Well hot damn, i'm excited you're here. I'm Emily - you can call me em.
welcome to the blog!
I love taking adventures all over the world, photographing weddings. seniors, boudoir, and helping other photographers perfect their craft. When I have my shit together, I blog about them using way too many exclamation points. What can I say, I love my job! Grab a coffee and stay a while!
September 23, 2020
Fairgrounds Transformation for Fall Wedding in Melvin, IL COVID has impacted so many weddings set for 2020, which is of course a disappointment, but that didn’t stop Sydney + Jared from planning their dream wedding. Sure, it was originally set for this winter in Champaign, but after hearing about their history a bit more during […]
July 29, 2020
Summertime Hudson Farms Wedding in Urbana, IL Hey hey! Welcome back to the wedding world! It’s been a crazy few months, which means weddings for 2020 have been, off. But thankfully Saturday I was able to photograph my FIRST wedding of 2020! What a way to start things off too! Oh my god, I couldn’t […]
June 17, 2020
This was our ENTIRE reason the idea of going to Iceland even came about! At the time, my friend Kaula and her husband Josh (whom I’d never met before) were planning how they wanted to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. She had brought up the idea of Brandon and I photographing it since we had […]
May 22, 2020
When I see something that speaks to me on an entire new level I go after it! Literally, the minute Michelle’s Bridal posted the black wedding dress on their Facebook page, I knew I wanted and needed to photograph it! It was love a first sight, no joke. SOOO my style – dark, mysterious, romantic…just […]
May 6, 2020
Late November Wedding at Eagle Wood Resort in Galena, IL Another blog featuring a second shoot for Kaula Marie Photography. I love working with this girl and this wedding for Felicia + Paul was no different! We traveled to Galena, Illinois to Eagle Wood Resort. This place was STUNNING!!!!! The exposed wood beams, floor to […]
April 22, 2020
Perfectly Purple Fall Wedding in Marshall, IL Another second shooting gig is gracing the blog today! I was fortunate enough to shoot with my girl Kaula from Kaula Marie Photography for Danielle + Mike’s gorgeous fall wedding in Marshall, Illinois. When I say gorgeous, I mean it! The weather was PERFECTTT! Danielle + Mike were such […]
April 15, 2020
Bloomfield Barn Blush Wedding in Chrisman, IL You guys know how crazy busy life is right!? Well when I second shoot sometimes those weddings don’t grace the blog right away or at all…shame on me I know!! But my point is, I actually second shoot quite often and enjoy doing it! I shoot with Ashley […]
March 18, 2020
Summertime Wedding at Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca, IL Cat + Kenny’s big day was one I was looking forward to because we have a family connection, so I was thrilled when they chose me as their photographer. But man was it hot – like realllly hot and humid. Brandon (my hubby) was my […]
March 11, 2020
Cold Winter Wedding at Circa on Seventh in Kenosha, MI Another second shooting wedding hitting the blog. This wedding was definitely a minute ago but I hated to leave it behind on the hard drive – so here it is! Kara Evans asked me to join her once again in Kenosha, Michigan for a winter […]
February 26, 2020
Lavender Late Spring Wedding in Olivet, IL Brooke Kristine Photography asked me tag along for another wedding (make sure to check out this last one I blogged!) and I was thrilled to say YES! Emily + Jordan’s day was in late spring but it was hot!! It was my first time at Olivet Nazarene University […]
January 22, 2020
Springtime Magenta Wedding in Ottawa, IL As you know I love second shooting and when Brooke from Brooke Kristine Photography reached out to me I was so excited to work with her. Mary + Steve’s day was a gloomy March day, but I knew the pictures would turn out amazing! Mary’s dress was stunning with […]
January 15, 2020
I cannot believe it’s January already. This is one of my most anticipated posts of the entire year. Including not only myself but fellow co-workers and professionals I get to work alongside for some goofy-ass photos is my bread and butter. I love this post, but it’s always a long one, so strap in folks. […]
January 8, 2020
A classy Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Wedding in Springfield, IL Today’s #weddingwednesday is a throwback to last year’s wedding with Kara Evans in Springfield, IL at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum! This day was magnificent in so many ways. I loved starting the details in the presidential suite of the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in […]
January 3, 2020
Emotional Intimate Wedding at Hyatt Place Champaign, Illinois Happy New Year everyone!! With this past Wednesday being a holiday, I postponed #weddingwednesday and we’re making today #weddingfriday instead! Ha! This past Saturday I spent most the afternoon with Darren + Stephanie, and despite the hiccup of dropping my camera, it was an amazing day! They […]
December 18, 2019
Winter Wedding in the Country – Buckley, Illinois I may be a bit of a grinch when it comes cold weather, but not when it comes to a well executed Christmastime winter wedding. That’s just what we had Saturday for Laura + Drake’s celebrations! I knew leading up to this day that everything was going […]
December 11, 2019
Fall Rustic Wedding at Events at Refinery, Champaign, IL I couldn’t wait for Ryan + Naomi’s wedding day, and it was such fun! Shooting their morning at the Wingate in Champaign was gorgeous, and a new favorite! The guys and girls both got ready in separate rooms and the details are some of my new […]
December 4, 2019
Charming Fall Wedding at Engelbrecht Farm, Paxton, IL This #weddingwednesday is a bit out of order while I catch up the blog with what all we missed while the website was down! I may have missed this one, but that doesn’t mean I was any less excited to show this one to you. Paige + […]
November 20, 2019
Jewel Toned Fall Wedding at The Farm in Petersburg, IL You. Guys. If there was ever a more perfectly lit sun kissed fall wedding, well, I won’t believe it! Holly + Caleb planned the most intimate, low-key wedding at the cutest venue hidden in the middle of what seems like no where! The Farm is […]
November 15, 2019
I often get asked a handful of the same questions time and time again. As a wedding photographer, there are many stories to tell, much advice to give, plenty of questions to answer. I thought I’d spend a little time today to do just that! If you have any further questions, I will answer them! […]
November 13, 2019
Fall Country Wedding in Chatsworth, IL Both Kristofer + Tiera and I go back, but for different reasons! I knew Kristofer in high school, and Tiera was the maid of honor in Dayna + Shawn‘s June 2018 wedding! Their day was so much fun on a beautiful fall day! These two are perfect for each […]
November 6, 2019
I loved “working” with Tyler + Jenna because they trust me 100% to deliver. They’ll do whatever I ask with NO questions – including spending 15 minutes FREEZING in the middle of the dark parking lot at 9 o’clock at night. JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THOSE.
July 17, 2019
A Modern Blush Wedding at University Place Church + iHotel, Champaign, IL So this wedding has been sitting in my drafts for a hot minute! Second shooting images always get put on the back burner, but today I wanted to feature this gorgeous wedding I assisted with a while back! I haven’t shot with my […]
June 12, 2019
Inspiring Rustic Wedding at Ford County Fairgrounds So you’re probably wondering why the word inspiring is in the title….well let me tell ya! This was hands down the MOST in-love couple I have captured to date. For warning: I don’t think I have ever posted this many photos for #weddingwednesday but I just couldn’t narrow […]
June 5, 2019
Timeless Blush Wedding at Champaign Country Club Saturday’s wedding was one for the books for many reasons, but what sticks out to me is that this was a rare time in which I was able to capture the weddings for not one, not two, but three weddings in the same family! So, here’s how it […]
May 22, 2019
Springtime Navy + Pink Wedding at Allerton Park + Holiday Inn Champaign, IL Kortnie is a good family friend of mine, so when asked to do her and Joe’s wedding, it was a no brainer! Even though I know Kortnie, this was a wedding of firsts for me – her and Joe (he did choose […]
May 15, 2019
Small Town Blue Fairground Wedding at Iroquois County Fairgrounds in Crescent City, IL In the wedding industry you have to roll with the punches and work with what you have and that is exactly what we did Saturday with the gloomy skies and rain. We met the bride and her girls (and later, the guys) […]
May 8, 2019
Blush + Sage Green Spring Wedding at DiNolfo’s Banquets in Homer Glen, IL Wedding season started off with a big bang – which means #weddingwednesday is BACK baby! When Rachel + Bryan booked me for their spring wedding, I was thrilled to travel north to Homer Glen for their reception at DiNolfo’s Banquets. Ladies and […]
April 25, 2019
Y’all know it. I love second shooting! I have made so many great friends through shooting weddings with other photographers, and that includes Christi. Christi is a wedding photographer now based out of Missouri who is AMAZING at what she does. Her work blows my mind (Christie Chambers Photography) and it has been an honor […]
January 16, 2019
For the third year running, I’m taking a day to look back on some of my favorite moments of each day I had been blessed enough to be able to capture. Each one of my Mager Image Couples mean the world to me, and I consider it a great honor to be trusted with such […]
January 9, 2019
A downtown winter wedding at The Majestic Theatre, Kankakee, IL Happy #weddingwednesday everyone! My 2019 started off with a big bang as we celebrated the marriage of Ellie + Austin. I’ll admit when they booked their wedding date for early January, we planned for cold weather knowing there was a good chance of snow or […]
