CREATIVO

WEDDING SERVICES - VENUE - PHOTOGRAPHY - ELOPEMENTS - ALBUMS

Chicago wedding photographers

Small Winter Wedding at Creativo Loft

Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

Brooke and Craig traveled from Michigan to celebrate their December wedding in Chicago.  Their morning brunch wedding at Creativo Loft was the kick-off for their New Year's Eve wedding day.  Bride Brooke chose blush, silver and gold tones for their powder-snow winter day.  The groom's family lives in Scotland, so a small gathering of the bride's side welcomed him to his new family in America.

Despite the chilly temperatures, Wedding Creativo photographer Giorgio and the couple went around to a few downtown Chicago landmarks for some beautifully snowy wedding portraits.  We coordinated an all-inclusive brunch wedding for the intimate group at our studio's own venue, Creativo Loft, including a delicious red velvet cake from Tipsycakes and adorable floral work from Steve's Flower Market.  Congratulations to the happy newlyweds!

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Chicago Autumn Wedding at Ivy Room

Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

We had the pleasure of having an extended amount of time for intimate portraits with Nadia and Bill.  Their chilly and rainy September wedding day began at the Hotel Sax, with lots of unusual and diverse areas for indoor portraits.  Our brave troopers then faced the windy and chilly elements outdoors at a few Chicago landmark locations, before heading to the Ivy Room for their ceremony and reception.

There was a slight rain delay, but thankfully, the clouds eventually parted so the ceremony could carry on as planned in the outside courtyard.  Afterwards, their intimate lounge-style reception featured a gourmet Mediterranean spread.   Colors of purple, orange and brown were a perfect pallet for their cozy autumn evening soiree.  Of course, a favorite moment for everyone was their fun rendition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" choreographed dance...complete with the trademark silver glove.

Also, for a fun interactive activity for their guests at their reception, Nadia and Bill included our fun Polaroid cameras and guest book.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Event professionals:  Wedding Creativo Photography, J&L Catering, Flora, I Do Films, The Left Bank Jewelry, Wedding Bells Bridal, Art + Science Salon, Home James Chicago Limo

Authentic Victorian Era Style Wedding

Wedding Details, Wedding Fashion, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Pictures, Wedding Planning, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

Terah and Ross celebrated their emerald green and gold wedding at Unity Lutheran Church and the Fortnightly Club in Chicago.  The bride is a historian and created an authentic Victorian era theme wedding....down to making her own dress!  It was modeled off of a 19th century Civil War era design. The groomsmen's suits were also period inspired with old fashioned ascotts instead of modern ties.  The bride's mother Linda also helped a great deal by elaborately designing the reception table centerpieces. Each table had a different traditional scholastic subject theme and was decorated using a varieity of antiques and vintage pieces such as inkwells, maps, globes, books, and old photographs. Overall, the style of the wedding reflected both Terah and Ross's professional careers in academia.  Terah and Linda also made the invitations and programs, and many other details. All in all it was truly an exceptional D.I.Y. wedding, We will always look back on this as all-time favorite for us, not only for the amazing details, but primarily because Terah and Ross were such wonderful and kind couple, an absolute pleasure to get to know, and we were so honored to be included on their memorable day.

Wedding Creativo Photography

Wedding Creativo featured in CSW

Creativo News, Wedding PlanningWedding Creativo Photography

For the recently engaged, or if you know someone who is planning a wedding in Chicago, we recommend picking up a copy of Chicago Style Weddings magazine.  The magazine is desinged to follow a typical flow for  wedding planning, and especially helpful is the month-by-month chart to keep on track with planning tasks.  Wedding Creativo is also honored to be featured in a couple of articles about photography trends and tips.  January/February 2013 issue is hot off the presses, so check a magazine rack at a store near you to pick up a copy.  Happy planning!

Millennium Knickerbocker Chicago Autumn Wedding : Courtney + Matt

Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

Courtney and Matt celebrated an elegant November wedding at St. Michael's Church and the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel.  The couple's classic city style was punctuated with formal black-tie fashions and warm fall colors.

The historic Knickerbocker Hotel set the scene with timeless golden decor, gourmet cuisine and their legendary lit dance floor.  Sarah's Pastries and Candies created a wonderfully detailed cake and Pollen's autumnal arrangements made for eye-catching table centerpieces, while the fantastic Orchestra 33 kept the dance floor swinging.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Wedding Photo of the Week: This ain't on the shot list

Wedding Ideas, Wedding Pictures, Wedding PlanningWedding Creativo Photography

Finding unique and creative perspectives is what Wedding Creativo Photography is all about. Moments like this aren't going to be on any "shot list" that magazines suggest brides send to their photographers.

The thing about "shot lists" is that they originated during a time when digital photography didn't exist.  Back in the day, when photographers only shot with traditional film, there was a very limited number of exposures available to cover the entire day. Generally about 250-350 pictures used to be the norm.  Shot lists were requested by the photographer so s/he would know the couple's preferences and priorities, but not because photographers didn't know the specific moments to anticipate throughout the wedding day. 

Today some wedding magazines and blogs still have articles that seem to imply that if brides don't provide photographers with a shot list that they will be clueless and miss all of your important moments.  Thinking this through, especially when couples hire more experienced photographers, it seems a bit silly.  We don't go to the dentist with a list of which teeth we would like to have routine cleaning, and for the most part, the shot lists that the magazines and blogs write about are usually the most routine parts of a wedding day that any photographer, with even a few years of experience, will have captured dozens or even hundreds of times.

What is helpful is to just communicate with your photographer about general and specific ideas and preferences that you have. While the logistics of most wedding days are pretty similar from one to the next, what is different is how each couple prefers to have the day covered.  You might not even know yet if you want a more stylized approach or less-intrusive approach, how much time to dedicate to portraits, or when and where you would like to have them take place.  In one way, couples may find it helpful to review a traditional shot list while planning to have a better idea of what photographrers generally look for thorouhout the day, but experienced photographers will also help guide couples along the way with any specifics. 

Each photographer has their own way to work with couples. Here at Wedding Creativo, we even have a special detailed questionnaire that we use to help with the communication process.  But even just discussing creative ideas and preferences during the planning phase will be a lot more beneficial to do with your photographer rather than giving him/her a check list of typical wedding day moments like "the kiss" or "the cake cutting."  For the more creative moments, you can rely on the skills and creative talents of your photographer, who is ideally someone you should feel comfortable exchanging ideas with.  Overall, as with all aspects of wedding planning, communication is key.