welcome
WHy I photograph weddings
When I first meet the two of you, and you’re recounting all the little moments that brought you to this big one, my heart will already begin unfolding your story. It may seem strange, but my lens doesn’t just see you as you are today. It honors all of your tomorrows ahead.
When you’re finishing one another’s sentences and savoring smiles across the table, barely able to contain your anticipation for your wedding day, I’ll see the way you’ll grow old and wrinkly together. Still hold hands walking down the street. Sip coffee together as the dawn cracks across your kitchen floor. Kiss each other before work, so your love lingers all day long. Frolic like teenagers on the beach, with the salt licking your hair. Go on spontaneous weekend getaways, window-down road trips, and anywhere adventure calls you.
I’ll see the way their hand finds home in the small of your back. How your words always fall safe in their ears. How they make banana pancakes for you every Sunday morning. And claim that nook between your ear and shoulder with their head every night.
That’s what I’m here to capture. Posterity. The kind of long-haul love that brings out the best in the other person while still giving them a forgiving space to be their worst. Humble, undone and imperfect. Timeless and true. The kind that never fades.
Your wedding is only one fleeting moment in the lifetime of memories you’ll share. One chapter in your love story. But it still deserves to be documented in a way that speaks to the beautiful future that lies ahead of you.
I want your photographs to look the way your love feels. This is the heart of my work. My privilege and passion, as your photographer. And I can’t wait to share it with you.
the experience
It all starts with a conversation
It’s not just a pretty photo; it’s your chance to fall in love, over and over again.
To relive the tenderness of a spontaneous forehead kiss, how Audrey Hepburn you felt in your dress, how iconic you felt in your tux, the sweetness of a speech, or the applause that rolled through the room when your grandparents busted out their moves on the dance floor.
When you’re in the thick of love, it’s easy to let the moments blur by. But with me there on your wedding day, you’ll have a visual documentary of the small but significant that’s yours to keep forever.
Every wedding I photograph has a style and soul of its own, because my intention is to curate a gallery that feels the same way your wedding day felt. One that creatively captures who you are—and what you mean to one another.
The value that frames every single shot I take?
Your and your people matter to me.
I want to know about the meaning behind every detail of your day. How you met, the moment you knew you were falling in love, what you do together on weekends, who you are as individuals, and why you’re better together.
As I’ve always said: The true beauty of a photograph isn’t found in its picture-perfect composition, a breathtaking backdrop or an artful angle. It’s about the people who are in them.
So when you ask me to be a part of your wedding day, I don’t just see you as “clients”. The couples I work with tell me time and time again that I feel like a part of their family. And this intimacy is how I discover who you are when no one is looking...and how you interact with the person who makes you feel your you-est, every ordinary day of your life.
You won’t even know I’m there, and I’ll capture the moments you didn’t even know happened. Because I want you to be able to step back into the day’s beauty like it’s the first time, whenever you want to be reminded of how special your day was.
Do you have a backup plan if your gear breaks/it rains/our timeline flops?
I’m always prepared for the unexpected. And because I’ve been doing this for years and have attended more weddings than I can count, I’ve been through it all—misplaced rings holding up the schedule, downpours, equipment malfunctions, cranky toddlers, snakes hiding in bushes. I know how to improvise, overcome, and keep everyone calm and collected in the meantime! I always find a way to get the shots you want in the end.
faq
How would you describe your style?
In a word? Honest. I love bare emotions, intimate looks, naturally romantic backdrops, angles with a mysterious pull, and inspiring stories. I lean into light, locations with a life of their own, and uninterrupted moments where your magic is free to roam. When you’re in front of my lens, you’ll often be totally unaware of my presence. My goal is to anticipate those fleeting moments, sweet caresses and soft smiles instead of staging them. But I’ll also guide your photo shoot with a creative eye to get you memorable shots that make a true statement about your love.
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We love your style, but would love to have some traditional portraiture. Is this something you’re happy to do?
Of course. I’m someone who honors traditions, family heirlooms and—let’s be honest—your mom’s wishes. While we’ll cover the personality angle in some of your fun shots with your wedding party, we can also schedule in 20-45 minutes to create posed photographs with your nearest and dearest on your wedding day. Because who knows when you’ll all be gathered together like this again?
faq
Are you insured?
Yes. I promise I’ve got all my legal ducks in a row. If you need proof, just ask.
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What are your thoughts on a first look?
Personally, I love them. You’ve probably heard that they can dim the impact of seeing one another for the first time, but I’ve always found quite the opposite to be true. When you choose to do a first look, this intimate moment is only shared between the two of you and I can capture a kaleidoscope of emotions that’s often repressed during the ceremony because you’re distracted by your vows and the crowd. Best of all, choosing to do a first look gives you a chance to spend more time alone on an otherwise blur of a day, bring calm to your ceremony, and create a smoother timeline. That being said - if you prefer the traditional route, I'll still happily be there to document the moment in the most beautiful way.
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I’m working with a smaller budget - if I choose to book with one of your associates, will there be a style or quality difference?
No. I take every measure to ensure consistent style and quality among my team of photographers. Each of the associates has previous experience and they have all worked with me prior to shooting for RSP on their own. Each shoot is reviewed to ensure that the quality and style are consistent and to ensure delivery of the most beautiful images. You can trust that the quality and style of photography you receive will be consistent and gorgeous - often exceeding your expecations dreams.
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Has your work been featured anywhere?
Yes! I've been featured in the following publications:
The Knot Magazine Chicago | Style Me Pretty JuneBug Weddings | Huffington Post | Pop Sugar | Every Last Detail | The Knot | Elizabeth Anne Designs | Once Wed | 100 Layer Cake | Emmaline Bride Wedding Wire | BuzzFeed | Wedding Chicks | Two Bright Lights | Fearless Photographers
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What inspires you?
That's easy. My family. I am married with four kids - and they are my everything. They make up the why of what I do - in fact, we are in the midst of the long haul love story I wrote about in my Welcome note above and it's pretty incredible. We love adventure and travel and take at least one road trip every year. We are hoping to hit all 50 states before the littlest ones graduate from high school! I also find inspiration in nature and art, music and dancing, good food and good wine, champagne and celebrations and laughter.
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How long does it take to get our wedding images back? How many images can we expect to receive? Do you include the high resolution images?
A gorgeous gallery will be delivered to you within eight to ten weeks of your wedding date. It will feature a beautiful selection of both color and black and white images - and usually you can expect a minimum of 50 per hour of shooting time. So on an 8 hour wedding day, your gallery will typically feature 500+ images. You do get all of the fully edited, high resolution images which you can download straight from your gallery. And they are accompanied by a print release - allowing you to make unlimited prints on your own.
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Do you offer any prints or albums?
Of course. I think that printing your beautiful images is the only way to showcase them. I offer all sorts of beautiful heirloom products - including framed wall art, gift prints, guest sign in books and hand-crafted albums. Ask me and I'll tell you all about them!
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How do we book you?
Dates are booked on a first come, first serve basis. All you need to secure your date is a signed contract and retainer for 50%. We can set up the remaining balance to be paid however fits your budget best...as long as it's paid in full 30 days before your wedding date.
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the collections
CUSTOM COLLECTIONS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
9 hours of coverage
Second Photographer
20-page 10x10 linen wedding album
Online viewing/ordering gallery
High resolution images + print release
*Complimentary Engagement Session
OR
Credit towards album upgrades or a parent's album
COLLECTION ONE
$5400
8 hours of coverage
Second Photographer
Online viewing/ordering gallery
High resolution images + print release
*Complimentary Engagement Session
OR
Credit towards the purchase of a couple's album
COLLECTION TWO
$4,400
7 hours of wedding coverage
Online viewing/ordering gallery
High resolution images + print release
*Complimentary Engagement Session
OR
Credit towards the purchase of a couple's album
COLLECTION THREE
$3,600
A LA CARTE
Additional Wedding Coverage - $500/hour
Portrait Session - $600
(Engagement, Anniversary, Etc...)
Additional Photographer - $500
Heirloom Prints, Wall Art, Guest Books & Albums - Pricing Varies
*Custom collections are available upon request.
A 50% retainer and signed contract are all that's needed to reserve your date.
Travel fees may apply to sessions and/or weddings. Ask for details.
albums
Handcrafted Albums are the perfect way to showcase your wedding day
Albums are absolutely the best way to make your wedding memories last forever - and as an heirloom, your album will become a cornerstone of your family as you share in the beautiful moments printed on its pages in the years to come. As you celebrate one year, ten years, fifty years together - you'll be able to step right back into the day as if it was happening all over again.
20 page 10x10 album
Linen: $850 for Linen
Leather: $1100
Additional 2-page Spread: $50
If you are on the fence about purchasing an album, I highly encourage you to get one. There is nothing like holding your beautiful moments in your hands and sharing them with your children (and grandchildren many years down the line. It's the one thing I regret from my own wedding day. As I watch my children page through my parent's album 35 years after they said their vows, I can't help but wish I had one of my own to grace my coffee table and tuck into one of our bookshelves. It's on the top of my to do list for this year - create an heirloom to call my own.
PRICING
(8x8, 20 pages)
Linen: $450 each for Linen
Leather: $700 each
Additional 2-page Spread: $40 each
DUPLICATE PARENT ALBUMS
engagement sessions
Love doesn’t need a special occasion to be celebrated.
Let's adventure into your story....
Capture your most captivating chapters. And every moment in between that mapped out the journey there. Explore your endearing quirks, silly streaks, and untamed affections. The bold and unbreakable bond that brought you this far, and will glue you together beyond this moment.
And above all, let’s describe your indescribable love the only way we possibly could—visually. So you can hold onto the memory of its beautiful evolution, look back and see how far you’ve come.
Engagement sessions take place at your chosen site, exploring your connection, giving you some gentle guidance and letting you be yourselves for the camera. (Laughs will most definitely ensue.) ALL digital images with a print release delivered via a gorgeous, interactive online gallery, so you can see your love in its full splendor and share your cuteness all over Facebook.
Sessions outside Central Illinois are available for an additional travel fee.
Beautiful heirloom products - framed prints, albums, guest sign in books and more - are available a la carte.
"Rachael is, simply put, an artist. From our engagement shoot to our wedding day she captured the most amazing, intimate and sweet moments between the two of us. Every photo is a glimpse into the magic of the special moments; and Rachael caught them all. She made me feel completely at ease and it shows in her work. We would absolutely book her again. In a heartbeat. I promise you, you will not regret having her as a part of your wedding day. She is the best of the best."
- Becky & Andrew
Springfield, Illinois
"Rachael played a big part in making our wedding day run smoothly and turn out flawless! She has this wonderful ability to calm your nerves and the knowledge and experience to help you determine your timeline to get the pictures you want. But we never felt like we were rushed. She builds in time for you and your husband to take some moments alone to really let the day sink in. These moments are some of our best memories from the day! Our photos are so good!! She captured so many little details and special moments that I didn't even know she was photographing. I can't say enough good things about Rachael and would highly recommend her!"
- Libby & Darren
Peoria, Illinois
"I was smitten from the first time I saw Rachael’s website. She is so personable and cares so much about her work that it was impossible for us to think of choosing anyone else. I find being photographed to be super uncomfortable - but she assured me that it was her job to make me fall in love with each picture, and boy did she! She has a way of figuring out what you want your photos to look like and making it happen without you realizing it. I know that it is every couple's task to make things work within a budget, which we had to do as well. But someone told me early on to invest in a great photographer because pictures would be all that would be left after the special day passed and it was the best advice I could have received. Rachael is the kind of great photographer that you should work with if possible."
- Jess & Billy
Champaign, Illinois
Thank you so much for considering us to be a part of your wedding day! If you’re interested in working with us, the next step is to set up a time to chat! You can reach us directly at hello@rachaelschirano.com
