oh hey! I’m O’Malley…and yes, that is my first name!
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oh hey! I’m O’Malley…and yes, that is my first name! \\
WEDDING
PHOTOGRAPHER
based in the central illinois!
If you are looking for a experience, not just another vendor to check off your list, I am your girl. Here for the non-tradition, out of the box couple who are looking to add a little something fun to their wedding photos. I love a good back alley for your urban engagement session, getting ready photos in your childhood bedroom (backstreet boys posters included please), or that secret forest oasis you two found on your first date. Want to spend your whole wedding day morning getting ready together in your first apartment with that downtown view…yes please.
weddings
I leave a little piece of my heart at every wedding I photograph…
So yeah—there are tiny emotional breadcrumbs of me scattered
across the country (ok, slightly creepy… but also kind of beautiful?).
It’s nearly impossible to pick favorites.
But the images you’ll find in my wedding portfolio?
They’re the ones that made me pause. Tear up. Laugh out loud.
They’re moments where presence mattered more than perfection.
Where couples did their thang, and I had the honor of witnessing it.
Because this isn’t about staged smiles or viral content.
It’s about you two, your people, your sacred weird joy.
And the way it all felt.
engagements
Whether we meet in downtown Chicago or hop a flight to somewhere wild and wonderful…
Engagement sessions are more than just pretty photos (though, yes, your blue steel face will make an appearance).
They’re our warm-up.
A chance to shake off the awkward, get comfortable on camera, and build the kind of trust that makes your wedding day feel effortless.
This is where I learn your quirks, your banter, the way you hold hands when no one’s looking.
And it’s where you realize—this isn’t about posing. It’s about presence.
So go ahead—click through the portfolio.
See what it looks like when comfort and connection come first.
photos that feel like home to the people in them
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photos that feel like home to the people in them 〰️
If you're looking for a wedding photographer who will honor the emotion, ease the overwhelm, and become your biggest cheerleader along the way—I'm ready when you are.
tacos
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plants
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boy mom
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books
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planners
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and of course...photos
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tacos 〰️ plants 〰️ boy mom 〰️ books 〰️ planners 〰️ and of course...photos 〰️
oh hey!
glad you are here!
my name is o'malley… and yes that is my first name
& I am a michigan girl shooting weddings based
out of central illinois!
I am freshly married (ok its been several years)… I highly recommend it.
My hubby was an All-American point guard and is now a basketball coach, so I know far more about basketball offenses than what is on E! news (is E! news even a thing anymore?!)
If you ask me what I want for dinner 99.9% of the time I will tell you tacos.
I have a slight obsession with school supplies...aka I still use a paper planner...where my bullet journalers at?!
ESPN is my go to tv channel, I was the boy my dad never had.
I became a mommy to an actual tiny human named daxton 4 years ago
^make that two tiny humans. barrow was born in 2020.
^make that three tiny humans. haynes was born in 2022
^make that four tiny humans. parks was born in 2024
recently I have become a major plant mom. houseplants are my new hobby (ok obsession)
escaping reality in my free time one fantasy book at a time. book nerds anyone?
I’ve wanted to be a photographer since 9th grade when my dreams of being a zoologist were crushed by my barely passing AP biology grade.
its super important that we click. check out what its like to work with me
throughout your #engaged life here
my philosophy
Your wedding isn’t a production. It’s a memory in the making.
You won’t find stiff posing or Pinterest copycats here. What you will find is a grounded, gentle presence in the room.
Someone who reads the moment and knows when to step in—or step back.
I’ll be the one fixing your dress, calming your nerves, reminding your dad where to stand for the first look (and capturing his quiet smile when he sees you). You don’t have to perform. Just be. I’ll handle the rest.
Because your story deserves to be honored—not just documented.
hi, it’s me. and this is more than a job
I’m a central illinois wedding photographer—but more than that, I’m a memory-keeper, a witness, and bonus bridesmaid (snack stash and dress bustle skills included).
I blend structure with soul—organizing timelines one minute, crying at your vows the next. I’ve been known to pin boutonnieres, whisper affirmations, and capture the “in-between” moments you didn’t even know to ask for.
Because your wedding isn’t a performance. It’s a deeply personal chapter of your story.
And I take that seriously.
I’m here to make you feel safe, supported, and celebrated in every frame.
Photos that look like art, a process that feels like home. That’s the goal.
you said “yes”… now what?
There’s a ring on your finger, a Pinterest board full of half-baked ideas, and a flood of people asking “Have you picked a venue yet?”
But if we’re being real?
You’re not just planning a wedding.
You’re curating an experience.
You want your day to feel like you two—not a template.
You’re not here for stiff poses or cookie-cutter timelines. You want meaning.
You want intimacy, sacredness, some serious laughter, and photos that don’t just show how it looked… but how it felt.
You’re creative, but slightly overwhelmed.
You have vision, but you’re craving guidance.
You want to feel seen—not sold to.
If you’re nodding right now...
Hi. I think you’re my kind of human.
you + me = us
When your vision meets my lens, we don’t just make pictures—we create legacy.
The kind of images that make your future kids say, “Wow… this was you?”
The kind of gallery you return to after hard days, good days, ordinary Tuesday mornings.
We co-create. We laugh. We build trust.
We honor your story in a way that’s true, honest, and a little bit magic.
So if you're ready to turn your love into visual memories…
Let’s make something together.
happy newlyweds
"she didn’t just take pictures—she helped carry the emotional weight of the day."
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"she didn’t just take pictures—she helped carry the emotional weight of the day." //
My husband and I had never taken professional photos together and we were both a little nervous going into the engagement session. But, O’Malley made us feel so comfortable. She found the location, told us exactly what to do, and took all of the stress off of us. During our engagement season, she was so encouraging and incredibly organized. She helped put together a list before our wedding day of the exact photos that we needed. She spent time throughout this process getting to know us so that she could deliver photos to us that would match our personalities & style. – The day of our wedding, O’Malley calmed nerves, laughed with us, captured memories that we’ll forever have on the walls of our home, and was a joy to work with. She took on the role of “wedding planner” at times and offered help even if it didn’t fit in her job description. – O’Malley does more than take pictures. Her talent and passion allow her to capture experiences and memories that translate in all of her work. You can feel the emotion in each wedding picture she provided; each photo is a piece of art. I would recommend anyone choosing O’Malley for their engagement session, wedding, and any other life-changing experiences they want captured.
- Gabrielle + Hunter
"she calmed nerves, laughed with us, and captured memories."
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"she calmed nerves, laughed with us, and captured memories." //
My husband and I hired O'Malley for our Chicago October wedding. She is *absolutely* amazing. Communication from the beginning was always easy, she answered any questions we had, and made us feel comfortable from the get go. The day of the wedding she was sweet, energetic, and so great to work with. She made our wedding party feel comfortable, she stuck it out during a long cold day, and she captured the most beautiful images from our big day.
We love you O'Malley!
-Rachel + Andrew
"she made us feel comfortable from the get-go"
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"she made us feel comfortable from the get-go" //
I highly recommend hiring O’Malley as your wedding photographer. Her vision exactly matched what I wanted out of my photos without having to do too much explaining; she just got me! Her communication throughout the process was much appreciated, especially with all of the craziness that comes with planning a wedding. She had places, poses, and ideas all planned out for the day but also made changes on the spot if there was something we wanted to add or change. She made us feel very comfortable throughout the process of taking photos, which can feel awkward, especially since we had never really had our photos professionally taken before. It felt like we were just hanging out with a friend.
-Jenna + Todd
