Offer

Hey there! I'm Shannon! I've always been a creative at heart and I'm blessed to have a job that I absolutely adore! I truly love connecting with all of my couples and creating those special memories. Capturing the love between two souls is truly my calling in life. From engagement session to wedding day, I am here for you! I want to be "THE ONE" to tell your beautiful love story!

Awarded Best of Zola
“Shannon was absolutely amazing! From our engagement pictures to our wedding photos! She does a great job with communicating and is so flexible. She was someone we had trusted since day one and we knew that our wedding day would go perfect with her capturing it. She made both of us feel so comfortable when it came to taking those awkward pictures but they turned out perfect. On our wedding day, we had some technical difficulties that caused some delays and Shannon was super chill about it. We felt guilty that she stayed a little longer than she needed to make sure she captured the dancing portion at the end of the night. We cannot thank her enough for everything she has done for us and we strongly recommend her to those looking for a wedding photographer.”
Grant and C., 3 months ago
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Red Barn Wedding Studio 
Rating: 4.9 (27 reviews)
·Ratings include Zola and Google reviews
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,000
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Red Barn Wedding Studio is a wedding photography and wedding cinematography company, based in Chicago, Illinois, dedicated to customer service and exceptional visual storytelling. All our lead wedding photographers and videographers have around 15 years experience in the wedding field, covering and experiencing all kinds of lighting scenarios and true life stories.

“Red Barn Studios team was absolutely amazing! These guys are true artists and they are so passionate about what they do. They made me feel so comfortable and so beautiful. They know exactly the type of vision you want for your wedding day. Highly recommended for anyone getting married. You will not be disappointed! Thank you for all of your hard work and being a part of our special day!”
Sandra A., 2 years ago
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Megan Saul Photography 
Rating: 5.0 (10 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,500
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Photography has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. What started as a childhood passion grew into a lifelong pursuit of storytelling through images. I’m based in both Union, Illinois, and Florida, which allows me to capture weddings in a variety of beautiful settings. When I’m not behind the camera, I’m gardening, traveling, or spending time with my partner, Kenny, and our three pets. My work has been featured in many publications, but what truly drives me is creating honest, meaningful imagery for my couples—photos that will live on as part of their legacy.

“Megan did our engagement, boudoir, and wedding photos and I cannot love her or her work more. She is a total artist and captured us, our friends and family, and the vibe of our wedding so magnificently. She worked with everyone so well and provided direction when needed but also just did her thing and the results are beyond gorgeous. Will be working with her for every future event!!”
Kaleigh W., 3 months ago
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Christian Isaac Photography 
Rating: 5.0 (8 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,600
  • Serves Rockford, IL

I'm Chris, on my 13th year of event & weddings photography. At your hands you have a photographer who documents and enjoys the fun spontaneous emotions for candids and poses. I believe photography helps maintain life's special moments for people that like to keep watching and rewinding memory lane and I am one of them. I believe photography is fun, life-giving, adventurous for the right people and I look forward to answering any of your questions.

“As a wedding photographer myself, I’m extremely selective about who I trust to capture the most important moments of my life. Choosing Chris was one of the best decisions we made. His talent, eye for detail, and soft artistic touch truly stood out from the very beginning. My wife and I were especially impressed by his kindness and patience throughout the entire day. He brought such a calm, positive energy that made everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera. The way he captured our emotions and the little in‑between moments was everything we hoped for. Chris isn’t just a skilled photographer — he’s someone who genuinely cares about the couples he works with. We’re incredibly grateful for the beautiful memories he created for us. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a photographer with both artistry and heart.”
Nikolay, 8 months ago
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Ryan Davis Photography 
Rating: 5.0 (2 reviews)
Rockford, IL
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,500

I photograph weddings for people who'd rather enjoy their day than spend it posing for photos. For more than 15 years I've been documenting the laughter, happy tears, dance floor chaos, and the little moments you never saw coming. My goal is simple: make you feel comfortable, stay out of the way when it matters, and create photos that feel like your wedding, not a photoshoot.

“Ryan was great to work with. He went over our timeline before the big day and was open to our weird ideas. We are both a bit awkward when it comes to having our photos taken but that does not come through in the photos. He was able to take our (my) silly weirdness and produce great photos that capture our energy. He was easy to work with and was not focused on directing us. He let most photos happen naturally and it really reflects who we are instead of having stiff, formal photos. We still took formal family photos but his candid shots are exceptionally lovely.”
Madeleine, 3 months ago
DIAMOND PHOTO CO 
Rockford, IL
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,500

Hello, I'm Amanda, owner of Diamond Photo Co! I am passionate about capturing memories and preserving moments through photo and video and have been dedicating my life to this for 9 years, now! I absolutely love what I do and am proud to offer you a timeless keepsake of one of the best days of your life! I've assembled a team I love to work with and am proud to work alongside them to capture your day. Wanna know more about me? I'm a Type A planner that loves to roll with the punches! From planning you timeline with you on a phone call to laughing with you at the engagement session, I like to keep it fun, easy, and relaxed!

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Erik Anderson - Photography, LLC. 
Rating: 5.0 (18 reviews)
·Ratings include Zola and Google reviews
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Rockford, IL

I'm a 35-year-old husband to Samantha, our son Silas, daughter Fiona, and our wiggler companion Moxie. I've been a wedding photographer for 11 years, having photographed over 300 weddings and countless other sessions! My hobby is also my job, and you bet my wife loves that, haha. I am also a stay-at-home dad, a philatelist, a Lego freak, and a craft beer nerd, and we have an orange fridge, haha.

Awarded Best of Zola
“The quality of Erik's work as a photographer is unparalleled. He truly captured the "light, bright, airy" aesthetic that I loved when I first started researching different styles. He is highly detailed oriented which is a must for somebody like me who really notices all the little details. He went above and beyond by traveling to our engagement shooting location all the way in Madison, WI! When it came to shooting the big day, Erik orchestrated everything perfectly including calming me down during a stressful moment, making us all laugh, and capturing all the "good angles". From the first few photos I received, his work made me feel absolutely beautiful. When I shared with others, the first thing they commented was: "Wow, Your photographer KILLED it with the wedding photos!" Extremely high quality editing....Erik is worth every penny and I would highly recommend him to anyone!”
Hannah S., 2 years ago
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Erin Henze Media 
Rating: 5.0 (9 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,000
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Hi, I’m Erin! In my free time you might find me reading a good book, going for a quick run, planning a trip or spending time with my friends and family. And, most of all, I love using my camera to capture the beauty of people and the world that we live in. I am deeply devoted to documenting all of the memories, moments and feelings that you deserve to have stored forever. There is so much power in visual storytelling, and I would love for the opportunity to help you tell yours! Whatever the occasion- from wedding celebrations & family photos to senior portraits and birthday parties- I’m here to capture it all.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Erin is my go to 2nd shooter and would be my main shooter if I needed her to be! She is easy to work with, always has a smile on her face, and produces beautiful and quality work!! Definitely hire her as your photographer (vendor or couple) you will not regret it! She is amazing at light & airy and will deliver a gorgeous and affordable wedding album!”
Brittany M., 2 years ago
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Weddings By Holly Lou 
Rating: 5.0 (5 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,250
  • Serves Rockford, IL
  • Offer

Located in Northern Illinois, couples who choose me are looking for clean, natural, and timeless wedding photography. My style is very candid and photojournalistic, but also artistic and professional. My editing style is very clean, keeping your images timeless.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Holly Johns Photography was the absolute easiest photography vendor to communicate with. Holly is timely, always prepared, and beyond supportive! And her skill with photos speaks for itself. Holly is a true professional, kind, hard working, and excellent at her craft. She contributed so much to our special day - not only did she give us the most stunning photos, but she kept our whole day running smoothly! Holly made sure we had time to eat, drink water, mingle with our families, try the appetizers we wanted, and was so endlessly kind and supportive. It was the best vendor experience I've ever had. If you don't hire Holly, you are MISSING OUT!!! I would recommend her to anyone, and I'm looking forward to continuing to have her capture all of our big life moments.”
Nelle C., a year ago
Chrissy Deming Photography 
Rating: 5.0 (1 review)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,500
  • Serves Rockford, IL

I'm Chrissy and I'm a documentary wedding photographer with 10+ years of experience who fully believes that your life deserves to be documented truthfully. My focus at your wedding isn't to steal you away from your family and friends for hours to make "art," but to empathically capture the moments and relationships present at your wedding. Your wedding photos are the single most important wedding investment you'll make. After the day is done and over, they will be what tethers you to your memories of your day. They will be the heirlooms you'll pass down to your grandchildren to hang on walls and sit on bedsides for generations to come.

“We loved Chrissy! She was fun and easy to work with, and I loved that she provided color and black/white photos. She did everything on our list, and listened to our ideas as well. Nothing felt forced or over-posed, but she was great at guiding next moves when needed. Will definitely use again for future photos.”
Eline O., 4 years ago
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Rockford Wedding Photographer 
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,000
  • Serves Rockford, IL

It’s about time. Twenty years from your wedding day, the pictures will take you back to every moment you recall, and perhaps many more you’d thought you’d forgotten. It’s my job to help you remember. My name is Mike Hope, and I’ve done this for a while. I started shooting weddings 15 years ago. The years add up–in a good way. Every wedding is different, but some things stay the same: the intimacy; the hidden moments; the celebrations. However you wish to honor each other, I’ll be there. I’ll document it. And you’ll have something to look back on for the rest of your lives together.

Mindy Joy Photography 
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,500
  • Serves Rockford, IL

My style is an amalgamation of my personal artistic touch with a candid approach. I provide work that is reflective of the events, feelings, and moments that occur. My photography is complimented my enthusiasm, and creative drive! I strive to give clients authentic photography. I grew up outside of Rockford, Illinois and received my BFA with a concentration in printmaking in addition to Art History and Psychology Minors from Rockford University. My involvement in art, photography, and people has been nothing short of a lifelong endeavor. There's few things I love more than creating with and working with others. It's my passion.

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Original Weddings Photo & Video 
Rating: 4.9 (235 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,800
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Original Weddings Photo & Video is a team of EMMY award winning storytellers. Our photography and videography packages are tailored to you, customizable and perfect for every wedding. We offer engagement photography, wedding photos, highlight films, wedding coverage and more.

Awarded Best of Zola
“We are so happy we went with Sound Originals for our wedding photos! Gabriella the planning specialist, was SO helpful with our wedding day timeline and communicated everything promptly and informatively. The client portal is also very helpful for planning the timeline, updating info/details, asking questions, and viewing our finished photos. Our photographer, Mike, was a blast to work with and we highly recommend him for those in the Chicago area. He was assigned to us about 2 weeks before the big day (due to a conflict with the photographer we were originally assigned) and he made sure to reach out to me right away so he could get to know us and get caught up on our timeline and details. His fun, goofy personality kept us at ease throughout the day, he did a great job wrangling the bridal party, and helping with poses so we felt comfortable having our photos taken all day. He was also super efficient with our group photos and sunset photos- we actually had time to sit down and eat dinner! We are in love with our wedding photos and 100% recommend Sound Originals (and MIKE)!”
Cassidy H., 2 years ago
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Albany Capture Film & Photography Studios 
Rating: 5.0 (199 reviews)
·Ratings include Zola and Google reviews
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Rockford, IL

You're not just hiring a photographer—you're gaining a creative partner who’s with you from “yes” to “I do.” I’m Pedro, Creative Director of Albany Capture, and for over 12 years I’ve been documenting love stories through a style that blends photojournalism with fine art. Weddings are more than just events—they're a celebration of connection, and I’m passionate about preserving the real, fleeting moments that make your day unforgettable. To ensure we provide dedicated time and personalized recommendations for your wedding photography and videography needs, we now offer in-depth consultations for a nominal fee of $50.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Pedro was absolutely amazing to work with for our engagement photos. From the start, he was kind, responsive, and so helpful in guiding us through the process. He made everything feel easy and fun! On the day of the shoot, he helped us feel comfortable in front of the camera and gave great direction on how to pose. He also knew all the best spots to capture a variety of looks and even showed us a room at the Art Institute I had never seen before! The photos turned out even better than we imagined. They felt dreamy and cinematic, like something out of a movie or magazine. We’re so grateful for the care and effort Pedro put into capturing such a special day for us.”
Keeley S., 7 months ago
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Once Like a Spark Wedding Co. 
Rating: 4.9 (99 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,845
  • Serves Rockford, IL

More than a decade ago, two sisters - knew there had to be a better way to allow talented photographers and videographers to focus on what they do best -- create gorgeous art -- while providing couples with better support in the planning process. Together, they created an all-inclusive, stress-free environment where couples can choose from talented local photographers and videographers and work with a small team of planning experts equipped and eager to make everything a success. With the pressure gone, you can truly enjoy your big day. Relax and rest assured that all the emotional and moments will be documented with unmatched quality.

Awarded Best of Zola
“OLAS were the easiest vendor I worked with throughout the wedding process. Their quick and efficient communication gave me the peace of mind I needed when it came to wedding photos. I had a very specific vision for our imagery, and OLAS and our photographer were more than accommodating as I neurotically guided some photos. Our photographer came equipped with a great attitude and even better skills in capturing our day, and I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding photography experience.”
Jordan M., 2 years ago
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VIDART 
Rating: 5.0 (60 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,200
  • Serves Rockford, IL

VIDART's chief photographer studied at Columbia for film and U of I for foreign languages and philosophy, and went to Loyola for graduate studies. He worked at Lyric Opera of Chicago filming operas before joining VIDART. He is the author of the college textbook Cinematography 101, and has worked with John de Lancie (Q in Star Trek: TNG) on the science documentary The Reality of Time. Michael has also worked on the sets of over a dozen other feature films. He has handled the photography and videography for several thousand weddings and events, including work for clients such as Microsoft, Amazon, Macy’s, Sysco and more.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Couldn’t be happier. VIDART made everything easy and stress-free. The colors are vibrant, the emotions are real, and the editing is clean, not overdone. We’ll cherish these forever.”
Ethan C., a year ago
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Portraits By Sean 
Rating: 5.0 (47 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,000
  • Serves Rockford, IL



I present fun, elegant, and exciting Wedding Photography for my clients. My style is photojournalistic; I feel it's the most effective way to tell a story. After all, there is so much happening on a wedding day. Between the ceremony, dancing, and endless extravaganzas, the most memorable moments will naturally occur.  My goal is to capture the emotions and memories of your day through my lens. These recollections are your forever keepsakes, a chapter of your life's story. Every image accounts for those who were by your side, delighted for you, and the next step in your journey. I appreciate you for giving me a few moments of your time.t

Awarded Best of Zola
“Working with Portraits By Sean was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Their communication style was professional, efficient, and genuinely kind throughout the entire process. The quality of their work was truly one-of-a-kind - their photos are gorgeous, superb, innovative, and incredibly detail-oriented and precise. The team of two photographers and a videographer was amazing, capturing so many special moments that will forever stay with us from our wedding day. We were especially grateful that they were able to capture our private final dance, which means the world to us. After our wedding, when our oldest son was leaving for bootcamp, Sean thoughtfully sent us additional photos that had been taken during the celebration, which are now cherished keepsakes for our family. I honestly can't say enough good things about our experience with Portraits By Sean - they exceeded our expectations in every way and we are thrilled with the beautiful memories they've preserved for us.”
Brittany S., a year ago
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Ledd Lens LLC, Photo and Film 
Rating: 5.0 (45 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,399
  • Serves Rockford, IL

The company has done over 400 weddings for the last 5 years, so we use these experiences to provide quality services. We also provide discount for Military/Veterans and teachers. We have serviced 42 states so far. We offer both photo and video services. Quicker turnaround time compare to most companies. Our shooting style of is photojournalistic, natural & CINEMATIC. Our editing style is very easygoing & flexible. Our biggest markets are the following: FL, New England area, PA, IL, DMV area, Tri-State area, Southern CA, MI, OH, CO.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Ledd Lens LLC, Photo and Film were wonderful to work with for our wedding. They were very communicative and helpful in guiding us through all the different poses to capture the best shots. The quality of their work was amazing - they really captured the beauty and joy of our special day. They managed to get so many beautiful and unforgettable moments on camera that we will treasure forever. We highly recommend Ledd Lens LLC, Photo and Film - they were great and did an amazing job at capturing every special moment of our wedding.”
Genesis M., 2 years ago
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The Still Life Photography 
Rating: 5.0 (39 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $4,225
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Jay & Nicole Vega decided to pursue a career together in the art of Photography. Met & married in Chicago in 2013, two people set out on a business venture of a lifetime. While Nicole is the main photographer of the company, we have also expanded and hired reliable, talented photographers to work along side with us, while still maintaining a small business feel.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Nicole was a joy to work with for our wedding photography. Nicole was extremely prompt and efficient in her communication leading up to the big day, and her kind yet focused demeanor put us totally at ease. On the day itself, Nicole brought an incredibly positive energy and made sure every special moment was captured beautifully. The photos she delivered showcase her genuine talent and eye for gorgeous detail. Her editing enhanced but did not overly manipulate the images, allowing our personalities and the emotions of the day to shine through naturally. Overall, Nicole cares deeply about her clients and works tirelessly to ensure your wedding memories are preserved flawlessly. We could not give a higher recommendation for her photography services.”
Morgan J., 2 years ago
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Heather Christine Photo + Film 
Rating: 5.0 (37 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,000
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Hiii! I'm Heather Schoolcraft - owner & CEO! I'm a small town gal from WV who LOVES traveling and pops of color. I've designed my entire company around creating authentic + magical love stories. On your wedding day, our goal is to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera, and to focus on the raw + real moments on your day. Don't settle for less because you have to; let ME help you get the photos + video that you've always dreamed of.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Heather Christine Photo Film was an exceptional wedding vendor for our special day. From the very beginning, Heather's communication style was punctual, professional, and friendly. She was always quick to respond to our questions and went above and beyond to provide helpful recommendations and advice, even on topics unrelated to photography. Heather's hard-working and perfectionistic approach was evident in the incredible quality of her work. She took the time to meeting with us multiple times to ensure she had everything covered to make our wedding day perfect. Heather's dedication and passion for her craft shine through in the stunning photos she captured, which beautifully commemorate all the special moments from our celebration. We are thrilled with the results and highly recommend Heather Christine Photo Film to any couple looking for an exceptional wedding photography experience.”
Lily L., a year ago
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Ali Cushing Photography 
Rating: 5.0 (36 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Hey, hey my name is Ali. NY-based, but working nation-wide, I'm a wedding photographer who captures experiences, genuine love, authentic characters, and immortalizes precious memories. I focus on visualizing how it felt to live your wedding day, while also crafting editorializations simply for the sake of intentional, living art. I am adamant that everyone, of all genders and orientations, any ethnicity, culture, or faith, all shapes, ages, and abilities, are welcome and I’d be delighted to work with you.

Awarded Best of Zola
“We had the most amazing time working with Ali! We had kind of a long engagement and we initially started working with Ali over a year and a half before our wedding to get our engagement photos done. Not only were the photos beautiful, but Ali made us feel super comfortable and at ease throughout our session. Leading up to our wedding day, Ali was amazing at coordinating the day of timeline with our coordinator and making sure that all the elements that were important to us were included so that we had enough time to capture the moments. One of my favorite things about working with Ali is her calm presence. Every time I was stressed about something in the planning process about the timeline I would talk to Ali and she would immediately make me feel at ease. She was constantly reminding me that the most important thing on my wedding day was to be present with our friends and family (and as a type A bride this was a much-needed reminder!) Ali also came to take photos at our rehearsal dinner and welcome party which was great because she got to know our families and our family dynamics before our big day which was a huge help! On the wedding day Ali and the second shooter Scottie were rockstars! They went above and beyond at every opportunity from helping the boys tie a bow tie, climbing out on my fire escape to get a crazy photo that I had in mind, moving locations at last minute, dealing with rain, helping bustle my dress, and of course capturing all the beauty of our perfect day. I will not hesitate to work with Ali and her team again! She’s amazing, a true professional, and I hope we have the chance to have her capture our big milestones in the years to come.”
Mayela A., a year ago
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Debra Aslanidis Photography 
Rating: 4.9 (34 reviews)
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,000
  • Serves Rockford, IL
  • Offer

We’re Debra & Jeremy, a husband-and-wife wedding photography duo capturing love stories with heart, intention, and a whole lot of soul. Our approach blends documentary moments with gentle guidance, so your photos feel natural, emotional, and unmistakably you. From quiet, intimate glances to joyful, unscripted laughter, we focus on the moments you’ll feel just as much years from now. If you value connection, authenticity, and images that tell a story—not just pose for one—we might be the perfect fit.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Debra and her partner do incredible work, they were on time and even worked well with any wedding day hiccups. When I received my wedding photos back I was in awe, but Debra herself is so kind and you can tell she actually cares about her clients. I had a completely different vendor drop out last minute and she even tried to help me find a replacement even tho that wasn’t her job. I’d hire her again just based off her care to her clients. You can tell she has a true passion and her work speaks for itself. I could go on but I only get 50 characters. Book her.”
Ebony E., a month ago
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KMauck Photography LLC 
Rating: 5.0 (33 reviews)
·Ratings include Zola and Google reviews
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,700
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Hi, I’m Kelsey! I am a wedding photographer! I am obsessed with dogs. I will never not acknowledge a dog near me by saying “puppers”. It is what it is. I would 100% rather be on the beach somewhere with palm trees. I am constantly daydreaming about being in the tropics. I love the color black. If we work together, there is a high chance that will be my outfit color of choice.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Kelsey did our proposal shoot, engagement shoot, a random photoshoot we planned, and our wedding. She is so easy to work with and makes us feel so comfortable working with her. She goes above and beyond with her delivery of images too. She’s always given us more images than what we’ve paid for just because she enjoys the shoot so much and the images. You can tell she loves what she does through her work! She’s always timely with her shoots and delivery of images! She got us close to 100 preview images within a day of our wedding. We love working with her and highly recommend her!!!”
Ashley H., 2 years ago
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Focused On Life Photography LLC 
Rating: 5.0 (31 reviews)
·Ratings include Zola and Google reviews
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $6,500
  • Serves Rockford, IL
  • Offer

Hi! I'm Brayley, owner of Focused On Life Photography LLC, a Full-Time, Published, Destination Wedding + Lifestyle Photography business, & I would LOVE to be your wedding photographer! Since 2023, we at FLP LLC have been focused on capturing all of life's precious milestones in a natural, earthy, classic & candid style. From your first inquiry, to your wedding day, & to hopefully many more milestones in the future, we are here to make your photography dream a reality in a way that feels authentic to you. With us, you don't need to worry about things like how to pose -- all you need to do on your day is smile & relax! We'll take it from there.

Awarded Best of Zola
“Brayley was hands down the easiest and one of the best hires for our wedding. I found her through the Zola website as a photographer with five stars. I reached out, and she got back to me immediately. Her communication skills were top-notch, and I hired her that same day. My fiancé and I live in the Carolinas, and despite the three-hour time difference, we always felt in the loop, heard, and understood. From the first email to the wedding day, she was amazing. Now let's get to the important stuff... the wedding day. She was incredible. She got all the shots I wanted and then some. We were able to get all the photos done in a timely manner so that we could get back to the party and enjoy ourselves. Brayley captured both staged photos and the best candids. We cannot wait to get the rest of our album back. If you're thinking about hiring Brayley... DO IT!”
Kendall M., 2 years ago
GemHidden gem
Chicago Wedding Photographer - Joe Nowak Photography 
Rating: 5.0 (31 reviews)
·Ratings include Zola and Google reviews
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $6,500
  • Serves Rockford, IL

Hi, I’m Joe! I’ve been photographing weddings for over 20 years because I love capturing authentic, heartfelt, and timeless moments while keeping the day fun and stress-free. I gently guide couples and families when needed, making sure the moments that matter most are captured beautifully. Featured in Modern Luxury Chicago Bride, and award-winning online and print magazines, I become couples’ go-to person on the day, building trust and creating images they’ll treasure forever. — Joe

“Working with Joe was hands down the best decision we made for our wedding day. From start to finish, he made everything feel effortless. He’s calm, fun, and somehow everywhere and nowhere at the same time, capturing every moment without ever feeling intrusive. He went above and beyond — from stepping into traffic to help us get the perfect shot to catering to every need we had. Our photos at the Peninsula Hotel, North Avenue Beach, Millennium Park, the Rookery, and Board of Trade are absolutely stunning, and we get to relive the day every time we look at them. Joe isn’t just a photographer — he’s like family now, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience or the pictures.”
James R., 7 months ago