Oak Park & West Suburbs wedding photographer & videographer
Wedding photography and film for Oak Park and the west suburbs couples, planned around the light and the drive. Photography from $1,000, videography from $650, photo and video together from $1,100. Travel inside the Chicago metro is included.
An honest local note
Oak Park sits right on the city line, about 11 miles west of the Loop, with River Forest and Forest Park next door and Elmhurst a short drive further out. Tree-lined streets, Prairie-style homes and old churches give portraits a classic look without a long drive between the ceremony and the reception. Big trees mean open shade most of the afternoon, so golden hour comes a little early on residential blocks; plan the last portraits in an open park or a wide street facing west. Historic homes and park district grounds often need permission or a permit for photos, so check before you build a plan around one.
Below you will find the light, the venues in the area, the drive and what it costs. Browse our work and what couples say, then check your date.
When the light is at its best
Computed for Oak Park and the west suburbs itself, on the Saturday nearest the 15th of each month. Central time, daylight saving included. Shaded rows are the main wedding season.
| Saturday | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Golden light | Ceremony to catch it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 17 | 4:04 PM | 4:47 PM | 43 min | 2:45 PM |
| Feb 14 | 4:44 PM | 5:23 PM | 39 min | 3:30 PM |
| Mar 14 | 6:19 PM | 6:56 PM | 37 min | 5:00 PM |
| Apr 18 | 6:58 PM | 7:35 PM | 38 min | 5:45 PM |
| May 16 | 7:25 PM | 8:05 PM | 40 min | 6:15 PM |
| Jun 13 | 7:45 PM | 8:27 PM | 42 min | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 18 | 7:41 PM | 8:22 PM | 41 min | 6:30 PM |
| Aug 15 | 7:13 PM | 7:51 PM | 38 min | 6:00 PM |
| Sep 12 | 6:29 PM | 7:05 PM | 37 min | 5:15 PM |
| Oct 17 | 5:28 PM | 6:06 PM | 38 min | 4:15 PM |
| Nov 14 | 3:49 PM | 4:31 PM | 42 min | 2:30 PM |
| Dec 12 | 3:35 PM | 4:20 PM | 45 min | 2:15 PM |
Golden hour starts when the sun is 6 degrees above the horizon. The last column is when a 30 minute ceremony should start so family photos finish just before golden hour begins, using the same math as our sunset calculator. Put in your own date and ceremony length there for a plan built around your day.
Summer. On the Saturday nearest June 15, golden hour in Oak Park and the west suburbs starts at 7:45 PM and the sun sets at 8:27 PM. That is about 1 minute after sunset in the Loop on the same date, so the city and these suburbs share nearly the same clock. A ceremony around 6:30 PM would leave your portraits in the warmest light, and a 5:00 PM ceremony leaves you waiting a while for it.
Fall. By the Saturday nearest October 15 the sun sets at 6:06 PM and golden hour starts at 5:28 PM, 2.3 hours earlier than in June. A ceremony around 4:15 PM still catches it. Anything later and your family photos are done after the best light has gone.
Winter. The Saturday nearest December 15 has golden hour at 3:35 PM and sunset at 4:20 PM, so the whole outdoor window is short. Plan portraits before the ceremony (a first look is the usual answer) and keep a warm indoor backup, because there is very little daylight left once guests sit down for dinner.
Spring and early fall. May Saturdays give you golden hour at 7:25 PM and September Saturdays at 6:29 PM. Those are the easy months for a ceremony at 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM with portraits still in good light.
Venues near Oak Park and the west suburbs
From the same database that powers our venue finder. These are listings, not recommendations or partnerships.
Of the 170 venues in our database within 10 miles of Oak Park and the west suburbs, the most common types are wedding venue (76), event venue (43), banquet hall (28), and restaurant (8). Types come from each venue's public listing, so treat them as a starting point.
Plan around the drive
- Oak Park and the west suburbs is roughly 11 miles from the Loop in a straight line, which makes a city and suburb split practical: getting ready downtown and a ceremony here is realistic if you leave the buffer.
- Keep the number of locations small. Every move between venues costs 20 to 30 minutes once you count loading, driving and arriving, and it comes straight out of your golden hour. Our timeline builder shows what each stop does to the day.
- Ceremony and reception in different towns? Our other area pages are close enough to compare: Oak Brook is about 7 miles away and Evanston about 13, in a straight line.
Priced up front, the same everywhere
The same packages and prices as our pricing page. A small deposit holds your date and goes toward your total. The rest is split into monthly payments that run automatically, and everything is paid a month before the wedding.
Photo & Video
- Intimate, 2 hours$1,100
- Classic, 4 hours$1,800
- Luxe, 6 hours$2,200
- Premier, 8 hours$2,900
Photography
- Portrait, 4 hours$1,000
- Timeless, 6 hours$1,250
- Keepsake, 8 hours$1,450
Videography
- Moment, 2 hours$650
- Story, 4 hours$1,050
- Encore, 6 hours$1,400
- Cinematic, 8 hours$1,700
Travel inside the Chicago metro is included. Add a second shooter, drone and more in the package builder. Delivery: gallery in 6 weeks, film in 10 weeks.
Weddings, as they felt
Tools for your Oak Park and the west suburbs wedding
Free, no sign-up. Use them even if you have not picked a photographer yet.
Good to know
Do you photograph and film weddings in Oak Park and the west suburbs?
Yes. We cover all of Chicagoland, Oak Park and the west suburbs included, and we travel anywhere in the country. Photography, videography or both together are all priced up front on this page.
Is there a travel fee for a Oak Park and the west suburbs wedding?
Oak Park and the west suburbs is in Cook and DuPage counties, inside the Chicago metro, and travel inside the metro is included. Travel beyond the metro is +$150 plus any flights or lodging, quoted up front. If you are not sure whether your venue counts, ask when you check your date.
What time is golden hour for a Oak Park and the west suburbs wedding?
It depends on the month. On the Saturday nearest June 15, golden hour in Oak Park and the west suburbs starts at 7:45 PM and sunset is 8:27 PM. On the Saturday nearest October 15, golden hour starts at 5:28 PM and sunset is 6:06 PM. The table above has all twelve months, and the sunset calculator gives your exact date.
Have you worked at our Oak Park and the west suburbs venue?
Ask us when you check your date. If we have not shot there before, we scout it ahead of your day so we know the light and the backup spots.
How many hours of coverage do we need?
Four hours covers the ceremony, family photos and portraits. Six hours adds getting ready and the start of the reception. Eight hours covers the full day through the dance floor. The timeline builder shows exactly how many hours your day needs.
How do we book, and do we need a deposit?
Send your date and venue through Check your date. We reply within a day with availability and the package that fits. A small deposit holds your date and goes toward your total. The rest is split into monthly payments that run automatically, and everything is paid a month before the wedding.
Is your Oak Park and the west suburbs date still open?
Tell us your date and venue. We reply within a day, or call (312) 884-9453.