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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Holy Name Wedding + Art Institute, Modern Wing Reception : Erica + Tom
- Posted on:
- 20 February 2012
I will be out of the studio for the next week so before leaving I wanted to share one big post. This was a dream wedding to photograph—relaxed schedule, beautiful style and intense emotion. The wedding was indicative of what I think is the “classic modern” Chicago wedding—traditional in some respects but personal in many others, beautifully combining the two aesthetics into one style that to me, is quintessientally Chicago.
Erica and Tom prepared at the Trump Tower in Chicago, and makeup and dressing started with some tears, as Erica put on her wedding gown and fur and necklace from her grandmother. We had a beautiful sunny day, such a rarity for the winter (well, most years!), and their first look was equally emotional and beautiful. After portraits around town we headed to Holy Name, one of the most historic and beautiful churches in the city. I find moments with fathers are what get me the most—I am usually pretty good about not dissolving into a teary puddle, but time with the bride and her dad really make the tears well up as I think about my own beloved pops and our relationship. At the church, Erica and her father prepared to walk down the aisle and the tears began to flow—thankfully her dad was prepared with a handkerchief, which he used to dry her tears before the aisle and as they walked down the aisle, stopping midway to take a breath! I found this to be such a beautiful and special moment—one that I will certainly always remember.
A reception followed at one of my favorite venues, the Art Institute, for what was my sixth (!) time shooting there. Tom and his mom danced the most fabulous dance that completely had me inspired to take dance classes, and Erica and her father did a routine with umbrellas choreographed to “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
Many thanks to all the great people who made this day come together, as usual: Terzo Piano at the Art Institute, Petal Play Designs, Sarah Postma and Casey Winkleman!
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Cafe Brauer Wedding :: Meagan + Drew
- Posted on:
- 02 February 2012
Meagan and Drew were another great couple that we met at Indie Wed last year. I don’t know what it is about that event, but it really led me to some of my favourite couples—all incredibly fun and kind. I always view my mission as trying to capture the essence of each couple, and Meag and Drew are at their core, an incredibly *fun* couple. These two had a blast all day and you could tell they were just so excited to get married. Meagan wore this incredible tulle confection—a beautifully whimsical dress. However, it was one of the windiest days of the year (and it is often windy) and it was incredibly amusing for us to watch the dress behave, or misbehave, as the case may have been! They also introduced me to the concept of the wonderfully fun “second grade portrait,” for which I will always be grateful. :)
Along with their great energy and attitudes, they also managed to have one of the prettiest weddings of the year. They were married at the peak of fall at Meagan’s home church in Western Springs, where her dad directs their wonderful music program. After that we returned to the city for a reception at Cafe Brauer, and with its location in the heart of Lincoln Park., it was a gorgeous setting for this autumn day We were rushing to get back to the city in rush hour, and as the light was quickly dwindling, I became nervous that we’d run out of sunlight, but the fates intervened and we were instead met with one of the most beautiful sunsets of the year. I also haven’t been sharing many bouquets this year but had to post some from this wedding, designed by Stems—just so gorgeous!
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- Posted in:
- chicago wedding photographer
- Cafe Brauer Wedding
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- Comments:
- 3
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The Spectators
- Posted on:
- 02 January 2012
Art Institute of Chicago
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- Posted in:
- chicago wedding photographer
- Terzo Piano Wedding
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- Comments:
- 0
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Peoria Wedding : Abby & Michael
- Posted on:
- 21 December 2011
This fall, I trekked down to Peoria to capture the wedding of Abby and Michael in their hometown. Abby and Michael are a couple that come from families that are, to me, Midwestern in the best possible of ways. I think when other people think of smaller towns and the type of people you might find in Illinois, family and friends like those of Abby and Michael are what spring to mind—kind, thoughtful, gracious, and so close to their loved ones. When I arrived at Abby’s childhood home to photograph her getting ready, her family was so hospitable, asking me if I needed anything to eat or drink and just being the most gracious of hosts. The getting ready was full of emotion—I think everyone was crying! You could tell it was such a tight-knit group of family and friends, and the entire day just felt like the oldest of friends having a great time (which is pretty much what it was!).
I had never been to Peoria before and really had no idea what to expect, unsure if our portrait locations would present some challenges or make for lovely images. I was blown away by the natural beauty—I am a city girl through and through I think, but on the way down to the wedding I kept shouting out to my assistant Casey about how gorgeous all the fields were and how it was almost all just too much! It was so so gorgeous. Following the wedding, we took some photos at the ice cream shop that Michael’s dad owns, visited a road that Teddy Roosevelt called the most beautiful drive in America, and then on the way to the reception, I asked Abby and Michael if they wouldn’t mind jumping into a field of soybeans for a few shots. They were so wonderfully game and we created some of my favourite images of the year.
All in all, such a lovely day with truly the sweetest of couples and the nicest of families. Thank you again, you two!
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Martha Stewart Weddings + Cafe Brauer
- Posted on:
- 06 December 2011
When I first started my business, I made a little list of some general goals I had when everything just seemed like a distant dream—“book 20 weddings!” “shoot a destination wedding” “get to know 5 other photographers.” They seem funny now but to me they were big goals. One of the other ones on the list was to be featured in Martha Stewart Weddings. I still feel that Martha Stewart brings such unique and fresh ideas to the table in what can be a very repetitive industry, and they continually feature some of the most lovely photography from photographers that I admire. I photographed Matt and Mindy’s wedding at KAM Israel in Hyde Park and Cafe Brauer in Lincoln Park this summer—Mindy worked tirelessly on all of the incredible details from the day and also had dreams of maybe having it end up in Martha. Needless to say, I was so excited when their gorgeous wedding was featured as a real wedding on their site! Not the magazine, but still such a honor. Many thanks to the incredible team from this day—Anthony Navarro, who was just incredible; Jesse Deckard, one of the most talented designers in the city; and Bethany Fritz, who was an enormous help in photographing the day. You can view the feature here. Below are a few larger photos of some of their beautiful details and some additional photos that were not featured.
