AJ Abelman Photography

AJ Abelman Photography Love, laughter, joy, and taco enthusiast capturing portraits, wedding and events in Chicago and beyond Follow along on instagram:

AJ Abelman is an Ohio-bred, Chicago-based photographer specializing in wedding and portrait photography, with a focus on capturing the perfect moment and delivering images to last a lifetime.

Scott & Brendan // A Studio 54-inspired disco floral Kylie Minogue-fueled fantasy on a perfect sunny Saturday at Allium ...
08/27/2026

Scott & Brendan // A Studio 54-inspired disco floral Kylie Minogue-fueled fantasy on a perfect sunny Saturday at Allium Events

There were so many intentional details that it’s impossible to list them all, but highlights include:

🪩A pop-up ceremony during cocktail hour, officiated by the hilarious derryqueen , who later brought the house down with “It’s Raining Men”, where she opened an umbrella that rained down tiny cutouts of the grooms’ faces

🪩 watches and bands, paired with perfectly tailored baby blue suits and carefully selected ties

🪩 A salad that featured the same ingredients as the one they shared on the day they got engaged (and several other important days), including squash blossoms specially grown for the grooms by the chefs at Blue Plate

🪩Live music from a harpist (playing a vintage harp Scott restored), a guitarist, a pianist (on a specially brought in Steinway & Sons piano) and a 12 piece band throughout the night

🪩More nods to Kylie Minogue than I can even list, including the entire dance floor packed with guests showing off the choreography they were asked to learn in advance

Congratulations Scott & Brendan! xoxo

Planning + Design: Chicago Wedding Planners
Venue: Allium Events
Photo: AJ the Photographer
Floral + Decor: Chicago Wedding Florist | bou•K
Catering: Blue Plate
Linen: BBJ La Tavola
Music: Funktastic Productions | Event Entertainment Company Nichole Young ~ Harpist
Performance: derryqueen
Piano Rental: Steinway & Sons
Transportation: Signature Transportation Group

Isaac & Stef’s sneak peek: just a little window into the joy, the love, and all the little moments that made this day so...
08/25/2026

Isaac & Stef’s sneak peek: just a little window into the joy, the love, and all the little moments that made this day so special. I was obsessed with the embroidery on Stef’s gown, the ceremony in the round (providing the most intimate views under the chuppah, making for shots that I’ll be sharing for years), and the N64 Mario Kart setup. Love this daisy chain and these two so much!

Mazel tov, Stef & Isaac! xoxo

Venue: Chicago Winery
Floral: FLORAL BAR
Makeup: Jordan M Artistry
On Stef: Plus Size Bridal-Curvy Experts
Music: Bluewater Kings Band

Arpita & Brandon are a perfect match. The kind of brilliant, funny, warm people who immediately make you feel like famil...
08/05/2026

Arpita & Brandon are a perfect match. The kind of brilliant, funny, warm people who immediately make you feel like family (and in Arpita’s case, treat you like family, all the way down to insisting I remember to eat!). Their wedding day at Bridgeport Art Center was a colorful and joyful celebration of their life together, and I had so much fun spending the weekend with them. I feel so lucky to get to know these two and to have spent this gorgeous day with them, and I’m so happy to share some sneak peeks from their beautiful Hindu ceremony and their super fun reception. Congratulations, A & B! xoxo

Venue: Bridgeport Art Center
Floral: Flowers for Dreams Weddings
Catering: India House Catering
Coordinating: Eventful Moments by Alina Tariq
Hair & Makeup: Midwest & PNW Bridal Hairstyling, Makeup & HMU Education
Mehndi: unnatizart
Music: Modi Brothers Entertainment | Indian Wedding DJ

This beautiful Haldi ceremony for Brandon & Arpita deserved its own spot on the feed! I loved this special morning at Ar...
08/05/2026

This beautiful Haldi ceremony for Brandon & Arpita deserved its own spot on the feed! I loved this special morning at Arpita’s family home 💛

Nicole + Rachel + their fur babies at home in Detroit // This has been the season of in-home sessions and lots of travel...
07/29/2026

Nicole + Rachel + their fur babies at home in Detroit // This has been the season of in-home sessions and lots of travel, so here’s a session that’s both 💖

Kate & Kojo’s wedding day was a love letter to Logan Square and to their life together. After getting ready together in ...
07/23/2026

Kate & Kojo’s wedding day was a love letter to Logan Square and to their life together. After getting ready together in their apartment, we hit all their favorite spots in the neighborhood where they fell in love. On the CTA platforms where they meet up after work, the benches they kiss on after weekend lunch dates, the 606 trail where their run club meets each week. All the little corners stitched into the fabric of a beautiful life together. As we pulled up to Parson’s with a few minutes to spare (ya’ll know I love a buffer), Kate asked if we had time for ice cream. Obviously, the answer was yes. When a timeline is built with the main goal being intentional time together, magic happens (and ice cream, too). We were greeted by cheering strangers every step of the way, and as their friends and families poured in from as far as Ghana, LA, Atlanta and as close to down the street, the room was full of so much love and joy. As we walked from their reception Parson's Chicken and Fish to their after party at Emporium Chicago, Kojo said, “I’m so happy. Today was exactly how we imagined it. It was perfect.” That’s how I’d describe it, too.

Venue, catering: Parson's Chicken and Fish
On Kate: Jenny Yoo
On Kojo: Suitsupply
Kate’s bouquet: Flowers for Dreams Flowers for Dreams Weddings
HMUA: Chicago Avenue Hair Salon

Sometimes I pick clients up at the bar. Let me explain. Some of my favorite clients are folks that came by me naturally....
07/16/2026

Sometimes I pick clients up at the bar. Let me explain.

Some of my favorite clients are folks that came by me naturally. Not from reading reviews or seeing advertising, but by catching a peek of a coworker’s phone background. Or by chatting with the woman next to you on the airplane, and hearing about the photographer who has shot all 3 of her nieces’ weddings. Or, in one case, by striking up a conversation with a couple seated next to you at in Andersonville (who happened to be my in-laws, saving me a seat at the bar).

That story is completely true (and lead to a family photo session I’m editing as we speak!), and it made me think of this session with the beautiful Jack & Nate, who are getting married this fall. We stopped by so many of our favorite neighborhood spots, including the iconic Simon’s, and some rare private moments inside of !

One year ago with Sylvia + Sarah // From photos around our beloved Andersonville, to our stop for photos at the dealers...
06/28/2026

One year ago with Sylvia + Sarah // From photos around our beloved Andersonville, to our stop for photos at the dealership, this Pride month wedding was gay and beautiful and so joyful. On the dance floor I looked around and said to Sylvia, “girl this is like…SO many le****ns in such a wide age range. Where did all these folks dancing their asses off come from in your life?!” 1 year later, Sylvia & Sarah have become dear friends, and the folks on that dance floor have become beloved members of my community, too. Joining (chicago’s le***an feminist choir) has brought so much joy and community and music to my life, and it’s the perfect example of who Sylvia & Sarah are. They are overflowing with love and friendship and eager to share every single thing they have with the people in their lives.

I am so lucky to know them and to be in their circle and to be loved by them, so I had to share a few favorites from their day 💖

At a rehearsal dinner in 2022, the bride introduced me to her maid of honor and bestie, who she’d recently set up on a s...
06/09/2026

At a rehearsal dinner in 2022, the bride introduced me to her maid of honor and bestie, who she’d recently set up on a successful blind date. The date looked familiar to me, too….I had photographed his brother’s wedding in 2020! The universe (and .realtor ) conspired so beautifully to bring Bailey & Brian together, and it’s obvious to everyone who meets them that they’re a perfect match. When they came to me for their wedding photography, it all felt like it was meant to be.

On a chaotic downtown Chicago Saturday (with a music festival, world cup game, and Pokemon Go! festival all occurring within walking distance), with a splash of unexpected rain to boot, B+B were married, and nothing else mattered.

From the beginning, these incredibly creative, brilliant, and kind babes were crystal clear on the vision for their day: An intimate, intentional, and beautiful dinner party, where 50 of their nearest and dearest would come together to celebrate their union in style. From the unconventional (and incredibly photogenic) venue, a photography studio they could fully make their own, to the thoughtful and chic details, to the tiramisu tower (!!) Bailey & Brian made this day theirs, and it was breathtaking. I am so grateful for their trust in capturing this incredible day full of happy tears, thoughtful details, beautiful toasts, gorgeous design, and true love.

I adore you B + B. Cheers to forever 🤍

Vendors:
Venue:
Coordination:
Food:
Bar:
Tiramisu:
Music:
HMUA:
On Bailey:
On Brian:

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Chicago, IL

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