http://www.krystalrichmondphotography.com/, http://www.krp.bigcartel.com/

Krystal Richmond Photography, Kankakee, IL (2026)

04/23/2026

The absolute joy that it brings me to have one of my previous couples welcome me back to capture their next chapter after marriage is just unmatched!

And on top of that, when it can be so personable to do this in their home where it feels so grounded and connected to their family.

Major plus to see their Wedding photos displayed on the wall immediately when I walked in the door!

I’ll never stop saying it, find a photographer who can transition with you through all the seasons of life 🫶🏼

#

03/16/2026

When couples book maternity sessions...

They assume they need to go somewhere Pinterest-perfect with golden hour light and a flowing dress blowing in the wind.

They worry about learning how to pose in their new body because everything feels different and unfamiliar.

They have never done maternity photos before and suddenly they are supposed to know what looks natural and what does not.

They want authentic moments that feel like them, not generic hand-on-belly poses that could be anyone.

They are trying to figure out how to make the photos feel effortless and beautiful without it turning into a big staged production.

But watch what happens when we shoot at your home doing fun normal things with just a little soft direction.

This couple really wanted to show off their home because they love it so much and it is a strong representation of who they are as a couple.

They said they won’t live there forever, so they really wanted to highlight this specific chapter of their lives in this exact space before everything changes.

Before the baby comes, before they move to a bigger place, before this version of them and their life becomes a memory.

So we kept it laid back and relaxed, just them being themselves in the space they love, doing normal things that feel true to how they actually live, with gentle guidance from me so the photos still feel intentional and beautiful.

We captured their home, their relationship, their life right now in this specific moment that won’t exist in the same way again...

The difference between maternity photos that feel “basic” and ones that feel natural...

Is shooting in a space that actually matters to you with a photographer who knows how to guide you through your new body in a way that feels effortless and fun.

If you want maternity photos that feel like you and your actual life right now, DM me and let’s document this chapter at home where you live.

03/12/2026

You are allowed to change your mind about the vision for your wedding photos.

I know how easy it is to get locked into decisions you made months ago when you first started planning.

You were excited, overwhelmed, trying to make everyone happy, so you said yes to things that sounded good at the time.

Maybe that is a big traditional wedding with all the formal family photos and classic poses.

OR…The timeline your mom wanted.

You thought that was what you were supposed to want because that is what weddings are supposed to look like, right?

But now you are six months into planning and you realize none of it feels like you anymore.

You don’t actually care about having 1000 different family photo groupings.

You don’t want to spend an hour doing formal portraits when you could be celebrating with your person.

What you actually want is something loose, intimate, fun.

But what will your photographer think if you completely change direction? What if your family is disappointed?

This is your wedding day.
You should not have to “get through it.”
You should get to live it exactly how you want.

I have a couple who are doing exactly this.

hey were originally set on a destination wedding, which is why we shot their engagement session in Chicago with classic city vibes and a beach location to match that destination feel.

But halfway through planning, they decided the big wedding just was not them anymore.

So they reached back out, because we had already built that connection during the engagement session, and now we are in the planning stages of a vintage chic Chicago elopement happening this June.

Loose, easy going, just the two of them celebrating exactly how they want.

I genuinely cannot wait to shoot it.

If your vision does not fit you anymore, do not force it just because you think you have to.

And if your photographer cannot keep up or makes you feel bad about it, find one who can.

03/05/2026

You do not need to make it a destination wedding to get European vibes.

Let me show you exactly how Jack and Samantha pulled this off IN Chicago.

Samantha always imagined getting married in a Tuscan villa with European architecture and that romantic old-world feel. She wanted those elegant candid photos with a traditional fine art vibe, the kind of images that look timeless and romantically editorial (and can we blame her)?

But a destination wedding overseas was not realistic for them. So they needed to find something in Chicago that could give them that same European energy without actually leaving the country.

That’s why they chose Medina Golf Club, and if you have never been there, it literally feels like you are in Europe (swipe through to see)...

It has Tuscan villa vibes.

AND…Stunning architecture.

Plus romantic old-world charm.

It has the kind of details and atmosphere that make you feel like you are somewhere overseas without the stress, cost, or logistical nightmare of planning a destination wedding.

For Jack, it was perfect because he is a golfer, so we were able to incorporate photos of him golfing which made the day feel even more personal to them instead of just generic wedding portraits.

For their engagement session, we shot at Fourth Presbyterian Church to match that same architectural elegant vibe. We wanted everything to feel cohesive, so the engagement photos had the same European romantic feel as their wedding venue.

The full visual story from engagement to wedding day felt intentional and connected instead of random.

So, if you are a Chicago bride dreaming of European vibes for your wedding but you want the convenience of staying local…

Medina Golf Club gives you Tuscan villa architecture, romantic atmosphere, and elegant old-world charm without booking a flight or dealing with international vendor coordination.

You get the destination wedding aesthetic with the ease of planning something close to home.

P.S. If you want your wedding to feel like Europe without leaving Chicago, DM me and let’s talk about how to make it happen.

02/26/2026

“We’re just walking, how does this turn into a full gallery?”

It feels too simple, almost silly in the moment (which I get).

You are thinking “I am literally just walking around, how is this going to look good?”

But see what happens when you trust the process?

Walking at different speeds gives us variation in your expressions and body language.

Sandwiching his hands and moving closer builds intimacy.

Walking in and out of the frame and making contact in the middle gives us a story.

I guarantee pulling each other in opposite directions is going to make you laugh.

Chasing one another gets you both laughing too hard to think about the camera.

One moment of movement becomes dozens of images.

You get it…

All of these tiny variations of “just walking” give you comfort because you have something to do with your body and your energy.

Your brain is too busy moving and interacting to overthink how you look. That’s when you stop performing and start just being together, which is exactly what I want to capture.

The result?

A full gallery with variation, emotion, and a story unfolding across dozens of images instead of just one or two stiff poses.

If you have been dreading engagement or wedding photos because you think you are not a “photo person,” this is exactly why working with someone who knows how to direct you matters.

You are not supposed to magically know what to do.

I do.

And I will make it feel easy and fun, even when it feels silly at the moment.

Want photos that feel natural instead of forced?

DM me and let’s make it happen.

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02/23/2026

Your Pinterest board has editorial vibes, candid moments, bright and airy, dark and moody, emotional, fun and wild.

You thought you knew what you wanted until you realized your inspiration is all over the place and you have no idea how to make any of it happen on your wedding day.

This is the problem so many couples face.

You have been saving beautiful photos for months, but they are all different styles.

And you do not know which direction to go, or how to make it work with your venue, your timeline, your reality.

You just know you like what you see when you scroll.

This is exactly where Maja and Dillon were.

They had been to so many weddings that they had a million ideas…

but no clear vision for how to translate it into their own day.

They needed help sorting through what they actually wanted versus what just looked good on Pinterest.

So we spent time chatting through logistics, priorities, and how to make their vision happen with what they had.

They wanted to shoot at the South Gardens of the Art Institute, which is absolutely stunning but not guaranteed to be open.

So we planned backup locations to translate their vision regardless.

Thankfully the gardens were open, and we were able to photograph in multiple beautiful areas to get variety and take full advantage of the space.

But we did not stop there.

We also made time to get classic city vibes at another location and portraits at the iconic elevator inside their venue.

Nothing felt rushed even though we hit multiple spots because we communicated ahead of time about what mattered most.

Having backup plans and being prepared meant we could adapt and maximize every opportunity.

This is why your photographer matters.

I help you take your chaotic Pinterest board and turn it into a cohesive vision that actually works for your day.

Planning, communication, backup options, and knowing how to prioritize so you get everything you want without the stress.

If you have all the ideas but no clue how to make sense of them or execute them, DM me and let’s figure it out together.

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02/16/2026

This is the biggest misconception couples make during their wedding planning…

You are probably spending hours on Pinterest looking at stunning architectural backdrops, dreamy gardens, epic city views.

You think if the location is beautiful enough, it will take the pressure off you.

The backdrop will do half the work., right?

Here is what I need you to understand.

The location matters way less than you think it does.

Let me tell you about Anna and Frankie.

They got married at The Chez in Arlington Heights, a hotel banquet venue.

Not some grand architectural masterpiece, just a nice normal venue.

Anna wanted lots of energy in the photos AND, she made sure the groom got his moment too.

He got ready at his house with photos of his record player.

During groomsmen photos they found a random shopping cart and made it high fashion (seriously, it’s so good).

Now here is where it gets interesting.

Anna kept telling me there was a patch of grass at the venue for couple portraits.
I was not into it.

I was like…

This is just patchy grass, it is not a great backdrop, and nothing special.

But they did not want to miss cocktail hour and it was right out front, so we did it anyway.

And this is the key that took their photos from boring to incredibly personal.

They allowed themselves to just be real.
They were vibing so much in that patch of grass that the photos turned out absolutely gorgeous. They could not stop touching, interacting, whispering.
Their connection was electric.

I would have never shot there, but we got stunning photos because of the energy they brought, not because the space was special.

A good photographer can make any space look amazing by capturing your connection.

Stop stressing about the perfect backdrop and start thinking about how you want to feel on your wedding day.

Present, connected, genuinely enjoying each other. The photos will follow.

DM me and let’s capture your actual energy.

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02/12/2026

If you are planning a wedding that blends multiple traditions, here is how to do it without one culture feeling less important than the other:

This is one of the biggest fears I hear from couples planning multicultural weddings.

You want to honor both families and both traditions, but you are terrified it’ll feel like cramming two completely different weddings into one timeline.

But, here is how this couple made it work.

They wanted both a traditional tea ceremony for her family and a Western ceremony and reception for everyone.

So, we built an intentional timeline that gave both cultures real space.

We started with Western bridal portraits around Chicago.

Then created intentional time to go back to the venue where her mom helped her transition into her tea ceremony dress. That moment mattered.

We held a traditional tea ceremony with the immediate family and gave it the space it deserved, not just 15 rushed minutes.

Her mom helped her back into her bridal gown before the Western ceremony.

And, we allowed time for family photos in each gown so both sides got what they needed.

At the reception, Lion Dancers and Bread Breaking before speeches and dancing.

Both cultures had real intentional moments.
Both families felt seen.

AND…the day felt cohesive because we planned for it from the beginning.

This is why hiring the right photographer matters for multicultural weddings.

You need someone who understands these traditions are deeply important and knows how to build a timeline that honors both without chaos or rush.

If you are planning a multicultural wedding and worried about honoring both traditions, DM me.

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02/09/2026

These two came to me wanting something most couples think they have to choose between:

Timeless classic portraits they could frame forever, and trendy editorial shots with motion and blur that feel alive and modern.

They wanted downtown Chicago as their backdrop, and a gallery that had both worlds without feeling disjointed. 💐

Here is the dilemma:

Most photographers can do one or the other, but not both well in the same gallery.

Either you get classic work that feels stiff and dated, or trendy editorial that does not give you the timeless images you actually want to print and frame.

Getting both styles to look cohesive in your gallery requires intention and knowing when to shoot which style.

So here is how I made it happen…

For the classic portraits, I directed them through intentional positioning that feels elegant but natural.
Hand placement, angles, body positioning that flatters even though it is fully directed. These are the photos they will look back on in 30 years and still love because they are not tied to a trend.

For the trendy editorial shots, I had them move.
Walking, spinning, laughing while I captured motion with intentional slower shutter speeds. These photos add energy and life to the gallery.

They feel modern and editorial, the kind that tell the story of how their day actually felt, not just how it looked when everyone stood still.

The result?

A gallery that feels cohesive even though it has both styles.

They can print and frame the classic shots, post the trendy ones on social media, and love both equally because they all feel like them.

If you are getting married in Chicago and you want this same mix of timeless and trendy, DM me and let’s design your shot list together.

02/06/2026

A classic and timeless mini session perfect for everyone - now open for booking!
Best opportunity to update your everyday photos 🤍
Sunday March 1st - Kankakee Studio
Link to book is in the comments

Krystal Richmond Photography

04/23/2026

03/16/2026

03/12/2026

03/05/2026

02/26/2026

02/23/2026

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