Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category
Ashley and Jim were married at the First Presbyterian in Conway on July 17th followed by a rocked out reception at Conway Country Club! All the beautiful florals and decor were created by Events Rental and Floral in Conway. Their cake was designed by Oneta Williams in Heber Springs. And the band that rocked everything out was The Fabulous Steelers of Memphis, I’m pretty sure if you are contemplating hiring a live band these guys are it no questions! Their reception was seriously like a concert (it was amazing)!!!!!!! Ashley and Jim got to relax on a 7-night stay at The Excellence Resort in Playa Mujeres, Mexico!!! :)










Congratulations Ashley and Jim! We are so grateful for the opportunity we had to work with you and your families! It was a pleasure to get to know you two! Best wishes!
Enjoy!
-erika
Tags: Above and Beyond Limo in Little Rock, arkansas wedding photographer, arkansas wedding photography, arkansas weddings, Bridal Cottage in North Little Rock, Conway Country Club, conway wedding photographer, conway wedding photography, conway weddings, ECS Printing in Conway, Events Rental and Floral in Conway, First Impressions in Jacksonville, First Presbyterian in Conway, Lareeca event coordinator, little rock wedding photographer, little rock wedding photography, little rock weddings, Lynne Vinson wedding coordinator, Magness Creek Elementary in Cabot, Men's Wearhouse in Little Rock, Mexico, mexico wedding photographer, mexico wedding photography, mexico weddings, Oneta Williams in Heber Springs, Pam Teague events rental and floral, Something Blue in Conway, The Capital Hotel in Little Rock, The Excellence Resort in Playa Mujeres, The Fabulous Steelers of Memphis, tulsa wedding photographer, tulsa wedding photography, tulsa weddings
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So the other day I made a post that I was taking a break for the day to have my maternity pictures taken by Ruthie……the gal that won our Free Mini Session a little while back……..
Here’s the results! I know you’re all dying to see what I look like now…..! :) Only 5 more weeks!


I just love this one with the Red shoes!!! We decided that since Baby Dotson’s room is going to be Razorback themed we wanted some photos to put in there for him!!! :) Plus two U of A Alumni….what else would we have come up with?!?!?

Ding…….Turkey is done!


This last series was my favorite! A big thank you to Ruthie! She did an amazing job!
We wish her the best in her future as a business! Many happy fun and profitable years! (I feel as if I’m giving a toast!)
Enjoy!
-erika
Tags: baby dotson, erika dorie dotson, erika dotson, life being pregnant, Maternity Session, pregnancy and photographer, pregnant woman, Tummy Tuesday, tw dotson
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Claire and Aaron were wed in Jamaica but also chose to have a service here in Arkansas as well for those who couldn’t attend their Jamaican wedding but also decided to do so out of tradition! Apparently there has been a long standing tradition in Aaron’s family about getting married in the bay window at their parents historical home and having your marriage last, I think I’d get hitched in the bay window too if I were them! They had such a beautiful ceremony and reception here in Fayetteville, I was so glad that I was able to attend this one after working so closely with this couple!




Caterer: Whole Hog
Party Rentals: Eventures
Cake: Shelby Lynn’s
Florals: J Renee Floral Design
Hair: Sarah Faye Burnett at Black Sheep Salon
Photography: Erika Dotson Photography
Enjoy!
-erika
Tags: 479-871-8932, arkansas wedding photography, Arkansas Wedding Videography, arkansas weddings, bella vista wedding photography, black sheep salon wedding stylist, blog.erikadotsonphotography.com, Catering, clean wedding photography, conway photographers, conway wedding photographer, conway wedding photography, conway weddings, creative wedding photography, dotson photography, erica dotson photography, erika and liz, erika dorie dotson, erika dotosn, erika dotson, erika dotson photography, event florals, eventures, eventures party rentals, fayetteville ar wedding photographer, fayetteville ar wedding photography, Fayetteville Arkansas Wedding Photography, fayetteville photographer, fayetteville photography, fayetteville weddings, huntsville wedding photography, huntsville weddings, j renee floral design, little rock photographer, Little Rock Photographers, little rock wedding photographer, little rock wedding photography, little rock weddings, mena photographers, mena wedding photographers, mena wedding photography, mena weddings, missouri wedding photographer, missouri wedding photography, missouri weddings, modern wedding photography, nw arkansas wedding photography, nw arkansas weddings, outdoors wedding photography, party rentals, reception venue, rogers arkansas, rogers arkansas wedding photography, shelby lynn's cake shoppe, shelby lynns, shelby lynns wedding cakes, springdale wedding photographers, springdale wedding photography, springdale weddings, springfield wedding photography, springfield weddings, tulsa wedding photographer, tulsa wedding photography, tulsa weddings, unique wedding photography, vintage wedding photography, wedding arrangements, wedding chapel, wedding flowers, wedding photographer, wedding photographers, wedding photography, wedding photography in fayetteville, whole hog cafe catering
Posted in Personal, Weddings |
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Today is going to be my day! Well technically I’ll have to share with Baby Dotson and my husband too but we’re having maternity pictures taken today! I’m pretty excited! Do you remember Ruthie? She won a free mini session well low and behold she’s a rising star in the photography world around here and she has asked if we wanted to do some maternity photos with her! Thanks so much Ruthie! So that’s what we’re up to today.
I did want to post a few teasers of things I’ve been working on recently though! Everything from Conway weddings to Huntsville Seniors.

Meet Tanja and David (you should already be familiar with Tanja she’s a retired associate photographer here at Erika Dotson Photography). I’m so excited about their upcoming wedding……you know why? Well she’s retired because she moved to England to be with David so that means I’ll be going to England next summer! You’d be excited too! We’re working on their engagement session…..lot’s of yummy pictures to come!

Meet Ally. She’s going to be a Senior this year at Huntsville High School. Sorry boys she’s taken! Ally is my brother in law’s girlfriend and she’s such a sweetheart!

So now we’ve gotta meet Andy (my brother in law) yes girls he’s taken by the sweet gal above, so sorry! :) He’s also a Huntsville High Senior this year! I’m so excited for him! I’ll save all my sappiness for when I make his post later! But for now Congrats and we’re cheering you on this year!

Next up is Sarah and Ryan O’Callaghan! They were married in Springfield, Missouri a few weeks back. Sarah and I attended U of A together in the Dietetics program a few years ago. Ryan is an LSU Tiger so they’ve got some work cut out for them, in fact if I remember right the Tigers and the Razorbacks were playing each other while we were in the middle of our engagement session and we stopped off Dickson St to change and Ryan peered through the window of a bar to keep updated on the score! They are such an adorable couple and I was so excited when Sarah called an announced her engagement! Stay tuned we’ve got some exciting images coming!

And finally Ashley and Jim! They had the best wedding party I’ve been too in a long time! I’m not even kidding you their band came from Memphis and ROCKED THE HOUSE!!!! If anyone is looking for an AMAZING live band you have got to check out The Fabulous Steeler Band! I’m excited about posting all the beautiful details of their wedding!!!
Now I’m off to go enjoy my day and get ready for my time to shine! ha ha
Enjoy!
-erika
Tags: arkansas senior portraits, arkansas wedding photographer, arkansas wedding photography, arkansas weddings, conway wedding photographer, conway wedding photography, conway weddings, destination engagement photographer, destination engagement photography, destination engagements, destination wedding photographer, destination wedding photography, destination wedding photos, destination weddings, england engagement photography, england wedding photography, fayetteville ar engagement photographer, fayetteville arkansas photography, fayetteville engagement photography, huntsville ar senior portraits, huntsville high school senior portraits, huntsville portrait photography, huntsville portraits, little rock engagement photography, little rock wedding photographer, little rock wedding photography, little rock weddings, missouri wedding photographer, missouri wedding photography, missouri weddings, senior portrait photographer, senior portraits, springfield wedding photographer, springfield wedding photography, springfield weddings, wedding photographer, wedding photography, Weddings
Posted in Personal, Weddings, portraits |
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Hey everyone its Tanja.
This might be my last post seeing as I will be moving
sad times.
So if you have been keeping up I went to Jamaica to shoot Claire and Aarons wedding and I must say it was gorgeous! It couldnt have went better. Claire’s family and friends made David ( my fiance) and I feel as if we were part of the family. We had such a good time getting to know everyone playing ping pong and pool at nights.
If you remember Claire’s bridals her dress is absolutely amazing and Claire looked stunning!!
Lets have a look :

Claire getting her hair and make up done.

Claire and her dad are very close and its so heart warming to watch the way the interact with each other. This was a big moment for the both of them.

Now pronounce you husband and wife

I feel like the gentleness of this picture just shows how much she means to him. This was the father daughter dance to “I loved her first”

Told you she looked magnificent.


just precious



what girl DOESNT love forehead kisses?

watching the sunset in jamaica was something else.

bling bling

Claire and Aaron good luck to your future and thank you again so much for letting me share these moments with you.
Enjoy!
-Tanja
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Tags: arkansas wedding photographer, arkansas weddings, beautiful couple, creative wedding photographer, cristy and john pearson, destination wedding, destination wedding photographer, destination weddings, dodson photography, dotson, draper wedding, draper wedding photographer, draper weddings, erica dotson, erica dotson photography, erika, erika and liz, erika dodson photography, erika dorie dotson, erika dotson, erika dotson photography, erika dotson photogrpahy, erika liz photography, erika simmons, erikadorie photography, erikaliz photography, eureka springs wedding, eureka springs wedding photographer, fayetteville wedding photographer, little rock, little rock wedding, little rock wedding photographer, little rock weddings, nauvoo wedding, nauvoo wedding photographer, nauvoo weddings, oklahoma city wedding, oklahoma city wedding photographer, photographer for my wedding, temple wedding, temple wedding photographer, temple weddings, tulsa wedding, tulsa wedding photographer, tulsa weddings, unique photography, unique wedding photos, utah wedding, utah wedding photographer, utah weddings, wedding photographer, wedding photography, Weddings
Posted in Monday Favorites, Personal, Tummy Tuesday, Weddings, portraits |
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Hey this is another catch up post. I didn’t get a chance to blog on Sunday too too too much going on! So here I am with two pictures for you today!
SUNDAY:
I was feeling a bit down and thought I would spend a minute with Roxy. For those of you who might be new readers to my blog Roxy was our first dog together. We got her about 7 months after we had been married (pretty much as soon as we moved into a house!). She was a yellow lab given to us by my cousin Ricky (who is getting married soon!) This doggie was amazing and we went through a lot to keep her with us. She started off with demodectic mange which is unlike the regular mange you are used to in the fact that it’s not contagious but it’s hereditary? Anyways we spent lots of money getting her better. Then TW’s brother Luke backed over her in a Volkswagon Beetle sending her to an overnight stay at the vet’s office in which I really didn’t believe she was coming back home with us. Then my lovely husband decided to throw her on the back of a flatbed truck at about 6 months old (without tying her in) and going 60mph down the highway. Needless to say she fell off and we (nix that, I) had to doctor her for a few weeks. Long story short we were on vacation and excited to see her when we got home. We took some stuff to the dump and brought her along with us. This is really sad and it was my fault completely, but I had let her off the leash to go to the bathroom and I wasn’t paying good attention to her. She was across the street bothering (I like to call it loving) a little girl and the mom was obviously frustrated by my dog. I immediately called for her not thinking and she ran right across the road in front of a truck (he was only going about 25mph). I saw everything and ran to her aid. I really thought she was the toughest dog on the planet at this point so there was no doubt in my mind that she would make it. I got to her barefooted and embraced her. As I lifted her up and ran to the truck I felt her body go limp. Despite all our efforts (speeding to the vet and trying to give her CPR) I lost Roxy in my arms that day. She knew I was trying to help her and it comforts me to know that I was there for her. It was a very very hard few weeks. I never knew how much I really cared for her. I was totally bummed. I couldn’t function it was horrible. I realized I didn’t even want to go home because I knew she wasn’t there and it just didn’t feel like home without her. At that point I realized I needed somewhere else to funnel my love for her. I took a few days and then started searching for my new companion. I had Stephanie a good friend from college who loves doggies as much if not more than I do help me in my search. She found some chocolate labs in the paper and called me up. She went with me to pick her out. I’ll admit it wasn’t love at first sight when I picked Ellie. Sure she was cute as could be, but she wasn’t trained to do all the cool stuff I wanted her to do and she didn’t even know me nor I her. Soon enough though time passed and Ellie is now my new best friend. Roxy will never be replaced and these two girls are very much different from each other but she’ll always be loved.

MONDAY:
Wow it’s been a super busy day over here, as if you couldn’t tell from how many blog posts I’ve made today! I had to take a break and get outside for a minute. Sometimes I feel like I live in cyberspace and not real life just because I can type faster than I can talk! It was such a beautiful day today I sure hope you got a little bit of time to get outside and enjoy it for yourself! I took a little hike behind our house with my camera looking for ideas of what to capture for the day to describe how I feel. All day I’ve been feeling a little bit imperfect. A little too large for a 21 week pregnant lady, a little too lazy around the house, a little too behind on all my shoots, a little messy without any makeup on, a little too distant from my family, a little too busy to spend time with Ellie, overall just not good enough.

Then Kori a local photographer (also a friend who shares the same due date!?!?!?!) posted this on her facebook page this morning trying to enlighten us all. I’ll say it worked for the few minutes I spent reading it as well as a few minutes following but then I fell right back into that rut again.
Enjoy!
-erika
Tags: erika dotson, erika dotson photography
Posted in 365 Self Portrait Project, Personal |
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So there are many people that gave some great guesses to my question that I posted on Monday. Unfortunately none of them were right on the button, the closest was what my first guess was, but they let me guess again because I was too close to let me go!
That Darn Question: What do 50% of dog owners give their pets?
A few guesses: Table scraps, Treats, Baths, People Names, and the closest was Christmas Presents
THE ANSWER: Birthday Presents!
They said who “really” knows their dogs birthday anyways? I sure do! Ellie came to our home on July 13th and she was born May 3rd, 2009. But I honestly would be more likely (and already have done so) to give her Christmas before Birthday, but that’s just me.
Enjoy!
-erika
Thank you for all your wonderful guesses!
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Well TW being the manly man around the house that he is installed a new garbage disposal in our sink the other day. Well apparently he forgot to punch out this alternate hose when you have a dishwasher to let it drain. So this is where a girls hand is the only one that will do! :) I saved the dishwashers life today as well as our hardwood floor from becoming a soggy mess. Also this led me to thinking about an event at church today. Our good friends Dawn and PJ recently had a little boy and I think today was the first Sunday they brought him to church. Of course babies cry and parents console them but it was funny to me that sometimes you just have to have a mommy’s touch. PJ tried dearly to calm their little Maxwell with no avail but leave it to mom to take care of the problem! Obviously since we are expecting a little one ourselves I found TW and I just staring and admiring them as new parents and thinking of how quickly that will be us. That’s a pretty scary thought in my opinion. I can still remember being so reliant on my mom and now I’m expected to return the favor. I’m a pretty selfish individual so I’m beginning to think this may be a little bit of a problem for me to finally not get what I want when I want. I know that makes me sound like a spoiled brat, but let’s really be honest with ourselves……we all know it’s true. So I’m going to start “trying” (so please no one call me out on it!) to care more about others than myself to start preparing. We will see how long this lasts. :)

Enjoy!
-erika
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