The secret to wedding photos that look like stills from a movie

Finding the right photographer for your wedding is probably the most difficult part of wedding planning, not to mention the most important investment! Your wedding day will come and go in the blink of an eye and all that will remain are your memories and your photos. No pressure, right 😂! But don’t worry, you know we wouldn’t just leave you hanging! Photos from just about every wedding photographer in the biz have passed by our inbox and it’s our job to help you find the one.

There are all different styles of wedding photography, for this post, we’re going to cover a more candid documentary style that’s trending of late and introduce you to one of our fave photographers who takes this aesthetic and simply knocks it out of the park. Allow us to introduce Essi Photography. Essi Raakel is a Chicago-based wedding photographer who is also more than happy to travel for the right destination. She especially loves weddings in California, New Orleans, the East Coast, and Europe.

Essi describes her style as “poetic beauty with a splash of editorial fun” which stems from her work in fashion, photojournalism, and fine art portraits. Her photos are crisp and modern, in her words, “quiet as the Nordic winter”. She believes that weddings should be witnessed not staged. That, as your photographer, it’s her job to be there and capture the moments as they unfold, that when you look back at your wedding photos years later, you shouldn’t just remember the when and where of the day but rather how it all felt. Rather than simply working through a shot list, she focuses on capturing authentic moments and feelings. Romantic, right?

For most couples being the center of attention, especially in front of a camera, is an unnatural and sometimes uncomfortable situation. When you’re selecting your wedding photographer, finding someone who helps you feel comfortable and encourages you to be in the moment is super important. And you’ll be happy to know that’s Essi’s specialty! Don’t take it from us, here’s what some of her clients had to say about working with Essi…

“I found Essi after a pretty stressful engagement session with another company. I knew after our first phone conversation and seeing her work, I wanted her to be a part of our special day! Essi has such a great energy and wants to make sure the day truly captures the essence of the couple and we couldn’t be happier with our wedding pictures!! She is such a positive, calming force, and loved that we met with her and got to know a little bit about us before our wedding. I recommend Essi to anyone who wants amazing pictures from an artist who truly loves her craft!!”- Christine R.

“Essi was outstanding–friendly, knowledgeable, attentive, prompt, and it was very clear she really cares about her work and making sure the couple’s needs are being met. She also made me and my (now) wife feel very confident and empowered in front of the camera, something we were not very experienced or comfortable with.”- Connor R.

“Essi is a gifted photographer that captures your very essence. I love her work and she helps you feel comfortable and makes the experience seem effortless. She has great vision with location and lighting and takes these perfect shots that make you look amazing!! She is my go-to for any special moments I want to treasure. I highly recommend her work, you won't be disappointed!”- Sonia R.

Now, all that’s left to do is make sure she’s available for your wedding date!

To see even more of Essi’s work, make sure you give her a follow on IG @essiraakel

Instagram Post

We partnered with Essi Photography to bring you these helpful tips on hiring the right wedding photographer for you. As always, thanks for supporting our sponsors!

• Wedding Photographers: Essi Photography