We love capturing love, because our marriage has blessed our lives immensely. Our lives together have been well documented (we're talking thousands of photos), and we are so excited that we might have the opportunity to capture a special part of your love story.
Click on to read more about us!
jeNN & stEVEN : oUR love Story
It's obvious that photos are important to us when we have pictures from the first day we met, and (this photo) our first date! We met at a Cru conference in Indianapolis through some mutual friends our senior year at Ball State. A couple months later we went on our first date. Jenn was an art major, so we took a detour after dinner to paint at Steve's. We still have our crazy paintings.
HOW we met
December 18, 2007 Jenn was led on a scavenger hunt through the Ball State campus, where the met and spent most of their relationship. Steve popped the question, at the same place where he told her he liked her and asked her on their first date. Even though we had only been dating for 8 months, we knew we couldn't live without one another. Jenn said “YES!” with tear filled eyes. This is one of the happiest moments of both of our lives.
Engagement Story
Steve bought Jenn her first professional digital camera. She studied photography in college but in the midst of working at a photography studio, gave up on her dream. At first she thought this gift would go to waste, her film camera had about an inch of dust on it. Now, it is one of the most valuable and thoughtful gifts anyone has ever given her. He constantly pushed her to go after her dreams because he saw something in her that she didn't see in herself. This is a big reason why we are photographers today.
Steve's best gift
8.16.08 We got married! We tied the knot in Muncie, IN with 225 of our closest friends and family. Photos were definitely one of the most important decisions of our wedding planning and we continue to see the importance as our family grows.
The Wedding
January of 2011 our son, Iain (E-an) was born, and our lives changed drastically. It went from late night dinners out to late night feedings. I don't think we've had a full nights rest since his birth. For anyone who has kids they know being a parent is one of the hardest, but most rewarding jobs. Our son is so awesome, kind, and makes us laugh everyday. He also loves photos and frequently is stealing the camera from us to take his own photos when we are on vacation.
Our Oldest: iAIN
After a year of training and education, Steve shot his first wedding for Jennifer Van Elk Photography in 2011. After that there was no turning back. February of 2015, Steven sold his video production business and joined our team full time. He has changed the business in such a valuable way that he'll never be seen as just another shooter. He is incredibly talented, genuinely cares for our couples, and is one of the best business partners.
#teamvanelk
First Wedding as a Team
Nora arrived February 22nd, 2016, one of the warmest days of the winter. She has made us even more proud and excited to be parents! Iain asked for a sister for years before she arrived. Most said that he'll be asking to send her back but every day he talks about how much he loves her and how cute she is. We feel insanely blessed by them and their love for one another.
Nora
Adelaide, our COVID baby, surprised us with an early arrival on Sept 18th 2021, 3 weeks before her due date. Both Iain & Nora were hoping for another baby and so excited to have a (another) sister. We worried about the adjustment but it feels like she has always been a part of the family. We all absolutely adore her.
Adelaide
We love to take roadtrips. One year we took so many that we drove all the way across the US! We drove to the Atlantic, and Gulf in the spring and to the Pacific in the winter. A total of 112 hours! We loved our trips, but one thing we will never do again is bring a car through downtown New York and Long Island. Never. Again.
Roadtrips
We genuinely care for each one of our couples. So many times we come out of a wedding feeling like we just made wonderful friends.
We love working together. We can honestly say we are a match in all ways. We are truly blessed to have found one another.
Business Partners
Marriage is full of hardships but something worth fighting for daily. It can bring immense joy and growth. The joy is so full and long, that in the long run, the hardships seem like a short season. They aren't ying and yang; they are not balanced. The joy is so much more abundant.
It's cliche to say but we love each other more today than we did on our wedding day. We hope the same for each of our couples. Marriage can be hard, but throughout the experience we witness what it is to truly love, and be loved in return.
Happily ever After
