focus on the feeling
Documentary wedding photography in Illinois and beyond.
Wedding photos that capture the intimate moments that make up a wedding day.
The little smiles, small embraces, big laughs, quiet tears, fingers intertwined, and first dances.
Every moment captured naturally while you enjoy your wedding day.
Featured in…
Centrally located in Peoria, Illinois.
Featured Love Stories
THE EXPERIENCE
01. My Approach
Photos you don’t have to pose for.
My goal is very simple; document what's happening. All of it. The little smiles, small embraces, big laughs, quiet tears, fingers intertwined, subtle glances, and first steps. None of these things will ever happen the way they happened today. I believe there should be proof that you laughed at that joke, said those vows, kissed that cheek, and cried those tears. And it should be captured in a way that is beautiful and full of feeling.
I would rather photograph you enjoying your wedding than tear you away from it. I prefer to be more like a fly on the wall, observing and documenting. I will point you towards the good light, and step back. With a little patience all of the moments you want captured will happen on their own, and I will be there to capture them.
THE DETAILS
The Photography
Each wedding is unique, and there are many options available for wedding day coverage. All wedding collections include in-person wedding consults, personal online gallery, print release, and a handmade keepsake box (below).
The Albums
Your wedding photos deserve to be printed.
They deserve more than likes on a social media page.
I hope these wedding albums become conversations with your kids, and maybe one day your grandkids. I hope they sit on a shelf with all the other photo albums of birthdays and vacations. Just another chapter in the story of your lives.
02. Next Steps
You’ve just gotten engaged (woot woot!) and now you have a lot of decisions to make...
* If you feel a connection to my work and would like more information, fill out the contact form above. I would love to grab a coffee (even if just virtually) and chat so I can answer all of your questions. Questions about how the day will go, how many hours of coverage you might need, and how you will receive your images. But more important than all of those questions is whether or not you can imagine spending your wedding day with me by your side. It is an important day and you deserve to be surrounded by those you feel comfortable with.
* If you have decided to book me as your photographer (yay!), you will secure your date with a deposit of 1/3 the total. We will meet at least once before your wedding to discuss the timeline for the day and any other concerns that you have. I am always available via email and text for anything else that pops up along the way.
* The week following the wedding you will receive a sneak peek online gallery with a handful of images. Your final gallery will be ready in four to six weeks, and the keepsake box (above) will be delivered shortly after the final gallery. Once the finally gallery is delivered you are always welcome to reach out to me with questions about prints, albums, or future sessions.
BOUDOIR
This is not about
dressing up for someone else.I specialize in beautiful, classic boudoir photos that celebrate who you are in this moment. Available with wedding collections or as stand alone sessions.
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A bit about Sara…
- Born and raised in rural Illinois. Currently living in Mackinaw, IL.
I moved to Chicago to complete my Bachelor’s of Fine Art with a focus on documentary photography in 2012. I photographed my first wedding in 2012 and fell in love with it. Documenting the emotions of a day this big is such a joy for me.
- More information about me here.
Reviews
“We cannot recommend Sara Gardner enough! From the moment we met her, we knew we had found the perfect wedding photographer. Sara’s calm and friendly nature immediately put us at ease, and we felt like we had known her for years. On the day of the wedding, she was ever-present, but never intrusive. She captured every special moment and detail, without us ever feeling like she was in the way. Sara’s artistic style and high-quality editing ability really shine through in her work. The photos she took are absolutely stunning! We were blown away by her ability to capture the emotion and essence of our day. We love how her photos are both timeless and unique, and really reflect our personalities and style. We were referred to Sara by other well-respected photographers in the industry, and it’s easy to see why. She is incredibly talented, professional, and passionate about her work. We are so grateful to have had her as our photographer and will treasure the beautiful images she captured for the rest of our lives. Thank you, Sara, for making our wedding day so special and for giving us the most beautiful memories to look back on. You truly are a gifted photographer.
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“We originally booked Sara to shoot our November wedding. When we made the decision to cancel our large celebration due to covid, my husband and I knew we still wanted to get formal wedding portraits. Sara agreed to have a socially distanced photo shoot at Allerton, and she made it the most fun day we had in a while! Sara did such an amazing job and the photos are my favorite reminder that not all of 2020 was bad. I can’t say enough great things about her!”
“Sara Gardner Photography was one of the highlights of our day! Her eye for color and movement is impeccable, and she was an absolute joy to work with. She was there when we needed her, and a fly on the wall when we didn’t. She grabbed all of the shots we asked for and more! We held a very small, budget conscious wedding, and Sara was willing to work with us to customize a package that worked for all of us. We are SO impressed with the album that we received from Sara, and the communication we got throughout the process was amazing. Thank you, Sara!!”
“Sara is a talented, easy-going, hilarious photographer that will help make your wedding day memorable! She captures amazing, intimate moments that will always remind you of every emotion you felt during your special day. She came to our home early to snap a few photos before our front porch wedding ceremony and ended up sewing me into my wedding dress because the zipper broke! She made me laugh and feel at ease about the whole situation and made my wedding day even more memorable than I ever thought it could be!”
“Where do I begin?? Sara is AMAZING! We picked Sara for her amazing photography and her down to earth personality. She is so easy to work with. We planned our wedding in 5 months which meant we had little to no time to spare. Sara was very responsive to all of our questions and flexible when we needed to meet in person. I have gotten nothing but compliments on her work. If you are looking for awesome photography and a painless process, Sara is your gal!!”
Let's Talk About It
I would love to hear from you.
Fill out the form below, or send me an email and we can start a conversation.
(217) 553-9368
sara@saragardnerphotography.com
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