Olivia Leigh Photographie: Fine Art Chicago Wedding Photographer. Available nationwide.
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Olivia Leigh Photographie Blog
Welcome to the all-new Olivia Leigh Photographie blog! Here you can find photos from recent shoots in Chicago and abroad. If you’re looking for a particular wedding or a certain venue, just search below. Use the navigation at the top to see the best work in the portfolio, learn more about services, or send an email to learn more about working together.
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Revisit
- Posted on:
- 06 March 2010
I have been trying to work on black and white conversions lately. So many digital black and whites look so terrible in my opinion; very few as good as black and white film and the great grain that comes with it. I was experimenting with Sudhir and Chrissy’s wedding from the Modern Wing, and just loved these two in a new black and white recipes. So interesting (to me at least) how different they feel in bw versus colour.
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Wedding parasols :: Wedding photography ideas
- Posted on:
- 03 March 2010
Does anyone else feel like 2009 when stylized wedding photographs really exploded? I feel like last year was the year when brides all across the country really became concerned with styling their wedding photos, really considering props and accessories and how the end photo would look.
One of the big trends that I’ve seen over the past few years has been wedding parasols. But unlike some trends feel completely dated five years from now, parasols have that perpetually classic look, evoking romance and style regardless of the decade. Megan had parasols for her guests at her outdoor Morton Arboretum wedding, and we also took a few photographs with it after the ceremony.
Below are some great resources for beautiful parasols of all different types!
Bella Umbrella has the most amazing selection of vintage umbrellas. They are very pricey to buy, the site actually allows you to rent them. Sounds a little crazy, but a great option if you know you aren’t going to be carrying a ruffled pink parasol around downtown again anytime soon.
For traditional paper parasols, Pearl River and Asian Imports have great deals. You can pick up a range of lovely parasols for your bridesmaids for less than $50 in many cases
eBay is also a great resource for vintage-inspired parasols. I have always loved battenburg-style parasols for their romantic and mysterious potential in photos. eBay has great deals in a selection of colours, including soft pastels for a sweet vintage look, or even black for a crisp, modern style.
And if you want something completely unique, I have always loved these handpainted parasols from I Do Originals. They are just so lovely and make for beautiful photographs; particularly great for a thank you or post-wedding card.
(Photos by Elizabeth Messina and Gwyne Mark Photography) If you know of any other great umbrella/parasols outlets, leave a note in the comments. I always like to keep my list current!
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- Comments:
- 4
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Wedding photography tips :: The importance of hotels
- Posted on:
- 01 March 2010
I was meeting with one of my out-of-town clients on Friday, when she and her mother asked me for hotel recommendations. I had been meaning to write a post about great hotels and the impact they can have on your photography, and our conversation was certainly a great impetus to revisit this.
The photography is one of the most important parts of the day to my couples, and many of them also love the “getting ready” photos as much as I do. This is always one of my favourite times to shoot during the day—there is a wonderful sense of anticipation, things are still a little calm, and it is generally a wonderful opportunity to take beautiful images of the bride and her details. That said, the room where she is getting ready can really make or break these images!
I always recommend that brides consider getting ready in a room that has, primarily, great windows! Natural lighting will really make you look beautiful and also provides great options for creative detail shots without the use of flash. Another reason to maybe think about your getting ready hotel is because a wonderful lobby or restaurant can also serve as a nice location backup should it be a rainy day (as can happen in Chicago).
Here are some of my favourite hotels and suites in Chicago for getting ready. All pictures via their site unless mentioned:
The Trump (401 n wabash // 312-558-8000)
The new trump tower has beautiful rooms with great modern textures and colours, wonderful lighting, and a beautiful terrace overlooking the river.
The Elyisan (11 e walton // 312-646-1300)
This is a brand new hotel and it is just so stunning. Inspired by the designs of Coco Chanel, the rooms all have a lovely, feminine, European flair to them, and the lobby and grounds are absolutely breathtaking. The spaces here would be a stunning backdrop for romantic and modern photographs, rain or not!
Hotel Monaco (225 n wabash // 312-960-8500)
While many of the rooms here are a little overstylized for my tastes (simple is often better!), the “Tranquility Suite” here is just gorgeous and one of my favourites in Chicago. The corner suite is bathed in shades of white, ivory and champagne with window seats a plenty, and is the perfect location for a bride and her girls to get ready (so much prettier than the photo below)!
Four Seasons (160 e pearson, 312-280-8800)
If you want beautiful views, it is hard to beat the bridal suite at the Four Seasons. Julie got ready here in June and the pictures were wonderful!
Hotel Sax (333 n dearborn // 312-245-0333)
The Hotel Sax is an old favourite of mine in Chicago. The suites in particular have wonderful light, and all have visually interesting rooms with lots of texture, and a sexy baroque feel (no pictures available unfortunately!). It is also home to the sexy Crimson Lounge and right outside Marina City, both great settings for romantic and urban images.
With that said, you certainly don’t have to get ready in a luxe hotel. I’ve seen girls get ready from everywhere from a small room in a church to the basement in a wine bar, and whatever you choose, the anticipation and the emotion are always the most important facets. But if you do opt to get a hotel room and will already be spending the money, as so many brides or couples do, consider looking into an option like those above, as a beautifully styled room with ample lighting will generally lead to better photos than a dark corporatey room!
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- 6
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Modern Wing Wedding Photos [Art Institute] :: Sudhir + Chrissy
- Posted on:
- 13 January 2010
Planning a wedding at the Art Institute? If so, congratulations! The Art Institute and its beautiful spaces like Griffin Court, Terzo Piano, the Modern Wing, and McClintock Court, combine to make for my favourite venue in the city of Chicago. Many people stumble upon this, my first AIC wedding, but please consider checking out many recent Modern Wing weddings to see how others have used the space! Erica + Tom, church + terzo reception | Erik + Katie, griffin court ceremony + modern wing art institute reception | Cassidy + Adam, griffin court ceremony + terzo piano reception | Katy + Alex, church + modern wing reception | Kristen + Scott, church + terzo piano reception
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Chrissy and Sudhir were married at the end of December in what was a typical winter Chicago day—gray, slushy and cold! But despite the weather, they had one of my favourite weddings of the year, an elegant but relaxed celebration at the brand new Modern Wing at the Art Institute. This space is such a stunner, and made a gorgeous showcase of Chicago for their incredibly sweet friends and family who came from around the world to celebrate their wedding. I am photographing another wedding there in September and can’t wait to see how different the space will be in the warmer months, with guests taking advantage of the gorgeous terrace and bridge (where we took a few portraits below).
Regarding the portraits below, I think we wedding photographers talk a lot about getting our clients to trust us. It is so critical to getting great portraits—having that connection and trust. But I think we—or I, at least—forget that sometimes we also have to trust our clients! Chrissy and Sudhir gave me little direction about where to do the portraits of them, telling me they trusted me, and saying they liked the industrial photos they’d seen in my portfolio before. Couples occassionally tell me to “do whatever I want,” but I think it can be really hard to trust that they really mean “whatever!” and not “whatever…by which we mean photos on Michigan Avenue.” Since it was my last wedding of the year, I decided to just go with it, to try to push it a little, and I could not be more happy with the results. These are my favourite type of pictures to take, and I hope it shows.
Thanks to all the vendors who were all just great! Hair and Makeup: Krystyn & Samara of Bridal Beauty Chicago // Flowergirl, ring bearer accessories (so cute!): my oh-so-talented past client, Julie Booma // Bridal jewelry: also by Julie, through Poesi jewelry// //Venue: Modern Wing/Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago
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Chicago History Museum Wedding Photos :: Jackie & Steve
- Posted on:
- 04 January 2010
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s! I was out in North Carolina for Christmas and Wisconsin for New Year’s, and I am so excited to share the last two of my 2009 weddings. Jackie and Steve were married in December, with a ceremony at the completely darling Resurrection Lutheran Church in Wrigleyville, and a reception at the gorgeous Chicago History Museum. Jackie looked stunning in her Monique Lhuillier gown and the oh-so-kind wedding party looked so classic and lovely in black and white. Jackie and Steve were one of my most relaxed couples of the entire year, making for a calm, fun day of shooting. Many thanks to Ali Phillips of Engaging Events by Ali, who kept this wedding more on track than anyone I have ever seen! Ali also did a great job on the decor, adding a fun, graphic pink and damask flair to the elegant, traditional feel of the History Museum.
Ceremony: Resurrection Lutheran //Reception: Chicago History Museum // Dress: Monique Lhuillier // Shoes: Stuart Weitzman // Flowers: Tina & Dollie // Coordinator: Engaging Events by Ali
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- Posted in:
- chicago wedding blog
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