Wedding Photographer Jobs in Chicago, IL

About the role

We are hiring wedding photographers based in and around Chicago for weddings booked through our creative production companies. Photograph the full day, direct portraits and family formals, and deliver a complete, well-exposed gallery.

Weddings in the Chicago area run year-round, with the busiest calendar in May–October. The season runs from late spring to mid-fall, with June, September and October booking first. Our venue data covers 83 wedding venues across 7 cities in this market.

What you'll do

• Photograph preparation, ceremony, portraits, family formals and reception
• Direct couples and wedding parties with confidence and warmth
• Work flash and natural light in every kind of venue
• Keep to the timeline and shot list from our planning team
• Upload organized, culled-ready files within 48 hours

What you bring

• At least two seasons photographing weddings, with full galleries to show
• Two professional full-frame bodies, fast lenses and off-camera flash
• Reliable transportation within about 60 miles of your home market
• Comfort leading family formals and large groups

Chicago venues you could shoot

Weddings in this market take place at venues like these, drawn from our directory of 83 local venues:

• The Westin Chicago River NorthChicago
• Stan MansionChicago
• University Club of ChicagoChicago
• Salvage OneChicago
• LACUNA by Catalyst SuitesChicago
• Morgan MFGChicago
• The GeraghtyChicago
• Artifact EventsChicago
• Mesón SabikaNaperville
• Chicago Marriott NapervilleNaperville
• Naper SettlementNaperville
• Hotel AristaNaperville

Areas covered

Chicago (55), Evanston (6), Naperville (12), Aurora (5), Joliet (2), Elgin (2), Lake Forest (1). Numbers show venues per city in our data.

Pay in Illinois

For context, photographers in Illinois earn a median of $36,570 a year, with most earning between $31,200 and $96,770 (BLS, May 2025). Most wedding work is paid per event rather than salaried. See the full Illinois pay guide.