Posts Tagged ‘destination weddings’

Erika Dotson Photography // Arkansas Photographer

Friday, July 30th, 2010

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.

Europe Wedding Photographer

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!

Huntsville Senior Portraits

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!

Arkansas Senior Portrait Photographer

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!

Missouri Wedding Photographer

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!

Conway Wedding Photography

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

Claire and Aaron // Destination Wedding Photography

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Hey there ladies and gents!  :)  Claire and Aaron were also married on Father’s Day just like another one of my latest wedding couples!  How in the world did we manage that?  Well in case you didn’t know we’ve got ourselves a little staff over here at Erika Dotson Photography and even if your wedding day is already booked with us we can still accommodate you!  :)  That makes us all happy right?!?!!?

I met Claire and Aaron for the first time at Panera Bread where her Father slipped in and paid for everyone’s meal right under my nose!  Thanks Claire’s dad!  When we originally met it was known that they were going to get married at Sandals and that a photographer came with their wedding package, well apparently Claire and Aaron didn’t like the idea of not hiring their own photographer…….we bent the rules just a bit.  It was made known that if you had a friend that also happened to take pictures they would be allowed to shoot during the wedding as well.  So that’s just what we decided to do become “Best Friends”!!!  Well later down the road we found out we would be having a baby and that I wouldn’t be able to travel to Jamaica….. :(  as you can imagine I was bummed!  But Tanja was lucky enough to get to go and capture some amazing photos for them!  Claire and Aaron are such a sweet couple and it’s been really fun to get to know them as a couple and as individuals!  We wish you the best together for many happy years!

This will be part one of Claire and Aaron’s wedding photos……

See what she had to say (she’s already gotten to see all these Jamaica ones!):

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE our pictures!! I am so excited to get them. Thank you so much! I cant wait to see more… let me know what all i need to do!!”  - Claire Williams

Jamaica Weddings

We’ll start as always with some getting ready shots!  I love these!

Destination Wedding Photographer

“Something Old”

Erika Dotson Photography

I love this dress shot!

Jamaica Wedding Photographer

These monogrammed robes are a super cute idea for your bridesmaids!  SPA time!!!!

Jamaica Wedding Photos

What a beautiful day!!!!

Sandals Wedding Photography

Yes they brought this sand all the way back to Arkansas……how awesome is that!?!!?!?

Destination Weddings

I love how the officiant is clapping!  It makes me happy to see his huge grin while they seal it with a kiss!

Destination Photographer

LOVE!

Jamaica Wedding Photographer

She caught this while they were waiting around for the sunset for some beautiful couple portraits coming up!

Jamaica Wedding Photography

Love this angle and the coloring!

Destination Photographer

This may just be my favorite shot of the whole day!

Sunset Photographer

Yummy sunset lighting!

Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Gorgeous girl!

Erika Dotson Photography

Adorable…..again.

Erika Dotson Photography

I just love the simplicity of this cake…….it helps too that orchids are my favorite!

Erika Dotson Photography

The look on Aaron’s face is priceless to me, he adores her and you can see it here!

Erika Dotson Photography

Claire and her Father have a pretty close relationship I’ve learned, that’s why I love this image!

Keep posted for more images from Claire and Aaron’s ceremony here in Fayetteville!

Enjoy!

-erika



Alyssa and Seth // NWA Wedding Photography at Pratt Place Barn

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Hey there everyone!  I know I’ve disappeared off the face of the earth for a bit but I’m coming back in full swing!  Alyssa and Seth were the winners of our contest we held nearly a year ago at the Democrat Gazette Bridal Fair in Rogers.  If you remember there was a whole lot of people following what was going on.  I had the participants submit a letter explaining them as a couple.  Then we selected a few participants to take a picture with their fiance and incorporate Erika Dotson Photography into the photo somehow.  It came down to two girls and I had the opportunity to meet with them and I chose Alyssa and Seth as the winners of the Free Wedding Photography package.  I am certain that was the right choice as well!  Alyssa and Seth were perfect and glowing on their wedding day.  Their special day was something out of the ordinary as well which was another reason I chose to volunteer my time and talents in their behalf.  Alyssa and Seth both lost their father’s in a relatively close time period and decided that there was no other day that would honor them as much as Father’s Day.  These two set themselves aside to commemorate their amazing father’s.  I hope through these images you can see that same selfless beauty that I saw the moment I met Alyssa and Seth.

Let’s start with some getting ready shots……

NW Arkansas Weddings

I just love her cute little shoes!  She even had her brother (the lucky guy that walked her down the aisle) put a penny in her shoe just before the ceremony started!

Arkansas Wedding Photography

Her dress was stunning!  The entire gown was made of lace!  Gorgeous!

(Just a little tip to all my brides out there……remember a cute hanger for your dress shot!)

Arkansas Wedding Photography

I loved the color of these bridesmaid dresses!  I think green was a pretty popular color this year!

Arkansas Wedding Photography

This is one of my favorite images of the day!  Seems silly I know, but just take a minute to look into the photo.  This image tells a story.  You’ve got the bride making last minute preparations before her finally gets her dress on, while mom and maid of honor are carefully getting her dress ready for it’s big debut.  This is a beautiful photograph!!!!

Arkansas Wedding Photography

This is just too cute!

Arkansas Wedding Photography

This image is so timeless to me!

Erika Dotson Photography

A little attention for Seth as well…..lookin sharp.

Erika Dotson Photography

A little brotherly love….

Erika Dotson Photography

To be followed by sisterly love!  I’ve got some more lovely lit photos for you!

Erika Dotson Photography

First let’s finally met the lovely couple……Alyssa and Seth Pitts…..Congratulations!

Erika Dotson Photography

LOVE.

Erika Dotson Photography

What a stunning bride!

Erika Dotson Photography

Gorgeous couple + gorgeous light = wedding perfection!

Erika Dotson Photography

Their wedding was held at the beautiful Pratt Place Inn.

Fayetteville Wedding Photography

NW Arkansas Wedding Photography

Anticipation.

Pratt Place Barn Wedding Photography

What a gorgeous ceremony inside the barn.

Pratt Place Barn Wedding Photography

They seem a little excited!

Let’s move on to some detail shots!!!!!!…………….

Fayetteville Wedding Photography

Alyssa chose to use a local florist from Prairie Grove.  Their flowers turned out beautifully.

Fayetteville Wedding Photography

At their reception Alyssa and Seth set up this beautiful little table to make Father’s Day cards.  It was such an original and cute idea!  Pictured above is Seth’s father on the left and Alyssa’s father on the right.

Arkansas Wedding Photography

I started thinking which led to this idea!  I just love when my wedding clients add personal touches to their wedding because it allows me to capture meaningful memories for them to truly bring out their character in their photos!

Arkansas Wedding Photographer

As soon as I saw those stamps I knew what my ring shot was going to be for the day!  I think it’s perfect!

Fayetteville Wedding Photography

What an amazing wedding cake!  Love it!  It was quite tasty too!  Thanks guys!

Arkansas Weddings

They had these cute little tins with candy surrounding the cake.  Too sweet!

Arkansas Wedding Photographer

These are just too cute!  I loved all the little details that Alyssa and Seth incorporated!

Wedding Photographer

We can’t leave out the groom’s cake!  I’m pretty sure Seth is a pretty big razorback fan!  (He should be excited to know that Baby Dotson’s room will be Razorback themed then!!!)

Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Alyssa seems to be a pretty hardcore fan herself!

Arkansas Photographer

Alyssa was all grins as they shared their first dance together!

Arkansas Photographers

The Best Man whipped out his speech from his phone……I just love how technology is changing the wedding scene too!  He gave a great tear jerking speech!  Way to go!

Arkansas Wedding Photographer

I love how Alyssa’s looking back at all her single friends.

Fayetteville Wedding Photographer

And Seth with all his single friends!  I just love this shot!

Fayetteville Photographer

Seth’s facial expression here is just great!

Fayetteville Wedding Photographer

They had a live band that really rocked out their reception!

Arkansas Weddings

I love how much fun they are having together!

Fayetteville Weddings

Looks like this guy surprised everyone with his awesome dance moves!

Fayetteville AR Wedding Photographer

What a fun grand exit!

It was wonderful to work with you two!  I hope you have many happy years together!

Enjoy!

-erika

Cristy and John // Utah Wedding Photographer

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Hey everyone as promised I am posting more images from Cristy and John’s sealing in the Draper Utah Temple!  I got to tag along with Doug Larson their Utah Wedding Videographer and he showed me all the hot spots at the temple grounds.  Cristy and John had so much family and friends there to support them and witness their beautiful sealing!  The weather was perfect, other than being a tad on the cold side (but no one can tell that from pictures!  :)  Cristy and John are such a beautiful couple inside and out and I’m pretty sure someone has got big plans for them while they are here!!!  After their sealing they attended their reception held at John’s parents house in Heber City.  Their family did lots of work preparing for the reception and it looked great! Congratulations Cristy and John!

Utah weddings

Utah Weddings

I just love how happy they are in this shot!!!  Exactly how they should be after leaving the temple! Utah Wedding Photography

I love how John steals one from Cristy to show off for the camera!  :)  Shots like this make me smile! Utah Weddings

Beautiful couple at a beautiful temple! Utah Weddings

This is definitely my favorite shot of the day! Utah Weddings

I just love the lighting in this little nook!  The warm glow from those doors is amazing! Utah Wedding Photographer

Utah Wedding Photographer

Here’s the famous cupcakes!  All of John’s sister in laws spent the entire day creating these beautiful little cupcakes so I had to give them justice and feature them on the blog!

Utah Wedding Photographer

So who would have thought this old rusty chair that I spotted outside would make the perfect backdrop for Cristy’s bouquet? Utah Wedding Photographer

Or how about a tree stump to provide such a detailed ring shot? Utah Wedding Photographer

I love how happy everyone is in this photo as the couple enjoys their first dance together. Utah Wedding Photographer

This image is priceless to me…..it’s as if John has had a moment to really stop and think as he holds his new wife close.  I can see so much love and care for her here. Utah Wedding Photographer

Let’s end with this playful shot of dad and son making sure they “get” the new couple as they make their get a way!

Enjoy!

-erika