Chicago-based wedding & portrait photography

Chicago-based wedding & portrait photography

We thought we were hiring a photographer when we signed a contract with Meredith. She is that; her photos are absolutely gorgeous. However, she is SO MUCH MORE. She goes above and beyond for her clients/friends. She helped keep our schedule on track. She kept us focused on enjoying our loved ones. She caught a few ticking time bombs before they became problems at our reception. Meredith is the MVP of the day that you didn't know you needed. And all the while she is so fun and nice that you'll be thankful she's sharing your milestone moments with you. If there's anything that's worth the money at your wedding, it is Meredith.

- Shannon & Joe

kind words

Meredith was a dream to work with. She felt like a friend we'd known for years and that reflects in the photos—we're so at ease and natural and she captured so many genuine lovely moments throughout our wedding. Our guests raved about her and so have we ever since that day. It's both a hilarious and scary thought that we initially weren't set on having a photographer at all. Of course, now our day is memorialized forever through her beautiful photos and we absolutely cherish them. And to echo other couples, we haven't been married before so we didn't know we'd need time together immediately after the ceremony, but Meredith does. It was so nice to have a breather, reflect on the huge moment that just happened, and have some silly fun between the 3 of us before diving back in.

- Brandi & John

kind words

There are not enough words to describe Meredith and her work! She is not only just a photographer she treats you like you've been friends for years! She took away all the stress of trying to make sure we got every picture we wanted on our big day. The way she captures a moment is like each picture is really telling our story. Her communication and attention to detail through our whole process really puts you at ease! Her pictures speak for themselves. Absolutely beautiful!

- Demi & Nick

kind words

The best!!! Working with Meredith was one of the best decisions we made while planning our destination wedding. Meredith's experience, patience, and attention to detail were key in keeping our day running smoothly. Having a Spanish speaking photographer was also a huge plus when it came time to wrangle our bilingual family for group photos! Our families and bridal party loved working with Meredith and we could not be more impressed with the photos that she captured on our big day.

- Caitlyn & James

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Meredith photographed our wedding and I couldn't have been more happy with the outcome. The photos are beautiful and my husband and I have received endless compliments from our guests about not just how great the photos of us came out, but of everyone who attended. She captures the true essence of the day, which is everything I wanted from our wedding pictures. They feel natural and are simply put, stunning. Months later and I still find myself staring at them.

- Kaitlyn & Mark

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I have witnessed and been a part of countless weddings. But what has stuck with me the most is the evidence I have seen in everlasting, life-changing, sacrificial, love-filled marriages. 

This is my hope for you. I want to be a part of your wedding so that in 50 years, you and your spouse can look back on your photos and be reminded of this precious joy and fresh love that started it all.

lets get you married

about MEREDITH

I have a decade of wedding photography under my belt, a masters degree in sculpture, a weaving studio in my home, and can pick up just about any creative program on the computer, but none of these reasons are why I am great at my job.

You can trust me as your photographer because I am people-oriented. My focus does not fade from what matters most: you and the people you love! I want to show you off at your very best, give you lasting photos to remember this moment in time, encourage you, celebrate you, and all around pump you up. 

My favorite wedding days are the ones when I walk away and know I've gained new friends. When I know that I don't want to stop spending time together, want to invite you over for dinner, and most likely want our dogs to hang out too.

(you know you want to hear more about my dog on the next page...)

My name is Meredith and I spend my days at home with my wife and our dog, Cake. We lived in the Dominican Republic for three years, which is where we found Cake! We got married in the middle of January in Chicago and served Chipotle at our reception, like the geniuses we are. You can find us most nights eating dinners on our deck, by Lake Michigan, or with friends. In addition to photography, I'm a fiber artist and art teacher. I love going to the movies, vacationing in Canada, turning pop songs into piano ballads, and value dessert after every meal.

I believe love wins, black lives matter, and in never-ending grace, peace, and mercy.

hey
there

investment

WEDDING PACKAGES
2025 begins at $4,700

PORTRAIT SESSIONS
begin at $600

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

click through to visit the
FAQ section
or send me an email
meredithdonnellyphoto@gmail.com

BOOK NOW

WHAT IS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY APPROACH?
I go into every session with the aim to capture you at your best. I work to represent the real, the intimate, the candid. to do so, I go throughout your day in a documentary, journalistic style, but will be sure to coach you through your portrait time as needed!

DO YOU WORK FROM A SHOT LIST?
I have been shooting weddings for nearly a decade and prefer not to work off a specific list. every wedding is individual and significant and I love coming to your day with fresh eyes. I work to authentically represent your day in all its glory! that being said, I will always make sure to check with you if there are important details and significant moments you want me to be sure to capture. 

HOW MANY PHOTOS WILL I GET IN MY PACKAGE?
I deliver an average of 75 images an hour on a typical wedding day. you will have more than enough photos to relive your day! for portraits or engagement sessions, you can expect around 150 in your final gallery.

SHOULD WE DO A FIRST LOOK?
this is an opportunity to see each other before the ceremony. It is a special, intimate time with just the two of you to take it all in together and have some quiet moments before the hustle of the day! it can be really helpful with the flow of the day, so that the majority of photos can happen at the front end of the day and ensure that you can spend time with your guests during cocktail hour and at the reception.

frequently asked questions

HOW DO WE SEE THE FINAL PHOTOS?
final photos are delivered to you in a password-protected, online gallery. you will be able to share this link with family and friends, make favorites lists, and download easily. Your final gallery will be sent to you 6-8 weeks after the wedding.

CAN I GET THE ALL THE UNEDITED PHOTOS FROM MY DAY?
I do not deliver any raw or unedited images. most of these unedited photos are of you blinking, moving, or talking, etc in ways that don't do you justice or add to your day in anyway. my editing style is natural, but enhanced, so you can be sure that your final photos will look their best


HOW DO YOU BACKUP THE FILES?
I always shoot with at least two cameras and have dual memory card slots in each, so that if for some reason one memory card malfunctions, the other is there as backup. in addition, I fully upload your images to an external hard drive from which I edit. lastly, your memory cards are not erased until your final edited gallery is uploaded and delivered to you! your gallery is available to you for at least one full year.

HOW DO WE BOOK WITH YOU?
let's find a time to chat over the phone, on FaceTime, or over drinks! once we discuss what collection is best for your day and create a preliminary itinerary of the day, I will send over your contract and an invoice for your 50% deposit to secure your date. your remaining balance is due the month of your wedding

frequently asked questions

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