Erika Dotson Photography » little rock wedding photography

Recent Work from an Arkansas Family Photographer

Erika — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:38:08 +0000

We’re still chuggin along over here at Erika Dotson Photography! It’s been such a great year with many wonderful new clients! We are so blessed to have such amazing people choose us to be their special photographer! It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and work along side you! THANKS! :)

Here’s some of the things we’ve been working on!

Yep you should recognize that gal in the red scarf…Donnally…..and her gorgeous family! Had the pleasure to visit my hometown for a few hours as I drove down to Mena for their family portrait session! They have such a beautiful home with lovely surroundings, what a treat it was to shoot there!

This is Craig, we went out for part two of his senior portraits to Lake Fayetteville. I love that spot! He’s a Springdale Senior, in case you missed it the first time around! Congratulations….again! :)

Here’s Mr. Jack with his mommy and daddy. I traded out some babysitting time with this family! What a great plan and we’re both happy with what we got! :) Dusty and Stephanie have been my hubby’s friends for years so I adopted them too…..I’ll admit they are good company! :) Thanks guys!

Then the Crees siblings! This is Sam. We know each other from high school. Sam and his sisters wanted to give their parents a meaningful gift this year so they booked us for a sibling session! I love that their parents have no idea! What a GREAT gift idea!!!

Well that’s what we’ve been working on! :)

Enjoy!

-erika

Danielle and Justin // Conway Wedding Photographer

Erika — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:49:37 +0000

Danielle and Justin were married October 9th, 2010! Their ceremony was so precious! They opted out on having a first look, something I normally don’t recommend, but it was truly worth it with these two! Emotions were in the air and you could feel the love they shared radiate all the way to the balcony we had to shoot from!!! :) Congratulations you two! We wish you the best and many many many glorious years together!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Enjoy!

-erika

Rob & Amanda // Little Rock Wedding Photographer

Erika — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:44:50 +0000

Rob and Amanda contacted me earlier this month and they will be getting married next weekend! I drove down to Little Rock and met them from Memphis to shoot their engagement session yesterday. Rob and Amanda are seriously an adorable couple! I can’t wait for their wedding day it’s going to be great! Rob is in the military, pretty sure he’s an officer? And Amanda is none other than a Dietitian….if you know what I went to college for then you’d understand the instant connection! I just loved Amanda’s laugh and the way Rob looks at his future wife. They met at a baseball game where Amanda was working at a health information booth. (seriously I told you they were cute!) They have been dating for 5 years now and have been engaged for about a year and a half. From what I understand they’ve had to change their wedding date several times due to Rob’s job. They will be moving to Rhode Island soon after they wed, Nov 8th to be exact! They’ll sure be busy but have lots of fun adventures (such as driving across the country with 3 doggies in the car!) as a newly married couple! Congratulations you two and I wish you the best! I can’t wait for next weekend!

Rob and Amanda are really into history so we thought this location would be fitting.

Isn’t she just stunning! I can’t wait to see how beautiful she looks next week!

Sweet.

I love how happy the two of them are in this shot!

I just love how you can just barely see part of her smile!

“It adds character” Rob kept saying this phrase about everything, even down to the dirt he got on the back of his jeans so this is especially for him!

ADORABLE!

This one I may have to claim as my favorite shot of the day!

They are just classically beautiful.

Enjoy!

-erika

What to Wear Wednesdays // Arkansas Portrait Photographer

Erika — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:46:17 +0000

Today I decided to showcase a real EDP bride and groom in our What to Wear Wednesday series…..

Meet London and Darron who will be getting married May 14th. (I can’t wait!) They have a super cute style!

So let me break down why this works…..

First of all she wore the most adorable cowgirl boots ever with cute little rosettes on the side along with a cut flowy navy blue dress that screams country chic. And secondly she matched him up with dark wash jeans and a blue plaid button up (which you can’t see here) that was cowboy style – complete with pearl snaps!

This outfit works so well with the location they chose! I love how they thought about how everything would coordinate together! Great job guys!

Enjoy!

-erika

Saturday Steal // Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Erika — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 13:19:58 +0000

I have been bookmarking blogs like crazy so be sure to expect some good stuff around here! Let me know if you have any ideas for posts or if you would like to see something on the blog!

Saturday Steal…..Again from Martha because she’s that awesome!

This is super cute! Why just have the “Just Married” sign on the back of your car and why not post one at your reception? Download the template here….

I love this advice about the ties!!! Read more.

Find out how to make this frame!!! So cute! Read More.

Ring Bearer book………I think YES!!! Read More.

You know we could totally create these for you! Let me know if you are interested before we start your engagement shoot and we can work this into the design!!! Read more.

This would be a post my mom would be proud of (she’s an environmental engineer)…..BIODEGRADABLE CONFETTI!!!! Awesome! No mess to clean up! Read More.

If there’s anything you’d like to see featured please let us know! We write these things for you guys anyways! :) I’d love to hear from you…..(AKA please leave comments!!!) :)

Enjoy!

-erika

Saturday Steal // Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Erika — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:47:21 +0000

The idea of Saturday Steal is pretty much just to give you (our fab readers) some awesome ideas! :) I sure hope you enjoy!

I think I’ll focus on Fall Weddings since it is just right around the corner! :)

I just love when brides show up with bouquets like this with all the different colors and textures!

This bouquet takes a cue from the season and is a fragrant mix of white majolica roses, Scabiosa, sage, basil, rosemary, and lily of the valley.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

MMMMmmmmmm…….Carmel apples! Seriously! Love it!

Chocolate- and caramel-dipped apples are set out in large copper kettles for departing guests to take with them at the end of the evening.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

Totally love this idea, especially for all our southern weddings around here! What a great option rather then renting a bunch of white chairs! Prob cheaper too!

Guests at this fall wedding sit on hay bails decorated with wildflowers from a friend’s farm in French flower pails.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

What a cool twist on the bride’s entrance! If you really have a southern themed wedding this is the way to go!

For this September wedding, the bride makes her entrance on farm owner’s hay wagon.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

What a simple but beautiful cake!

Two tiers of the cake, by Elizabeth Loudon, are the mother of the bride’s chocolate cake recipe. Set on a stand trimmed with felt, the confection is covered with bittersweet chocolate frosting and dressed with roses, fiddleheads, and sandersonia.
Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Real Weddings by Season — Martha Stewart Weddings

I pretty much just planned your whole country themed fall wedding for you! :)

Enjoy!

-erika

Ashley and Jim // Arkansas Wedding Photography

Erika — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:00:42 +0000

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

Elizabeth and Andrew // NW Arkansas Engagement Portraits

Erika — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:18:21 +0000

Hey, Donnally here! I’m a new intern for Erika Dotson Photography, find out more about me here.

Meet Elizabeth and Andrew, a ridiculously cute couple! Erika threw me a camera, and I started snapping pictures… a great way to learn the ropes! Erika gave me a ideas for themes, I chose a first date theme for the couple because I thought it would be perfect for them. It was a fun shoot, complete with cupcakes from Bliss Cupcake Cafe, balloons, and lots of laughter. We shot the mini-session with them in downtown Fayetteville. Elizabeth and Andrew, recently engaged, were great to work with!

Bliss was a cute place to begin the shoot, owner Shelley Cassar, was happy to have Bliss as the set for the first date theme.

To set up the first date theme, Elizabeth and Andrew picked out their cupcakes. Their taste of choice was chocolate milkshake and carrot cake. Yum!!!

*Erika here – It was such a treat to be able to teach Donnally what I knew about photography this day. I’m super excited to have her on board as an intern here! Can’t wait for what is to come! Be sure to check out her about page.

Yes, old fashion Coca-Cola was a must for the shoot!

I’ve got nothing for you… but meet the cupcakes.

Andrew kept blowing bubbles in the Coca-Cola, making Elizabeth all smiles.

*We thought it may be a bit awkward if Donnally wrote about herself, so here I am again. I loved how she just jumped onto this table to shoot! She’s learning already one of the most important factors on a shoot…..not worrying about your surroundings and how silly you look propped up on the table! I love it! :)

Gorgeous lighting.

I love the way Andrew looks at her. So sweet.

And forehead kisses… bonus!!!

This picture sums up the couple. Perfect.

Enjoy!

-Donnally

Tanja and David // Arkansas Engagement Portraits

Erika — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:37:07 +0000

Tanja and David, where in the world do I start? Well right here in my backyard in fact! Tanja has been out to my house many times and knew this was the area she wanted to have her engagements done. David is such a sport and does pretty much whatever Tanja musters around in her head! I love it! David adores her and I think it’s beautiful. I was actually there the day that he proposed to her hiding behind a rock ledge trying to capture some photos of the whole thing!

Tanja wanted a vintage style to her engagements and I just love these travel inspired ones we started out with! It was a BIG deal to keep track of David’s passport (as he’s visiting from England)!!!!

I have wanted to photograph someone on this bridge for a very long time! I’m so glad that Tanja was able to see the same thing I did as she drove over it for the first time to my house!!!

We then headed to another place that I’ve been dying to shoot at!!! Every weekend when we go to visit TW’s parents we pass this vineyard and I always put in a mental note: I’ve got to take someone out here!!!! Now I can put that note aside thanks to Tanja! She’s so stinkin beautiful……doesn’t she just look famous with that beautiful hair?!?!?!!?

This next set has a bit of a funny background story to it. We first tried to set up our picnic in the middle of the dirt road. But between getting the blanket down, the typewriter, the soda, and not to mention the couple a car would come then we’d do it all over again and another car would come!!! We got a bit frustrated but headed to a beautiful field instead. But the story doesn’t stop there, while we were taking these Tanja noticed some cows getting closer and closer…….well apparently we were in the middle of two fields of cows that were headed towards one another as if they were going to battle! Needless to say we got our stuff quickly and hopped over on the other side of the fence into the “safe” zone!!! :) Then afterwards they followed us to the gate and we tried to touch them. I didn’t realize they hadn’t ever seen a cow that close before! If I would have known that I would have stuck them out in our field and let our little cow come say hi!!!

Tanja and David I can’t wait to fly out to Europe next summer for your wedding day!!! You two are such a beautiful couple! It’s been such a blast being able to work alongside you two and see you grow!

Much Love

-erika

Claire and Aaron // Northwest Arkansas Wedding Photography

Erika — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:53:50 +0000

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