Smiling Toad Films

John Severson graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2004 with degrees in Anthropology and Film. His passion for film has taken him all over the world, from Vietnam to Zanzibar. John is a Chicagoland native. After graduating and traveling, he returned back to Chicago’s Lakeview and South Loop neighborhoods. In 2009, he married his wife Sarah, and moved back to their native Oak Park to raise their two children, Stella and George. John is always available to chat with you about your ideas and answer any questions. He’s excited getting to know you as a couple and share your vision for your wedding day.

We’ve been filming weddings in Chicago for over 20 years. In that time, we’ve worked at many of Chicago’s most popular wedding venues. We’ve also developed a process that lets you be as involved as you want - hire us to handle everything, or customize every aspect of your film. The choice is yours. As we’ve grown, John has hand-picked a team of creatives, each with their own personality and strengths. Once we understand who you are and what you want from your wedding film, we can build the ideal team for you.