Something I love about my style of wedding photography and the couples I’m lucky enough to work with is that they’re often into the idea of alternative style wedding photos. Don’t get me wrong, I still appreciate and photograph more traditional, posed portraits, but I’d be lying if I said those were amongst my favorites. I instead adore when my couples go out of their way to make their wedding photos feel true to them and their unique relationship, not the same poses you’ve seen dozens of times over. If that’s something you’ve been seeking more inspiration on, or if the concept has caught your interest, then this article is for you! Together, let’s check out some of my favorite ways for couples to make their wedding photos feel like them while in Chicago, and what to keep in mind when doing so.
5 Unique Ideas to Make Your Wedding Photos in Chicago Feel Like You
1. Include an Activity
One of the simplest, and most fun ways to make your wedding photos feel like you is to build the moment around an activity you both love. Whether you do something like Sarah and Eric and play some air hockey at Emporium, or Emily and Ben who took their wedding party to Louie’s Pub for some karaoke before their ceremony, there are SO many things to do here in Chicago that make this option simple to incorporate into your day. Having your wedding photos revolve around an activity that everyone can be active and engage with ensures that your photos will authentically capture the joy you feel in the moment. Some of my favorite activities to include during a wedding in Chicago include:
- Go Mini Golfing Together
- Karaoke with the Crew
- Head to the Bowling Alley
- Go Ice skating or Roller Skating
2. Something More Lowkey
If you want a more relaxed vibe for your photos, but still want them to feel unique to you and more interesting than traditional posed portraits, you’re in luck! You can still keep things lowkey while enjoying a setting that encourages a more unique style of portraits. Charlie and Payton for instance knew they wanted to spend more casual time with their loved ones, so they chose to host a pregame in their home before the reception. Activities and settings like this give you space to enjoy the moment with your favorite people, while still doing more than just smiling at the camera. Some of my favorite options include:
- Head to a Movie Theater
- Visit an Art Studio (You can even take part in a class and create a piece of art together to always remember the day by!)
- Candle-Making (AURA Candle Bar even lets you create a custom wedding scent)
- Party at Home
- A Walk Through the Park or a Conservatory
- A Boat Tour or Water Taxi Trip
3. Grab a Snack
Something Chicago has NO shortage of are amazing options for food and drinks throughout the city, many of which can make for the perfect setting for your wedding photos. Maybe you need a quick treat before the reception starts, or you and your wedding parties might want to stop in a brewery for a craft beer after you’ve said your “I Do’s”. No matter what you choose, this is a fun and simple option to give your photos a bit more personality, and enjoy a snack or drink while you’re at it! Here are some fun options to consider:
- Snag Some Ice cream
- Head to Your Favorite Bar
- A Restaurant or Fast Food for a Quick Snack
- Enjoy a Drink at Your Favorite Brewery
*Note: I recommend you reach out to businesses like bars, breweries, and restaurants beforehand to make sure they’re ok with photos being taken in their space. Oftentimes the answer is yes, though they prefer to hear the couple ask rather than the photographer (they like hearing how much you love their space and want to include it into your special day!)
4. Do Some Shopping
Much like its terrific food and beverage spots, Chicago is also home to so many charming and fun shops that you can incorporate into your wedding photos. I particularly love this option, as whatever you find in your searches will always remind you of your wedding day. It can be a little harder to include your wedding party members into these photos though depending on the space of the store, which is something you’ll have to keep in mind. Here are some of the shops you could check out on your wedding day:
- Your favorite Record Shop
- A Local Vintage or Thrift Shop
- A Cozy Bookstore
- A Plant Store
- Peruse Your Favorite Market for Snacks
5. Get Festive
Chicago is a city in constant motion, and anyone who’s lived in or frequents the city can attest to that. It seems like there’s always something going on in the city, and you can incorporate this into your wedding photos. Consider the season of your wedding and see what events are happening in the city that day. If they’re happening near your venue you may just be able to include them into your day! Some fun options are:
- The Christkindlmarket During the Holidays
- Street Fests During the Summer
- Taste of Chicago Food Fest
- Lincoln Park Zoo Lights During the Holidays
Some Things to Consider When Planning Your Wedding Photos
Be True to YOU
The first thing I want you to keep in mind as you plan out the photos for your wedding day is by far the most important: be true to you. You want photos that actually feel like you and represent the unique and amazing love you share. That’s the whole reason you’ve chosen to prioritize these alternative photo options over the more traditional posed portraits after all!
What I’m getting at here is I don’t want you to incorporate an idea from the list above solely because it’s on this list. Instead, I want you to choose a setting, style, or activity for your photos that resonates with you. It’s great if one of the ideas from this article sounds perfect for your day, but even if that isn’t the case, I hope that it at least inspires you to think outside of the box for your portraits.
Where Your Wedding is in Chicago
Chicago’s traffic isn’t really known for being cooperative, easy to navigate, and pleasant to deal with, in fact it’s practically the opposite on all fronts. With this in mind, and ideally knowing where your wedding is taking place in Chicago, it’s important to take both into consideration when planning when and where to have your wedding photos taken. Be realistic with travel times, and ideally choose a location for your portraits that’s relatively close to your venue. The last thing you want to do is spend half of your wedding day traveling from one location to the other!
When Are You Taking Your Photos?
An essential piece of the puzzle is finding the time on your wedding day to enjoy this moment as these photos are being taken. Your wedding day timeline is the roadmap of your day, so it’s crucial that you fit these photos into the day in a way that doesn’t disrupt the other events of your wedding. Maybe you and your wedding party head to a brewery for a quick drink on the way to your ceremony, or instead of a traditional cocktail hour the two of you and your wedding parties venture off to your favorite bar. Whatever route you take, just be sure that it works within the structure of the rest of your wonderful wedding day.
Is This a Moment for You Two, or Your Wedding Parties as Well?
The last piece of the puzzle to think about when choosing what you want your wedding photos to look and feel like is who will be present for them. Do you want this moment to be something for just the two of you to enjoy, or is spending this time with your wedding party or family members what you’ve envisioned? There’s no wrong answer either way, though it will help guide you towards making the decision of what you choose to do for your photos.
Those are some tips and ideas from a documentary style wedding photographer in Chicago on how to make your photos feel more authentic to you. Check out some of my other blogs for more inspiration, and if you’d like to book me as your photographer be sure to send me an inquiry.
