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.

November 1, 2019

FILED IN: Weddings

bride and groom kiss under trees on mass ave on their VisionLoft Wedding day

Walking down Mass Ave at sunset, Emily and Ryan paused under a cluster of trees. It was a warm fall day, far removed from the crisp, cold that we’re experiencing now in November. Ryan pulled Emily close to him, hugging her. They kissed on Mass Ave while the light of sun popped from inbetween buildings […]

July 29, 2019

FILED IN: Weddings

bride rests head on groom's shoulder under white, wooden, lattice archway at their IMA wedding at Newfields

The setting sun backlit the white, lattice archway. Green leaves from the surrounding plants grew up and wove through the wood. Standing underneath the archway, Danielle rested her head on Alex’s shoulder. Alex turned his head toward her, smiling. This was just one of the many amazing moments we were lucky enough to capture at […]

September 19, 2018

FILED IN: Weddings

bride and groom under umbrella backlit by warm light on a rainy Neidhammer wedding day

The rain was coming down in sheets, and there wasn’t a break in the clouds. Victoria and Mike stepped outside for a break from their wedding festivities. While outside, they huddled together under a transparent umbrella. It was quiet outside. It was one of the few places they could have a moment alone during their […]

August 7, 2018

FILED IN: Weddings

a brown haired man in a suit and a blonde woman in a white wedding dress with a braid like elsa from frozen hug at the sycamore at mallow run at sunset with a fake sun that's really an off camera flash

Standing behind the Sycamore at Mallow Run, Ashley and Geoff hugged each other in the golden glow of the setting sun. Their wedding had just ended a few minutes earlier, and they were enjoying a little private time away from their guests and their ceremony. They hugged and kissed and danced in those few moments […]

August 2, 2018

FILED IN: Weddings

bride in modern chic wedding dress stands with groom in two piece tux in moody window light, woman behind man and clutching his arm

The light from the sun permeated the glass window at the Mavris. It’s light filtered into the room where Lily and Zack were standing looking out at downtown Indianapolis. Lilly was standing behind Zack, her arms wrapped around his and her eyes looking upward toward him. A smile had broken its way across not just […]

July 25, 2018

FILED IN: Weddings

Man in tuxedo and woman in white dress stand on the Indiana War Memorial steps holding hands and looking at each other

Accompanied by their friends, Haley and Andrew walked down the steps of the Indiana War Memorial. Half way down the steps they stopped, and still holding hands they looked deep into each other’s eyes. Their friends, the bridal party, continued to walk away, giving them a rare moment alone during their bridal party portraits. Standing […]

May 24, 2018

FILED IN: Weddings

a groom with a lei kisses a bride in front of the boughs of an evergreen tree

The green needles of the conifers were vibrant from the spring rains, and the boughs of the trees struggled upward under their weight at Meridian Hills on Megan and Ian’s wedding day. Megan and Ian stood in front of the trees as they waited for their reception to begin. Ian turned to face Megan, holding […]

December 8, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

stunning freelensing photo of a bride and groom in the white river park holding hands, the bride's face is in focus but not much else in the photo and leaves on the trees behind them are fading from a brilliant orange to a brown

The leaves had faded from a vibrant green to a muted, burnt orange.  On a sidewalk in White River Park, Grant held Amanda’s hand and looked at her lovingly. The breeze tugged lightly at the ribbon hanging from Amanda’s bouquet. It was a beautiful moment. I realized I wanted to shoot something a little different. […]

November 29, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

a bride and groom stand in a triangle of light under a bridge in downtown indianapolis on their wedding day

The bridges for the train tracks ran together over South Street in downtown Indianapolis. Because of the angular way the came together close to the Alexander hotel, they formed a rough triangle. The sun’s light penetrated through the gap. Because of this, there was a beautiful contrast on the street beneath between the light and […]

November 20, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

The sun had already fallen below the rooftops of the buildings downtown, so I wouldn’t necessarily call this a sunset shot. Instead we set up a flash and placed it at the right distance and angle behind the Bing and Spike to give the same feeling and glow as a sunset shot. I couldn’t be […]