Photographs are proof — that you were here, that you loved, that your story mattered.
Illinois & Wisconsin Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer for Couples and Families
Illinois & Wisconsin Wedding Photographer | Nicole Kilday Photography
Nicole Kilday Photography is a documentary and editorial wedding photographer based in Hebron, Illinois, serving couples within a 60-mile radius of Northern Illinois, including Chicago and McHenry County, as well as Milwaukee, Madison, and Southeast Wisconsin. Travel is available beyond this primary service area for weddings and elopements.
Documentary Wedding Photography in Illinois and Wisconsin
Nicole photographs weddings and elopements with a nostalgic, emotional approach focused on truth, connection, and how it all felt. Couples searching for a wedding photographer in Illinois and Wisconsin often ask how documentary wedding photography works, when to book, what coverage they need, and how to plan a wedding photography timeline.
Wedding photography collections include Local Weddings and Micro Weddings/Elopements, with planning support, timeline guidance, sneak peeks in 7 days, and full galleries delivered in 4–16 weeks. Travel coverage is available throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Lifestyle, Family, and Portrait Photography
Lifestyle and studio portrait sessions include family, maternity, newborn, milestone, and branding photography, with planning support and a digital gallery with print rights.
Documentary & editorial wedding and lifestyle photography focused on truth, nostalgia, and connection
Nicole Kilday Photography is a documentary and editorial wedding and lifestyle photographer based in Northern Illinois, serving Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, and Southeast Wisconsin.
Serving Chicago, Milwaukee, Northern Illinois, Southeast Wisconsin, & beyond — booking 2026–2027 weddings
Echos of who you were - together.
I work with couples and families who care deeply about presence, connection, and honest storytelling — valuing the quiet moments just as much as the loud ones.
I’m a sucker for the finer details you only notice when you’re truly paying attention — and how they make you feel. I’m always looking for the small, ordinary moments you’ll want to hold onto: the unprompted affection while you sign on the dotted line, fixing your lover’s tie as you swoon, the singular tear when your favorite human confesses their most vulnerable love, and the loud joy that carries you through the reception.
With over a decade of experience, I’ve learned when to step back and let your story unfold as it is — and when to guide seamlessly, so you can stay present while I do the remembering.
Ways to work with me,
Wedding & Elopement Photography
Now booking 2026 & 2027
Your wedding day is made of a thousand split-second moments you’ll want to remember exactly as they felt — the quiet breaths, the loud joy, the in-between magic. My approach is loose documentary with an editorial touch, giving you images filled with truth, nostalgia, and the kind of emotion that stays. I’m here to help you slow down, be present, and actually live it, while I do the remembering for you. You get support, guidance, calm energy, and photographs that become part of your family’s history.
Lifestyle & Studio Portraits
Family, maternity, newborn, branding & more
Life moves fast, but your people right now — their laughter, their chaos, their softness — deserve to be held onto. My lifestyle and studio sessions are relaxed, real, and intentionally centered on connection over perfection. Whether we’re documenting your growing belly, your newborn’s tiny breaths, a season of motherhood, or the heart behind your brand in the studio, I photograph the honest stuff: the legacy-building moments you’ll want to return to again and again. These are the chapters worth keeping.
2026 & 2027 Bookings Open
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Weddings Photographed / 120+
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Families Documented / 180+
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2026 & 2027 Bookings Open ○ Weddings Photographed / 120+ ○ Families Documented / 180+ ○
Hi, I’m Nicole
Chicagoland wedding & lifestyle photographer
Photography has never just been a career for me — it’s something that’s been passed down, a generational gift. My dad grew up developing film in his childhood basement darkroom, and I grew up surrounded by his and my grandpa’s cameras — boxes of film gear older than both of us, and that quiet kind of magic that happens when light hits a moment just right.
Those early memories taught me that photos aren’t just photos. They’re proof — that we were here, that we loved, that it mattered.
Now, I carry that same heart into every wedding and family I photograph. My work lives somewhere between documentary and editorial — honest, intentional, and nostalgic. I want your photos to be beautiful, of course — but mostly, I want them to feel like home.
Questions couples often ask before booking
What does documentary wedding photography mean?
Documentary wedding photography focuses on real moments as they naturally unfold — the quiet, the emotional, and the in-between — rather than directing or staging your day. My approach is documentary at its core, with an editorial eye for light, composition, and storytelling, so your photos feel honest, timeless, and deeply personal. It’s about preserving how your wedding day felt, not just how it looked.
Will we still get portraits if our photographer is documentary?
Yes — absolutely. Documentary doesn’t mean no portraits; it means thoughtful, natural ones that feel like you. I guide portraits in a relaxed, unobtrusive way, focusing on connection rather than stiff posing, while still creating editorial images that feel intentional and beautiful. You’ll have portraits you’re proud to frame, alongside the candid moments you didn’t even realize were happening.
How far in advance should we book our wedding photographer?
Most couples book anywhere from several months to over a year in advance, but there’s no single “right” timeline. I regularly work with both long-term planners and shorter-term engagements, and I’m experienced in helping couples navigate timelines no matter where they are in the process. If you’re planning a 2026 or 2027 wedding — even if it feels soon — it’s always worth reaching out to see what’s available and start the conversation.
Testimonials,