AJ Abelman Photography

AJ was the best decision we made. We booked her almost 2 years before our wedding and she did not disappoint. She made us feel very comfortable from the day we hired her, to the engagement shoot to the wedding day. I loved her assertiveness yet playfulness, and got down to business when it was time to go. Our photos are so colorful and vibrant- so real, so us. Just what we wanted. I can’t tell you how many compliments we received about our album! We have great memories with AJ and can’t wait to work with her again.

From discovery call to the delivery of our photos, there was not a single moment when we didn't feel taken care of by AJ. From personalizing the proposals with moments from our courtship, to a care package upon booking, to holding my hand in the elevator before the first look, AJ knows customer service. And, OF COURSE, her photos are stunning. AJ is personable, hilarious, and great at her job. Now if only I could find a way to be her friend in real life... :)

This rating scale only goes up to 5, but if it could go any higher, I would take it up to 6, or 11; as high as possible. AJ Ableman is the kind of event photographer you don’t dream of, because you can’t conceive of how an event photographer could bring so much to your life. She is a sensation, I think in part because she truly, genuinely loves what she does for a living. She was so communicative, and sought to understand both of us as human beings in order to inform her work. She was kind and generous throughout the whole process, offering us support way beyond what a photographer would normally (advice for the wedding week and day, other vendor recommendations, etc). She took care to satisfy our priorities while also helping us better understand what we wanted from her on our wedding day. And most of all, she took wonderful photos. We and our guests have truly never looked better. BOOK AJ ABLEMAN IMMEDIATELY, YOU WON’T REGRET IT.

Honestly - where do you even begin when you hire someone as wonderful, skilled, kind, professional and honestly as hilarious as AJ?!? From the start booking with AJ was an absolute no brainer - setting up a time to chat through the details was a breeze and felt like catching up with an old friend. We had to post-pone twice due to COVID and both times AJ was there to reschedule with ease! AJ was ALWAYS just a quick message away with any questions leading up to our big day and never ever made us feel like a hassle or inconvenience. Her kindness,warmth and experience never went unnoticed. Honestly? She will be your biggest hype woman when you need it and just as important - she’ll be a calming friend when you need someone to tell you it’ll all fall into place! On the day of, AJ was prompt, cheerful and ready to go. Her second shooter, Hadassah, was also an absolute DREAM to work with. We set up a schedule prior to and she made sure we stuck to it and that everything ran smoothly from her arrival, to getting ready photos, the first look, wedding party photos and family photos. She works with a sense of purpose while remaining absolutely hilarious and always showing her genuine kindness. AJ finds the natural beauty in every single person they may not have realized they even had. She puts you at ease - no photo ever feels forced. As someone who has always been a little unconfident and never felt photogenic - I can say with 100% honesty - that changed with AJ. AJ knew what those extra special moments throughout the day would be seemingly before they even happened - and the evidence is in the photos. My husband and I look back on photos often and still have a hard time to deciding which prints to order because every single photo is truly and honestly perfect. Every single family member and friend is in absolute awe of our photos and how perfectly captured our evening was. We cannot extend our thanks and appreciation enough as the memories she’s captured and given to us are more than we could ever ask for. Love you, AJ!!!

All I can say is WOW. Hiring AJ was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. She captured our day with such artistry, I'm truly blown away by the pictures we have received. Her ability to direct our photos with a large wedding party and families was truly masterful. I have members of my party who are planning to book her for their own weddings after she made such an incredible impression. She treated my husband and I with so much care on our day and the weeks leading up to it. AJ's energy is so infectious, and I will always be grateful that she was able to play such an important role in our day. Book her!!

Book AJ! Just do it. She is incredible at photography but also a joy to work with. AJ not only captured my day so incredibly beautifully but she was just so thoughtful and helpful as well. I was worried photos were going to feel awkward and forced but AJ made them fun and even got my husband out of his shell. He felt and looked like a freakin GQ model. AJ took her time to learn about our goals for the photos of our day. She got to know us and provided custom packages to make sure we got it. I never felt like another client, I felt like my wedding was incredibly important to her. She is a beautiful soul and does INCREDIBLE PHOTOS! Just book her.

AJ IS THE BEST. I cannot recommend her more highly and I would give her so many more stars if I could! Why I like AJ: 1. Her energy. She keeps the joy and reminds you what is important in those tough weeks before your wedding. She is genuinely so excited to be part of your day and feels like the same energy as a sister being excited for your wedding! 2. She gives (and takes) direction. We spent plenty of time ahead of the wedding ensuring we were on the same page with our priorities for pictures. She made sure that these priorities happened! AJ can command a room or disappear depending on what you need her to do! 3. AJ is caring. AJ wants to know what to look out for in your wedding (ex. any tough relationships), asks for pronouns and names, and genuinely cares that your day goes perfectly - and she’ll do everything she can to help! I had a couple of tragedies around my wedding and AJ was not awkward or uncomfortable-she just kept working through and going with the flow. 4. She knows how to hire a second! We loved our second photographer and were so grateful that she was such an incredible balance and energy to AJ. 5. Maybe the most important - our pictures are gorgeous. I love every single picture and that is NOT normal. There’s always one I don’t like….not with AJ. Thank you AJ and everyone give AJ your money.

AJ was and is the best part of our wedding experience! From the beginning she was attentive and responsive to any of our questions. When our wedding was postponed due to the pandemic, AJ was the vendor who helped us through the process of rescheduling our wedding the most. When she was unfortunately injured and unable to be there in person for our wedding she provided us with an expert team of photographers who were just as lovely as she! We've received our sneak peaks (less than a week after our wedding day) and I can't stop staring at them. The joy of the day has been captured perfectly and we can't wait to see the rest. Bottom line: if you're considering hiring AJ, do it!!! It's the best choice.

Let me just start off by saying - if you are here reading reviews, HIRE AJ!!!!!!! AJ was the single greatest decision we made for our wedding. We booked her almost immediately after getting engaged. Our initial zoom call really sealed the deal. She was personable, fun, loud (much needed for our giant wedding party), and clearly cared very deeply about her clients. Our engagement shoot was just perfect and we knew we had made the right decision for our big day. My husband, Connor, and I both felt very comfortable and our photos reflect that. We unfortunately made the choice to postpone our wedding by a year due to COVID, and while we were very disappointed, AJ worked with us to make sure everything went smoothly. AJ was great about providing resources and responding to my many questions leading up to our wedding day. And then on the wedding day she was just a DREAM. She effortlessly wrangled our large and complicated families, while also somehow keeping our rowdy wedding party in-line. Our friends and family absolutely adored her and we all had a blast while taking photos. Meanwhile, I knew we were always on track with the timeline because AJ and her second shooter, Hadassah, were just on top of it. Hadassah also did an amazing job and we were so lucky to have her there!!! Throughout the day, AJ kept my anxiety at ease. When our venue was behind on the timeline, she jumped in to make sure things were moving. When I obviously done with photos, she made me take a break so that I didn’t get too worn out. Our day would not have run as smoothly as it did without her there. Not to mention, our photos turned out so amazing! I know we will cherish them for years to come. And we can’t wait to hire AJ for any future photos! AJ was worth every single penny and then some. We stretched our budget solely to fit her into our day, and there is not a single regret. THANK YOU, AJ!!!!!!!

AJ is absolutely incredible. She is so much more than an extremely talented photographer. She is your biggest supporter and most enthusiastic cheerleader at your wedding. She led us through shoots in both the rain (our engagement shoot) and the freezing cold (our 20 degree wedding) and delivered the most beautiful photos that we can't stop going through. You would never know that we had less-than-ideal conditions because AJ and her team genuinely care and give proper attention to detail to ensure everything is absolutely perfect. When we were both at our wit's end in the cold, AJ kept us in great spirits to push us through to the end. She captured all of the classic poses, but also got the greatest candids. Her photos truly captured the essence of our day (both visually and in spirit), and we are so grateful to have had her as part of our wedding. She puts you as the couple first, protects you from the nonsense, and is such a genuinely kind and thoughtful human. We could not be happier with our decision to go with AJ, and we will cherish her photos forever.

AJ was easily one the best decisions we made in our wedding planning. In fact, AJ was the first vendor we booked because we immediately knew she HAD to be our photographer after our first conversation in 2018. We went through 3 postponements because of covid, and finally got married in the fall of 2021. AJ worked with us the entire time, patiently and graciously, until we finally had our wedding day. This review is way overdue, but I knew I had to share with everyone how amazing our experience was with AJ from start to finish! We had engagement photos taken a full year before our original wedding date, and my husband and I had so much fun during the shoot. We felt comfortable with AJ, even my husband who is not the most comfortable in front of the camera! The photos turned out so amazing. AJ can capture your love, which is unique for every couple, so beautifully in her photography. Safe to say we weren't worried about how our wedding photos were gonna turn out after the engagement shoot! The engagement photos alone were so good one of my closest friends booked AJ for her wedding too! Fast forward to wedding day, literally a couple years later, AJ worked with us on details we probably won't even think about during planning so we don't have to worry about them that day. She was on time (meaning early!) to set up, she stuck to our timeline which I planned every minute of, and kept us on track for the day (without stressing us out which is very important to me). Having AJ with us the entire day was like hanging out with a friend, instead of being followed and having your photos taken. She captured the little details I probably wouldn't remember later, and we were so happy to see them in our photos! I stalked my email until I got the notification that our wedding photos were ready, obviously, and AJ definitely did NOT disappoint. Looking back on our photos from that day still makes me cry, and we're so glad we booked AJ for what is probably gonna be one of the best and biggest days in our lives. We are SO grateful for AJ, her talent, and also her love for her job and her clients! If you want someone who actually cares about you, your wedding day, and your photos - AJ is the one! She books up quick, so you better get to it!!!!

I am SO thrilled that we were able to hire AJ for our wedding. It's been months and I am STILL constantly pulling up the pictures and grinning like a fool on the reg. It was important to me that we worked with someone who a) shared our values, which AJ very vocally does; b) could capture our mid-January wedding in a way that was still bright and colorful and beautiful despite the 4:30pm sunset; c) get good dance floor and candid photos on top of not-stiff-or-awkward formal/group portraits. AJ *absolutely* delivered on ALL of that and was a joy to work with. Photography was one of the most important services for me personally, since photos are something tangible we hold on to even once the whirlwind day itself is over; I spent so much time searching across every imaginable platform for the perfect match until I came across AJ. When I tell you that we had the lights OFF except for some uplighting on the dance floor, and yet EVERY dance floor photo came out looking like we were partying in a fully lit ballroom--it's incredible! Not blurry or messy, not exclusively black and white, none of the "typical" low-quality low-light dance floor photos I was worried about--instead, they all came out super clear and beautiful because AJ is just THAT GOOD at what she does!! We did a first look and party/family portraits before the ceremony to take advantage of the daylight we had, and every single one came out looking so bright and beautiful. AJ worked so well with everyone involved, so we were all at ease and looking natural and happy even in the posed group shots, and she also caught so many wonderful candid moments. The final shots were a mix of beautiful dramatic black-and-white and gorgeous vivid full-color. One of my favorite pictures is one she got in a split-second moment when my husband and I were smiling at each other as we walked back down the aisle post-ceremony. Someone else was taking video at a different angle, so I've seen that even though it was truly the shortest moment, AJ still managed to capture it and make it look so beautiful. It's a photo that illustrates the little moments we had throughout the day--exactly the kind of moments that would be forgotten without such amazing photos from someone of AJ's skill and experience. We ended up needing her for an additional 30 minutes at the end of the night to capture some dancefloor moments since dinner speeches went long, and she was very flexible, accommodating, and up-front about the extra charge fro extra time. (Totally worth it--the dancing had some of my favorite photos of the night.) tl;dr: AJ is an extremely skilled expert and I am SO glad we were lucky enough to book her for our wedding. She's fabulous year-round, but I especially endorse her ability to capture the magic of weddings even in the dead of the Chicago winter. It was a delight to work with such a wonderful, inclusive, talented photographer.

AJ is an amazing photographer and all-around wonderful human! We have worked with AJ to capture our engagement and our TWO weddings given COVID. Her photography and artistic style is a reflection of her amazing personality. She’s very experienced, organized and creative, and she truly brings out the best in everyone around her. Her positivity and genuine love for her work and clients is truly incredible.

First of all this review is well overdue. My wife and I got married in July of 2021. Six months have passed and we still cannot stop talking about AJ. Due to COVID-19 our wedding got pushed out an additional year and AJ was more than accommodating to us. We had actually shopped around for a photographer before meeting AJ and none of them seemed to fit us. Once we found AJ’s page we had a feeling she would be much more open minded then our previous encounters with other photographers. AJ was quick to respond to our inquiry and we knew from the moment we talked on the phone, received a customized proposal, and finally met in person that AJ was the photographer for us. Her open heart, kind soul, and outstanding photography skills are hard to put into words. She knew exactly how to make us feel comfortable, relaxed, and laugh. Our engagement session was one for the books; it was on one of the hottest evenings of the summer. AJ kept us laughing and smiling through the unbearable heat and our pictures turned out phenomenal. Leading up to our big day AJ checked in with us more then once. AJ’s professionalism, guidance and support made things so much easier on us. Knowing that I would more then likely cry on our wedding day she even offered to hold my handkerchief in between photos. I don't know if that is normal or not but for AJ it is because she genuinely cares about her clients and their happiness. AJ’s team member, Hadassah also took outstanding photos and really knew how to capture what we wanted. Her personality also meshed well with our crew and she even offered a hand to hold our dress trains. AJ and her team don’t photograph all of their clients the same, which is what we also really appreciated. AJ addressed all of our wishes and concerns prior to our big day so there weren’t any hiccups along the way. Our pictures came out beautifully and truly captured our day. We can’t wait to order prints and albums. Some of our family has already ordered prints and they are amazed at the quality. We feel so lucky to have met and found AJ. We truly cannot thank her enough for being our photographer. Lets be honest, AJ just really knows her stuff and when it comes to being a kind human being that loves capturing love AJ is your person.

AJ Abelman is hands down the best wedding photographer you could ask for! As someone who has followed her work for years, I made sure she was available for my wedding date before securing it! I knew I absolutely NEEDED her to shoot my wedding. AJ makes the wedding experience so easy. She gets to know you as a couple so she can capture your special day in a way that you want. AJ has questionnaires and virtual meeting sessions to ensure that on the day of the wedding everything you want has been captured. This meant that on the day of the wedding, I did not have to worry one bit. AJ and her team went above and beyond and I am astonished by the quality and quantity of beautiful, candid photos captured. AJ even knew when we needed some time alone or time to take a break from everything. She scheduled this time into our timeline and thank goodness! We were able to get time alone as a married couple as our guests enjoyed a cocktail hour. These photos are some of my favorites because we are so happy and relieved to be married. The entire photography process felt like I was dealing with my best friends. Both AJ and her second shooter seamlessly worked well with our wedding party. They directed the crowd and made sure to get the specific photos we wanted. Then they also just let us do our thing and captured some of the most genuine, candid photos of us with all our loved ones. I cannot choose which photos are my favorites. They are just THAT good! Lastly, I need to add that AJ got to know us so well and she was able to suggest unique photo opportunities that fit our personalities. My husband and I are high school sweethearts that met in the skateboarding crowd. AJ suggested my husband do a skate trick over me on the day of the wedding. Now, yes that does sound crazy, but with AJ there it was an easy “yes let's do this.” And now I have this awesome, unique photo of my husband skating over me that was the talk of the wedding and obviously one of my husband’s favorites. AJ is the one of the most down to earth and genuinely happy people you could hire for your wedding. She is legit your biggest hype person and will make you feel so beautiful and confident on your special day. We also love AJ’s work so much we had her take our engagement photos. Again, AJ suggested a photoshoot that fit our personalities completely. We took beautiful outdoor photos in the woods, photos outside of our new house, and photos with our three fur babies. I am so grateful AJ takes the time to get to know you to make sure she captures the photos you didn’t even know you wanted! Not only did AJ deliver the best engagement and wedding photos ever, but she did so after suffering a medical emergency weeks prior to our wedding. AJ had her mom drive her to our wedding due to not being able to drive. I MEAN THE COMMITMENT! Get yourself a photographer that will go above and beyond by hiring AJ Abelman right this second!!

AJ Abelman and her team, if described in one word, are simply remarkable. From our engagement session photos, to the wedding photos, my husband and I are thrilled with the quality and the look - and we have hundreds upon hundreds of photos to look back on and enjoy! AJ has a real magic about her - she has a way to pull organic and real poses out of you and makes the entire process super fun. AJ and her team are professional and reliable, and I’m so thankful she was recommended to me. I’m passing my fantastic experience forward and recommending AJ Abelman Photography to all of you! Don’t hesitate, go with AJ!

We don’t even know where to start when leaving this review for AJ! We were so overwhelmed when starting the wedding planning process, but deciding to hire Aj as our photographer was the easiest choice we had to make! From our first consult, we felt so comfortable talking to Aj and throughout the process Aj proved to be so supportive and knowledgeable. Seriously poor Aj would get the most random Qs from us and always in a timely manner get back to us! On our wedding day - Aj absolutely held it down!!!! Aj was so organized and progressional, while at the same time being so compassionate and friendly that everyone felt so comfortable! We had a slight mishap with our transportation and the entire bridal party started to get nervous but not Aj! Aj jumped to the rescue, while being so calm, as if this happens every wedding. We felt so at ease because of how Aj was handling it ( keep in mind - this definitely didn’t fall under Ajs responsibilities to figure out). Due to Aj, it was all sorted out and we remained on schedule and everything went on perfectly! After the wedding I asked Aj if that kinda thing happens all the time and Aj responded “nope, that is not normal” - the situation could of really threw off our day but because of Aj it was all sorted and we never even realized how much of an issue it could of been! Not only is Ajs work incredible, but the ability to foster a friendly but professional environment and maintain a chaotic wedding schedule is unmatched! One of the biggest things people talked about after the wedding was how much they loved Aj and since receiving some of our sneak peak photos we continue to get compliments on Aj weeks after our wedding! We will cherish and appreciate our wedding photos always.

AJ is AMAZING. If you’re looking for a cool, fun photographer to shoot bright, colorful, gorgeous images of your wedding and someone you will secretly want to be friends with after the wedding is over, she is the woman for the job! We couldn’t be happier to have her and her team be a part of our day. She has such a wonderful, positive energy and makes you feel (and look) like models at your wedding. She is extremely talented and took such stunning and incredible photographs. When we first saw the photos we were awestruck and continue to be so obsessed, pouring over them again and again. We cannot thank AJ enough for capturing such wonderful memories that we will cherish forever!

AJ is not only an unbelievably talented photographer she is also an extremely mindful, efficient, and conscientious professional. I was blown away at how personable she was with me and my wife. She constantly checked in with us throughout her time with us, made sure we were happy and satisfied with the shots and poses we were in. She was also a major source of emotional support during the chaos and busyness of the day. I can say with the utmost certainty that she played one of the biggest roles in making our day absolutely PERFECT. She even put me at ease when having to manage not only my own emotions but also the drama that some family members bring. I would hire her again and again and again. Thank you AJ, Love the Reule's.

If you want a wedding photographer that is going to make sure you and your people are having a blast at all times, hire AJ. She is the most kind, vibrant, fun person ever and my husband and I had an absolute blast working with her. She has a way of making everyone around her feel great, and it really shows in the photos! Our bridal party still talks about her to this day and we got married 2 months ago. We are definitely not people who take photos of ourselves often and the experience of having our pictures taken all day could have been very awkward, but she totally removes the awkward factor with her fun and welcoming personality. Hire her and we promise you will not regret it! She's a 10/10 for us.

AJ was an absolute dream to work with from the initial inquiry to our wedding day. Her photography speaks for itself. Her personality and ability to make shoots fun and carefree are what really stood out to me throughout this whole process. Her network of second shooters is also top notch. Simply put, you know you're in good hands when you're working with AJ. She was incredibly responsive to any and all inquiries that we had, went above and beyond to ensure that she got the right shots from the right angles, sent us sample photos immediately after every shoot. We could not have asked for a better wedding photographer. I would very, very enthusiastically recommend AJ to anyone and everyone I know who needs a wedding photographer who takes good photos and takes the headaches out of the process. Great photographer, great human being.

Stop what you’re doing and hire AJ! We initially found AJ because she was the photographer for my best friend’s wedding when I was the MOH. We were drawn to her larger than life energy and creative eye. AJ isn’t just a wedding photographer. She is your biggest hype woman with an amazing eye for photos and has a vision outside of the typical “posed photos.” I won’t give away her secret yet (duh, this is why you should hire her!) but she has a special way of bringing out the real version of the couple and capturing the most epic photos. She made everyone in our wedding party feel so comfortable. Having the ability to bring out the best in us and capturing our true personalities is a gift, it’s not something that can be taught. We experienced our own challenges with a COVID wedding and AJ graciously worked with us at every turn. She captured both our intimate family only ceremony in April 2021 and our wedding celebration with all of our guests in July 2021 and we couldn’t be more thrilled with her work. She was even out on the dance floor taking photos of with guests and dancing her way through it, truly the best energy! Think of it this way—you spend 10+ hours with your photographer. You want someone that can read the room, hype you up, and truly capture the essence of you as a couple. Bonus if you become friends with your photographer, which is exactly what happened with AJ, she is the best! After your wedding day, the biggest thing you have is memories and photos and you want someone who will deliver photos that will bring you back to some of the most special moments in your life. As I said, stop everything you’re doing and hire AJ, you won’t regret it!

Hiring AJ was 100 percent the best decision we made for our wedding. She was extraordinarily helpful leading up to the day and was always great at checking in with helpful tips and reminders. Her positive and laid back demeanor was just what we were looking for. On the day of the wedding, she was so organized and made all of the stress of the wedding just fall away. She acted essentially as our wedding planner, helping with a lot of the logistics that fell outside of just photography, which we are very grateful for. Ultimately, in our book, she is the best wedding photographer in Chicago, and you should definitely hire her! On another note, AJ isn’t just an exceptional professional, but also one of the coolest people we know. The entire night we felt like we were just hanging out with a friend and that is because AJ is literally the kindest and funniest person we had the pleasure of meeting during this entire process. If you want to gain a badass friend while planning our wedding, hire AJ. Also – we need to shout out Jenni, AJ’s second shooter. They were so cool and funny all the above also applies to them. We were very grateful to have both AJ and Jenni photographing our wedding!

AJ is an incredible photographer. Hands down, the best vendor we hired for our wedding. From the second we got our engagement session sneak peeks to our full wedding gallery, we’ve been swooning at our photos and want to print everything! I followed AJ on Instagram for awhile after getting engaged, so impressed, and was finally able to book her for our wedding after postponing due to COVID. One thing I love about AJ is HER excitement for YOUR day. AJ photographs I don’t know how many amazing couples and always shows up for each of them equally — excited to count down to your big day, fun to talk to, happy to help and passionate about her career — for me, this is something that stood out for AJ from other photographers. Having amazing photos from our wedding is the best investment we made. Our photos are what I keep looking back at for constant memories, that bring me back to the conversations had, love exchanged, vibes of the venue and beats of the DJ. After booking AJ, through after our wedding, we still agree that hiring her was the best wedding planning decision we made. How can we book her to hang out again, LOL? More on the photos — AJ knows all the best spots to shoot around the city, makes you feel natural (how about whispering about ice cream for some candid, laughing shots? Yum), and has a signature style that if you love following her on Instagram you’ll love having for your own photos. We received so many compliments from our family and bridal party the day of as well, having seen AJ in action. She is not afraid to speak up politely to ensure that people in (and not in) the photos move so that the shot is perfect. Once receiving our full gallery one of our parents asked “how we had time to take all of these amazing, beautiful pictures” — a hard working, bad ass photographer is how! Last but absolutely not least, AJ is an awesome human who cares deeply about inclusivity and representation for all people and couples in and out of the wedding industry. It is refreshing to work with someone who stands up for their values as a business owner. Honestly just save your time reading other reviews and hire AJ now. If she’s not available on your date, reschedule your date so you can work with her. We heart AJ!!!

First and foremost - AJ was one of the most wonderful parts of our wedding, and a key cog in making the big day run smoothly. For us, we could not have gotten a better photographer than AJ. I think the best way to sum up what she meant to us was simply saying she was a full partner with us. Throughout A PANDEMIC, she was responsive to our questions and needs and always ready to offer her considerable expertise when asked. She was invaluable in terms of ensuring everyone was safe, healthy, and comfortable. And throughout - she was a joyful, energetic and heartwarming person. If you want a professional who will work to make sure you get your dream wedding and photos; will capture moments and not just poses; and will truly brighten your wedding (and life!), AJ's your gal.

If you have somehow found yourself considering AJ for your wedding photographer, you need to STOP and immediately book her, right now! She is truly an incredible person and her talent is undeniable.   I received good advice when selecting a photographer "Make sure you really like them - because you will spend a lot of time with them on your wedding day".  It was great advice and after a short video call with AJ - we were completely sold.  She went above and beyond making sure the day was perfectly captured - which it was.   My dad  says he can't even look at the wedding photos without crying...JOB WELL DONE.  We love you AJ and look forward to continue supporting you years to come.  Leigh Anne & Chad

AJ is absolutley amazing! She came as a recommendation from a friend and exceeded every expectation that we had. She provided direction when we were vague about what exactly we wanted. She handled (and managed to woo) our large, loud and overly joyous wedding party with ease. Beyond that AJ genuinely cares about her clients and goes all out to make her photos and your wedding day special. I cannot recommend her highly enough!

AJ is amazing! She is so easy to work with, makes you feel relaxed/ comfortable and really cares about you and how your photos are going to look! We ended up rescheduling our engagement session a few times because of weather and I was really bummed out, but she told us to be patient and it would be worth the wait.. and it was! We had a beautiful Spring day and the pictures turned out amazing. I think a lot of photographers would've just done the shoot to get it over with, but not AJ! She was willing to reschedule for the perfect day so she could get the best shots. We were thrilled with the photos. THANK YOU AJ!

If AJ isn't available for your wedding date, the choice is simple: move your wedding date. AJ is hands-down the best. She will absolutely nail your vision, whether your vibe is classic and timeless, or contemporary and colorful (or anything in between!). You truly get so much more than just a wedding photographer when you hire her. First of all, we got our (gorgeous) full wedding gallery in UNDER A MONTH, PEOPLE. Before that, AJ sent our sneak peeks first thing on the morning after our wedding. That is utterly unheard of from a wedding photographer--take it from my friends who got married way before me and are still waiting on their pictures. My friends and family are just as obsessed with my photos as I am--they can't stop calling and texting me to tell me what a fantastic job AJ did. Furthermore, my bridesmaids keep telling me how much fun they had with AJ--she had us laughing and smiling all day long. She is extremely detail-oriented, organized, professional, and personable. She somehow took two people who are decently awkward in front of a camera and made us look like naturals. Not only am I over-the-moon about the pictures themselves--but the actual wedding gallery is SO organized, with sections that bookmark the entire day. I cannot express how happy I am with AJ and can't recommend her enough! Thank you so much, AJ!!!

AJ shot our engagement session and we could not have been happier! She was professional but also made the whole thing so fun! We both felt so so comfortable in her hands and she even gave us a few previews the next day to hold us over while she edited, though that didn’t take her long. The photos turned out beautifully and captured our love so well! She is kind and inclusive and funny and we cannot wait for her to shoot our wedding! 10/10 would recommend her!!

I worked with AJ nearly 3 and a half years ago and I still sit staring at my beautiful wedding photos and engagement pictures. AJ was so fun to work with and was incredibly organized. Every time I go to someone else’s wedding and they’re taking their large family photos after their ceremony I find myself saying ‘AJ did this so much better’. She was so efficient and had the attention of every single person in the room. You will NEVER regret hiring AJ for any of your photographing needs and I can’t wait to continue to use her services whenever we choose to grow our family. Do yourself, and your wedding, a favor and see if she has availability for your big day!

Working with AJ was phenomenal! When we first reached out to AJ, she set up a get to know you meeting where we quickly discovered it was a perfect fit for both of us. AJ was very accommodating with our schedules to set up our engagement photos. We told her we wanted our engagements photos to showcase Chicago, but didn't have set locations in mind. She took us all around the Loop and took incredible pictures in places I hadn't thought of. AJ was the MVP of all our vendors on the day of the wedding. She easily managed our large wedding party (18 people) and large families, all while making sure we were having the best day possible. Her calm and joyful demeanor put everyone at ease. She turned around the edited photos so quickly for both our engagement and wedding photos.The photos are beautiful photos and we will treasure them forever. We would 1000% recommend AJ for any and all photography needs you have.

AJ has been the wedding photographer for two of my best friends weddings and both times she has been an absolute DREAM. She does such an incredible job of not just getting amazing shots but really truly facilitating beautiful moments throughout the day. Her energy is incredible and the end results are AMAZING. She does such a killer job of posing folks for beautiful but natural portrait shots and also capturing live moments. If I could change one thing about my own wedding it would be that I had found out about AJ and hired her to do our pictures! For real, stop looking and hire her, it will be the best decision of your wedding planning process.

AJ is a phenomenal photographer! She was recommended to us by our wedding planner at Ohana Events. AJ excelled at making us feel comfortable and making sure her focus for the wedding aligned with our wedding priorities. She also carefully picked her second photographer to be someone who would match well with us. I can not recommend her enough!

Holy cow. AJ was an incredible joy to work with. She made the utmost effort to get to know us each as individuals and to make sure our needs were met. AJ showed such grace under the high pressures of a wedding and patience of families asking for more photos. She was extremely efficient with our family photos and made sure to have nothing drag out that day. AJ took care of us as couple and was so creative with the layout of each photo. Would highly recommend working with this amazing photographer

Where do we even start with AJ?! Working with AJ was one of the best decisions my husband and I made during our wedding planning. We honestly cannot say enough to accurately describe how wonderful she is as a photographer and as a person. Before we even started searching for photographers, my husband and I both agreed that we weren’t looking forward to this part of the wedding. We fully understood the value of having a great photographer, but both felt uncomfortable at the idea of taking pictures. However, AJ has an incredible ability of making you feel relaxed and comfortable. She brings a sense of energy and excitement that 1) makes you feel at ease and 2) makes you feel special. These are two things that every couple should feel during their wedding planning and AJ managed to make us feel that way even with things unrelated to photography. She became another member of the wedding party, a cheerleader when we needed some extra encouragement, a source of relief when she sensed we needed a break. These aren’t thing you think of when hiring a photographer. These aren’t even qualifications that necessarily make someone a great photographer. These are all things that are unique to AJ’s personality that make her an exceptional person and, as a result, an even better photographer. Her pictures are stunning. They evoked real emotions. The first time we saw ourselves through AJ’s lens, we couldn’t stop looking at the pictures and haven’t stopped since. AJ works hard for you. Like climb into thick, tall (probably tick-filled) prairie grass to get the perfect shot kind of hard for you. She provides her clients with tremendous customer service all while making the experience personal with thoughtful touches. She's extremely professional and organized and was so respectful and kind to our wedding guests. We absolutely love AJ and her insane talents! Do yourself a favor and reach out to her if you’re looking for a photographer. Once you do, you’ll immediately be taken care of. AJ loves her job and it’s evident in everything she does for her clients. Thank you, AJ! Love Ryann & Bo

AJ is the perfect photographer to accurately capture your special moment and day. My wife and I could not be more happy with both our engagement photos and our wedding photos. She made both experiences stress free, natural feeling, and truly enjoyable to be involved in. Her light hearted but firm way to address a room of friends and family made sure we got all the photos we wanted and more, plus we were able to truly enjoy our day without anything feeling staged. I would highly recommend her for any moment that you want captured in the most sincere way possible. I know I will be calling her again for any future photo needs we have!

If you are looking for a wedding photographer that will guide you through the entire process, make the day of your wedding seem effortless and breezy, and who will treat your special day with immense enthusiasm - LOOK NO FURTHER. AJ is truly the whole deal and I will tell ALL BRIDES EVERYWHERE that they will be forever thankful that they used her services. She is organized, focused, enjoyable to be around and not to mention her photographs are GORGEOUS. I literally cry tears of joy when I look at our wedding photos because they so perfectly captured our day and they are just brilliantly composed. It is my pleasure to recommend someone so highly - who deserves it so much.

Can you imagine your wedding celebration without a photographer? Well I can't imagine our daughters wedding without AJ Abelman Photography. Just look at her body of work and call her for your special day.

I have been to many weddings, and have looked through countless sets of prints. However, nothing has compared to how AJ Abelman was able to truly capture the moments throughout the entire wedding day. Looking through my son and (now) daughter's album, it brings me such joy. AJ is truly gifted - and she has created photos that my son and (now) daughter will be able to enjoy for all their years to come. Thank you AJ!!!

I don't even know where to start except to say that AJ is the only photographer you will ever need for your wedding, end of discussion. We used her for both engagement photos and our wedding, which just took place this last weekend. From the moment I met her and witnessed her spunk, enthusiasm, and organization, I knew she was the right person for the job. She exceeded my expectations. My fiance can feel uncomfortable getting his picture taken, but AJ made us feel so much at ease during the whole process. From taking pictures of our dog, to corralling our family members before the wedding, she gave direction clearly and was so efficient with getting everything done, even ahead of schedule. From what we've see so far from the wedding and from our engagement pictures, she has such an incredible talent for understanding the tone and personality of each couple she works with... I felt like she captured the essence of who we are. I'm writing this review before we even get all of the wedding photos, because I just know they will all be wonderful. On top of all that, she's just a wonderful person. Her joy for the job shines through. By the time the wedding was about the take place, I felt like she was my friend, and I had no worries about how she was going to get me through the day. Any questions I had, she had an answer for. I felt pretty nauseous during the morning of the wedding, and she did everything she could to make me feel at ease and comfortable with everything that needed to get done. During the wedding, she took the time the walk through the venue to talk to EVERYONE there...all of my friends were raving about how nice she was to talk to. Everything I wanted her to cover, she did, she's on top of it. I could write a novel about her, she's the consummate artists and professional, and you'd be a fool to not hire her!

AJ is absolutely incredible. I can't recommend her enough. Throughout the day I had relatives and friends coming up to me, wondering where I found her and calling her a "rock star." Throughout her entire time working with us, she was friendly, thoughtful, and up for anything. She went above and beyond. She put us completely at ease in front of the camera, an especially hard task for my husband and me. She really took time to get to know us as a couple and figure out exactly what was important to us, both generally for our engagement and wedding photos, as well as for us as a couple so that she could be sure the photos would really capture us, not just document the day. And man, did she deliver. As beautiful as the photos of our first look and our families are, some of my favorites from our massive gallery are just of guests arriving, greeting each other, and beautiful, joyous, candid moments of everything I missed. I knew the photos would turn out great but I didn't even expect AJ to capture the emotions of the day as well as she did. The whole gallery truly expresses the joy we felt through the entire day. We couldn't be happier. And side note, she really bonded with some of my friends who go especially hard on the dance floor and shot some absolute gems. Hire AJ, you won't be sorry.

AJ is amazing. Pure and simple. She not only takes gorgeous photos and is very professional, but she is so personable. AJ made everyone involved in the wedding feel comfortable and kept a day that could have been stressful very fun and exciting. At one point hair and makeup was taking a bit longer than expected, so we were a bit more crunched for pre-ceremony photos time. AJ and her assistant maneuvered corralling a large wedding party, keeping the feeling light and fun by letting people be silly but also getting rather rowdy groomsmen to focus when needed, and capturing every moment beautifully. I am positive that our wedding day would not have gone so smoothly and been captured so beautifully if it wasn't for AJ and Hannah. On a technical photography note, they also handled a rather dark venue, which had all dark wood and was mainly lit by bistro lights during an evening ceremony and reception, beautifully and clearly. We love our photos and could not be happier with our experience!

I'm grateful to have had the chance to work with AJ. She is a fantastic person, photographer and was practically another bridesmaid on my wedding day. One spends a lot of time with their photographer on their wedding day and AJ helped me feel comfortable. The pictures are wonderful. She was able to capture precious moments like family and friends laughing, kids looking longingly at the wedding cake and people dancing with abandon.

When choosing someone to photograph our elopement, we not only wanted someone who was talented, but someone who would be “like family” to us. Aj clearly was the answer. She’s personable and fun and incredibly talented. I cannot stress that enough... this woman’s work is amazing. She captures the moment, the feeling, the happiness, and the love all in the photos she takes. Our day was going to be different than most of our friends weddings. We were traveling to Nashville from Cleveland, to not only wed, but experience the solar eclipse. We were inviting 4 of our close friends and needed someone to capture the essence of the day. When I contacted Aj she was super into it. And holy moly did she do an amazing job. She followed us all around Nashville- from our ceremony, to the champagne we drank, to the grounds on which we exchanged our vows, to some Thai food, to tattoo appointments, to the Airbnb for dancing in the moonlight, to our karaoke singing to one another. She was encouraging and helped navigate us through the day. She set up scenes for us and helped to guide us into the comfort zone where she snagged some amazing candid pictures. Aj is much more than a photographer. She witnessed magic, she created even more magic, and she memorialized that magic. She experienced all of the emotions that we went through and more. This girl is a straight up photo magician. I’m so grateful for her and the beautiful pictures she produced. I definitely, highly recommend her. If you are having any questions at all about who should photograph your wedding... stop. This girl is the one to do it and she will blow your expectations out of the water. A+++!

AJ is such an amazing photographer, and I can't recommend her enough! She understood exactly what my husband and I were looking for, and everyone in our wedding party loved working with her. She was so much fun to work with, and she had so many great photo ideas. AJ and her additional photographer Hanna both did such a great job of getting interesting shots using unique techniques like double exposure and utilizing different tools for various affects. I love how all the more experimental shots turned out, and all the more traditional photos are equally amazing! She had the pictures ready so quickly, and we've loved going through them all! Ordering prints is also super easy, and the website has been really intuitive for our families and friends to see all the pictures and order any prints they want. AJ was the perfect choice for us, and I recommend her to everyone! Not only is she professional and amazing at her job, but she's a joy to work with!

AJ is amazing. Not only has she done my wedding photography but she was there when my husband proposed too. She is my go-to for all photography related things. She is professional, fun and such a great photographer. I absolutely adore every picture I have from my wedding, and we definitely challenged her. I highly recommend her for every wedding.

Stop looking for another photographer right now and book this crazy amazing, beautiful, creative soul. AJ is a one of a kind photographer- I have worked with her on our engagement & wedding photos as well as a boudoir session for my wife. As a queer woman, it was so important to me to support a queer-woman-run small business. AJ made us feel totally relaxed and at ease throughout the whole wedding process, from capturing us in our natural essence to (literaly) being a shoulder to cry on an hour before my first look. She even surprised us with rainbow smoke bombs for our PRIDE wedding date and a glowy lantern release. I look back on our photos and see the pure joy that my wife have for one another, but also the joy that AJ had capturing our moments. Don’t miss out on an incredible experience- book her!!!!!!!

AJ is meant to be a photographer. Her eye for photos and kind/warm personality was top notch. She made our family and us feel so comfortable and really ran the show the entire day. She got all the shots and more that we dreamed of. Anyone should trust AJ in making their day beautiful! I look at the pictures every day. :)

My wedding day started much like any other: I woke up with my maid of honor, I was driven to the 'getting ready location' with friends, I arrived with a big cup of coffee and a belly full of nerves. When our photographer, AJ, arrived on the scene it was like another of my friends had joined the party. Our stylists even asked us "how long have you two been friends?" December 2017 is when Joe and I began interviewing photographers. AJ and I had only been in each other's lives for a mere 9 months before the big day, which is a true testament to how at ease she puts her clients. Her presence that day was so key to its success. From her attention to detail to her command of a crowd, AJ shuttled Joe and I from moment to moment with ease and captured it all with such beauty and love. I was not the girl who grew up knowing what her wedding would look like, but I'll be damned if AJ didn't deliver the pictures that little girl dreamed of. I will absolutely return to AJ for future photographer needs, and you should not hesitate to hire her for yourself!

Of all the vendors we met through every part of our wedding, AJ was the gold standard that everyone else tried to meet (even though they didn't know it). Between clear and timely communication, an air of comfort and friendship, and absolutely stunning work, we could not have been happier with a single aspect of working with AJ. We met with a few photographers, but AJ was our first, and we knew immediately how much she'd take care of us and our families on the big day. We just felt so at ease with her, and just truly enjoyed talking with her, that we knew this comfort would translate to our photos -- and we were right. We started with engagement photos, and both of us were a little nervous, never having taken professional photos like this. AJ found a way to make us feel completely natural, never like we were posing for photos. It was just a person we liked saying nice things to us, which is always wonderful, then capturing how we felt being with our best friend. And having already had our engagement session previously, we already knew how AJ worked and the short hand she used, which made our wedding day go even smoother. On the day of the wedding, AJ showed up early, stayed late, helped out everywhere, and captured us in ways that have *never* made us look better. We even got some sneak peeks of our photos after the reception, because she was so excited to show us! We wholeheartedly recommend reaching out to AJ for your photo needs. Working with AJ was a no-brainer, made our wedding day absolutely wonderful, and has given us memories that we will treasure for the rest of our life. Do yourself a favor and ask AJ!

Words cannot describe how incredibly happy we were working with AJ. She was able to translate our vision into reality with very little input from us in how we wanted our pictures to turn out. We originally went with AJ because we loved her unique style of not having the 'typical wedding photos' and had an artistic approach that we did not see in other photographer. She did not disappoint with the quality of images. She was very calming to work with during intimate photo sessions with one or just the both of us and it was a welcomed relief on our wedding day. I would hire her all over again for every event we have moving forward! She will not disappoint.

AJ is absolutely amazing, not only at her job but as a person as well, making the whole “picture taking process” so easy and comfortable. Making the pictures Happy, genuine, and fun!!!! not the normal staged or miserable looking photos we are all terrified of having. She captured so many amazing moments, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the outcome of all pictures. She knows what she is doing that’s for sure. I will be contacting her for more photo shoots when she is in town no doubt!

AJ is everything we wanted from a photographer. She imbued the whole process with attention to detail and easy kindness. We got the most incredible shots of our day and keep getting so many compliments. We had some thoughts on shooting locations and timing, but ultimately we were so glad to have her expertise to fill in the blanks so seamlessly. She was completely on top of our schedule and kept everything chill and smooth for so many happy, heartfelt, and candid pictures. My family and wedding party all loved her and were so glad she was a part of our day.