We are delighted to share with you a handful of gorgeous images from Hawaiian wedding photographer, Chris Evans.
“I’m Chris and capturing your love, passion and individual style is what I love to do. From dreamy fantasy to edgy fashion style, I cater to creative and eclectic couples seeking unique wedding photography. I have shot fashion and editorial for over 10 years and am now so excited to be shooting weddings. So hey, let’s have some fun and make some amazing memories together!”
The first set of photos are of Tamara and Phil, a couple from Arizona who decided to elope on Maui. Chris enjoyed these major dog and kid-lovers as well as their great attitudes and unquestionable love for one another. Tamara’s dress and Phil’s suit were thrift store specials, as they were already planning their post-wedding trash the dress session.
This next batch of photos feature Raven and Gary, two amazing people from a small island in Alaska. This pair met and fell in love later in life. They were married on the beach on the South side of Maui. Chris notes that this couple also boasted a low-key, super fun attitude and the only thing that mattered to them was being in love, surrounded by their family.
Chris Evans is a Hawaiian wedding photographer based out of Maui. To see more of his images Chris Evans at his SnapKnot profile.
A warm, SnapKnot welcome to Deanna Seiple, the owner and head photographer of Cherryville Photography. A second-generation photographer, Deanna considers herself blessed to have been born into a creative, photographic family as well as to have the opportunity to learn her craft through practicing it. In addition to being a Clinton, New Jersey wedding photographer, Deanna is also a wife and mother of two adorable little girls.
“I am constantly increasing my professional knowledge of the latest techniques and equipment. I am extremely passionate about what I do and love that I can help people to keep memories that can be passed down through generations.”
Because Deanna is responsible for such an important part of the wedding day, she doesn’t leave anything to chance. Therefore she shoots with phenomenal equipment such as the Nikon D3S, various lenses and flashes included the Nikkor 70-200mm lens, and a wide variety of image archival equipment.
She also has a list of questions that she thinks all brides should ask their wedding photographer before booking them:
1. How long until I can see/have my pictures?
2. Will you be photographing my wedding, or do you farm the work out to some other person?
3. Do you clearly list all your prices on your website and is it all inclusive?
4. Is this your full-time job, or will I have to wait until you come home from your other job to give attention to my wedding?
5. How long have you been doing this professionally?
“You only have one shot to capture the beginning of your lives together make sure you hire someone who you can confidently trust!”
“I just completely love what I do and love that I am able to give people tangible memories that will be shared with their children and grandchildren.”
Brides that mention this post will receive a bonus upgrade from a low-resolution proof disk to all their 600-800 high-resolution images will full printing rights.
To see more images from this New Jersey wedding photographer, visit Deanna at Cherryville Photography.
The following is a guest article by Chris with SLR Lounge. To learn more about engagement sessions, check out their Natural Light Photography Workshop, an 8 hour, comprehensive DVD covering planning, lighting, posing, and post production for engagement sessions.
Let’s be honest, some couples are easier to work with than others. Some naturally smile, make each other laugh, and interact with passion and happiness that shows in the camera with minimal direction from the photographer. Others are a bit stiffer and require more work, needing guidance, tricks, and sometimes jokes to get them to even hint at a natural smile.
Engagement session props are a great way to help both the natural and the “stiff.” They add a personal element to the engagement session and create activities around which you can base your photos. They allow the photographer to move away from the traditional portraits and move towards lifestyle, activity-based portraiture. And for the less natural clients, these props can bring out smiles and interaction that might otherwise be difficult or impossible to achieve.
In selecting props, try your best to ensure that the props are something that the couple will treasure down the road. For example, if the guy does not play the guitar, it might seem unnatural to include those shots in your session, especially to anyone who knows them. Also try to find something that matches the scene and the vibe of the session. For example, a vintage suitcase in an urban environment probably would not make much sense. Other than that, just have fun and get creative. Here are 10 Engagement Session Prop Ideas for your inspiration.
1) Small Pets: Though animals are not necessarily “props,” we will classify them as such for our purposes because they serve the same purpose in our photographs, i.e. to add interest, to personalize the session, and to create activity-based photography. Pets can add a fun but challenging element to the engagement session.
2) Large Animals: Try not to limit yourself to household pets. Explore the possibility of other domesticated animals, such as horses and elephants. Petting zoos can also be great locations that have a lot of animals to incorporate in your photos.
3) Ice Cream: Everyone loves ice cream, and it can make a cute prop. The added bonus is that most ice cream shops will let you use their location for a few shots inside.
4) Picnic Setups: Picnic setups are great because they provide a natural scene, with food to incorporate and a great sitting/lying-down area for variety in your posing.
5) Frame: We love using frames for a series of shots. Though theyíre not necessarily natural, and they’re sometimes overused, they are fun and provide variety in the compositions and posing.
6) Football/Basketball/Sports Equipment: Action and sports are an easy way to get funny laughs and interaction between your couple. Whether your couple loves fishing, football, or surfing, itís hard to go wrong with doing something they love.
7) Games, Toys and Books: Board games and books are a fun, random element to introduce to your session. They make fun foregrounds and create laughs. Consider using them for your save the date shots.
8) Cars and Vehicles: Cars, bikes, and other vehicles give you a chance to introduce action to the scene. They also create great opportunities for foregrounds and places to sit.
9) Balloons: Though they’re a bit overdone, balloons fall under the quirky, random, and fun category.
10) Instruments: Instruments can add a romantic feel to an engagement session. You can use them for a variety of shots, from a few wide images to close-ups of the fingers on the strings.
Conclusion It’s important to note that props are an addition to the shoot and should not take over the entire session. For example, some pets are a handful and trying to get the dog to look can take up a big chunk of time. Make sure you take that into consideration and utilize your props only when necessary and appropriate. Otherwise have fun, stay creative, and be sure to check out the Engagement Session DVD Workshop.
