lisa kathan photography
About
I photograph tiny weddings and elopements because I love them! Why? Because you want your wedding day to be about the love you have for each other and those closest to you. And at the end of the day, when you tell me how much fun you had, and that we created forever memories together…that’s what makes me happiest in all the world.
Are you planning an engagement session prior to your wedding? If you’re getting married in Chicago or just having your engagement photos here, these are some great tips you can use for planning your engagement session!
Oh no! Your wedding day is approaching and the forecast is rain! You’d hoped to do your photos outdoors, but all is not lost. There are some popular Chicago locations that are great back-ups in case of rain.
When couples are planning their photography with me, I strongly encourage them to consider having an unplugged ceremony. This simply means that guests are encouraged to refrain from using their phones and cameras during the ceremony.
Read about WHY and HOW you can ask your guests to participate in an unplugged ceremony for your wedding.
The fact is, even though you’re planning a tiny wedding, it’s not going to just “come together” magically. There are still decisions to be made and things to do, so you need to be prepared that a tiny wedding still takes some time and effort to plan….
So you’re planning to elope or have a tiny wedding? Here are a few tips to help ease your family and friends into your tiny wedding plans.
Backyard weddings are so charming and personal -- they're a favorite for their intimacy and personality.
But summery backyard weddings can also pose some challenges when trying to get the best, beautifully lit photos. Here are some important things to keep in mind if you're planning on getting married in a backyard. Your photographer will thank you!
Getting married at Chicago’s City Hall? Make your day memorable and special with these great ideas by Lisa Kathan Photography.
Chicago is an amazing place to be married — no wonder more and more couples are coming from places like the U.K., Canada, and Australia to celebrate with a tiny wedding or elopement!
When Baylee and Michael dreamt about their engagement session, they wanted photos that captured their love for Chicago, and for each other.
The Charcoal Factory Loft is truly a unique venue! The industrial loft residence-turned-intimate-venue is located just north of Goose Island and was the perfect location for Lennifer and Yannick’s tiny fall wedding.
This Gilded Age mansion – inspired by a French château – was the perfect venue for a tiny modern springtime Parisian-themed wedding shoot.
Are you planning on engagement or wedding photos in Chicago? Find out which popular Chicago locations require a photo permit.
As a photographer, I’ve been asked about getting RAW wedding images a few times — but most couples doesn’t fully understand what RAW files are or how they’re used. Read more about RAW files, and find out why having RAW files from your wedding will probably not be useful for you.
UPDATED WITH COVID-19 INFO.
Planning on getting married at Chicago’s City Hall? Don’t go before reading this…
Hiring a photographer for your wedding is one of the biggest parts of a wedding budget. Even if you’re eloping or having the tiniest of weddings, an experienced, professional wedding photographer is going to be a significant part of what you spend on your wedding. Here’s some tips on how you can fit your favorite photographer into your budget.
NEWLY UPDATED! One of the biggest trends is the scaled back wedding, but venues for smaller weddings can be hard to find. Read about some of the top spots in the Chicago area for small weddings.
If you’re getting married at City Hall, you’ll definitely want to check out Amanda and Ryan’s day to find out how to take your marriage court ceremony next level.
So many couples rearranged their wedding plans during the COVID pandemic and were married at Chicago’s City Hall. Take a peek at Brandi & David’s sweet day this past October.
Veronica and Dom had originally planned to be wed in October in Belfast, Ireland…but COVID had other plans. So they did what so many other 2020 couples did: they kept their date and eloped at a spectacular venue, The Old Post Office.
Cold weather in Chicago is fast-approaching, and if you’re planning to get married this winter — and we recommend keeping your party to 10 people are less for indoor ceremonies — your options are more limited in a pandemic. But here are a few creative options!
Ditching your plans to have a big, traditional wedding isn't for everyone. But if getting married sooner is the dream, here’s a bunch of reasons why tiny weddings are best.
Often couples want great photography and wedding memories, but they just don't want to "deal with it." They don't want to come up with an officiant, a location, decor, etc, and so many times they end up at City Hall to be married.
Well guess what?! There IS A BETTER OPTION!
Just a few days before Chicago’s COVID-19 restrictions went into effect, Jillian and Matthew were married at city hall, and spent some time strolling Garfield Park Conservatory with their photographer.
The Covenant Murray Mansion just over the WI border in Racine made the perfect wintry backdrop to this chilly wedding day. Being able to capture all the photos indoors was a wonderful bonus to this venue! The intimate ceremony fit perfectly into the mansion’s great room, and the entire main level was flipped into a sweet candlelit dinner reception.
Check out this couple who made a trip from LA to Chicago for a romantic rainy day photo session.
Soft lighting, vintage accents and woodsy decor came together as Alli and Alex started the next chapter of their love story!
See what unfolds through this couple’s first look at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, a stroll around the Millennium Park on a sweltering summer morn, their sweet tiny ceremony at the Chicago Cultural Center.
When two curators for CHI thee WED collaborate on a styled shoot, the result is an incredibly styled groom shoot at Artifact Events.
In-home engagement sessions are increasing in popularity, and even if you don’t have a magazine-worthy home, there are lots of reasons to consider having one.