AJ Abelman Photography

AJ Abelman Photography Love, laughter, joy, and taco enthusiast capturing portraits, wedding and events in Chicago and beyond Follow along on instagram:

AJ Abelman is an Ohio-bred, Chicago-based photographer specializing in wedding and portrait photography, with a focus on capturing the perfect moment and delivering images to last a lifetime.

Arpita & Brandon are a perfect match. The kind of brilliant, funny, warm people who immediately make you feel like famil...
08/05/2026

Arpita & Brandon are a perfect match. The kind of brilliant, funny, warm people who immediately make you feel like family (and in Arpita’s case, treat you like family, all the way down to insisting I remember to eat!). Their wedding day at Bridgeport Art Center was a colorful and joyful celebration of their life together, and I had so much fun spending the weekend with them. I feel so lucky to get to know these two and to have spent this gorgeous day with them, and I’m so happy to share some sneak peeks from their beautiful Hindu ceremony and their super fun reception. Congratulations, A & B! xoxo

Venue: Bridgeport Art Center
Floral: Flowers for Dreams Weddings
Catering: India House Catering
Coordinating: Eventful Moments by Alina Tariq
Hair & Makeup: Midwest & PNW Bridal Hairstyling, Makeup & HMU Education
Mehndi: unnatizart
Music: Modi Brothers Entertainment | Indian Wedding DJ

This beautiful Haldi ceremony for Brandon & Arpita deserved its own spot on the feed! I loved this special morning at Ar...
08/05/2026

This beautiful Haldi ceremony for Brandon & Arpita deserved its own spot on the feed! I loved this special morning at Arpita’s family home 💛

Nicole + Rachel + their fur babies at home in Detroit // This has been the season of in-home sessions and lots of travel...
07/29/2026

Nicole + Rachel + their fur babies at home in Detroit // This has been the season of in-home sessions and lots of travel, so here’s a session that’s both 💖

Kate & Kojo’s wedding day was a love letter to Logan Square and to their life together. After getting ready together in ...
07/23/2026

Kate & Kojo’s wedding day was a love letter to Logan Square and to their life together. After getting ready together in their apartment, we hit all their favorite spots in the neighborhood where they fell in love. On the CTA platforms where they meet up after work, the benches they kiss on after weekend lunch dates, the 606 trail where their run club meets each week. All the little corners stitched into the fabric of a beautiful life together. As we pulled up to Parson’s with a few minutes to spare (ya’ll know I love a buffer), Kate asked if we had time for ice cream. Obviously, the answer was yes. When a timeline is built with the main goal being intentional time together, magic happens (and ice cream, too). We were greeted by cheering strangers every step of the way, and as their friends and families poured in from as far as Ghana, LA, Atlanta and as close to down the street, the room was full of so much love and joy. As we walked from their reception Parson's Chicken and Fish to their after party at Emporium Chicago, Kojo said, “I’m so happy. Today was exactly how we imagined it. It was perfect.” That’s how I’d describe it, too.

Venue, catering: Parson's Chicken and Fish
On Kate: Jenny Yoo
On Kojo: Suitsupply
Kate’s bouquet: Flowers for Dreams Flowers for Dreams Weddings
HMUA: Chicago Avenue Hair Salon

Sometimes I pick clients up at the bar. Let me explain. Some of my favorite clients are folks that came by me naturally....
07/16/2026

Sometimes I pick clients up at the bar. Let me explain.

Some of my favorite clients are folks that came by me naturally. Not from reading reviews or seeing advertising, but by catching a peek of a coworker’s phone background. Or by chatting with the woman next to you on the airplane, and hearing about the photographer who has shot all 3 of her nieces’ weddings. Or, in one case, by striking up a conversation with a couple seated next to you at in Andersonville (who happened to be my in-laws, saving me a seat at the bar).

That story is completely true (and lead to a family photo session I’m editing as we speak!), and it made me think of this session with the beautiful Jack & Nate, who are getting married this fall. We stopped by so many of our favorite neighborhood spots, including the iconic Simon’s, and some rare private moments inside of !

One year ago with Sylvia + Sarah // From photos around our beloved Andersonville, to our stop for photos at the dealers...
06/28/2026

One year ago with Sylvia + Sarah // From photos around our beloved Andersonville, to our stop for photos at the dealership, this Pride month wedding was gay and beautiful and so joyful. On the dance floor I looked around and said to Sylvia, “girl this is like…SO many le****ns in such a wide age range. Where did all these folks dancing their asses off come from in your life?!” 1 year later, Sylvia & Sarah have become dear friends, and the folks on that dance floor have become beloved members of my community, too. Joining (chicago’s le***an feminist choir) has brought so much joy and community and music to my life, and it’s the perfect example of who Sylvia & Sarah are. They are overflowing with love and friendship and eager to share every single thing they have with the people in their lives.

I am so lucky to know them and to be in their circle and to be loved by them, so I had to share a few favorites from their day 💖

At a rehearsal dinner in 2022, the bride introduced me to her maid of honor and bestie, who she’d recently set up on a s...
06/09/2026

At a rehearsal dinner in 2022, the bride introduced me to her maid of honor and bestie, who she’d recently set up on a successful blind date. The date looked familiar to me, too….I had photographed his brother’s wedding in 2020! The universe (and .realtor ) conspired so beautifully to bring Bailey & Brian together, and it’s obvious to everyone who meets them that they’re a perfect match. When they came to me for their wedding photography, it all felt like it was meant to be.

On a chaotic downtown Chicago Saturday (with a music festival, world cup game, and Pokemon Go! festival all occurring within walking distance), with a splash of unexpected rain to boot, B+B were married, and nothing else mattered.

From the beginning, these incredibly creative, brilliant, and kind babes were crystal clear on the vision for their day: An intimate, intentional, and beautiful dinner party, where 50 of their nearest and dearest would come together to celebrate their union in style. From the unconventional (and incredibly photogenic) venue, a photography studio they could fully make their own, to the thoughtful and chic details, to the tiramisu tower (!!) Bailey & Brian made this day theirs, and it was breathtaking. I am so grateful for their trust in capturing this incredible day full of happy tears, thoughtful details, beautiful toasts, gorgeous design, and true love.

I adore you B + B. Cheers to forever 🤍

Vendors:
Venue:
Coordination:
Food:
Bar:
Tiramisu:
Music:
HMUA:
On Bailey:
On Brian:

Robin + Michelle Part III // On a sweltering day in July, one year after their secret lakeside ceremony (see Part II if ...
06/04/2026

Robin + Michelle Part III // On a sweltering day in July, one year after their secret lakeside ceremony (see Part II if you missed it!), Michelle & Robin gathered their favorite people at . After revealing the big surprise to their families first, guests were let in on the full story during the ceremony. As expected, the response was shock, joy, and celebration. With the weight of the secret finally off their shoulders, Robin + Michelle danced the night away, and fully enjoyed every moment of bringing all their loved ones together in one place….finally. Some of my favorite touches were the elopement photos on display (what a joy to finally share them!), flowers native to Robin’s home country, Zimbabwe, and the free-flowing Aperol spritzes on this hot summer night.

They worded it so beautifully during their ceremony that I’ll share their words here:

“Exactly one year ago, Michelle and Robin stood together and said, “I do.” It was quiet, it was private, it was perfect. But this? This was always the plan.

To bring you together today, not just to witness a ceremony, but to celebrate one year of marriage, surrounded by the peiple they love most.

Welcome to their long-awaited wedding, which just so happens to be their one year anniversary party.

They hope you’ll forgive them for not telling you sooner, but they are thrilled to finally be able to call each other wives in front of you.”

Thank you for your trust, your vulnerability, and your joy, R&M. You are a gift to those lucky enough to know and love you, and I’m so grateful for all we shared through this experience. To be your photographer, secret-keeper and officiant was a joy beyond words, but becoming your friend is even better. Cheers to a million more happy years xoxoxo

Robin + Michelle: Part II With their faux engagement session completed (see Pt. I if you missed it!), our next stop was ...
06/03/2026

Robin + Michelle: Part II

With their faux engagement session completed (see Pt. I if you missed it!), our next stop was a nearby studio space to change. Their custom suits fit beautifully, and soon we were headed east to the lake. After picking a quiet spot along the water, Robin + Michelle exchanged private vows (only minorly interrupted by some wheelies, a classic Chicago experience). They exchanged rings, and with their ordained minister in tow as their officiant (that’s me!!!), they officially became married on the edge of Lake Michigan, with Chicago’s skyline cheering them on. We all shed a few tears, and then we hopped back into my Subaru and I dropped them off at home. There was such a feeling of overwhelming joy and elation in these moments together, and some of my favorite images of the day (though it’s hard to choose) are when that joy came bubbling to the surface.

As Michelle + Robin said themselves, “it was quiet, it was private, it was perfect.”

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