Best luxury Chicago wedding + engagement photos from photographer Kenny Nakai

Chicago Microwedding Photos at Morton Arboretum

08.07.20

Chicago Microwedding Pictures at The Morton Arboretum

Cynthia + Robert were originally scheduled to have their wedding in Florida, but due to the coronavirus, they held a Chicago microwedding instead! To comply with state regulations, they held their ceremony outside, and the Fragrance Garden at The Morton Arboretum was the perfect spot! As a Chicago microwedding photographer, I appreciate all the safety regulations The Morton Arboretum has in place!

This first photo is my favorite photo of the day! Be sure to scroll down to see all 50+ of their Chicago microwedding photos!

Morton Arboretum wedding photographer microwedding

Cynthia looked like she was straight out of a wedding fashion magazine!

microwedding pictures chicago Morton Arboretum bride

Chicago Microwedding Details:

Ceremony Venue: The Fragrance Garden at The Morton Arboretum

Photographer: Nakai Photography

microwedding getting ready photos details

Getting ready photos with the groom-

Killer portraits of Robert-

So simple and elegant-

As much as possible, I’m a natural light wedding photographer, so I love it when brides are in a well lit room with big windows! Cynthia looks stunning in all of her photos!

Chicago Microwedding Photos: Morton Arboretum Ceremony

One last moment together with her Maid of Honor before walking down the aisle!

So radiant and picture perfect!

As I mentioned before, The Morton Arboretum is the most amazing location for a Chicago microwedding!

And then there were bubbles! As a wedding photographer, I love seeing the smiles and laughs in all the unexpected moments!

One of best parts of microwedding photos…is that you have lots of time to take pictures! With a beautiful space we didn’t have to go very far for their Morton Arboretum wedding pictures!

Photographer’s Insights: Love the symmetry, love the layers/depth, love the way the veil just drapes, and I LOVE their embrace!

A beautiful moment-

If you were getting married and in need of a Morton Arboretum wedding photographer, please reach out!

We found this patch of trees that made us feel like we were in Alaska! (anywhere but Illinois!)

Behind every smiling bride is her squad!

This photo is so simple but so beautiful-

So many amazing spaces for their Morton Arboretum wedding pictures!

One last photo of the ladies helping make these Chicago microwedding photos possible!

Congrats again Cynthia + Robert! So happy for you both to have found one another! My heart and prayers go forth with you as you begin this new chapter together! Thank you for taking the time to walk around The Morton Arboretum for your Chicago microwedding photos!

with love,

your Chicago microwedding photographer,

Kenny Nakai

Tags: chicago microwedding, chicago microwedding photographer, chicago microwedding photos, microwedding photographer, microwedding photos, Morton Arboretum wedding photographer, Morton Arboretum wedding pictures

Show Hide 0 comments

Chicago Family Photographer + Chicago Headshots

08.05.20

Chicago Family Pictures // Chicago Headshots

During this COVID season, we are taking Chicago family photos outdoors, and we are socially distanced! Karl + Sandra live near the 606 Bike trail and we found a great spot for their family portraits! Even though vacations may have to be postponed, life with children still goes on! They still grow taller and mature…and Nakai Photography is here to be your Chicago family photographer!

Love this family picture – we are here for all the laughs and giggles!

One day they will look back and think…Daddy lifted us BOTH up together!

You get major credit if you can guess the superheros they are impersonating! (Hint: They are both Avengers…that may or may not be helpful =P)

Chicago family photographer tip: Always make sure to include a standing family portrait to show the height differences! One day they may be taller than their parents!

Because Mom + Dad need a photo together!

Chicago Headshot Photos

Sandra + Karl both need updated headshot pictures, so we made sure to grab a few of those as well! I normally prefer to have a separate session for headshot photos, but we had enough time for all the pictures during their session! Chicago headshot photographer tip: Make sure you know the business of your clientele! Sandra has her own website and we worked together to make sure her Chicago headshots were on brand for her audience! The graffiti in the background showcases the urban nature of her work and I love that it was only a couple blocks from her house!

Thanks Karl + Sandra for prioritizing your Chicago family photos + your Chicago headshots! My hope these pictures will be loved and appreciated for generations! =)

with love,

your Chicago family photographer,

Kenny Nakai

Tags: chicago family photographer, chicago family photos, chicago family portraits, chicago headshot photo, chicago headshot photographer

Show Hide 0 comments

Chicago Dance Photographer // Ballet Dancer

07.31.20

Chicago Dance Photographer // Ballet + Modern Dancer

I have previously photographed her as a baby, then a child, and now a dancer! She enjoys her time at at Rise Dance Center in Schaumburg, IL, where she has taken a variety of dance classes: ballet, modern, tap, jazz & hip-hop! For the photos, she was focused on executing her moves and positions, while I focused on lighting and timing! To see her previous Chicago dancing photos, check out this blog post!

After each session of classes, Rise Dance Center puts on a performance, and while COVID may have changed their plans for a recital, we still wanted to photographer her in her various dance outfits! She loves dancing and these photographs showcase all the hard work she has put into her routines!

If you know anyone in need of a Chicago dance photographer, feel free to reach out!

This first photo was our favorite from the session! The red dress shows the range of motion as she kicked her leg up! Photographer’s tip: Choosing the right background for the outfit. Here we paired the simple black background to help make her red dress stand out!

Love the motion and elegance of this ballet routine.

Loved the texture of these feathers!

For these last few ballet dancing photos, we went outside for an urban vibe!

She makes these poses look so effortless!

Thanks for having me as your Chicago dancing photographer! So great to see all your new moves and routines! Keep up the great work!

Tags: chicago ballet photographer, chicago ballet pictures, chicago dance photographer, chicago dance photos, chicago dancing photographer, rise dance center

Show Hide 0 comments

Chicago Intimate Wedding Photos // The Robey Rooftop

07.25.20

Chicago Intimate Wedding Photos // The Robey Hotel Rooftop

It is the season for Chicago intimate wedding photos! Due to COVID, large gatherings are not allowed. While there are various guidelines for indoor and outdoor spaces, many couples are opting for intimate weddings with just their closest friends and family! Virita + Jon’s Chicago intimate wedding was held on the rooftop of The Robey Chicago in Wicker Park! The Robey has a gorgeous view of the Chicago skyline, and we made sure to include that in their intimate wedding picture!

Chicago Intimate Wedding Photo Details:
Intimate Wedding Ceremony Location: The Robey Chicago
Photographer: Nakai Photography

After their ceremony, we traveled through out the city for their Chicago intimate wedding photos! First we stopped by Lincoln Park!

We headed to another iconic location, The Chicago Theatre sign!

We finished their day with portraits on a Chicago bridge!

Chicago Intimate Wedding Photos: Getting Ready at The Robey

Virita was getting ready in one of The Robey suites, complete with an amazing view of Chicago!

A special touch: The bride wrapped her bouquet with her father’s tie, so she would be with him as she walked down the aisle on her wedding day

She held a ‘first look’ with her nieces and nephew – and their reactions were so cute!

As a wedding photographer, it’s these little moments that make everything special!

Finishing touches with her sister-

Beautiful photos of the bride!

Jon had a ‘first look’ with his daughter, a special moment for the two of them!

Chicago Intimate Wedding Photos: Ceremony on The Robey Chicago Rooftop

And so it was…an intimate wedding ceremony with their family on The Robey Chicago rooftop

We may not have any mountain ranges or oceans to gaze upon, but this view from The Robey is pretty breathtaking! The perfect Chicago intimate wedding venue!

This wedding wouldn’t be complete without showing all the ‘zoom’ guests watching over the internet! Virita + Jon were so thrilled to see everyone online! Wedding photographer tip: Tell the whole story. To get this photo, I stood on a bar stool to get a photo of them on their laptop and including the skyline in the background!

As we headed out for their wedding pictures, wanted to take a creative photo with this reflection!

Chicago Intimate Wedding Photos Around the City

First stop for their wedding pictures was at Lincoln Park!

They love the Chicago skyline and wanted to incorporate it into their wedding photos!

Love the perfect gust of wind to blow her veil!

Photographer’s Tip: Sometimes you have to climb on a bridge to get the perfect shot!

Congrats Virita + Jon! So happy for you both…and that you found one another! It was the most perfect day and location for your wedding! Looking forward to the day when travel restrictions are lifted and you can travel to the Amalfi coast and enjoy your time together as HUSBAND and WIFE! =)

much love to you both!

your Chicago wedding photographer,

Kenny Nakai

Tags: chicago intimate wedding, chicago intimate wedding photos, chicago intimate wedding pictures, chicago rooftop wedding, chicago wedding photographer, intimate wedding pictures, robey Chicago, robey chicago wedding photos

Show Hide 0 comments

Chicago Family Photographer // Fun Outdoor Portraits!

07.10.20

Chicago Family Photographer // Outdoor Portraits

Though the COVID pandemic has forced us all to shelter in place and avoid spaces with other people, babies and kids are still growing up! Now that Illinois has entered Phase 4, Chicago family photographers are able to photograph your families inside or outdoors! If you were interested in booking an outdoor family portrait session, be sure to check out my Chicago family photos portfolio to see more photos!

This little girl is a cute 18months and we wanted to remember her playfulness! We wanted to take their portraits in an outdoor space and I knew the perfect location for them!