Wedding Advice & Photography

Two things we are confident in: Wedding Planning & photography. Van Elk & Co is made up of a team of photographers who love to create portraits of love & happiness and share advice for wedding couples.

This isn't your typical photography blog. We share useful info for couples who are getting married and those who are heading that direction. Let us show you pretty things while you fill your head with all things wedding planning.

August 7, 2020

Man and Woman sit in boat in one of the Best Indianapolis Engagement Photo Locations

Throughout Indianapolis, there are lots of hidden gems when it comes to portrait session locations. Whether it be the outdoors, with beautiful foliage, or an urban setting with colorful walls, it’s hard to go wrong in Indy. If you’re looking for a place to do your engagement session but don’t already have something in mind, […]

February 22, 2023

FILED IN: Wedding Tip

best indianapolis barn venues for weddings, the little grand barn at artisan acres estate

One of the most frequently searched for types of venues in Indiana is the barn venue. Luckily if you’re looking to have your event at a barn venue near Indianapolis, you have a lot of options. It is hard to parse through all the google results to find the best fit for your wedding though, […]

February 21, 2023

FILED IN: Portraits

We wanted to update our family photos recently. Even though we’ve been shooting for quite some time and have a lot of photographer friends, we weren’t certain who we wanted to hire to take our photos. That’s when we realized we were maybe thinking too hard about this. We have an amazing lead photographer who […]

February 20, 2023

FILED IN: Weddings

Olivia and Mike’s wedding was a beautiful celebration of love and commitment. The venue’s rustic and vintage charm perfectly complemented the couple’s romantic and intimate nuptials. Their Sixpence Indianapolis wedding ceremony was outdoors in front of beautiful Christmas trees. This created a picture-perfect backdrop for the happy couple to exchange their vows. The reception was […]

November 15, 2022

FILED IN: Engagements

Yalana and BG’s Carmel City Center photography session was a romantic and picturesque affair. The City Center’s beautiful architecture provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s engagement photos. The brick-paved streets and beautiful fountains added to the charm of the day, making it truly memorable. Yalana and BG’s chemistry was evident in the photos, and […]

November 12, 2022

FILED IN: Video, Weddings

man in gray suit hugs woman in white dress with faux fur shawl from behind in meadow in autumn during their charming carmel wedding

The air was cool and crisp in the middle of a meadow. A slight breeze moved through the stalks of the wildflowers, still standing after having lost their flowers in fall. In the middle of the grass and plants, David hugged Allison and kept her warm. Behind them the red leaves still clinging to a […]

November 11, 2022

FILED IN: Weddings

in a corner of a bar a bride adjusts her groom's boutonniere while bathed in window light during their garment factory events wedding

The corner of the bar had two windows filtering the sunlight from outside as it entered the room. In between these windows, Jeremy stood waiting for Megan to approach him. When she did, he turned and his whole face burst out into a giant smile. It was a magical first look with the exact kind […]

November 10, 2022

FILED IN: Weddings

man in suit and woman in white dress with lace kiss in the middle of a field of wildflowers during this White Willow Farms Wedding

A slight breeze rustled the plants growing in the meadow, causing the wildflowers to sway back and forth. Sophia and Bryce walked out into the the fauna together holding hands. The plants were wet because a small storm had popped up and drizzled on the farmland. The overcast sky still held gray clouds over the […]

November 4, 2022

FILED IN: Engagements

man in jean jacket and woman in sweater sit on picnic bench in front of lake and lots of fall foliage during their brown county engagement session

The leaves on the trees were all changing, from greens too yellows and oranges and reds. Those colors were reflected off the surface of Lake Ogle, providing a beautiful backdrop for photos. After hiking around the lake, Kendall and Connor paused to sit on a picnic table and admire the spectacular view. It was just […]

November 3, 2022

FILED IN: Weddings

bride and groom kiss in front of red barn at night during their charming lindley farmstead wedding

The music from the reception drifted out the open doors of the barn and dispersed across the grass outside. The night sky was full of stars, looking down as the revelry of the reception spilled outside. Katie and Peter were standing next to the pond, the barn in the background, taking a brief moment away […]

October 31, 2022

FILED IN: Engagements

viewed through a gap in the leaves of a bush, a man and a woman kiss during their Artisan Acres Estate engagement

A small gap in the leaves let the light shine down on the clearing next to the Little Grand Barn. Standing in the clearing, surrounded by the forest, Katie and Peter hugged and kissed. This was just one of the many sweet moments from their Artisan Acres Estate engagement session. Scroll down to see pictures […]