Posts Tagged ‘springfield wedding photography’

Sarah and Ryan // Springfield Wedding Photography

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Sarah and Ryan are such a lighthearted fun loving couple!  They were such a treat to work with!  I’m pretty sure they were more concerned about everyone else on their wedding day than themselves!  Let’s get to know them!

Springfield Wedding Photography 1

There’s a big ol rivalry in their new marriage…..you’ll see more later, I just want you to note what kind of garter Mrs. Sarah is wearing!  :)

I love when I get to arrive early and shoot the girls and guys hanging out doing their thing, special thanks to Tanja who was able to shoot the boys! (literally glad they didn’t shoot her!)

Springfield Wedding Photography 3

Since we didn’t do “official” bridals I decided to capture a few while we were getting organized.  We got to take the bridal party photos in the back yard, bonus!!!  She’s so fun and just makes me want to smile!

Springfield Wedding Photography 2

We hurried on to the wedding at the gorgeous Immaculate Conception Church in Springfield Missouri.

I just think it’s adorable when my couples rent or borrow old classic cars for their getaway!!!

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Then we all stopped off at a local park and took some super fun bridal party shots!  Let me tell you I’ve never had such a fun and outgoing bunch before!  It was a pleasure to work with this crew, they were up for any of my crazy ideas!

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Oh of course we got some beautiful wind and amazing couple shots!!!!!!  I just LOVE LOVE LOVE when my brides wear long veils!  These shots are stunning!

Springfield Wedding Photography 4

I’ll be honest when Sarah told me about this place that has a cool cave I wasn’t too enthralled, but you better believe when we got up there and started shooting I was!  I just love how they turned out!

Yes I posted an out of focus image……oh no……the world is going to end……..ok not really but there was just something about this image I couldn’t just toss it out!  I love it.

Springfield Wedding Photography 9

Ok so show us the details!  First off I must say I was totally impressed…..Sarah’s mom still has the penny she put in her shoe when she got married and now Sarah was able to use the same one!!!  Adorable!

I loved the wedding day  emergency kit they put together too cute!

The cake was provided by Julies Chewies and while I’m mentioning it, of course I had some and it was delicious! :)

So I explained a little bit earlier there was some rivalry but this should explain things a bit more!!!  The football helmets were perfect for their ring shots! LOVED IT!

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Then off to the reception where we got LOTS of dancing done with many thanks to Rick of  Hits and Grins Entertainment.  Ok does the little old lady not just make you all warm and buttery inside?!?!?!  She’s adorable!  I also want to point out that these two have some super proud mommas and daddys!!!!

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I love this image too!  I just adore the sparklers and the color!

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Ramada I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Enjoy!

-erika

Tanja and David // Arkansas Engagement Portraits

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

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)!!!!

Arkansas Engagement Portraits Tanja and David 1

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!!!

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Arkansas Engagement Portraits Tanja and David 4

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?!?!?!!?

Arkansas Engagement Portraits Tanja and David 2

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!!!

Arkansas Engagement Portraits Tanja and David 6

Arkansas Engagement Portraits Tanja and David 5

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

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

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!

NW Wedding Photography Claire and Aaron

NW Arkansas Wedding Photography Claire and Aaron2

NWA Wedding Photography Claire and Aaron4NW Arkansas Wedding Photography Claire and Aaron3

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

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

Monday’s Favorites

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Alright I love doing this and while I missed the actual Monday mark, I’m posting it anyways!

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These ice lanterns are a total do it yourself project for anyone planning a winter wedding!  How cute!!!

You need two buckets, one smaller then the other.

Some greens, I love to use olive branches.

Fill the biggest bucket half full with water.

Place the smaller bucket inside it and place some rocks or something heavy to keep in in place.

Add more water, the water level should be to the top.

Add your branches to the sides of the bucket.

Use some tape to keep the small bucket in the middle of the big one.

Now set the whole thing outside to freeze.

Once its frozen, remove the small bucket first and then the large one.

You now have a beautiful ice lantern.

Place a votive candle inside and voila, the party can start.

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What a cute idea!  And just for all you brides, details like this make your wedding rock that much harder!!!  Photographers love little details!

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I love how they pulled these centerpieces together!  I usually get stuck in that rut that these centerpieces things have to be super fancy, but these are totally cute and another DIY!!!!

Steps for a Full Wrap Treatment
Step 1:Measure paper around the vase. Leave about 1″ on the neck for a ribbon treatment.
Step 2:Cut the paper. Adhere one edge of the paper to the glass with glue dots. Wrap the other side around and secure with more glue dots.
Step 3:Cover the top rough edges with a grosgrain ribbon.

Steps for a Middle Band Treatment
Step 1:Measure paper around the vase.
Step 2:Cut first band to measure 5″, second to measure 3.5″.
Step 3:Stick first wrap to the vessel with glue dots. Layer on the 3″ band,again using glue dots.
Step 4:Top it off with ribbon treatment.

Fans

Anything personalized is super cute but these are adorable.  If you planned on a wedding in the summer and thought of these fans think how much your guests would love to have this keepsake!!!

I saw these at Forever 21 and instantly thought they would be perfect for a stylish bride!!!


This idea struck me as an important one for all couples planning a wedding.  I like to ask “what is your photography budget”, and I usually get this response “well we really haven’t thought about it” or “we don’t really have one”.  My first piece of advice for you is make one!!!  It will be the most important thing you do to keep your wedding costs down and be able to get what you actually want.  Wedding expenditures add up and quickly but if you are prepared with a budget that will help.  Also it’s a great idea to start budgeting together as a couple, since now you’ll probably have some sort of a joint account.  This website isn’t just geared toward weddings either but it’s a great way to keep track of what you are saving!  Be sure to check it out smartypig.com

Enjoy!

-erika