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.

September 29, 2022

FILED IN: Weddings

bride and groom dance under a ton of stringlights during their mavris reception

String lights and chandeliers provided mood lighting as the guests took their seats at the Mavris. Then, from the stairwell, Maggie and Tyler entered the reception space to massive applause from their friends and family. Immediately after they entered the space, music swelled and they danced their first dance in the middle of the tables […]

August 9, 2022

FILED IN: Weddings

a bride and groom eat hot dogs from a hot dog cart before their scottish rite cathedral wedding

A hot dog stand stood in the middle of White River State Park, next to the canal. When Ali and Eric saw the stand, Ali immediately asked if we had time to get hot dogs. For the bride, of course. We loved the spontaneity and also we just love when couples do something they enjoy […]

December 3, 2021

FILED IN: Engagements

man hugs woman in front of autumnal background during their downtown zionsville engagement session

Orange leaves were spread on the sidewalk. A gentle breeze sent more leaves fluttering from the tree branches above. The breeze blew some of the leaves on the sidewalk, sending them skittering in a white picket fence which held them still. Hannah and Cole held hands and walked down the side walk through the fallen […]

July 20, 2021

FILED IN: Engagements

couple silhouetted and dancing at sunset during their coxhall gardens engagement session

The light of the setting sun filled the sky with oranges and yellows and blues. The color faded from one end of the spectrum to the other making dusk seem magical and full of wonder. The pond at the park lay still and peaceful, like mirror reflecting the beauty of the sunset up above. In […]

July 17, 2021

FILED IN: Weddings

fairy lights wrapped around the bride and groom at their bluffs wedding at conner prairie

In the middle of a dark road through the woods, a little bit of moonlight broke through the tree leaves. On the road, wrapped in fairy lights were Kelsey and Kevin. Embracing and looking deep into each other’s eyes, it was a magical moment to behold. Of course, we had to use a flash behind […]

July 15, 2021

FILED IN: Weddings

summerhouse wedding

Standing in front of short hedge, Holly and Alex hugged. They leaned in to kiss, as the sun was setting behind them. It was a fantastic moment. This wedding is from last year, a week before Halloween. It was so much fun to get to shoot this Summerhouse Wedding at Summer Lake. Holly and Alex’s […]

March 8, 2021

FILED IN: Weddings

first dance with lots of bokeh at this woolery mill wedding

String lights hung overhead, casting a little illumination on the ground below but mostly creating a beautiful ambience in the venue. Under the lights, Evan and Megan swayed back and forth to the sound of Dave Matthews Band. Their first dance was lovely and magical. We hope you love this Woolery Mill wedding with Megan […]

March 6, 2021

FILED IN: Engagements

man and woman drinking beer in biergarten during their Rathskeller engagement

Condensation dripped off the outside of two glass beer mugs on a hot summer day. The beer mugs were in the hands of Meg and Kevin as they sat on a stage in the biergarten at the Rathskeller. The sound of their laughter as they talked echoed off the hard wood of the stage floor […]

March 5, 2021

FILED IN: Portraits

family of four with mom, dad, and two daughters on blanket for their farmland family photography

The swing swayed gently back and forth on the front porch. The swing made a rhythmic creaking noise as it moved. On the swing, the De La Vegas sat with their daughters, reading books as the sun set. This was just one of the amazing moments from the lifestyle shoot we did with the De […]

January 26, 2021

FILED IN: Weddings

bride and groom hold hands and walk away from the Indiana Statehouse during their Indiana Roof Ballroom wedding

The sunlight streamed in a slant across the grass of the Indiana Statehouse. Some of the higher rays bounced off the glass face of a nearby building and reflected back down across the grass from the opposite direction. Grace and Nathan walked across the grass, holding hands, showered in the warm sunlight streaming from two […]