Chicago, Illinois › Wedding Photographers › Essence Weddings
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About Essence Weddings
Couples planning a Chicago wedding will find Essence Weddings among the Naperville area's wedding photographers. Beyond wedding photographers, the business also offers wedding videographers — a range that can simplify vendor coordination. This profile is free to claim; verified couple reviews — never payments — determine how it ranks.
Verified reviews
No reviews yet. Only couples who book Essence Weddings through Lazo can leave one, and it’s the only thing that moves a Lazo Score.
Frequently asked questions
Planning a wedding photographer in Chicago
How much does a wedding photographer cost in Chicago?
Most couples in Chicago budget between $1,500 and $3,500 for wedding photography. Packages at the lower end typically cover 6–8 hours with one shooter; higher tiers add a second shooter, engagement sessions, and albums. Always confirm exactly how many hours and edited images are included.
When should we book our wedding photographer?
Photographers with strong reputations are commonly booked 9–14 months ahead — earlier for peak-season Saturdays. If your date is inside six months, ask about waitlists and cancellations; openings do appear.
What should we ask before booking?
Ask to see two full galleries from real weddings (not highlight reels), confirm who will actually shoot your wedding, and get delivery timelines and image counts in the contract.
How does Lazo rank wedding photographers in Chicago?
Rankings come from the Lazo Score — verified reviews weighted for recency — and are never sold. Vendors without verified reviews yet start at the community baseline of 65 and earn their score as verified reviews arrive.
Wedding venues near Essence Weddings
| Venue | Distance |
|---|---|
| Naperville Country Club | 1.0 mi |
| SixtyFour - Reserve Room | 1.2 mi |
| Elements at Water Street | 1.2 mi |
Straight-line distance from Essence Weddings to each venue listed on Lazo.
Chicago weddings, month by month
Days typically top out between 65° and 85° in May, June, July, August, September. The driest months are January, February, December.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33° | 19° | 11% | 4:01 PM | 4:44 PM |
| Feb | 37° | 23° | 12% | 4:44 PM | 5:23 PM |
| Mar | 48° | 32° | 16% | 6:20 PM | 6:57 PM |
| Apr | 60° | 41° | 23% | 6:54 PM | 7:31 PM |
| May | 71° | 52° | 26% | 7:24 PM | 8:04 PM |
| Jun | 81° | 62° | 27% | 7:45 PM | 8:27 PM |
| Jul | 85° | 68° | 18% | 7:42 PM | 8:23 PM |
| Aug | 83° | 66° | 21% | 7:12 PM | 7:50 PM |
| Sep | 76° | 59° | 18% | 6:23 PM | 6:59 PM |
| Oct | 63° | 46° | 20% | 5:30 PM | 6:08 PM |
| Nov | 49° | 35° | 16% | 3:47 PM | 4:29 PM |
| Dec | 38° | 25° | 14% | 3:35 PM | 4:20 PM |
Average highs, lows and the share of days with 0.1″ of rain or more, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals at Chicago Midway Airport (9.0 mi from Chicago). Golden hour begins when the sun is 6° above the horizon; both times are for the 15th of each month in Chicago.
Photo spots around Chicago
| Place | Area | From downtown |
|---|---|---|
| Lurie Gardengarden | Chicago | 0.5 mi |
| North Rose Gardengarden | Chicago | 0.6 mi |
| Milton Lee Olive Parkcity park | Chicago | 1.5 mi |
| Lincoln Park Conservatorybotanical garden | Chicago | 3.2 mi |
| Alfred Caldwell Lily Poolgarden | Chicago | 3.3 mi |
| Garfield Park Conservatorybotanical garden | Chicago | 4.5 mi |
| Peace Gardengarden | Chicago | 5.6 mi |
| Osaka Gardengarden | Chicago | 6.8 mi |
Parks, gardens and landmarks that photograph well, nearest to central Chicago first. Check each place’s rules for permits and session fees. Places from Google Maps, October 2026.
Getting to Chicago
| Airport | Distance | Est. drive |
|---|---|---|
| MDW Chicago Midway International Airport | 9 mi | 15 min |
| ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport | 16 mi | 25 min |
| GYY Gary/Chicago International Airport | 21 mi | 30 min |
| City | Distance | Est. drive |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 81 mi | 1 hr 40 min |
| Indianapolis | 165 mi | 3 hr 20 min |
| Detroit | 237 mi | 4 hr 50 min |
| Cincinnati | 252 mi | 5 hr 10 min |
Straight-line distance from central Chicago; drive times are estimates, not routes. Airports with scheduled passenger service, from OurAirports.
Details
- Based in
- 429 E Ogden Ave #2, Naperville, IL 60563, USA
- Where
- Naperville · 27 miles west of central Chicago
- Listed under
- Wedding Photographers · Wedding Videographers
- In Chicago
- One of 266 wedding photographers we list · 7 within 3 miles
- Phone
- (888) 777-7011
- Website
- Visit site
From Essence Weddings's website
“Every glance, every tear, every kiss captured beautifully. Essence Weddings- award winning photograph, plus more wedding services under one roof -Chicagoland”essenceweddings.com
- Services they list
- Engagement sessions, Second shooter, Drone photos, Heirloom albums, Photo booth
- Prices on their site
- Starting at $2,499
- Experience
- 20+ years
Read from essenceweddings.com in October 2026. Prices and services change; confirm with Essence Weddings before you book. Is this your business? Claim the page to write your own.
Around Naperville
- Nearest venue
- Naperville Country Club, 1.0 mi
- Venues within 10 mi
- 46 wedding venues
- Wedding Photographers nearby
- 7 within 3 mi, 27 within 10
- Guest hotels
- 29 within 5 mi
- Communities served
- Lisle, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Warrenville
Distances are straight-line from Essence Weddings; counts come from the businesses and venues Lazo lists around Chicago.
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