Most brides dismiss their church as a good location for wedding photography. The assumption is that plenty of pictures will be taken inside the church, let’s move on to another spot after the wedding. This was my first trip to St. Josaphat Catholic Church in Chicago. I always like to walk around a church in search of a few places to shoot. The fountain was of course an obvious spot, but with a little searching I found an alley on the side of the church. It was dark and not really appealing however the red door caught my eye so we ventured toward it for a few shots. If you’re still planning your wedding please don’t discount your church as a great spot for pictures. You never know what your photographer might come up with.

Chicago has a plethora of great landmarks to use as backgrounds in wedding photography, but some times simple is more than enough. Step off Michigan Ave to any side street and you will be surprised by some of the places to shoot. As you know, there are no shortage of bus stops in Chicago. I say use them as backgrounds. You never know what you might come up with.

Hopefully the five images below show you why I love Olive Park. For those that like to read: It’s hard to find shooting locations that offer easy access, a lake, trees, a view of the city, and enough room to photograph without tons of people in the background.

Jessica and Mark were lucky to avoid the rain most of their wedding day. However, the Chicago Museum Campus was our last picture location and there was no avoiding it. The rain came and we improvised. Wedding photography seems to resembles my love for jazz. You start with a plan and you never know where you will end up. Some people would look at rain as something to avoid on the wedding day. I say make it work!

I find many of my brides spend quite a bit of time picking out the perfect Chicago wedding reception venue, only to dismiss it when it comes to photography. I know you are ready for a break, but giving your photographer a little time at the reception will be worth it. I usually take 15-20 minutes to hit a spots at the reception that really standout for great pictures. These often turn out to be some of the best images of the day. Here are just a couple images taken at the Murphy Auditorium just before cocktail hour.