Kate Kaplan Photography


Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Prices start at $4,500

Elopement pricing

Prices start at $1,000

Packages

Prices start at $1,200


About Kate Kaplan Photography

Kate Kaplan Photography

Owner/Lead Photographer

I'm Kate! A Chicago-area wedding photographer who loves getting to know her clients and offering a personalized approach. Candid moments are my favorite to capture, but I can offer as much guidance as you need when it's time for portraits. I'm laid-back by nature, which helps me offer a relaxed experience on what can often be a busy day! Understanding what is a priority for you on your wedding day is so important to me. Each couple is unique and I love offering an experience that celebrates YOU specifically. If this sounds like what you're searching for - please don't hesitate to reach out and get the conversation going!

There are many talented photographers out there, but only one me. With me, you can expect a personalized approach, as much support & guidance as you need, and images that feel timeless & true to you. Each couple & each wedding day is unique. I’ve found that I can offer the most value for your investment by building custom collection options based on your specific priorities & plans.

Best of Zola 2025
Best of Zola 2024
Best of Zola 2023

Services

Services

  • Engagement session
  • Extra hours
  • Image editing
  • Online proofing
  • Printing rights
  • Second photographer

Photo formats

  • Digital

Deliverables

  • Digital files
  • Online gallery
  • Photo box
  • Wedding album

Kate Kaplan Photography packages

Full Wedding Day

8 hours

Peak pricing $4,500-5,000

Off-peak pricing $4,000-4,500

Description

This is an example of a typical package. Unlike others, I don't have generic, one-size-fits-all packages for my clients. Instead, I build custom collection options based on your specific priorities and plans. Each couple is so unique, and I've found that this way, I can provide the best experience for my clients and offer the most value for their investment. Let's set up a quick chat so I can provide you with your custom collection options!

What’s included
  • Engagement Session
  • 8 Hours of Wedding day coverage
  • Access to my wedding guide
  • Collaboration + Support in planning
  • Sneak Peek images delivered within 1 week
  • Online Gallery (live for 3 months)
  • Personal Print Release

Micro Wedding/Elopement

3 hours

Peak pricing $1,500-2,000

Off-peak pricing $1,200-1,600

Description

This is the average range of what most couples choose to spend with me for their elopement. Unlike others, I don't have generic, one-size-fits-all packages for my clients. Instead, I build custom collection options based on your specific priorities and plans. Each couple is so unique, and I've found that this way, I can provide the best experience for my clients and offer the most value for their investment. Let's set up a quick chat so I can provide you with your custom collection options!


Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

18 reviews

  • MP

    Maddie P.

    Rating: 5
    Zola
    Aug 5, 2026

    We love Kate!

    Working with Kate was such a highlight of our wedding! Of course she helped us have an amazing wedding day experience, but throughout the whole planning process, Kate was communicative, reliable, and knowledgeable. It's very clear she believes that your wedding day should be as stress-free and fun as possible, and she offers as much support as you need to feel ready for the big day. We planned our wedding remotely, and had some nerves going into things without having done any sort of engagement shoot or much experience in front of the camera. But from the moment she arrived, Kate made us feel comfortable and natural. Throughout the blur of the wedding day, she helped ensure we got all the photos we wanted, and her calm demeanor helped ease any stress. Kate and the second shooter, Devin, worked seamlessly together throughout the night, capturing great candid moments and even grabbing us for a few moments during dinner to take advantage of the outdoor parts of the venue. Their energy and direction never felt over-the-top or forced, which I really appreciated. And the photos! We received our highlight gallery and had so much fun going through them, with each one capturing moments from the day in such spectacular and genuine ways. The photos are truly incredible, and we love them. What stood out the most was how she captured the in-between, in-the-moment details that made the day feel so alive and joyful. Kate has an incredible eye and style, and there are so many amazing memories we'll be able to relive through her lens. Thank you, Kate, for all the energy, care, support, and talent you poured into our wedding!

  • WJ

    Will J.

    Rating: 5
    Zola
    Aug 5, 2026

    The Perfect Chicago Wedding Photographer

    TL;DR: Kate Kaplan Photography made both our engagement session and wedding photos genuinely enjoyable—even though neither of us particularly likes being photographed. She was calm, empathetic, professional, and felt more like a family member than a vendor. Our only regret from the wedding was not getting a photo with Kate herself, which says everything about how special she became to us. My wife and I got married in Chicago in July 2026. Early in the planning process, my wife found Kate Kaplan Photography on Instagram and immediately connected with her style, so we scheduled an introductory call. From that first conversation, Kate’s professionalism, warmth, and calm presence were immediately apparent. We booked her for both our engagement session and wedding, and it ended up being one of the best decisions we made. Neither of us considers ourselves particularly photogenic, and we are both uncomfortable posing for photos. Kate somehow made the entire experience feel relaxed and natural. She gave us enough direction to feel confident without making anything feel staged or forced. She was equally impressive on the wedding day. We had planned to take our first-look and family photos at Garfield Park Conservatory, but the main entrance was unexpectedly closed. Within approximately five minutes, Kate had explored the area and identified several beautiful alternative locations that also kept everyone out of the 90-degree heat. She even brought portable fans for us to use! Throughout the reception, Kate was constantly moving around the venue, making sure we captured every photo on our list while also documenting the candid moments happening around us. Several family members later commented on how thorough she was and how many great moments they saw her capturing throughout the evening. The preview gallery was spectacular. Looking through the photos made us feel as though we were experiencing the day all over again. Every image was beautiful, and we are incredibly excited to see the complete gallery. Our only regret from the wedding was that we never took a photo with Kate herself. By the end of the day, she no longer felt like someone we had hired—she felt like a family member celebrating alongside us. For anyone looking for a wedding or engagement photographer in the Chicago area, we could not recommend Kate Kaplan Photography more highly.

  • JR

    Jenny R.

    Rating: 5
    Zola
    Nov 28, 2025

    Really made a huge impact on our day!

    Kate was absolutely incredible to work with. From the moment she arrived, she brought such a calm, chill, positive energy to our wedding day. She blended in effortlessly, helped keep things moving without ever feeling intrusive, and genuinely made the whole experience better just by being herself. Her eye for detail is unreal — the photos came out stunning, natural, and perfectly captured the vibe of our day. Beyond the amazing work, she was just awesome to be around: thoughtful, supportive, and on top of everything from start to finish. We truly loved working with her and couldn’t recommend her enough. If you want someone who’s talented, kind, and makes your wedding day feel easy, Kate is it.

  • MT

    Maggie T.

    Rating: 5
    Zola
    Nov 15, 2025

    THANK YOU KATE!!!

    It’s hard to find the right words to describe just how amazing Kate is! We hired her for our wedding in August and from the moment we started talking with her and planning things out, we knew we made the right choice. She completely understood our vision for the day and exceeded all of our expectations. We were able to do an engagement shoot with her the summer before our wedding and the photos were unreal. She made us feel so comfortable throughout our entire photoshoot and did an incredible job of directing us. Each photo was better than the last and we’re so grateful to have those memories from our engagement. In the weeks leading up to our wedding day and on the day itself, she was amazing and helped to keep us all on track to make sure we got all of the photos that we wanted. She coordinated with our wedding planner and just made everything so seamless throughout the day. Both Kate and her second shooter, Devin, captured the magic of the day so well and we’re obsessed with all of the sneak peek photos that we’ve gotten already! We’re so grateful that we decided to have her capture our day and we would absolutely recommend her to anyone!!

  • LW

    Layne W.

    Rating: 5
    Zola
    Oct 26, 2025

    Would Recommend a Million Times Over!

    We would recommend working with Kate a million times over! In getting to know her over our engagement session and as our wedding photographer, Kate became both our sage counsel and talented artist behind the lens. She has truly given us the opportunity to see our wedding day as it unfolded, capturing moments of joy, laughter, and tenderness, and taking appreciative notice of intentional details from our planning process. Her work beautifully reflects the emotions of our day and honors the thoughtful touches that made it unique, making each photo a living, breathing artifact. In planning our wedding from out-of-state, Kate made us feel at ease from our very first conversation. She is collaborative and open, thoughtfully incorporating ideas and allowing us to highlight so many of our favorite places in Chicago. We are so grateful for her warmth, steady support, professionalism, and seemingly effortless skill in story-telling, and we are quick to recommend her to anyone seeking artful authenticity in their photographer!


Typically, couples book me between 16-10 months before their wedding date. I encourage you to reach out as soon as possible about my availability, even if you’re planning on a shorter time frame.
I photograph about 50% of my weddings solo, but I work with you to help you decide if adding a second photographer to your collection is a good idea!
Definitely. All final images will be edited for color, saturation, exposure, and sharpness to ensure they look beautiful. My editing style is true-to-life colors because I believe your photos need to stand the test of time! No trendy filters here. I deliver every image to you in color, & black & white.
I don't currently offer in-house video services but I am happy to connect you with my favorite, very talented videographers!
I always share a few sneak peek photos within 24 hours of your wedding. You can also expect to see 30 or so highlight images within a few weeks, usually in a blog post or shared with you directly. After that, my turnaround time varies by season. Typically, you’ll be able to view all your photos online about 6-8 weeks after your wedding.
You can expect about 80 to 100 images per hour of photographing. But keep in mind this estimate varies depending on your wedding package, number of guests, venue type, and other factors.
I do! Just let me know if your venue requires a certificate of liability, and I’ll send that over to them.
In my 12+ years of experience as a wedding photographer, I’ve never cancelled a booking. In the very rare event that I’m unable to photograph your wedding, I’ll make sure you’re covered by one of my colleagues or my contracted second photographer.
We'll start with a quick chat to get to know each other. I'll build custom collections for you to choose from. After you select the collection that is right for you, we make sure everything you need is included before officially booking. A $600 fee is required to reserve your date with me & is due at the time of booking. As soon as the deposit is received & the contract signed - it's official!