5 Best Wedding Photographers in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

There is no reshoot for a wedding day, which is why review counts matter more here than almost any other photography category in Chicago. The wedding photographers on this page have logged more than 850 Google reviews between them, and three of them hold a perfect 5.0, so the differentiator becomes coverage style: candid documentary versus posed and directed.

Short answer: For wedding photography in Chicago, TWA Wedding Photography leads with the deepest track record at 4.8 stars across 404 reviews, offering combined photo and video coverage with a full production team. Caleb Schaftlein Photography (5.0, 112 reviews) and Eliana Melmed Photography (5.0, 111 reviews) are strong picks for candid documentary and cultural-specific weddings respectively.

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1. TWA Wedding Photograph…
2. Caleb Schaftlein Photo…
3. Eliana Melmed Photogra…
4. Summerset Weddings
5. Our Days Photo and Fil…
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Chicago's Wedding Photographers, Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	TWA Wedding Photography	4.8 ★	404	Full-day coverage with video add-on	View ›
2	Caleb Schaftlein Photography	5.0 ★	112	Candid engagement & proposal photography	View ›
3	Eliana Melmed Photography	5.0 ★	111	Jewish & cultural weddings	View ›
4	Summerset Weddings	4.9 ★	121	Weddings for brides of color	View ›
5	Our Days Photo and Film	5.0 ★	106	Documentary-style wedding coverage	View ›

5 Best Wedding Photographers in Chicago (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

TWA Wedding Photography

4.8404 Google reviews

TWA Wedding Photography is a Chicago wedding studio offering combined photography and videography coverage, assigning a lead photographer, a supporting second shooter and a videographer as a team for each wedding. The studio handles the full day from getting-ready shots through the reception, and it also books engagement sessions ahead of the wedding date for the same couples.

What people praise

Full production team, lead photographer, second shooter and videographer, on a single booking
Stays on schedule through the day even when family members wander off, per reviewers
Familiarity with a wide range of Chicago venues and vendors
Bundles engagement and wedding-day photography together

Worth knowing

A few reviewers flagged inconsistent exposure or red-eye correction in the edited gallery
As a larger team, ask specifically which lead photographer is assigned to your date

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume404 · 98th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown93% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The deepest review history on this page and a strong choice for couples who want photo and video bundled with one full-day team, though flag any editing concerns early with them.

Website +1630-271-1737 Directions

801 S Wells St Apt 710, Chicago, IL 60607

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Caleb Schaftlein Photography

5.0112 Google reviews

Caleb Schaftlein Photography is a Chicago wedding and engagement photographer working solo or with a second shooter, known for candid, authentic coverage of proposals and engagement sessions across the city. Caleb plans location and timing details with clients ahead of the shoot and has coordinated surprise-proposal logistics directly with the proposing partner.

What people praise

Coordinates directly with clients planning a surprise proposal
Location scouting and planning handled ahead of the session
Quick turnaround on delivering final edited photos
Perfect 5.0 rating across every review checked

Worth knowing

Primarily books engagement and proposal sessions, so confirm full wedding-day availability directly
Smaller solo operation, so book well ahead for a specific date

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating5 / 5

Review volume112 · 88th

Confidencemoderate

Recency7 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown100% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest pick here for engagement and proposal photography specifically, with a candid, unposed style reviewers consistently praise.

Website +1812-613-3133 Directions

1932 N Karlov Ave, Chicago, IL 60639

#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Eliana Melmed Photography

5.0111 Google reviews

Eliana Melmed Photography is a Chicago wedding photographer specializing in Jewish weddings, working across traditional, modern and egalitarian ceremonies with a team of associate photographers to cover Friday-night and Saturday events when Eliana herself observes Shabbat. The studio also shoots headshots, branding, family and engagement sessions beyond weddings.

What people praise

Deep familiarity with Jewish wedding traditions and ceremony structure
Fast turnaround, with sneak-peek galleries often delivered within days
Personally responds to inquiries within 48 hours
Associate photographers cover events that fall on the Sabbath

Worth knowing

Specializes specifically in Jewish and cultural weddings, so confirm fit if that is not your ceremony style
Business hours are limited on Fridays given religious observance

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating5 / 5

Review volume111 · 83th

Confidencemoderate

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown100% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clear specialist for Jewish and culturally specific weddings on this page, with a structured associate system to cover dates the lead photographer cannot.

Website +1312-767-7858 Directions

725 W Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Summerset Weddings

4.9121 Google reviews

Summerset Weddings is a Black-owned Chicago wedding photography and videography team serving brides of color, interracial couples and multicultural weddings, with an editing process built to render skin tone accurately across the full range of clients. The studio pairs a photographer with a content creator on-site and travels for destination weddings beyond Chicago.

What people praise

Editing approach specifically built to render every skin tone naturally
Responsive customer service that resolves issues quickly, per reviewers
Combines a dedicated photographer and content creator on the same booking
Willing to travel for destination weddings

Worth knowing

A few reviewers noted early missing deliverables that required follow-up, though resolved quickly
Smaller team than the largest studios on this page, so book ahead

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume121 · 93th

Confidencemoderate

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · hours

Rating breakdown95% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong, purpose-built choice for brides of color and multicultural couples who want editing that genuinely reflects their skin tone, not an afterthought adjustment.

Website Directions

1200 W 35th St #349, Chicago, IL 60609

#5🕑 Open 7 days

Our Days Photo and Film

5.0106 Google reviews

Our Days Photo and Film is an editorial photography and video team serving Chicago and New York, booked for weddings by couples who first hired them for engagement photos and returned for the wedding day itself. Jess leads photography with second shooter Emma, and the team also offers same-day mini sessions and video alongside stills for wedding coverage.

What people praise

Couples often book them across engagement, wedding and later family sessions
Documentary, unposed style rather than heavily directed portraits
Video and photography available in the same booking
Warm, low-pressure presence on the wedding day, per reviewers

Worth knowing

Editorial, candid style suits couples who want a documentary feel over posed formal portraits
Popular with repeat clients, so book your date early

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating5 / 5

Review volume106 · 78th

Confidencemoderate

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · hours

Rating breakdown99% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for couples who want their wedding day captured candidly and are comfortable trading heavily posed portraits for a documentary feel.

Website Directions

1579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

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How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is each photographer’s live Google star average. Review volume measures how many couples have rated them, ranked against other Chicago wedding photographers. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 5.0 from over a hundred reviews carries more weight than a 5.0 from a dozen. Recency reflects how recently couples are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a wedding photographer cost in Chicago? (2026)

Wedding photography pricing depends on coverage hours, whether a second shooter or video is included, and album or print add-ons, and none of the photographers above publish specific package prices in the reviews or site text we could verify. Ask each studio directly for its current 2026 package pricing.

Serving weddings across Chicago

The photographers above cover Chicago venues across downtown, Wells Street, Sheridan Road and the North Side, with several also traveling for destination weddings outside the city. Searching for a wedding photographer near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can reach the closest studio fast.

What to ask before you hire a wedding photographer

How many hours of coverage are included, and what happens if the day runs long?
Will there be a second shooter, and who specifically is assigned to my date?
Is video included, or is that a separate booking?
What is the delivery timeline for the full edited gallery?
Do you offer albums or prints, or is delivery digital only?
Do you have experience with our specific ceremony style or cultural traditions?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these wedding photographers?

We started from every wedding photographer in Chicago with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Do any of these photographers also offer video?

Yes. TWA Wedding Photography and Our Days Photo and Film both offer video alongside photography for the same booking, so ask about bundled pricing if you want both.

Which photographer specializes in cultural or religious wedding traditions?

Eliana Melmed Photography specializes in Jewish weddings, and Summerset Weddings specializes in serving brides of color and multicultural couples with editing built to render every skin tone accurately.

The bottom line

TWA Wedding Photography is the safe default given its review depth and full-team coverage, while Caleb Schaftlein, Eliana Melmed and Summerset Weddings are strong specialist picks depending on your ceremony style. Confirm your specific lead photographer and coverage hours in writing before the date.

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