engagement sessions

Small Cheval Engagement Photos | Meredith & Mike

May 18, 2023

a couple drinking milkshakes at small cheval in chicago

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unique engagement photos inspo

Looking for a way to create unique engagement photos without them looking cheesy? Here’s how: Tailoring your engagement session to YOU. Not sure where to start? Let’s get into it.

The Key To Making Engagement Photos Stand Out

Struggling to find ways to make your engagement photos unique? The biggest piece of advice we give clients is to make them personal to you. Choose the location you had your first date. Go to your favorite beach. Do an activity you love to do together (yes, that can involve eating.) While we love a good skyline moment, you don’t HAVE to do what everyone else does.

For this couple, that meant Small Cheval.

If you’ve perused this blog before, you know Small Cheval is a spot we’re no stranger to for engagement photos. Au Cheval is also Arielle’s favorite burger and she’s been eating it since they opened in Chicago. One of her couples literally had it catered for their late night wedding snack. We are biased due to nostalgia, but it is number one in our eyes. So, when Meredith suggested they hit up the new West Loop location during their engagement session, Arielle was thrilled.

Scroll to see some of Arielle’s favorites from their session.

a couple drinking milkshakes at small cheval in chicago
engagement photos at small cheval in black and white

Before Small Cheval, we did some photos at Lurie Gardens! It was perfect. Meredith and Arielle have very similar taste and have bonded over their wedding themes, so when Meredith told Arielle her wedding theme was couture city garden, Arielle knew just where to take her for photos.

art institute of chicago engagement photos
black and white film engagement photos chicago
lurie garden engagement photos in chicago
back and white romantic engagement photos
black and white romantic engagement photos
Couple dancing on michigan avenue at the art institute of chicago for their engagement photos

Want to work together? I have limited availability for summer 2023 sessions, but am actively booking for fall sessions. I have a few late fall/winter wedding dates open, and have opened my wedding books for 2024. I will also be exclusively booking clients in Italy spring 2024. Click here for more info!!

All images © Arielle Gallione 2023.

  1. […] my busy season started on a high in Italy, Chicago kept it going with Mer and Mike for a Morgan’s on Fulton wedding. Their day was stacked with some of my favorite vendors to […]

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Artist's statement

hi, i'm Arielle.

I am an empathic lover girl. Gift giving is my love language. I love deeply, and am unwaveringly passionate about caring for others. Years of experience combined with an empathetic heart have allowed me to anticipate moments that truly capture the essence of your wedding day. I strive to create photos that feel perfectly, yet effortlessly, you. 

Your wedding photos should become apart of your legacy. They deserve to be family heirlooms. You should be able to look at them and remember exactly how you felt in those fleeting moments. 

I specialize in blending documentary photo journalism with fine art, creative portraiture. I aim to capture every moment with intention and care - from event design and perfectly curated details to the unedited joy of you on the dance floor with your best friends. From intimate, single night events to multi-day destination productions, I strive to tell stories within your photo galleries that are a perfect reflection of you. 

It is an honor to be the person behind the lens on your wedding day, and it is one that I will never take for granted.

xo,

Arielle

 

upcoming

travel

Arielle has photographed over 250 weddings across 12 states, 6 countries, and 3 continents. While her heart beats for coastal and countryside Italian weddings, she is willing to travel anywhere and everywhere to document your day.

portland

spain and portugal

NYC

july 2025

november 2025

december 2025

© ARIELLE GALLIONE PHOTOGRAPHY 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED