Congratulations are in order! You’ve found your person. Now it’s time to celebrate your love.

the experience

My cousin's wedding was the first one I ever attended and I remember being in awe of everything during that day. I saw the photographer document the gorgeous bridal gown + shoes and instantly knew I wanted to photograph every part of a wedding day and a couple’s love story.

I intentionally work with the most wonderful queer couples who prioritize celebrating their love with the sole requirement that they themselves feel joy on their wedding day above anything else.

Specializing in intimate weddings, I love to help couples look back on the small tender moments that may have gone unnoticed on the day of. I prioritize giving my couples time and space for themselves even and especially while photos are being taken. I love to learn about people as individuals and as couples; the questions I ask during portraits are to help you ground yourself in the moment to make the most of your incredible wedding with your partner.

All love deserves to have a safe space to flourish.

850

For engagements, anniversaries, or just because, these are one hour portraits with personalized location recommendations, a hand-edited & retouched gallery, online gallery, & printing rights. There's always a time within your love story that deserves to be cherished.

Couple Portrait Sessions

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Beginning at 4,200

For celebrants who have extra love to be photographed that can't be contained within an intimate wedding, this is perfect if you have extra events planned during your wedding day. Includes at least six hours of coverage. There is limited availability for full length weddings.

Full-Length Weddings

03

Beginning at 1,100

Elopements are perfect for those who prioritize the celebration you have between yourself and your future-spouse. You've thrown out all standards of tradition and want to just celebrate between you and your partner. Elopements include one to two hours of coverage.

elopements

02

Beginning at 2,700

All wedding collections include a dedicated dog lover + whisperer who doubles as your photographer for at least three hours of coverage. This is the best of both worlds -- you get to really go all out for your exclusive guest list while still celebrating in a relaxed way that puts your love and wishes at the forefront.

Intimate weddings

01

The Experiences

(Click on ONE TO LEARN MORE!)

First of all, congratulations! You’re getting married to your best friend and that is such a wonderful thing.

Please fill out the contact form to let me know where, when, and with whom you’ll be celebrating your love.

1. places

I'll email you to set up our initial video call so we can meet each other and talk about your wedding plans.

I love to virtually meet all potential couples before we truly begin your photography experience.

2. overture

It was so nice to virtually meet you! I will email you an Investment Magazine full of details including collections, FAQs, wedding day tips, & more.

I'll be in touch via email to answer all of your questions!

3. Start of Act 1

If you decide you'd like to have me for your day, (first of all thank you!) I will email you a contract, your new Client Portal, & you'll send your 50% retainer.

Your contract and retainer can both be done online and is super user-friendly.

4. Act 1 Finale

Now it's time to schedule your engagement session.

I love it when my couples choose a meaningful location -- it could be the place you had your first date, where one of you proposed, or it could be an entirely new adventure for you both.

5. Intermission

Your wedding day is about three months away which is when I'll touch base to go over all the details including vendors, final timeline, & more for your day.

This ensures you get the most beautiful photos of your celebration. 

6. Act 2

The day is finally here, you're really getting married!

This is a new chapter in your love story and I'll be here to commemorate your day. I'll also be here for you throughout your day to lend a helping hand.

7. Grand Finale

You're full of love and three days after your wedding you'll receive sneak previews from your celebration!

Be sure to follow along on Instagram so you don't miss out.

8. Standing Ovation

@meilinbarral

You'll receive your custom blogpost a week after your wedding which includes extended sneak previews! This is a great way to share a highlight of your wedding photos to friends & family.

9. Curtain Call

Finally, you'll receive your full wedding gallery.

This is the moment when you'll receive 300+ gorgeous wedding photos (for an intimate wedding) to reminisce and relive a momentous occasion in your love story.

10. Exit Music

The show-stopping experience

Erin, Jeff, & rescue dog Princess, wedding & engagement

"Mei Lin did a fantastic job on our engagement and wedding photos. The candid photos taken during preparation, the ceremony and reception were truly amazing and captured the spirit of our wedding wonderfully. We cannot recommend Mei Lin enough."

Emma, Maya, & Kona, engagement session with rescue dog

"Everything that Mei Lin did was above and beyond our expectations. We are a same-gender couple who got engaged and wanted a romantic photoshoot with our pup in our city, Chicago. Not only that, but she was personally so wonderful to work with. She took the time to get to know us, our story, and our family and incorporated our personalities into the photos."

Sarah & David, wedding/anniversary session

"I'm so pleased with the photos [Mei Lin] took; not only are they beautiful, but they so successfully capture the essence of our relationship in all of its quirky glory that one friend of mine said, 'These are the best wedding photos ever.'"

Missy, Tom, & rescue dog Marigold, elopement & anniversary session

“Our dog is very anxious and Mei Lin took all the necessary steps to help her feel more comfortable. Mei Lin is professional, kind, thoughtful, and produces gorgeous photos. I cannot recommend her highly enough!”

Danielle & rescue dog Milo, portrait session with dog

"After the day was done, all I could think was that I wanted to schedule another one... It will definitely not be my last! And I recommend Mei Lin to all my friends and family. She is kind, professional, highly skilled, and gets great results."

Don’t Just Take My Word For It

Frequently Asked Questions

We're not a "traditional" couple, what's your stance on non-white + non-cishet couples?

First of all, congratulations on getting engaged! I am a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and as a woman of color, I *always* create a safe space through wedding photography for all couples of all kinds of backgrounds. Whether it be gender, sexuality, race, religion, or anything else, hate is not welcomed here. I always want to help document fellow queer and BIPOC couples' love!

We’ve never hired a wedding photographer before, how do we do this?

I completely understand! Start by filling out the contact form and let me know your vision for your day. We’ll start with an introductory video call so we can virtually meet and get to know one another. From there, you'll receive the Wedding Investment Magazine. After that, the contract is done online and a 50% retainer reserves me for your date!

Should we have an engagement session? What do you recommend for a location?

Most of my couples ask for an engagement session! They're a perfect time for you to take a minute, snuggle and kiss your spouse-to-be, and commemorate this time in your lives. Plus, we get to know each other, so by the time the wedding day rolls around, we're totally comfortable and already have a great relationship.

The location is totally up to you - I want you to show off who you are as a couple and individuals at a place that means something to the two of you. I'll help brainstorm places if you get stuck - I have so many hidden gems to show you!
 
Alternatively, if you’re incredibly busy before the wedding, an anniversary session is a lovely way to reflect on your first year of marriage together and celebrate!

How many photos should we expect? How long until we get to see them?

For intimate wedding day coverage (at least three hours), you'll have a stunning gallery of 300+ wedding photos in 6-8 weeks. But don't worry, you’ll receive sneak previews on Instagram 3 days after your wedding and you’ll receive a custom blogpost featuring extended sneak previews a week after your wedding!

Speaking of — can we see a full gallery?

Of course you can! Please email me and I will send you wedding galleries that fit perfectly with your wedding style.

Will you travel for our wedding?

I would be thrilled to travel for your wedding. From Chicago to New England, and beyond. (I do have my passport updated + ready to go for destination weddings!) Wedding collections are subject to an additional travel fee.

Fill out the contact form and we'll start talking about where you'll be celebrating.

We’re not having a big traditional wedding, do you photograph elopements and/or intimate weddings?

Yes, of course! I specialize in small weddings because the intimate and unique ones have a soft spot in my heart. If you’ve decided to have an intimate wedding, fill out the contact form and let’s talk about it!

Can we bring our dog?

Absolutely! (Please do!!) I recommend that all of my couples include their dog in their wedding and/or portrait sessions. I adore dogs and it’s not every day that you get to have a formal portrait with your four-legged family. With years of experience loving dogs and taking care of them, I am a dog whisperer and will ensure your dog has a great time for their photos!

Our dog is a rescue and gets nervous/anxious in new environments and experiences. Are you experienced in working with nervous dogs?

99% of the dogs I’m lucky enough to photograph are rescues! I love every dog I meet and I’ll always ask ahead of time what your four-legged family needs to feel safe and confident for their session. We’ll take our time and go at their pace. Conversely, if your dog is prone to be extra excited with new experiences, I have lots of expertise and advise to help prep yourselves + your dog prior to their session to ensure they won't get overstimulated.

What’s a print release and why do you provide one?

I always provide you with a print release no matter what collection or photography experience you choose. This means you have the rights to print your photos to frame and hang on your wall or even print a photo-blanket with your four-legged family on it.

They’re your photos to use as you’d like!

Are the couples and dogs on your website models?

I am happy to say that all of the couples featured on my website are really together & really in love. There's no faking real love & real emotion, and I'm an expert at bringing out the best in you. (For most, it was their first time properly in front of a camera!)

We’ve decided we’d love to have you as our photographer. What’s the next step?

First of all, thank you for choosing me!
I can't wait to be there to witness & document your love. Please fill out the contact form and we’ll set up a video call so we can virtually meet one another. From there, I’ll send you a contract and you can pay a 50% retainer online to reserve me for your day! 

click here

Now it’s time to view the galleries!

Personalized wedding photography for your intimate gathering of your closest friends & family (including your four-legged ones). This is the perfect experience that blends the celebratory aspects of the beginning of marriage with relaxed quality time with your loved ones. Intimate weddings are my favorite because you are able to really go all-out on your exclusive guest list without having to worry about traditional norms or expectations.  The focal point to your celebration is you and only you.

All collections include a dedicated dog lover + whisperer who doubles as your photographer, at least three hours of coverage, a hand-edited & retouched gallery, personalized timeline creation, online gallery, printing rights, & support through everything.

Intimate Weddings

Perfect for the extremely untraditional romantics, elopements are the best way to ensure you get to celebrate your day exactly how you want to and only with the most cherished people (which can be just you + your future spouse!). There's a great amount of flexibility in how you get to enjoy this day, where you can take photos, and who will be by your sides to cheer you on (I'll be there to help make it a fun experience for your dog as well!).

All collections include a dedicated dog lover + whisperer who doubles as your photographer, one to two hours of coverage, a hand-edited & retouched gallery, personalized timeline creation, online gallery, printing rights, & support through everything.

Elopements

You have so many exciting plans for you, your future spouse, and your guests that the festivities cannot be contained within a micro-wedding. Full-length weddings are the best choice if you have a lot you want documented to remember years to come and don't want to be restricted by time constraints.

All collections include a dedicated dog lover + whisperer who doubles as your photographer, at least three hours of coverage, a hand-edited & retouched gallery, personalized timeline creation, online gallery, printing rights, & support through everything.

Full-Length Weddings

These are wonderful at any point in your love story. The momentous parts are of course your engagement and your anniversaries, but your love always deserves to be celebrated. This is the time to document changes in  your life whether big or small, alongside your partner. And I'll be there to help you ground yourselves and truly enjoy and appreciate this chapter of your love story.

All sessions include a dedicated dog lover + whisperer who doubles as your photographer, one hour of coverage, a hand-edited & retouched gallery, online gallery, printing rights, & support through everything.

Couple Portrait Sessions