Uttke Photography & Design

s them above the rest is who they are as people. The Uttkes are so much more than a vendor. Our engagement shoot and wedding day felt like we were spending time with a friend. My wife and I are pretty introverted, but Shannon and TJ were so easy to talk to and got us opening up in no time. We really got to know each other throughout the wedding planning process, which is how TJ was able to capture our personalities and emotions so perfectly on camera. Our wedding guests raved about how they barely noticed a photographer and were blown away once they saw how incredible the photos came out. I am so glad we found them, and I know we will be using the Uttkes for all our photography needs to come!

We love our photos so much and could not have made a better decision in working with them.

really positive, fun energy to our special day. The photos were incredible and captured our celebration beautifully. We loved working with them and would recommend them without hesitation.

engagement photos to the day of wedding photos, they truly captured our entire journey. Not to mention, every single photo turned out beautifully! If we could do it a hundred times over, we would hire The Uttkes every time.

it fun and easy. With both our engagement and wedding photos, the Uttke’s never took a “bad” photo. We love their sense of adventure and light-heartedness, and this allowed us to take some really fun photos that captured our personalities. We also used Every Yours Paper Co for our invites and day of signage. Since Shannon already knew us from our engagement photo shoot, she was really able to capture our vision and create beautiful invitations and wedding day signs. The paper felt luxurious and everything was executed to perfection.

ime to plan our big day, the only thing I knew for certain (well, besides who I was marrying) was that I wanted the Uttkes to be our photographers. They truly exceeded our expectations in every way. From our engagement session to our wedding day, TJ and Shannon were friends we got to hang out with, not wedding photographers forcing photos of camera-shy people. They worked so well with our kids, families, and bridal party and executed their day-of timeline perfectly. Throughout the ceremony and reception, they discreetly captured the best moments. In a matter of weeks (literally like two weeks), we had the pleasure of reliving the best day with beautiful photographs that we will cherish forever. TJ and Shannon, you two are best. Thank you!! xoxo The Trevinos

nt photos, to countless of conversations and then finally the big day... they were two of the best people we could have ever chosen to work with. Both are extremely fun and laid back and incredibly talented. They seamlessly find creative spots for photo shoots in any area you choose. Their work is truly one of a kind and they go out of their way to make you feel special throughout your entire wedding planning journey. I don't think I could ever thank them enough for all they did for us and all of the moments they were able to capture. We will go to the Uttkes for every photo need we may have in the future and will always recommend them over and over again. We love you TJ and Shannon!!

ks to their management and experience cooperating with other vendors. Shannon also did all of our paper. She was a joy to work with in planning our invites, bulletins, and place cards. 10/10 would recommend!!!

could pick it out of a line up. When my husband and I planned a wedding for July 3rd, the first thing I did was contact TJ and Shannon. My husband does not like getting his photos taken and they made him feel comfortable and the engagement session and wedding day felt fun and effortless. Shannon also designed our invites, menus and name cards, which turned out beautiful. I cannot say enough good things! Hire them!

he perfect pair to capture our day. Their personalities and calmness were the perfect fit. We were nervous for our engagement shoot, but they made it feel completely normal, which solidified (not that we needed it) that we made the right decision for our wedding day. We couldn't recommend enough having an engagement shoot with them prior to the wedding day because it was so nice to get to know them better and have a familiar face prior to the wedding. Prior to the big day, they made great recommendations and helped solidify a timeline. We did a first look based on their strong recommendation and were very grateful for their input on that as well as it was such a special moment for our day. We would absolutely recommend The Uttke's for your big day! The photos turned out just stunning.

at job capturing our venue and our guests -- and they made everyone and everything look amazing! They are true artists and we absolutely love every one of the photos.

the amount of great shots they captured. We feel like our photos are real and authentic. They are great at capturing the people not just the photo. Plus they love our puppy Lucca as much as us and did a great job of making him a part of our photos. We’re so grateful we met Shannon and TJ and cannot speak highly enough of them. I wanted all the specials shots on the day and don’t know that I did a great job communicating all I wanted...it’s easy to get wrapped up in the day...and they just know what to do and made it all happen. They got all the shots and more. Honestly, we adore them and highly recommend them!!!!

nizers and communicators. From day one of emailing them, years ago, they have been amazing to work with! Shannon was always on top of setting up meetings, organizing our wedding day timeline (we did not have a wedding planner so this was priceless), and organizing our family photo list. On our wedding day they were both so calm and helpful, they keep us afloat in the chaos. I told Shannon that her and TJ were the “sane to the insanity”... they truly were. They kept us on time, kept us laughing, let us vent to them about our crazy families and put out classic wedding day fires/drama as they happened. They are such genuine, nice, down to earth people... they could have forgotten to take our photos and we would still write them a glowing review. As expected our wedding photos are nothing short of amazing, TJ and Shannon are so talented!! Book them now. Worth every penny and then some. Thank you Uttke Photography

really made us feel special from the day we met until post wedding day. We trusted the Uttkes, and once we received our photos it was a real WOW moment. TJ & Shannon both have an eye for creativity in a relaxed and calming manner. They go above and beyond with the little things and are truly a class act couple and team all should aspire to be. Anyone who is lucky enough to meet them and be photographed by them is in for a real treat. Trust us! And trust them! THANK YOU TJ & Shannon for capturing the happiest day of our lives. We now get to live through the day over and over through the moments (big and small) you both captured. Much love, Ryan, Whitney & the pups

e to hang out with, and just how laid back and at ease they made us feel. Shannon also created our wedding invitations-- so personal and perfect. Keeping it 'local' was just the icing on the cake. The Uttkes are an incredibly talented duo. We highly recommend them for photography, invitations, blog story creation, and happy hour hot spots!

needed an extra boost after a long afternoon of wedding day photo shoots, they were consistently amazing! The couple has a very easy-going vibe and great sense of humor which goes a long way in helping to diffuse almost-stressful wedding day scenarios, too :) We also had Shannon do our ceremony program and escort cards; she did a beautiful job and was open to entertaining my creative aspiration (à la illustrations of me and my beau). AND their photos are, of course, stunning. They have a uniquely artistic edge and captured many "out-of-the-box" shots, which made the whole day feel less cookie-cutter blah and more personalized. We highly, highly recommend Shannon and TJ -- they were SUPERB!!!

ing, professional and down right fun to be around. They have an incredible ability to make you feel comfortable and surrounded by friends during what can sometimes feel awkward - having your picture taken. We can’t imagine having had anyone else capture our day. Thank you, Shannon and TJ, for your amazing work (and the laughter than went with it).

mfortable throughout the whole process. Photography was one of our main priorities for our wedding and the uttkes did not disappoint! They captured the essence of us so well. Also, just overall very cool people. 10/10 would recommend!!!

sessions to our fall engagement session to our May wedding, TJ and Shannon were professional, funny and just genuinely great people to be around. If you want some unique photos (I mean we have one with a shopping cart and it's awesome), the Uttkes are your people! I can't say enough great things about them!

g out with longtime friends. We weren't going to do engagement photos and we are SO glad we did. The experience gave us reassurance that we wouldn't be too awkward on our day and gave us a glimpse into how beautiful our wedding photos would! It was such a great opportunity to get to know them and for them to get to know us. Fast forward to the wedding day - we couldn't have asked for better folks to follow us around and take pictures of us (and our favorite people!). You share such intimate parts of your day with your photographers and TJ and Shannon were the perfect addition to these moments. They did such a great job of being there and capturing our love, and how much fun our day was, without taking away anything from how special our first look was (highly recommend!) or any other part of the day by asking us to pose, or move there, or do that. We are in love with our photos and the experience we had working with the Uttkes. We talk about how happy we are that we picked them ALL THE TIME!

n’t pose for. TJ is always snapping pictures and using his creative eye to make sure he captures everything. They are very organized and detailed so you don’t have to worry about anything on your wedding day but enjoying it. I’d highly recommend them!

in the photos posted on their accounts, so I’m here to share a behind the scenes review. TJ & Shannon are professional, creative, organized, prompt, responsive, funny, calming and above all they actually care about you and your story. You’ll know how much they care after you see your photos. Before the wedding: we never had to reach out to them to confirm details because they were always one step ahead of us, with a spreadsheet for every detail. They have the wedding timeline down to a science and couldn’t have acted in better faith throughout the whole experience. During the wedding: they’re calm, cool, & collected because they’re prepared. They’re also really fun to be around, and our wedding party raved about that fact the next day. It’s the little things. After the wedding: We got our photos just 2 weeks later and they are everything we dreamed of and more. Our family and friends all love them, too, so much so that several have already hired them for their weddings! DESIGN! Shannon is so talented and also designed and printed all of wedding paper goods/signage and hand-painted our welcome sign! Everything was one-of-a-kind just for us and came out beautifully! She guided us through the design process and was patient when we couldn’t make up our minds about ribbon color :) Our leftover copies of invites/programs/signage are now some of my favorite tokens from the wedding, aside from photos, obviously.

ll the special moments of the engagement and the wedding day. They are extremely organized which makes it a stress free day for the bride and groom. Hopefully they are available for your wedding date!

is that they photograph your unique wedding. They don't cookie-cutter wedding photos; they capture your true self in a unique and beautiful way. I could not recommend them enough and don't have a single bad thing to say about them!

& Shannon are not only creative and insightful, they're also easy to work with and contributed to our wedding day significantly with their outgoing personalities and talent! In addition to the incredible photos, Shannon also created our Invitations, Seating Chart, Menus, etc. which are some of our favorite details from the day! Seriously, don't look any further for wedding photographers! We have received countless compliments on our photos and we are utterly obsessed with the finished product!

o be around, they were prepared with everything from bug spray to static guard, they handled several situations that arose, which were completely unrelated to photography and they did it with a smile. We had quite a few laughs that day with the Uttkes and we have fond memories captured in gorgeous photos to prove it. I can’t recommend TJ and Shannon highly enough!!

xceed our expectations. From the jump, they were extremely pleasant and easy to work with. They were kind enough to travel out to Portland, OR for our engagement photos, and that gave us a chance to learn how comfortable and fun they are to hang out with, which made the whole photography process even smoother and more enjoyable. Working up to the wedding, they covered every single detail regarding the timeline and what to expect, and it all played out exactly as planned. We even found that our time spent with TJ & Shannon during the wedding was the most relaxed we felt all day because they are so efficient and calm as they work. Somehow they maintain a great balance of always being available when you need them, while also not being noticeable at all during the event. We were extremely impressed and happy with the final product of engagement and wedding photos. We are able to relive those special experiences for a lifetime thanks to their work. The photos capture the true emotion and beauty of the day, in a very creative way. We highly recommend TJ & Shannon Uttke for any and all photography and design needs!

hed out to many Chicago based photographers, had meetings and calls, but did not feel any real connection. Plus, the value was not very good with any of the vendors we met with - no engagement photos included, limited hours on day of, one photographer instead of two. In our frustration, our planner, Stephanie Cook of Creative Planners (also recommend!) mentioned a Milwaukee based couple that she thought we should meet. Upon reaching out, we found a time to get together that was accommodating to our schedules (and TJ's softball playoffs!), so we met them at their studio where they waited outside to welcome us. The rest was history. From the moment we met Shannon and TJ, we could tell that they would not only capture amazing wedding photos, but they would fit in perfectly with our wedding vision. We did our engagement photos with Shannon and TJ the year prior to our wedding, and knew immediately that our wedding day was going to be awesome with them as our photographers. We met before our session for a drink (or two) to help our nerves, and then let the two of them work their magic. They knew exactly when to go with the light and where to take us to produce amazing photos. They were also a blast to hang out with. Fast forward a year to our wedding, they certainly did not disappoint. They both were responsive to any and all questions that we had, and were always happy to hop on a call to make sure we got what we needed. On the day of, it was like spending time with two old friends. Shannon and TJ fit in so perfectly with our group, and was excellent at organizing large group shots in an efficient and fun manner. They had planned out with us before hand so we got all of the photos that we could've wanted, and also were flexible based on the weather and our desires. Shannon and TJ went above and beyond in every way possible. From Shannon serving as a great person to lend an ear in the stress before the wedding, to TJ helping my bridesmaids figure out how to take off my veil without ruining my hair and figuring out how to bustle my dress - seriously, they know everything about weddings. The photos came promptly after the wedding, and were outstanding. Not to mention they sent the most adorable care package with some MKE love after the wedding to remind us of our special day. Out of all of the comments we received about our vendors for our wedding, we had SO many people note how fantastic and fun our photographers were. Multiple members of the bridal party lamented that they wish Shannon and TJ could've been part of the bridal party, as they were both just so chill and amazing. Whether you are getting married in WI or not, reach out to Uttke and start a conversation about your wedding photography. You will be so happy that you did!

ere super supportive. I emailed them asking random questions about weddings that didn't even really have to do specifically with photography, and they were prompt and helpful. They are real, down to earth and give great direction to our large group. We loved hanging out with them on our wedding day and they knew just what to say to make us feel comfortable in front of the camera. And the finished product - oh my gosh. The pictures we got back were exactly what we had envisioned and they captured so many beautiful moments from the day. Every single picture is one of my favorites and we can't decide which to hang up since there are so many good ones. We would recommend the Uttkes to absolutely everyone!! 100 stars!

dly (ask yourselves: what wedding vendor isn’t friendly?). It’s another to also be normal and real. After we met them for drinks, my now-husband and I said to each other: these guys are suspiciously normal; it can’t be real. But several weeks after our wedding we can officially confirm: They are the real deal. We didn’t realize how many people we’d meet while wedding planning. You essentially assemble this weird little team of strangers you email way too much. All of them are friendly. All of them are “happy to help.” But TJ and Shannon genuinely are. It was like our wedding was the only wedding they had coming up this year. On our wedding day, they seamlessly blended in with our friends and family, gracefully handled guests’ inevitable group photo requests, and expertly coordinated family photos. They non-invasively captured every single important and candid moment (seriously...nothing was missed). PLUS, they’re just great people overall. It snow-rain-sleeted on our wedding and I think Shannon actually offered to clean mud off my shoes with her clean gloves!?! They seriously had our entire gallery of thoughtfully-edited wedding photos ready for us in TWO WEEKS. If you want non-traditional photos that capture what your wedding day was really like (and are looking to break away from some typical and pointless wedding traditions), these two are for you. They won’t make you do anything dumb, they give you JUST the right amount of direction, and they capture moments in photos that will look like YOU. And do yourselves a favor and do everything they suggest: engagement photos, a First Look, walking across a wet field in your dress before your ceremony. It’s all worth it. To quote our Best Man: “You may have hired the best wedding photographers on Earth.” We don’t disagree.

nd the camera) with Shannon and TJ. They were so prompt in returning our emails and made us feel like our happiness/wedding was their main priority. We also felt it was really helpful to have a husband and wife team for our photographers. Not only were they so helpful in answering photography related questions, they also were able to help us with other marriage/wedding questions we may have had (i.e. what to register for, how to change your last name on EVERYthing, etc!). As a guy who doesn’t love having his photo taken, my husband wasn’t exactly looking forward to our engagement photo session. We met the Uttkes at a nearby bar before we set out on our late afternoon photo session. Shannon and TJ must have picked up on his nerves (ok, and maybe mine) so they suggested we took a shot before we ventured off. The hour and a half ended up being so much fun. Shannon and TJ truly know how to bring out your best, most genuine smiles. Our experience was amazing, and the photos were so beautiful! When our wedding day came, Shannon and TJ were on top of everything because of all their preparation beforehand. Throughout the day, Shannon & TJ were awesome at managing our large wedding party and keeping our nerves to a minimum. Just as with the engagement photos, we received our photographs from our wedding promptly - and again, they were amazing. The pictures truly captured the excitement and love of our special day. We are forever grateful to have chosen the Uttkes to be our wedding photographers! Thanks! Molly & Dave

ce that they did. At the end of it all they felt more like friends and guests than hired photographers.

lanning process and the day of, they helped keep us stress free. Interacting with them felt like we were working with long time friends. They have an incredible eye for picture locations and kept our sessions smooth and fun. Not only are they awesome people, but they are great photographers. We recommend them to everyone we know. We will definitely be using them again in the future.

ng process and the preparation they put in to ensure we had everything we had hoped for. On the Big Day they kept us laughing and having fun and continued to put our minds at ease. Just 1 small example - right after our first look we brought in our french bulldog for a few pictures. He got mud all over my hands and without hesitating Shannon literally handed me her beautiful sweater to clean off the mud! Talk about amazing! They are so easy going and fun to be around that our entire wedding party commented on how great the Uttkes were to work with. And…the photos! My goodness, we are WOWED by the photos! I think I saved 300 “favorites”. There is a gorgeous one of us walking down the aisle that my husband calls the money shot. The photo was so beautifully taken; showcasing the huge willow tree, my father, godmother and my husbands parents perfectly in the background. I can’t believe I’m so lucky to have my amazing husband and this cool photo! We also can’t believe how fast we received the photos (2.5 weeks after!) and how easy it was to share the album. Many of my friends and family have waited up to 6 months for their photos. TJ and Shannon captured our favorite memories of the entire day. There are so many we want to frame, we can’t believe it. I am so thrilled we can share these photos with our loved ones long in to the future! HIGHLY RECOMMEND X 1 MILLION

h, and creative. In addition to our amazing pictures, Shannon also did all of our Save The Dates, Invitations, Calligraphy, and Seating Chart. We also used their photo booth and received SO many compliments on the printed photo cards for our guests.

erg when it comes to their amazing work. The Uttkes made sure to make our wedding day go absolutely perfect. We did not have a wedding planner, but they stepped in and helped us basically plan out our entire timeline which made our day go so smooth. This is truly an undervalued service that the Uttke's assist with. I have been to other weddings where the photography and flow of the day seems chaotic; the Uttkes ensured that that was not the case at our wedding. They even helped us coordinate a private vow ceremony before the wedding itself. They knew when to direct us and when to capture us in natural poses. When we got the pictures back we were stunned at the quality of the pictures and they captured all the special moments we asked. We also rented a photo booth from the Uttkes, which was a massive hit and far more reasonably priced than with other vendors.

through mutual friends and after they photographed our friends wedding, we just knew they had to photograph ours! Perfection with a capital P. The way the capture light, mood and keep everything looking so natural are my favorite parts about their photography :) And the best part, they will treat you like family aaaand really truly want to get to know you. This level of expertise and their genuine niceness will shine through in what they will capture on your big day. Trust us. We love them and we know you will too!

our engagement shoot and wedding day. They were recommended to us by friends and we couldn't be happier! We can't say enough positive things about working with them and they have our strongest recommendation. They're super cool too :)

ion that my now husband and I made. When I reached out to them asking about a date I was feeling very lost about wedding planning. Shannon and TJ took my husband and I out for a beer and talked us through every detail. They gave us insight into the wedding process and with each helpful hint the felt more like friends than our 'vendor'. Shannon and TJ talked to us about our engagement photos (which are included in their wedding package!). and we were reluctant. The Uttkes reminded us that if we had never been photographed professionally it just helps us get comfortable. The Uttkes met us out on a cold day in November and took the most stunning and amazing pictures ever, it got me SO excited for out wedding day. They captured moments between Chris and I (and our doggy, Porter) from a totally new POV. Every moment that we shared with Shannon and TJ was utter perfection. They are kind, helpful, and very talented people. They are very affordable photographers, especially with how amazing they are! They helped us ever step of the way and were some of our biggest supporters. And you get to have a husband and wife team supporting you on your big special day, how much cooler does it get than that!! Their attention to details is impeccable. Shannon and TJ, if you ever read this: we really think you guys are awesome and even though our wedding is over, we wanna be your friends forever ;)

it came time to plan my own wedding it was no easy task to select my vendor family. There are so many great wedding professionals in the Milwaukee area, however I knew from day one of meeting TJ and Shannon that they would be the wedding photographer for me. We just clicked! They are the cutest team and present themselves in a relaxed but professional manner. They captured our day beyond my expectations! They had photos to me so fast and they presented the photos in the order of our wedding day so as I reviewed them I was able to walk through the day all over again. You can tell that they care about your day! It's just not another wedding for them. They are one talented duo and truly take pride in their work and the time they spend with you. I simply love them!

ncredibly talented, but they are also all-around good people. In addition to our beautiful engagement and wedding photos, Shannon also helped with a surprise boudoir shoot for my husband and created our escort cards with her beautiful calligraphy. On the day of the wedding, Shannon helped keep us on schedule and generously gave me her granola bar as I had been too busy to eat that morning. TJ is equally amazing, charismatic and kind. I can't imagine our wedding without having these two in the mix and we are forever grateful for the moments that they captured. This duo is second to none and I cannot recommend any vendor more highly. They are a MUST-HAVE. Thank you guys.

ext day, and got to see all of our beautiful pictures so quickly. Aside from the amazing photos these 2 made us, our wedding party, family and friends feel so comfortable and natural in front of the camera. I definitely recommend seeing if they are available for your wedding as soon as possible. We plan to have them photograph every big life step to come in our lives. Thanks Shannon & TJ!

y are professional, prepared and experienced. They were great at communicating and providing time lines for what needed to happen the day of the wedding. They captured our wedding better then I could have dreamed! I feel everyone should use them as their photographers.

ecision to skip the research phase and inquire about availability for our wedding day. We were thrilled to learn TJ & Shannon were available and willing to photograph our wedding last weekend. We highly recommend Uttke Photography & Design for so many reasons: 1) This incredibly talented husband and wife team make the entire process, from visioning the day a year in advance to spending a majority of your wedding day together, so much fun. 2) Their work is exceptional. The quality of our engagement photos and our wedding day preview that we received the morning after our big day is incredible! Their love for one another and what they do shines through their work. They have such talent in capturing the moment, the emotion, the location, and the season. 3) TJ & Shannon are really cool people. They have a way to make you feel comfortable, natural, and beautiful and this helps make the photos amazing. See point 2. 4) The mechanics were perfect ... the communication, guidance, family photo planning, wedding day timeline help, simplicity of payment, etc. Brian and I spent 8 hours of our wedding day with TJ & Shannon and it was the best day of our lives! We are so grateful for everything they did to make our day so perfect and to help us re-live the day in the years to come.