Elena Bazini Photography

he also is so kind, but gets the job done especially with our HUGE wedding party (23 bridesmaids and groomsmen)! As someone who has been a bridesmaid many times, this isn't a quality that most wedding photographers have! The photographer was probably the most important vendor to us as photos last way beyond the wedding so I researched a lot of photographers in Chicago. Elena's work speaks for itself and I also think she is one of the more reasonably priced Chicago-based wedding photographers! What more can I say, but HIRE ELENA!

ive and made the process of working together so easy. On the day of our wedding, Elena was SO professional, so kind and was so respectful. Our families kept saying how easy it was to work with her! She moved through all of the shots incredibly quickly and smoothly and knew how to organize the groups efficiently. She took all of the shots that we asked for and more that we hadn't even thought of that turned out beautifully. When we got our pictures back, our jaws DROPPED! They were the most STUNNING pictures! The colors popped so beautifully. When shooting the pictures, she made us feel so comfortable and we were able to relax and just be ourselves - nothing felt forced! I could not recommend Elena more. She's beyond easy to work with, so kind and professional and most importantly - her work speaks for herself! All my girlfriends want to hire her for their weddings after seeing my pictures :)

aking pictures or self-conscious with all of the attention, but with Elena I (and my bridal party) were completely comfortable and had so much fun! My husband said the exact same thing about the second shooter, David. When we got the pictures back we immediately became obsessed. Her style and ability to capture little moments of joy was exactly what we were hoping for. Anyone looking for a wedding photographer who will capture the spirit of your wedding day, Elena is the perfect choice!

just the usual staged shots that you see at so many weddings (I've been a bridesmaid 9 times so I would know). Elena takes both an artistic and photojournalism approach that is just exceptional; you will be wowed by her images and they will also help you relive memories from the day. Cannot recommend her highly enough!

beyond beautiful, and genuinely capture the emotions and story of your day. She has a way of capturing all of the beautiful feelings. Each photo brings back so many amazing memories that we will cherish forever. The day of, she was awesome to be around and handled all of the logistics of family photos seamlessly. She's also super fun to hang out with and I loved having here there! I cannot recommend her enough.

easy, and the photos came out AMAZING!

t, and most of all, putting you at ease on one of the most important days of your life. Not only did the photographs exceed our expectations but the whole experience of working with Elena and her team was just a dream. Her website is very professional and well maintained and serves as a testimony to her expertise and vision. We enjoyed our time with her and highly recommend Elena and her team.

ith and we're looking forward to seeing her photos (we love what we've seen so far)! Would recommend to anyone lucky enough to book her.

- it stormed like crazy, which meant that a lot of the photos we hoped to get weren't possible, and our venue, the Lincoln Park Conservatory, leaked like crazy! Elena was completely upbeat and helpful throughout the less-than-ideal situation, even bringing a bunch of clear umbrellas for our friends to use, and she worked fast to get images in the limited amount of time the rain left us for pictures. Many friends commented to us that Elena was completely sweet and very relaxed and how much they liked her. The venue was so cold and wet, and my dress so filthy by the end, that I had an image in my head after the wedding that we all looked like miserable drowned rats...but when we got the pictures, I was thrilled to see that in the limited amount of time we had, she got so many lovely images, with the beautiful colors of the flowers in the conservatory, and she captured the happy spirit of the evening. She also got a lot of really lovely images of my son, which was so important to me, and she figured out how to get a group picture, which I really wanted. Also, we only needed a photographer for a couple of hours, not the usual all-day affair, and Elena was completely happy to accommodate that. She was completely wonderful to work with and I would recommend her to absolutely everyone! As a funny side note, Elena posted an image of my son on her blog, and one of my colleagues saw it - it turned out Elena had been her photographer too, a couple years earlier! I'd been looking at pictures Elena took at my friend's wedding, framed on her desk, for a year and had no idea!

into the wedding at all. I would definitely recommend her and hope I get to work with her again!

d an outstanding ability to capture even the subtlest of moments. Our wedding photos were fantastic and her work speaks for itself. We really enjoyed spending the day with her and David, and feel so fortunate to have worked with them. She's the best!

the day which stood out to us when selecting her as our wedding photographer. She was also really helpful throughout the entire process. She always responded promptly to our e-mails and was very organized. She had good ideas for photo locations that worked with our schedule for the day as well as back up locations in case of rain. Elena was such a pleasure to spend our day with, very easy going and enjoyable to be around making us feel so comfortable. I am so glad she was our wedding photographer!

ous work, I know the photographs will be beautiful too! Thank you, Elena!

She made us feel comfortable and ensured all of our photoshoots throughout the day went smoothly. Her photos melted my heart instantly and immediately reminded me of the countless special moments of the day. She is simply amazing!

of having my photo taken all day long, but Elena made me feel at ease and beautiful the entire time. She was creative in her approaches and made sure she covered everything that we asked...and more. Her style is warm and approachable. She helped make our day even more fun! Our photos were edited and delivered quickly. Our friends and family could not stop complimenting her and her gift of noticing the details and her ability to tell the story of the day through images. Our pictures are truly a gift to us as they now will forever record all of the beauty and emotions of a very special day. Elena and David are an amazing team. They are both extremely professional and show their passion for photography in every thing that they do.

and welcoming. She makes everyone feel so comfortable, which is so important for a photographer. You can tell she really feels honored to be part of your special day. The day of the wedding I couldn't believe the lengths she was willing to go to so that we could get the perfect shot. She literally climbed up on a high median in the middle of a busy street to capture us. It was phenomenal. You simply can't go wrong with Elena and her team!!

lass of her own and clearly stood out to us as we sifted through the portfolios of dozens of wedding photographers. But it's not just her skill that makes her amazing. She's the person you want to have around for such an important (and long) day. She was professional and efficient but also fun and at ease. She captured every moment perfectly, and we were able to enjoy those moments without feeling like we were posing for a photo every second. We enjoyed her presence almost - ALMOST - as much as the exquisite collection of photos we now have to enjoy for the rest of our lives. Thank you Elena!

d getting to work with her on our wedding day made everything so much easier. She's an expert at making the stress melt away with how easy-going she is. Her and her team really are the "Dream Team." We loved her portfolio, and the images she captures are worth more than just 1,000 words. The value in her work is truly priceless, and I am still reeling that THE Elana Bazini was my wedding photographer! She really is one of the best, if not THE BEST wedding photographers in Chicago. We would hire Elena again in a heartbeat after the experience we had with her on our wedding day. She knew exactly where to take the perfect shots and how to pose us, even if we initially felt we were awkward photo-takers. By the end, we felt like seasoned models thanks to her. I would give Elena more than 5 stars if possible. If you are looking for an amazingly smart, professional, dedicated and talented photographer, look no further than Elena Bazini! <3 <3 <3

to an opportunity from parking lots to stone brick walls and I could not have been happier! She completely captures the day in ways I would have never imagined. My husband is not the world's biggest fan of taking pictures and she managed to capture all of our natural moments of smile and laughter throughout the day which is exactly what I was hoping for! Elena was extremely professional throughout the entire process but also super friendly and easy to approach! Beyond happy with my choice!! Thank you!!

olutely stunning. I knew that my fiancé and I had to meet her and see her availability for our wedding date. Our first meeting with Elena was great. We were able to see her portfolio and just loved how all her shots looked natural vs. staged. Elena is very professional and knows exactly what she is doing. We ended up booking for her for our wedding date and also scheduling a time to do an engagement photo-shoot prior to wedding. The engagement photo-shoot was so fun! We laughed a lot and Elena made us feel so comfortable. It was also very beneficial to have photos taken before the wedding because we could see what we liked and what we didn’t prefer. Elena was super quick in getting us the engagement photos- it was just a couple days later that she delivered them to us via email!! Fast forward to our wedding date… literally I cannot express what a wonderful job Elena did. October 28, 2017 was a cold and cloudy day in Chicago, but I still wanted to get some photos outside. Elena had no problem with that… she found the perfect location on the River Walk and even let me wear her coat while we were in between shots! So nice!!! Elena captured every moment: from getting ready, to my first look with my parents, to seeing my husband for the first time, wedding party photos, the ceremony, toasts, first dances and of course candid’s on the dance floor! Everything turned out SO WELL. Elena also delivered out wedding photos very promptly—at least 2 weeks before we expected them. All in all, I cannot stress how great Elena is… she was such a joy to work with- I highly recommend her!

that you automatically feel in her presence. She gave me amazing poses and I can't wait for my fiance to get the book on our wedding day! 10/10 would recommend her and do another shoot with Elena!

her. Her photographs emote joy, love, and a zest for life…which also pretty much describes Elena! She is incredibly easy to work with, and makes you feel like you are in the best hands. This was really important to us, as we found wedding planning to be pretty overwhelming! Shooting with Elena is like hanging out with a friend during one of your best days. She never makes you feel “posed” or “cheesy” …which was a major concern of my husband’s. We had the best time during both our engagement photos and during the wedding. Elena was incredibly patient, answering all of our questions and emails, and helping us to solidify our day-of-timeline. Even my dad made sure to tell us how much he loved working with Elena, and how much he loved her smile! The experience would have been enough, but the memories and photographs she has left us with are priceless. Elena, I cannot thank you enough!!

ated our wedding into something that we can continue to enjoy for years to come!

ut getting us setup for off site photos that still stayed true to getting exactly what we wanted even during a downpour! She was easy to work with and very flexible to day of changes. Her photos are beyond exquisite and we couldn't be happier reviewing our photos and starting to work on designing our album with her! My husband and I live out of town in Washington, DC, and planned everything with her remotely for our wedding day in Chicago. She is incredibly responsive and turns things around very quickly. We highly recommend working with Elena and her team to capture all the moments you will always want to remember from your special day!

her website to see for yourself. They are her best recommendation, for sure!), and then meeting with her. The couple did a really early, summer morning engagement shoot, (Elena actually suggested it to be able to get the prettiest summer light), and the photos turned out sooo GREAT! Some people have described them as "simply stunning." (We agree!!) Most importantly, the couple had a lot of FUN with Elena, and they knew immediately they had chosen the right person to shoot their wedding. Elena (and Liz) did not disappoint! There were multiple indoor and outdoor locations for wedding photos, a large wedding party (including four little ones who were flower girls and a ring-bearer), and lotsss of family; and even with all those "moving parts" and though the weather wasn't ideal at times, none of that affected the outcome of the pictures she took. Our guests have told us the wedding was gorgeous, and the celebration was unforgettable and so much fun, (we agree!!), and the moments Elena (and Liz) captured were truly wonderful and have made lasting, beautiful memories for us all. And, people who have seen the wedding photos have described those pictures as “STUNNING,” too! (We totally agree!!) Elena is so talented and her direction was spot on. She is very creative and really skilled, and so she knew just what to do with the lighting and how to use the elements to her advantage to take AMAZING photos. She was so organized, before (she and the couple discussed ahead of time locations and which special photos they wanted to have, if possible), and then during the wedding day and into the evening; she made really good suggestions but also knew what specific photos the bride and groom had in mind, as well, and Elena and Liz delivered! Everyone enjoyed working with Elena because she is so enthusiastic and a true pro! Not only will we highly recommend Elena Bazini, but we can't wait till our next celebration because we will gladly hire her to be a part of it, and to record those events, too. What a wonderful, lasting gift she gives to others with her artful photography! Thank you, Elena!

raphed all day (most of us aren’t!). Our first shoot with her was for our engagement photos, which was just so much fun. We got lucky and had snowy weather, which Elena captured perfectly. And the wedding photos are off the charts. I never imagined having memories captured so beautifully. I honestly feel like I’m reliving my wedding day in an even better version when I look through the photos from Elena! In addition to being exceptionally talented, Elena is professional, responsive, and truly loves what she does. She is wonderful to work with and will give you the best photos for your wedding!

wonderful suggestions. She was also very professional and easy to get in touch with prior to the wedding. Elena took such fun candid photos throughout the day. Most of the time, I wasn't even aware that she was capturing the moment! I would highly recommend Elena! She is absolutely wonderful!!

nerves can be high. She made us feel like the day really belonged to us and brought out the FUN and JOY. It was because of her that I was able to pause and really relish the present moment. Without saying it, she somehow reminds you to take in every second and realize the reason you there (love!). She radiates pure love! You don't realize you are having your picture taken because you are smiling and laughing along with her the entire day. She knows exactly what shots to take and what is most flattering! She captures EVERYTHING. Not only you, but the surroundings and every detail. She brings out the beauty in environment around you and reminds you of all the love that surrounded you. Her eye for detail is impeccable. It was through her pictures I was truly able to appreciate the beauty and the (sometimes gruling) year of hard work and endless decisions that went into the the dresses, suits, flowers, venue, food, cake, lighting, every detail that you don't get to fully appreciate because the day becomes a bit of a blur. She reminds you that all that exhaustion of planning was truly worth it!!! Through Elena's photos, that blur becomes a beautiful memory that she has meticulously captured for eternity. Thank you Elena! You are a perfectly phenomenal photographer! Love, Stephanie and Jared

ly recommend doing this, as we learned her style and she made us feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, and had a blast while doing so. I even reached out to Elena to do a boudoir photo shoot as a gift to my husband. I was unsure of the idea but knew I wanted to do it and Elena made all of my worries go away. She made me feel beautiful and sexy and the photos were classy and artistic and so much more than I ever could have imagined. If it's on your mind - don't shop anywhere else! Leading up to the wedding, Elena was timely with all of her correspondence and took the time to come to our walk through. The day of the wedding, our wedding party, friends, and family kept saying how much they loved Elena - she is professional, kind, creative, and makes you feel amazing in front of the camera. Every image she captured perfectly encapsulates our day. Her candids are so raw and the way she plays with lighting is so classic looking. I could go on and on about this lovely lady, but if you're looking for a 5+ all-star photographer, Elena is a must book!!!

bum on social media. Elena captured all the key moments and then some. She was more than willing to accommodate our special requests, added to the energy of the day, and her final product exceeded our high expectations! Elena and David helped make our wedding day so special! I would HIGHLY recommend Elena!!!! Best decision we made!

wedding photos. Elena is highly professional, creative, and totally exceeded our expectations.

r wedding day. When we saw our wedding photos we literally cried tears of joy…she’s that amazing! She is professional and FUN; the perfect combination. Our wedding day was full of countless jokes and laughs thanks to her and her amazing assistant :) (Special shout out to Olu !!) Elena and Olu must be part ninja. They were able to capture so many incredibly intimate shots of us and our guests and we don’t even remember seeing them around. Throughout the wedding planning process Elena patiently and promptly answered our numerous and detailed questions. There was never a time when we weren’t able to get a hold of her. She always wanted to know what we were thinking or how we wanted things done. We didn’t have a strong preference as to where we wanted to go for our day of photos. Elena is so creative and an expert in her field that we told her to go ahead and run with it! She came up with amazing locations that fit our wedding theme perfectly. Hands down, she was our favorite vendor to work with. I wish I could give her more than 5 stars!

, we were absolutely blown away. From the moment we hired her, we hit it off and immediately felt as ease knowing that she understood our vision. Her talented ability to create photos and capture memories that will last a lifetime is unlike any other. We thoroughly enjoyed having her around with us the entire day because she fit right in, was professional and creative, and fun to be around. She is an expert photographer and knows all the right angles. Elena is accommodating, professional, outgoing, and passionate. Her love for photography and being behind a lens shines through in her work, and her eye for creativity is impeccable. She had a bright attitude the entire day, and it made me feel comfortable knowing I had one less thing to worry about on my wedding day. No matter who it was, Elena made them feel comfortable to be in front of the camera to be photographed. She is a phenomenal photographer, creator, artist, and editor. I find myself continuing to look at all of our pictures and sit there with a constant grin on. I’m still in awe that Elena was able to capture all the personalities of not only the wedding party, but the guests, and all the love that filled the room at our wedding. If we could, we would love to relive that day over and over again, and with Elena’s photos, we can. We are incredibly grateful that we have her photos to look back on because the entire day went by so quickly. Our wedding photos came out beautifully, and I didn’t even know we could look at good! She did not miss a beat and truly captured every single moment. The colors, framing, and feel of all our pictures were astounding - Elena is without a doubt an experienced, professional photographer who knows what she is doing! I would highly recommend reaching out to book her for your wedding. It was hands down the best decision I made, and we are forever grateful and blessed she was a part of our wedding. Countless guests from our wedding are still telling us how they’ve never seen more beautiful wedding pictures, and I couldn’t agree more. We will definitely be finding another reason to see and work with her again in the future because she is a true artist and a beautiful person inside and out. Hands down worth every penny and I would rate her 10 stars if I could! (See her blog post of our wedding here http://elenabaziniphotography.com/drake-hotel-wedding-photography-chicago/.)

y.com/art-institute-of-chicago-wedding-photography-kelly-ryan/) From the start, we were so appreciative of how quickly Elena responded to all of our emails with questions that we had—which is awesome when you are trying to get so many things figured out for such a big event. On the day of our wedding, Elena was early with her second shooter (husband, David—also amazing!!!) and was immediately a calming influence (much needed on a wedding day). Elena captured the most beautiful pictures of our families, knowing that my father is ill and that any photo captured with him would really be something I would cherish forever. I am so grateful that I will have these beautiful pictures forever. She also got tons of “beauty shots” of our dog Penny, a little diva—who was an honorary bridesmaid. ☺ Elena was also incredible at finding the best locations for the most dramatic shots. She suggested a bunch of places in the Art Institute (our reception venue) that we never would have thought of—but turned out absolutely beautiful. She was excellent at catching the most candid perfect moments—like when a World Series Champions bus pulled to the curb on Michigan Avenue (the weekend after the Cubs won the World Series) and we got a shot of my husband and I, with our dog, celebrating the win. Or the expression on my face when my husband admitted during his speech that I was right about hiring a wedding planner (duh)… We wanted a good mix of staged shots and “in the moment shots” and we were so impressed with the variety of shots we received. This truly does not even begin to describe how happy we were with Elena’s work. She truly captured moments that we will cherish for our lifetime.

time to collaborate on the look and feel we wanted for our engagement and wedding photos. It felt like we were working with a true professional and friend, rather than just another vendor. You'd be hard pressed to find someone else that would put the time, care, and talent more than Elena.

and zeal for people and story. We cannot thank her and David enough for capturing so many incredible moments from our wedding day (and the time we spent together in 2015 during our engagement shoot! So much fun!). Truly, five stars is not enough. And speaking of stars, Elena is absolutely a rising star in the industry; we highly recommend that you book with this talented young woman while you can still get in at the ground floor!

truly felt like she was genuinely excited for us as a couple and happy to be a part of our day. Not only is she great to work with, she has an incredible eye and knows how to capture and tell a story perfectly. Her photos are absolutely beautiful. From our engagement photos to our wedding, she has captured who we are as a couple and so many special moments during that time that we will never forget. Her photos are something we will always cherish and we are so grateful Elena was there with us to help capture and celebrate such a special time. I highly recommend her and can honestly say this will be the best money you spend for your wedding day. On a side note, Elena will go out of her way to make sure you get what you want, but my advice is let her do her thing. Like I said, she is an artist and you will not be disappointed in the end result!

ra in her hands I would have dressed her up with one of the bridesmaid dress 10 min after I met her ! :D She's also awesome with kids having them go from frown to smile in 2 seconds with one of her magic tricks. She's flying everywhere at the same time and as a result we were able see, after wedding, all we had missed from our dear ones. Oh.. By the way, did I mention the pictures were great too ? ;) It was so nice to meet Elena and her husband that we felt bad not being able to spend as much time talking to them as our other guests :D I wish Elena all the love she's spreading herself in the world. A huge thank you from France ! A&J

that feeling of awe with their pictures. I felt like I was not only at the wedding, but I knew everyone and their personalities as well. When we met with Elena I knew immediately it was a right fit. Now, granted, I am very much a one and done kind of person. When I know something's right, I go with it and never look back. Jump to a year and a half later with our wedding - Elena and Sarah were incredible. On time, and immediately started snapping photos but then I forgot they were there most of the time. Obviously, for the portraits we were staring right at her but other than that I never saw her. But she saw us. She CAPTURED us. We didn't see her but she is a ninja. A beautiful wedding photographer ninja. We just got our pictures back, about 4 weeks after our wedding and I literally could not be more pleased. She captured our wedding. And it felt like OUR wedding in the pictures. It didn't feel like we were looking at some random, generic wedding. She captured everyone's personalities and reactions and they're just beautiful. She caught things I didn't even know were going on but now cannot imagine not having a picture of. She captured our memories. And I could not be more grateful. When we first started planning our wedding, my now husband asked me "What are the three things you want, no matter the cost, that you do not want to compromise on?" And I said "Photos, video and my dress." We did not compromise on any of them. My advice for any bride or groom: Do not sacrifice your photos for something else in your wedding. You're not going to look back in twenty years and say "Remember that chicken piccata we had at our wedding?" You just have your photos. I have no regrets for my wedding and the main reason it because I have it perfectly encapsulated on film to look at forever. Elena is truly the best. She knows what she is doing. She is professional, warm, kind and just truly great at what she does. She is worth every penny and more and you will thank me in the end.

is super responsive with all communications and delivered everything she promised... and more! Thanks so much Elena!

ately. Until I met her, I would always say I wasn't photogenic. Well after working with Elena, I realized I was wrong. She managed to capture us beautifully and in the most intimate way possible. We are so lucky we were able to share the most important day of our lives with her. Even more so, we are grateful to have our perfect day documented in the most gorgeous way possible. Thank you Elena - we loved working with you!

r so I wouldn't seem like a total creeper :) Our engagement photos were a great way to get to know Elena and learn how to act in front of the camera, and they turned out so well! When it came to our wedding day, not only was Elena (and her second shooter, Wes) super fun and easy to work with, but our photos are out-of-this-world good! Elena truly captured the spirit of our day and all the little moments we never want to forget - like the elation when the busted zipper on my dress finally zipped, the tears shed by all during my dad's beautiful toast, the raucous laughter during the best man's speech, and the incredibly jam-packed, high energy dance floor! People often say that their biggest wedding regret is not hiring a videographer, but I don't have that regret because Elena documented our day in such a complete and beautiful way that looking through all of the photos brings us back to that day immediately - it's like we're there reliving it all over again. We were blessed to have a team of all-star vendors but Elena takes the cake. Thank you, Elena, for giving us the precious gift of our wedding photos - we will cherish them for the rest of our lives!

the energy and joy of the wedding. You end up amazed and in awe. The magic is in her process. Looking back we said, “We didn’t even see her there”! But there is no hiding that she was there…capturing that full bodied laugh, the tremble of a groom’s hand, the upwards eyes of a mother trying not to cry, and the bride’s quiet moment of reflection (when she thought no one was looking). It was a whirlwind of a wedding – a blur of passion and happiness. The ease at which Elena and her team fit into those moments was astounding. We did not forget she was working…but with her love of craft and grace she effortlessly moved through our moments and captured them all. Elena possesses the foundation of professionalism and creativity, yet also warmth in her demeanor that allows for easy communication. She was not only our photographer. She became a friend. Amongst all the wedding preparation and decision making we joke that it was a ‘stroke of genius’ hiring Elena to join us in Anguilla. It was one of the best decisions we made. There was no stress, no worries before or after, just empathy, open communication and stunning photographs. Whether near or far, Michelle and I cannot recommend Elena highly enough. Michelle and I base our admiration not only on our experience, but through watching Elena shoot the weddings of two close friends. She melted into the walls and managed to be everywhere at once. Each wedding was quite different but expertly shot. Michelle and I are planning a viewing party soon to gather our friends and relive those days in paradise. We couldn’t be more proud of reliving those moments through the images of Elena Bazini. This review is officially two fold: 1) Another thank you from the both of us <3<3<3 2) We add our names to the list of overjoyed clients, couples, and friends who cannot wait for another chance to work again with Elena. Maybe a reunion is Anguilla? Love, Michelle & Ryan

nt when your not super comfortable in front of the camera. Our wedding day was extremely hot and I never heard her or her husband complain one time. She was amazing at getting us to relax and laugh in front of the camera and the photos we received from her were absolutely amazing. She was able to capture the joy, laughter, love and every other emotion you are feeling on your wedding day.These photos are something I will truly cherish for the rest of my life. She was also so quick in getting us the photos and I cannot tell you how many people have reached out to me saying they are the most gorgeous wedding photos they have ever seen. I highly recommend her to everyone. Thanks again Elena!!

l to be in front of her camera and just let her capture the day. You cannot go wrong hiring Elena for your wedding. Enjoy your day and let her find all the special moments for you!

ments of our wedding day, and we found all those qualities in Elena. She is so easy to work with and made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, but when it was time to follow a timeline or get groups together for a family pictures, she is good at leading people but in a nice way. We recently received our wedding photos and love them so much!!!! Every time we go through them, it’s like we are living in the moment again, and for that we will be forever grateful to Elena for capturing memories that we will cherish for a lifetime.

rs are the same, and there's only so many ways to take a picture. Boy, did Elena prove me wrong! Right from the beginning, I could tell how passionate Elena was to making this a day to remember through her communication and ability to get to know us and what we were looking for. During our first consultation in her studio, we were able to see the many masterpiece shots she had over the years and we were blown away. We specifically fell in love with her "Snow Bride" shot, being that our wedding was in March and we didn't know what the weather was like. We were excited to see how creative and unique her work was, and felt great knowing we found one of the best. As we planned out our big day, one of the concerns for us was where to take pictures after the ceremony. Because of Lent, we needed to be out of the church within 30 minutes of the service, and had a poor choice of backdrops at our venue. Elena was very helpful in helping to figure out a great in-between spot by driving all the way out to the northwest suburbs two weeks before and finding a garden area and floral store right in downtown Arlington Heights. This was something I would never expect from any photographer, yet Elena was passionate on making sure everything was perfectly planned. Throughout the big day, both Elena and David made us feel very comfortable, and were extremely flexible in their shot choices (David even risked getting a parking ticket to ensure we had the best photos...talk about dedication!!). When we finally got our pictures, I had my doubts on how she could top a shot like the "Snow Bride" shot we saw so many months ago. Little did we know that we would have our own masterpiece collection from that evening, with SEVERAL shots that could easily make any photographer's Hall of Fame. We couldn't be happier to have worked with Elena, and will definitely plan on letting all of our friends know where the best photographer in Chicago is!

enjoy working with and who wouldn't miss the little, fun moments throughout the day. Elena was so much more amazing than we could ever have imagined. We can't stop looking at our wedding photos! We live in New York, but got married in Chicago in November 2015. I first spoke with Elena over the phone after loving every picture I saw on her website. She was so friendly and fun that I immediately knew we wanted to book her. She helped us put together the perfect package, and we had our engagement photos taken in Chicago in January. That day was a blast, and she got so many great shots! She is so creative and spontaneous and she creates beautiful shots seemingly out of nowhere. Leading up to the wedding, she worked very closely with us to come up with the perfect timeline and figure out where we would take photos between the ceremony and reception. She listened to everything we were concerned about and the specific images we were hoping to capture. She took our ideas and hopes and added suggestions. She molded our initial plan into an itinerary that made sure to include every single shot we wanted (including photos at Starbucks!). The day of the wedding she was, unequivocally, the BEST, most professional photographer. She and her team (including her husband, David, also a talented professional!) ran with us everywhere! They showed up early and made sure to get all the little preparation shots, captured the ceremony without being distracting, and made the wedding party photo experience so much fun! Elena even switched plans mid-stream when one of the photo locations we had planned on was closed, and we didn't miss a beat. The best part of our experience was the end product - we spent an entire night going through photos and felt like we were able to be guests at our own wedding. We truly could not be happier with our photos! We not only had an expert photographer, photography team, and perfect wedding photos, but we gained a friend. We highly recommend Elena to capture your wedding day. She is the one vendor that will make your day perfect!

ommend Elena enough for others' weddings. So lucky to have worked with Elena! Two thumbs way up!

n our wedding day. However, any feeling of anxiousness immediately dissipated in Elena's presence. She put us at such ease and so was kind, warm and easy to work with. I truly felt like I had a dear friend with us for our entire wedding day. Not only was the experience wonderful but the final product was impeccable! Our photos exceeded our greatest expectations. The beautiful way in which Elena and her team captured our day was truly the most precious gift we could have asked for. I would recommend Elena to anyone looking for a wedding photographer!!!!

incredible, incredible moments. They couldn't have come out any more incredible. From booking her, through planning, to responding to emails, to our wedding day, Elena and her team are the ultimate professionals, and the results reflect that. We're thrilled to see the moments that were captured, and our family and friends can't stop raving about them. We can't thank and recommend Elena enough. Seriously. Save yourself the time. Send her an email. And get her booked NOW!

ice while taking photos- my husband and I had never gotten our photos taken before and we had some nerves! Elena speaks up and tells you what to do every step of the way (in the best way!) She also listens to what is important to you, and makes sure to capture it. We are bummed are wedding is over, because we enjoyed Elena's company so much. She is a gem who produces such quality work (win win)! We were very pleased with our decision to have Elena photograph our engagement photos and wedding- highly recommend!

en frenzied) day, Elena did an unbelievable job at capturing the most genuine moments, emotions and small details of the day...many of which we would have missed if it weren't for the amazing photos we have to look back on. Looking at them now brings back the best memories and we know they'll continue to do the same as we grow in our marriage. Thank you again to Elena for capturing our day in such a unique, beautiful & genuine way - we highly recommend her to all looking for amazing photographs of their wedding. Cheers!

lm and eased my stress by providing her expert opinion. Elena is a wonderful person, but her final product is just as wonderful! We LOVE our engagement and wedding pictures! Elena captured all the moments we wanted and more. We love looking back at our pictures and re-living the moment from start to finish. We are delaying selecting photos for our wedding album because it's just too dang hard with so many wonderful options. A perfect-fitting photographer is just as important as the perfect dress (and perfect partner), and Elena was the perfect addition to our special event.

ng - we were not willing to risk missing out on her talent and unique eye! And it was one of the best decisions we made. Looking through the photos Elena and her team took of our wedding made us laugh, cry and ultimately relive the memories and moments that made it so special in the first place. On the day they were cool as a bunch of cucumbers, despite the chaos surrounding them, which was hugely helpful. And even though we never saw them snapping away, they caught all of the most important moments - and many we didn't even know happened. Such a treat to see :) We can't recommend Elena, Micah and David highly enough!!!

school out of state and she was so accommodating with meeting via FaceTime. Here smile and positive energy were so contagious from the very beginning. Her calming presence makes everyone feel so comfortable. We have gotten so many compliments from our wedding party, parents, and even guests about how great she and her team were! The pictures were outstanding! Not only are my husband and I IN LOVE with how they turned out but everyone we show cannot get over how amazing they are! Each shot is so unique and we can't stop looking at the photos. She captured the happiness of our day perfectly! You feel so comfortable having her around you are able to truly enjoy the moment and not worry about what pictures are being taken. I really can't stress enough how perfect Elena and her team are to have as your photographers on the most amazing day of your life. We are so grateful for the memories she captured for us. You will be happy you've chosen Elena :)

sband and I feel at ease with her laid-back but professional attitude and we felt like we could be ourselves around her on our wedding day, an important quality we were looking for. She was so easy to keep in touch with via email with responses the same day or within 24 hours. She even helped us come up with some cool places to take location pictures at since we had time between our ceremony and reception. She kept in touch after the wedding about her progress with our photos and even sent them all to me earlier than what she originally quoted! Elena and her assistant where so fun to have with us on our wedding day. I am SO happy we chose her to help us capture the happiest day of our lives! I highly recommend her to anyone looking to capture those fun, candid moments of you and your loved ones on your wedding day.

lls, on time to every appointment, and extremely organized. She also made us feel comfortable, both during the wedding and at the extra "engagement shoot" we purchased as part of our package. Most importantly, she "got" the spirit of our low-key ceremony. The result is a beautiful series of pictures that feel natural, not posed, and that capture how much fun we (and our guests) were having. We are so happy to have picked Elena, and can't recommend her highly enough!!!

ating and stressful process but Elena made us feel comfortable and does exceptional work, so we knew we would go with her immediately. Living on the West Coast made it difficult to meet with vendors but Elena was always very responsive via email and incredible flexible when we were finally in town to meet with her. There were plenty of times where we were running late from meeting with another vendor and she was always so cool about it and willing to work with our schedule. A time that sticks out the most to me is a few days before the wedding we met up to discuss the timeline. I was SO stressed out with everything that needed to be done leading up to the big day. I kind of wanted to punch my family and friends. We did a bit of wedding work but then just hung out drinking coffee and talked like normal people. It was so refreshing to talk about other things than the wedding. I left in better spirits and was able to breath. That alone was priceless to me. Elena's work speaks for itself. She captures the entire day so beautifully. I couldn't have asked for more, but I got more. She becomes more than your photographer, she becomes a friend during the whole crazy wedding process. You absolutely cannot go wrong hiring Elena for your wedding.

very professional, polite, creative, fun and knowledgeable before, during, and after our wedding. The day of our wedding, it was 20 degrees and windy, which was a challenge. I've been in situations when every picture had to be posed, directing hand placement, tilt of head, etc. and secretly worried that would be how we spent our day. To my delight, Elena gave a few gentle instructions when we first started, and then just let us be natural and QUICK! She artfully managed a group with a few camera-shy guys and frozen girls. We couldn't be happier! Feel free to check them out on her blog. http://www.elenabaziniphotography.com/audrey-gabes-new-years-eve-wedding-in-st-louis/

ng!! It was freezing on our wedding day so we had to scrap our outside photo locations. No problem!! Elena was able to take incredible shots of us in an old theater. At the reception she completely blended in and she was always where the fun was! I will be recommending her to everyone I can!!!

professional. She's up for anything random and fun, i.e. photographing a hula hooper we found near our hotel and sneaking up to the roof of the hotel for a first look, which makes for really fun and memorable shots. She took the extra effort to scope out good spots in the general areas we preferred for both the engagement and wedding photos. We have received the final photos and could not be happier with the results. They even feel extra special because of our fondness of Elena. Not only did she do a great job with the formal posed family photos, there were so many shots throughout the day and night that really captured the feelings of the moment. We would recommend Elena to anyone with an upcoming wedding!

d, professional, and creative and were able to help us realize all of the details we wanted. Her effort to take the time to get a sense of our style really showed in the final product. I've recommended Elena to several of my friends and they also shared our successful experience, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her again.

ena's work the first time I saw it on her website--I loved her candid, photojournalistic style and appreciated the way her photos were vividly colorful without obvious editing and cheesy Instagramish effects. However, meeting her for our in-person consultation is what sealed the deal. She was a great listener, and asked a lot of questions so she could fully understand our wedding vision. She was also much more flexible than the other photographers I had contacted, and happily put together a custom package for us that didn't include all the bells and whistles other vendors insisted upon. A seasoned veteran of the Chicago wedding scene and a recent bride herself, Elena provide a wealth of information and advice. In addition to her friendly and warm personality, Elena was also incredibly professional--she always very punctual and direct in her correspondence, and responded to all of my inquiries within a day, giving me piece of mind as the wedding drew closer. Working with Elena for our engagement shoot and wedding day was fun, and totally painless. Neither me nor my fiance are very photogenic, and we were pretty bashful about being affectionate in public. Initially we were dead-set against doing an engagement shoot, but I'm so glad Elena talked us into it. Elena's cheerful and silly demeanor and gentle coaching helped us let our guard down and become comfortable in front of the camera. By our wedding day, my fiance and I were pros at posed photos. Elena was also able to capture a multitude special moments during the ceremony and reception as well. We are over-the-moon with our photos. Everyone I show the photos to thinks that they are the best they have ever seen. We are also grateful that Elena has allowed us joint copyright privileges, meaning we are allowed to download, post, and print as many pictures as we want. All in all, I could not recommend Elena more highly.

We did engagement photos months before our wedding, which was a great way for us to get comfortable with Elena's style and with being in front of the camera. She completely put us at ease, came up with great ideas, and was open to all of our suggestions. We were blown away by the engagement photos! Then the wedding came. We expected the photos to match the high quality of the engagement shoot, and when we saw them, they exceeded our already sky-high expectations. Not only did we get stunning photos from each part of the day, but Elena and her assistant respected our wishes for them to take a "Fly on the wall" approach. There wasn't a single time when any of our guests were distracted by the photographers (which can be a problem at some weddings). And despite this challenge, the photos are all spectacular! We absolutely loved working with Elena Bazini. She helped us capture so many great memories from the greatest day of our lives! We are so grateful for that.

lear instructions that alleviated all of our nerves. Elena was very familiar with the area, and knew all the perfect spots for beautiful photos. Elena has a great eye for a beautiful shot, and we will treasure the photos. Overall, my fiancé and I were very pleased with Elena's patience, professionalism, skill, and artistic eye. We would happily recommend her to others and use her services again for future events. Crystall and Kevin

te pace. She spoke with me only once at the wedding to let me know about a transition she was making, and for the rest of the time she just got GREAT shots without needing my assistance or needing to ask me questions, which is such a huge plus on your wedding day when your vendors can function independently. She has an eye for moments and is able to capture them before they fade away. She is great with candid photos. My favorites are photos where she captured those moments. She really captured the whole essence of what my wedding was, and what I wanted it to be. I show off her photos constantly. Love her.. definitely go with her!

ficiently, and remained mostly unobtrusive so that we didn't notice the cameras. When I asked if she could put together a slideshow of photos for my parents to show at the party they were giving for family friends in New York who couldn't make it to the wedding, she went above and beyond to get it ready in a short time frame. I was really grateful for her flexi