The Best Wedding Photographers in German Valley, IL

The Best Wedding Photographers in German Valley, IL

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432 Wedding Photographers in German Valley, IL

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Hooke Photo 

5.0

  • Editorial style
  • Starts at $1,950
  • Serves German Valley, IL
  • Offer

As a small boy, I would sit for hours watching my mother hand-color portraits for a local photographer, during the cold winter months, by a fire in our family room. From there I began taking my own pictures with my first box camera. Fast forward to a restless twenty-something working as a microbiologist, taking weddings and portraits on weekends. Eventually I graduated college with an M.A. in Photography and started out in Chicago, assisting numerous photographers, shooting everything from oranges to weddings. I have been fortunate to have worked all over the world. Photography is more than a job, it’s an avocation, a passion, it's what I do.

Awarded Best of Zola
We truly cannot reccomend him enough. He captured both our engagement and our wedding so beautifully, and every single photo feels like a genuine reflection of our love and the joy of those moments. Not only was his work stunning, but his turnaround time was incredibly fast, which made reliving everything even more special. He was also so kind, patient, and natural with our two girls, making them feel comfortable and included something that meant the world to us as parents. If you’re looking for someone who is talented, professional, and truly cares about the memories he’s preserving, he is absolutely the one. We will cherish these photos forever.
Meagan C., 9 days ago
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Photography By Jill Emmer 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $1,900
  • Serves German Valley, IL

I’m Jill — a Wisconsin wedding photographer with over 13 years of experience and a serious love for honest, emotional moments. I’m drawn to real connection, great light, and the kind of photos that feel alive, not overly posed or polished.

Awarded Best of Zola
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer who is responsive, kind, and truly talented, I can’t recommend Jill enough! From the very beginning, she made us feel completely comfortable and at ease — something that meant a lot to me as someone who was nervous about being in front of the camera. Jill was incredibly responsive throughout the entire process, patiently answering all our questions and helping us figure out the perfect photo timeline for the day. On the wedding day itself, she brought such a calm and confident energy that helped everything flow naturally. What really stood out was how seamlessly she captured all those beautiful, candid moments — the laughter, the quiet glances, the small interactions that make the day so special. I was initially worried about the “posed” photos feeling stiff, but Jill made them fun and relaxed — and most of our favorite shots ended up being unposed, authentic moments that she somehow caught perfectly. Even my father, who is notoriously particular and has been a wedding photographer himself for decades, had nothing but praise for her — he actually complimented her photography style (which never happens!). Our photos are absolutely stunning — timeless, full of emotion, and beautifully composed. Jill has an incredible eye for detail and light, and she truly knows how to tell the story of the day through her images. We feel so lucky to have found her and will cherish these photos forever. Sorry I can't upload my photos for some reason but they are stunning!
Mary S., 3 months ago
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Candace Sims Photography 

5.0

  • Editorial style
  • Starts at $6,000
  • Serves German Valley, IL

Candace Sims Photography creates refined, natural light wedding imagery for couples in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Blending a classic aesthetic with an editorial eye, we thoughtfully capture multi-day celebrations with artistry, grace, and a timeless approach to storytelling. Specializing in elegant black-tie weddings at private estates, country clubs, and impeccably designed venues, we collaborate with full-service planners to document every curated detail with sophistication and care.

Awarded Best of Zola
Candace is incredible! She is thoughtful, flexible, organized, communicative and has a way with making us feel totally comfortable in front of the camera. If you're wondering whether you should book her... DO IT! I am a person who usually hates photos of myself and I LOVED every single photo that Candace captured of my wedding. She has an elegant, documentary style that is unlike others I have seen. She is worth the investment 100 times over. I will definitely book Candace for all future life moments as well!
Aisha, a year ago
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Erik Anderson - Photography, LLC. 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,500
  • Serves German Valley, 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
If you are looking for your wedding photographer: stop. You’ve found him. Erik was hands-down our favorite vendor, and I would hire him a thousand times over. From the very first message, his energy, warmth, and passion for his work stood out. When we compared full galleries from other photographers, his absolutely blew us away with every detail, every candid, every bit of light and color was exactly what I envisioned. My dad (a longtime advertising professional) reviewed them too and said, “You’d be crazy not to hire this guy.” He was right. Working with Erik felt effortless. Our engagement session could have been a stressful day, but he and his second shooter, Ross, rolled with everything, made it fun, and delivered stunning images so quickly we were able to use them in our wedding décor and guest book. By the time the wedding came, we felt completely comfortable in front of the camera and Erik felt like another close friend in our bridal party. He was calm, reassuring, and so easy to be around. If I had a question or needed grounding, he was right there with gentle guidance. The final gallery? Absolutely flawless. Every big, emotional moment. Every quiet, unspoken glance. Every little detail I didn’t even notice in real time, all preserved with such artistry that I can relive our day exactly as it felt, only better. Erik has an uncanny gift for being everywhere without ever intruding, for making people feel at ease, and for capturing the heart of a moment in a single frame. My family, my bridal party, even my guests still talk about him months later — not just about his photos, but about him. He’s more than a photographer; he’s a calming presence, a joy to be around, and a true master of his craft. In every lifetime, in every version of this story, I would choose Erik. Booking him was one of the best decisions we made for not only our wedding day, but for the rest of our lives we’ll thankfully have his work! I will forever be grateful that it was him behind the camera on the most important day of our lives.
Audrey Q., 6 months ago
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Leif & Christine Photography 

5.0

  • Fine art style
  • Starts at $2,650
  • Serves German Valley, IL

Hi! I’m Christine, a wedding and engagement photographer based in Rockford, Illinois, serving couples across the Midwest. I specialize in blending creative, candid and romantic styles to create timeless, elegant images that beautifully tell the story of your wedding day. My goal is to help you relive your wedding day through timeless photographs that you’ll cherish forever.

Christine is a wonderful photographer! She responded immediately when we initially contacted her, and she continued to respond quickly through all of our conversations leading up to our wedding. She is both friendly and professional in person, and her photographs of our wedding were creative and well done. I would highly recommend Christine!
Seth F., 4 months ago
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Erin Henze Media 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,000
  • Serves German Valley, 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
We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer than Erin. She drove nearly three hours to be with us on our wedding day and was so kind, professional, and easy to work with. She made us feel completely at ease and captured everything—from beautifully posed portraits to the sweetest candid moments. What we loved most is her vibrant, true-to-life photography style. Every photo feels full of energy and emotion—like we’re stepping right back into those special moments. She truly captured the magic of our day in a way we’ll cherish forever. We feel so lucky to have had her as part of our wedding and couldn’t be happier with how our photos turned out. If you’re considering booking her—don’t hesitate. She’s incredibly talented and went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable.
The D., 8 months ago
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Holly Johns Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,250
  • Serves German Valley, 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., 6 months ago
GemHidden gem
Meg Dunn Photography 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $5,000
  • Serves German Valley, IL

Timeless | Romantic | Classic Wedding photographer - I believe in the idea that "great photos are created from personal connection." I put my heart and soul into making sure the couples I work with have the best possible experience and end up with images that we can both be proud of. My favorite part of taking photos is being able to find the special moments within your big milestones. It's those candid times, along with the significance of the occasion, that come together to create your favorite memories and it's my job to capture those through my visual storytelling.

Meg was an absolute pleasure to work with! From engagement pictures to our actual wedding day, Meg felt more like a good friend than just another vendor. She and her assistant, Vic, took the time to understand our priorities and ensure that each and every moment we wanted to capture was covered. In addition to this, they were also insanely creative creating images we didn’t even think about or consider. You’d be silly not to consider her.
Elizabeth M., 2 years ago
GemHidden gem
Expedition Joy 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $5,500
  • Serves German Valley, IL

I'm Courtney! I care not only about providing you with sharp, authentic and colorful images on your wedding day, but helping you to be fully present on your wedding day so you remember all the big and little moments.

Courtney was AMAZING! I found Expedition Joy on instagram when she was doing a giveaway contest for a free Engagement session. To our suprise and BIGGEST BLESSING— we won! When my husband and I met Courtney, we instantly clicked! She was so easy to talk to and made us feel so comfortable so quickly! She was very intentional about building trust with her and having a friendship as well! We had great conversations during our shoot and got to learn about her aswell! After our session, my husband and I both agreed that we NEEDED Courtney to be a part of our big day. We expressed our excitement with Courtney just as much as she expressed hers with us! During the planning months, she was so easy to reach and made us feel confident that she would go above and beyond for us on our special day and she DID. Courtney showed up camera in hand and started shooting the second she walked in the door! She was ON IT. She continued to encourage the bridal party and family so they felt comfortable as she was taking photos. She was so intentional with everyone! Courtney and her second shooter were the life of the party on the dance floor! They had a blast with us and it was so much fun for all of our guests to cheer them on when they went to bust a move in the center circle! Courtney continued her 5-star reputation throughout the night and even went above and beyond to stay past our contracted time for our grand exit! She took the most memorable photos of our day, we will always remeber her when we reminisce on our beautiful photos! She truly is Expedition Joy
Kalea W., 9 months ago
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Tyler Yomantas Photography 

5.0

  • Fine art style
  • Starts at $2,200
  • Serves German Valley, IL

My love for photography began in Rockford, IL, where I discovered storytelling through a lens. Over the years, I’ve captured Midwest landscapes, national parks, and life’s meaningful moments. What started with local events and concerts grew into a passion for weddings and portraiture. I believe the best photos come from genuine connections, so I prioritize building relationships to understand your story and vision. Whether celebrating love, connection, or a fleeting moment, I’m here to calm nerves, share laughter, and capture memories you’ll cherish forever. Let’s create something timeless and yours.

Working with Tyler Yomantas Photography was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. His communication style was easy, efficient, and comfortable, putting us at ease throughout the entire process. The quality of his work was truly exceptional - creative, informed, and worth every penny. Tyler is our go-to for everything photography related, as his portfolio speaks for itself. He has an eye for the smallest detail and made every step of the way a comfortable one. With his extensive background and experience, Tyler truly captured all the special moments of our wedding day with care and expertise.
Cassy H., a year ago
GemHidden gem
Mitch And Rachel Visuals 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $3,750
  • Serves German Valley, IL

Hey there! We are a husband and wife photo & video team who LOVE capturing love!! We are based in Rockford IL but are always up for travel too! We got married in 2016, started our business shortly after that and have had a blast getting to where we are today! Some of our favorite things are Thai food, coffee, pop punk music and most of all, our pup, Snickers!

I could not recommend Mitch And Rachel Visuals enough! From getting comfortable with them at our engagement shoot to them capturing so much love and so many special memories on our wedding day, they were our favorite vendor we booked by far! I can’t stop looking at the amazing photos and our wedding video! Their editing style is our favorite! They are seriously the best and cannot wait to work with them in the future!
Nicole O., a year ago
Timeless Trinity Company 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,500
  • Serves German Valley, IL

I devote my craft to capturing authentic personalities, genuine happiness, and pure love during my photography services. I am dedicated to capture your love story through wedding photography, portraits and family photos!

From the moment we first reached out to Timeless Trinity Company, their communication was personable, patient, and thorough. They took the time to understand our vision and needs for our wedding day. On the day of, their team was a calming presence, expertly capturing all the special moments despite the unexpected bad weather. Timeless Trinity's work is simply beautiful, captivating, and illuminating - their photos truly captured the essence of our love and the joy of our celebration. We are so grateful to Timeless Trinity for helping make our wedding day so special and memorable.
Miranda R., a year ago
Chrissy Deming Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,500
  • Serves German Valley, 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., 3 years ago
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Original Weddings Photo & Video 

4.9

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,800
  • Serves German Valley, 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
I’m so glad we went with Sound Originals for our wedding photos! Both photographers and videographer were awesome. Booking was easy and I love their online portal – they asked all the right questions and made sure everyone was on the same page with the vision for the day. We were able to have a planning call to “meet” our lead photographer, Carly, before the wedding day. I really appreciated that so we could go over some details and feel a little bit more comfortable going into the big day (husband and I are not huge picture people). Carly and team were right on time and I can’t say enough good things about how comfortable they made us feel and how hard they worked to make sure we got every shot that we wanted. It rained on our wedding day so there were some pictures I was disappointed about not getting, but Carly got out her phone and was tracking the weather so we could take advantage of every single break in the rain – even if it was only a couple minutes! We ended up getting every picture that I wanted and I’m so grateful! We got our picture gallery back ahead of what was stated in the contract and it’s everything we hoped for. The color is exactly what we chose (we went with the “Timeless” edit. Despite the rain they managed to capture every location on the property and it looks absolutely beautiful. We had an awesome experience, and I highly recommend them. Thank you for being a part of our favorite day!
Christina H., a year ago
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Once Like a Spark Wedding Co. 

4.9

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,845
  • Serves German Valley, 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
Our photographer was so laid back and made us feel very comfortable - we love that in our photos she made us look like movie stars! There was great communication with the team, and we wouldn’t change anything. We 10/10 recommend the OLAS team!
Devin P., a year ago
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Albany Capture Film & Photography Studios 

4.9

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves German Valley, 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
We absolutely LOVED how Albany Capture treated us through the whole process of our engagement shoot. Our photographer Josh was very patient with our ideas and plan, and the turnaround time for the photos was so quick with excellent quality. We will be using them again in the future!
Aileen G., a year ago