Timeless summer wedding portrait inspiration featuring a bride and groom standing among hydrangeas during golden hour at Bluestem Farm and Events in Hebron, Illinois — captured by Nicole Kilday Photography in an editorial-meets-documentary style.
Illinois and Wisconsin Wedding and Family Photographer
Small details for a first birthday photo session, chubby baby feet

Documentary & Editorial Wedding and family Photographer Serving Illinois, Wisconsin & Destinations Beyond

Non-traditional, nostalgic photography for weddings, families, and love stories that feel like home.

Intimate and classy engagement session at Maxwell Mansion in Lake Geneva, WI by Nicole Kilday Photography
Romantic wedding portrait inspiration featuring a bride and groom lying surrounded by fall florals at their intimate brunch wedding in Riverside, Illinois

Marriage,

the good old days,

and everything in between

I’m a Midwest-based wedding and family photographer serving Illinois, Wisconsin, and beyond. I work with open-book couples and families who want an experience that dives beneath the surface — creatively and through connection.

Romantic Chicago engagement session inspiration featuring a couple embracing at North Avenue Beach with the skyline in the background
Warm and nostalgic family photography inspiration featuring parents lifting their twin babies into the air during golden hour
Sexy motorcycle engagement session in the summertime

Now Booking 2026 & 2027

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2025 Portrait Books Closed

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Now Booking 2026 & 2027 + 2025 Portrait Books Closed +

Illinois wedding photographer + Wisconsin wedding photographer + destination wedding photographer + elopement photographer + family photographer + wedding photography pricing + documentary and editorial wedding photos + booking 2026 & 2027 weddings and elopements in Illinois, Wisconsin, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison County, Alabama.

Hi, I’m Nicole

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.

Request Pricing & Availability
Get to Know Nicole Kilday
Nicole Kilday is a documentary, editorial, and candid wedding and family photographer based in Northern Illinois. She serves Southeast Wisconsin, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison County, Alabama — traveling nationwide for destination weddings, elopements, and lifestyle sessions. Her approach focuses on honest, emotional storytelling through timeless imagery, offering wedding photography, elopements, proposals, engagement sessions, and family photography. Now booking 2026 and 2027 weddings and portrait sessions. Nicole Kilday Photography provides transparent pricing, timeline assistance, and travel-inclusive destination packages across Illinois, Wisconsin, and beyond.

Client Reviews & Wedding Photography Testimonials

Take Their Word For It

(Kind) Words — Real stories from real couples.

Client Reviews & Wedding Photography Testimonials ⁕ Take Their Word For It ⁕ (Kind) Words — Real stories from real couples. ⁕

Read more client reviews on Google, Facebook, Wedding Wire

How to work with me

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: Nicole Kilday Photography offers wedding photography for couples in Northern Illinois, Southeast Wisconsin, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison County, Alabama, with travel available for destination weddings and elopements across the U.S. Wedding photography services begin at $3,950.00 and include candid, documentary coverage focused on how the day actually felt, timeline support, complimentary engagement sessions for local wedding collections, previews within 7 days, and full galleries delivered in 4–16 weeks. ELOPEMENTS & DESTINATION WEDDINGS: Intimate weddings, weekend-long celebrations, and destination elopements are documented in a way that blends documentary and editorial storytelling — real emotion, real movement, and honest light instead of stiff posing. Travel is available for out-of-state weddings and destination weekends. ENGAGEMENT & PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHY: Engagement sessions are designed to feel natural, personal, and comfortable — like hanging out together, not standing in poses. These sessions are available in Illinois, Wisconsin, Chicago, Milwaukee, and surrounding areas, and are included with all local wedding collections. Engagement photography begins at $500.00. FAMILY & LIFESTYLE SESSIONS: Family photography focuses on connection over perfection: belly laughs, quiet moments, the in-between chaos that feels like home. Sessions are available to families in Northern Illinois and Southeast Wisconsin and are approached as storytelling, not stiff posing. Family sessions begin at $500. BOOKING: Now booking 2026 and 2027 weddings, elopements, engagement sessions, and family photography. Payment plans are available. Transparent pricing and travel handled case by case.
  • No matter where your wedding day takes you — whether it’s an intimate celebration tucked away in Northwestern Illinois, a full-day story that runs from getting ready to the last song, or a destination weekend under the stars — your experience with me will always be about more than just photos.

    I’ll be there for the road trip detours, the quiet moments before the ceremony, and the chaos that hits once everyone finds the dance floor. I’m not just here to take pretty pictures — I’m here to document your story. The real, loud, emotional, in-between parts that you’ll still talk about years from now.

    Because when you look back someday, I don’t want you to just see what it looked like — I want you to feel it all over again.

    Local wedding photography services begin at $3,950.00 (most couples spend $4,595.00) — to view my full wedding pricing guide, click here.

    All inclusive wedding photography & travel services begin at $7,595.00 — to view my full travel wedding pricing guide, click here.

  • Engagement sessions aren’t just about pretty photos — they’re about the two of you. The quirks, the laughter, the way you naturally fall into each other’s rhythm. It’s our chance to shake off any nerves, chase some golden light, and hang out like friends — I just happen to have a camera in hand.

    These sessions are meant to feel real, relaxed, and true to you. The kind of photos that remind you what this season feels like, not just what it looked like.

    All local wedding collections include a complimentary engagement session — a warm-up before the big day and a little glimpse into how we’ll work together when it matters most.

    Engagement photography sessions begin at $500.00 — to view my pricing on engagement sessions, head here.

  • Family sessions with me are less “look at us” and more “this is us.” I’m here for the real stuff — the belly laughs, the messy hair, the quiet in-betweens, and the kind of chaos that somehow feels like home.

    Connection over perfection, always. These sessions are about honest storytelling — the kind that lets you remember your people exactly as they are in this season of life. Because years from now, it’s the little things you’ll want to hold onto — the way your kid’s hand fit in yours, the freckles that summer gave them, the sound of everyone laughing at once.

    Family photography sessions begin at $500.00 — to view my full family pricing guide, click here.

Get the same timeline builder I use to plan every wedding I photograph

Nicole Kilday Photography created a wedding timeline builder spreadsheet that automatically calculates a realistic wedding day timeline around ceremony time, first look, and golden hour. The tool has been used since 2016 to plan weddings in Illinois, Wisconsin, and destination locations. The Wedding Timeline Builder is available for purchase and is included with all wedding photography packages by Nicole Kilday Photography. It helps couples and photographers organize the day for seamless coverage, emotional storytelling, and stress-free planning.

Since 2016, I’ve used one tool to plan every wedding I photograph — built around real light, presence, and the moments that matter most.

The Wedding Timeline Builder automatically creates a full, realistic schedule around your ceremony, first look, and golden hour — so your day runs seamlessly without feeling rushed.

Every NKP couple gets access to the full editable version inside their wedding package. You can also purchase it separately in my shop below.

Get the Wedding Timeline Builder →