Kara & Jason

Kara & Jason

"Looking back, I cannot imagine our wedding day without Ernst being a part of it. He's so incredibly professional, all the while having a comforting calm about him. I am unbelievably grateful that we chose Ernst to tell our story. The man with the camera is pure magic." Kara

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* RECENT WORK *

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JUST POSTED! | Funks Grove Wedding

JUST POSTED! | Funks Grove Wedding

I enjoyed photographing Mariah and Ayden's beautiful wedding in Funks Grove's Chapel in the Trees last weekend. "Thank you so much! We love the photos!!"

Reality on Monroe

Reality on Monroe

"Great photos, Ernst! Love the candid shots." Fatima and Nic

Hamiltons Walkers | Champaign IL

Hamiltons Walkers | Champaign IL

A beautifully intimate wedding with Heather and Rick in Champaign, IL "These are just great!!!! Thank you so much!" Heather

Hancock Stadium | Normal IL

Hancock Stadium | Normal IL

A lovely, relaxed wedding with Lindsey and Jason in Bloomington-Normal "We Love them!" Lindsey

Bloomington Country Club | Bloomington IL

Bloomington Country Club | Bloomington IL

A fun couples session with Danielle and Nathan at the Bloomington Country Club "The photos turned out amazing! I love them all." Danielle

Marriage Proposal!

Marriage Proposal!

Tyler and Paige's Marriage Proposal "Thank you! They look so good!!" Tyler.

BARNS & WAGON WHEELS

BARNS & WAGON WHEELS

"THANK YOU SO MUCH! They’re perfect!!" Erin & Will

Nicki and Aaron Engagement Session

Nicki and Aaron Engagement Session

A few photos from Nicki and Aaron's session. Wedding coming up in October!

A wee bit of Ireland .. at the Washington Botanical Gardens & Crowne Plaza Hotel

A wee bit of Ireland .. at the Washington Botanical Gardens & Crowne Plaza Hotel

“Hi Ernst. We’ve finally had the chance to sit down and go through the photos. There are so many absolute gems! You captured the day, all the emotion, and especially all the laughs perfectly. Thank you so much for these photos – as well as helping guide the day and the rehearsal – particularly with all of us newbies! We’ll be soaking in these photos for years to come :) Many people came up to us to say how great you were – from capturing all the shots to subtly getting everyone to do exactly what was needed for the photos without them feeling like you were bossing them around. A hard balance to strike with so many personalities.” Emily & Sean

EPIPHANY CHURCH & CHATEAU HOTEL

EPIPHANY CHURCH & CHATEAU HOTEL

We received the jump drive and photos. WOW! thank you so much for the prints as well! Very excited to show our parents the box and prints. Thanks again for the great experience, it’s so fun looking back at all our photos!

Mariah and Ayden Couple's Session

Mariah and Ayden Couple's Session

"Thank you so much! They look amazing! 😍". Mariah

JENNIFER'S GARDEN

JENNIFER'S GARDEN

"Hi Ernst. Thank you for sending the link. Jose and I love our photos. We appreciate everything you did for our wedding and can’t wait to get these printed soon! Again thank you for being a part of our day. We loved working with you. Jamie"

ST PATS OF MERNA & PARKE HOTEL

ST PATS OF MERNA & PARKE HOTEL

"We are super happy with how everything came out. You and Shea captured so many moments of our day/evening and we’re so grateful for having all these amazing photos." Thanks again, Andrew

Jolynn and Thomas - back to the 1920's!

Jolynn and Thomas - back to the 1920's!

"Awesome!!! This is fantastic, thank you so much 🙂."

BLOOMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB

BLOOMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB

"If you're on the hunt for a wedding photographer, just stop right here. Ernst captured our wedding day perfectly. He was like a ninja, capturing every laugh, every tear, and every moment of pure joy. His photos tell the story of our day better than words ever could. Ernst has an eye for detail, a knack for making people feel comfortable, and a price point that won't break the bank. Ernst, you're an absolute legend! Thank you for capturing our special day so beautifully." ALI & JOHN

CHATEAU HOTEL WEDDING

CHATEAU HOTEL WEDDING

“They look so good! Tom and I were just talking about how easy and fun you were to work with. We are blown away and very grateful to have had you be a part of our day. Thank you!” Alison

Illinois Wesleyan | Evelyn Chapel & Young Main Lounge

Illinois Wesleyan | Evelyn Chapel & Young Main Lounge

“Thank you so much! The USB packaging and the photos are amazing. We are so grateful for you and all you have done for us to make this time in our lives so memorable. You are the best!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Carrie and Bryce :)

At Bride and Groom's Home (with a bar!)

At Bride and Groom's Home (with a bar!)

"Only 5/5 stars since we can't give you 8000 stars. Seriously, our pictures are so phenomenal. I don’t know how to thank you." Laura & Alex

Private Estate

Private Estate

"Thank you very much, Ernst! This is wonderful! The blog post really does show the spirit of happiness on our wedding day!" Cris and Mike

Timber Pointe Outdoor Center

Timber Pointe Outdoor Center

"My husband and I are so pleased with our experience with Ernst! We did both engagement photos and wedding photos with him. He was so much fun to work with and listened to every detail we had in mind for our photos. He asked for inspiration photos ahead of time so he could capture our vision perfectly. It rained on our wedding day, but our photos turned out clear and absolutely beautiful. He is so responsive and truly wants to make sure you have the best experience. After our wedding- he surprised us with printed photos of some of his best shots. I have nothing but great things to say about Ernst as a person and a photographer!" Kelly & Nate

Mini Session

Mini Session

“The photos look amazing!! 🤩 ” Caroline & Anthony

ENGAGEMENT SESSION

ENGAGEMENT SESSION

“These photos are amazing! Ernst, we would like to thank you so much for your work with this! It was an amazing experience and we appreciate you!" Jennaire & Heather

Mini Session

Mini Session

"I love them! Omg! You did an amazing job." Emma

Mini Session

Mini Session

“We both love the pictures and can’t wait for the big day.” Andrew and Mandy

BLOOMINGTON DOUBLETREE HOTEL

BLOOMINGTON DOUBLETREE HOTEL

"I am a wedding planner and worked with Ernst in October of 2023. Ernst was my favorite photographer to work with this season! He was very responsive to email communication and helpful with any questions I had as we planned out the timeline for the day. On wedding weekend he was kind, fun, and professional! I was so thankful to be working beside him! He will make you laugh, make you feel comfortable in front of the camera, and help make your day go beautifully! Not to mention Ernst has a true gift! Capturing the sweetest moments of the day! 1000/10 recommend Ernst Jacobsen Photography!" Liz Miller | With Love Always Weddings

Mini Session

Mini Session

"These are gorgeous!!!!" Robyn

Double K Ranch, Onarga, Illinios - JUST POSTED!

Double K Ranch, Onarga, Illinios - JUST POSTED!

"Thanks, Ernst! We love them, it's so fun to look through and see all the little moments that you caught :)" Shannon

Medinah Country Club | Medinah, IL

Medinah Country Club | Medinah, IL

MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB - "Looking back, I cannot imagine our wedding day without Ernst being a part of it. He's so incredibly professional, all the while having a comforting calm about him. He's a very quiet force, always hiding in nooks, bushes, trees, hallways, and corners... capturing the moments you didn't even know happened until you see them on film. Words cannot describe all emotions felt when looking at the sneak peek blog post, the full gallery, and now receiving the USB drive. We laughed hysterically, cried, smiled, and reminisced from start to finish, thoroughly absorbing they day for what it was through his eyes and everyone around us. I am unbelievably grateful that we chose Ernst to tell our story. The man with the camera is pure magic." Kara & Jason

STARVED ROCK

STARVED ROCK

“Ernst was amazing. By the end of our wedding we felt as if he was family. We really connected to him and appreciated how hard he worked. Ernst captured moments that happened in a flash. The pictures turned out wonderful and he was positive about everything. A+ for Ernst” Samantha and Jennifer

Chicago Engagement Session

Chicago Engagement Session

"We really like how they came out! Thanks again!" Paige and Arlen

ENGAGEMENT SESSION

ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Tijana and Steve met at the University of Illinois so we headed over to the university arboretum, Japan House and a visit to the chemistry building where they first met. CLICK the photo to view a few photos from our session together.

Kiran Senior Session

Kiran Senior Session

"Thank you so much! I love the pictures." Kiran

DOUBLE TREE HOTEL

DOUBLE TREE HOTEL

“I’m already in love! 😍 these are gorgeous!” Shea

Country Line Orchard

Country Line Orchard

"Thank you so much!! We love these!!! The whole family was so happy to have you there!!💗 THE KNOT REVIEW: "Ernst Jacobsen is truly the best! My older sister had engagement, covid marriage ceremony, and actual wedding reception all photographed by Ernst. After watching how dedicated he was to his clients and seeing his amazing photos, we knew we had to book him! Ernst is a communicative, adaptable, and talented photographer who goes above and beyond for every client. We cannot recommend him enough!!" Ivana

Reality on Monroe | Bloomington Illinois

Reality on Monroe | Bloomington Illinois

"Hello Ernst, The gallery left us speechless!!! Thank you for capturing our day with such perfect photos! We are so glad we worked with you!!” Giada and Quenton.

Mini Session

Mini Session

“We love them!! The leaves turned out super fun and the pictures are so us. Thanks so much! We’re so glad you’re photographing our wedding!” Lindsey and Jason

Eastview Church & Bloomington Center for Performing Arts

Eastview Church & Bloomington Center for Performing Arts

"We can’t thank Ernst enough for doing an amazing job on our photos! He kept in contact with us before the wedding making sure we got exactly what we wanted. He was very organized and kept us all on track throughout the day. He was very engaged and captured pictures of the guest at the wedding reception-Everyone LOVED these photos. We feel he went above and beyond to make our day perfect! We can’t thank you enough!"

"Hi Ernst! /The wedding photos are amazing!! Kriegh and I just went through them last night. Thank you so much for documenting our wedding for us, the pictures turned out great and you really caught some perfect moments!!!" Channah

Engagement Session | Normal, Illinois

Engagement Session | Normal, Illinois

"Thanks so much, we love them!" Shannon & Marty

BLOOMINGTON WEDDING

BLOOMINGTON WEDDING

“These photos look amazing. Thank you so much for being a part of our special day and capturing these moments ❤️” Sandesha

Allerton Mansion Wedding

Allerton Mansion Wedding

"Ernst, the pictures look amazing! I also wanted to pass long the many compliments our guests/family gave. They thought you did a tremendous job and you were beyond helpful for us throughout the day. Thank you from both of us for making our day so memorable!" Chris & Danielle

Bartlett Hills Golf Club

Bartlett Hills Golf Club

“This man right here was AMAZING, from beginning to end. From requesting his services, taking the photos, and presenting us with our photos. Rodolfo and I sometimes have a hard time taking photos together but with his guidance, it was so seamless. Even with the family, it was easy to take nice photos. He can read a room and adjust accordingly. I cannot thank this man enough for capturing our literally perfect day, and it was because his love for this art and the caring that he has for people that made it truly a wonderful experience. Thank you Ernst for making that day so, so perfect. :)” Dinice/Bride

Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University

"Ernst, I could not thank you enough for all you did for us on Saturday. You were excellent. You made us feel comfortable and half the time I didn't even know you were taking pictures! My parents, Collin's parents, and our bridal party haven't stopped commenting on how great you were, and I just wanted to let you know that. We can't wait to see the pictures!" UPDATE :) "I literally am crying! I absolutely love them. I can't stop looking at them! They are beautiful. Thank you so much!" Audrey"

Saint Mathews & Franks Center

Saint Mathews & Franks Center

Wow wow WOW! Our wedding photos are fantastic!!! We absolutely love them...thank you so much! Our favorites are the ones we didn't even specifically ask for! The candids and individual couple/family shots at the reception are so incredible!! Thank you, Ernst, for your attention to detail and above and beyond service - we couldn't have asked for a better photographer!!" Morgan & Ryan

Oakbrook Bath and Tennis Club Wedding

Oakbrook Bath and Tennis Club Wedding

“Ernst is the best of the best!! His professionalism and kindness are beyond compare. He is able to assemble everyone and is excellent at sticking to the timeline. You can certainly trust him to make the day fun and less stressful! He really went above and beyond – coming up the night before the wedding just to scope things out, to find us a greenhouse for pictures since it was raining, the list goes on! He captured so many wonderful pictures of everyone at our wedding – people just loved him! And oh my goodness were our photos AMAZING! Helped us really relive the whole day. We would recommend Ernst to all family and friends in search of a photographer.” Tijana and Steven

ALLERTON MANSION WEDDING | MONTICELLO IL

ALLERTON MANSION WEDDING | MONTICELLO IL

Awww. Ernst these are beautiful! Can't wait to see the rest! Thank you so much for your time yesterday. It was great to have you there :). Tijana and Steven.

LANEVIEW FAMILY FARM

LANEVIEW FAMILY FARM

“I cannot thank Ernst enough for the beautiful photos of our wedding! We were overwhelmed with the quality of the photos. His professionalism is top-notch and he responded quickly to all of our emails. As for the wedding day, Ernst was extremely laid back and made us both feel comfortable and relaxed. For two people that hate taking “staged” photos, I was delighted that Ernst captured dozens of photos that looked so natural and really captured the couple that we are. We have so many amazing pictures of all of the people in attendance and it’s such a treasure to have. He really captured all of the best parts of the day!” Chelsea and Gediminas

Intimate Chicago Restaurant & Bar

Intimate Chicago Restaurant & Bar

“Having worked with a wide array of photographers when planning events, I am used to seeing the standard catalog of lovely images post-fête. Weddings are, at first glance, not the most challenging of subjects- everyone is happy, all are dressed to the nines and, thanks to the cocktails, entertaining poses abound. What makes a photographer great, in my opinion, is his or her ability to capture the moments of authenticity- the fleeting glances, the subtle graceful gestures, the raw exchanges. A great photographer's images take you by the eye and lead you back into the scene. They make you feel. Such is the photographer I found Ernst Jacobsen to be as I scrolled through the images he took of a wedding I recently attended. The venue was intimate, a steakhouse bathed in moody hues with 120 people meandering about the bar and front room. An unassuming man in person, Ernst's presence was hard to detect. While a few sightings of a man with a camera let me know that there was, in fact, a photog present, I can't seem to recall ever seeing him front and center in the 'big ticket' moments of the day. Thus I was stunned to see the result of his work- the photographs are testament to the fact that he was everywhere all at once, shooting every detail. In one, he is behind me as I toast the newlyweds, their faces beaming from across the room. In the next, he is behind them, capturing my fellow toaster from across the stage. Should I run into Ernst again, I will check his shoes for pointy ends with little bells that signify some sort of magical transport ability. I simply don't know how he did it. Realize, as you glance at the series showing the ceremony, how many angles are captured- and that one man did all of that alone. It is extraordinary.

METAMORA FIELDS GOLF CLUB

METAMORA FIELDS GOLF CLUB

"Choosing Ernst as our photographer was one of the best decisions we made! He’s not only incredibly talented and professional, but also warm and genuine. He took time to listen to our story and understand what we were looking for with our photographs. We were incredibly impressed that he took the time to attend our rehearsal in order to meet our parents, family and bridal party. And the resulting photos – WOW. We were amazed at how quickly he returned our photos to us, and absolutely thrilled at how they turned out. All the little special candid moments were captured brilliantly; each time we look through our photos it’s like re-living the best day of our lives. We simply cannot say thank you enough!!" Katrina and Alex

VICTORIA ROSEMONT BANQUET  - CHICAGO

VICTORIA ROSEMONT BANQUET - CHICAGO

VICTORIA ROSEMONT BANQUET / CHICAGO - "We highly recommend Ernst Jacobsen's services. We were extremely impressed with his skills and professionalism. Not a moment was missed and each image can stand alone as a work of art. Since our wedding was in the winter, having a photographer who could manage location lighting and was a priority. We were very impressed with his vision and technical skills for scenarios with difficult lighting. The resulting images we will cherish for a lifetime, they are just stunning. Ernst and Barbara captured our wedding day with a unique visual storytelling style combined with beautifully composed posed images. We are very grateful they were able to capture our special day." Patricia & Luis

FUNKS GROVE & RADISSON HOTEL WEDDING

FUNKS GROVE & RADISSON HOTEL WEDDING

Oh my gosh Ernst, We couldn't be more happy with how the photos turned out!! We absolutely love them!! Max and I sat on the couch last night and looked through them all and it was so much fun to relive our wedding day with all of your excellent photos, capturing each moment! You truly outdid yourself, and we couldn't be more grateful for the service that you provided us. Thank you so much!!! AHHH!! We can't wait to show our friends and family the photos, and look forward to getting our usb drive as well. Ernst, thank you so much!! We'll surely be in touch, but definitely wanted to shoot you a quick email to say how excited we are to see all the photos and how beautiful they turned out. From some super excited newlyweds, Kaitlin & Max

Destihl Brewery

Destihl Brewery

“Hi Ernst! Thank you for the photos– and the quick turnaround! These are beautiful! Bart and I enjoyed reliving our special day. I love the photos!” And thank you for the beautiful box! Such a lovely surprise! It was truly a pleasure working with you and I hope that we can work together in the future for other events. In the meantime, if I meet anyone in the area looking for a photographer, I will be sure to send them your way!" Anna

Rock Springs Nature Center

Rock Springs Nature Center

"Working with Ernst was a dream. Andrew and I felt so comfortable with his familiar charm and the photographs are absolutely stunning! He is kind, professional, and adaptable. Ernst genuinely cares about your desires and takes the time to make them a reality. The best decision of the day was marrying my true love; the second was having Ernst capture our special day. We are so grateful for the joyous, intimate, and comical moments captured for us to enjoy the rest of our lives, especially knowing they were handled with great care." Holly & Andrew

Pazzos at 311 - Chicago

Pazzos at 311 - Chicago

CHICAGO WEDDING - "Ernst! They're amazing, we absolutely love them :) :) You did a wonderful job, we couldn't be more pleased. You really were diligent in making sure everything and everybody was included. The church pics are stunning, the outdoor pics are awesome, and the reception pictures are so fun. Really, couldn't be happier!!" Kate and Algis

Normal Theatre & Medici

Normal Theatre & Medici

"This will be a very long and detailed review because we could not have been more thrilled with our decision to hire Ernst. I hope that reading about our experience can help other couples come to a confident decision. Ernst's services are worth every penny and more, which is amazing when you consider how competitive his prices are. During the ceremony and reception, Ernst seemed like he was everywhere at once. We had about 125 guests at our wedding, and he made sure that everyone was represented in the photos. Every time I saw him, he was taking a photo. He worked hard the entire time. He was accommodating and receptive to suggestions and requests from guests. He was as professional as could be. He was right there for every special moment. Looking through our gallery I see quite a few photos where he captures the same moment from opposite sides, and I am baffled as to how he pulled some of these shots off. I give Ernst the highest of recommendations. I feel confident that anyone who hires him for their wedding day will be in the best of hands. I have heard that working with a photographer can be stressful sometimes, but in our experience, Ernst was a source of calming and organization. He helped our day run smoothly, helped ease a lot of wedding day stress, and provided us well over a thousand wonderful photos. Thank you so, so, much Ernst." Charlotte and Connor

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY BALLROOM

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY BALLROOM

Thanks Ernst! You did an amazing job! All the pictures look great! Maureen and Vince

St Pats of Merna & Eastland Suites

St Pats of Merna & Eastland Suites

"Ernst was very nice, calm, and composed. He was incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. I adore the photos. The presentation box is beautiful. I would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a photographer."

EPIPHANY CHURCH & CHATEAU HOTEL

EPIPHANY CHURCH & CHATEAU HOTEL

“Ernst went above and beyond in every facet of our wedding. We worked with several vendors in order to put on our wedding, and Ernst was by far the easiest to work with. He always was quick to answer any questions and was on top of everything from start to finish. He was very flexible with times to meet up and made us feel like he would be anywhere and do anything to make our wedding day perfect. Ernst does his homework and it showed. We truly feel as if there was nothing more we could have asked for from him and we feel like we got it all for a reasonable price. Ernst was a pleasure to work with and made our wedding day truly special and has provided us with beautiful photos that will allow us to remember that special day for years to come. It is great knowing that you have someone you can trust to capture your wedding day, who does a fantastic job." Paul & Mary

Lincoln Memorial Gardens Wedding | Champaign IL

Lincoln Memorial Gardens Wedding | Champaign IL

"We absolutely loved having Ernst as our wedding photographer. The pictures came out even better than we expected, and he was a complete joy to work with and be around. Communication from when we initially booked him all the way until the delivery of our pictures was phenomenal. Our wedding party and family also adored him. Organizing pictures of so many different combinations of people could have been a very stressful time in the day, but Ernst navigated everything seamlessly and even made it all enjoyable! He was sure to get all of the pictures we requested beforehand and had his own suggestions we were so happy we took. We highly recommend Ernst and would book him again in a heartbeat!" Savannah

DoubleTree Hotel

DoubleTree Hotel

"We are so glad Ernst was part of our big day! He paid great attention to detail, communicated well, and of course took amazing pictures! After the wedding, he works to edit your pictures, sends you a sneak peek, and once finished you receive printed pictures a beautiful photo box, and a wooden USB drive with all of the photos from your day. We could not be happier with our pictures and the work he did. Thank you, Ernst!"

IHOTEL CHAMPAIGN URBANA IL

IHOTEL CHAMPAIGN URBANA IL

“My wedding photos turned out so beautiful and professional. Ernst provided us with many options in the creation of our wedding album, and worked very hard to meet our every request. We made a great decision in choosing Ernst. He is easy to work with, flexible and produced photos with a magical quality to them I can’t really describe.” Kannika and Hans

Holy Trinity Church & Radisson Hotel Ballroom Wedding Reception

Holy Trinity Church & Radisson Hotel Ballroom Wedding Reception

“We wanted to thank you for the gallery link. We did just as you said and viewed all the pictures with a nice glass of wine. We really can not thank you enough for capturing our day. You really captured every moment and we love all the pictures. Everyone we have shown has had nothing but great comments to say about the pictures. It was so great to work with you. You made everything so easy for us.” Mary & Matthew

BLOOMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB | EWING MANOR

BLOOMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB | EWING MANOR

FROM GROOM'S PARENTS: "Ernst, Mark and I want to say thank you for the incredible job that you did last Saturday at our son's wedding. You impressed us so much. You worked so hard over the course of a very long day. You went far beyond the normal effort to capture moments at the wedding and the reception. Your efforts were noticed and appreciated. Thank you for the commitment you bring to your craft. I am sure that Nick and Beth will benefit from it in their photos. Best, HOLLY AND MARK HOUSKA"

BLOOMINGTON CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

BLOOMINGTON CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

“Ernst, the pictures are absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for everything that you have done for us. You really did a spectacular job! We are forever grateful for these precious memories that you have provided for us!” Jacalyn & Joshua

EASTLAND SUITES

EASTLAND SUITES

“The pictures you took for our three day wedding were wonderful! I don’t know how you did it, but you were always there at the all the right moments! The photographer was one thing I didn’t have to worry about during the wedding planning process. Thanks again for your professionalism, enthusiasm, and great pictures!” Trina and Justin

Miller Park Pavillioin | Bloomington IL

Miller Park Pavillioin | Bloomington IL

"Ernst did a wonderful job at our wedding. He made my husband and I feel so comfortable and natural in front of the camera and it really shows in the photographs. He also got our photos back to us quickly and hand-delivered our USB drive in a beautiful custom box! Highly recommend!" Tori

DOUBLETREE HOTEL - “I LOVE THEM. Thank you soooooooooo much for doing our wedding. I am so glad we asked YOU to do Kristy and Nate’s wedding!!! If/when my other daughter gets married I plan to hire Ernst!!! Cindy (Mother of Bride)

Lake Bloomington Engagement Session

Lake Bloomington Engagement Session

“Thank you so much! You did an amazing job :) Cant wait to share with the family!” Allison

OAK TERRANCE RESORT PANA, IL

OAK TERRANCE RESORT PANA, IL

Thank you again!! We just looked through all of them and we are obsessed!!! EMILY & KYLE

VROOMAN MANSION & EPIPHANY CHURCH

VROOMAN MANSION & EPIPHANY CHURCH

We just viewed the whole gallery. We LOVE all the photos. They are FANTASTIC. Thank you, thank you! ROSSANA AND TOM

Bloomington Country Club | Bloomington IL

Bloomington Country Club | Bloomington IL

"Ernst, I had to send a quick note after looking through our beautiful photos tonight. I appreciate the hand-delivered photo package today – what a cool and unique presentation! I wish I would’ve thought to open the package right away this morning so you could’ve seen how happy it made me. Chris and I sat together and looked at every single photo. We laughed, we zoomed, we told stories, and we basically relived every moment of our event. Your attention to detail is impeccable – I feel like you picked up on my vision very early in the process, which made everything so easy. It has been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for capturing our night so perfectly. We’ll be able to reminisce for years and years to come, thanks to you. Fondly, Elizabeth"

MILLER PARK PAVILION | BLOOMINGTON IL

MILLER PARK PAVILION | BLOOMINGTON IL

OMG these are amazing! We cannot wait to see all of them. Thank you so much for the preview! Barbara and Alex.

EASTVIEW CHURCH & DOUBLETREE HOTEL

EASTVIEW CHURCH & DOUBLETREE HOTEL

Hi Ernst, We finally got to view the gallery this evening! Brian actually ended up taking a half day and surprised me so we can view them when I got home at 4 haha! WE LOVEEE THEM!! Couldn't be happier. Definitely a different perspective haha. I didn't realize thats what the cake even looked like lol. Thank you so much! So many smiles that day :D ALLISON AND BRIAN

BARTLETT GOLF COURSE WEDDING

BARTLETT GOLF COURSE WEDDING

Thank you so much! We love all of the photos. They look amazing. I am so happy we decided to go with you. ? we also both really enjoyed your presence at the wedding and getting to know you. Deanna & Brandon

Wildlife Prairie Park

Wildlife Prairie Park

"Ernst! The photos are absolutely beautiful! Thank you so so much! I love them!" Mimi

Marriott Hotel Weddings

Marriott Hotel Weddings

The Marriott in Normal IL is a beautiful venue to hold your wedding reception.  It's the premier hotel in town and the only official Four Diamond AAA rated hotel between Chicago and St. Louis.

CHARLESTON IL FARM - “Thank you!!! This sneak peek looks great….we love them!!! What a fun time….and you captured it so well! We love the box it came in and the USB itself!!!! ” Liz and Megan

ISU & Uptown Normal

ISU & Uptown Normal

JUST POSTED : After a few re-schedules due to the pandemic and my travels, I finally met up with Natalie and William for their engagement session. With a pinch of Illinois State University’s Quad, a dab of Uptown Normal, and whole bunch of sun, we came away with an eclectic mix of photos.

St. Cyril Catholic Church & Cog Hill Country Club

St. Cyril Catholic Church & Cog Hill Country Club

"Hi Ernst. I just wanted to thank you again SO much for yesterday. Dylan and I are beyond thankful for you and I cannot wait to see all the pictures! Everyone said how great you were and they were thoroughly impressed. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts!" Melissa UPDATE: "Hi Ernst, THANK YOU!!! These pictures are beyond amazing! You did such a wonderful job capturing the night! I've shared them with my friends and family already and they are in awe. Thank you again for being such a big part of our special day!!! Love, Melissa and Dylan"

STARVED ROCK

STARVED ROCK

"Hi Ernst, I love the pictures! Thanks so much for everything" Sandy

PONTIAC IL FAMILY PROPERTY WEDDING

PONTIAC IL FAMILY PROPERTY WEDDING

"Oh my goodness, Ernst! They are amazing!!!!! I think I'm favoriting almost every single one! I love them." Amy and Andy

OTTAWA IL BARN WEDDING

OTTAWA IL BARN WEDDING

"Ernst has definitely exceeded our expectations. He is so easy to work with, very organized, gave us so many helpful suggestions and recommendations, such a gentleman, and he is so relaxed and calm (which is what you want on your big day!). Our pictures are absolutely beautiful. They are very natural looking, the lighting is perfect, and candid! I told him I didn't want anything to look posed or fake, and he assured me that's not the look he goes for. He was certainly right. They are perfect. Ernst worked so hard to make sure that everything ran smoothly, to make everyone feel comfortable, he knew all of the family members names I gave him for our photo timeline, and he just has an eye for detail. I would totally recommend him to anyone, and already have people asking who took my pictures! His hard work did not go unnocticed and we are forever grateful to have had him be our photographer. Thank you, Ernst!" Lexi and Ben.

Evelyn Chapel Wedding

Evelyn Chapel Wedding

"Thank you so much Ernst! These are beautiful! Thank you so much for being our photographer." Erin and Roman

WALTON CENTER WEDDING

WALTON CENTER WEDDING

"Thank you for all your hard work in taking these photos and getting them to us so soon! It was a great day for both Catherine and me and we appreciate the care you put into creating such a quality set of photographs for us to remember it by. Thank you so much the the drive and the prints - they are wonderful!" Catherine & Isthier

TIMBERCREEK, PAXTON IL

TIMBERCREEK, PAXTON IL

Above and beyond. Those are the words that best describe Ernst. The small details and extra effort he puts into his work shows from start to finish. Ernst has such an amazing talent for capturing ‘moments’ which is exactly what you want on your wedding day. It’s not the formal photos that remind you how great your day was – it’s the natural fun and excitement that is so important to be documented. Ernst’s ability not to miss a moment is incredible, and his energy and true passion comes across in the photos. He is able to blend in so well that your guests literally will not realize they’re being photographed. I have beautiful angles that I never dreamed possible. He was always willing to give as much advice as we needed, but was never pushy. I have already recommended my fiancé friends to look into hiring Ernst because of the over the top work he did for us. We hope we have the opportunity to work with him again in the future. We HIGHLY recommend Ernst.

Starved Rock Wedding

Starved Rock Wedding

"I think the photos are just wonderful. There are so many good ones, I can't pick a favorite. Thank you so much for your attention to detail. We are so excited to get the USB, and are already sharing the link with family and friends." Amy and Josh

JOSLIN ATRIUM

JOSLIN ATRIUM

“Ernst did an outstanding job in capturing every aspect of our wedding and reception. Under very hot and humid weather, Ernst captured wonderful pics from different angles. The editing work is fantastic, and we can tell he really spent the time to edit each picture. He is a really nice guy and very professional! ” Alina and Julian

WILDLIFE PRAIRIE PARK

WILDLIFE PRAIRIE PARK

"Ernst was everything I was looking for in a wedding photographer! He was so professional, helpful, and sweet! Everyone mentioned how great he was, and the photos turned out beautiful. I really wanted not only great pictures of my husband and me, but also candids of the day and our loved ones there. As promised, his photographs tell a beautiful story of the day." Kirstin and Andrew

LAKESIDE COUNTRY CLUB

LAKESIDE COUNTRY CLUB

LAKESIDE COUNTRY CLUB with Claire and Mark -"They’re beautiful!!!!!!!! Thanks, Ernst!" Cindy/Mother of Bride

FIVE POINTS WASHINGTON IL

FIVE POINTS WASHINGTON IL

"We seriously love all of them. You captured Dustin and I perfectly! Thank you so much for providing us with such quality photos that will bring us joy for the rest of our marriage and lives together." Vanessa & Dustin

DAVIS LODGE - "Ernst is, simply stated, the very best photographer you can hire. He goes above and beyond to give you amazing memories of your big day. Our pictures aren't just your typical staged shots (which he also does REALLY well), but actual moments with joy and love. As far as photo quality, I'm sure I'm biased, but ours are the most crystal clear I've seen. There are no showy filters or flashy effect editing to hide an overall lack of quality like I see so often anymore, just crystal clear perfectly lit and captured shots. Ernst is the absolute best choice for capturing your big day." Maggie and Ben

EPIPHANY CHURCH & BONE STUDENT CENTER - "For those engaged couples looking for a photographer for the big day, look no further than Ernst Jacobson. Through the entire wedding experience, Ernst was timely, organized and professional. It may seem simple, but something I noticed about Ernst from the start is he remembered everyone’s name the first time from parents and grandparents to the entire wedding party. It really made the group photos a seamless process. Some of our favorite photos were the action ones that really bring us back to the fun we had in the moment during our bar crawl and reception. Additionally, Ernst does a great job getting photos of all of the guests at the wedding. Even after the wedding, the exceptional service doesn’t stop. Within a month the photos were ready digitally and soon after that we received a personalized USB giving us the rights to all of the photographs. Speaking for our families, we could not recommend Ernst more!" Megan & Shannon

ALLERTON MANSION ENGAGEMENT - " Thank you Ernst! The photos look fantastic and everyone says they look awesome! :D" Catherine & Isthier

ILLINI STUDENT UNION BALLROOM - "Selecting a high quality photographer was very important to us and we could not have been happier with our choice. Ernst's style of photography was exactly what we wanted and he was so easy to work with." Jennifer and Levi

CRESTWICKE COUNTRY CLUB - “Having Ernst as my wedding photographer was a blessing. Ernst kept the entire day running smoothly, and was excellent in time management and scheduling even before the big day. It definitely helped keep the day going along smoothly, I didn’t have to worry about anything as Ernst was prompt and efficient with organized photographs and timing of events. The best of all is he was wonderful to work with, easy to contact and very thorough in capturing the moment during my wedding! The photos were beautiful and many memorable moments were captured, looking through the photos brings back vivid memories of the celebration with friends and family. :) I would highly recommend Ernst as a photographer for any occasion; his work is beautiful and he is very professional, a true blessing during my wedding to work with!” Hannah & Kasey

BLOOMINGTON CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS - "Ernst's pictures are gorgeous ... he captured so many moments on film, and I didn’t even know he was there for some of them. Both Trent and I are so pleased with how our wedding pictures turned out. Ernst, thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to relive our wedding day through your pictures!” Molly and Trent

AMVETS 64 PEORIA - "Ernst is one of the kindest, most laid back people you could hope to meet. After our ‘big day’ came and went and we were able to preview our photos I could not have been happier! Every single photo is gorgeous and will be treasured for the rest of my life. Ernst’s style is unique. He sees things from a different perspective and each one of his photos comes alive with pure joy. Unless you are looking for “traditional” wedding photos I promise you will not be disappointed with Ernst or his work!” Amanda and Paul

WILDLIFE PRAIRIE PARK / PEORIA - "I don't think there are enough words to say how amazing of a photographer Ernst is. Ernst had recently captured a wedding I was at, and the bride had nothing but rave reviews about him. His response time was amazing- he ALWAYS responded promptly, professionally, and politely. Ernst quickly realized how loud, silly, and obnoxious we all were- and he couldn't have captured that any better. He captured every moment I could have ever asked for. He captured the raw emotion of our guests, from laughing to crying to everything in between. We wanted our photographs to remind us of the events, the people, the feelings of that day- and that's EXACTLY what Ernst's talent delivered. Not to mention he turned the photographs around in two weeks....865 or so photos all edited and gorgeous, in two weeks. Amazing! I even had a little wardrobe malfunction and Ernst gladly went back and touched up the photos for me. Plus he sent us a customized USB drive in a cute little box, both of which had a photo from our wedding on them. Please, if you are considering Ernst as a photographer- DO IT! He was so fun and easy to work with! Thank you Ernst!!" Amanda and Troy

COYOTE CREEK COUNTRY CLUB - "Words cannot begin to express how pleased we were with choosing Ernst as our photographer. His style was a perfect fit for what we were looking for - a focus on capturing the candid moments and real emotions and doing so in a beautiful manner. We were blown away with how wonderful our photos looked and how many little moments he captured. He met up with my bridesmaids and me at the hair salon at noon and stayed up until the end of our reception at 10 pm and worked like crazy the entire time. We were a very energetic bunch on the dance floor and he didn't miss a beat. We were pleased to see a nice mix of pictures of all of our wedding guests enjoying themselves - we are very excited to share the wonderful couples and group photos he took of everyone! You know you had a phenomenal photographer when the details of your wedding dress look better in the pictures than you remember them being in person! I would highly recommend Ernst to anyone!" Jessica and Brad

HOTEL MONACO / CHICAGO - “Thank you so much for being so great on our wedding day. You have been lovely to work with! We appreciate all the great work you did to help capture our day and our special memories." Christina & Rob

TIMBER POINTE LODGE - "Ernst was AWESOME! We could NOT have asked for a better photographer! He was very accommodating and went out of his way to make our day perfect! Our Engagement Pictures are amazing and our Wedding Pictures are phenomenal! Our Wedding Day was full of fun surprises and unique experiences; he managed to catch every breath taking moment! His ability to capture our day blew us away! We highly recommend Ernst!" Liz & Matt

FUNKS GROVE - “Ernst is a true artist and went above and beyond in his duties as a photographer! His photos are very beautiful and capture natural, candid moments. My husband and I couldn’t be more pleased with how our wedding photos turned out! Thanks Ernst!” Grace and Brad

VROOMAN MANSION - “Ernst has a photojournalistic style which we loved because he captured so many pictures that looked natural and flattering, some that we wouldn’t have even thought to have him take. We would highly recommend him.” Karen and Joe

EWING MANOR - “We absolutely love our pictures and couldn’t be happier! The style is exactly what we were hoping for, and we have so many good pictures we don’t know where to begin. Thanks for being so kind, gracious, and easy to work with, and for giving us such fantastic memories of our day!” Kim and Greg

VROOMAN MANSION - "Ernst photographed my wedding in 2014 and did a truly incredible job. He was seemingly everywhere at once, capturing memorable photos of all of the guests at their best. Many people commented that he seemed to really be focused on them during the reception, but it seems that he's just so good at his job that every person felt like they were in the spotlight when he spent equal time with all of them. I loved that the guests felt flattered and comfortable with him photographing them."

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