Mark Trela and his wife Magda photographed our wedding August 2019 at Garfield Park Conservatory. When I say they exceeded every expectation of ours, I mean it. To be honest, the photographer was the only vendor I was picky about and as soon as I saw their wedding photography, I knew immediately that they had to be ours. I love the lighting and style of their work. They are incredibly talented and have an eye for what makes a good photo. I loved how their documentary style gave us a full story of that day. If that wasn't enough, Mark and Magda are incredibly kind and will put their whole heart into your day. They were present and attentive the whole time. When the events of the day were underway I didn't even notice them buzzing around snapping photos. They were also responsive before and after the wedding and worked well with our wedding planner when it came to scheduling, etc. We received the photos within a couple weeks of the wedding. They also helped us select photos for a leather-bound book (honestly, they did most of the selecting/formatting themselves which was wonderful - I'm a hands-off kind of bride). I've told Mark and Magda I want them to be our family photographer forever! I'm just so in love with their work and I don't want our wedding to be the last time we work with them. I can't recommend them enough and they'll be worth every single dollar you spend on them (something pretty uncommon in the wedding industry!!) read more

Mark Trela Photography - Session Photography Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mark & Magda photographed our June 2017 wedding and I could not have been happier with the entire experience. From the very beginning, Mark was super easy to communicate with and he always responded promptly to the plethora of questions that I threw at him. At our initial meeting, he really took the time to understand what I was looking for in a photographer and what was important to me when photographing our wedding day. From looking through his blog, I knew immediately that his style of photography was exactly what we were looking for; candid, artsy, and a unique way of capturing light (this was huge for me). After we signed the contract with him, Mark was great about keeping in touch over the months leading up to the wedding to get all the specifics of the day and to check in to see if I had any questions. He always made himself available via email or phone if I needed advice for how to best set up our schedule for the day or even if I had silly freak out questions about worst-case weather scenarios (which he always put me at ease about). I really appreciated that Mark & Madga took a day ahead of time to scope out our church and reception venue. I told him it was very important that we incorporate the outdoors as much as we could, and he made sure to find some great potential locations for photos. On the day of, Mark and Magda were able to coordinate perfectly to ensure that both my husband and I would have pictures of us getting ready with our bridal parties. They are both so personable and fun that they quickly put me at ease and really blended into the background to get all of these amazing candid shots throughout the morning. The ceremony went flawlessly and they coordinated group family shots with ease. I think that my favorite thing about working with Mark and Magda was how enthusiastic they were about taking amazing photographs. They went out of their way to convince an owner of a private barn to let us take pictures on his property and I couldn't help but really get into the photo session as Mark was so excited about the location and the light filtering into the barn. The photos from our cocktail hour were such a pleasant surprise to look at after the wedding as I barely even noticed them mingling in the groups to snag some amazing candid photos of all our friends and family. Mark was able to coordinate the timing perfectly at our reception to sneak us outside right after dinner to get these amazing golden hour pictures on the beach. I highly highly recommend Mark Trela as a Wedding Photographer. He is a true professional, a super great guy to have around on your big day, and he creates absolutely stunning photographs. read more

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My husband and I could not be happier with our decision to choose Mark and Magda for our wedding photographers. I searched far and wide for photographers that could capture the most beautiful and authentic moments of our special day. I'm so happy we stumbled upon them. Authenticity My husband and I decided that we didn't want a bunch of cliché photos. You know, they ones you see at every other wedding photo on Facebook--ring on leaf, bride and groom jumping, dress lifted to show shoes. Although Mark and Magda would happily cater to those requests if that's your taste , I actually loved that they sought to capture more genuine and unposed moments. I have photos of my Papa crying down the aisle, my flower girl curiously looking at me as I change into my wedding dress, my bridesmaids and I touching up like high school girls in the bathroom. These were subtle, but more beautiful moments of the day. Mark and Magda have a gift of capturing these little nuggets is gold shots. Professionalism Mark and Magda are super down to earth and very professional at the same time. They were organized from start to end. Lord knows there are million tasks to worry about involving a wedding. I'm so thankful that photography was honestly the least of our worries. Expectations were clearly outlined from the beginning. Mark and Magda worked so well with our wedding coordinators and were flexible with particular family dynamics. They work extremely well together as a team. Delivery With my husband being Ghanaian and myself being Filipino, I requested that our photos reflect a celebration of our multicultural union. They did just that. One of my favorite photos (of the many haha) is a quiet moment of my mother in law helping me put on an African head wrap. It was a rare time during the crazy day where I could just sit down and enjoy some quality time with my new mom. I love that photo so much. Timeliness My husband and I were so surprised at how fast we got our photos back. I don't even think a month had passed after we got married when we received them! With our parents and best friends nagging for pictures, this was such a treat! There's so many more good things I could say about Mark and Magda. There's a million decisions to make in a wedding. Choosing Mark and Magda is one you wont regret! read more

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I cannot say enough good things about Mark Trela Photography. Mark and his wife and photography partner, Maggie, are both highly creative, flexible, and personable. They have such an eye for shooting beautiful, unexpectedly gorgeous pictures; it is incredible. Mark and Maggie have a way of photographing their subject(s) in an atypical, candid, out of the box manner that makes the pictures so unique. Everybody who has seen my pictures tells me that they are so beautiful that they belong in a magazine. They have a documentary feel to them that is completely one of a kind. Your wedding, engagement, or special occasion photos will be just that: yours. They will not be the typical cookie-cutter pictures that you have seen a hundred times over. They will be distinctive and personal, which is the sign of a true, professional photography team. I could not me more thrilled that I chose Mark and Maggie to be both my engagement and wedding day photographers. I've never looked so gorgeous, and it is all thanks to them. read more

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Mark and Maggie are an absolute DREAM TEAM. When my friend used them for their wedding, I knew I didn't want to look at any other photographers, and boy did they deliver! Mark is very professional, and answered all my emails and questions within 24 hours. He even sent me some beautiful sneak peaks within 3 days of our wedding day! SO OVERJOYED. Hire these two and you will not be disappointed. A++++ read more

The details were coming together. I had said "yes" to the love of my life, "yes" to the dress, signed for our dream venue, picked a date, and was finishing deciding on decorations...but we still hadn't decided on a photographer. We had about a month left because we were being so picky. We were looking for the perfect photographer with the mindset that these photographs would last forever and we would only get married once. As a designer and photography hobbiest, composition, editing style, lighting, and being able to capture real, candid pictures were all really important to me. Thus, it took us 5 months to find the perfect photographer until we met Mark. I just happened to google image "photographers in chicago" (I don't know why I hadn't thought of that before. I'd just used The Knot and other sites), as a last minute resort to finding SOMEONE! And as I scrolled through an abundance of happily marrying couples, there were a couple that stood out to me. Surprisingly, they were all Mark Trela's. I contacted him and went through his portfolio with my then-fiancé. We loved his candid shots, color, and composition, but decided to sleep on it and entertained a couple of other photographers throughout the next couple of days. But the more we did so, we knew he was the one. So just a month before our wedding, we set up a skype call because we weren't in Chicago and things started to click. Mark was so comfortable, personable, and professional. He took into consideration all of the shots we wanted to take. Asked us about our story, our hobbies, and wanted to get to know more about us. i was just so thankful we had found him. It just got better from there. On the wedding day, he and his partner, Grace, arrived punctually and just did what they did best. Everyone felt very comfortable around them as they took candid photos of us getting ready, laughing, talking, sharing. What I was really impressed about was how he could come into the room, and know how to capture the perfect lighting, what resources laying around to use to make the picture beautiful, it was like he was drawing the story in his head in real time as the events took place! I could tell Mark saw beauty in things and knew hos to capture them to tell a story. My wedding day was the best day of my life. And when I saw my pictures exactly 6 weeks after my wedding (as promised), it really showed. He and Grace had perfectly captured all of our tears of joy, laughs, hugs, kisses... I went through the album twice already. It took about 2-3 hours to do so but each time, I was deeply moved by how I was able to relive each of the joyous moments through his pictures. And he took over 950 pictures! That means he captured more than 100 pictures for us per hour! And all of them were just so beautiful! Thank you Mark and Grace for this irreplaceable, inforgettable gift. We're so blessed to have found you. P.S. Mark's photos got us a spot on The Knot magazine! He's that talented! read more

I absolutely love Mark and Maggie's work that they have done for my family photographs. Even though they mainly shoot weddings, they were able to accommodate us for family shots for our holiday cards. The pictures come out so crisp and vivid; we get complements on the pictures all of the time. It's hard for my to take nice pictures of my rambunctious 2 year old daughter, but somehow, Mark has the eye, skill and patience to capture really beautiful moments in the few hours that we spend with them. I would definitely recommend using them and I will absolutely be asking them to take our family pics for years to come. Thanks guys!! read more

Mark Trela Photography - My daughter, photo taken by Mark Trela - Session Photography Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you are looking for artistic, warm, intimate photography that captures the emotion of your wedding day, I highly suggest Mark Trela Photography. My expectations were very high for the photography, and they completely overdelivered! Mark and Magda are incredibly professional and personable. Many guests commented that they never even noticed them, yet they captured phenomenal shots. They take the time to sincerely meet with you and learn about your personal story and vision for the wedding day. We opted at the last minute to do a portrait session about a week before the wedding and they worked to accommodate us. They offer creative suggestions, and were open to any ideas we had as well. We were so pleased to have them with us on our wedding day, they both have a very good vibe/calming presence. They were very organized and had even captured some photos before arriving at the hotel in the morning. We received the photos sooner than anticipated and were completely blown away. The images speak for themselves, but wanted to share a review for anyone considering wedding photographers.... Do not hesitate to book Mark and Magda, they were an absolute joy to work with from start to finish. read more

I reached out to Magda and Mark (cutest husband and wife team ever) to shoot some relaxed lifestyle photography for an upcoming project and was extremely happy with the level of professionalism and overall job they did with the shoot. Photography seems to be like second nature to them because they make it the most comfortable experience, unlike most photographers in the industry who treat you more like puppet and have no personalities whatsoever. They have a very creative style and their pictures are absolutely beautiful. I can only imagine what they could do for a wedding shoot (this is mainly what they do and I wish I had them for my wedding years ago!) I Definitely will be using them for an upcoming project. read more

Wow. If there was one word we could use to describe Mark, it would be overdeliver. To us, the pictures for our wedding were a priority. They are the tangible memories leftover after a blur of a weekend, and we wanted to capture the event like we experienced it. So hiring more of a documentary photographer like Mark was exactly what we wanted. No posed shots, no forced smiles, no awkward moments. Just capture thr authentic moments of the day. From our initial call with Mark, to our meetings with him, and the day-of, he was professional, efficient and personal. He made us feel comfortable with the process, explaining everything and instilling confidence in his process and incredible work. Not only did he overdeliver on the quality of the work, the dedication to us and our wedding, our families, but he also had an incredible assistant who made the day so much smoother and better, and essentially doubling the amount of shots and capturing moments from a second angle. Mark is the reason we'll remember our wedding so vividly forever and be able to share our experience with everyone who was there, and to everyone who couldnt be there. Thank you, Mark. read more

We first saw Mark's work at Indie Wed Chicago and immediately fell in love with their style. We had our engagement session and wedding day photos done with Mark. Mark ensures there are multiple conversations before the wedding to ensure everyone is on the same page. They were very professional and timely each time we encountered. But most importantly, we felt comfortable about Mark and that made our photos turn out amazing. Our number one priority for the wedding day was finding the perfect photographer to capture our big day and I could not be happier with the results. If you have the opportunity, definitely work with Mark Trela for your wedding! (Married Oct 2016) read more

Mark Trela Photography - Session Photography Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mark and Magda were simply a delight to work with. Of all of our wedding vendors, these dudes and our caterers (Big Delicious Planet, y'all) were the most wonderful. They were seriously interested in getting to know us as a couple before the wedding, and we actually enjoyed hanging out with them during our initial meetings. They were completely professional on the day of the wedding, while also making everyone feel totally at ease. Wedding guests even came up to us saying how pleasant our photographers were. And, ya know, that our wedding was fun too. Having two photographers doing the wedding was very important to us and these two are such a good team. They met every request we had, they didn't think we were weird for traipsing many blocks out of our way to get a picture with our dog and when they happened to miss a big kiss during our ceremony (because Catholic weddings can be quite confusing), they communicated perfectly to our main peeps, who let us know to sell that last kiss for the photos. They even spotted some great photo ops at our photo location that we would have never noticed. At the reception they blended in and captured some amazing moments. I seriously was just so happy with our choice in photographers. and THEN they got us our pictures way sooner than I expected. This is the first wedding review I'm writing because I just thing they're cool af. Hire these mofos read more

WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE!!!! Best decision that my wife I and made regarding our wedding was selecting Mark and Magda as our photography team. They were professional throughout the entire process, delivered the highest quality artistry and service, and executed everything to perfection. I cannot describe how exceptional they were, every aspect, encounter, meeting to delivering the final product. I also encourage everyone working with them to get the album- we didn't think we would utilize it, but there is simply isn't your regular photo album- but rather in itself a work of fantastic art. There is no question, this is the best team to work with with regards to photography. Highest recommendation. read more

Mark and Magda are incredible. We initially found Mark through other Yelp reviews, loved his style and he was in close proximity to us. We were so lucky to end up in his hands. We did engagement photos and later wedding photos. For any special occasion photography, look nowhere else. He has great pointers for logistics, locations and personalizes the experience to tell your story and make memorable artifacts. Our photos turned out so beautiful. We had such a great time working with them both! Recommend 10/10! read more

Mark and his wife Magda are nothing short of brilliant photographers. You aren't going to get the cookie-cutter, over-exposed, posed and rigid photos with these guys. They truly capture the beauty in every moment and their eye is unmatched. We did a lot of researching before coming across Mark Trela photography, and once we saw his gallery we knew instantly we had to book him. From the beginning Mark was very professional but approachable, always making himself available and open to suggestions. These guys know what they are doing and we put our complete trust in them. When we got our photos, our jaws dropped in awe of how each photo turned out so beautifully. A few months after the wedding, we also received a very special gift from them which we will treasure forever. Words cannot describe how thankful we are to Mark and Magda for immortalizing the best day of our lives in the most beautiful way. You will NOT regret hiring Mark, and if you're even considering it, just DO IT before he books up!! read more

The Trela's photographed our wedding beautifully!!! My wife and I could not have been happier. They knew how to capture our us and our surroundings. I would recommend Mark Trela Photography for all events! read more

Mark and Magda photographed my wedding in September. The evening I met them I told them, "I love everything I've seen of your work. Please just do that at my wedding!" They delivered and did so much more. Not only did I end up with a beautiful collection of memories and snapshots of my most cherished day, but what they gave us was absolute art. The kind of thing that looks like a painting or magazine cover and you can't actually believe that's a day in your life. That's what Mark and Magda do, they take your life and they make it look like art. Beautiful, romantic, natural and flawless at the same time, art. Beyond that though, they are amazing to work with. Leading up to the wedding it was so easy to communicate with them and I was able to completely relax knowing I could trust them to do an amazing job. On the day of the wedding, our friends and family were at times overwhelming, but Mark and Magda stayed cool and calm and, most importantly, positive the entire time (even when the wedding party ran 2 hours late!). More than anything, I could tell they cared about capturing the moments as much as I did. This wasn't work to them, they were clearly passionate about every second of the day, and that so shone through in their work. My one regret was not buying the longest photography package possible. I'm serious. It's your wedding, don't skimp over an hour or two, you'll never have the opportunity to get those photos again. Have your photographers and videographers there for as long as possible, especially if you're lucky enough to get these two! read more

Oh...my.....goodness!!! I can't even begin to explain my feelings about our gorgeous engagement and wedding pictures but I'll give it a shot! To start off, Mark and Magda are 2 of the nicest people I've ever met. You can talk to them about what you're wanting and it isn't an awkward conversation with a "vendor" but more like you're talking to friends. And the shots that they managed to capture.....just wow!! I am one of those people who doesn't think they look good in about 98% of the pictures taken of them.....but I felt like a model! Everyone who saw our pictures were amazed with the quality but also the moments that were captured forever. Thank you so much Mark and Magda, we are very happy we were able to include you in our full of love day. read more

Magda & Mark are the best! They shot our wedding and captured the day perfectly. Along with being incredible photographers, they are incredible people. They took time to get to know us and our vision before the wedding which helped us feel very comfortable. They are friendly, efficient, and extremely professional. We couldn't be happier with our photos! You're in good hands with Mark Trela Photography. read more

Mark and Maggie worked our August, 2014 wedding, and I can't believe how many compliments we got from our friends who saw their work on my Facebook page. For a wedding, you want people who are invested in making it a special day, not just vendors doing a job. Mark and Maggie became like friends, and we knew they would do everything they could to make it a special day. And they did it despite it being a rainy day. In fact, they turned the weather into a perfect backdrop, from the fog on my rooftop deck to the rain on the bridge near our venue. It was spectacular. Their professionalism, dedication and creativity made a strong impression on everyone. And we don't even have the album yet! Mark just sent me some shots for FB. And while some photogs were charging $5K and up, Mark was very reasonably priced. I have to imagine that's going to change at some point because his work is exceptional. In fact, our shots were picked to be featured by a wedding blog. I highly recommend Mark Trela Photography! read more

Mark and Maggie are AMAZING! They photographed our snowy December wedding in downtown Chicago and we are thrilled with the beautiful photos they captured of our big day. We met for coffee to tell them a little more about what we were thinking (when, what, where) and learn more about how they do what they do. They took the time to get to know us, what we're interested in, brainstorm some places to take photos in advance, etc. Day of- Everything was perfect. They got there early despite the snow and scoped out some amazing places inside the Chicago Cultural Center which ended up being some of our favorites . They took pictures of everyone involved - were so great with the kids - we're thrilled to have these memories of our families together for many many years to come. Their prints are all high quality and they have some great variety of options. If you're camera-shy, accidentally make weird faces when posing for a photo (like me), or if you're 2 years old -- These two will put you right at ease and help you focus on what's important - the happiness and celebration of the day. They're great for everyone else too ;) Highly recommend them to everyone! read more

We absolutely loved working with Mark and Maggie for our engagement / wedding photos! Mark was the first vendor we met with when planning our wedding, and my fiancé and I walked out of the meeting feeling so excited to plan the rest of it! We knew we loved their work from the photos we saw online, but Mark also took the time to get to know us and understand our style. He put us at ease very early in the process. Mark and Maggie are professional, easy to work with, and a lot of fun. I would use them again in a heartbeat! read more

We were lucky enough to book Mark and Magda for our wedding last August. They were phenomenal in every way. Every time I have gone to a wedding in the last year, I become more and more grateful for the experience we had with Mark. They made us feel comfortable from the get go when we had our first meeting. During the ceremony and reception, I never once noticed them even being present, yet they captured the most beautiful pictures. They were constantly kind and attentive. Truly, they are real artists who produce amazing work. And, their work is not cliche - they capture the real, beautiful, intimate moments of the wedding and of the experience/love between the couple. Mark and Magda put the feelings that are invoked at a wedding into the pictures they produce. I cannot recommend them more. They are amazing photographers/artists and wonderful human beings :) read more

Mark's artistry is unmatched. After experiencing his work in action and images from my pregnacy session. I had no doubt in my mind who I wanted to be my baby's "lifewriter" for his birth. Mark and Maggie consistently went out of their way to make sure I was satisfied and pleased with everything and mostly comfortable. Mark Trela Photography is a shining example of professionalism and creativity. Every image of my pregnacy session jumps off the page, as if coming to life. Mark has a way of blending the authenticity and "realness" of people with magical auras. I love everything that is Mark Trela Photography. Mark and Maggie are a rare gem. Anyone would be lucky to have them as their lifewriter. read more

I am so happy we decided to go with Mark to shoot our son's baptism. He is professional and so friendly, I am so happy with the photos, I am so glad we chose him to capture these memories, he even caught the moments that I missed. read more

Mark is amazing!!! I highly recommend him as your photographer. I found him on Pinterest while searching for photos of my venue. I was sad to see that he was based in Chicago when I was getting married in California, but decided to try my luck and see if it would be possible to have him shoot my wedding anyway. I am so glad I reached out! Not only was he happy to fly to California to do the wedding, but he was also very competitively priced compared to the photographers I was looking at in California. My husband and I had an initial meeting with him and his lovely wife, Magda, on Skype and instantly felt comfortable. We decided to hire both of them to shoot our wedding. They were both professional, friendly, and very passionate. Mark found a ton of amazing places to take photos. He and Magda helped my husband and me feel comfortable, despite our shared hatred of being in pictures. They weren't afraid of getting in the action on the dance floor to get some great shots. We ended up with incredible photos that are a mix of candid shots and portraits. We love the pictures so much and can't wait to hang prints in our new home. Hire him! You will not regret it! Thank you Mark and Magda for capturing our special day! read more

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THE BEST!!! Mark and Magda are ideal photographers in so many ways! In planning our wedding, we met with and saw the work of numerous photographers around Chicago. Mark and Magda were like a breath of fresh air: their presence, their album and photograph samples, their enthusiasm, their professionalism, everything! They were incredibly patient and accommodating with my family, meeting with us on several occasions to get to know us- not only my husband, but also my detail-oriented mother. They came to our neighborhood for our "engagement shoot". This was not something that we necessarily wanted to do, but they encouraged us to do it in order to get to know them, get used to being in front of a camera, and also to see how photographs of us looked afterwards. This was such an important experience. We loved their company, their artistic ideas, and especially their coaching along the way. They spent a huge amount of time with us and took a series of really beautiful photographs. Our family loved the photos so much, they ended up enlarging some of them for our rehearsal dinner. On the day of our wedding, Mark and Magda were there from the start- prompt, prepared, and naturally fitting into every part of the day. From the hair salon, to the hotel room, to meeting the entire wedding party on the hotel balcony, to touring the city for our pre-wedding photo shoot, to the wedding venue (prep, ceremony, reception, dance floor!), they were there for every moment, capturing it all. The day was seamless, particularly in regard to our wonderful photographers. We just received our album and couldn't be happier. The photographs perfectly capture the day and night. Mark and Magda created exactly what we wanted, were open to all of our suggestions and visions, and we now have an incredible keepsake that we can't stop showing everyone who comes into our home. I can't say enough about this charming, talented, delightful photographer duo. Look no further! read more

We worked with Mark and his wife Madga for our June 2016 wedding in Chicago and highly recommend them. We spoke with many wedding photographers, and the first thing which stood out about Mark Trela was he asked us what we wanted and how we envisioned the flow and schedule for our wedding day. That was refreshing after speaking with several photographers who insisted we skip cocktail hour to take photos, not do a first look, etc. The pleasant phone conversation was telling because Mark and his wife Magda were a joy to work with throughout the rest of the process. We don't live in Chicago, but they made every effort to accommodate our travel schedule and find a time to sit down and meet with us before the wedding. On the day of the wedding, they were punctual, looked professional, made great suggestions on places to take photos and poses, and were just fun to be around. After the wedding, they delivered our pictures promptly and worked with us to create a beautiful wedding album. We were thrilled with the photos themselves - the pictures were natural, candid, not sappy, and truly captured the emotion and happiness of the day. Many thanks Mark and Magda! read more

Excellent service, minimal stress and maximum satisfaction. Trela' photography captured our engagement and wedding in an amazing way! We got sooooo many compliments on our pictures. They have a very unique and atypical way of shooting pictures which turn out to make those photographs to look so special. Maggie is someone every bride wants by her side on the wedding day. She was giving me updates on everything, took care of my hair and make up and made sure I looked great on every photo. I would strongly recommend that team to every one of you. Absolutely amazing photographers!!! read more

Mark and Maggie were a joy to work with when they captured our November 2014 wedding. They were responsive, timely and skilled. From our first online inquiry thru the delivery of our photo gallery, they were stellar. On the wedding day, I was impressed by Mark and Maggie's ability to understand our dynamic and pose us in a way that felt comfortable and translated well to film. Yet, I was most impressed by their ability to blend into the room. Aside from our scheduled posed photographs their presence was rarely noticed. They captured the room without changing anyones behavior and got the candid look we were looking for. Upon delivery of the photos I was very pleased with the quality and quantity of the photos. Mark Trela Photography is a great choice, particularly if you are interested in a photo journalist. read more

Mark and Maggie did an amazing job photographing our wedding in August 2014, and also with our engagement photoshoot. They have an eye for capturing the real expressions and emotions of the day in their photos. Their photos are extremely high artistic quality compared to other photographers that we looked at. Their services were prompt, and they were extremely easy to contact and work with. I would highly recommend an engagement photoshoot prior to your wedding day to get to know them. I would not have changed anything and would highly recommend Mark and Maggie. We still look at our wedding photos often in awe and we are really glad we went with the best! read more

Mark Trela Photography is fantastic! Mark & Maggie were our photographers for our marriage celebration in Naperville, IL, on a snowy February afternoon. They are so personable and were so professional from beginning to end. My family can be pretty particular, and they were so happy with the results! My husband and I both agree that it felt so natural to have Mark & Maggie at our reception. They made us feel incredibly comfortable in front of the camera, even when we did our private photo shoot outside in 20 degrees! Mark Trela Photography is extremely affordable, has great taste and appreciation for details, documented our event beautifully, and had our pictures ready in such a timely manner! We could not have been happier!!! We highly recommend Mark Trela Photography for your event! read more

Mark and Magda did a really great job at photographing our wedding. Their photojournalist style was just what we were after and we are so happy with the shots documenting our special day. They are the real deal with a fantastic eye for light and composition; the resulting photos look stunning. Mark and Magda are also really nice people to work with and were always on hand to talk through any plans and preparations before the big day. The engagement shoot (Included in our package) was the ideal way to meet them and break the ice. We got some great photos out of it too! Thanks guys! read more

Wow. We cannot fully express how much we enjoyed working with Mark & Magda throughout our wedding, or much love and beauty they added to our day. They both are insanely wonderful humans and responsive and flexible and friendly and professional. They take the time to get to know you and make you feel comfortable, but in true journalistic style, they allow you do be natural and slide easily into the background. Our engagement photos were truly far beyond our expectations -- Mark and Magda scouted the location several times before and just found the loveliest spots for photos. They are passionate and kind individuals who are insanely talented and fun to be around. We just feel so grateful they were able to capture our day. read more

I truly want others to know what a wonderful photographer Mark was for our wedding in April 2018. I will be the first to admit that I struggled with wedding planning- the timeline, the flow of things, what exactly was necessary and what could be skipped. Talking through the evening with Mark was one of the most helpful things in that process. He is professional, open-minded, and supportive, all of which helped me to narrow down what I wanted the night to feel like and what I hoped he would capture. For us, we really wanted candid pictures of our family and friends in all stages of the evening in addition to the transitional wedding shots. He documented our evening in an almost journalistic fashion, which left us with beautiful and interesting photographs of ourselves and those we love most. Everyone I have shown has said how well-composed the photographs are and how thorough our photographer was during the wedding. We love our photographs and will treasure them always. If you are looking to work with someone who really grasps the magnitude of the day and who is both artistic and exacting, Mark is your guy! His wife, Magda, was his assistant the day of our wedding and she, too, was such a supportive presence. She helped me to arrange my scarf and endure the cold on one of the coldest Chicago spring days I could have imagined. They were both so kind and we hope others will be motivated to hire them after reading all of their positive reviews. read more

I've always enjoyed and appreciated the art of good photography. Taking pictures is also my personal passion. Since I remember photography was always important to me, and that's why I took my time to find someone that would meet my needs. I believe that a talented photographer can capture in a picture all the emotions of a moment. Every time I look at my wedding album I feel like I am reliving my wedding day. I can see the excitement and happiness I felt at that time. Magda and Mark Trela did an amazing job at our engagement and wedding sessions. The pictures are artistic, beautiful, and creative. I am very happy with my choice and I highly recommend Mark Trela Photography. read more

I want to preface this review by saying that I joined Yelp specifically to acknowledge the excellent work of Mark & Magda. They photographed my wedding this fall and my husband and I are still talking about how lucky we are to have found them. We met with them once before the wedding at their favorite coffee shop to discuss the occasion and we filled out a thorough but not cumbersome questionnaire about what we wanted to capture on our wedding day. We did things a bit differently--no engagement session, limited "getting ready" pictures, and minimal formal shots. These were our choices and Mark & Magda respected our wishes 100% but they also exceeded our expectations enormously. We asked that they shoot the wedding with a journalistic perspective and they did it exceptionally well.They captured faces, lighting (and the shifts it made throughout the day), the joyous surroundings, the incredible warmth that seemed to envelope us and our guests all day. I didn't know it was possible to translate such specific feelings to photograph, but they did it. Everyone sincerely enjoyed their presence at the actual wedding too--they were remarkably kind, respectful, and professional. With that being said, we hardly noticed them during the really intimate/important moments of the day (ceremony) and yet they seemed to capture everything without being intrusive. As pleased as I was with their demeanor, their process, and fairness in booking--I had no idea what to expect from the actual photos. And wow--they just couldn't have done a better job. Each time we've tried to flip through the (nearly 650) photographs to select our favorites, we end up bookmarking every single one. (Haha, it's going to be a big album.) If you're considering Mark & Magda for your special occasion (large or small), please consider this excellent pair. They are sure to exceed expectations and deliver something beautiful. read more

Wow, I don't even know where to start. First and foremost, this review is long overdue. Mark and Magda photographed our wedding in September of 2016 and were absolutely fantastic. From our initial meeting, my wife and I could tell Mark truly cared about providing excellent service and we immediately knew we were in good hands. The planning went smooth. Mark helped pick a first look location and scouted the spot beforehand to make sure it was ideal. Mark and Magda were able to capture the most memorable events of the day without being in your face and controlling. They provided solid advice regarding the best times to shoot and tips and tricks to get the best shots that really made a difference and helped capture the most beautiful wedding photographs I've ever seen (I am a bit bias). One of the best aspects was Mark offers hi resolution images without those nasty watermarks and an online gallery for family and friends to view. Seriously, stop looking for a photographer and hire Mark and Magda right now. You won't regret it. read more