We consider ourselves so fortunate to have found Shane to be our wedding photographer for our recent wedding in Chicago. After looking at a number of different photographers' portfolios online, I fell in love with Shane's approach to capturing his subjects looking so relaxed, natural, and effortlessly beautiful in a range of natural and urban settings. After meeting him, it was easy to see why everyone looks so comfortable in his photos -- he's got an incredible easy going manner that makes even the most photo-shy (me and my then-fiance) eager to get in front of the camera. Bonus points for sharing a lot of our interests (dogs, traveling, nature, internet memes) and being an interesting person to talk to. Shane was super flexible when it came to scheduling our engagement photos and wedding photos. He had a ton of ideas for different locations and shots and made us look incredible. The two other people he brought to shoot our wedding, his second shooter Sam and his intern Ana, were great and our whole wedding party just adored all of them. We had asked to take some gritty photos in an abandoned area, which attracted some unwanted attention and Shane and his crew went above and beyond. They stayed late and arranged a fantastic "last shot" late in the night that was a lot of fun to do. Shane posted some teaser photos immediately after our wedding on Facebook (he asked us whether that would be something we would want, and it was) which is a lot of fun when you're basking in that just-married excitement. Can't recommend Shane and his team enough! read more

Shane Welch Photography - Event Photography Near Me

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Shane was professional when we met. He emphasized how much he valued customer service and seemed very flexible. We notified him via email 'within' the 7 day grace period he gives to customers that we want him as our photographer. He responded that he would love to be our photographer and we started the process to have the contract written up. Due to our schedules, it took 2 to 3 days for us to get back to him at times, but was able to get the contract written up in 1.5 weeks. My fiance and I were not able to both review the contract till a week later. I can understand that the delay in our response could have been frustrating. After a week I called him with final questions and requested to have the contract modified to ask for our approval before images are posted. He did not indicate issues with this and he said he would gladly modify the contract and send to us the next day. I thought we were all set to go and was very excited. Two days later didn't receive an updated contract. Instead, received an email stating that he accepted another customer who signed and paid him right away. I'm not sure how he expected us to pay him a deposit when he had not yet sent the updated contract he promised to us. We would have appreciated being consulted before he had accepted the new customer since we were in the middle of signing the contract. It is very unfortunate as we did not expect this and we are now back at square one. In the end, it is probably for the best. After this review had been posted, Shane indicated he thought we were on the fence the whole time. I can not speak to his photography as I've only seen his portfolio which is what appealed to us. This experience may have been a fluke. We didn't have the ideal experience, but Shane has 8 positive reviews (see filtered reviews) and a friend of mine who used him for their wedding enjoyed working with him. read more

Shane was one of the greatest investments we made for our wedding day. He is professional and creative, yet laid-back and flexible - a wonderful combination for a photographer! For our engagement photos, we spent at least an hour on the phone before-hand (I was coming in from out of town) to discuss the vision for the shoot, locations, and outfits. He was always positive, encouraging, and leading us towards what was best for my fiancé and I and what we wanted. Not only that, but he put us at total ease for our photos, too! And our wedding day... amazing. Could not have imagined any other photographer being a part of our day! We were getting married in Omaha, and I must have looked into 10-12 local photographers. After Shane did our engagement photos (my husband was living in Chicago at the time), we KNEW he had to do our wedding. I thought it was crazy and he'd never come to Nebraska for a wedding, but when we reached out to him about it, he was nothing but excited and started dreaming up ideas for photos right away. Shane went above & beyond our greatest expectations - coming in to location scout, finding the most perfect spot in all of NE for our day-after photos (which he suggested after realizing we wouldn't be able to get the "outdoorsy, field" aesthetic that so fit my husband & i, as we were getting marred downtown), making everyone - from the bride & groom to the guests - laugh and feel comfortable around him, and so much more. I felt so taken care of! We get compliments on our wedding photos every single time someone sees them, even if we've never met them before. Shane is amazing, and I would (and have!) recommend him to every one. **Update: We just ordered our prints from Shane. Do not hesitate to order some photos from him - the quality is incredible. Worth. Every. Penny. They're amazing!!!! **Update #2: We loved our experience with Shane so much, he did our 1-year anniversary photos. I didn't think we could love any photos more than our wedding day but Shane is so talented - we LOVE all the photos he has taken & if ever we need photos taken again, Shane will be the first person we call. read more

I came across Shane's name in a wedding blog and after checking out many photography companies I decided to go with Shane because I found him to be more helpful than any other company I contacted, he was priced right, and his photos proved that he is a great photographer. My fiance was very resistant about doing engagement photos, but after meeting Shane (and getting along great with him), he was at ease and even excited for wedding photos. At our wedding Shane was professional and fun. He got along with all of our vendors and I received numerous compliments from the wedding party and coordinators that they really enjoyed working with him and his assistant. Most importantly, Shane took AMAZINGLY UNIQUE photos of us and our wedding party. He came up with locations that I don't think any other photographer would have thought of...and it fit our wedding and personalities perfectly. Overall, Shane went above and beyond and i would recommend him to any bride. read more

Where do I begin? Shane is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. He is an incredibly talented photographer that has an eye for capturing those "special" moments. I hired Shane to shoot my wedding in Grand Rapids in April. From the very beginning, Shane was professional and always quick to respond to e-mails or phone calls. When we Skyped, he asked questions about us because he wanted to get to know us. He is very likable and actually cares about us as a couple. Shane did an outstanding job taking photos at our wedding. Truth be told, I didn't even notice him. My husband and I joke, "Was he even at the reception?" Once, we got our photos, we realized "Yep, he was there!" I can't believe how many great shots Shane got without me even realizing he was there. There was never any interrupting or saying "can you do that again? I didn't get the shot." This is what makes Shane an amazing photographer. First, you don't notice him. He has this uncanny way of becoming invisible. This is really important because if you notice your photographer, they'll have the awkward feeling of "I know the photographer is taken my photo, so I gotta act normal. Shoot! How do I act normal?" This never happened with Shane. Second, he gets really good shots. And I'm not talking about cool and artistic shots (although he does that too). I'm talking about moments. He captures the moment perfectly. I think he told me that instead of taking a 100 shots and hope that one of them is good, he waits for the moment and takes one shot. He is also good at knowing when a moment is about to happen. My wedding photos are amazing. I've had a few friends tell me that they wish they would've gone with a better photographer like Shane- they have great photos but their photographer didn't capture many moments. Shane did a marvelous job with our wedding photos. There isn't one moment that Shane missed. Other things I really like about Shane's Photography: - Photos are super high-quality- they are very crisp and focused. - He gave us all the photos in high-resolution and low-resolution on a disc - meaning that I can order the wedding photos from whichever company I choose (and put them on facebook!). - Most photographers make you buy your wedding photos through them and it's usually about $2.00 for a 4x6! - Photos have an artist's touch but it's not over done. - We got our photos 2 weeks after the wedding! - I could not believe this! It felt like we had just gotten back from our honeymoon and we then we got them back. - We received about 1000 photos (not sure if this is usual) from our wedding. And they were all unique (not 10 shots of the same thing but a just a little bit different), edited, and beautiful. - He got at least one great photo of every person that is important to me (somehow). - Seemed as happy as a clam and willing to do anything. We were outside for part of the day. It was in the 40s with a really cold windchill and he didn't complain once. He didn't even show any signs of being cold but I knew that he had to be because we were all freezing! - Shane was prepared! I noticed my dress had a 7-8 inch rip at the bottom (it had two layers of tulle, so it wasn't that big of deal). I was just about to try to rip it off (because it was dragging), when Shane said "Wait. I have some scissors." I gave him a confused look, and he said "I carry around a few extra things just in case." I think that says a lot about his character - he cares. I am so happy that I'm able to look at back at the photos and see our wedding day unfold as if it was happening all over again - the look in my dad's eye as he see's me in my dress, my tearful husband as he watches me walk down the aisle, and my sneaky expression after I shoved some cake in my husband's face. If you are looking for a photographer that will stay out of your way, be charming and professional, and capture those special moments of your wedding day, then choose Shane. A note about our wedding photos: Shane gave us the idea of having a 100% candid photos for our wedding. This meant that we wouldn't take any posed shots. At first, we didn't like the idea because we wanted those posed photos of us, our families, and our bridal party. But the more we thought about it, the more we loved the idea - we wouldn't have to spend 2 hours between the ceremony and reception taking photos. Instead my husband and I returned to the place where we had our first kiss and then met up with the bridal party, which is where we met. We hung out, drank some beer and ate some fries - all the while Shane took photos of us. Honestly, having 100% candid photos for the wedding was the best choice we made. We got to enjoy our day and relax instead of posing, smiling, turning our shoulders a certain angle, getting closer together, then further apart, and standing still for 2 hours. P.S. Shane's assistant, Sam, took photos as well. Everything that is said about Shane is true for Sam - incredibly talented and very professional. read more

Shane photographed our wedding on 8/19, and I absolutely could not be happier with him as a person and with the photos he took for us. We were lucky to have him--we contacted him very shortly before the wedding was supposed to happen, begging for a reduced package, and like some sort of angel he was not only available, but also willing to work with us (I think having our wedding on a Sunday helped with his decision). The photos on his website really speak for themselves. Our wedding was a simple one with not a lot of fancy details, frills, or even especially nice looking venues, and he captured the happiness and joy of the day in our faces and the faces of our guests so well that you wouldn't know it wasn't a million dollar affair. The photos he took for us are just as good and just as special as the ones he highlights on his website--he really is that good all the time! Shane himself is a joy to work with as well. He's ridiculously nice and friendly, and we felt so comfortable having him around. He helped us feel at ease during our portrait session when we felt awkward, and he was quick on his feet and compassionate to me when, between the hot August sun and the sheer excitement of it all, I got rather faint and needed to stop the portrait session. He got me a glass of water, and used the opportunity to take pictures of the cocktail hour instead--not something we'd asked for or agreed upon, but since he still had time he went out and got some fantastic photos of our friends and family that we would not have otherwise. Love him. Love his work. Worth every single penny and more. Shane is probably my favorite thing we had for our wedding--including my dress and the killer sangria at the reception. read more

As a wedding planner, I am constantly recommending and finding photographers for my clients. Enter Shane Welch. Both of his wedding and non-wedding portfolios are stunning. Shane always seems to capture not only the subject of what he is shooting but also an amazing background (architectural, nature, etc.). Shane is not only a skilled photographer but he also has a down-to-earth personality that my clients connect with. He is always willing to listen and take a client's photography requests into consideration. read more

Shane was one of our favorite vendors for our May wedding. He was extremely helpful in deciding where to take photos -- he knows Chicago well and has scouted just about every place you can imagine. He is SO talented and even made our rainy, windy wedding day look fabulous. Every time, he went above and beyond in making sure that we had stunning pictures to share with our family and guests. Highly highly recommended! read more

Shane recently photographed us for our engagement shoot and wedding and we love love love his work. He is super easy to get along with, which was a bonus since 1. we were planning the wedding from out of town; and 2. my husband hates posing for photos, but by the end, he was so comfortable with the ordeal - he was eager to keep going instead of going to our cocktail hour! (we still made it =) ). I stumbled upon Shane's work and instantly knew we wanted his expertise to capture our story. He answered all our questions about the contract and process. My husband's flight got canceled on his way into Chicago for our engagement shoot and Shane was able to easily accommodate us on a different day on the same trip. Prior to the wedding, he was in touch with our wedding planner, showed up on time, super excited about the day and you could tell he just loved his job. As a bride, I was happy that there was little that I had to worry about. His assistant, Sam, is equally as talented and the pair have great chemistry. Another plus - we got our photos back in less than 2 weeks, as promised. read more

Just by skimming through Shane's work you can see how crazy talented he is. I was lucky enough to work with him a few months ago, and it was one of the best experiences I have had on a shoot. He definitely puts in the work but manages to be funny and laid back in the process. What it comes down to is he is an overall great guy to work with and unbelievably talented. I hope to work with him again soon! read more

Since I can speak on Shane's photography skills, I will do so. My husband and I heard about Shane through a mutual friend. I took one look at his portfolio and knew that he HAD to be our photographer. I did not even bother looking anywhere else because I needed him to capture my big day. Shane was quick to respond to our date inquiry and lucky for us, he was available for our big day! He was very accommodating when it came to his prices, and really makes an effort to go above and beyond for his clients. With Shane you are guaranteeing excellent photographs! Our engagement pictures were included in our package and they were beautiful! He gets to know you, and cares about your vision. After seeing our engagement pics I knew we were in for a treat. The wedding day quickly arrived and Shane and his awesome assistant, Sam, were right on time ready for the long day ahead! We had a large wedding party, and the timing was hectic, but the emotions they captured in the photographs were pure love and happiness. Shane and Sam have a quirky sense of humor and they make you feel like you have known them for many years! It can be uncomfortable to have a camera following you around, but they make you feel like you are amongst friends. I knew my pictures were going to be beautiful, but when we saw our proofs- we were taken back at just how beautiful they were. Shane captured every single emotion I felt that day (as well as our guest's emotions), and looking at these pictures brings me back to the happiest day of my life. So future brides (and grooms), look no further! This is your photographer. Take it from someone who has actually used the Shane Welch services. -Jazmine&Marlon read more

Working with Shane was an absolute dream! With all the craziness that comes up during the wedding planning process, Shane was beyond easy to work with and followed through on every promise. Beyond professionalism, my new husband and our friends had a fantastic time hanging out with him and second photographer Sam throughout the big day. They kept everything fun and easy going - even on a below-freezing Chicago day in February. We absolutely love our photos and are so pleased with our decision to work with Shane! read more

I was fortunate enough to have Shane and his team photograph my wedding this weekend. Let me tell you, it was by far the best decision I had made. He went above and beyond guaranteeing the day went perfectly as planned. This is all coming from a dude that hates to have his picture taken. If you are a guy like me that hates cheesy stuff, I highly recommend Shane. Hit me up on yelp and I'll rant some more on how awesome he was..... read more

I can't even describe how amazing Shane was to work with. He is the most easy going photographer I have worked with! There was not one picture I did not like that he was worth every penny! For our engagement pictures we ran around the city of Chicago for 2 hours and he made the whole experience so fun! He was so creative with his shots! We started in the evening and continued on until dusk and had nights me views of the city. It was great! We were so lucky with our wedding day! The weather was absolutely amazing we couldn't have asked for a better day. Shane arrived with our videographer right on time. They just did their thing and took pics of my dress, us girls getting ready, the rings and the city views. I barely knew he was there! We got a little late start for our first look pictures and me being trying to be very much needing to be on time Shane was so cool about letting me know it's fine, don't worry we are going to take amazing pictures and just enjoy yourself! Again, he was very creative on all his shots! We took all our pics on the river walk and on the bridge downtown. There were times I felt super sick and thought I was going to pass out and I kept holding strong and he and his assistant were so amazing and kept feeding me almonds and just wanted to make sure I would be ok. They were the most patient people and wanted to make sure we were all having fun! What I loved even more was that he made a point to capture each and every one of our guests whether it was during cocktail house, dinner or dancing! That was so important to me and it meant so much to go through our pictures and to know that everyone was involved! He was worth every penny and I am so glad we used him for our wedding! Thank you so much Shane for everything!!! read more

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Booking Shane Welch was the best decision we made for our Wedding. He captured every aspect of our day and provided us with the most beautiful and unique Wedding photographs that we will have to look back on for a lifetime. It was a pleasure working with Shane and Sam and I would highly recommend using Shane Welch Photography. read more

Shane was our wedding photographer and did an incredible job!! He was very creative and self-motivated to find good spots for us to take pictures, even in a city he wasn't very familiar with. He was very flexible with meeting with us and emailing back quickly when we had a few last minute changes to the schedule right before our wedding. He posted a sneak peak to facebook right away so we could see a few pictures when we were on our honeymoon, which we loved!! We would highly recommend him and would use him again in the future :D Good job Shane! read more

Shane was our photographer for our wedding and he did an amazing job! He also did our engagement shoot and the pictures turned out beautifully. He is very easy to work with and his laid back attitude helped us to relax in our pictures. We were not entirely certain about where we wanted to take pictures and he did a great job of scouting out cool locations for our pictures. Shane was recommended to us by our friends, and then we recommended him to my brother and two other friends who were all very happy with their wedding and engagement pictures as well. Hopefully we will see him at another wedding again soon! read more

Shane is an AMAZING wedding photographer, we couldn't have been happier with our experience. The most important thing about him is his photos- which are incredible. He listened exactly to what we wanted and what style we were going for and used his creative skills to create beautiful images. Another great thing about Shane is his flexibility and his personality. He is calm and collected and in control- something that is essential on the day of. He is easy to be around and makes you feel comfortable in front of the camera. We have received numerous compliments on our photos from family and friends- and even people we hardly know! We will definitely cherish our photos forever and are so glad we went with Shane Welch Photography. read more

Shane is so talented, we are thrilled with our wedding photos! He was a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend him. He is easy-going, fun, organized, and most importantly an AMAZING photographer. Our photos are full of nature and dreamy lighting. Shane captured many important and memorable wedding day moments, we are so grateful. read more

Shane is an awesome photographer! My husband and I were fortunate to have found him amongst many ads that scrolled along the side of our Facebook page when looking for someone to do our engagement photo shoot. Shane is timely, professional, and easy to work with. He cares about his clients and the quality of his work. He took the time to meet with us before our shoot and even scouted out great spots throughout the city that surely proved to make amazing photo opts after viewing the final product. I'd definitely recommend Shane and look forward to working with him again soon! read more

Shane was absolutely, hands down the best money we spent on our destination wedding in the Florida Keys. Having a photographer that you genuinely enjoy is so important to your wedding day - he is the vendor you will spend the most time with. Having Shane photographing us was like having a hilarious buddy hanging out with a camera. We laughed a lot and had a great time taking photos, which helped us relax and look natural in our pictures. Shane went above and beyond for our engagement and wedding photos, heading to the site a day early to find the best spots for photos so the actual picture taking was efficient. He is so passionate and has a very clear vision. We could not be happier with our photos, they are beautiful and really capture our wedding day. Our bridal party and family also loved having him around. He is not intrusive but still managed to get all of our intimate moments. He's just great and you will love him as well! read more