Cage and Aquarium Productions began in 2007 as a music company, offering DJ and live music services for weddings and other events. During the first couple of years, they quickly expanded by adding photography services and opening their studio at the beginning of 2010. Currently, they have more than 30 music and photography professionals working within their company in Chicago and New York.
Shelley Anderson, co-owner and head photographer of Cage and Aquarium, started photographing weddings in 2004. After photographing hundreds of weddings, and helping in the planning process of even more, Shelley still absolutely loves the wedding day and everything that comes with it. Together with her husband, Tyler Huffman, who co-owns the company, Shelley has succeeded in creating an environment where clients feel that the Cage and Aquarium staff is as invested in their big day as they are. Shelley recently shared with us what makes their boutique approach to events so successful.
How does the Cage + Aquarium team work together to help create a mood or set the tone for a wedding event?
Our studio is heavily involved in the preparation for each and every wedding that we do. The lead DJs and photographers meet in person with the client to discuss all the details, and our studio helps pull it all together. It helps to have multiple people looking at an event and it ensures that everything the client wants is in place for the big day.
What is your overall business philosophy or approach?
Cage and Aquarium provides a boutique approach to our events and everything within our company revolves around that philosophy. Aside from the service we provide at the actual event or wedding, we recruit and train our members with a close eye and the overall daily management of the company is done in a very thorough fashion. We have chosen to grow conservatively to ensure our service is at its highest level at all times.
What are the benefits of choosing Cage + Aquarium for both photography and music for your event?
If a client likes Cage and Aquarium’s approach to one of our services, we are often a good fit on the other side as well. With the discount we offer on our combination package, most clients love the option to book both services in one place! It helps channel a lot of important communication into one studio during the preparation process and into one team on the wedding day.
What are some key questions prospective clients should ask when booking your services?
The standard questions (i.e. Do you have insurance? Do you have backup equipment?) are all fine and well, but feel free to dig a little deeper and get to know our company. We hear some of these questions often: How many DJs do you have and how do you match us with one of them? How many weddings do you do per weekend? How can I get to know your company and your DJs personally between now and the wedding? Of course we always hear, how did you get the name Cage and Aquarium?
Photography and Deejay Work by Cage and Aquarium Productions:
Cage and Aquarium Productions’ Work Previously Featured on Be U Weddings:
Patrick C. Haley Mansion Wedding
Q&A: Extraordinary Engagement Photos
Willow Harbor Vineyards Wedding
Swing, Step, Twirl, and Sway: Best Tunes to Groove to as Husband and Wife
For a free consultation, call Cage and Aquarium at (312) 725-2243 or email office@cageandaquarium.com.
