Chris Withers Photography

Aidyn and Abigail | A Wedding at Pole Barn Chic

Most of the time, I have months to get to know a couple before their wedding day. Six months, a year, sometimes longer, and often I meet their mothers somewhere along the way too. By the time the day finally arrives, there is already a rhythm between us, a trust we have built piece by piece.

Aidyn and Abigail were different.

We met them on their wedding day. That is just how it had to be. So I will be honest with you: I walked in nervous, keeping my expectations measured the way you learn to do after enough years, because you never quite know what to expect when you arrive cold, with no history between you and no rehearsal of trust to lean on.

And then the day unfolded, and it surprised me.

I left feeling like I had made real new friendships and captured work that reinspired me. Somewhere in the middle of an ordinary day, something quietly extraordinary happened. For that, I am grateful.

Let me set the scene.

Pole Barn Chic.

It was refreshing, and I do not say that lightly. After photographing weddings at so many venues over the years, you start to learn what truly stands out and what you come to appreciate. The folks at Pole Barn Chic were not only kind and fun to spend the day with, but they showed a real kind of friendship, the sort that comes from people who are not just playing the part of business owners but who are simply genuine, warm, and real.

They felt like old friends.

That is rare, and it is the kind of thing you cannot manufacture. You either have it or you do not, and the team at Pole Barn Chic has it. They pay attention to every detail of their property, building a space that is designed to be both beautiful and fun to wander through. I count them among the small group of venues I proudly recommend, the ones that carry that kind of energy. You feel inspired the moment you pull in, before a single photo is ever taken.

And the couple themselves.

Aidyn and Abigail were a breath of fresh air. They were not only kind, but they let me run free with every idea I had. They treated me like they had known me for years. That kind of trust, especially from people who had only just met me that day, is a gift, and I do not take it for granted.

I am thankful to call them new friends, and to know them as the amazing people they are. I wish them a life filled with adventure and a future they get to write together, one chapter at a time.

This day also came with big changes I am still adjusting to.

We had two new assistants helping us, and there is a story behind that I want to share. I recently started bringing on new assistants because our longest-standing assistant, Tara, suffered a stroke. In an instant, she nearly lost her life.

Tara has been more than someone who works alongside us. She has been a friend, and I would go so far as to say she is like a sister to me. The minute we heard the news, we went to the hospital. Thankfully, she was in good spirits, and even then, in that hospital room, I was grateful I could still make her laugh in such a dark and uncertain moment of her life.

I truly pray for a full recovery. We miss her out here at these weddings, sharing the moments and creating new stories as the team we have always been. Her health will always come first, and we will support her every step of the way.

Tara, there is always a place for you here. You are family, and that does not change.

So with all of that on my heart, we welcomed two new faces to the team.

I want to thank Jordan and Kaylee for being there with us. I always try to be someone enjoyable to work with, but the truth is I sometimes get so caught up in managing the gear, settings, and chasing something creative for the couple that I can only hope I am focused enough to be a good boss, teacher, and person who welcomes people into my world and builds a solid team that creates great experiences for the couples we capture.

Thank you both for your help, and for giving up a weekend to help us make a couple's memories even better. You stepped into a team that was adjusting, grieving, and taking a chance on letting new people into our world, and you made the day lighter just by being there.

That means more than you know.

This wedding taught me something all over again, something I was starting to think had become hard to find.

It taught me that it does not always have to feel like business as usual. Sometimes you find a venue that treats you like family, a couple that welcomes you like family, and new faces who just might become part of your business family too.

It reminded me just how important the people beside you really are.

I am grateful for my life.

I am grateful that after all these years, after everything, I can still be surprised.

I also need to pause and truly thank my wife.

You have been at my side through all of it. Through all these years, we have endured deep pain and hard seasons, and we have also stood together in the sunlight on a perfect day. We did it side by side, ready to take on whatever came, no matter what it turned out to be. That is why I love capturing weddings with you.

It lets me feel, again and again, the deeper connection I have with you and our marriage, and the story we are still writing together.

I love you.

Final thoughts

I have been a visual storyteller for over fifteen years now, and I have been lucky enough to be part of so many adventures that were never mine to keep, only mine to witness, protect, and capture.

If this work has taught me anything, it is that the day will surprise you if you let it, that the people who walk in as strangers can walk out as family, and that the story is never really about the photographs.

It is about the love that made them worth taking.

I am still turning the pages.

I remain excited for what is to come, and regardless of where the story leads, I know this much: I have loved the journey.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this entire story.

I cannot wait for the next chapter.

I went out to APL in Springfield, IL yesterday and saw complete devastation, but also a glimpse of hope.

Hey everyone, I want to share something early because it has been heavy on my heart.

As many of you know, Protective League was recently devastated by the storms. I went out to their location yesterday to make a personal donation and to see firsthand what had happened. While I was there, I photographed some of the damage, and seeing it in person was heartbreaking.

There was so much destruction. The kind you can see, but also the kind you can feel.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the animals.

The animals who lost even a temporary home. The animals who were already waiting, already unsure, already hoping for safety, and now must feel even more lost in the middle of all of this.

I also couldn’t stop thinking about the people at APL. The ones trying to hold everything together with both hands, even when it probably feels like the situation has completely slipped out of their grip. You could see it in the damage. You could imagine how scary that storm must have been in that moment, and how bleak things must feel right now as they try to pick up the pieces.

I also want to thank the exhausted linesman and electricians getting the power back up. You are underappreciated. Without you we would be worse off. I appreciate you!

But in the middle of all of that devastation, there was also hope.

It was genuinely moving to see volunteers out there working, helping, cleaning, showing up, and doing whatever they could for the animals. It reminded me that even when things look terrible, there are still people with incredible hearts who step forward when they are needed most.

And that’s what I want this next Pet Portraits with Purpose to be about.

Not just portraits.

Not just donations.

But a way for our community to put something good back into a place that has given safety, care, and second chances to so many animals.

Very soon, I’ll be bringing back Pet Portraits with Purpose in support of APL’s recovery and rebuilding efforts. We will be announcing the official date very soon, but there will only be a limited number of spots available.

This early announcement gives you the opportunity to reach out now and reserve one of those limited spots before the full announcement goes live on social media.

Anyone who books one of these sessions will also have the opportunity to leave a short video message in the studio as part of a "Rebuild Hope Montage" we’ll be putting together in honor of APL, a collection of messages from pet owners, animal lovers, and community members who want APL to know they are not alone in this.

My hope is to make this our biggest fundraising effort for APL yet, but I also want it to become something they can feel. Something they can see. Something that reminds them that this community is standing with them.

If you would like to be part of this and help support APL during such a difficult time, please comment below or send us a message, and we’ll make sure you receive first opportunity to book before the official date is announced.

These animals deserve safety. The people caring for them deserve support. And right now, I truly believe our community can help them feel a little less alone.

We are letting those that support our page, social media and the APL book early before we announce.? The shoot date is July 12th. Request an advanced booking at this link below.

https://chriswithersphotography.hbportal.co/public/ppwp-rebuild-apl

Forty hours.

That's how long we've been without power since the tornado came through. No way to prep for sessions. No way to edit. Just stillness, and a lot of time to think.

So I'm choosing to use it. To decompress, and to search inside my own thoughts for a minute.

I've come to think of a camera as mostly a permission slip. It lets me stand inside moments I would usually only catch from the outside. The held breath before an intense cry. The laugh that breaks somebody wide open. The plain afternoon that turns into a storm and leaves you with a sky so beautiful it transports you right back to peace.

The sky in the photo I'm sharing here is exactly that. I shot it right after the same storm that took our power out. The mess gave us something beautiful before it left.

Fifteen years in, I don't really call this a job anymore. It feels more like a gift I didn't earn. People hand me their unrepeatable moments and trust me to preserve them.

That's the blessed part. Not the gear. Not the galleries. It's getting let in.

Photography taught me that paying attention is its own kind of love. And that the best conversations almost never happen face to face. They happen sideways. Two people turned toward the same light, trying to say something honest about it.

I get to do this.

Most days, I still can't believe it.

And one quick word to my clients.

If you're waiting on your portfolio, I'm sorry. It's looking like a few days' delay while we get the power back and dig out from all of this. I want you to know it isn't for lack of caring. Editing your images is one of my favorite parts of this whole thing, the part where your moments come back to life on the screen, and I'm itching to get back to it.

Thank you for your patience as we navigate this crazy, unpredictable season of life. It means more than you know. I'll be back at that desk the second the lights come on.

I'm sitting here on my couch in my studio, writing out this thought in my head with a deep sigh.

I had four in-person appointments today for a photography assistant. Three of them didn't show up, and not one of those three sent a courtesy text to say so.

It blows my mind.This is a fun gig, a real chance to learn a creative career that most people never get a door into, and yet I struggle to find motivated, passionate people to walk through it.

It takes me back to when I first started. I filled up journal after journal back then. This was before you could pull up a tutorial in two seconds. If you wanted to learn photography, you bought the book at Barnes & Noble or you sat in the library until it closed.

I remember being so lost in the want of it, the need to become something more, that I would have given anything for an opportunity like the one I'm offering now.

So when three empty calendar spots are staring back at me, it does something more than frustrate me. It breaks my heart a little to watch a society slowly losing its hunger to create, to show up, to connect with each other in person.

For now, I'm sitting here cleaning my camera. Still here. Still passionate. Still showing up. Waiting for people to show me the passion I had when I first began this journey.

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Sam and Shea as we roamed around a few spots that had sentimental meaning to them.

One of the things I loved most about hearing their story is that it didn’t begin in one perfect, predictable moment. Their paths crossed in little ways long before their relationship officially began.

Mutual connections, passing moments, and even Shea’s loud truck with dual pipes all somehow became part of the background of their story before either of them fully knew where it was heading.

Their relationship really started at the gym, which honestly feels perfectly fitting for them. Sam had just finished squatting an extremely heavy weight, hit his max, and Shea came up behind him and said, “Do it again.” That somehow turned into a 15-minute conversation, which eventually became one of those moments where you realize you’re probably talking way too much at the gym.

A few days later, Shea walked into Supplement Superstore, where Sam was working, and the conversation picked right back up. They ended up talking for roughly two hours during a snowstorm and made plans to go to Twisted Ranch in St. Louis. A couple days later, they actually made it happen, turning their first real date into a trip to another state.

On the drive there and back, they talked about everything — the kind of deep, honest, completely unfiltered conversations most people probably avoid on a first date. But for them, it worked. From there, the rest is history, and according to Shea, they’ve never really stopped talking.

That kind of connection is exactly what I love photographing. Not just two people standing together for a picture, but two people with a real story, real humor, and a real rhythm between them.

I immediately got along with Sam and Shea. They had such a comfortable energy, and I loved how excited they were to create great photos. They were open to direction, willing to try ideas, and easy to connect with from the start.

We also had the pleasure of meeting their adorable dog, Sasha. She was so chill, friendly, and calm. I loved her peaceful energy, and she fit right into the feeling of the evening.

After we documented some meaningful moments at Centennial Park, we mixed in a little of Sam and Shea’s love for competition and headed over to Malibu Jack’s. They both enjoy the arcade, so we let them have some fun together and just be in the moment. That is always one of my favorite things to photograph — people enjoying each other naturally instead of trying to force something for the camera.

After the arcade, we snuck over to the Capitol after dark and created one of my favorite portraits of the night. It was simple, romantic, and dramatic, with nothing but car headlights illuminating them.

I’m grateful to know Sam and Shea, and I’m thankful they trusted Jessica and me to be part of such an important milestone.
I look forward to seeing how their love continues to grow, how many happy memories they create together, and how their story continues to unfold from here.

I want to take a moment to thank Emma for allowing us to capture such a special milestone in her life.

We had an amazing time roaming around the beautiful UIS campus, finding unique spots and creating graduation portraits that felt personal, polished, and full of excitement for what’s ahead.

Emma, I wish you nothing but success, happiness, and all the positive momentum in the world as you step into your future in business. I have no doubt you’re going to do incredible things.

Congratulations again, and I hope you love this sneak peek!

Photography assistants needed 📸 - Springfield, Illinois.

I’m looking for a few people who would be excited to jump in on photo shoots with us from time to time. 🎉

More than anything, I’m looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about the creative process. 🎨 Someone who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty, help haul gear, set up lighting, move things around, and do whatever it takes to help bring a creative vision to life. 💪

And when the moment calls for it, someone who isn’t afraid to pick up a camera and capture that alternate perspective we may need. 📷

These spots would be on an as-needed basis, so this is not a permanent gig where you can quit your day job tomorrow. 💼 But you would get to be part of some really fun and adventurous shoots, meet some genuinely cool people, and work in a laid-back, friendly environment. 😄

We love bringing on people who are positive, hardworking, dependable, and motivated to be creative. 🌟

If that sounds like you, send me a message and let’s talk. 💬

Every wedding day gives us a new story to step into, and Kerrin and Brock’s day was one we were truly grateful to capture at Dragonfly Wedding Venue

I found myself thinking about the fact that I have been photographing weddings with my wife for 11 years. I have been a photographer for over 15 years, and I have had the privilege of teaching photography for 10 of those years. Through all of that time, I have learned that wedding photography is not just about knowing a camera, finding good light, or creating beautiful images.

It is about understanding people.

It is about seeing connection, loyalty, joy, nerves, quiet moments, loud moments, and everything in between.

My wife and I have seen so much together. We have traveled from one end of this country to the other, photographing so many amazing wedding stories and witnessing so much beauty along the way.

But nothing is more beautiful than looking over at her and remembering how lucky I am that she has stayed by my side through all of it. Her love and loyalty remind me why I love photographing weddings in the first place. The bond two people share through life is an amazing, unique, and deeply personal story.

And that brings me to Kerrin and Brock.

From the moment I met Brock, he stood out to me. He carried himself with the kind of confidence, calmness, and professionalism that feels like it comes from a different time. There was a steady presence about him throughout the day. The way he moved, the way he handled each moment, and the way he showed up for Kerrin told me this was not just a man having a wedding.

This was a man ready to be a husband.

I have nothing but good things to remember from my time with Brock. He was calm, kind, respectful, and present every step of the way.

And Kerrin…

Kerrin stepped into the day in a beautiful dress filled with incredible detail, and she absolutely lit up the space around her. Her face had the glow of fresh sunlight breaking into a new morning. You could see the joy radiating from within her and reaching everyone around her.

She was not just wearing the dress. She was living the moment.

You could tell she loved being wrapped up in that world, the one built for just the two of them. She was present, emotional, joyful, and completely lost in the beauty of the day.

Before I share my final thoughts, I want to take a moment to thank my assistant, Trinity, for helping us document this wedding day. I always appreciate the way she sees a moment. She has a gift for putting herself in the right spaces, finding angles that create compelling images, and capturing pieces of the story that matter.

It has been incredible watching her growth over the years, and I am always thankful to have her there with us.

As I look back on their wedding, I keep coming back to this thought:

If you are planning a wedding and want a truly great photography or videography experience, make sure the person you are marrying still makes you light up with a smile. Make sure the planning feels like something that warms your soul, not just another chore on a list. And when you find a photographer whose style you truly love, trust them.

Let them see your day. Let them move. Let them get lost in your world. Let them find the moments that tell your story in a way that is honest, beautiful, and uniquely yours.

Do not let your wedding become a copy-and-paste version of whatever trend is popular on TikTok this week. Let it be your story. Let it be real. Let it be something only the two of you could have created.

That is exactly what Brock and Kerrin did.

They gave us the freedom to create, to observe, to document, and to tell their story with the time we had. We could not be more thankful for that.

Kerrin and Brock, thank you for having us there to capture your wedding day. It was truly a pleasure, and we are so excited to share this sneak peek from your beautiful day.

Audrey and Joshua’s wedding day had such an easy, honest beauty to it.

The Homestead in Tallula, Illinois gave the day a peaceful backdrop, but what stood out most was not just the location. It was the way these two moved through the day together. There was a calmness to them. A realness. A feeling that this was not about putting on a show, but about stepping into something meaningful with the people they love closest to them.

That is what I loved about Audrey and Joshua’s wedding. It had those moments everywhere.

Joshua was a pleasure to get to know. One thing I noticed about him was the way he looked at Audrey. There was an aura of love and protection in the way he carried himself around her. And Audrey had that same energy toward him.

The two of them just seemed to bounce off each other in the best way. Their connection felt natural, joyful, and steady. They were not caught up in trying to make every little detail perfect. They were focused on the moments. They were present with each other. They were embracing the adventure of the day as it unfolded.

That is what made their wedding feel so real.

Audrey was absolutely beautiful, but what made her stand out even more was the joy she carried with her. She had this soft, genuine brightness about her. The kind of joy that shows up in her eyes before it ever reaches a smile. She looked like someone fully living inside the moment, not rushing through it, not performing it, just feeling it.

Together, Audrey and Joshua had a connection that felt natural. Nothing about them felt forced. They did not need to overdo anything. Their story showed up in the way they stood close, the way they looked at each other, and the way the day seemed to settle around them.

That is always the goal for me.

Not to turn a wedding into something it was never meant to be.
Not to chase every trend.
Not to recreate someone else’s day.

But to notice what is already there and tell that story honestly.

Audrey and Joshua, thank you for trusting us with your day. Thank you for giving us the freedom to create, observe, and capture the story as it unfolded.

Your wedding was beautiful, heartfelt, and truly your own.

The Homestead

A little sneak peek from one of the sweetest surprise proposals. ❤️

Carter set up the perfect plan for Vivian at the lovely Ewing Cultural Center. He hired us for what Vivian thought was just a couple’s session, and I had to fully commit to the role by pretending I knew Carter from the pharmacy where he worked.

I have to say, I think my acting chops were on point. 😂

Halfway through the session, Jessica helped strategically separate them by taking Vivian on a little trail to capture some portraits of her while Carter and I got everything ready at the proposal spot.

Waiting for her was a beautiful “Marry Me” sign, with Carter standing there, ring in hand.

Because Vivian doesn’t see well without her glasses, she didn’t notice it right away. But once it finally came into focus, so did the moment. Her face lit up, the tears started, and the joy between them was absolutely beautiful.

And as she said yes, a team of dancers who happened to be watching from a distance gasped, applauded, and celebrated right along with them. Vivian even asked for a special photo with them to remember that part of the story, which made the whole moment even more unforgettable.

Jessica and I want to congratulate Carter and Vivian. Their happiness was radiant, their excitement was contagious, and their love for adventure was easy to see.

Thank you both for letting us capture this part of your story. It was truly an honor. ❤️