The 9 Best Engagement Photographers in Chicago (2024)

Looking for Chicago engagement photographers to capture your special day? Everybody knows that wedding days are important, but some might argue engagements are even more so. After all, everyone loves a good engagement story. Whether the proposal happens on one knee or in the middle of a skydive, a talented photographer can document moments you might otherwise miss.

And as the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace knows all about creative magic! Therefore, we’ve gone ahead and curated this list of our favorite Chicago engagement photographers.

Whether it’s the smile of a bride-to-be or the groom who can’t believe his luck, engagement photos capture the magic before the wedding day. Engagements are special and solitary. There are no family or friends around, but simply two people at the moment and the best Chicago engagement photographers to capture it.

Where to take your Chicago engagement photos

Before we get to our list, we just want to take a quick detour to discuss finding the perfect engagement photoshoot location in Chicago. Whether you’re a photographer looking for fresh, inspiring spaces to shoot or a couple looking for your ideal engagement party and wedding venues, Peerspace has your back.

All of our spaces are available to book by the hour from local hosts who support your project. You can easily find hidden gem venues that suit your aesthetic, price range, and more, all designed to give you an experience worthy of this momentous occasion.

So what types of Peerspaces can you book for your engagement shoot? Here are just a few of our favorites:

• This gorgeous daylight Moroccan-style photo studio in Near West Side (pictured above) for sweet and spicy engagement portraits.
• This luxury designer penthouse loft in Logan Square with an open floor plan, natural light, and several shooting spots.
• This central Logan Square secret garden for serene, outdoor shoots with the city as your backdrop.
• This beautiful and spacious loft with panoramic skyline views in the South Side for artists and eclectic engagement photos.

Believe us, this is only a small sample of the types of dreamy engagement photoshoot-perfect spaces you can book through the Peerspace platform. Hop on our homepage to start your own search!

And now, without further ado, let’s get to our list of the top Chicago engagement photographers…

1. Get the engagement photos of your dreams when you work with Carol DeAnda

Born and raised in Illinois, Carol DeAnda realized her calling in high school: photography. After attending Harrington College of Design for digital photography, she made the move to begin photographing weddings in 2010. Her photos make great use of lines and lighting, intent on using the natural backdrops of rural and urban Chicago as frames.

She also ranges between producing artistic shots and straight-up portraits. All of which focus squarely on the couple at their heart. Check out Carol’s website to read her blog, view all of her awards, and experience more of her work.

2. Create the portraits that truly capture you when you hire Kerri Carlquist

Girl from the ‘burbs Kerri Carlquist is rarely seen without her camera in hand. Though she now calls Chicago home, she’s also a keen and frequent traveler.

Her photography approach is to invite couples into her world as much as they’re letting her into theirs. Getting to know the couples’ own personal traits, likes, and dislikes, Carlquist takes each of these into account when framing or shooting her portraits.

Looking for stunning indoor spaces to bring your next shoot to life? Then you need to uncover our favorite indoor photoshoot locations in Chicago!

3. Showcase your bond in a light-kissed style when you work with Nicole Defilippis

Nicole Defilippis was originally a portrait photographer for families and children. In fact, it wasn’t until recently she realized how much she loved shooting weddings.

Nicole is a completely self-taught photographer and has taken photos for more than a decade now. She knows exactly where and how to scout a location to make her couples’ special days ones they’ll never forget. She is also a photographer who prefers natural light, so if your engagement will take place outdoors, call her up!

4. Nab emotive, editorial-worthy photos when you book Mark Trela

If you’re looking for a documentary-style Chicago engagement photographer, look no further than Mark Trela and his wife, Magda. You can’t go wrong when it comes to capturing love if those capturing it are also experiencing it.

The Trelas use the stunning Chicago scenery to make their engagement sessions stand out. Their photographs are raw, capturing spontaneous emotions when you least expect them to create stunning portraits.

5. Capture your true love in a stunning setting alongside Shannon Brachbill

Based in Chicago and Peoria, Shannon Lee Brachbill fell in love with photography during a summer spent in California. Inspired by faith and love, Brachbill’s dream engagement shoot is up in the mountains where nobody else is.

Her photographs use a lot of muted and desaturated tones, bringing a truly Chicago flavor to each and every session. Shannon’s goal is to capture genuine romantic moments. At this, she excels every time!

6. Score vibrant, love-packed photos when you work with Victoria Saint Martin

Rom-com lover Victoria Saint Martin is a hardworking yet natural wedding and engagement photographer. As a self-confessed hopeless romantic, she goes out of her way to make her clients feel relaxed. After all, an essential skill when it comes to portrait photography is creating genuine connections.

There’s also a lovely sense of motion and action in many of Victoria’s photos, as though they’re alive and thriving. She’s also not afraid to pack her bags to get the shots. In fact, Victoria will travel anywhere to capture your precious moments.

Don’t let the whims of Mother Nature rain on your parade! Use our unique indoor activities in Chicago guide as your compass the next time you want to hit the town in style!

7. Capture every moment beautifully when you team up with Andre & Maria LaCour

Andre and Maria LaCour have a wealth of photographic and cinematographic experience between them. In fact, Andre is an award-winning photographer and one of Chicago’s most reputable featured in dozens of wedding publications. Maria, on the other hand, has more than 20 years of experience in the field, as well as a keen understanding of people.

Together, the LaCours bring something unique to their photography, whether individually or apart. It’s a combination of viewpoints and skillsets that add up to more than the sum of their parts.

8. Get luxury photos that tell your story when you partner with Peter Gubernat

Meet Peter Gubernat: photographer, editor, storyteller, and craftsman. Named one of the top 22 wedding photographers in Chicago by Expertise.com for several years in a row, Gubernat does it all himself. Of course, being a wedding photographer this highly awarded also makes him one of the best Chicago engagement photographers.

His approach to engagement photographs is simple in that he does so as the storyteller. In place of point-and-shoot, he becomes as comfortable a part of the scenery as any prop, ensuring your moment is your moment, whoever you’re sharing it with.

9. Create timelessly romantic engagement photos with Lauren Ashley Studios

The team of Chicago engagement photographers at Lauren Ashley Studios celebrates your engagement with classically romantic and utterly stunning images. Helmed by Lauren Ashley herself, you can count on this collective to strive to understand you as a couple while making you look like Hollywood royalty the day of your shoot.

Just by looking through their website and Instagram, you will see the work of a dedicated team that truly knows its stuff. If the timeless romance style is your wheelhouse, this is your dream team!

Peerspace loves all of these Chicago engagement photographers

Whether you’re a newly engaged couple looking for dream wedding venues or a photographer looking for new shooting spaces in Chicago, count on Peerspace. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, we offer you access to mansions, lofts, ballrooms, warehouses, and studios that bring your events and productions to life.

The best Chicago engagement photographers may shoot traditional romantically posed portraits, or they may employ a photojournalistic approach to capture a loving moment or surprise proposal. But regardless of the style they’ve perfected, these artistic minds are never stale or boring. In fact, each understands that every couple’s personality is unique and ensures their love is expressed authentically.

Find unique event venues in Chicago on Peerspace