Meet Your Chicago Photographer
I’m Nicole Kilday
Photographer, Mom, Wife, Dog Obsessed
Photography gives me a view into the vulnerable pieces of life — where love truly lies, naked and raw. I’m a blue-collar wife, a boy mom x2, and a shepherd (dog) obsessed human. Sunday mornings are my favorite (quickly followed by Mondays), I consider myself type-C (type-A where it’s needed, type-B when I feel like it) - and I’ll never say no to a road-trip solely to try a new cheese store (thank the Lord I live on the border of Illinois & Wisconsin).
Never leave the camera behind
I’m Nicole, a mom, wife, creative, wedding photographer, capturer of all seasons of life, and professional crier. I answer to Nicole, Cole, or Bill.
Photography has been a generational gift. From birth to my chosen career, I’m not sure if I can remember a moment in life where a camera wasn’t present. My dad grew up with a homemade dark room in the basement, taking photographs with my grandfather and learning the ropes. I grew up with boxes of film camera gear; some, almost as old as my dad, while simultaneously sitting in his lap learning photoshop. We were a ‘never leave the camera behind’ sort of family.
Outside of my photography profession, I’m a full-time mom to my wild-childs Declan, Dayton and our furry German Shepherds, and wife to my amazing husband, Kyle. I’m a sucker for Sunday morning sunshine spilling in the windows while we’re all cozied up in bed, a fully packed house & messes made with love after a big family dinner, and the way a long road trip reminds you how soft the wheat fields look on a breezy day that you just want to take a nap in. Most days my mouth could make a sailor blush, but my eyes are never dry of empathetic tears on any given day. Cheese & German Shepherds are my love languages.
Photography has been a way to bring my homemade happiness to life, while also feeding my obsessively nostalgic heart. Photography serves as a reminder of my purpose and the driving factor to remember all of life’s small & beautifully chaotic moments. What started out as a 2015 Christmas photo shared on Facebook, grew into this chosen passion career. So here I am, 10 years later (circa 2025) - thriving creating purposeful art that echoes all of my clients' own memories. Forever grateful to my special someone in Heaven who shared his passion of photography with each generation. It led me to so much love & friendship.
“I’m not a mess but a deeply feeling person in a messy world. I explain that now, when someone asks me why I cry so often, I say, ‘For the same reason I laugh so often—because I’m paying attention.’ I tell them that we can choose to be perfect and admired or to be real and loved. We must decide.”
My Values
Connection & transparency
I’m not here to just show up as “hired help.” I want to know you. I want to understand what grounds you, what makes you laugh, and who your people are. That’s the root that lets me tell your story truthfully and with heart.
Art Isn’t Static
Art isn’t static—and neither is the way I photograph. I don’t chase trends or recreate Pinterest boards, because your story deserves so much more than that. My work grows with me, and with every couple I get to serve.
My Style
My photography style is ever-evolving as I grow and experience new opportunities. I always gravitate to a posing style that is hyper focused on the natural, raw, authentic interactions & movement in each love story. I love a good snuggly and candid vibe, while simultaneously enjoy the experimental aspects of editorial photography. I call it, loose documentary with warm true-to-life editing.
Everyone Has a Seat at my Table
Loud and wild, quiet and reserved, traditional, non-traditional, all love, big wedding, tiny elopement, or somewhere beautifully in between—your story matters. In front of my lens, you don’t have to shrink yourself or pretend to be anything you’re not. Just show up as you, and I’ll take care of the rest.
Your Legacy
I know this is a big decision. Choosing someone to document your love means choosing the person who will preserve your memories for generations to come. These aren’t just photos—they’re a piece of your legacy. One day, your family will flip through your gallery and see not just how it looked, but how it felt.
My Truth
At the end of the day, I want you to trust that your story will be told exactly as it happened—so you can stay present, soak it in, and relive it all over again every single time you look back. I believe there is a perfect fit artist for each & every one of us — and if it’s not me, that is OKAY. Your memories happen once; and that’s why choosing the right photographer matters more than anything.
The Intro Vlog
I mean blooper reel
I attempted to make an introduction vlog; but, I ended up with a blooper reel. So here’s the gist of what I was trying to say:
“Hi, I’m Nicole, A Hebron, IL based wedding and family photographer documenting love all over the US & beyond. My art ebbs and flows, always leaning into emotion. I move between a blend of documentary, cinematic, and editorial styles — depending on the feeling of the moment, the way the light hits, and anticipating how the story will unfold. You are my deepest inspiration & study-guide when I’m behind the camera – connection & transparency is important.”
POV: trying to make an introduction vlog but instead ended up with a blooper reel.
Professional Photographer since 2016
My journey since 2016
2015: Took a Christmas photo that went "viral"
Photographed my first wedding in 2016
Became a legal business in 2018 & went full time in 2019
Embraced the pandemic in 2020 and took my time learning & growing while growing my first tiny human
Photographed 42 weddings in 2021 & dreamt up My Whole Heart Collective
Invited Ashley Bowling to partner up for My Whole Heart Collective
Kicked @$$ with Ashley and made bomb art until the present & beyond
Reopened Nicole Kilday Photography in 2025 to realign my art, dreams, and goals with my present life
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+ ○