FEATURED LOVE STORIES
POLAROIDS & MULTI-EXPOSURES
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Olya & John
“Mariah made two people who are EXTREMELY camera shy feel so comfortable, her work is outstanding and captured the love from everyone at our wedding. Beyond her immense talent she is one of the most sincere, kind, funny (the list goes on) that we’ve ever met. She blended into our special night, because she became a fast friend. Our guests raved about her presence as well as her work. I’ve never been more confident to give a 5/5 review. King & Opal will always be a highlight of our wedding weekend.”
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Madelyn & Ben
“It’s clear that Mariah cares and is a true-born artist. Working with her was a lovely experience from start to finish! We would highly recommend scheduling plenty of time for couple’s portraits—Mariah does them SO well, and these ended up being some of our favorite photos from the wedding. She’s a natural at suggesting poses and shot locations, so come with an open mind and be ready to have a great time!”
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Adrian & Jeb
“King & Opal was truly everything we could have asked for and more. They worked diligently throughout the whole day, and ensured the right moments were captured. Honestly the overall efforts put into their work show through every photograph. When things needed to shift unexpectedly, they were able to flawlessly shift with us. If you want creative and genuine service with stunning end results...look no further.”
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Vanessa & Zach
“Being based in NYC & planning a wedding in another state was a challenge, but from the moment we met Mariah, we immediately clicked with her energy. She flew to NY on a cold Fall morning to shoot our engagement photos, then our engagement party, rehearsal dinner, & wedding in Illinois. My husband & I are admittedly awkward, but Mariah made us feel like we were just being ourselves. Our guests were also in awe of how she made everyone feel at ease. And the photos~ Creative genius!”
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Dolores & Michael
“The best.
The coolest.
The kindest.
The vibey-est.
Just the the real deal.
❤️👰🏻♀️”
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Patrick & Sumer
“Mariah went above and beyond with our wedding photos. She is not your traditional point and shoot, get in & out, photographer. She truly has an artist's eye, and provided some incredible candid shots. She's also just an incredible human to work with - a true professional, and went the extra mile in every way possible. I cannot recommend her enough.”
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Jen & Nate
“Our experience working with King & Opal was better than we could have ever imagined. Mariah is easy-going but still made sure we had everything organized for our big day. She provided a helpful guide to make sure shots were covered & numerous tips. She was always readily available by email, phone, zoom. She also blended really well with our guests- we received so many compliments. She made us feel comfortable and confident. She hit the vibe perfectly- romantic, sexy, fun, and classic.”
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Jenny & James
“King & Opal does it all: photojournalistic candids, fashion magazine worthy portraits, family portraits, detail shots, beautiful flat lays, digital, film, polaroids, GIFs, multiple exposures, aaaaand she gives you hand edited color and b+w versions for every. single. image. Anyone who is interested in King & Opal will immediately see their talent from the photos online, but what is not immediately obvious is how incredibly professional, welcoming, & effective Mariah is while capturing your special moments.”
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Chelsey & Britt
“Once we met Mariah, we knew we had struck gold. She's not just a photographer; she's a guardian of wedding dreams! Mariah fiercely protected our vision for the day & left us feeling like true VIPs. She radiates a calming energy, and has an incredible knack for finding beauty in the ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary. Every photo she took tells a story. Her warmth, kindness, & genuine care go beyond anything we could have ever asked for. Our hearts are bursting with gratitude!”
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Rajiv & Meenakshi
“I had no idea our small low-key wedding could look so incredibly beautiful. The photos ooze so much refinement and class. As an introvert I was so nervous about wedding photography, but Mariah made the whole process so easy, fun and effortless – it was like hanging out with a friend. She was keen on understanding our vision and giving us exactly what we wanted. Cannot tell you how many people compliment the photos. An absolute gem!!!”
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Gloria & Dipen
“I appreciate that Mariah first meets with couples to understand their personalities, story, wedding vision, & how she can bring that to life. We felt very comfortable with her. Her attention to detail is incredible. Our wedding planner started to tidy up champagne glasses on a desk for photos, Mariah told her she didn’t need to do that since these details tell the story of the day. I respect that! I wanted photos that bring our wedding day to life, even in the minutiae, Mariah does this so beautifully.”
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Kassandra & Trevor
“Mariah knew just what to do to make sure our photos showed our happiness & love for one another. She is also super responsive, you can tell she not only loves her craft, but loves capturing your love. I can't stop looking at our gallery, it brings me so much joy. Trust me when I say you couldn't hire anyone better in Chicago than King & Opal.”
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Megan & Rich
“Mariah has found her calling! Rich and I felt like she understood exactly what we wanted and when we got our photos – we were floored by how gorgeous they were! She captured intimate moments between us and the joy of our guests through planned and candid photos. She was an absolute joy to work with and all of our guests commented on how great her and Rich were!”
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Carolyn & Ben
“Mariah was a blast to have capture our wedding. We asked for a natural & photojournalistic style and were blown away with the results. We also did a small assortment of posed photos & obligatory group shots and we felt very comfortable in all situations. Deliverables were phenomenal: the site and image quality she shared with us are top rate, tastefully designed, and easy to use. Turnaround time was also excellent. Highest recommendations!”
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Lauren & Mike
“I knew Mariah was my person from our initial conversation; she's so easy-going, knowledgeable, skilled, & made me feel at ease. Our engagement shoot was fun and when it came to our wedding, Mariah took control with an eye for the perfect moment & pose. She knew we had to go outside during a brief period when it stopped raining & captured my favorite pictures. Talking to her is like talking to my best friend of 10+ years. I honestly cannot say enough amazing things about King & Opal!!!”
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Katherine & Mark
“Mariah at King & Opal is exactly the kind of person any couple deserves on their wedding day. Not only does she have a great eye for photos, she gives helpful direction. She made me feel incredibly comfortable in front of the camera during our engagement photos as well as for our wedding. The best feeling is when your vendors feel like friends, that's exactly how Mariah made us feel.”
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Regina & Jon
“On the day of our wedding Mariah & Rich had amazing positive energy, providing emotional support, navigating the unexpected with grace & kindness. They captured everything we wanted and didn’t know we couldn’t live without. When going through the photos I laugh and cry at the happy memories and sweet surprises of caught moments.”
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Dee & Vic
“My husband & I are super playful, not much for being "models" but we were both so happy & comfortable, and the pictures came out so special. Everyone that sees them wants to book King & Opal because of how uniquely she captured our spirits. On wedding day, Mariah walked in & made me feel like a new friend showed up to support me. The energy of the person capturing you & your people at your most overwhelmed / vulnerable MATTERS. Do yourself a favor and choose the gal with grit and grace.”
Style & Approach
moment-driven, editorial, romanticYou can trust that while you and your love revel in each other, we'll be discreetly capturing what will become your cherished memories. We'll help you shed inhibitions, guiding you into real scenarios that get you laughing, moving naturally, & authentically connecting. No pressure or pretending to be someone else. We seek emotion-rich moments, beautiful light, & all of the details that tell your unique story.
Meet The Photographers