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.

May 25, 2024

FILED IN: Engagements

man hugs woman in their Newfields garden engagement

Samantha and Trace’s Newfields Garden engagement was a celebration of love amidst the enchanting beauty of nature. The gardens at Newfields, renowned for their stunning array of gorgeous flowers, provided the perfect backdrop for their romantic session. Every glance, every smile, was beautifully framed by the vibrant blooms and lush greenery, creating an atmosphere that […]

August 28, 2022

FILED IN: Engagements

a man and a woman kiss outside a glass building during their newfields greenhouse engagement photos

The soft sunlight filtered through the overcast sky and reflected off the glass of the greenhouse. In front of the greenhouse, Kathleen and Albert embraced. As they hugged, they brought their heads together and briefly kissed. This was just one of the lovely moments from their Newfields greenhouse engagement session. Scroll down to see many […]

August 11, 2022

FILED IN: Weddings

Sarah and Jeffrey wanted to make sure they got some photos of Sarah at the Bottleworks Hotel, where she was getting ready. So, the first thing we did the morning of the wedding was we took Sarah out to do some portraits. Bottleworks is absolutely gorgeous and made for a lovely backdrop. After a few […]

March 24, 2022

FILED IN: Weddings

bride and groom kiss on balcony of alexander hotel with puffy clouds in the background before a Newfields Garden Wedding

White cumulus clouds hung in the air over Indianapolis. Rashad stood on the balcony of the Alexander Hotel looking out at the city as Kathleen walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around to see her, a smile crossing his face. They embraced and kissed as the a gentle breeze […]

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, […]

July 27, 2020

bride and groom hold hands and look at each other in garden at newfields on wedding day

Bryana & DJ are celebrating their 1 year anniversary! I cannot believe how fast that year went. We are so excited to celebrate with them today. They sent in advice for couples planning that is a must-read. Their wedding was one of our favorites, and I’m sure you can tell by the photos it was […]

June 30, 2020

FILED IN: Anniversary

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

Happy Anniversary Danielle & Alex! Danielle & Alex had a gorgeous Newfields wedding located at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Their day started off at Danielle’s beautiful home located in Lockerbie. Weirdly enough I’ve captured engagement photos right in front of their home on several occasions. It’s one of the most beautiful cobblestone roads in […]

February 3, 2020

FILED IN: Engagements

Can anyone believe we are already into month 2 of 2020! How is this possible? I’ve been going through galleries of 2019 the past few days and I can’t tell you how hard it was to narrow it down to a reasonable amount. We just adore our couples and everything they do is just photo […]

November 4, 2019

FILED IN: Engagements

man and woman sit on rock at sunset during their IMA engagement session

A large rock sat on the ground under a canopy of tree leaves. The underbrush had been cleared out and grass had been planted, causing a quasi clearing in the grounds at Newfields. Emily and David sat on the rock with the sun setting behind. The sun’s rays cut through the trees and leaves, illuminating […]

August 15, 2019

FILED IN: Weddings

bride and groom hold hands and look at each other in garden at newfields on wedding day

The warm sun shined down through the humidity, backlighting Bryana and Darnel. They stood holding hands in the Four Seasons Garden at Newfields, after their ceremony had ended. Their bridal party and guests had all walked back to the reception in the Deer Zink Pavilion, and they were enjoying a few moments alone in the […]