Fotio's Vintage Wedding Guide to DTLA Spotlight - The Alexandria Ballrooms

February 9, 2023

We had the pleasure of visiting the Alexandria Ballrooms in Downtown Los Angeles. This Historic wedding venue famously hosted Charlie Chapman’s wedding ceremony! The beautiful skylight and vintage accents truly make this one of DTLA’s most charming venues. Needless to say our vintage camera style fits right in! The site has also lended itself to many movie sets including Rush Hour 3!

Gemma and Olivia from the Alexandria Ballrooms pose for a Fotio portrait! — Gemma and Olivia from the Alexandria Ballrooms pose for a Fotio portrait in front of the old time mural!

Fotio personnel Hunter poses for a portrait at Alexandria Ballrooms!

Black and White Glam Booth at The Old Post Office Chicago

June 26, 2022

We had the pleasure of bringing our vintage style black and white photo booth to Tess and Eric’s wedding at the Old Post Office Chicago. We setup our booth in the historic lobby on the first floor and photographed against the stark white wall backdrop which gave the photos a Kardashian style feel to them. Kim and Kristie from K&K Celebrates were the planners for this and they are so nice and wonderful to work with! View the full set of wedding photos here: https://www.fotio.co/6-25-22-postoffice

Vendor Spotlight: Venue Logic, Chicago's Premier Event Management Company

October 6, 2021

We love working with the team over at Venue Logic - Chicago's Premier Event Management Company! Venue Logic manages the bookings for for some of our favorite venues including the Bridgeport Art Center, The Rookery, and Rockwell on the River.

The Rookery is such a wonderful and classic event space in downtown Chicago. Here are a few pictures from an open house with venue Logic and Jewel Catering!

Jewell Events Catering pose for a photo booth picture at the Rookery Building!

Some of the Venue Logic team pose for a portrait at the Rookery Chicago!

Many clients at the Rookery Building also prefer to line the walls with drapes which really add a unique ambience.

Bride and groom pose with friends at the Rookery Building wedding venue with drapes by Art of Imagination.

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Fotio Photo Booth at the Westin River North Chicago Wedding!

March 12, 2018

This was a wonderful riverside wedding at the Westin River North Chicago ballroom. We setup on the lower floor reception space against a partition wall that the staff provided for us. We brought our vintage style 1920s photo booth props for guests to pose with in the photos. The Westin River North is located neat the Merchandise Mart at 320 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654.

Salvage One Chicago Vintage Wedding Photo Booth!

February 9, 2018

We love working at Salvage One Chicago! Our vintage style wooden photo booth camera and black and white style photography really fit into the space well. Here is a fun wedding where we photographed guests sitting down on one of the pieces of furniture. Salvage One is located in Chicago’s west loop at 1840 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60622

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Airport Travel Themed Chicago Wedding at Northerly Island

January 6, 2018

We had a wonderful time celebrating with Michael and Anthony for their Travel Theme wedding in Chicago, IL! Check out some of our favorite photos below! The wedding was at an old airport hangar on Northerly Island in downtown Chicago!

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Chicago's Best 1920s Speakeasy Vintage Open Air Photo Booth Review

November 1, 2017

Founded in 2012 by husband and wife Nick Harvey and Theresa McMullen, Fotio photo booth is considered Chicago's best and original open air speakeasy vintage style 1920s photo booth. There have been many copy-cat companies who have tried to duplicate our style but none even come close to the superior photo quality and timeless black and white aesthetic that Fotio offers. All of Fotio's attendants are well trained artists and photographers that care deeply that you and your guests get the best photos. Our machines are handmade with period correct solid oak/brass and are resilient to failure and breakdown as we use the newest and best equipment available (we have heard not so good stories regarding some of the other companies out there!). One of our favorite Speakeasy style Chicago venue's is Untitled Supper Club. They have a vintage whiskey lounge and bar which makes a wonderful photo backdrop:

Corporate clients pose for a photo booth picture at Untitled Supper Club in the timeless Whiskey Library.

Corporate 1920s photo booth rental Chicago!

Another wonderful 1920s style Chicago venue is Salvage One on Hubbard St in Chicago's West Town. There are many wonderful photo booth backdrops in this vintage space! Salvage One is perfect for fun corporate parties and weddings alike.

Chicago company corproate 1920s Great Gatsby themed photo booth at Salvage One Chicago with Sequin backdrop!

Chelsea and Brian pose for a photo booth picture at their 1920s inspired Salvage One Wedding!

Love the vintage stained glass backdrop at this Salvage One wedding!

Another wonderfully classic wedding venue located north of Chicago is the Armour House which is part of Lake Forest Academy. The marble room and library both make terrific 1920s inspired photo backdrops!

Wedding guests take photo booth pictures in the marble room at Lake Forest Academy

The Lake Forest Academy Armour House library is a wonderful photo opportunity as well!

Kelly and Adam's Wedding Photo Booth at the Congress Hotel Gold Room

October 6, 2017

We had the pleasure of working with this wonderful couple Kelly and Adam for their wedding at the Congress Hotel in downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue. The Congress Gold Room is a lavish and historical venue space for your wedding. The architecture is just beautiful and will certainly impress your friends and family! We used the ornate marble wall backdrop for the Fotio booth which looked terrific in the photos. View the full gallery here: http://fotio.co/9-23-17-congress

A Fotio Photo Booth setup in the Congress Hotel Gold Room.

The salads are all set in the Congress Hotel Gold Room reception ballroom event space.

The bride and groom pose for a vintage photo booth portrait at the Congress Gold Room!

The Gold Room ceilings are breathtaking!

Bride and Groom on the dance floor at the Congress Hotel.

The bride and groom take a pic with family at their Congress Hotel wedding!

Monte Bello Estate Wedding Photo Booth in Lemont, IL

June 5, 2017

The Monte Bello Estate is a wonderful wedding venue located just 20 miles southwest of Downtown Chicago. We had the pleasure of working with Courtney and Nick for their wedding reception on this spacious 55 acre estate surrounded by restored prairie. Fotio photo booth fit in perfectly and we used the fun flower wall the venue had next to the dance floor. View the full gallery of photo booth pictures here: http://fotio.co/10-8-16-monte

The bride and groom pose for a portrait inside the Monte Bello Estate wedding reception space!

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An outdoor wedding ceremony at Monte Bello Estate!

Danada House Wedding Photo Booth in Wheaton, IL

May 23, 2017

The Danada House is such a charming wedding venue located just west of Chicago in Wheaton, IL. The spacious and picturesque grounds are set on the Forest Preserve District of Dupage County while the actual house itself is a nineteen-room country home that was built in 1939. White guests dined in the Atrium we setup Fotio in the "Living Room" and used a fun pastoral framed painting as the photo booth backdrop. Everyone loved it and the pictures turned out wonderful! Here is the full gallery of wedding photos: http://fotio.co/4-15-17/

A Fotio photo booth setup in the Danada House "Living Room" cocktail hour space.

The exterior of the Danada House in Wheaton, IL

The Atrium "Reception" space at the Danada House

The bride and groom pose for a portrait inside the Danada House!

Love this family portrait from the Danada House Wedding!

Chicago Firefighter Retirement Party Photo Booth at the Mayor's Mansion Banquets

April 27, 2017

We had a wonderful evening celebrating the retirement of a few special Chicago Firefighters. Everyone gathered at the beautiful Mayor's Mansion Banquets on Harlem Ave in Chicago, IL. We used the charming painted wall which made the perfect photo booth backdrop. Click here to check out Banquets at the Mayor's Mansion for your next event. Here is the full gallery of Fotio pictures: http://fotio.co/4-7-17

A Fotio photo booth setup at the Mayor's Mansion Banquets on Harlem in Chicago, IL.

The two retirees pose for a photo booth picutre at the Mayor's Mansion!

Vintage Style Photo Booth at Chicago Cultural Center

March 30, 2017

The Chicago Cultural Center is a wonderful and historical venue in downtown Chicago. Our antique photo booth style fits in perfectly with the ornate architecture and elegance of this space. We had the pleasure of working with the Chicago Scots for their annual Feast of the Haggis - a Scottish tradition! For the cocktail hour we setup outside of G.A.R. Memorial Hall and used a beautiful wooden door as the backdrop. As the cocktail hour ended the bagpipe band led the procession of guests upstairs to the expansive Sindey R. Yates Gallery. View the full set of photo booth pictures here: http://fotio.co/11-19-16-scots/

A Chicago vintage style photo booth setup outside of Gar Memorial Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center

Some of the Scottish Dancers practicing in Gar Hall before guests arrive. Such a beautiful and ornate domed ceiling!

The Scottish Dancers pose for a photo booth picture in Gar Memorial Hall.

Fotio photo booth setup in the Sidney R. Yates Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center!

Posing for a photo booth picture in the Sidney R. Yates Gallery at Chicago Cultural Center.

Fotio Photo Booth at The Rookery Building Chicago Wedding

February 9, 2017

The Rookery Building in downtown Chicago is a beautiful and historic wedding venue. The lobby was remodeled in 1905 by Frank Lloyd Wright and the building has been designated a Chicago Landmark since 1972. Fotio fits in beautifully with the architecture and style of this magnificent Chicago venue!

A Fotio photo booth setup in the main lobby of the Rookery Building.

Fun family portrait with vintage style props at the Rookery Building!

The bride and groom share a dance before guests enter the reception space!

The flower girls get a photo booth pic at the Rookery!

The grand entrance to the Rookery Building!

The bride and groom pose for a photo booth picture with friends in the Rookery lobby!

Chicago Wedding Review at Baderbräu Brewery!

February 2, 2017

Baderbräu brewery is a hip new Chicago venue for your wedding, corporate holiday party, or fundraiser. Conveniently located in downtown Chicago's South Loop, Baderbräu boasts a beautiful rehabbed event space with amble exposed brick and murals painted by local artists. We had fun previewing the space with Chicago venue management company Venue Logic - check them out here: http://venuelogicchicago.com/venues/baderbrau/

Classic Baderbrau Metal Beer Sign at the Chicago Brewery

Beautiful lighting from Art of Imagination on these Baderbräu cans ready for the assembly line.

A Fotio photo booth setup at Baderbräu event space.

Loved the furniture provided by Art of Imagination along with the rotating artist mural we used as the photo booth backdrop. Astra from Venue Logic photo bombs my pic before guests arrive!

The Venue Logic Team pose for a picture at Baderbrau!

Tania from Bridgeport Art Center poses for a pic with Deborah Weisenhaus from Art of Imagination!

The Art of Imagination info table! LOVED the cafe lights and uplighting on the beer cans etc - they will transform your event!

Ravenswood Event Center Atrium Loft Vintage Wedding Venue Chicago

January 24, 2017

We love the Ravenswood Event Center Atrium Loft! It's such a beautiful venue space and is perfect for your wedding ceremony (with a nice view of Chicago north side and the train)! Typically weddings will flip this room during dinner and then everyone will come back for the reception. One floor down there is a wonderful event space perfect for dining and speeches with a view of the classic car showroom (complete with tons of illuminated neon signs!). Ravenswood Event center is a unique and memorable wedding venue with easy parking close to downtown Chicago.

Fotio all setup for the wedding reception at Ravenswood Event Center Atrium Loft.

The flower girl poses for a photo booth pic at Ravenswood Atrium Loft!

Guests having fun watching the Fotio sldieshow!

The bride poses for a pic with friends in the Atrium Loft!

Love the neon signs leading to the Atrium Loft space!

Fotio Photo Booth at Armour House Lake Forest Academy Wedding

October 19, 2016

We had the pleasure of celebrating Jordan and Matt's wedding a few months back at the beautiful Armour House at Lake Forest Academy. The Armour House is a historic and timeless wedding venue located in Lake Forest, IL. The spacious layout offers beautiful gardens outside along with a classic Great Hall perfect for dining and sunny Garden Room where cocktails and dancing typically take place. Fotio was setup in the library connected to both the Great Hall and Garden room. We used a quaint bookshelf for the photo booth backdrop which looked absolutely stunning in black and white! View the full gallery of wedding photos here: http://fotio.co/6-25-16-academy/

Fotio photo booth in the library at the Armour House.

The exterior view of the Armour House at Lake Forest Academy

The elegant stairway in the Armour House!

A Fotio photo booth setup in the Library at Lake Forest Academy Armour House

The bride and groom pose for a photo booth picture in the library at Lake Forest Academy!

The wedding planners from Estera Events pose for a photo booth pic!

The Bridesmaids pose for a serious shot.

Beautiful trees and flower garden in the back of the Armour House.

Love the rustic look of this stone wall fence in the back of the Armour House!

Fotio Photo Booth Visits The Bedford

October 15, 2016

Hidden beneath the Chicago city streets, sits The Bedford, a speakeasy style lounge located in Wicker Park. As soon as you walk in you can instantly feel the old time Chicago charm. The name "The Bedford" comes from the limestone quarries located in Bedford, Indiana. Built in 1925 this building used to be a bank complete with a vintage bank vault! Fotio was set up in THE VAULT which made an amazing backdrop. The vault is surrounded by copper plated bank boxes and was a functioning bank vault back in the day. The Bedford has made it their own unique and timeless event venue. This place works well as a speakeasy or even a low light mysterious lounge. It is perfect for any corporate company party or fundraiser where you want that old time transported feel. The Bedford Chicago is known for making exceptional crafted drinks along with great food and that perfect ambiance!

Looking like a million buck! Love the bow-tie!

Fotio pros made to look like prohibition era!

Fotio's Annual Halloween Inspiration Post

October 14, 2016

Halloween season is here! Once the calendar hits October 1st we are thinking about all the Halloween parties here in Chicago. Chicago is bar none one of the best places in the world to be for the holiday! Halloween marks the time of year for change. The trees are changing and the leaves are falling. The warm air moves out and the cooler air moves in. Less daylight and more darkness. The new year is approaching. People of all ages love Halloween. For one night a year we can transform into our perfect heart's desire. Everyone gets to choose an alter ego or a super hero. We love the mystery and magic of the season. Over the years we have collected so many costume memories. There is something extra special about Halloween in the city! Maybe it is the anonymity, the crisp fall weather or the up all night aliveness that only happens in a city. Isn't it the truth that we all liked to be scared a little bit? Down below we have picked out some of our favorite spooky moments from our archive. BEWARE!

Star Wars storm troppers in Chicago at the Adler Planetarium!

Fotio Photo Booth at The Waterhouse Wedding in Peoria, IL

October 12, 2016

We had such an amazing time celebrating with Olivia and Cody for their vintage themed wedding at The Waterhouse in Peoria, IL. The Waterhouse Banquet and Catering Facility is located in the Maxam building in downtown Peoria just a block from the beautiful riverfront. The wedding ceremony took place in the spacious ballroom at the Waterhouse. After the ceremony guests moved over to The Distillery Room (aka Warehouse Room) for the reception where Fotio photo booth was setup. We used the beautiful exposed brick as the backdrop for the pictures. The Waterhouse is the perfect wedding venue for your Peoria wedding!

A Fotio Photo Booth setup at the Waterhouse in Peoria, IL!

The bride and groom pose for a photo booth picture at The Waterhouse in Peoria, IL!

The bride and groom make their entrance in the Distillery Room at The Waterhouse.

The head table at the Waterhouse in Peoria!

Wedding guests having fun with the Fotio props at the Waterhouse wedding!

Heritage Prairie Farms

September 26, 2016

If you are looking for the perfect farm wedding site in rural Northern Illinois, we have found your place! Heritage Prairie Farm is an hour outside Chicago and sits beautifully on a little hill over-looking a gorgeous western skyline. The night was perfect with a truly magical feeling floating through the air. Surrounded by cornstalks and barns, Fotio photo booth was set up in a beautiful old rustic barn. The wall had such a great texture which looked amazing in our signature black and white style! Heritage Prairie Farms is so charming and perfect for an authentic Chicago FARM WEDDING.

The bride and groom pose for a "back to back" pic in the photo booth!