- You love love our art and want it plastered all over your home of you and your loves.
- You want to relive & feel every moment from your best-day ever.
- You want to feel comfortable with your third wheels without fear of the camera.
- You want a friend that invests & understands your love.
We want you to feel the love, we'll handle the rest. Reasons to book with us!
8
of
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
Why Book with MWHCO.
8
of
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
"Booking Ashley & Nicole was the best decision we made while planning our wedding. Not only do you get talented photographers, you get calming voices when things get stressful, cheerleaders when you’re in front of their cameras & bomb sidekicks on your best day ever. I can’t say enough good things about these two."
Cara & Ryan, March 2023
Kind words
8
of
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
"We have worked with these lovely ladies for over a year & they’ve captured every major moment in our lives so far: our engagement photos, wedding, & more recently, our maternity shoot. We couldn’t be any happier with the outcome of these works of art, the professionalism from Nicole & Ashley themselves, or the quick turnaround time for getting our galleries back. We have found such good friends in both of them, and we are so honored to have them continue to capture our growing family. We joked after we received our engagements back that they’re going to be our designated photographers for the rest of our lives, and we meant it! We even have a newborn photoshoot lined up with them in a few months! I don’t know how anyone grows to be so talented, but man, their ability truly takes my breath away. 10/10 recommend!!"
Natally & Josh, Summer 2022 & beyond
Kind words
8
of
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
"I only worked with Nicole (not Ashley), as i booked my services with Nicole all the way back in 2019 before the pandemic (she’s been with us the whole way!) although i know that Ashley is also incredible, (as a human and photographer!) because i know Nicole only works with the best of the best. I can’t even put words together to describe Nicole but i’ll do my best. Nicole, you know how obsessed i am with you! but i have EVERY reason in the world to be, and i know every person and every bride who works & gets the privilege to know Nicole feels the exact same way that i do. she is the purest soul i’ve ever met. not only was she our wedding photographer, but she doubled as so much more. Nicole stuck with us through thick and thin of COVID, and rolled with all the punches without hesitation. she guided us the entire way. i honestly viewed her as my wedding angel lol. we had so many guests come up to us after the wedding to tell us “your photographer is just the sweetest person ever!” aside from Nicole being an all around heck of a person, her photography skills are out of this world. i could not rave about Nicole enough. i can write a whole book. one of the first things that i thought of when our wedding was over is that i’m sad that i won’t get to have more meetings, chats or see nicole as much anymore! so nicole, don’t be surprised when i book a yearly photoshoot just to see you 😂❤️"
Tess & Kyle, 2019-2022
Kind words
8
of
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
"Ashley is nothing short of amazing! She shot our engagement photos, wedding photos, AND maternity photos. She knocks it out of the park every time. She is extremely professional and a pleasure to work with. She has returned our full galleries well in advance of the promised time frame and the photos always turn out better than I could’ve imagined. I highly recommend My Whole Heart Collective!"
Madison & Connor, 2021-2023
Kind words
8
of
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
... is to offer our best selves throughout this adventure with you in a way that allows us to document your story from a place of truth. This entails us being here for every step of your wedding photography experience, from start to finish. It means celebrating the sh!t out of this chapter alongside you and breaking out into dance parties when our bodies can’t help but physically feel the excitement. It means being here for you when the process feels heavy and you really just need a judgment-free space to let it all out. We are here to help you gain perspective and provide encouragement to continue ticking all the boxes and bring the wedding vision of your dreams to life. Most importantly, it means welcoming you and your partner exactly as you are, so we have the full opportunity and knowledge to tell your story exactly as it is. This is our deepest commitment to you on this journey.
Our Mission & Promise
Our Mission & Promise
8
of
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Every wedding day schedule is different because it's tailored to fit your unique love-story and vision. However, as professionals in the industry we have a lot of feedback to give on what works and what doesn't timeline-wise and know how to best structure your day to accommodate the photography portion as well! So if you're stumped - we're 110% here to help! We offer tips + suggestions that we highly recommend you consider before starting to build out your wedding day timeline. We give you some buckets of time to consider to give you an idea of how long each part of the day typically takes to photograph. We also provide you with an example timeline that you're welcome to use as-is or shift to fit your wants/needs for the day! We aren't lying when we say "we gotchu friend"!
Let us help you build your wedding day timeline so you have one less thing to worry about!
Timeline curators
8
of
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
- Factor in Sunset! You’ll want to build your schedule around sunset so you have enough daylight to capture the bulk of your images. Keep in mind that sunset is different at different times of the year. In the Summer, you have a ton of time to capture all of your photographs in natural light; however, once Fall hits, and the sun begins to set earlier, considering a first look between the two of you so we can knock out a majority of your images before we run out of daylight is a smart idea OR, have a 1.5 hour cocktail hour!
- Share your schedule with more people than not. Make sure to share your schedule with all of your vendors and even a few members of your family or bridal party. The more people looped in who can help stay on top of schedule, the better!
- Factor in travel time to / from locations (AKA if you'll be getting ready or hosting ceremony at separate locations from the reception)
- Create "buffers" in your timeline to give you enough time so your day can unfold naturally; and, to account for any hiccups, delays, or travel
- A good rule of thumb is to have your wedding photography coverage start 4.5 hours before sunset and 3 hours before ceremony
- Have a back-up plan for if it rains! We cannot control the weather as much as we wish we could, so always having a plan b (or c) is crucial!
- Trust us as your photographers on your best day ever: hash out a loose schedule with us and communicate your photography needs for your day! Remember that we will be on top of it!
Suggestions for your wedding day timeline to get the most out of your photography experience.
Wedding Timeline tips
I'm ready to cross find a photographer off my to-do list!
frequently asked questions
How do we book you two?!
First, we have a dance party. Then, we hop on a video chat (Zoom) to get to know you two & hear all the big & finer details you're dreaming of for your big day. We want to be a perfect fit for you two, so this is the best time for you to bring all your questions, lay out your hopes and dreams for your photography experience, and zero in on the best fit wedding collection. If we are your perfect fit, let's get you locked in! Finally - return to the dance party & let's get you locked in on our calendar & commence the celebrating! A non-refundable deposit & signed contract is required to hold your date on our calendar.
How do we know if we're the right fit as an MWHCO couple?
Being the right fit goes both ways - us for you, and you for us. We thrive in environments where friendship & genuine authenticity is at the core. If you're looking for purely hired help - we definitely aren't it. If you're in search of photographers who are going to wipe your tears, help sew on loose buttons, redo makeup that's ran from happy tears, and cry a few times behind the camera with smiles plastered on our faces - it's us. Our biggest goal is to create a welcoming environment to connect with our couples on a level that is deeper than purely a business relationship. That's how the magic happens for both our couples', but us as well - camera in hand.
Do you offer payment plans?
We offer a 3-split payment schedule. The 1st payment is a non-refundable retainer and is due at signing to lock in your date. The 2nd payment is due at the mid-point between booking and the event date. The final payment is due 1 week prior to the event date.
What's included in our online gallery?
Your online gallery will include the entirety of your completed & edited images. You (& anyone you share the gallery with) will have access to download high & low resolution images for safe keeping, sharing on social media (low-res), and printing your memories (high-res)!
How many images should we expect in our gallery?
A good rule of thumb is to multiply 50 by the number of hours we shot! However, we never limit the maximum number of images in a gallery as everyone's days are so incredibly unique. An 8 hour wedding day will range from a minimum of 400 images to 2000+!
How long do we have to wait for our full gallery?
Turn around time ranges depending on whether or not you're waiting on wedding day or engagement session. Wedding & elopement galleries have a turn around time fo 4-16 weeks; whereas portrait sessions are 2-4 weeks!
Do you travel?
Easy answer - hell yes! We include free travel within a 40 mile radius from Pinegree Grove, IL. We live for fine-tuned weddings with location included in the intentionality of our couples days. We'll travel from the cornfields to the seas for your love stories.
What happens if i need to cancel or reschedule my session and/or event?
Be sure to check your contract for cancellation and/or reschedule terms. And most importantly - reach out to us! Keep us updated so we can play our team role in helping you navigate any changes!
Are pets allowed?
YES. YES x10000. We're most likely to die from petting something we knew we shouldn’t have.
Will our photographers always be Ashley Bowling & Nicole Kilday?
In the rare event we are unable to attend your big day (cue the tears), our Associate Photographers on the team would step in. Our associate photographers were hand selected by us to seamlessly mesh with our brand & style of photography. In the event an associate photographer has to step in, we can assure you, you’re in amazing hands. Not to mention, we won’t be out of the loop at any point in time as we will still be here to handle all of the pre & post processing. The perks are - you gain an extra (or 2) creative to brainstorm ideas, bring additional talent to the table, and even more friends to share in this journey.
Does MWHCO deliver all raw and/or unedited images?
My Whole Heart Collective does not give out RAW and/or unedited images. If we did, it'd be like serving you a piece of raw chicken - unfinished & 100% not up to our standards. Be sure to check your contract for additional details.
freebie - the guide
We know there's a lot of questions dancing around in your head when it comes to the photography portion of your absolute best day ever. We aimed to break down everything you'll need to know about our wedding photography experience in our easy-to follow guide. Go ahead, snag the good stuff!
