Leif & Christine Photography

•Ratings include Zola and Google reviews

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Prices start at $3,350

Elopement pricing

Prices start at $2,450

Packages

Prices start at $3,350

About Leif & Christine Photography

Leif & Christine Photography

Photographer

Feel awkward in front of the camera? You’re exactly the kind of couple I love working with. Hi! I’m Christine, a Rockford, Illinois wedding photographer with 12 years of experience photographing real couples—not models. I’ll guide you when you need direction, then step back when the real moments happen. My style blends candid storytelling with romantic, lightly guided portraits and true-to-life color, so your photographs feel natural, timeless, and genuinely like you. I also help create your photography timeline before the wedding, so you can spend less time worrying about pictures and more time enjoying your day.

Worried about feeling awkward in front of the camera or unsure how to pose? With 12 years of experience, I’ve got you covered! I’ll guide you with natural prompts to help you move effortlessly, while also stepping back to let authentic moments unfold. You’ll feel comfortable, confident, and free to fully immerse yourself in every heartfelt moment—from bursts of laughter to tears of joy. When you book with me, I’ll help you craft a detailed photography timeline to ensure your day flows seamlessly. Once your invitations are sent, we’ll go even deeper into the details to make sure every must-have shot is captured.

Services

Services

  • Bride-only session
  • Engagement session
  • Extra hours
  • Printing rights
  • Second photographer

Photo formats

  • Digital

Deliverables

  • Digital files
  • Digital rights
  • Online gallery
  • Photo box
  • Same/next-day sneak-peek images
  • Slideshow
  • Wedding album

Leif & Christine Photography packages

The Wedding Experience ( 8 hours)

8 hours

Peak pricing $3,350-4,240

Off-peak pricing $3,350-4,240

Description

Everything you need to beautifully document your wedding day without feeling rushed. Includes 8 hours of photography, professionally edited high-resolution images, a private online gallery, full print release, sneak peeks, my 81-page Wedding Guide, photography timeline planning, and complimentary travel within 25 miles.

What’s included
  • 8 HOURS OF WEDDING DAY COVERAGE
  • TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS
  • DIGITAL FILES OF ALL EDITED IMAGES
  • POST-PROCESSING AND EDITING TIME
  • PRIVATE ONLINE GALLERY
  • SNEAK PEEK PHOTOS
  • BRIDAL GUIDE (81 pages, The ultimate guide )
  • FULL PRINT RELEASE FORM
  • COMPLIMENTARY TRAVEL (up to 25 miles of travel)

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

11 reviews

  • SF

    Seth F.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Oct 28, 2025

    Christine was wonderful!

    Christine is a wonderful photographer! She responded immediately when we initially contacted her, and she continued to respond quickly through all of our conversations leading up to our wedding. She is both friendly and professional in person, and her photographs of our wedding were creative and well done. I would highly recommend Christine!

  • NL

    Natalie L.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Sep 26, 2025

    Best Photographers

    We highly recommend going with Leif and Christine photography for all your photo needs! Christine was amazing at getting everyone excited to take pictures and coordinate the picture set ups throughout the day. We honestly couldn’t be happier with our wedding photos! You did such an amazing job capturing every little detail and all the big moments in a way that feels so true to us. You made the whole day feel effortless, and we were so comfortable in front of the camera because of you. Looking back through our photos feels like reliving the best day ever, and we’re so thankful to have these memories to hold onto forever! Thank you Christine, hope to work with you again in the future!!

  • MD

    Michelle D.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Dec 29, 2023

    Perfect!

    Christine was my wedding photographer for my winter wedding at Kilbuck Creek and I cannot recommend her enough!!! From early communication, to the engagement shoot, to the wedding she was an absolute dream to work with. She made my husband and I comfortable after we told her how we didn’t know how to take photos and walked us through everything to make sure we got flawless results. She even sent us a canvas set with some of our wedding photos! She made sure every inspiration photo was taken and had the tough job of wrangling together us and our rambunctious bridal party to get the job done! If you are getting married and looking for a photographer or need some family portraits look no further, Christine is your girl!!

  • AN

    Ashlee N.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Nov 23, 2021

    Best Wedding Photographers!

    Leif and Christine were phenomenal wedding photographers! They were extremely organized and the communication was wonderful beforehand. They emailed, called, and met with us in advance of our big day to make sure they were capturing everything we wanted and had some great suggestions as well! Could not be happier with the way our pictures turned out!! Best day ever perfectly captured!

  • BT

    Branigan Theden

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Sep 28, 2021

    Wonderful Photographer!

    As a wedding coordinator I have seen a lot of different photographers, and I can say from personal experience that Leif & Christine do a wonderful job and are wonderful to work with! I would recommend them for anything from newborn pictures to weddings! They have a really good eye for catching very natural moments and they do a great job editing their photos!!

Preferred vendors of Leif & Christine Photography

Quick responder
Venue
Midway Village Museum in Rockford IL
Rating: 5.0 (2 reviews)
Rockford, IL
Starts at $2,000
Venue
Happily Ever After Wedding Barn
Pecatonica, IL
Venue
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa
Rating: 5.0 (2 reviews)
Galena, IL
Starts at $1,000
Venue
DeSoto House Hotel
Galena, IL
I love being both interactive and discreet throughout the wedding day. There will be parts of the wedding day when I will need to be in control in order to accomplish everything that needs to be done in order to keep everyone on schedule. There will also be moments when you shouldn’t even know that I’m there. (The ceremony, during dances and toasts, etc.) I teach my couples how to pose and interact during their engagement session so they are naturals on the wedding day and don’t need quite as much instruction from me!
My photography style is a blend of natural candid moments and lightly guided portraits. Especially when it comes to bride and groom portraits, most of the time, I guide couples with simple prompts and activities, then allow moments to unfold naturally. This approach helps you feel relaxed and effortless in front of the camera, resulting in genuine emotions and natural interactions that truly tell the story of your wedding day.
I average 75-100 final images per hour that we’re actively shooting throughout the day. This estimate is normally on the lower side since I tend to be over-shooters. I believe in freely sharing my work because that is what we would want if we were in your shoes!
Yes, I personally edit every image I deliver, and each photograph is thoughtfully post-produced using my signature editing style. My approach is natural and timeless—I focus on preserving true-to-life colors, genuine skin tones, and the authentic feel of your day. I do not apply facial retouching or heavy Photoshop manipulation. Instead, my post-production process includes black-and-white conversions, lens corrections, exposure balancing, cropping and angle adjustments, temperature and tint adjustments, and tonal refinement to ensure every image looks its best.
Christine will be your lead photographer. If you add a second photographer, I personally select an experienced wedding photographer who complements my shooting style and approach.
The answer depends on several factors — the size of your wedding, whether your schedule is tight or overlapping, if you're getting ready at multiple locations, and how important it is to you to have multiple angles captured. Click Here to read more about it. And, the second photographer will typically be present for the same duration as the main photographer, covering the entire booked photography coverage time. This means if the main photographer is booked for 8 hours, the second shooter will also be there for 8 hours.
My online galleries are integrated with professional print labs in the USA, allowing you to conveniently order high-quality prints directly from your gallery. If you prefer, you are also welcome to download your images and print them anywhere you choose. You may design and print your album on your own, or I’m happy to create a custom album design for you. Your online gallery can also be shared with family and friends so they can view the images and order prints. For security and privacy, downloading is restricted unless you choose to grant them permission. This ensures your images remain protected while still being easy to share.
I always come prepared with backup equipment. On every wedding day, I shoot with two camera bodies paired with different lenses, so I’m always covered if one needs to be swapped out. I also keep an additional backup camera and extra gear in my suitcase and car to ensure there is never an interruption in coverage.
While this has never happened to me, I do have a backup plan in place for peace of mind. I have a trusted network of experienced local photographers I can call on for coverage. Additionally, my husband, Leif, is capable of stepping in if needed.
We have never lost an image from a wedding thanks to our careful, multi-layered backup workflow. During each event, we photograph using dual memory cards, creating an instant in-camera backup of every image. After the wedding, the primary and backup cards are stored separately to protect against loss or damage. The images are then backed up to online gallery and a local server, and an additional copy is saved to an off-site hard drive. At every stage prior to final delivery, your photos exist in at least two separate locations, ensuring they are always protected.
On your wedding day, my approach is calm, organized, and supportive. I typically arrive early to greet you both and get a feel for the day before I begin photographing details and getting-ready moments, based on your wedding schedule. After booking the wedding with me, I create a photography timeline that aligns with your overall wedding-day timeline, so you’ll know exactly what moments and details I’ll be capturing and when. This helps the day flow smoothly and keeps everything relaxed and stress-free. I also ask for a family photo list in advance to ensure no important groupings are missed.
For a variety of reasons, we do charge for the time in between events. While it may appear to be “downtime,” we’re actively working throughout the day—backing up images, traveling to the next location, setting up at a second venue, capturing venue details, and adjusting the schedule to make up for any unexpected delays. In many cases, we also use this time to create additional portraits, whether that’s stepping away with you and your partner for relaxed couple photos or capturing more family portraits, ensuring nothing important is missed.
We understand that wedding days don’t always run exactly as planned. We never pack up early, and we don’t simply leave the moment your contracted time ends. Near the end of your coverage, we’ll check in with you to see if you’d like us to stay longer. If you choose to extend coverage, additional time will be billed at the rate outlined in your contract, rounded to the nearest 30-minute increment.
That’s exactly why I create a Wedding Photography Timeline for every couple. The timeline helps the day run smoothly while ensuring all essential moments and details are captured. I also communicate closely with your wedding coordinator and DJ before and throughout the day to stay aligned on timing and transitions. On the wedding day, I keep the timeline easily accessible on my phone and also bring a printed copy, so I always know what’s coming next. This allows me to work efficiently, adapt seamlessly if the schedule shifts, and make sure nothing important is missed—while keeping the experience effortless and enjoyable for you.
I love sharing sneak peeks as quickly as possible—often overnight after your wedding. If I have another event or wedding the following day, sneak peeks will still be delivered within 48 hours. Your full wedding gallery will be delivered within 4–6 weeks, depending on the time of year and the busy season. Every image is carefully selected and fully edited to ensure the final gallery reflects the quality and care your wedding day deserves.
Yes, you will receive full printing rights along with all high-resolution digital files from your wedding. Your images will be delivered through a private online gallery that is easy to use and share. The gallery is integrated with a professional printing lab, making it simple to order high-quality prints and products directly, while still giving you the freedom to print your photos anywhere you choose.
Post-production for engagement sessions is typically completed within 2–6 weeks after the session date, depending on the busyness of the season.
We encourage you to schedule your engagement session as early as possible. We recommend completing it at least 10–12 weeks before your wedding date to allow sufficient time for post-production and the completion of any product orders.
My weekends are usually full with weddings and family activities, so I typically schedule engagement sessions Monday through Thursday. For the best golden light, I recommend starting about 1.5 to 2 hours before sunset.

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