Keepsake Albums are by far the best ways to cherish your images forever. They tell your story and can be shared like a coffee table album to friends and family for years to come.

I love offering unique professional papers and custom cover options to my clients making your album be about you and your style. Custom finished papers make the images really pop! To me it’s important that my clients take away something breathtaking from their session. I am not talking about just getting images themselves on a disk to throw in the desk drawer and never to look at again, but a work of ART!  I DO feel it is important to have a professionally created piece after your session to have at least one awesome piece to go away with. Let me create a keepsake album from your wedding &/or session and make your story be told and come to life.

Please take a moment and view the incredible Layflat Album (solid brown) & Flush Mount Albums (speckled brown).

Boutique Packaging included.

Who says the pictures have to stop after the wedding!? Todd & Natalie wanted some images of just the two of them while on their honeymoon on the North Shore of Kauai. I loved these two!! They were so cute and super fun! Congrats to you both and I wish you a life full of love & fun times together!!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from their session…

When there is more than one person in your photoshoot — like, if you’re having an engagement session or a family session — you will want to put some thought into your group’s attire.  Your outfit can make your photos look drab or fab!

Important Note: I am not trying to say anyone has bad taste or that a particular style is unattractive. I am actually trying to do just the opposite! I want your photos to be about you! Of course these are just my tips, other photographers may have their own advice to share (and if any of you out there are reading, please feel free to share them in the comments!). Style is completely subjective!  This is just my opinion! These tips are to help those who would like tips in choosing portrait attire.  Please remember, in the end, wear what you (and the rest of the group) feel most comfortable!  Being comfortable and “yourselves” is what will make you the most relaxed at your shoot.

You want to look coordinated, but NOT matchy-matchy!

Solids vs. prints.

Solids will get my vote every time. The right print can look great, but more often I will suggest that a client wear a solid color. Bold prints can look very busy and distract the viewer from the focus of the photo, you! Although, including an inspiration piece with some print may be a beautiful way to incorporate prints.

Color can be your friend!

Comfort over trends!

Be an Individual, Not Identical

One way to start is coming up with a color scheme, style, pattern or theme.  It could also be a piece that inspires you, like a scarf, a shirt, or a hat. Then tie everyone else’s outfit around that inspiration piece.

Think of your images as Home Decor

Think of your home decor. Is it bright, colorful, more neuatral, etc…?  Think of your images as art you hang in your home and plan your outfits around the decor in your home. What colors would match or compliment what you already have in your  home?

Example A:  A flower theme.  Mom can wear an outfit with a floral pattern.  Dad can wear jeans and a green shirt.  Baby can wear a pastel outfit with a flower clip in her hair.

Example B:  An inspiration piece. Drive your inspiration from one piece of clothing or accessory, ie: a patterned shirt. Then pull different colors from shirt to create everyone else’s outfits.

Example C:  Style similarity.  Everyone is wearing casual Summer attire.  Or dressy evening attire.  Pick one and stick to it.

Whether you follow my tips or the tips of others, always remember who you’re dressing and what everyone will enjoy wearing.  Being comfortable and happy, to me is the only tip! Lifestyle photography will have you moving, laying down, sitting, possibly even getting wet….so if your uncomfortable in what your wearing this will show in your images.

Feel free to email me or call me with your questions. If you have pictures of your outfits you can email them to me and I can help you choose outfits on location as well. Don’t worry about bringing more then one outfit…MOST PEOPLE DO

Fernando & Kailani won a gift certificate that I donated to Koloa Early School and decided to use it to get some intimate images celebrating their engagement! It was fun working with them they were truly so in love. They been together for 10 years and are finally getting hitched! It’s about time! I wish you both all the love, luck and happiness together for the next 10 plus plus plus years!

I was so excited to photograph my friends baby sisters wedding! It was so much fun to get a chance to go back to New York, visit family and work with some old friends. It made me feel a bit old seeing Jess all grown up and getting married to my brother-in-laws best friend.

Jessica and Anthony were so cute and so in love! It made me so happy to be able to capture a glimpse of their happiness in their pictures for their engagement!
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from their portrait session out at Quogue Sanctuary in Quogue, Long Island New York and at the East Moriches boat docks. It was awesome photographing them in my old stomping grounds where I too fell in love with my hubby 14 years ago from West Hampton, enjoy!

I had so much fun with this couple! Kellin wanted beach images and Marshall wanted greenery/jungle…so we chose two fun locations for this shoot!  We had a lot of laughs! Despite the rain, they had smiles on their faces and didn’t mind getting mud in their toes and wet when it came time for the jungle!  Kellin’s motto “What ever it takes for a good shot! I will do it!” Needless to say I loved her!!  I have such a hard time choosing images for my blog bc I always fall in love with every image bc I feel each image captures a different moment.  Here a few of my favorite images from their engagement session at Hanalei Bay and a tropical jungle location in Wailua, on Kauai’s East Side! Enjoy!

Do want your engagement session to be more then the standard ‘pretty beach’ pictures?  Here are some ideas to give your engagement session the extra edge they need to be SHOW STOPPER fabulous!

Props

Taking along some props is an easy way to incorporate your personalities and interests into your session.  Here are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowin!

• Instruments. Bring your instrument along to play for each other during your shoot.
• Bring along love notes, postcards etc..or just anything with romantic meaning.
• Use your wedding date in your shoot to make your “save the dates”
• Chalkboards. Can be fun to write each other love notes or fun sayings during your shoot.
• Balloons are very popular in engagement shoots, lots of creativity can emerge with them.
• Make signs and hold them. I have many signs in my studio for use but if there is a certain saying etc…you would like and can’t seem to find just let me know
• Incorporate numbers into your engagement session to make table numbers for your wedding by holding up the various numbers throughout your pictures. I love this idea!
• Sport Fanatics? Bring along your surfboards or favorite sports team jerseys.
• Do you have a favorite book, do you love magazines or technology. Bring your fav. along for the shoot!
• Do you have a special furry someone in your life?  Bring your pet along!
• Are you a photographer? Bring your camera or old cameras in your collection. I have some old cameras as well, if you would like to use please let me know before hand.
• FUN FABULIOUS Shoes or hats!  WEAR THEM!
• Flowers are simple & beautiful & are easy props to bring into your engagement session.
• Do you love all things vintage? Bring something special from your collection along.
• Are you a antique car lover!? Let’s incorporate your hot rod!
• Have a boat? Let’s do a shoot on your boat!
• I WANT CANDY! Candy can be colorful and fun and playfull!
• Do you love to travel? Bring along some old maps, globes, etc to showcase the travel bug in you!
• Love playing board games together…bring along your favorite game.

Themed Shoots

Themed shoots are  often styled shoots. They are fun to create and they also can showcase your personality or play off your favorite things! For themed shot you will need to think of things specific to your interests, personalities and styles to create a unique themed style shoot for your session.

• Have a favorite story, comic book, play, movie or book….why not create a reinactment for your session!
• Artists? Incorporating your love of art can be a super fun, creative theme to work with.
• Family heirlooms or land.  Have the location be at a family land, old homes etc. Bring along some family heirlooms to create a beautiful sentimental scene.
• Pictures for a good cause. Why not dedicate your shoot to your favorite good cause, ie: surfrider foundation, american cancer society…etc, etc… I loved this idea!
• Romantic picnics have been growing more popular but can be beautiful and uniquely styled to you by incorporating your interests within the picnic.
• Do you dance Hula? We can theme a shoot around your love for hula.
• Do you ride horse? Rodeo or leasure, let me know we can do a lot with this!
• Surf themes can be fun and prepresent your love for surf!
• Do you have a love for the outdoors? Love camping together or love bonfires on the beach?

Be sure to let me know if you would like a themed shoot and we can talk about your specific details before hand.

Unique Locations

Let’s find a location that is truley unique and fits your personalities or helps re-tell your love story. Here are some things to get you thinking beyond the beach….

• Where did you get engaged?
• Where did you met?
• Driftwood scultures and camps on the beach.
• Old towns are fun to go to like, Koloa, Hanalei and Hanapepe. The old town charm can be truley romantic.
• A beautiful favorite mural.
• Where did you fall in love?
• A colorful truck/shop/stand.
• What about the Local Fair or Carnival?
• Is there a fun place you like to hang out on weekends? Coffee house, arcade, old movie house, bowling alley….
• Swinging Bridges, we are lucky to have quite a few on the island, they can be playful and fun.
• The Sugar Mills can be fun and represent the days of old Hawaii.
• Stables. Farms.
• If your adventure people….why not do an ATV Tour!

I loved this video and thought I could share it for those of you who are like me and like visuals Engagement Photography Tips Video Link

****Now remember, these are just a few ideas, if this has sparked your creativity and can think of something I didn’t mention please let me know in your consult. Engagement shoots are supposed to be fun and are to show your personalities, styles and interests. Let’s talk, let’s get creative!

I wanted to share this blog post by a wedding venue (NOT a wedding photographer) on why you should NEVER skimp on wedding photography. This posting appeals to me not just because I hear it all the time that people are on a budget and want their friends to photograph their wedding, but because I regret not spending the extra money on my own photographer for my wedding day…and I can never take that day back and recreate that day ever again! Hopefully, you get one chance at this day, so do it right the first time and hire a professional.

Here is what South of Eden blog has to say about how important it is to hire a professional photographer for your wedding day:

Let’s face it. Weddings are crazy expensive. I’m all about finding ways to save money, and there are lots of ways you can do so. But if you only splurge on one thing for your wedding, LET IT BE PHOTOGRAPHY. That’s right, I’m a venue owner and a stationery designer and I’m not telling you that your splurge item should not be one of those things, but photography. Why? Because its true! If you live in middle Tennessee, chances are you know someone who is a “photographer” and its tempting to hire them for cheap or even have them shoot your wedding as a wedding gift to you to save money, but hear me now and believe me later, DON’T DO IT!!!

Here’s why:

1. You will not get this chance again.

This is your wedding. Hopefully you will only be having one. Isn’t it worth the investment? The #1 regret I hear from Southall Eden brides about their wedding day is that they are not happy with their photos. Don’t be one of them. Besides, when else will all your family and friends be gathered in one place? Probably never, except for at your funeral, and by then you won’t care. My own sister had a very mediocre photographer at her wedding. Within a year, both my grandma and my mom passed away. Those are the last family pictures we will ever have, and they are not good. The value of that now far exceeds the $1,000 or whatever money was saved on the photographer.

2. It’s not just for you, its for everyone who loves you.

Of course your wedding day should be all about your and your fiance, but don’t forget how much time, effort, and money your family and wedding party have put into it as well. They deserve some nice photos to remember the occasion by. But even more than that, think about future generations. Won’t your kids and grandchildren want to see these? What girl doesn’t love seeing old wedding photos of the generations before her? This is the one aspect of your wedding (aside from your marriage itself) that will last forever.

3. A wedding photographer can anticipate what will happen next.

This is why you should not only get a great photographer, you should get a great wedding photographer. The word “photographer” encompasses a variety of people- family photographers, fashion photographers, commercial photographers, etc. Being good at one area doesn’t necessarily mean you are good at another. If you hire someone whose livelihood is shooting weddings, there is a pretty good chance they have done this enough times to not only know where they need to be in order to capture certain moments, but also random things like what kind of light will come through a stained glass window at 5:00 in May, etc.

4. A great photographer can turn an ordinary wedding into an extraordinary wedding.

I have seen this first hand on multiple occasions. A couple is on a tight budget and doesn’t have a lot of money for decor or fancy extras at their wedding. But they hire a great photographer, and lo and behold when you see the photos you would think the wedding cost twice what it really did. The photographer captures everything at its best, and everything that is wonderful about the day, and when you look at your photos you remember your wedding day fondly.

5. If it doesn’t turn out well, you don’t want to have hard feelings with a friend.

This is a big one. If you hire (or ask a favor from) a friend and the photos don’t turn out well, it can seriously damage your relationship. Every time you see that person for the rest of your life you will think of how s/he “ruined” your wedding photos. It may not be intentional, but you will. Its kind of like if they ran over your cat with their car tire. You know its not intentional, but you can’t help but associating them with this one unfortunate act.

So how much does a great wedding photographer cost in Middle Tennessee? This depends on what all is included. Some photographers quote their rates for shooting only, while others quote packages that include both shooting and prints, albums, digital images, etc. When you are researching photographers you should keep this in mind and make sure you are comparing apples to apples with regard to pricing. That being said, I know a couple of great photographers whose coverage starts around $2,000, but you should not be startled at a base price of $3,500 either. Sure that’s a lot of money, but what you get in return is priceless. How can you argue with that???

Check out this post @ http://southalleden.com/farmweddingblog/2011/02/why-you-should-never-skimp-on-wedding-photography/ if you would like to see it for yourself…I like this so much because it WAS NOT a wedding photographer writing it

It was such a pleasure to photograph these two super cute, fun loving individuals on the summer solstice this June.  They were celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary and wanted some photographs of themselves together on Kauai’s North Shore. It was a fun and BRIGHT afternoon!!  Gotta love the longest day of the year!!

Happy Anniversary Jason &  Jennifer!!

What can I say…these two are awesome!  I had the honor of working with these two at Kalaheo Elementary School where I taught part time with Crystal and Richard.  It was so fun to reunite with these guys after almost a year.  We had some laughs and got those pre-wedding picture jitters out of the way.   I was so excited when Crystal called me up to tell me the news of her engagement to Richard and when she asked if I could photograph her wedding I was thrilled and honored. Crystal has always been a big supporter of my photography, I have her to thank for always giving me so much support and encouragement.  It’s an honor to be able to now photograph her wedding

Congrats Richard & Crystal…can not wait for the wedding!!