It’s the plural version of our last name. Pavel is from the Czech Republic, where every last name has a plural form. His last name is Adamek, Kristen’s is Adamkova, and together, we’re the Adamkovi—it’s like saying “the Johnson’s.
Weddings from $6,000 (1 photographer); most couples book 2-photographer packages from $7,200.
Elopements begin at $2500 for 2 hours;
Engagements begin at $1500 for 1 hour;
But your specific needs may be more or less, so contact us to schedule a call and we can create a custom proposal for you!
Yes, the majority of our premium packages include two photographers so each of us can document you two separately getting ready. Additionally, two photographers ensure key moments are captured (i.e. grooms reaction to the bride walking down the aisle), as well as additional angles and vantage points of that key moment (i.e. guests reaction of the bride walking down the aisle). This exponentially enhances the amount and quality of candid moments we’ll be able to capture during your big day ☺️ It should be noted, there are times where a second shooter is not necessary, which is what Pavel will assess during your phone call ☺️
Absolutely!! First looks are complete game changers for the amount and variety of photos we’ll be able to get you from your day. More particularly, it really helps with getting the more artistic photos you see all over our instagram and portfolio, mainly because there is usually only an hour or so between the ceremony and reception and people usually try to fit all the family photos, bridal party photos, and photos of just the two of them within that one hour. Usually with all that, there really is not too much time to leave and find some awesome location near the venue to take the more creative photos of just the two of you. The First Look allows us to utilize the time we have before the ceremony to use the best kind of light (daylight), soak it all in together in a more relaxed atmosphere, all while creating awesome ART. First looks are like a Superhero for photographs, no lie. At the end of the day, we can work with anything and will totally respect if you choose not to have one, but it’s important to know and weigh the pro’s and con’s depending on what kinds of photos matter most to you.
Generally speaking, for an 8 hour wedding we quote about 700-800 photos; but, honestly, we almost always over deliver (generally around 900-1000). All in all, it depends on the events and timeline of your day—which we will discuss with you during our phone call ☺️
For an 8-hour wedding with a quoted delivery of about 700-800 photos, we send you about 50-70 photos within 7 days after the wedding, to give you a pretty epic overview of the best moments of your day. After that, total delivery will be within 90 days from the wedding date (although we seek to work as fast as possible and generally deliver quicker than that).
Unfortunately it is not in our policy to deliver RAW files, which is actually pretty standard across the board among most established wedding photographers. The reasoning behind that is oftentimes, clients re-edit those RAW files and post it amongst the ones edited by the photographer, and since social media has become a huge platform for how photographers reach future clients, those re-edits can misrepresent what the photographers will and can do for those future clients. This then creates some false expectations that the photographer might not even be aware of from prospective/future clients. You can rest assured that the only files we do not deliver are either:
1. Photos that are out of focus
2. Photos that are repetitive/too similar to ones we’ve already selected
3. Photos with extremely bad lighting situations that compromise peoples’ faces or the aesthetic of the photos
4. Photos where people are blinking or have an unintentionally awkward look
Rest assured, even if there turns out to be more awesome photos than originally quoted/agreed in the contract, we will still spend time editing them so that you can have as many memories from the day as possible ☺️
Yup, just let us know if your venue needs it and we are happy to send it to them!
Always shooting with two Nikons Z62’s at the same time. One is used for the gorgeous 58mm lens, and the other is a rotation of the 14-24 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm or 135mm lens based on the need/circumstance. Natural light is always preferred, but in difficult lighting circumstances Pavel has on hand 4 flashes with external triggers, stands, and some light modifiers. We also use Nikon F100 analog camera and Pentax 17 for the beautiful film goodness!
Yup, backup cameras and gear on the day of the wedding, and 4 different backup drives in different locations to ensure your wedding photos are completely secure.
In the rare case scenario that Pavel gets so direly sick that he would not be able to physically be present at your wedding, we are prepared. We are plugged into a very tight network of reputable photographers whom we trust and have worked with in the past, and will do our absolute best to find someone of the same quality shooting level to sub in for him. Additionally, Kristen will still edit your wedding so you still get photos in our style. Throughout the years this has never once happened yet, but we are prepared!
We can only reserve a date with a 50% retainer and a signed contract, and we operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. But as a courtesy, should another inquiry for your date come our way after you’ve already inquired with us, we will always check in with you before moving forward with anyone else!
The Adamkovi is a husband-and-wife wedding photography team based in Chicago, Illinois. Pavel Adamek photographs; his wife Kristen handles all editing. Together they’ve shot 300+ weddings across 12+ years, specializing in editorial-meets-candid photography for couples who want real, energetic images with a cinematic, magazine-worthy finish. The name comes from the Czech plural of their last name (Adamek and Adamkova): the Adamkovi.
A few things set us apart. First, it’s a true husband-and-wife team: Pavel photographs every wedding personally, and Kristen edits every photo. No associate photographers, no outsourced editing. Second, our style isn’t one-note: we shoot both fly-on-the-wall documentary candids and bold editorial portraits with dramatic lighting. Most couples get both in the same gallery. Third, Pavel’s Czech background brings a European editorial sensibility that leans less safe and more artistic than most Chicago wedding work. We’ve been doing this for 12+ years with 300+ weddings and have been featured in Modern Luxury Weddings Chicago, Chicago Style Weddings, and Time Out Chicago.
We call it editorial-meets-documentary. On the candid side, we’re focused on real moments: genuine reactions, authentic energy, the stuff that actually happened. On the editorial side, we create portrait sequences with intentional composition, flash lighting, and a cinematic, magazine-style look. Our editing runs warm and earthy with rich, deep tones, not the airy-bright-and-white look common in wedding photography. This style photographs especially well in Chicago city venues with strong architectural bones, dramatic interiors, and good light.
We’re based in Chicago and shoot regularly at city venues including Salvage One, Artifact Events, Lacuna Lofts, Ovation, Quadrangle Club, and Chicago Winery. We also work frequently at Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago Cultural Center, The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Chicago History Museum, and Revel Motor Row. We’re available for destination weddings as well and have shot in Europe and across the Midwest.
