The Best Photojournalistic Wedding Photographers in Leaf River, IL

The Best Photojournalistic Wedding Photographers in Leaf River, IL

How do we sort results, including Sponsored Ads and personalized results?


161 Wedding Photographers in Leaf River, IL

Photojournalistic
Quick responder
Erik Anderson - Photography, LLC. 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,500
  • Serves Leaf River, 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., 7 months ago
Quick responder
Erin Henze Media 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,000
  • Serves Leaf River, 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
This is the second time we booked Erin Henze Media to take family photos. Impressed that I received a pre-shoot survey so I could share the specific type and style of photos we were looking for. Erin took AMAZING photos of my family. No easy feat when you are dealing with a 6YO, 4YO, and 2YO. :P The photos she took will be treasured by family and are ones that will be hanging on the wall for a lifetime.
Jorden S., 2 years ago
Chrissy Deming Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,500
  • Serves Leaf River, 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
Quick responder
Once Like a Spark Wedding Co. 

4.9

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,845
  • Serves Leaf River, 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
From the very first interaction, the team at Once Like a Spark Wedding Co. was incredibly responsive, patient, and detailed in their communication with us. On our wedding day, their incredible attention to detail was evident in the stunning photos they captured. They were constantly checking in with us throughout the reception to make sure we were getting all the shots we wanted. As a couple who isn't always comfortable in front of the camera, Mario made us feel at ease and was able to create the exact type of photos we had envisioned. Our wedding day was truly unforgettable, and we have Once Like a Spark to thank for preserving those memories so beautifully. We would absolutely recommend them to any couple planning their big day!
Dominique A., a year ago
Quick responder
Albany Capture Film & Photography Studios 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Leaf River, 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 is a fantastic photographer! His welcoming personality made it super easy to be comfortable and the turnaround time was so fast! He jumped right into guiding our poses and made the entire experience an absolute joy!
Kirstin, 7 days ago
Quick responder
Portraits By Sean 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,550
  • Serves Leaf River, IL
  • Offer



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., 5 months ago
Quick responder
VIDART 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $500
  • Serves Leaf River, 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
VIDART did an amazing job with our wedding photos. They somehow managed to be everywhere at once but never intrusive. The photos of my mom tearing up and our first kiss are so special. We couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out.
Sarah W., 6 months ago
Quick responder
Ledd Lens LLC, Photo and Film 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,399
  • Serves Leaf River, 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. For 2025, we have 140+ weddings booked in 37 different states. 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
The photographer, Jonathan, and his assistant, were absolutely amazing. They arrived early, were flexible and really accommodating to our vision. They also really hustled! They took advantage of every spare moment they had to get additional photos, and kept us on schedule super tightly. They even carried around things like bottles of water for me (the bride) as we took lots of photos in the hot upper floor of the venue. Many guests also mentioned how beautifully the photos turned out. However, we did have an issue in which, due to an injury to the editor's hand, we did not receive our photos in the agreed-upon timeframe. Had we been informed of this delay ahead of time, we would not have had any issue just waiting a bit longer. The main concern was that we weren't alerted of this delay until after the initial deadline had passed. We did request a discount due to this, which they accommodated. And the photos did still turn out amazing!
Amanda W., a month ago
Quick responder
The Still Life Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,450
  • Serves Leaf River, 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
Working with Isabel was great! She led us through photos in a calm, organized, and efficient manner while making it a lot of fun. She captured the natural style we were looking for and gave us wonderful sneak peek photos. We can't wait to see the rest of the photos in a couple months!
Taylor B., 7 months ago
Quick responder
Heather Christine Photo + Film 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,000
  • Serves Leaf River, 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
You know when you meet someone and it feels like you've been friends forever? That's Heather for you! Heather is fun, kind, warm, and will be your ultimate hype girl! Aside from being an awesome human, Heather is a talented photographer. Don't know how to pose and feel super awkward in front of a camera like me? No worries, Heather's got you! She'll direct you on how to stand, how to put your hands, how your face should look, give you hot tips... all of it! She also has a sharp eye for beautiful landscapes. You're in good hands and will have cute photos, I promise. In addition to Heather, we were lucky enough to work with her videographer, Andrew, and another shooter from her team. The entire HCP team was so fun to work with you and will put you right at ease. I've gotten to do 3 shoots with Heather to date and am incredibly pleased with how our photos have come out. In fact, I haven't even gotten the final album for our wedding yet (just previews) and i'm STILL impressed! If you have the opportunity to work with this team, take it. I couldn't recommend them enough.
Phi B., 2 years ago
Quick responder
Ali Cushing Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,750
  • Serves Leaf River, IL
  • Offer

My name is Ali Cushing; a NY-based photographer working in a blended documentary and editorial approach, emphasized with a cinematic method, and a personalized, true to life editing style. I am honored to be entrusted with depicting genuine love, authentic characters, and immortalizing precious memories. I see beauty in the subtle details as much as the wide, epic scene, while I see glory in the mundane in-between moments as much as the heart thudding highs. 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
My husband and I LOVED working with Ali for our wedding at the Picnic House in Prospect Park! She was responsive to all of our questions and quick to answer calls and emails. On the day, she put everyone at ease and corralled everyone to get through the family portraits quickly. She totally captured our vision for the day and we're so happy with how our photos came out! We absolutely recommend working with Ali for your special day.
Lisa K., 2 years ago
Quick responder
Timeless Imagery & Media 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Leaf River, IL
  • Offer

Lover of all things photography. I have been a photographer for over 10 years and love what we do. I have an amazing team that helps me out. My husband also second shoots with me. I like to say you get two professionals for the price of one. I try to offer quality at a reasonable cost. I know photography can be daunting for some people and my goal is always to put people at ease.

Awarded Best of Zola
Timeless Imagery & Media was an excellent choice for our wedding photographer. Their communication throughout the process was prompt, effective, and considerate. Heidi and her team made sure to capture all the angles and had the best ideas for creative photos with our family and friends. The quality of their work was superb, and they were incredibly accommodating in bringing our vision to life. The team went above and beyond to ensure the pictures were exactly what we wanted. We are thrilled with the beautiful, lasting memories they were able to provide from our special day.
Salena H., a year ago
Quick responder
Debra Aslanidis Photography 

4.8

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,600
  • Serves Leaf River, 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 husband were the absolute best!!! They were communicative through the entire process leading up to the wedding, and truly captured our day better than we could have ever imagined. Not many photographers are open to having horses and dogs romping around but they never wavered! Any and all ideas we brought to the table they were open to trying and our pictures truly turned out amazing. We can’t thank you all enough, 1000% recommend them for your special day.
Hannah M., 8 months ago
Quick responder
JZ Studio Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,000
  • Serves Leaf River, IL

JZ Studio Photography is a wedding and Portrait photography company based in Chicago, that services Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit and anywhere our couples may take us within US and Canada. At JZ Studio Photography, the team will create an amazing photographic experience for you on your wedding day, by capturing all of the most intimate and romantic moments through their camera lenses from beginning to end and compile the story for you.

Awarded Best of Zola
I would recommend JZ Studio Photography to anyone getting married! Phillip was very professional and communicative and was able to get through posed pictures very quickly and efficiently, and he was incredible at blending into the crowd for the rest of the day so we could feel present at our wedding, and not feel like we were at a photoshoot. We are very happy with our experience with JZ Photography.
Cassidy T., 2 years ago
Quick responder
Piero Pierrot Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,800
  • Serves Leaf River, IL

Hey! I'm Piero, I've been a wedding photographer for 7 years now, I'll make sure that all your favorite moments throughout your wedding are captured, literally all. You'll see me moving around from side to side, capturing those good shots... from the getting ready shots to the moment you dropped the shoes to keep dancin'. We'll meet thru video or in person, and talk about those details. Chat soon!!

Awarded Best of Zola
Piero was our wedding photographer and I was blown away by the photos he sent us of our wedding the very next morning. From the beginning he was super easy to work with and made sure to respond to messages and questions promptly. He was punctual, kind, professional, and kept our wedding party on task the day of our wedding. His vision for our photos were awesome and turned out stunning. He scaled all the photos perfectly and made sure not only the background of the photos looked good but also the poses of us and our wedding party photographed well. I love the candid shots he got too. They were beautiful! Everyone was saying how amazing the photos turned out! I am so, so thrilled with them and my husband and I will cherish our wedding photos in the years to come. Thank you for everything, Piero! You have a gift and thank you for sharing it with us! -Brydie & Doug
Brydie & D., 2 years ago
Quick responder
Jessica Max 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $4,200
  • Serves Leaf River, IL

Big fan of dive bars, staring at the stars, forever searching for the best french fries, a blissfully cold Diet Coke, and a true midwestern why fly it's only 15 hours. You'll find me often traveling, spending time in nature, collecting rocks and shopping for vintage t-shirts. I love carefree messy in between moments, photographing my daily life on polaroids and film. I've lived a lot of places (Arizona, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico to name a few!) and have so many places that I treasure and feel at home.

Awarded Best of Zola
Jessica was absolutely incredible as our wedding photographer. From start to finish, she was so communicative, professional, and genuinely fun to work with—exactly the kind of energy you want on your wedding day. She made us feel completely comfortable, kept everything running smoothly, and captured every moment so beautifully and naturally. Our photos turned out better than we could have ever imagined. We truly would not recommend anyone else—Jessica is the best decision we made for our wedding.
Chantal, 2 months ago
Quick responder
NATIONWIDE Spectacular Photographer - A Better DJ and Photographer -HAS PHOTOGRAPHERS IN YOUR AREA! 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $599
  • Serves Leaf River, IL

Looking for top-level budget friendly local photographer? We proudly hold a 100% 5-star rating from over 17,000 weddings nationwide, making us a trusted choice for capturing your special moments. Why spend thousands when you can get exceptional quality for much less? Our wedding photography begins at $499. We specialize in natural-color photography and provide a custom online album to easily share your memories with family and friends, and we offer wholesale prices on professional prints as well! . We also provide local DJs and video services with budget-friendly packages to complete your celebration.

Awarded Best of Zola
Their staff was prompt, professional, involved! Our pictures are top of the line! The DJ was great got people up dancing in the sweltering weather!
Barbara B., 2 years ago
Quick responder
Visil Photography & Video 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,250
  • Serves Leaf River, IL

I’m Victor, the photographer and videographer behind Visil Photography & Video. I document weddings in a candid, documentary style, focusing on genuine emotion, meaningful moments, and the day's natural flow. My approach is quiet and intentional, allowing couples to stay present while their story unfolds naturally.

Awarded Best of Zola
Visil Photography provided amazing photography services for our wedding day. Victor was extremely respectful, informative, and positive in all of our communications leading up to the big event. On the wedding day itself, he was passionate about capturing all of those special moments we had envisioned. Victor has a gift for engaging with people and making them feel comfortable in front of the camera. He circulated seamlessly among our guests and captured countless touching interactions. My husband and I could not be happier with the beautiful, artistic photos Victor delivered. They will allow us to re-live our special day for years to come. I would highly recommend Visil Photography for any couple looking for a talented photographer who can beautifully document their wedding memories. Victor was a joy to work with!
Krystal Z., 2 years ago
Quick responder
Mae Krell Photo 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $8,500
  • Serves Leaf River, IL

Hi! My name is Mae, and I live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend, our two dogs Apollo and Bia, her cat Gigi and my lizard, Basil! I’ve always been passionate about capturing moments as authentically and magically as possible, and as i’ve settled more into this career path, I love that i’ve landed in a place where I have the privilege to capture and preserve people’s love stories. Weddings and elopements are so distinctly and uniquely human, and it’s truly the biggest honor to be trusted to document them.

Awarded Best of Zola
Mae was an absolute joy to work with when my boyfriend surprised me with a proposal. From the very beginning, Mae's communication was clear, kind, thoughtful, and mindful - she truly made us feel special every step of the way. Her creative, high-quality, and unique photography captured all the special moments, including the exact moment my fiancé proposed. Mae's film-style approach gave our photos a truly special look and feel. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend Mae Krell Photo to anyone looking for a talented and caring photographer who will go above and beyond to make your proposal/engagement/wedding day perfect.
Carla, a year ago
Quick responder
Focused On Life Photography LLC 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $5,000
  • Serves Leaf River, 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
Quick responder
Jana Blue Photography (Photo + Film) 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $4,200
  • Serves Leaf River, IL

My name is Jana Blue and I've been photographing weddings for 12 years. I'm consistent not in a trend of photos or style, but emotions. Each wedding and couples are so unique and my work follows that. In my career I've photographed both big production weddings and also intimate DIY ones. I've photographed informal engagements and elopements/weddings in a desert in Chile, in the mountains of Zion, in a beach in Croatia, in an ancient church in Greece and in forests in Brazil. I work with all different budgets and needs from my brides. I'm a preferred vendor of Chicago First Lady Boat, so I do weddings on the boat during the summer.

Awarded Best of Zola
She’s simply the best photographer you’ll ever meet, blending creativity with flawless technique. She dives into your story, captures your essence, and brings it to life in every shot. Everything feels natural, and the results are nothing short of breathtaking. Honestly, I could write a book about it, but this is something you have to experience for yourself. One thing’s certain: she will absolutely blow your mind.
Felipe L., 6 months ago