meEt madi
Your Chicago wedding photographer
My adventures aren't limited to the Chicago area! I definitely enjoy getting the chance to photograph destination weddings beyond the Midwest.
I have a big personality and an even bigger heart. Laughing until my belly hurts and crying at other people's weddings are some of my favorite pastimes. When I'm not taking photos, you can find me reading the latest SJM book, binge-watching Love Island, or attempting to curb my Madewell addiction (unlikely). I love slow mornings, extra flaky croissants, quoting famous drag queens, and drinking almond vanilla lattes.
(she/her)
AS SEEN IN
Junebug Weddings
W|PJ Awarded Member
Chi Thee Wed
Chicago Style Weddings
Green Wedding Shoes
Equally Wed
The Knot: Best of Weddings for 2021, 2022, 2023, + 2024 / Hall of Fame Award
Party Slate
- Literally useless
- Loves cuddles, kisses + being held
- Easily stimulated
- Obsessed with just one toy that we've named Becky
- Has a stinky butt
- Can't be bothered to complete simple office tasks
Binky – Assistant to the Regional Manager
Yams – HR Manager
- Girlboss
- It's her house, we're just living in it
- Screams a lot + doesn't love to cuddle
- Loves head scritches
- Hates being picked up
- NEVER approves my PTO requests
1 / 5
And I mean the CITY! I'm so lucky that my parents still live in my childhood home in Lincoln Park. Even after I went to Skidmore college in upstate NY, I moved back home to the city I know and love. Being from here means I know this place inside and out. It also means I will start and finish any argument about deep dish pizza because Pequod's is THE ONLY PLACE TO GO. Looking for a great sushi place you've never heard of? I got you. How about the perfect spot to propose, take engagement photos or wedding portraits? Again, I'm your lady. And no, I don't put ketchup on my hotdogs. Ever.
I was born and raised in Chicago
I'm a work hard / RELAX hard kind of lady. My favorite activities at home include watching the Office, the latest Oscar-worthy film, or Rupaul's Drag Race. I love playing with my cats and making sure they don't munch on our 80+ plants that my partner Nate and I keep in the apartment. We're lucky enough to live in Roscoe Village around the corner from some great restaurants. Our faves include Same Same, Village Tap, and Sinya Mediterranean Grill. I also really enjoy snuggling with our kitties while I read my Kindle and eat a big bowl of popcorn.
I never take life too seriously
2 / 5
You read that correctly! I was a Theater Major in college and I grew up believing that one day I would be an actor. Through my studies I discovered I was drawn to a different kind of visual narrative, and documentary photography was where it all made sense to me. Never in a million years would I do it differently. My theater background has made me a better photographer by guiding me through the art of storytelling. I get the honor of using those skills to tell your legendary love stories over and over again so they may be treasured for a lifetime.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Theater
3 / 5
Being an only child means that I stick to my friends like glue! I'm so grateful to have both an amazing chosen family as well as loving parents and my incredible boyfriend. That combination is truly unbeatable. These folks have cheered me on throughout my whole life and have always encouraged me to follow my dreams. Some of my best friends have actually hired me to photograph their weddings! I love knowing that after everything is said and done, I have the best support system in the world. My bestie Mercedes and I even have matching Jurassic Park tattoos!
I love my friends + family more than anything
4 / 5
That's right! I know EXACTLY what y'all are going through, so we're in the same boat. Being in the industry means I have a small leg up on choosing vendors, but beyond that we're having the same emotions as you are! I love having this perspective in the wedding world because I truly feel like I'm able to connect with my clients even more. But trust me– even with my insider knowledge, I'm still equally as nervous about making the right choices and surrounding myself with the best of the best.
Planning a wedding is on my agenda, too!
5 / 5
more than a photographer
MEET THE TEAM
The one thing I love to do just as much documenting weddings is photographing concerts. Whether it's famous bands, musicians, or drag queens, I'm right there in the pit or in the crowd with my camera. I get the same feeling as when I get to capture the big kiss at a wedding– I'm fully present and solely focused on the moment. It's my favorite thing in the world.
I have photographed for multiple publications and covered all kinds of concerts including local acts, national tours, and large-scale music festivals like Pitchfork, Riot Fest, and Lollapalooza.
I photograph
Live music
Swipe to see more
"My husband and I could write pages and pages about how beautiful the photos that Madi takes are. Her eye for detail, soft direction on the best angles and poses, and knack for capturing pure emotion are unmet, and come across beautifully in her photos. On the wedding day, we had numerous guests and family members compliment how well Madi directed our guests for group photos, and how she took the most beautiful shots. That easiness and lightness shone through on our wedding photos, all thanks to the wonderful and talented Madi Ellis!"
Sarah + Drew
"Madi is an incredibly talented artist and we are absolutely in love with her photos. And maybe just as importantly, she is such a warm and kind person who immediately put everyone in the wedding at ease. Are you worried about being photographed for hours and made the center of attention? Madi will make what could be an awkward encounter feel second nature. Are you worried that your venue has weird lighting? From getting ready to the ceremony to the dance floor, every photo perfectly captures the emotion of the day. Are you stressed about logistics? Madi was super-human levels of communicative leading up to the wedding and helped us plan and navigate various logistics without even batting an eye. Planning a wedding involves a lot of difficult decisions, but this one is easy."
Laura + Nathan
"Madi was amazing to work with throughout the planning process. From putting together a realistic day of schedule, giving helpful planning tips, delivering a gorgeous engagement photo gallery, going above & beyond to scout locations for portraits at our very large venue, soothing our anxieties and keeping us on schedule day of, and delivering the wedding album of our literal dreams... Madi is incredible and you should absolutely book her. Madi was also so deliberate in capturing the small details of the day (that were a blur for us!), pictures of so many of our guests, and candid moments with people who mean the most to us. To top it all off, Madi is fun and friendly, and we loved getting to spend time with her throughout this process."
Hanna + Nick
"Madi was so easy to work with - from planning everything, to her communication, to how comfortable she made us feel in front of the camera. She is so knowledgeable about all things wedding and was so helpful to us in more ways than just photography. BUT THEN THE PHOTOGRAPHY!! Her photos were absolutely stunning. She captured our goofiness in such a beautiful way, caught all of the little moments between us and guests, nailed all of the little detail shots. She was so amazing to work with and we loved our experience with her."
Becca + Trevor
"We LOVED working with Madi. I feel like she really understood me and my husband's wedding vibe from the beginning! Taking so many photos can feel awkward at first, but she made us feel so at ease, and we got to know her fun personality even more that day! Many of our friends and family commented on how great she was! We had a big wedding (300+ people) with a lot of family and friends to take photos of/organize and she handled it like a true pro. On top of that, she repeatedly checked in on me and my husband and made it a priority to ensure we were calm and happy throughout the day. She is so gifted at her craft; we are just in awe at how well she captured our day. We are so grateful to Madi for making our day so special; she truly went above and beyond for us. We cannot recommend her enough!"
Maggie + Tom
"If we could give Madi 100/5 stars, we would! Not only does she have a stunning portfolio, but she had great insight on how to structure our wedding day. For the wedding itself, Madi truly went above and beyond though. She helped keep us to our timeline without feeling rushed and made sure that every moment we wanted was captured (and probably then some). Madi Ellis is worth every single penny and should probably be paid royalties every time her works of art are shared because they're that good. She's INCREDIBLE and truly the best in the business!!!!"
Mattie + Chris
"From start to finish, Madi made our special day feel so graceful and effortless. She felt more like a friend tagging along than just a photographer, seamlessly blending into the celebration. Her warmth, friendliness, professionalism, and incredible organization truly shone through. The humor she brought added to the incredible vibe of the day, making everything feel relaxed and joyful. Madi has an incredible talent for finding the most beautiful moments, from candid laughter to the most heartfelt glances. Every shot tells a story, preserving the joy and love we felt throughout the day. If you’re looking for a photographer who not only delivers stunning images but also enhances the overall experience, look no further."
Alex + Ian
"I was on the hunt for a photographer that would capture two things: color and emotion. What we got with Madi was not just color and emotion in photography style, but a soundboard to get ideas off of, a great communicator, someone who was genuinely invested in our engagement and wedding day experience, and truly a wonderful human who is respectful of all backgrounds and identities. In the first intro call, Madi really showed an authentic yearn to get to know me and my husband's background and history together. I feel like I can remember every moment just by looking at our wedding gallery. It makes me emotional and so grateful that we picked her as our photographer."
Sam + Freddy
"When we told our venue vendor that we were working with Madi Ellis, her response was, 'the queen.' She was 100% right. I can't say enough good things about Madi. She was super engaged and responsive from the jump, and she went above and beyond to help us integrate our photo plans with our wedding day schedule, making sure we didn't miss out on opportunities to capture the night. On our wedding day, Madi was prompt, prepared, and ready with a contingency plan when downtown traffic threatened to throw off our shoot schedule. Throughout the night she helped our coordinator keep things rolling smoothly and was ready to take advantage of candid moments and set up group shots on the fly. And the photos are all stunning and captured us so well!"
Will + Jeff
"Madi is quite literally one of the most talented, capable, and fun event photographers in the game. I believe her services are something else compared to other photographers, especially in the wedding industry. She works closely with you and your partner to tailor your experience based on your needs and preferences, and her institutional knowledge and experience of the wedding industry, best practices, and event flow. Her work is bar none. She has a warm personality that managed to calm my nerves and instill confidence. She even shows up on the day of the wedding with an "emergency kit" for anything that could go wrong! She's a star and thinks of it all - an excellent vendor to have in your corner. If you're on the fence, here's your sign to book Madi ASAP."
Rebecca + John
