Weddings By Jill Emmer

Hi! I’m Jill Emmer.
I’ve been photographing weddings for over 13 years, capturing love stories all across Wisconsin and beyond. My style blends artistic portraits with candid, documentary moments.

Along the way, I’ve had the honor of working with brands like Nikon, Verizon, SOFI, and Leinenkugel’s. You might’ve even spotted my work on the Nikon Z-50 packaging at Best Buy. Locally, I photograph monthly magazine covers for Brookfield Living and Elm Grove magazines, and I’ve been consistently recognized for my work in the wedding industry. I’m proud to be a winner of The Knot Best of Weddings, Best of Zola, Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice and a Top 3 Photographer in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Community Choice Awards.

I live in Brookfield, Wisconsin with my husband, our two kids, and our 35-pound “lapdog” Reggie. When I’m not out photographing weddings or portraits, you’ll usually find me editing with Reggie draped across me like a weighted blanket. We love to spend weekends up north at our family cabin, cheering on the Brewers from our season ticket seats, and enjoying supper club date nights, concerts, and beer gardens with friends. I’m also a devoted audiobook listener (editing is the perfect time for a good story), and lately I’ve been on a serious strawberry ice cream kick - extra dark chocolate chips on top, always.

Philosophy

Let’s be real: having a camera pointed at you can feel a little weird. Most of my couples tell me right away that they “don’t know what to do with their hands,” and my answer is always the same: You don’t have to do a thing!

Here is how I work: We’ll carve out some time for those polished family photos—the classics everyone loves for the mantel. I’m happy to get those done efficiently so you can get back to the party.

But when it’s just the two of you? That’s where we get to make some art. I love our portrait time because it’s your one real reprieve from the craziness of the day. It’s a chance to step away, catch your breath, and just be together while I capture the two of you looking your absolute best. I’ll give you just enough direction to feel comfortable, then I’ll step back and let you breathe.

For the rest of the day, I’m in documentary mode. I’m looking for the stuff you might miss while you’re the center of attention—the way your partner squeezes your hand under the dinner table, the look on your mom's face during the toasts, or the absolute mayhem on the dance floor when the late-night curds show up.

I’m not looking for "perfect" or "stiff." I'm looking for the real stuff. Because the photos you’ll actually treasure years from now aren't the ones where you felt like a mannequin. They’re the ones that make you say, "Oh my gosh, that’s SO us."

Whether we’re dodging Lake Michigan wind in Milwaukee, wandering through Madison, or heading "up north," I want your wedding photos to feel like your big day - not a Pinterest board of someone else’s life! Let's just capture the day exactly as it felt.