photography
Courtney Carney
Hi there, friend!
I'm Courtney
Wedding photographer serving Indianapolis, Chicago and beyond
I'm a light and airy wedding photographer passionate about capturing love stories. Based in Indianapolis, but serving couples wherever their love story takes them!
I believe what I capture is more than just pretty pictures. I strive to document joyful, genuine, and timeless moments of your wedding day that you will cherish for years to come!
Indianapolis & Chicago Wedding Photographer
A glimpse behind the camera
From Starbucks manager to wedding photographer
When I was 30 and left my manager job at Starbucks to focus on doing photography, I had no clue where it would take me! All I knew was I was stuck in a rut at a job that sucked the joy out of my life. I enjoyed the process of crafting signature coffees and the connections I had with my customers, but I had that quintessential experience of getting a new boss who was terrible. Like...TERRIBLE, terrible. So with my husband's support, I went from serving coffee to shooting weddings full-time and have never looked back!
So nowadays you'll find me spending my time working in my home office, a cup of coffee at my elbow, putting together a list of new home improvement projects for my hubby to complete, snuggling with my two kiddos, Jackson and Harper, or crafting a genuine, fun wedding experience for my sweet client friends.
For The Skimmers
A few of My favorite things
chocolate is my love language
binge-watching friends
my rare Plant collection
romantic suspense books
playing board games with my family
coffee
coffee
coffee
coffee
coffee
podcast:
Crime Junkie
Bath & Body Works Candles
present
Living my dream celebrating the marriages of each of my joyful, fun-loving couples!!
2014
Moved to a manager role with Starbucks before our baby boy was born!
2013
Transitioned to working for Starbucks when I found out I was expecting Jackson. I was doing photography part-time whenever I could
2012
Courtney Carney Photography was formed!
2011
Married the love of my life in front of our favorite people đź’•
2010
Graduated from Purdue and began my career working in hotels
2009
Started my senior year at Purdue University studying hotel & restaurant management
1993
My Grandma gave me my very own Polaroid camera
MY PHOTOGRAPHY
Journey
Met & started dating my future hubby, Jon!
2016
Harper was born!
I struggled to go back to work full-time, knowing the kids were at home and my photography business was growing
2017
WARNING: Terrible manager has now arrived. I took the leap and left Starbucks to go full-time with my photography business!
Meet My Sweet Fam:
-Husband
-Travel buddy
-#1 Dad
-Doer of all things home improvement
-Our 10-year old fifth grader
-Lego Master
-Swimmer
-Avid reader
-Our 9-year old princess
-Daddy's girl
-Sweetest snuggler
-Gymnastic fanatic
-Photographer
-True crime addict
-Plant lady
-Coffee connoisseur
-Bookworm
A Few More THings You Should Know
I prefer quality over quantity
Your wedding day is filled with once-in-a-lifetime moments, and my focus is on capturing those with intention, emotion, and artistry, not just snapping hundreds of images for the sake of numbers. I'd rather deliver a gallery full of meaningful, beautifully composed photos that tell the true story of your day than flood you with duplicates or filler images. My goal is for every photo to make you feel something—whether it’s laughter, happy tears, or that butterflies-in-your-stomach kind of joy!
1.
I am extremely detail oriented
I know how much thought and heart goes into every little piece of your day. From the delicate lace on your dress to the heirloom bracelet from your grandmother, the hand-lettered signage to the way your partner looks at you when you’re not watching...I notice it all. Those tiny details are part of the big story, and I make it a priority to capture them with care and creativity. I want you to look back at your gallery and remember not just what happened, but how it all felt!
2.
I thrive capturing the day as it happens
I love capturing those unscripted, in-between moments that tell the real story of your wedding. The quiet deep breath before you walk down the aisle, the tearful hug from your mom, the laughter during speeches, and the wild dance moves that come out once the lights go down—those are the memories you’ll treasure most. While I’m always mindful of the must-have shots, I believe the magic is in the candid, genuine moments that can’t be planned. That’s where your love story truly comes to life.
3.
Minimum cups of coffee per day
# of hours spent binge-watching friends
photographs taken
number of happy clients
Inquire about your date
Crafting images that make your most meaningful memories tangible.
I don't just take pretty pictures
If you're looking for beautiful and meaningful images, you're in the right place. I love getting to know each couple or family I work with so that I can best tell their story. Let's create images that make you smile for years to come.
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