The choice of a photographer for our wedding was an easy one: from the moment I saw my friend Amy's wedding photographs - almost two years before my husband and I got married - I knew I wanted to use her photographer when the time came. Her pictures were ALL so stunning. Lucky for me, Heidi was available to photograph our wedding last summer. Heidi was wonderful to work with. She will tailor your experience to your needs and is willing to work with you budget-wise too. And the many thoughtful details that come with working with her - like the personalized thank you note we received shortly after hiring her - are top-notch professional. Most importantly, she knows her stuff and takes fantastic photos (see her website; her portfolio speaks for itself). The actual day of our wedding, in one of those special moments alone with my husband, he was telling me how happy he was with how all the details of our day were playing out (as he wasn't the most involved fiance ever with the wedding planning...hiring Heidi had been a solo effort on my part). About Heidi he said "Heidi's absolutely great. She's so calming." And I of course agree: Heidi was an incredibly calming and reassuring presence on our wedding day. Reflecting on our experience, my friend Amy and I agree that, when it comes to wedding photography, you get what you pay for. Neither of us would describe ourselves (or our husbands) as photogenic, but our wedding photographs turned out beautifully. Heidi's work is the best you will find and neither of us regret spending a little extra on our wedding photographer. read more

Heidi was so great to work with and so good with the details. Of all the vendors I worked with for our wedding day, she was by far the best. I was pretty stressed out on the day of and she was so calm and helped me calm down. I've seen so many friends that have horrible pics from their wedding and we absolutely love all of ours. She really focused on the candid pictures instead of getting all the same posed pics that you see in other wedding albums. You miss so many things on your wedding day because you are so consumed with what is going on so it was so nice to be able to look back at the pictures and relive the day and see all the details come together that I worked so hard on. It's easy to find cheaper photographers but you for sure get what you pay for. Heidi worked within our budget and we are so happy to have had her on that day. One additional thing, our wedding was a destination wedding and we had paid for photos for the day of the wedding only. We invited Heidi to come to the BBQ on the night before the wedding as a guest. She brought her camera and took pics just so we could have those moments captured too. It was so nice of her to do and she refused to put the camera away and just enjoy herself. read more

Selecting Heidi Zeiger for your wedding photography - or for any occasion - will be one of the best decisions you've make during your often overwhelming wedding planning. Yes, it may sound a bit bold of a recommendation, but it is my true and honest opinion. My husband and I met with Heidi for an initial consultation early into our wedding plans. We were referred to her by word of mouth and rave reviews. Upon stepping into her studio and casually chatting with her, we knew that she was the right photographer for our big day. She is a photojournalist by heart - and you can almost feel her commitment to her craft by just browsing the large array of samples on display. She is able to capture those unscripted, raw moments that other photographers try to imitate. Heidi is personable and understanding. During our initial consultation, she allowed us to give her a rundown of our thoughts, expectations, and budget. She provided us with many suggestions and creative input - but, all the while, was neither pushy nor insistent. She never tried to hawk added services or products beyond our budget - she simply wanted us to be happy with the output. Needless to say, we didn't need to interview any other potential photography candidates. Being artistically "uninclined," my husband and I let Heidi roll with all the creative aspects of our pictures. We provided her with a little direction - but allowed her to truly run with all the major decisions. Heidi did all of the scouting for our wedding shots and found a perfect combination of beautiful, unusual locations. All of our photos had a unique touch to them that made them feel very personal. Again, she's not the typical "Say Cheese!" kind of photographer. Heidi has a true artistic approach to her work. Beyond her creative eye and wonderful production, we were amazed by Heidi's professionalism and soothing demeanor. When she arrived on the day of our wedding, she had the most calming effect on both me and the wedding party. As only a bride can understand, having a sense of calm is much needed. She was able to efficiently direct and organize all of the group shots (which is quite a logistical challenge when you have all of your family and friends in one place!). Honestly, I think it helps that Heidi was also recently married and can empathize with all the emotions the married couple-to-be face on their wedding day. And, finally, to the finished product - the photos! Our photos are hands down the most beautiful shots we've ever seen. My husband and I consistently receive rave reviews from anyone that sees our albums. In fact, I received the most flattering feedback from one of my colleagues who suggested that "looking at your wedding pictures tells a wonderful story." What more could you ask for? My husband and I highly recommend Heidi Zeiger to any- and everyone. We certainly plan to use her in the future for any of other professional photography needs. read more

Heidi did an amazing job photographing my big family at the Garfield Park Conservatory. She was incredibly patient with everyone - especially the kids! - and I really appreciated her attention to detail (posing us, straightening out shirts, etc). I mean...she made us all look amazing. And the pictures were absolutely beautiful. My husband literally cried when we got them back. Her pricing was fair and made sense. I would recommend Heidi to anyone!! read more

I can't even begin to say enough great things about Heidi and her team. We met with Heidi early on in the wedding planning process- she was the first photographer we met with. We tried not to jump the gun and book the first person we met, but I think meeting with other photographers was just a formality. We had a gut feeling right away that we wanted Heidi to shoot our engagement photos and wedding. She invited us into her home, showed us photos of her work and was just so darn nice, it made the decision to book with her so easy. Our engagement photos turned out beautifully. My husband and I really wanted to have Chicago be a part of our wedding, since it's where we took the next step in our relationship and we love the city- and Heidi found the perfect places for us. We took photos at Salvage One, which has a more urban feel, but has so much STUFF in it that it felt like we went to 25 locations. We then went over to the lily pond in Lincoln Park for a more outdoorsy, softer feel. Heidi was then sweet enough to come over to our house and shoot a few photos with our pup to round out our afternoon together. The pictures absolutely captured our personality and love of Chicago without feeling cliche. We don't have our wedding photos back yet, but I have no doubt they'll be amazing. We shot all over Chicago- from the Kinzie Street bridge to the Art Institute Gardens, Heidi made certain Chicago was well-represented at our wedding. In addition, on our wedding day, Heidi just had this calming presence about her. We had a few mishaps leading up to the ceremony (none of which having to do with her), but Heidi took them all in stride without breaking a sweat, keeping us on track and on time. It should also be noted that Heidi is extremely thorough and thoughtful. Before our wedding, she sent us a list of places she was considering shooting us, but also made sure to get our opinion and feedback. Nothing about her process feels generic. I can't wait to see our photos and have no doubt that Heidi did a spectacular job. If you're looking for a wedding photographer, Heidi is an amazing choice and I'd pick her again in a heartbeat! read more

I've worked with Heidi on a few events and she's wonderful. I first heard of Heidi a few years ago when a friend of mine mentioned she was having her for her wedding. I had a great first impression of her - she seemed so sweet and my friend's photos were by far the best photos I'd ever seen of them. A few years later, when my boyfriend turned fiancé, I remembered Heidi as a consideration for our wedding photographer. I had a few other appointments besides her but my fiancé, my mother and his mother all had the same impression - Heidi was awesome - and we needed to book her fast before that date was taken! I think we had it on the books within a few days and I could rest easy. Our wedding day came and it was overcast and unexpectedly cold but Heidi's photos look like the day was perfect. She had found some great locations in the area of our ceremony were we took photos, some at the venue and of course those family shots the mothers wanted. Even with a ton of kids running around, grumpy teenage nephews and a stoic grandmother on my husband's side, she was warm & friendly and really knew how to get everyone wrangled up for the photo, how to get the best expressions on everyone's faces and honestly, how to make even our families look amazing! The photos she took at our ceremony and reception were so great too - like these little moments I didn't have time to see that day - she captured and that meant so much to me. I have so many photos from our wedding that I have a book, our parents each have books and we still have photos she took that we love outside of those sets that I have framed in the house. The hardest part was the fact that we honestly had so many photos we liked...I didn't know how to narrow it down. As the years go on you remember less and less of the details, the stress, the craziness, all that stuff of your wedding day- but the photos are what bring back the great memories of that day and the love you share. These photos are not just what you look at two months or a year later but they're also what you pass all the way down to your kids. I'm just so happy that I met Heidi and we hired her for our wedding. We have the most beautiful photos of that day and I'll always be grateful! I've recommended her since then for probably 10 weddings and some other family portraits and everyone has come back to say that they loved her photos and loved her! She's even shot a few weddings I've attended and we've bought portraits she's taken of us at the events because they're so cute! read more

Heidi = creative, professional, fun, punctual, elegant, intuitive, talented, calm We first met with Heidi about three or four months before our wedding. She showed us her previous work and talked us through the day - where she would be, where we would be, suggested off-church/reception hall sites, what we could expect, etc. She knew (and told us in the meeting) that it was "our day" and that we didn't have to worry about the photography - she would be there for us. We signed her the following day. Before the wedding Heidi did her homework. We gave a her a list of places we thought might be good for photos with friends and family. She scoped them out and came back with a set of recommendations. On the day of our wedding, Heidi was well prepared (no doubt because of her homework) and agreeable to our wishes (especially those of the mother-in-laws). She was punctual, able to corral errant family members, and kept us all on time. She kept everyone on task and moving through the process so we could get to the reception and enjoy the evening. She was creative and innovative in location shots. She was flexible in taking set shots (family photos, staged) as well as casual shots of all of our friends. We gave her the list of tables and persons we wanted photos of and she came through for us. Every so often, and especially on our anniversary, we look at those photos to remind us of that day. Although our video was well made, we to prefer Heidi's photos over the video. The pictures are not only beautiful and well shot, they tell a great story about the day and about my husband and me. We received our photos, negatives, and the album less than two months later. We contacted her about three or four times before the wedding and once afterward (just to check the status of our photos). Heidi returned our calls promptly and answered all our questions. read more

I think Heidi has a magic camera because somehow everyone turns into a supermodel in front of her lens. It happened to my husband and I, both at our complimentary engagement shoot and on our wedding day. It happened to our wedding party, and to all of our family and guests. Seriously, no one took a bad picture. Not in more than 800 shots. It defies comprehension, but mark my words -- hire Heidi and you and your loved ones will look like you belong on the cover of Vogue. For us, photography was one of the most important elements of our wedding, and we were willing to spend a proportionate amount of our budget in that category. Please do not read that as, "Heidi is expensive." Indeed, we paid for our wedding ourselves and every dollar really had to count. Heidi worked with us to create a completely customized package that perfectly suited our needs. We couldn't be happier with our photos, the albums, or her service. And talk about calming -- that really encapsulates what Heidi brings to the day. Who hasn't endured the obnoxious wedding photographer and the awful pictures he can produce? Heidi very effectively directs traffic for posed shots, and then blends perfectly into the background to capture candids of every other moment. At the end of the day, I count Heidi as a new friend, something I wouldn't say about any of our other wedding vendors. As it happens, we're now expecting a baby and we've already decided to call on Heidi for baby's first photo shoot. And just one note on the complimentary engagement session -- what a fun surprise that turned out to be! We were a bit apprehensive going in, but in just a couple of shots we were completely comfortable with Heidi and the process, something I'm glad we were well past on our wedding day. And, she took us to FOUR gorgeous locations! We wound up with another 100+ amazing pics of ourselves that we'll treasure forever. read more

Heidi and two of her assistants photographed my wedding in Lake Forest. She did an amazing job, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her. My bride and I chose Heidi because her online portfolio was crisp and elegant with a distinct personality, and her work was not overdone or cheesy like some wedding photos we'd seen. She and her team were a calming and unobtrusive presence at the wedding, and had no problem handling a wide range of conditions and shots: summer sun, soft candle light, graceful portraits, quiet details and large (and rowdy) group shots. Whenever we're back in Chicago my mother in law still takes out our wedding book -- it's great to notice all the small details and moments from the day that Heidi saw and photographed, and which we otherwise would have missed. Heidi's photos drew many compliments from our wedding guests, and our maid of honor liked our photos so much that she hired Heidi to photograph her own wedding the next year. (And knowing our maid of honor, that is extremely high praise!) read more

Heidi rocks. She photographed our wedding 2 years ago. She has this wonderful sweet calm personality, while still being able to direct traffic to get the shots. You don't think of how important your photographer's disposition is, but an annoying photographer could really ruin your wedding. The pictures speak for themselves. Every one of our 800+ pictures looks like it could be on the cover of a magazine. Looking through her portfolio, you think well these are just the best 10 pictures she's ever taken, but ALL our pictures look like that. We have the standard posed family pictures, but our favorites are the more photo-journalistic ones which is where she really shines. She did a great job getting those natural moments of our special day. Can't recommend her enough. read more

Heidi was absolutely amazing to work with for our April wedding in Chicago! She was incredibly helpful, but also laid back, and managed to corral kids and adults without too much trouble during our photos:) Her suggestions on where to take our photos (Garfield Park and Conservatory) were spot-on and the result were incredibly photos of our special day. She is extremely talented, and we just got our photos a couple of weeks ago...and they are absolutely breathtaking! Heidi is wonderful to work with from start to finish, and I would highly recommend her for any photo occasion. Thank you Heidi! read more

Heidi is one of the most creative photojournalists out there (she actually has a degree in photojournalism). She has traveled the world working on different projects and now focuses on wedding photography with the perfect photojournalistic aesthetic. She is one of a kind and her work shows it. Heidi was the best decision I made as part of our wedding. Having beautiful photographs to remind us of our wedding day was really important to me. Heidi worked with us to talk about the schedule of our day and what kind of wedding we were having. She had some recommendations and I am so glad we went with those as they made the schedule for photos much more enjoyable and relaxing. One of the other great qualities that Heidi has is her ability to direct you, your wedding party, and family members. She finds a perfect place for everyone and manages people and time with a warmth that makes your day truly comfortable. Heidi comes up with ideas before your wedding day so that shots do not have to be decided last minute. She takes the time to scout out possible locations near your ceremony or reception venue so that you have a variety of photo locations and beautiful scenery as part of your wedding album. She manages to take gorgeous portraits with beautiful lighting and composition and she still captures the spontaneous photojournalistic images for which she is known. Choose Heidi as your photographer! You will not be disappointed! She is a delightful person and a true artist! I can't wait to work with her in the future for other family portraits and projects. read more

Heidi was the photographer for my wedding and my sister's wedding and did a fantastic job. She takes the time to scout the location beforehand and finds amazing places to shoot photos. I have been a bridesmaid at 7 weddings and all of the photographers have been pushy and take uncomfortably posed shots. Heidi is the complete opposite--she listens to your requests and is very calm during the whole process. She captures special moments throughout and leaves you with so many wonderful photos to enjoy after your special day. I would highly recommend Heidi. read more

Heidi is a dream to work with: organized, efficient, prompt, calm and detail oriented. All that AND she is a true artist with a gift for capturing magical moments. Heidi's work for our wedding far surpassed our expectations. We had a destination wedding in Arizona and she was able to master the location with little lead time (we also had a similar experience to one of the other reviewers wherein we invited Heidi to the rehearsal dinner as a guest and she showed up with her camera and unexpectedly documented that event as well). We love our pictures and could not be more pleased with the results - not only do they help us to remember the day but they captured many moments that we would not have seen if it were not for her keen eye and ability to seemingly be everywhere at once. If you want to have a smooth experience and be able to enjoy your wedding without worrying about your photographs - hire Heidi. read more

The feeling you have on your wedding day is something that you hope to never forget and because of Heidi's wonderful photos you never do forget your emotions on that very special day. Heidi was so wonderful to work with and I enjoyed every minute of our wedding day thanks to Heidi. She captures all of the special moments without being intrusive and pushy about getting the perfect shot. She is the only wedding photographer that I have met, I have been a bridesmaid seven times, that doesn't have her own agenda. Heidi listens to what you want out of your day and what photos you would like to see and then she makes those moments come to life on her lens. My wedding album takes my breath away every time I look at it and it brings me back to my wedding day and I get to experience it all over again! I am so happy that I chose Heidi Zeiger Photography and I have life long memories in my wonderful wedding album that Heidi put together for me. read more

Heidi went out of her way to make our wedding day go as smoothly as possible. From arriving a few days early to scout various locations, setting up early on the day of to capture some cool "getting ready" shots and all the way through the ceremony, Heidi was outstanding and exactly what a couple would want in a photographer. My wife and I have lived in our community for several years and have seen countless photos from various weddings in many of the same locations we were planning on using, however Heidi was able to capture the two of us in those same locations but in unique and beautiful ways to help make our photos stand out that much more. She was a consummate professional throughout and handled our requests with a friendly demeanor. As we went through Heidi's photos following the wedding, my wife and I were absolutely blown away by just how many phenomenal photos she captured (formal, candid, etc) - each photo was unique and perfect in its own way. I would want no one else to play such a crucial role for our wedding. read more