Plum Tree Studio is a unique Chicago area and Milwaukee area boutique photography studio offering wedding, portrait and boudoir photography. Please visit our main website gallery above to view the entire online gallery. We offer tailored services and products with exceptional quality and at various price points. With over 12 years of experience we bring professionalism as well as energy to your wedding. Just read our testimonials to see what our clients have to say! Our female photographer provides custom service and quality at affordable rates. Contact us directly for quickest response.

 

This morning we met with our lovely bride Becky for bridal portraits and wedding photography in Woodstock Illinois. After the initial session with the bridesmaids and mother of the bride, our staff proceeded to Emricson Park, located at 898 W South Street, Bull Valley, Illinois 60098, to photograph the groom and the groomsmen. The ceremony was short and sweet, with exchanges of vows, and finally the couple putting in their favorite wine into a container to be opened the following year along with a love note by each of them. They left plenty of time for professional portraits with everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the ceremony, everyone in the bridal party and family proceeded to Woodstock Square located at 121 E Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098. There, two other weddings were just finishing and the rain was coming down, limiting our ability to photograph on the premises. Nonetheless, our bridal party squeezed into one of the lovely gazebo’s for a quick photo. Next we proceeded to Village Hall Banquets located at 8512 S Union Road, Union, Illinois 60180.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations Becky and Jeff!

This afternoon was lovely wedding at the Good Sheppard Church in Bartlett, Illinois. Before the ceremony, the nervous bride hid in the bridal room, anticipating her grooms presence. He in turn hid in the grooms rooms… enjoying a few last minute laughs with his groomsmen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The couple was of Filipino decent, so retained many of their cultural wedding customs including the primary sponsors/witnesses and the godparents as part of the ceremony, unity candles, the rope cord being tied around in an eight formation, monetary gifts of thirteen coins, and the veil covering both partners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday afternoon our photography staff photographed the gorgeous wedding of Susan and Michael from Dallas Texas. The weather was marvelous and held out! We had been watching the radar on the weather channel for days, hoping that the rain would pass over and leave us only clouds. We were in luck! The day was partially cloudy with no rain, perfect photography weather!

  

 

 

 

Our photographer met with the couple at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, at 10307 Dundee Road, in Huntley Illinois 60142. The church itself was a lovely vintage style building with great ceilings. Our groom entered in, nervous and excited to see his bride. Shortly after the ceremony the group stayed for formal and traditional wedding portraits at the altar.

 

 

After a wonderful ceremony, everyone drove to the Del Webb Golf Course at Sun City in Huntley, located at 12940 Del Webb Blvd, Huntley, Illinois 60142. There the family and photographer stopped for photos at the 16^th whole, the spot where the bride’s father had scored a hole in one on the last hole of the green.

The remainder of the evening was spent at the St Charles Place Steakhouse, located at 2550 E. Main Street, Saint Charles Illinois 60174-2441. The couple danced the night away and even stopped for a few formal, artistic and silly photos.

 

Today our team of photographers captured some amazing wedding photos at a Lake Geneva (Wisconsin) Wedding. The wedding was located at French County Inn, located at W4190 West End Road, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 53147. The location was so beautiful for a fall wedding, especially for sunset photos!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

We met with the nervous groom outside of the Inn just before the wedding. Luckily we already knew the couple well, so we were able to get more personal wedding images through the day. We did the couples engagement photos back in 2008 at Petrified Springs in Kenosha Wisconsin. Through the year, my partner and I had met with the couple over wine and cheese, to get to know their wedding photography style in a more informal fashion. It really helped us to know what type of images and scenery to look for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At our initial wedding consultation the couple let us know that they wanted professional wedding photography that was elegant and classy, while still modern and contemporary. Through the months leading up to the wedding the bride and groom sent us photos of other recent weddings they found online. It really helped that they were so involved in the entire process. By the time the wedding day came, our staff was able to know exactly how to set up the lights and frame the shots. Take a look at the images to confirm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

We started the day with photos of the bride getting ready in the bridal suite. Her dress took close to 30 minutes to tie up in the back and the finished work was stunning. We captured some amazing photos of mother and daughter together sharing a special moment together. The bride and the lead photographer stepped out on the balcony for some one on one photos. Hannah had practiced her poses, her looks and her smile for months, which truly showed in her stunning photos. Our lead photographer would call out a certain look and Hannah, without missing a beat, would give attitude and poise to any frame. “You go girl” is about the only way to describe this beautiful woman on her wedding day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we had a plentiful collection of images of the bride, we took some time with the groom. With Brett, we knew he wanted the focus to be on his blushing bride versus himself, so we kept his photos to a more photojournalistic style of photography. It was more about just capturing his emotions on the wedding versus actually posed and traditional imagery. You would have thought he had practiced being a groom, because his images were fabulously timed.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just as the bride was rushing down to the wedding, we captured an amazing photo of her running down the stairs. This image perfectly captures the mood of the day, active yet fun. And just before she stepped into the aisle, Hannah stopped for a few last minute laughs with her dad. It is always amazing to capture such a tender moment with daughter and father. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the wedding was upon on! Brett looked down the aisle at his gorgeous bride and she in tern rushed towards him with a giant beautiful smile. And so it began, the wedding ceremony was elegant and classy, yet fun of love and laughter.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having gotten to know the couple of the past year, both as clients and as friends, brought a few tears to this photographers eyes. Standing there in the back, looking at this tender moment, helped me remember why I give up my weekends every week and every year. It is for moments like these. Moments where I, and the Plum Tree Studio photography staff, can witness such a beautiful exchange of vows and love. In moments like these, all time seems to stop while we wait with baited breathe. We listen intensely as the words are exchanged, followed by rings symbolizing never ending love. And as the newly-weds leans for their first kiss as husband and wife, we come full circle through the roller coaster of emotion. There is nothing like it. Every wedding reaffirms our commitment… we love being wedding photographers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the wedding, the guests moved onto the balcony of Kirsch’s Restaurant, located at the French Country Inn. The newlywed couple, the bridal party and both photographers headed down towards the peer for some fun and exciting photos. We had the typical posed and traditional photos and also some fun jumping photos. With an least an hour set aside for photography, we were able to really get in and capture some amazing magazine style images. Once the couple and bridal party photos were complete, we set the brothers and sisters off for cocktails, while we remained with the couple near the edge of the lake. Lake Como in Wisconsin is simply marvelous at this time of year. The leaves were beginning to change color and a few were even starting to fall off the trees. We got lucky with having a mildly overcast day, with mid 70’s temperatures. Amazing! Since the couple had practiced some posing and smiling, we were able to grab many images resembling that from modern bride, brides, Chicago bride magazine, or weddingwire by Martha Stewart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the formal photos were complete, we all retired to Kirsch’s Restaurant for an amazing evening of food, friends, and drink. Having been to hundreds of wedding in my lifetime, I must say that this was the absolute best wedding food I have ever tasted. Everything was well done on the outside, and moist and juicy on the inside. Truly an exquisite feast fit for a royal family! The remainder of the evening was spent outside, with a live band, courtesy of the French Country Inn. Simply a perfect way to end a perfect day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bride this weekend had an absolutely loved wedding clutch purse! See below. It was the one her grandmother had on her wedding. Adorable! Another great idea shared with my future clients... your something borrowed can be something old and something cute (or was it blue)?

Today was another amazing and perfect day for wedding photography at Starved Rock in Oglesby Illinois. We met with the bride at Grizzly Jacks Grand Bear Resort water park, at the townhouses near Starved Rock Park. Such a great idea to rent out two side by side townhouses and for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to get ready at their respective locations. Our professional photography team split up, with our male photographer with the grooms and our female photographer with the bride.

 

 

While with the bride, we captured images of the bride getting ready, including makeup, hair, and dressed fitting. The balcony was an amazing place for romantic look out photos, as of Juliet looking down to her love Romeo on their wedding night. Lovely! The ladies all gathered in the master sweet for individual photos with the bride overlooking the forest behind their rented home.

While with the bride, we captured images of the groom getting ready, which at times meant pulling up the “how to tie a tie” application on the I-phone. Yeah, there’s an app for learning to tie your tie. Amazing! Those guys were such a fun group, with lots of laughter throughout.

We all traveled to the Starved Rock Lodge, where the wedding was about to commence. We highly recommend outdoor weddings at Starved Rock. If you are looking for “Romance at the Rock” then this is the place to get it. Their trained staff sets up plenty of chairs for everyone to sit comfortably. As the bride walked down the aisle everyone stared in awe. The beautiful bride to be greeted her groom with an excited and wide smile. I’ve never seen anything like it, a pure image of happiness and excitement.

After the ceremony the entire bridal party traveled down to the French Canyon for bridal photos into the heart of the hiking area. Along the way we met some nice hikers, applauding Jason and DeeDee on their wedding day. As the sun was setting behind the cliffs, we captured some beautiful wedding portraits at Starved Rock in French Canyon. We were deep inside surrounding by ancient walls of stone and history. Nothing like it. We captured some of the most amazing and unique wedding photos imaginable! After our hiking excursion through the trails, we headed back to the lodge for a relaxing evening of dancing and laughter.

In the coming months we will be working with the staff at Starved Rock lodge to get on their wedding preferred vendor list for wedding at the lodge. They are having a wedding expo called Love For Every Season-Bridal Expo. We are not yet confirmed to attend, so if you don’t see us there, please contact us directly for an in studio consultation and maybe even engagement photos.

This evening, we had a bridal wedding photography session by the Chicago Bean, also known as The Cloud Gate, in Millennium Park, 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60601-6530. We met the bridal party there since that is where the couple met for their first romantic date in Chicago. The couple requested a very contemporary set of wedding photos and a wedding album that is hip, fresh, unique, edgy, and modern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specifically, they wanted to showcase the award winning architecture of Chicago and show off the wondrous spirit and energy of the city. Our lead photographer composed some traditional photo storytelling through individual posed photos of the couple, each bridal party member, each bridal party group, and each person alone. Since our lead photographer has over 13 years of experience within the industry she is able to adjust her style to both modern photography techniques, including edgy and “Elle magazine” and “Young and Modern” and “Elegant Bride” type model posing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our photography session at the Silver Chicago Bean, we walked over to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park (Chicago, Illinois). We had a few more group photos there in front of the stage area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Friday we spent the evening photographing the wedding of Jackie and Paul, at independence grove in Libertyville Illinois. The morning was full of rain and clouds, so we all crossed our fingers in hopes that the day would turn positive. Just as our lead photographer arrived on site, the skies opened up and the sun peeked through. The rest of the evening had an amazing fall orange glow to everything. Simple radiant!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackie and Paul decided that they were going to see each other before the wedding. This allowed our photographer to focus our efforts on the family and posed portraits before the wedding ceremony itself. Further, we have seen from past weddings that once the couple has already seen each other, that it opens them up to have more fun, rather than be nervous about the ceremony itself. Then once the sermon starts, they are relaxed and actually get to enjoy the moments and enjoy each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the wedding, the couple had about an hour long cocktail hour with mingling in the room next to the main area. During the cocktail hour, our photographer grabbed the couple outside for a quick romantic sunset photo. The sun glowed an amazing color tonight… full of light, full of red, and full of orange. It was as if the sky had parted for us, for just those few minutes. These images reminded us of a Hawaii sunset, except it was here in the Midwest over the lake at Independence Grove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of the evening was spent in the company of DJ Rod Stare from Memory Makers Entertainment (www.memorymakersentertainment.com). Rod really got the crowd dancing and was superb to work with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we photographed a beautiful wedding at Starved Rock State Park in Utica Illinois. The ceremony and reception were both at The Lodge on the same premises.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The couple decided that they would see each other before the ceremony. This would allow us to have more time for formal portraits together as a group and with family and to enjoy all of the beauty that Starved Rock National Park had to offer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though seeing each other before the wedding, the Sam and Kevin still wanted the excitement of seeing each other for the first time. To deliver this, Samantha went out with me into the campfire area by the old cottages. There I photographed her individual portraits, both in traditional and unique contemporary styles. The day was perfect for it too, with clouds overhead leading us to constant unbroken shade. Once we final the brides portraits, I went to get the groom alone and bring him to his bride to be. Kevin, upon seeing his gorgeous bride standing out in front of him, shed a few tears of joy. It was clear that he was marrying the women of his dreams. His emotions could not be contained as he stepped towards Samantha and embraced her in a warm and loving hug. I was moved and touched by the moment; it is always an honor and privilege to see such love between two people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the couple had spent a few moments together, we captured the bridal parties photos, under the cover of the old camping cottage house and on the long bridge. Finally, we move closer to the main building, and with an overlook onto the big open area, we had the family portraits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ceremony was in Great Hall and in the main conference room. There, surrounded by friends and family, Sam and Kevin were married. Shortly after the wedding we moved into the conference room for cocktail hour, while the staff set up The Great Hall for dinner. The rest of the evening was spent in dance and laughter!