The Lytle Auditorium is the next chapter of a story that began with photography and a life we built around the things that mattered most to us.
In 2016, after 8 years photographing weddings, we renovated an old auto garage in Chicago into a small studio + home. What started as a place to create quickly became something more. We began hosting the types of weddings we loved photographing—smaller, intentional celebrations surrounded by the people who mattered most.
These celebrations reflected what we value most in our own lives: family, close friendships, and creating meaningful experiences with the people who are there for every chapter.
In 2016, after 8 years photographing weddings, we renovated an old auto garage in Chicago into a small studio + home. What started as a place to create quickly became something more. We began hosting the types of weddings we loved photographing—smaller, intentional celebrations surrounded by the people who mattered most.
These celebrations reflected what we value most in our own lives: family, close friendships, and creating meaningful experiences with the people who are there for every chapter.
It was also during this time that we started building our family.
Being self-employed gave us something we never wanted to take for granted—the flexibility to create a life around our priorities. It allowed us to build businesses, pursue creative work, and still be present for the moments that mattered most: first steps, school milestones, everyday routines, and the small moments that lives are made of.
Being self-employed gave us something we never wanted to take for granted—the flexibility to create a life around our priorities. It allowed us to build businesses, pursue creative work, and still be present for the moments that mattered most: first steps, school milestones, everyday routines, and the small moments that lives are made of.
COMING HOME
As our family grew, we began thinking about what we wanted the next chapter to look like.
Now with over 18 years of experience in the wedding industry as photographers, and more than 10 years of experience planning and hosting weddings in our own space, we continued to shape how we thought about intimate celebrations—not just how they are photographed, but how they feel to experience.
The Lytle Auditorium is the next step in that evolution.
Now with over 18 years of experience in the wedding industry as photographers, and more than 10 years of experience planning and hosting weddings in our own space, we continued to shape how we thought about intimate celebrations—not just how they are photographed, but how they feel to experience.
The Lytle Auditorium is the next step in that evolution.
Michelle grew up in Downers Grove. Robyn grew up in Hinsdale. We wanted to move closer to the families who helped shape us and raise our children in the same community that was such an important part of our own upbringing.
But we also knew we weren’t done creating.
We took everything we had learned over the years—through photography, the wedding industry, business ownership, and entrepreneurship—and started designing something new.
This time, we weren’t adapting an existing space. We were building from the ground up.
But we also knew we weren’t done creating.
We took everything we had learned over the years—through photography, the wedding industry, business ownership, and entrepreneurship—and started designing something new.
This time, we weren’t adapting an existing space. We were building from the ground up.
BUILDING THE AUDITORIUM
The Lytle Auditorium was created by taking what we loved about our Chicago studio and improving upon the limitations we experienced along the way.
We wanted a space that could continue supporting our first career—photography and production—but also provide a beautiful, flexible environment for intimate celebrations, creative projects, performances, workshops, and community gatherings.
Extra tall ceilings, easy load-in access, off-street parking, and a flexible layout became the foundation of the design.
We wanted a space that could continue supporting our first career—photography and production—but also provide a beautiful, flexible environment for intimate celebrations, creative projects, performances, workshops, and community gatherings.
Extra tall ceilings, easy load-in access, off-street parking, and a flexible layout became the foundation of the design.
The large skylight in the East Studio brings changing natural light throughout the day, while the indoor ivy wall creates a permanent living backdrop that allows greenery to exist year-round.
The West Studio was designed to adapt. Adjustable lighting can stay out of the way for larger production shoots, but can also be lowered to create a warmer, more intimate atmosphere for events.
Two studios allow for multiple creative uses, while the open flow of the building allows the space to transform without losing its identity.
Two studios allow for multiple creative uses, while the open flow of the building allows the space to transform without losing its identity.
DESIGNED FOR INTIMATE CELEBRATIONS
While The Auditorium was designed first and foremost as a photography and production space, hosting the types of intimate celebrations we loved photographing remained part of the vision throughout the planning process.
Rather than creating a space and asking intimate weddings to fit into it, every detail was considered with smaller, intentional celebrations in mind—a space that feels effortless, personal, and complete without needing to be filled beyond what feels right.
Rather than creating a space and asking intimate weddings to fit into it, every detail was considered with smaller, intentional celebrations in mind—a space that feels effortless, personal, and complete without needing to be filled beyond what feels right.
MORE THAN A VENUE
Over the years, our businesses have always included some element of giving back.
At The Lytle House, we created an art initiative to support local artists and enrich the community we were raising our family in.
With The Auditorium, we wanted to take that idea further.
At The Lytle House, we created an art initiative to support local artists and enrich the community we were raising our family in.
With The Auditorium, we wanted to take that idea further.
The flexibility of this space allows us to support local entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners by giving them a place to experiment, host workshops, test ideas, and build something of their own.
We believe there are many ways to build a meaningful career, and not all of them follow a traditional academic path.
Our goal is to support programming that introduces people—especially younger generations—to the possibilities of entrepreneurship, small business ownership, wellness, and creative work.
Because we know firsthand what is possible when you create your own path...
Our goal is to support programming that introduces people—especially younger generations—to the possibilities of entrepreneurship, small business ownership, wellness, and creative work.
Because we know firsthand what is possible when you create your own path...
Welcome to The Lytle Auditorium,
The Lytles'
Michelle, Robyn, Sunny, Emmy Lou, + Beau
The Lytles'
Michelle, Robyn, Sunny, Emmy Lou, + Beau
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