... joyful, classic and authentic. Though she's planning the photoshoot of her dreams, she values her marriage and the legacy she & her spouse have founded more than she values the "perfect" family photos. The Christmas card photos matter, but she's all about the real, raw photos of those she loves most.
The Caitlin & Luke client is...
The Caitlin & Luke Client values her family above all else, and the photos she cares about most are those that document her family authentically.
more than a photographer.
I'm Caitlin Bachtold, a portrait photographer serving illinois couples since 2011. I serve my clients by being...
If you’re looking for a photographer who feels more like a long-lost best friend than just another photographer, you’re in the right place!
This is my husband Luke! We're best friends who can usually be found spending time together… with our sons Grayson & Beau and our doodle Oliver, of course. We love dinner dates, whether we’re dressing up for Mexican food & a margarita at our favorite restaurant {shoutout to Ancho & Agave in Bloomington!}, running through the Chick Fil A drive through with our boys, or cooking at home with Ben Rector playing and a Capri Blue candle burning. We're also deeply passionate about our faith; we'd be nowhere without Jesus.
We had the honor of being a part of over 100 wedding days together in our years of shooting weddings full-time, and we couldn’t be more grateful! We traveled all over Illinois, the Midwest and beyond for our couples. After having our son and finding out we were expecting our second baby, we shifted our business to focus on families & portrait sessions. Luke now works full-time outside of our business, but we couldn't be more grateful for the precious years we had in business together!
My photography style is completely centered around you. This means that, although I adore the tiniest details of your photoshoot (I mean, helping you choose outfits might be one of my favorite parts of my job!), I'm most passionate about celebrating who you and your family truly are through photos that look the way each tender moment felt! My goal for your session day is to go above and beyond the must-have, magazine-quality photos you’re daydreaming about… but also to freeze time during the most intimate moments you’d never remember if it weren’t for your photographs.
I live for those special, fleeting moments- but I also want to ensure we’re photographing your family authentically! No matter your personality, my ultimate goal is to ensure that who you two truly are is what shines through your images the most… and to help you feel 100% comfortable the entire time. It brings tears to my eyes to think of how your images will not only grace you & your spouse's walls & carry you through your decades together, but will also be what your children & grandchildren cherish one day. Imagine them thumbing through your photos one day & saying, “Look how in love they were then… & how much more in love they still are now!”
I'm for the family who believes joyful, authentic, & enduring love is worth celebrating.
to you
... from the moment you inquire with me, and I make it my mission become lifelong friends with each Caitlin & Luke client I serve. To this day, I'm still in touch with hundreds of the clients I've served since 2011!
I'll be there from inquiry through image delivery for questions, session prep assistance, vendor suggestions & anything else you need along the way. Everything about what I do is centered on how much I care for you!
"Our entire experience with Caitlin and Luke from start to finish was more than anything we could have asked for."
- Lauren + Dean
My Promise
My #1 priority is making sure you feel loved, known and cared for...
CAITLIN
I’m Luke's wife, Grayson's mama, and a hopeless romantic who still cries at each wedding! I'm also an obsessed dog mom who loves peonies, Kate Spade, statement earrings, Capri Blue candles, Chick Fil A, home decor and Diet Coke! I'm a firm believer that no day is complete without Jesus time and Starbucks iced coffee.
The Bachtold Family
meet caitlin, luke, Grayson, Beau & oliver
OLIVER
Our Doodle Pup
Our fur baby! He's the most friendly, people-obsessed dog ever.
Photographer & Head of Bridal Experience
Luke
I’m a positive, down to earth guy who loves to connect with people. I’m an early riser, and I start every morning with a workout and my Bible so that I can have a peaceful start to my days. In my spare time, I enjoy grilling on my Big Green Egg & reading business books. I'll jump at any chance to spend time with our family, friends & couples!
Photographer & Business Manager
Grayson
Our Son
Our baby boy! We truly couldn't love this little guy more.
CAITLIN
I’m Luke's wife, Grayson & Beau's mama, and an obsessed doodle mom! Some of my favorite things in life are peonies, Kate Spade, statement earrings, Capri Blue candles, Chick Fil A, home decor and Diet Coke! I'm also a firm believer that no day is complete without Jesus time and some Starbucks iced coffee.
OLIVER
Our Doodle Pup
Ollie is our fur baby who unexpectedly went blind in 2022! We adore him.
Photographer & Head of Client Experience
Luke
I’m a positive, down to earth guy who loves to connect with people. I’m an early riser, and I start every morning with a workout and my Bible so that I can have a peaceful start to my days. In my spare time, I enjoy grilling on my Big Green Egg & reading business books. I'll jump at any chance to spend time with our family & friends!
Retired Photographer & Business Manager
Grayson & BEau
Our Boys
At almost exactly 2 years apart, these two are our whole world!
The c&L timeline
Caitlin started our business in high school- at the age of 15, to be specific!
2011
We're college sweethearts! Within just weeks of knowing each other, we knew we’d found our best friend & the one God had chosen for each of us. {This is our first photo together!}
2014
We started shooting weddings together & got engaged on 08.02.15.
2015
06.18.16 was our wedding day! We've photographed hundreds of love stories, but ours is our favorite.
2016
After welcoming Grayson in 2021 and Beau in 2023, we retired from shooting weddings to focus on raising our family & documenting yours. You are so much more than just a client to me, and I promise to be so much more than just a photographer to you.
2023
We all remember the moment we first laid eyes on our child for the first time. For me, that moment happened at 12:49 am on 04.12.21 when I caught a glimpse of the little boy who brought a 2.5 year infertility journey to a close. I remember the moment I saw his face. The weight of him as he laid in my arms. My tears as I heard him cry for the first time. The way his fingers wrapped around mine. And the look of pure joy in my husband's eyes in those first moments as a family of three. Every day, I still look at my son and see that tiny newborn I'd longed for so deeply. And as my time with him flies by faster and faster, I've realized...
a personal note from caitlin
My journey to becoming a mother, and the two short years I've been a mother so far, changed my life and heart forever.
... all you’re left with are your family photos. That’s it.
Your everyday is breathtaking, and your family's forever deserves celebration. Take it from some young parents: these years with your little one fly by in a second! That’s why I'm here- to ensure you get to be present with your family, filled with peace knowing the tiniest moments won’t be forgotten. I got you. I infuse my experience as a mother into my effort to pour my entire heart & soul into your photoshoot. I vow to give you everything I have, from the moment you first inquire! When I leave a session, it’s to happy goodbyes with my clients-turned-friends and promises to see each other again in a few months. As I drive off in the minivan I swore I'd never own, I won't lie- I'll be tired... empty of myself, but with a full heart after leaving nothing on the table at your session. I'll be swooning over your brand new baby, laughing with you at your wild toddler, coaxing smiles out of even the most stubborn little one, ensuring you have nothing to stress about on your session day, and photographing my way through your precious, distinctive family craziness so that you never forget how this season felt. {And yes, I still tear up when I meet a newborn!}
I craft joyful, authentic, enduring images that grace the walls of your home, make you smile when you see your iPhone lock screen, and bring tears to your eyes as your children grow up. I'm here to make family pictures the most joyful, simple experience. Because when the photography experience is peaceful, the entire family can be more themselves. By your session day, we'll be dear friends- and after 12 years as a photographer, I can't imagine running my business any other way. Let’s get the journey started!
We shot our first wedding together on Caitlin’s 20th birthday!
We prayed to be able to start a family for about 2.5 years!
We completely redid our home during the middle of one year's wedding season!
Luke and Caitlin practically have the same personality type!
We are early risers and both love starting our day early!
t or f?
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We shot our first wedding together on Caitlin’s 21st birthday!
We prayed to be able to start a family for about 2.5 years!
We completely redid our home during the middle of one year's wedding season!
Luke and Caitlin practically have the same personality type!
We are early risers and both love starting our day early!
t or f?
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It was such a sweet way to celebrate, and we’ll never forget getting to work together for our first wedding ever. We’ve photographed well over 100 beautiful wedding days ever since!
True!
We shot our first wedding together on Caitlin’s 20th birthday!
We always planned to work together full time!
We completely redid our home during the middle of one year's wedding season!
Luke and Caitlin practically have the same personality type!
We are early risers and both love starting our day early!
t or f?
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We struggled with infertility for about 2.5 years before finding out we were expecting Gray! Now, we're passionate about praying for & talking to other couples going through infertility.
True!
We shot our first wedding together on Caitlin’s 20th birthday!
We prayed to be able to start a family for about 2.5 years!
We completely redid our home during the middle of our busy wedding season!
Luke and Caitlin practically have the same personality type!
We are early risers and both love starting our day early!
t or f?
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This is true- and we still don’t know how we made this happen during our busiest time of the whole year! We love our home, and all that hard work was so worth it.
true!
We shot our first wedding together on Caitlin’s 20th birthday!
We prayed to be able to start a family for about 2.5 years!
We completely redid our home during the middle of one year's wedding season!
We practically have the same personality type, to a T!
We are early risers and both love starting our day early!
t or f?
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t or f?
If you’re familiar with the Enneagram, Luke is an 8, and Caitlin is a 2! Luke is also much more of an extrovert than Caitlin is, so we like to say we balance out each other well.
false!
We shot our first wedding together on Caitlin’s 20th birthday!
We prayed to be able to start a family for about 2.5 years!
We completely redid our home during the middle of one year's wedding season!
Luke and Caitlin practically have the same personality type!
We are early risers and love starting our day early!
t or f?
t or f?
t or f?
t or f?
t or f?
We are awake at 5:00 am almost every single morning… even if Caitlin wouldn’t say she “loves” being awake for those first few minutes! We love getting an early start on our days.
Mostly true!
True or False
let's have a little fun!
His and Hers...
(always! Though, we do have our differences!)
Hers:
Starbucks order
Iced Raspberry Mocha
His:
Strawberry Açaí Refresher
Hers:
next binge session
Gilmore Girls or Friends
His:
Shark Tank or West Wing
Hers:
"Honey? Oops. I went over the budget at..."
Target - gets me everytime!
His:
Amazon... on business books!
Hers:
always wearing
Kendra Scott jewelry
His:
Jeans - never sweatpants!
Hers:
dream vacation
Paris, France
His:
New Zealand
Get in Touch
Cue the confetti! I've officially received your inquiry, and we couldn't be more excited to start this journey with you.
I check email once daily during my office hours: M-TH, 9-4 CST.
I promise to respond as soon as I am able! ♡
Messages received after 4:00 pm Thursday → Sunday evening will be responded to when I'm back in the office on Monday.
Chat soon!
Get in Touch
Full name*
email Address*
Phone Number*
SESSION TYPE*
Message to caitlin*
Caitlin is now a full-time mama & a part-time photographer. All messages will be responded to asap; thank you for your patience!
Please Note:
Cue the confetti! I've officially received your inquiry, and I couldn't be more excited to start this journey with you.
I check email once daily during my office hours of M-TH, 9-4 CST. I promise to respond as soon as I am able! Messages received after 4:00 pm Thursday → Sunday evening will be responded to when I'm back in the office on Monday. In the meantime, please enjoy resources I've created just for you on our blog by clicking right here. I cannot wait to start this journey with you soon!!
