Your wedding day isn't a styled photoshoot, so
I don't treat it like one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "White Quill Creative"?

When I realized no one could pronounce my extremely long, extremely German last name, I decided to brainstorm the perfect business name. After just saying random words out loud for months, I finally landed on White Quill—a name that pays homage to my background as a writer and represents a blank page for me to tell my couples' stories.

So how do you say your last name?

It looks extremely intimidating but it’s actually pretty easy. In this case, the “ie” is a long e, like “piece”. So, Bliefernicht becomes Blee (like glee)—fur—nick—t. If you still can’t get it, I’m more than happy to coach you through it during your consultation.

How did you get started in weddings?

A few weeks after I moved to Chicago, I heard about a group called the Rising Tide Society—a national group of creatives who meet up once a month to talk about running their own creative businesses.

It turns out the Chicago chapter was mostly made up of people in the wedding industry. That night I met wedding planners, florists, and—of course—photographers. They took the new girl with no friends under their wings, invited me to shadow them at weddings and, well, the rest is history.

Do you ever get sick of weddings?

Honestly, never. The routine timeline of a wedding (you know—getting ready, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception with portraits somewhere in the middle) keeps my Type-A, systems-loving side happy, but the new faces, personalities, and special traditions each couple brings always keep it fresh and exciting. 

What gear do you use?

For anyone who doesn’t know a full frame from a crop sensor, just know that I show up with professional-grade cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, and plenty of backups. And because I’m an enneagram Type 6 (aka, the anxious and responsible type), those backups have backups.

If you’re into gear and want to talk shop, I’d love to go off on a tangent about bodies and lenses during your consult (and I’ll owe your partner a drink for sitting through it). But to tide you over, I’ll say that I shoot Nikon for photography and Fuji for video.

What's your top tip for newly engaged couples?

Become friends with your photographer and videographer—or, at least, make sure to grab coffee/drinks with them before the big day.

Not only are they going to be by your side for 7+ hours, but they’re going to be documenting some intimate, emotional moments. Trust me, your wedding day will be a lot more enjoyable if you like spending time with them and establish that foundation of friendship (or at the very least, get comfortable enough to happy cry in front of them).