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Weddings

About

Pam Cooley Photography is a creative and experienced wedding photography service located in Washington, Illinois. Pam, the owner and head photographer, specializes in capturing the raw connection between two people. Pam Cooley Photography has documented a number of weddings and strives to produce precious heirlooms of a couple’s big day. From the pre-ceremony to the reception, Pam effortlessly captures all the emotional moments including the vows, the first dance, and more. She has experience with shooting in all climates, whether it’s in the snow or on a sunny day. From posed wedding portraits to authentic moments, couples can feel confident in having their big day captured artistically and professionally.

Services Offered
Pam is skilled in both film and natural photography. She takes advantage of her impeccable attention to detail and natural lighting to produce heartfelt images. Her services include wedding portraits, high-res images, travel, digital files, prints, and more. On top of wedding coverage, she can provide a boudoir shoot, an engagement shoot, and more. Other services include:

  • Albums
  • Canvas
  • Matted prints
  • Negatives
  • Save the dates
  • Thank-you cards
illustration popular

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Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in the starting price?

Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Negatives

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

2nd Shooter
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Negatives

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Film
Natural

What photography services do you offer?

Boudoir Shoot
Destination / Travel
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Second Shooter
Wedding Portraits

What photography items do you offer?

Albums
Canvas
Digital Files
Flush Mount
Matted Prints
Negatives
Prints
Save the Date
Thank You Cards

Reviews of Pam Cooley Photography

C
Chelse Sent on 02/09/2026
5 out of 5 rating

The best experience you can have!

Wedding planning and wedding days can be stressful, Pam and Heather made all of my worries disappear. From the first time I spoke with Pam I felt instantly at ease. Pam has the most magical way of making you feel so beautiful that I will eternally be grateful for. Pam had myself and my husband feeling comfortable and laughing throughout our engagement shoot and wedding photos. Unexpected snow storm? Don’t worry, Pam will be right out in the snow with you capturing the most amazing photos of your day! If you want to feel amazing during your photo experiences, Pam Cooley Photographer has my highest recommendation!
Adil
Adil Sent on 10/22/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you Pam for helping to make our wedding so wonderful!

My husband and I could not recommend Pam enough! She was responsive and kind and always made us feel comfortable. We are so glad we chose Pam to capture our wedding because she helped to make the day fun and the pictures turned out absolutely stunning!
S
Sarah Sent on 10/04/2021
5 out of 5 rating

The best of the best

ATTENTION BRIDES: Pam was our wedding photographer and we absolutely loved her! Her photos speak for themselves – her eye for beauty and color and posing is out of this world but what I wasn’t expecting when we hired her is how absolutely wonderful she is…I mean she is just a wonderful, fun, honest, friendly human being!

From day one when we had our introductory call, she answered all of my questions and made me feel comfortable with the entire process. From our engagement photos to our wedding, she stayed in contact with us so we were never in the dark. Further, on a personal note, we were a COVID couple unfortunately so we had to postpone and reschedule our wedding a year later than originally thought – not only did she make sure she was available for our updated wedding date, she honored her original pricing (which meant so very much to me as I had lost my job!)

On our wedding day, she was on time and her and her assistant (who is her daughter and who is just as awesome as her mom!) were on the go taking pics, mingling and helping me out (literally when I say her daughter helped carry my bridal stuff like shoes and even our drinks to make sure my groom could help me down the hill and so I could pick up my big dress and move around for shots I am not lying…how much I appreciated them going above and beyond with even the little things like that as it is stressful enough being a bride!!)

Our final wedding photos will available soon but the few “teasers” we have received from Pam so far are gorgeous – we are super excited to get the rest of them!!

We loved Pam and her daughter so much that we are going to be hiring them again as soon as we get pregnant for maternity shots (hopefully sooner rather than later) as well as family photos in the future. We feel so lucky we have a photographer that we trust for every future milestone in our lives 

I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW GIFTED THIS WOMAN IS. BRIDES IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A FANTASTIC PHOTOGRAPHER, LOOK NO FURTHER. PAM IS THE BEST OF THE BEST.
Rebecca
Rebecca Sent on 04/22/2020
5 out of 5 rating

The best!

Pam did absolutely amazing with our wedding photography! She was an absolute joy to work with, and did amazing with my photo-shy husband. She was a great help in putting together our timeline and helping the group photos run smoothly the day of! We are so incredibly happy with the end product. These are photos we look back on with such happiness. She truly captured the personalities of us as well as our friends and family! Thanks Pam! You're amazing :)
Maura
Maura Sent on 11/02/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Exquisite and Extraordinary Photography

Pam takes exquisite photographs that can only be described as artistry. We used Pam as our wedding photographer and I am so grateful we found her because there is no comparison to her work! She is super sweet and a total force – all things that you want in a photographer to make you feel comfortable during one of the most intense days of your life. She finds ways to apply her photography skill to make her subjects glow in the sunlight and, at our venue, it made a magical location and event look purely ethereal. I would recommend her to any and all couples looking for a fabulous wedding photographer!
Jordan
Jordan Sent on 11/01/2019
5 out of 5 rating

A Fantastic Experience All Around

Pam has a way of making you feel extremely comfortable. Within minutes of meeting her, you're laughing, smiling, and she's already taking pictures. Her ability to make us feel comfortable in front of the camera and take stunning photos is amazing, and she does such a good job keeping you informed of the process, timeline, and expectations along the way. Having Pam on our team for our wedding was invaluable, and we highly recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer.
Nick
Nick Sent on 07/05/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Someone you can trust!

This will be a long one! I cannot even begin to express how happy we were that we could secure Pam as our photographer. We never even met in person until our engagement session, and let me tell you…the second we stepped out of the car it felt like we were visiting an old family friend that we’d known our whole lives. We were immediately greeted with hugs and compliments, and before we could blink, we were shooting. We weren’t posed, we weren’t uncomfortable…we were just there, being ourselves, and Pam was a fly on the wall capturing the whole thing. And the photos were amazing. Fast forward six months down the road, and Pam asks us to fill out a questionnaire about our wedding day, including a timeline of how we want everything to go. We did that, and she sent back her suggestions based on her years of experience covering weddings, and we didn’t hesitate whatsoever to follow those suggestions and run the day based on her timeline. And everything happened SO effortlessly and smoothly. And talk about a FLY ON THE WALL! When we did our first look, Pam was standing in front of me as I broke down in tears BEFORE even seeing my bride. But I didn't even realize she was there, and it made for some raw, emotional photos that help to capture the day. I am so happy that we have those photos to look back on, and so glad we hired someone that made me feel comfortable enough to show my truest emotions in front of a camera. And when we got our preview album back (over 100 photos and just 10 days after the wedding), we weren't just in awe at the rich, timeless colors and incredible detail in our photos, but we were amazed at all of the things she captured when we didn’t even know she was there. There were so many photos that made us say “how did she get that??” To say we were impressed would be an understatement. Perhaps, though, the best part about hiring Pam is that she’s someone you can trust. You’re investing money into wedding photography, so it’s important to hire someone who really knows what they’re doing, and Pam does! We didn’t have to stress about our schedule delays or worry that not everything will be captured, because we knew Pam had it all under control. She’s been in the business for a long time and really knows the best ways to do things, so trust her and listen to her because she knows her stuff! You will not regret hiring Pam Cooley for your wedding!
Courtney
Courtney Sent on 04/01/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Pam is the best!

Pam is truly a one of a kind person and photographer. Her past work speaks for itself as all of her photos are stunning.
Her ability to connect with people through email is impressive and even more strong in person. When we first met her for our engagement shoot the second we stepped out of the car it felt as though we’ve known her our whole lives. Pam made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and is a blast to work with.
She was so helpful in providing outfit suggestions for our engagement shoot as well as our day after wedding shoot and created a timeline for our wedding that made everything run so smoothly. Pam traveled to our destination wedding in the smokies and had excellent ideas of where to shoot different photos. My wedding party had so much fun working with her as well. We couldn’t imagine our wedding experience without Pam. We love you Pam!
M
Meredith Sent on 02/18/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Passionate, fun, talented, vibrant!

I could go on and on with words to describe Pam as a photographer and as a person! She was the perfect fit for our wedding. She is the type of person you meet once and feel like you've known her for years. Our engagement shoot was the first taste of what an amazing photographer she was. We had to reschedule multiple times due to weather issues, and she was extremely flexible and go with the flow! When we finally got around to doing the shoot, both my husband and I were a little nervous we would look/be awkward in front of the camera. Pam literally makes you feel like a million bucks. She is so fun and spunky and her commentary helps you relax, have fun, and just love on each other. The wedding was no different. A few days before the wedding, she spent time on the phone with me (probably a good 45 minutes) walking through the plan and putting my mind at ease. I had a lot of different ideas about where I wanted photos and she helped me simplify and gave me confidence in our choices! She also has such an eye for creative places that I knew I could trust her judgement (which is sometimes hard for me being such a planner!). Lastly the photos. They were just absolutely breathtaking. They completely captured every little aspect of our wedding and we will truly treasure them forever. Overall, I can't say enough great things about Pam. You will want her energetic spirit and easy-going nature around on a day as crazy as your wedding!
Kirsten
Kirsten Sent on 01/04/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Best of the best!

When trying to find a genuine photographer we always set Pam Cooley as our number one. When we researched around the area on the quality and performance of the photos, Pam’s work was beyond beautiful & romantic. We loved working with Pam! She really cares and is so passionate about her work & we love that! She blew us away with our engagement session & our wedding day was pure amazing. If your looking for an amazing photographer, with beautiful work then Pam is the photographer to go to! Thank you so much Pam we look forward to working with you in the future! Love Kyle & Kirsten Merritt
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

65
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2012 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2009 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

4 Endorsements
Pollen and Pastry Pollen and Pastry Wedding Florists

I have worked with Pam both as a wedding vendor collaborating on shoots, but also as a bride when she photographed by own wedding this year. Couldn't ask for a better photographer to work with!

DJ4U DJ4U Wedding DJs

Pam Cooley can take some great photos! Her professionalism and attention to detail at every wedding reception we've seen her at makes her one of our favorite photographers in the Peoria area. We suggest her services every chance we get.

Happily Ever After Weddings and Special Events Happily Ever After Weddings and Special Events Wedding Planners

I have worked with Pam Cooley for many years now. And with every wedding or photo shoot she does, she amazes me with her talent! She is contstantly pushing herself to give her clients unique images, just as unique as the clients themselves. And to top it all off, she is a blast to work with, and to shoot with. If you are nervous infront of a lens...it wont last long with Pam. Before you know it, you will be laughing and having the time of your life...and that is how great moments are captured! Pam Cooley Photography...a MUST for your wedding day!

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Map

Addresses map

Pam Cooley Photography frequently asked questions

Pam Cooley Photography includes the following photography services in the starting price:
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Negatives
Pam Cooley Photography includes the following photography services in their most popular wedding package:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Negatives
Pam Cooley Photography offers the following photography styles:
  • Film
  • Natural
Pam Cooley Photography offers the following photography services for weddings:
  • Boudoir Shoot
  • Destination / Travel
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Second Shooter
  • Wedding Portraits
Pam Cooley Photography offers the following photography materials for weddings:
  • Albums
  • Canvas
  • Digital Files
  • Flush Mount
  • Matted Prints
  • Negatives
  • Prints
  • Save the Date
  • Thank You Cards
Pam Cooley Photography is recommended by 96% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.8 in flexibility and 4.8 in value.
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