Los Angeles Wedding Photographer

Polka Photos is a Los Angeles wedding photography studio. We photograph weddings all over Southern California including Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Orange County, San Diego, La Jolla, Claremont, Riverside, Malibu, Ventura and Yosemite. Polka Photos frequently photographs weddings and portrait sessions in Chicago. We are available for destination wedding photography worldwide. You can see photos from a destination wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in one of the portfolio galleries.

Polka Photos: Your photos will tell your story

Aleks Bienkowska is an internationally published photographer and the founder of Polka Photos. She graduated from Boston University, where she received a degree in photojournalism. Aleks freelanced for several newspapers in the Midwest including the Ann Arbor News, Aurora Beacon News, Joliet Herald, and Elgin Courier before being hired full-time at the picture desk for Copley Newspapers. She established Polka Photos as a studio dedicated to wedding photojournalism and creative portraiture. Aleks currently lives in Los Angeles and frequently goes “home” to Chicago. She believes each wedding is unique and would love to talk with you about your wedding day!

Latest Journal Entries

2012-01-01T09:30:00.000-08:00
Happy New Year Baby!
Wishing you a spectacular 2012!I can't wait to photograph your engagements, weddings, babies and families!!! ...

2011-12-31T16:01:00.000-08:00
Ring in the New Year!!!
Los Angeles, CA In honor of New Year's Eve and all of the couples getting engaged around these holidays, I thought I'd share some of my favorite wedding ring photos. How are you ringing in the New Year? ...

2011-12-26T20:28:00.000-08:00
Engaged in Los Angeles
Eight years ago today, Michael proposed to me in Griffith Park. We both love hiking so we took the afternoon off and climbed to the same spot. Along the way I took a few photos with my new camera phone. Which one do you like better? The panoramic: Or this black and white vertical: ...

2011-12-25T18:34:00.000-08:00
Fun Presents for a Photographer
Playa del Rey, California Christmas came early for me - Michael gave me a new camera - the iPhone. I'm in love with this phone, I mean camera. I especially love the Hipstamatic app. I used the Hipstamatic to take some quick shots of a few of my presents using Christmas cards and wrapping paper as the background: camera keychains, much-needed new Calphalon non-stick pans, a bottle of Rum Chata,...

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000-08:00
Merry Christmas!!!
Playa del Rey, California Although I still miss snow, Michael and I have made our own holiday traditions in Southern California. What are you doing for Christmas? ...

2011-12-22T08:30:00.000-08:00
Fall Family Portraits: Let's Make Music Together
Chicagoland, Illinois What's more difficult than getting three little kids to stand still for photos? How about three kids, three adults and a dog? I believe in letting kids be kids, which means letting them run around. Eventually they'll stay still for a photo or two. In the meantime, I can capture great candid moments and real expressions, like Rachel's great smile in this photo. And ...

2011-12-20T18:16:00.000-08:00
Happy Hanukkah!!!
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2011-12-19T09:48:00.000-08:00
Fall Family Portraits: Rainy Day
Chicagoland, Illinois It's amazing how quickly babies grow. I took some baby portraits of Joey in the summer, and here he is with his brother and sister six months later. The whole family with a canvas print of big brother Patrick when he was Joey's age in the background. It's raining outside so I take some photos of the awesome Nora indoors. Patrick's close-up. And of course Joey - ...

2011-12-15T09:00:00.000-08:00
Fall Family Portraits: Little Pumpkin
Chicagoland, Illinois Baby Brynne has the cutest smile and best laugh. It was chilly when we met for outdoor portraits, but Brynne loved it! Brynne has a silly daddy... and she loves him. Here's the cute little pumpkin! Another photo of dad with his daughter. I love this photo of mom with her baby. Thank you for a happy portrait session! ...

2011-12-12T15:06:00.000-08:00
Fall Family Portraits: Love Me or Leaf Me
Chicagoland, Illinois I love photographing families in fall. Cute sweaters, red cheeks and autumn colors - what's not to love? Mason is a little shy when I first meet him. Isn't he handsome? Look, a leaf! What a beautiful family! I love the colors they're wearing, too. Mason in his blue and gray argyle sweater, mom with the matching blue shirt and burnt umber v-neck sweater, and dad in a ...

2011-12-08T13:44:00.000-08:00
Fall Family Portraits: Leaf Me Alone
Chicagoland, Illinois Two-year-olds are usually the most difficult to photograph. They don't like to stand still and have a mind of their own. These are not bad things, just challenging. Archer was no different. Archer did not like standing still. (All the the house photos in this blog post have the number blurred out for privacy reasons.) Mom and Dad would sit and Archer would run. The ...

2011-12-07T10:24:00.000-08:00
Fall Family Portraits: Mr. Blue Eyes
Chicagoland, Illinois I made the trip from sunny Los Angeles to chilly Chicago in October for fall family portrait sessions. My first session was with Anthony, who has some of the bluest eyes I've ever seen! He has a great laugh, too! Love the leaves! Anthony does, too!!! For their family portrait, I got down low on the ground to get this shot of the little guy with his parents ...

2011-12-06T11:59:00.000-08:00
My Favorite Shoes
Every Dec. 6, my sister and I would polish our boots and leave them by the door. The next morning our shoes were filled with candy and chocolates. In honor of St. Nicholas Day, I'm going to fill this blog post with some of my favorite shoe photos. Happy St. Nicholas Day! ...

2011-12-05T10:14:00.000-08:00
Where's Polka?
These past few months have been super busy for Michael and me. I have been on seven trips in nine weeks, two just for fun, the rest for portrait sessions in California and Chicago as well as a photography workshop. Starting tomorrow, I'd love to share with you some of our work from this fall. Here's a photo Michael took of me from one of our recent trips. Can you guess where I am? ...

2011-10-31T15:34:00.000-07:00
New Boudoir Photos!
I love boudoir photo sessions! Take a look under the sheets at the new and super sexy Polka Pin-Ups website. Thank you to all the clients who gave me permission to use their photos on my website. Don't they all look gorgeous? Many thanks to Ink Slinger Designs for the new logo. Are you shopping for Christmas presents? Surprise your significant other with sexy photos of you! Next Los Angeles ...

2011-09-09T09:05:00.000-07:00
Encore! Slow Dance
Weddings bring out the love in everyone, especially when the DJ plays a slow dance. ...

2011-08-29T22:22:00.000-07:00
Love in Venice
Venice, California I met Nicole and Glenn last week and we walked around Venice taking pictures. Love this sign! I love all the different looks we were able to create. Found a few spots by the canals. The Ring! Nicole and Glenn are a super serious couple... Really they are.. OK Maybe they're a little silly. Love, love, love this shot of the cute couple on the beach. ...

2011-08-28T09:26:00.000-07:00
Finding a Wedding Photographer: Part 2
Last week I posted an article with questions to ask yourself before looking for a wedding photographer. After you have an idea of what you?re looking for in terms of style, hours, budget and products, you?re ready to meet some photographers in person and ask them more questions. Questions NOT to Ask Your Wedding Photographer 1. Camera equipmentQuestion NOT to ask: What cameras ...

2011-08-26T21:32:00.000-07:00
Encore! The White Album
The ring bearer tries to see what's behind door number 3. ...

2011-08-17T13:59:00.000-07:00
Finding a Wedding Photographer: Part 1
I've been talking to many brides and grooms who I met at the Queen Mary Bridal Show. One of the brides I talked to seemed to echo what many of them told me: I don't really know anything about photography. You don't need to know much about photography to hire a wedding photographer - but I do recommend asking lots of questions. The more you know, the better decision you will make. Questions to ...

2011-08-15T13:32:00.000-07:00
Our First Bridal Fair!!!
Thank you to all the brides and grooms and future pin-up models who stopped by our booth at the Queen Mary Bridal Showplace. We met couples who plan on getting married everywhere from downtown L.A. to Big Bear to Cancun and Bermuda. We're still running our show special until Sun. Aug. 21: Book a full day wedding and receive a complimentary engagement portrait session or $100 off. Call me to ...

2011-08-14T03:53:00.000-07:00
Queen Mary Bridal Show - Come & Say Hi!
Come see Polka Photos at the Queen Mary Bridal Show today! We'll be in Booth 64. ...

2011-08-13T03:47:00.000-07:00
Polka Photos in Action
We are super excited to share this video of an engagement session with you. If you ever wondered how we shoot portraits this'll give you the inside scoop! ...

2011-08-12T08:40:00.000-07:00
Encore! Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall
Some of my favorite wedding moments to photograph happen when the bride is getting ready. Roxana was a relaxed bride, but even she looks a little nervous, just like her mom seen next to her in the reflection. ...

2011-08-10T07:35:00.000-07:00
Dear, Deer
Glenview, Illinois I saw a deer as I was driving toward the Redfield Estate in the Grove. I quickly pulled over, got out my telephoto lens and snapped this shot. This is where Michael and I were married and we love visiting when we're back in Chicago. If any of you are looking for a beautiful, historic venue for a small wedding we highly recommend Redfield House! Although there are several ...

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