The Best Wedding Photographers in Apple River, IL

The Best Wedding Photographers in Apple River, IL

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415 Wedding Photographers in Apple River, IL

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Photography By Jill Emmer 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $1,200
  • Serves Apple River, IL

I’m Jill, a Wisconsin wedding photographer with 13+ years of experience capturing real, emotional, story-driven moments. My work blends candid documentary style with artistic, magazine-inspired creativity. I’ve photographed weddings across Wisconsin and beyond, and have partnered with brands like Nikon, Verizon, and Leinenkugel’s. I approach every wedding with warmth, curiosity, and intention—focusing on genuine connection, beautiful light, and the moments that matter most.

Jill was fantastic to work with. She helped me feel comfortable even though I usually feel awkward posing for pictures. My husband and I had such a great experience with Jill for our engagement photos that we asked her back to photograph our wedding and we would do it again. All our photos, from both photo events, are simply stunning. She captured our energy, the scenery, the natural light, and made us look great!
Teresa P., a month ago
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Candace Sims Photography 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $4,000
  • Serves Apple River, IL

Weddings are more than a single day—they are a feeling, a rhythm, a gathering of moments meant to be remembered. Candace Sims documents wedding weekends with intention, focusing on the beauty found in meaningful details, natural surroundings, and the quiet moments in between. An award-winning luxury wedding photographer with over twelve years of experience, Candace is known for her refined aesthetic and thoughtful storytelling. Her calm, attentive presence allows celebrations to unfold effortlessly, preserving imagery that feels timeless, elegant, and deeply personal.

Candace was truly the perfect photographer for our wedding! From the very beginning, her warmth, kindness, and professionalism made us feel completely at ease. On the day itself, she brought such positive energy and creativity that it felt like we had known her forever. Her talent is unmatched—she has an incredible eye and a genuine passion for her work that shines through in everything she does. We couldn’t have imagined our wedding day without her! Candace captured every moment so beautifully and made our day feel even more special. The final gallery was nothing short of amazing. If you’re looking for someone who is not only exceptionally skilled but also a joy to be around, Candace is the one. We truly love her and will be forever grateful for the magic she brought to our wedding day!
Nzuzi M., 4 months ago
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Hooke Photo 

5.0

  • Editorial style
  • Starts at $1,950
  • Serves Apple River, IL

As a small boy, I would sit for hours watching my mother hand-color portraits for a local photographer, during the cold winter months, by a fire in our family room. From there I began taking my own pictures with my first box camera. Fast forward to a restless twenty-something working as a microbiologist, taking weddings and portraits on weekends. Eventually I graduated college with an M.A. in Photography and started out in Chicago, assisting numerous photographers, shooting everything from oranges to weddings. I have been fortunate to have worked all over the world. Photography is more than a job, it’s an avocation, a passion, it's what I do.

Awarded Best of Zola
From the first time we met Thom, we knew he was the right fit for us and our wedding. He made planning for our wedding in the middle of a pandemic stress FREE! Thom is organized, creative, and makes photography fun. His experience in the industry is evident through not only his work, but the way he is able to command a room. Thom had one of his assistants live stream our wedding for our guests that could not travel during the pandemic, which I am so grateful for. Now we will be able to watch our wedding mass for years to come. Thom also captured many couples, family, and friends photos throughout the day. Our family and friends continue to rave about Thom's work and his wonderful personality. We cannot thank Thom enough for capturing memories that will last us a lifetime! Look no further Thom is your guy to make your wedding photography dreams come true!!
Meghan and D., 5 years ago
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Forest City Photographs 

5.0

  • Fine art style
  • Serves Apple River, IL

Extroverted and passionate about creating images for couples. I've been taking photos since I was old enough to hold a camera. Starting in 2015, I've photographed weddings couples in the midwest. in 2018 we started to travel across the united states for weddings. No matter where your ceremony will take place, we'll be there for you.

Awarded Best of Zola
We loved working with Joel and Forest City Photographs. So much energy! If you want photos that are just a little bit different, a photographer who makes you laugh, and give meaningful images, book them!
Daria P., a year ago
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Erik Anderson - Photography, LLC. 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,500
  • Serves Apple 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., 5 months ago
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Leif & Christine Photography 

5.0

  • Fine art style
  • Starts at $2,950
  • Serves Apple River, IL

Hi! I’m Christine, a wedding and engagement photographer based in Rockford, Illinois, serving couples across the Midwest. I specialize in blending creative, candid and romantic styles to create timeless, elegant images that beautifully tell the story of your wedding day. My goal is to help you relive your wedding day through timeless photographs that you’ll cherish forever.

Christine is a wonderful photographer! She responded immediately when we initially contacted her, and she continued to respond quickly through all of our conversations leading up to our wedding. She is both friendly and professional in person, and her photographs of our wedding were creative and well done. I would highly recommend Christine!
Seth F., 2 months ago
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Erin Henze Media 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,000
  • Serves Apple 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., a year ago
GemHidden gem
Meg Dunn Photography 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $5,000
  • Serves Apple River, IL

Timeless | Romantic | Classic Wedding photographer - I believe in the idea that "great photos are created from personal connection." I put my heart and soul into making sure the couples I work with have the best possible experience and end up with images that we can both be proud of. My favorite part of taking photos is being able to find the special moments within your big milestones. It's those candid times, along with the significance of the occasion, that come together to create your favorite memories and it's my job to capture those through my visual storytelling.

Meg is a dream and truly one of the best around. She was recommended to me by a friend and I have zero regrets. She is funny, understanding, and a total professional. Our engagement photos and wedding photos turned out incredible. Can't recommend her enough!
Lauren A., 3 years ago
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Holly Johns Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,250
  • Serves Apple River, IL
  • Offer

Located in Northern Illinois, couples who choose me are looking for clean, natural, and timeless wedding photography. My style is very candid and photojournalistic, but also artistic and professional. My editing style is very clean, keeping your images timeless.

I never expected her to capture so much in our pictures! You can see all the love and happiness in our pictures. She really was my right hand girl, I couldn’t have gotten through the day without her! She has done our engagement, wedding, my daughter’s senior pictures and we still have a session to use for family pictures!! I’ll never look for a different photographer!
Ashley B., 5 months ago
Expedition Joy 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $5,500
  • Serves Apple River, IL

I'm Courtney! I care not only about providing you with sharp, authentic and colorful images on your wedding day, but helping you to be fully present on your wedding day so you remember all the big and little moments.

Courtney was AMAZING! I found Expedition Joy on instagram when she was doing a giveaway contest for a free Engagement session. To our suprise and BIGGEST BLESSING— we won! When my husband and I met Courtney, we instantly clicked! She was so easy to talk to and made us feel so comfortable so quickly! She was very intentional about building trust with her and having a friendship as well! We had great conversations during our shoot and got to learn about her aswell! After our session, my husband and I both agreed that we NEEDED Courtney to be a part of our big day. We expressed our excitement with Courtney just as much as she expressed hers with us! During the planning months, she was so easy to reach and made us feel confident that she would go above and beyond for us on our special day and she DID. Courtney showed up camera in hand and started shooting the second she walked in the door! She was ON IT. She continued to encourage the bridal party and family so they felt comfortable as she was taking photos. She was so intentional with everyone! Courtney and her second shooter were the life of the party on the dance floor! They had a blast with us and it was so much fun for all of our guests to cheer them on when they went to bust a move in the center circle! Courtney continued her 5-star reputation throughout the night and even went above and beyond to stay past our contracted time for our grand exit! She took the most memorable photos of our day, we will always remeber her when we reminisce on our beautiful photos! She truly is Expedition Joy
Kalea W., 8 months ago
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Tyler Yomantas Photography 

5.0

  • Fine art style
  • Starts at $2,200
  • Serves Apple River, IL

My love for photography began in Rockford, IL, where I discovered storytelling through a lens. Over the years, I’ve captured Midwest landscapes, national parks, and life’s meaningful moments. What started with local events and concerts grew into a passion for weddings and portraiture. I believe the best photos come from genuine connections, so I prioritize building relationships to understand your story and vision. Whether celebrating love, connection, or a fleeting moment, I’m here to calm nerves, share laughter, and capture memories you’ll cherish forever. Let’s create something timeless and yours.

Tyler is an incredible photographer to work with; he's able to make all participants feel comfortable and engaged, and this is where the magic happens! Tyler's skilled eye allows him to quickly map out pleasing compositions while capturing candid emotion - it's the best of both worlds! Your photos will feel authentic AND gorgeous. We would absolutely book with Tyler again!
Matt S., a year ago
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Mitch And Rachel Visuals 

5.0

  • Classic style
  • Starts at $3,750
  • Serves Apple River, IL

Hey there! We are a husband and wife photo & video team who LOVE capturing love!! We are based in Rockford IL but are always up for travel too! We got married in 2016, started our business shortly after that and have had a blast getting to where we are today! Some of our favorite things are Thai food, coffee, pop punk music and most of all, our pup, Snickers!

Mitch and Rachel Visuals were the perfect photographers for our wedding day. From the very beginning, their communication style was easy, clear, and extremely helpful. They listened intently to what we wanted and didn't want in terms of photos, making the entire process stress-free and fun. On the day of the wedding, they moved quickly and efficiently to capture all the big group shots, easing any anxiety we had about sticking to the timeline. The final photos have turned out even better than we could have imagined - the quality of their work and the value they provided is truly top-notch. We highly recommend Mitch and Rachel Visuals to any couple looking for a positive, enjoyable photography experience on their special day.
Gia C., a month ago
GemHidden gem
Timeless Trinity Company 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,500
  • Serves Apple River, IL

I devote my craft to capturing authentic personalities, genuine happiness, and pure love during my photography services. I am dedicated to capture your love story through wedding photography, portraits and family photos!

From the moment we first reached out to Timeless Trinity Company, their communication was personable, patient, and thorough. They took the time to understand our vision and needs for our wedding day. On the day of, their team was a calming presence, expertly capturing all the special moments despite the unexpected bad weather. Timeless Trinity's work is simply beautiful, captivating, and illuminating - their photos truly captured the essence of our love and the joy of our celebration. We are so grateful to Timeless Trinity for helping make our wedding day so special and memorable.
Miranda R., a year ago
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Chrissy Deming Photography 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $3,500
  • Serves Apple 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
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Alyssa Good Photography 
  • Classic style
  • Starts at $1,950
  • Serves Apple River, IL

I'm Alyssa. A lover of photographing weddings. With over eight years of experience and so lucky to have my husband by my side being my second shooter. I live for the dreamy and colorful photos of documenting your day.

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Jenna Darcy Photography 
  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,200
  • Serves Apple River, IL

I am a wedding and fine art photographer and I love what I do! My drive for finding opportunities to create outstanding images is contagious and I make sure it's a fun day for all involved. I've discovered that my favorite weddings are comprised of great music, a high energy wedding party, real flowers, and some sort of inclusion of the couple's pets. If you have a dog walking down your aisle, I want to be there!

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Original Weddings Photo & Video 

4.9

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

Original Weddings Photo & Video is a team of EMMY award winning storytellers. Our photography and videography packages are tailored to you, customizable and perfect for every wedding. We offer engagement photography, wedding photos, highlight films, wedding coverage and more.

Awarded Best of Zola
I could not be more thrilled with our choice in photographer than Sound Originals! The quality of shots we received from our wedding were stunning, and that is entirely thanks to Kevin. He was so great at working with us to create beautiful, posed shots, but my favorite photos of the night are those were he captured the live moments of joy. Having the ability to have multiple editing styles was so amazing as it led to some beautifully crafted shots with unique lighting.
Rachel B., 5 months ago
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Once Like a Spark Wedding Co. 

4.9

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $1,845
  • Serves Apple 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.

Alex & Jeremy were the BEST. I cannot believe the number of compliments I received from friends and family who were at the wedding. They were the most professional and interacted with our guests all night long. During the day, we moved through our timeline so smoothly but never felt rushed in my special moments with my husband. We laughed, we cried, we danced- every moment was captured by them and we are so thankful! I was hoping that the weather would cooperate for some golden hour portraits- not only did Jeremy get the most BEAUTIFUL golden hour photos but he grabbed us just as the sun came peaking out of the clouds and got a few photos of us with my veil in the wind. I am OBSESSED with both sets of these portraits. I’ve already recommended OLAS to friends and family who are getting married. They were the best vendor I could have asked for to capture our special day!
Danielle H., a year ago
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The Talented Photographer - Award Winning Photography. 

5.0

  • Editorial style
  • Starts at $1,995
  • Serves Apple River, IL
  • Offer

Hello! We are Christian and Ana. We have put together the best wedding photo & video team in America. Don't take our word for it, see it for yourself on our website. Whether you are camera shy or not, you will get beautiful photos with us. That's why couples are raving about us: we get beautiful photos out of EVERY SINGLE WEDDING!

Awarded Best of Zola
We are absolutely thrilled with our experience with The Talented Photographer! Christian made the entire process smooth and stress-free with clear communication and organization that comes with his experience. We chose the Easy Package and our day was captured beautifully. Christopher was our photographer and was wonderful to work with. He was so detail-oriented, which truly made a difference in capturing every meaningful moment. The family and friends we’ve shared the album with are also so impressed. We are very happy we chose to go with The Talented Photographer!
Maura G., a year ago
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Albany Capture Film & Photography Studios 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Serves Apple 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
Between 2023-2024 of wedding planning, I had found Albany Capture on Zola and decided to book their services after doing some research. Wedding planning didn’t go accordingly at first to the point where I had to change the venue and date. Luckily Albany Capture was still available in spite of all the changes and was flexible in working along with us. My new husband and I just got married on May 2, 2025 and we can’t thank Pedro of Albany Capture enough for capturing our special day! Pedro is not only talented, he is so kind and professional at the same time. Even my guests kept telling me what an awesome photographer/videographer he is!
Michelle, 7 months ago
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Portraits By Sean 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $2,550
  • Serves Apple 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
My husband and I were from out of town and hired Sean to photograph us at a Christmas gala at the place we got married. He was accommodating to last minute changes to make the most of the session and even went above and beyond to make it happen. Upon first impression, he was upbeat and had a vision. We were outside in sub 30 degree weather with fading evening light as well as low light inside a building and he was up for the challenge. We ended up with beautiful images in less than ideal conditions and that is what makes a great photographer. Sean has a sense of humor and an eye for that perfect photograph. He was fun to work with and his heart for people and creativity shows through. Thank you Sean for capturing this time in our lives.
Julia M., a year ago
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VIDART 

5.0

  • Photojournalistic style
  • Starts at $500
  • Serves Apple 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.

Absolutely love our wedding pictures!!! VIDART caught so many little moments I didn’t even see during the day. The kids playing, my dad giving me away, even the funny faces on the dance floor. Every photo tells a story.
Courtney H., 2 months ago

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