Congratulations are in order! You’ve found your person. Now it’s time to celebrate your love.
the experience
On Christmas day over 10 years ago, my cousin’s partner surprised her with a tiny little black lab mix puppy with a huge red bow tied around his neck. It was that day that everyone in our family knew for certain they would one day get married.
On the morning of their special day, everybody was nervous, anxious, & most of all excited for the day’s events to unfold.
This was the first wedding I 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 the couple’s love story.
I have carried this experience close to my heart ever since. I am thrilled to be able to document many different kinds of couples’ love. Love is love and all love deserves to have a safe space to flourish.
My Philosophy
850
Anniversary sessions are one hour portrait sessions which include a dedicated dog lover who doubles as your photographer, personalized location recommendations, a hand-edited gallery, online gallery, & printing rights,.
anniversary
850
Engagement sessions are one hour portrait sessions which include a dedicated dog lover who doubles as your photographer, personalized location recommendations, a hand-edited gallery, online gallery, & printing rights,.
engagements
Beginning at 2,000
MOST COUPLES INVEST 3,000-4,000
Elopements include a dedicated dog lover who doubles as your photographer, one to four hours of coverage, a hand-edited gallery, personalized timeline creation, online gallery, printing rights, & support through everything.
elopements
Beginning at 6,000
Most couples invest 7,000-9,000
All wedding collections include a dedicated dog lover who doubles as your photographer, at least six hours of coverage, a hand-edited gallery, personalized timeline creation, online gallery, printing rights, & help throughout this whole experience.
weddings
The Collections
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 less than a month 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 500+ gorgeous wedding photos 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
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!
I completely understand! Start by filling out the contact form and let’s talk about your vision for your day and get to know each other. We’ll start with the date and location of your wedding, budget, and what you’re looking for (engagement session, full day coverage, etc) and go from there. Contracts are all done online and a 50% retainer reserves me for your date!
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!
For a traditional length wedding, you'll have a stunning gallery of 500+ 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!
Of course you can! Please email me and I will send you wedding galleries that fit perfectly with your wedding style.
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.
Email me and we'll start talking about where you'll be celebrating.
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, email me and let’s talk about it!
Absolutely! (Please do!!) I recommend that all of my couples include their dog in their wedding and/or portrait sessions. I adore animals and it’s not every day that you get to have a formal portrait with your four-legged family.
Our dog is a rescue and gets nervous/anxious in new environments and experiences. Are you experienced in working with nervous pups?
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.
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 of yourselves on a mug for a loved one. They’re your photos to use as you’d like!
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!)
First of all, thank you for choosing me!
I can't wait to be there to witness & document your love. Email me 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!
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